Naperville lays out priorities

Improving transportation, developing a plan for the Caroline Martin Mitchell estate and asking residents for feedback are all on Naperville's list of goals.

City councilmen shaped their vision for Naperville at a workshop Monday, cutting a list of 44 suggested strategic plan initiatives in half.

While some of the projects are already under way, City Manager Pro Tem Bob Marshall said creating such a plan gives the city staff direction.

Transportation took precedence with several key issues, including collaboration with other government leaders to pursue state funding to expand Route 59.

"This is an issue and a problem that has thousands of people every day ... concerned about it, agonizing about it," Councilman Robert Fieseler said. "It affects their ability to get to work, get to the train."

The city will also look for long-term funding strategies for road maintenance and voice its concerns about Canadian National Railroad's purchase of the Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railroad.

Marcie Schatz, director of transportation, engineering and development, said the city will participate in environmental impact hearings on the additional noise and traffic the takeover could bring. Leaders are also worried the acquisition could put a halt to Metra's proposed STAR Line rail system.

Also on the transportation front, the city will continue to look at a variety of parking issues such as completion of the Water Street and Van Buren parking decks and evaluating a business fee to help fund downtown decks.

Collaborating with other area groups on the best use of the Caroline Martin Mitchell estate made the list of priorities as well. The 212 acres near Naperville Central High School was given to the city in 1936 for public use. This spring, the city will hold forums for public input on possible ways to reconfigure or better utilize the land, which is shared by a variety of groups including the school, Naper Settlement and the park district.

The Martin Mitchell estate isn't the only area in which the city is looking for feedback. It is updating its citizen survey and plans to seek input once again to see how it can address residents' needs.

Also on the list of priorities is environmental sustainability. The city council voted to establish a vision for issues such as energy and water conservation and recycling.

"I think it's extremely important we change our work pattern around here to start to looking toward greener pastures," Councilman Grant Wehrli said.

Improved leaf collection, burying overhead electric lines and completing the Fifth Avenue study also made the list.