Pradel preparing for State of City address

Partnerships will be the focus Monday as Naperville Mayor George Pradel delivers his 13th State of the City address.

"The mayor is really hoping people just walk away feeling really good about the city they live in and the progress made and success we share with all of our community partners," said Nadja Lalvani, Naperville community relations manager.

The event begins at 11:30 a.m. Monday at the Holiday Inn Select, 1801 N. Naper Blvd., during a Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

"The city of Naperville is always involved in so many projects for the future, and it is a good venue to educate businesspeople of Naperville to inform them of what is happening and what has happened in the past year," said Jean Fee, manager of event services for the chamber.

Lalvani said Pradel himself sets the tone and agenda for the talk. He and his staff have been preparing for the speech since November, brainstorming ideas, gathering data from city departments and community groups and creating numerous drafts.

There also will be an audiovisual component to the talk.

Fee has seen several of the mayor's State of the City addresses and said they draw the biggest crowds of all of the chamber's general membership luncheons.

"He is inspiring in his enthusiasm," Fee said.

Tickets are required but nearly sold-out. Visit www.naperville.net for more information.