CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Receive the Bicentennial Framework report and direct staff to initiate the selection of the 2031 Bicentennial Chairperson
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DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office
SUBMITTED BY: Marcie Schatz, Assistant to the City Manager
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
As part of the City of Naperville 2024-2025 Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), a team of employees were charged with developing a framework document to guide City's 2031 Bicentennial Celebration. The use of the term "framework" was intentional, serving as a flexible guide and resource document for those who will be planning, funding, and executing the celebration of the City's bicentennial.
Over 18 months, the project team surveyed 20 benchmark municipalities, researched milestone celebrations, and interviewed ten local organizations. The responses from these research efforts were cataloged, analyzed, and used to guide the development of the framework document.
DISCUSSION:
The 2031 City of Naperville Bicentennial Framework document includes a variety of goals and objectives for the celebration including:
1. Historical reflection and education
2. Community engagement
3. Preserving and promoting local heritage/legacy planning
4. Civic pride
5. Future vision
6. Special commemorative projects and collaborations
7. Fiscal responsibility
8. Safety
A key insight gathered during the ELP research and interviews is to provide ample lead time to plan the celebration of such a significant milestone. Staff recommends that the City Council receive the attached framework document and initiate the process of selecting a 2031 Bicentennial Chairperson.
While the City is initiating the step of selecting a chairperson, the goal is that the Bicentennial Celebration is not government driven but instead embraces the "celebration of community by the community" spirit of previous Naperville milestones.
Chairperson Selection process
Staff recommends initiating the sele...
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