CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Pass the ordinance proposing and setting a public hearing for the establishment of Special Service Area No. 34 for streetscape improvements on a portion of Block 422 of downtown Naperville
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DEPARTMENT: Transportation, Engineering and Development
SUBMITTED BY: William J. Novack, Director of TED/City Engineer
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
History
Starting in the 1980's, streetscape improvements have been installed in most of downtown Naperville by two principal methods:
1. Installing the improvements on a block-by-block basis with funding provided through Special Service Areas (SSA)
2. As part of a new private development
In 2019, new streetscape standards were developed and approved by the City Council. At that time, staff had discussions with property owners on both sides of Main Street between Jackson and Jefferson about implementing and funding the new streetscape improvements in their block and on the south side of Jefferson Avenue between Main and Webster. The City Council established SSA No. 30 in 2019 to assess the property owners 40% of the streetscape costs over a 15-year period.
Current request
The City did not award a construction contract for the streetscape work in 2020 or 2021 due to concerns expressed by the merchants in the downtown. The Downtown Naperville Alliance (DNA) recently voted for the City to install the streetscape improvements in 2022. Some members of DNA noted that as long as we were making improvements to Jefferson Avenue and the streetscape on the south side, then we should include the streetscape on the north side of Jefferson Avenue.
Staff noted that the engineering plans would need to be revised, and a separate SSA established for the north side of Jefferson Avenue, to fund their portion of the streetscape.
DISCUSSION:
City staff recommends using the same cost split and term of SSA for the north side of Jefferson as SSA No. 30. The property owners wi...
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