Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Prairie Lakes Community Center
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm

In attendance: 25 residents; Alderman Matt Bogusz; Jason Bajor, City Manager

Introduction, Ald. Bogusz
City Council and Staff met to form strategic plan for Des Plaines
Meeting to focus on strategic plan from 3rd Ward perspective
Attendees will break into three groups

Des Plaines Strategic Plan, City Manager Bajor
Plan to determine what we can do now
How much resources do we have
Create a list of priorities for city to accomplish
City Council and Staff met with facilitator
Identified S.W.O.T. – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats
What city can accomplish in 2-10 years
Must accomplish
Would like to accomplish
Council will rank and prioritize priorities
To put online available to public
To act as punch list for staff

Question: What will Des Plaines be like in 25 years? (in order of comments given)
A safe, friendly community with good schools
The #1 place to raise families
A city with residential and commercial entities that keeps and attracts businesses
A place for multi-generational entertainment
Developed
Improved city and resident communication
Attractive, dynamic downtown and riverwalk
Flood-free
Major economic upturn with more retail
Destination for other communities, suburbs, and city
Lean government
Proud

Break-out sessions with three groups identifying Des Plaines’ S.W.O.T. (see notes)

Summary
City Council, Staff, and 3rd Ward residents on same page with list of priorities
Next meeting September 9, 2009
Prior, Ald. Bogusz will e-mail list of priorities to attendees to rank
Next meeting will look at results and compare with city’s
Will talk about Infrastructure 101

3rd Ward Meetings Held Every 2nd Wednesday of the Month




S.W.O.T.

Attendees were divided into 3 groups to identify Des Plaines’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (two in each category). Participants reported on findings.

All findings are in alphabetical order:


Strengths
Age/history
Banks
Family activities
Grocery shopping
Location
Parks
Tax base
Transportation

Weaknesses
Flooding
Metropolitain Square
Nothing to do
Railroad crossings hem us in
Retail
Unattractive business areas

Opportunities
Arts/entertainment/restaurants
Casino
Des Plaines Theater
Location
River
Tax base

Threats
Access to emergency health care if Lutheran General is full
Casino
Gangs
O’Hare – air quality and noise
Perception of city
River



Residents’ Views of City’s Priorities

Residents broke into groups again to determine 1) what significant priorities the city must confront now, 2) what priorities they would like the city to accomplish in the next 2-10 years, 3) what issue/them/plan that has been postponed should be looked at again, and 4) what “big picture” paradigm shift they would like to see occur. Participants reported on findings.

All findings are in alphabetical order:

Must confront now
Attract/involve more young people in the city
Build up downtown
Economic stability
Flood control
Railroad rights-of-way cleanup

Like to accomplish in 2-10 years
Attract more businesses
Create new space for city services: Police Dept., Fire Dept., City Hall
Improved education
Improved signage
Increase theater and entertainment options
Retail development

Postponed issues to be looked at again
Beautification of downtown and Oakton corridor
Re-location of Police Dept. and Fire Dept.
Renovation of Des Plaines Theater
Traffic and railroad issues

Big picture paradigm shift
Age of city
Diversity of population in race and age
Retail and residential foreclosures – who will move in?
Up-to-date look of city