Chicago Metropolitan Planning Agency Board met April 10.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

Board Members Present: Gerald Bennett, Chair-representing southwest Cook County, Rita Athas representing the City of Chicago, Frank Beal-representing the City of Chicago, Matt Brolley-representing Kane/Kendall Counties, Franco Coladipietro (via tele-conference), Al Larson-representing northwest Cook County, Andrew Madigan-representing the City of Chicago, John Noak-representing Will County, Farzin Parang-representing the City of Chicago, Carolyn Schofield-representing McHenry County, Matthew Walsh-representing west central Cook County, Terry Weppler- representing Lake County, Diane Williams-representing Cook County, and non-voting member, Leanne Redden-representing the MPO Policy Committee

Staff Present: Joe Szabo, Melissa Porter, Jesse Elam, Angela Manning-Hardimon, Stephane Phifer, Gordon Smith, Noah Boggess, Patrick Day, Maggie Jarr, Tony Manno, and Sherry Kane

Others Present: Garland and Heather Armstrong-Access Living, Kelly Blanton-Metra, Elaine Bottomley-WCGL, Jack Cruikshank-WCGL, Jackie Forbes- Kane/Kendall County, Emily Karry-Lake County Council, Mike Klemens- Lake County Council, Daniel Knickelbein-DMMC, Josh Klingenstein- NWMC, Steven Mannella-Metra, Stacy Meyers-Openlands, Kelsey Mulhausen-Southwest Conference, Jade Paul-Jacobs, Dan Persky-DMMC, Ryan Peterson-Kane Kendall Council, Leslie Phemister-SSMMA, Dave Seglin-CDOT, and Troy Simpson, Kane-Kendall Council

1.0 Call to Order and Introductions

CMAP Board Chair Mayor Bennett called the meeting to order at approximately 9:33 a.m., and asked Board members to introduce themselves.

2.0 Agenda Changes and Announcements

There were no agenda changes or announcements.

3.0 Approval of Minutes

President Matt Brolley requested a correction to the minutes of March 13, indicating that he was present via tele-conference. A motion to approve the minutes of the CMAP Board meeting of March 13, 2019, with this correction made by Carolyn Schofield was seconded by Rita Athas, and with all in favor, carried.

4.0 Executive Director’s Report

The Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program update was included in the packet, Executive Director Joe Szabo reported. Szabo also gave an update on the following: meetings with regional CoG Directors (nearly complete); CMAP’s dues program (about 99% collected); the City of Chicago’s new Mobility Task Force (whose work has been completed); a meeting with IDOT’s new Secretary Omer Osman (a meet-and-greet to share CMAP’s priorities); the transportation funding working group that CMAP had been hosting (a cross section of transportation partners to discuss shared needs and principles for a capital bill); Mayor-elect Lightfoot’s transition team (seeking policy support on neighborhood economic growth); and a new CMAP committee newsletter to working committees and Board members (covering topics discussed at previous working committee meetings and a preview of topics to be considered at future meetings).

5.0 Procurements and Contract Approvals

Deputy Executive Director for Finance and Administration Angela Manning-Hardimon presented the following for approval: a contract amendment of scope and time for project management services with Cresa in the amount of $82,274.45; contract approval to purchase IT hardware, software, and related services at a cost not to exceed $520,000, through the Midwest High Education Compact (MHEC); approval to purchase IT hardware at a cost not to exceed $28,800 also under the MHEC government contract; and, contract approval for the Illinois International Port District Master Plan with Cambridge Systematics in an amount not to exceed $300,000. A motion by Mayor John Noak, seconded by Carolyn Schofield to approve the procurements and contract awards as were presented, and with all in favor, carried.

6.0 Committee Reports

Chair of the Coordinating Committee, Frank Beal, reported that the committee (comprised of a number of board members and the chairs of all the working committees) had met earlier in the morning, had considered and approved the FY 2020 Unified Work Program. Also presented, Beal continued, was the regional data scan and traded industry clusters (more detailed work from the ON TO 2050 plan) that outlines ideas and strategies that we might use in trading region wide industry clusters. Finally, the chair of the Land Use and Housing Committee, Mark VanKerkhoff, gave a report on that committee’s structure and priorities for 2019.

7.0 FY 2020 Local Technical Assistance (LTA) Program

Deputy Executive Director of Planning Stephane Phifer presented the FY 2020 Local Technical Assistance (LTA) Program for approval, reporting that CMAP had held the call for new LTA projects in the fall of 2018, to correspond with the launch of ON TO 2050, and in conjunction with the RTA’s Community Planning Program. A good response to the call was seen, Phifer continued, with 75 applications from 66 different applicants with 35% of the applications coming from high needs communities. Outreach was conducted to those communities identified by the Municipal Survey who needed help and a CCT-sponsored workshop was held for non-profits. Phifer explained the evaluation—alignment with ON TO 2050, project-type, geographic distribution, staff expertise and availability, and community need, as well as opportunity to collaborate with other parts of the agency. Phifer also explained the traditional and alternative support type projects and cited a couple of examples of each (traditional: elevated Chicago with RTA TOD and Will County’s comprehensive freight and land use project) and (alternate support: Blacks in Green and McHenry agricultural resource guide). Next steps, Phifer concluded, will be to develop full scopes of work, assigning project managers, and rolling it in to next year’s budget.

A motion by Mayor Al Larson was seconded by Mayor John Noak to approve the FY 2020 Local Technical Assistance (LTA) Program recommendation as was presented. Following discussion and the announcement of the RTA’s funding of 9 additional projects, the motion carried.

8.0 Embedded Staff Planner (ESP) Program Update

Deputy Executive Director Stephane Phifer gave an update on the embedded staff planner (ESP) program, reporting that CMAP staff are serving as temporary part-time staff planners as part of a demonstration project with funding from UWP, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Chicago Community Trust for a 3-year program in 6 communities. CMAP staff will be embedded in those communities for 2 years for about 2 days a week, with one additional day devoted to those communities at the CMAP office. Calumet Park and Sauk Village are the first 2 communities chosen--based on interest and need--which had been sparked by SSMMA through a local technical assistance (LTA) application. Both communities have shown they’re committed to a strong vision and very committed to the plans they have in place. CMAP has either been in the process of or has completed comprehensive plans for both these communities in the past through the LTA program. Phifer introduced embedded staff members Patrick Day, working with the Village of Calumet Park and Maggie Jarr, assigned to the Village of Sauk Village. Given the relatively small staff of these two villages, Phifer emphasized that CMAP wants to help build capacity not be their capacity. Patrick Day will work directly with the Village Administrator in Calumet Park, while Maggie Jarr will work directly with the Economic Development Director in Sauk Village developing their respective visions. Memorandum of Understanding were signed in February and staff work began in March. Phifer went on to say that both these communities had been selected to participate in the pavement management study. Through CMAP's work, Sauk Village had already drafted a grant application to Invest-in-Cook. Both embedded planners will also develop 6-month action plans. A suggestion was made that staff draft a final report for SSMMA and other CoGs to use and a reminder that MWRD is a great resource related to flooding issues. This is one of the most innovative projects CMAP has put together. One suggested that presentations be given to other communities to make them aware of the project—how it worked, what happened, where there were challenges, and of course the benefits—for shared learning and to make communities aware of the shared resources that are available.

9.0 Bridgeport/Canaryville Planning Priorities Report

CMAP staff, Noah Boggess, presented the Bridgeport and Canaryville Priorities Plan, the first of its kind. In 2017, the 11th Ward of Chicago and the 11th District of Cook County asked CMAP to do a neighborhood plan for Bridgeport and Canaryville. CMAP determined that it would be more appropriate to take a step back to determine which planning projects would be in their best interest. This is a smaller product CMAP offers designed to take stock of a community assets and opportunities to help them prioritize their resources. Boggess explained where Bridgeport and Canaryville are, summarized the community profile, and reported that today these communities are some of Chicago’s most interesting and diverse communities. An asset-based approach was used to identify the following: diversity, transportation, parks and open space, and housing stock. Boggess drew demographic comparisons from 1990, 2000, and 2015 (now nearly evenly split between white, Latino, and Asian American), covered outcomes from the work (a recommended corridor plan for Halsted Street with interim work products like Homes for a Changing Region and an Urban Land Institute Developer panel), lessons learned (clear communication regarding scope, creative outreach is useful, and near-term implementation items can maintain momentum), and next steps (Homes for a Changing region underway, Urban Land Institute developer panel this summer, and economic development corridor application perhaps through LTA). When queried, Boggess explained the gentrification stigma and why it was suggested that the Homes panel begin right away. Boggess was also questioned about corridor planning, local businesses and upgrading or improving property to which he suggested that the ULI panel can help, survey and or market analysis might also be used.

10.0 Legislative Update

CMAP staff Gordon Smith gave an update on relevant legislative activities highlighting some of the approaching deadlines and the bills. The General Assembly continues to introduce new and amend existing bills that we continue to review from an ON TO 2050 lens as well as the Legislative Framework and Agenda that was approved in February, Smith continued. Staff is recommending Board support of HB 102 which provides non home rule municipalities with the authority to raise a local Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) of up to $0.03 per gallon. By referendum, or ordinance? Ordinance.

A motion by Diane Williams was seconded by Mayor Terry Weppler that the CMAP Board support HB 102 as was recommended by staff. All in favor, the motion carried.

Smith went on to update on infrastructure bills that had been introduced (one by Local 150, another by the Illinois State Chamber) both of which could be discussion starters. CMAP staff has been in contact with all the caucuses and their staffs and still trying to make contact with the Governor’s infrastructure staff, to present CMAP principles. We’ll try to get testimony at a Senate hearing later this month, Smith also stated.

Chairman Mayor Bennett gave an update too from the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus on a transportation bill and a capital bill, and they feel more confident about a transportation bill, but at the same time the Governor is pushing for a capital bill. There is a concern that raising the MFT would do away with sales tax on gas which would be a huge loss to local government. A comment was also made regarding HB 2525 (Township consolidation), that CMAP had taken a position to support, and that may conflict with another HB348, specific to McHenry County—from a regional standpoint it may not affect the entire region now but it did pass committee last week. The concern is in the trend that may be developing, without collaboration with the counties that conflict with other bills. This sparked a discussion regarding a comprehensive study on whether consolidation is a good thing or not. There is an updated program in McHenry County that is evaluating the services of the Township how services can be shared, and in collaboration with municipalities, townships, other entities.

11.0 Other Business

Chairman Mayor Bennett reported briefly that the search for a new Executive Director is moving along and it is the intent of the committee to come back with a recommendation hopefully by the June meeting.

12.0 Public Comment

Heather Armstrong, on behalf of Access Living, spoke about doing away with any sales taxes and how downstate communities would suffer. Armstrong also spoke of support of public transit.

The CMAP Board was invited to the Get On Board initiative scheduled for April 25, at Chicago Union Station.

Garland Armstrong, Access Living, spoke of the need for outreach to the disabled community and the need for a state capital bill.

13.0 Next Meeting

The Board is scheduled to meet next on May 8, 2019.

14.0 Adjournment

At 10:49 a.m., a motion to adjourn by Mayor Al Larson, seconded by Carolyn Schofield, and with all in favor, carried.

https://www.cmap.illinois.gov/documents/10180/1004443/BoardMinutes04-10-2019.pdf/79a13efd-3aef-aba2-4bcb-252db50d782f