After a month's hiatus, the Winnetka Park Board's geared up and ready to roll.
Showing that they can walk and chew gum, a lot of stuff's on that agenda - like stormwater retention and the golf course reno. But if you're coming for the beachfront, here's what to expect:
Item #6 - Comments from Visitors. 3-minute rule, mostly. Inside voices. Additional, not repeat, comments. If you've got something new to add, rhe mic's all yours. Public comment guidelines. Forewarned is forearmed.
Item #10 - New Business - will lead off with the Lakefront. The Board's presenting a whopping 6 concepts and their projected costs. Check them out - Agenda pages 175-192. You have to wait to comment on them until item #14. Although that may change - Item #2 is "Additions or Changes to the Agenda."
Eventually, the Board will go into Closed Session to discuss a number of things, including employment, litigation, purchase, lease or sale of property. No votes in closed session, so if one's necessary, you'll hear about it.
The Board plans to topline its Beachfront Options - an amalgam of their collective thinking, best practices, and resident imput - and save the drill-down for the upcoming August 25th Lakefront Workshop. But resident comments could draw them deeper sooner.
In the Meantime, Here's Where Things Stand.
The Park Board's going solo on any application to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and US Army Corps of Engineers, if and when the time comes. Expect the Property Owner to continue to dialog with the WPD and pitch any leftovers directly to the state and feds.
Louvers are out, but maybe not so much the 30-foot planter pockets 100 feet into the water and the plants planted in them.
No date published for the Land Swap, if it in fact is to be.
Legal action hinted - perennially - but more saber-rattling than satisfaction.
To Refresh.
This project has generated a lot of work product, if little progress. And the WPD's published it on their website. Here are the highlights.
The Master Plan - The Big Picture, including concept drawings of the combined Elder/Centennial Beach.
The WPD's original plan for the combined beaches. Being revised even as we speak. WPD says "stay tuned."
The Property Owner's "Last and Best Offer." Dated July 15th. Rejected? Yes, no, maybe.
The Exchange Agreement - AKA The Land Swap that trades the property between the two beaches for a somewhat equal-sized piece of the south side of Centennial Park. The only piece of signed and legally binding paper. Although up for grabs being that both parties have failed - repeatedly - to officially call the other out on missed deadlines.
Past Park Board Meetings, including last month's Workshop.
The WPD's timeline for getting to go. So far, they're on track.
Feeling like geeking out? Here's your one-stop shop.
Can't Make the Meeting?
To attend via Zoom, sign in and enter Meeting ID #885 7859 1317 and Passcode #280372. To listen via phone, call +1.312.626.6799 and use the same meeting number and passcode.
Otherwise, you can catch up when they post it in a day or two.
BTW - Four Park Board seats are up for grabs this year. At this point, not all incumbants intend to poney up for another term. Think you have the chops for the job? The Caucus is teeing up interviews even as we speak. Contact them for more information and/or an application - hello@winnetkacaucus.org