Joliet Historic Preservation Commission - Regular Meeting

We're gonna it is we're gonna call to order the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission meeting for Wednesday, February 25. It is 06:03PM. Can we have a roll call?

Sure. Adamowski. He let us know he'd be absent. He's at a work event. Bessler? Here. Gloria? Here. Heinemann? He let me know he would be absent.

Johnson?

Here. Lowry? Here.

Merwin?

Here.

Nicotis. Nicotis. Spiegel. You let me know he'd be absent. Stovall. She let me know if she'd be absent. Right. You let me know he'd be absent. Alright. We have quorum. And for those listening, Francisco and I are the staff liaisons, and we are jointly running this meeting tonight.

K. First on the agenda would be the approval of the meeting minutes from the historic preservation regular meeting of 11/19/2025. Are there any alterations or changes needed to the meeting minutes for 11/19/2025? Seeing none, I need a motion to approve.

I make a motion to approve.

So I need a second.

All set. So so

Valerie made the motion, and then Bergman cited it. Yeah. Let me do a roll vote. Just roll these. So you can always abstain, but you are allowed to vote on meeting minutes because you're reading the minutes of the meeting. If you brought them in advance and you feel like you want to vote for them, you can. But you're more than welcome to abstain.

Yep. Yay. It's a yes.

Is that a yes? Okay.

Yes.

Gloria? Yes. Johnson?

Aye. Lowry? Aye. Anne Murray? Aye. Okay.

Next on the agenda would be citizens to be heard on agenda items. Seeing no one here, next would be committee reports, which we currently don't have any. So old business would be next, which is a survey of the hitching posts and stuffing stones.

Yes. I checked the folder a couple days ago. It looks like no one had inputted information into the spreadsheet, which is fine. So I wanted to know if there was any difficulties inputting locations for hitching posts or stepping stones. Because if there were, hopefully, you'd let me know.

Otherwise, this is just an open project. We have the city has not put out a call for the public yet. Got past me in December with the comprehensive plan workshops that we were doing at the time. So I wanted to talk or just bring it up again today. And if the commission still feels comfortable with this project, then we'll try to get a message out to the public to give us their ideas and input locations for that.

Could could we just review the the stepping stones are just the big limestone slabs that would be, like, up against the current rate?

Horse stones. Right. Yeah. Right.

But, I mean, they have to be kinda, like, by the street.

Yeah. Mean, I saw one on McDonald Street. I don't know if there's one. There's it's actually next to hitching posts. It's not as prominent as the one on Western, but, you know, every once in a while, these things pop up. And they're not necessarily always standardized in size. I mean, and two, I mean, use your judgment if it's, like, a post or a block of something that could have been something. I mean, just I mean, we could at least identify it and then try to do further research on it. Mhmm.

I was supposed to do it earlier this week, and I haven't had a chance yet. But I figured I would try to get the stuff inputted for, like, six zero one Center. We already have the history.

Yes. Like, miss miss Kay's is really an obvious example.

The only thing

I don't have is a current picture of it, technically. I think that would be the only thing that would be needed to add to it. So I was gonna try to do that one. And then 415 Western, we already have a a landmark nomination form already filled out with the history already done for that one. So I was hoping to get them inputted in. I just honestly haven't had time yet. So I'll do that before this weekend, though. And then that way, we at least know if putting it into the system will work or not and go from there. I think we should probably do reach, though, at some point.

Okay. I think for me right now, I just if if you have a location that you personally, as a commissioner, are are working on, it'd be helpful just to input that just location into the spreadsheet. That way and you could, you know, worry about the pictures and the form later. But that way, there's not multiple of you doing the same thing. And then, you know, you're like, darn it. I didn't you know? So that'd be helpful. If you if you have a location, location, then just input it into the spreadsheet. That way everyone else knows that you're working on it. Okay.

Okay. Does anybody have anything else for the safety posts and stepping stones? Is everyone still comfortable with us as commissioners being the

ones to go out

and resource them and find them and then begin the process?

I think that's a good idea because it's like, if if we did want to show the puppies the three months, what are they? We would really have you some examples.

Okay. Okay. And I think

I mentioned this last time, but I brought up with our city engineers, and they thought was a great idea to have that information inventory for them.

Yeah, so they know how to remove that. Next would be new business. The first would be the election of the chair and the vice chair positions.

Yes. So every year, I neglect to break these out as separate agenda items. But Francisco and I did prepare earlier today. So we are prepared to make sure we break these out as different agenda items right now. So first, we will open up nominations. So first look. So first, again, every year, I feel like I have to remind myself. What I would recommend you doing, Candice, is having open up the floor for nominations. So Okay. Do that.

And then so we need a motion to open up the nominations and then a second. And then do it all those in favor. And then anyone who has nominations, then we'll close the nominations. And then we'll vote on the nominations or nomination.

Okay. Okay. So at this moment, moment, I would like to request to open the floor for the election of the chair Yep. For nominations. Can I get a motion and a second?

I'll make a motion to open up nominations for chair.

Second. Alright. So motion would be Candice or sorry, Kaylee, and then second is Brian Besler. Yep. Kaylee Lowry. Okay. So then all those in favor of opening up the floor for nominations?

Aye. Aye.

Okay. Any opposed? Okay. I will take this as actually Felipe is new. So the chair position is in vice chair.

These two are nominated and elected amongst yourselves. And the position is for a year. And so every year, the commission gets together and goes through this process again of electing a chair or vice chair. A person can serve in the role of chair for two consecutive terms, same with vice chair. There have been situations in the last couple of years, at least two of them, that the chair has remained in the position due to a suspending of rules, which was another process we had to do here.

It was done for a variety of reasons for two different chairs, including this one with Candice. But typically, every year you left, then that person often holds the position for two years. So Candace has actually done three years. And this would be an appropriate time for someone else, if there's someone willing on the commission, to serve as chair. And I will stop talking then.

So I would like to nominate Brian Messler as chair. Are there any other nominations for chair?

Okay. With there being no other nominations

I need a motion to close the

Make a motion to close the nomination

chair. Thank you.

Is there a second? Second. Okay. Okay. There's a motion and a second to close the nominations for chair. There is one nomination right now. We will still do a no. So we have one nomination, which is Mr. Brian Bessler for the role of chair. Is there a motion for that? I'll make a motion or

should Yeah. We Okay. I'll make a motion to approve Brian Vesseler as the chair? Yes.

Yes. I'll second. Okay. We have a motion and a second for the role of chair. All those in favor? Aye. Being Mr. Messler. So we have aye. Any opposed? Okay. We have our new chair for the year of 2026. And you are chair until you are not chair.

I know they're interesting. Okay.

So next on the agenda would be making a motion to open up for a vote of vice chair or to nominate for vice chair. So can I get a motion to open for vice chair?

I'll make a motion to open up the nominations for vice

chair. Second. Second.

I'll actually use the microphone. Sorry.

We have a motion and a second to open up the floor for the nominations for vice chair. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? Okay. The floor is open for nominations for the role of vice chair, similar in position as or term excuse me, his term as chair, except this is the vice, and this person does assume the role of chair when the chair is not here?

Okay. Seeing none, I need a motion to close the nominations for vice chair.

I'll make a motion to close the nominations for vice

chair. Second. Okay. All those in favor of closing the nominations for vice chair? Aye.

Okay. Any opposed? The nomination of Candace Johnson as vice chair?

Motion to approve the order of Candace Johnson as vice chair.

Second. Ms. Lowery is second. All those in favor of Ms. Candace Johnson Johnson serving for the term of vice chair for this year? Aye. Aye. Okay. Any opposed? All right. Thank you. Okay. Congratulations. Congratulations. Next

on the agenda for new business would be the artist culture culture and heritage workshop for the July comprehensive plan. Key themes. Okay.

I sent this summary via email. I also sent you all four attachments, which I'm not gonna bring up tonight, meaning I'm not gonna bring it up on the screen. But I did you know, considering we're gonna talk about the annual report for 2025, as well as strategic actions for 2026, I did want to go over the summary or some highlights from the Arts Cultural and Heritage Workshop. Again, the commission and city staff have been planning for this workshop for quite some time. So some highlights.

This was our highest attended workshop. We had around 50 people come to this workshop. We were really pleased with the amount of participation and then just, I guess, the level of excitement that we saw from people about these topic areas. So the topic areas were divided into stations. So I manned Station 1, which was focused on preservation of Joliet's neighborhoods in terms of architecture and heritage, and then celebrating the history and culture.

Station two was focused on expanding access and engagement with arts and culture. Station three, cultural identity and regional presence. And then station four was pride and welcoming spaces. These stations really drew on actual goals and objectives that are in the vision, goals, and objectives statement for the comprehensive plan. We decided to call these stations because the goals and objectives were a little bit mishmashed between some of these themes.

And then also this poll from other chapters of the Vision Goals and Objectives document, which is probably too much detail. But we really wanted to use this workshop as an opportunity to talk about arts, culture, and heritage. Station one probably had some of the most tie ins to this commission and things that this commission has purview over. But certainly, again, there was much overlap with the other stations, in particular station three and even station four. I did want to give you, since you are the Historic Preservation Commission and the Arts Commission, we'll be getting a copy, too, of the raw data.

Because there's certain things that people said that, if you have the time, I would take a look at. Because they're like, oh, that might be a good idea to think about someday. But in terms of highlights, we tried to summarize them here on this page. Overall, mean, none of this probably is too much of a surprise to you, but there is support for preserving our historic architecture and strengthening local identity through place making and site activations. There's support for that.

But then how we go about it is always the challenge for our community. People brought up, again, what would be beneficial to helping to do this. So again, there was discussion about financial incentives to owners of historic properties. People brought up aside improvement programs, the need for craftsman support so contractors, skilled laborers who know how to preserve historic architecture. And then recognition awards, so celebrating who's doing the work, which the commission tries to do once a year.

And then we ask people to identify what areas of the city are priorities. And some people even went into more detail with specific locations. We saw an interest, like Station 4 and this also got brought up in Station 1, the one I was doing people again confirming that they want to hear more about our histories, all histories in the community and all cultures. So specifically mentioned was African American and Latino histories, history of railroad labor, steel industry, and stuff like that that were highlighted at the workshop. And I think most of you were at the workshop.

Does anyone have anything that they want to bring up and mention or discuss right now under this agenda?

I think the biggest thing was people not being aware of what Joliet's past included. Even just the simple things from our highways and our routes, things people were unaware of certain aspects.

And I

think that was really interesting and telling. Yeah. Because we drive on these roads every day. We complain about these roads every day. But yet, we don't really understand their history and how they made Joliet kind of what it is. And so I thought that was kind of interesting. And then everyone hates our bridges, then everyone loves our bridges, which I also thought was kind of cool because you that was one of the biggest takeaways is nobody really wants to get rid of them. They just want them to work better.

Yeah. Yeah. So And make

a high level bridge for all the truck traffic.

Yeah. They do want a

high level bridge. That would brought a few more times. So And

and and to me, you know, again, it's kind

of like a more modern thing or whatever. But then you get to focus more loving and hating them. But then in the more traditional historic image, you get to really focus on that and not have to worry about big things like truck traffic and all the issues that

come with that.

But I think a part of the issue is people don't realize what history those bridges played, like, what role they played in our community.

And they weren't original.

I mean,

yeah. And

the lit bridges

And they weren't new. We got them pre owned and pre loved. And so I think that that's a part of people don't realize that. You know what I mean? So I think that was something that Joliet can play off of is this is why you should love them more than what you do other than just getting mad at yourself by them. So we don't have enough to tell about them, I guess.

I think one thing I heard a lot was people just not knowing what Joliet already offers. Yeah. I heard a lot of comments where things that the museum is already actively doing and that the city is already doing that I just don't know about it. And so like, I don't know how to Well, Joliet. To reach people more.

Joliet sucks at getting information out. Like, no effects, but it's very lacking.

Yeah.

And then you have, like, five different entities that are trying to push different Joliet. You have a Heritage Corridor. You have, like CCP. Right. There's so many different entities pushing things. No one knows who to listen to. No one knows who to

I think either newer residents or people who I would kinda put the boundaries as either Bridge or Cherry Hill to the East. Mhmm. And then to the West, it used to be Larkin. Now it's more like Essington. When people live outside kinda like that big rectangle, people are like, well, there's nothing there. Why why would I go there? I mean, that's the attitude when No. That's But this is where a lot of especially our cultural and traditional kind of stuff. This this is where it's kinda happening.

Yeah. Yeah.

You know? I didn't this

section Yeah. Where there was, like, eight comments in our, like, group. I was like, what do we need more of than it was museums. I was like, hello?

Have multiple museums. Yes. We're lacking a children's museum. We are. Thing that we really need, like, interactive one, not, like, just a walk through

interactive one. Yeah.

Yeah. I I was surprised of of those lack of awareness. But to me, I mean, over the years, people have tried to do this.

You know? And I

just think, you know, sometimes I I hate to say it, but sometimes people's attitude is like, oh, that's

the old part

of town. It's just grungy. Yeah. Don't know. That too. Yeah.

There was a lot of takeaways.

Yeah. I think for me, if I had to do that workshop over again, I wish I had more of an area where I could have shown people some of the resources that just going through our city's web page for preservation and showing people that you can access these detailed histories, like, of the St. John's neighborhood and the old Juliet Prison of the downtown and projects that have been underway and showing people the GIS.

But can we do that?

Or how about you know how sometimes people

do this? I'm sorry.

Do you know or did you know? People are like

But, like, on TikTok, it's very popular right now.

Oh, yeah.

There's a guy that walks around Chicago, and he tells you different history. But but could we do that? Like, we Joliet used to not Joliet, but, like, I don't know if it was historical commission, but they used have the videos of different different areas and different things. Could we do something like, John Lukansic is doing it for the water issue right now. Right? He's making these videos that are going all over social media. So is that something that we could possibly do for

Like, with JCTV kind of? Like, use it use them as a resource or just just people doing it? You know? Well

Yeah. No. I I yeah. I think so. Yeah. School. But It is.

But placing it both on there and on, like, other platforms as more new and

young. Yeah. I mean, I think there's opportunities to do more cultural and heritage promotion I mean, through videos and outlets like that. It just matter if someone, you know, doing it.

You don't have free time? Yeah.

K. But, I mean, you know, I as as you know, because I've come to your meetings and buy something at Bluffs, like, I've gone to those meetings mostly to talk about the comp plan. So, you know, I think there's more there's opportunities for us to get out there and and talk to people about about just for a couple of minutes, like, about what we have on available and hopefully available to, you know, residents on our web page.

You know, like you just said, with bicentennial gloves, actually, most of the people that come to buy gloves and meetings are pretty aware. They they kinda know. They've been coming you know, a

lot of

them that comes to the meetings, they kinda know. And, I mean, whether it's an HOA or whatever kind of neighborhood that you have, it's like if that whatever kind of imagery video is, you know, oh, by the way, you know, maybe you don't wanna come to these many you know, these meetings, but you just show up for one for the last, you know, twenty minutes and and see this video. And you're gonna get people and then they're, you know, then they're gonna see the NLPT. Ask They're me these questions like I do. But, you know, to me, that's a way of of connecting people in with their neighborhoods, but also learning about other neighborhoods and then kind of the bigger building picture.

Yeah. K?

I'll partner, but I don't wanna talk. Okay.

Okay. Any other comments about the workshop? No. K.

Okay. Next on the agenda is the Joliet and Historic Conservation Commission annual report for 2025.

Yeah. So this was sent out previously with the agenda. Hopefully, you looked at it. It's the same form. It's the state of Illinois' form that they do to evaluate the CLGs. It's document not that we input to say what we've done. So we have to do this as part of being a certified local government with the state of Illinois. And we have been a certified local government since 1995. We also have to provide the city council with an annual report. And I'm trying to think.

We so next step so next steps would be I am looking for a motion and a recommendation to accept and place on file the annual report. But a couple more things before we get to that. So again, this document is pretty standardized. I think the really meat of what occurred in 2025 is actually in the next agenda item, where we talk about the goals or the actions, the strategy for next year, because there's a recap of what happened in 2025. So for me, as the staff liaison, this was a big year for the city with the comprehensive plan.

And why that's important for the preservation commission is because we've talked for years about trying to tie in heritage, culture, preservation together with the overall big picture. So I appreciate your patience with me and the city, because we haven't been able to drive maybe some of the items that were identified in the 2025 action plan. But I hope that we meet your expectations with the stuff that is happening now with the comp plan and then will be forthcoming from that. And then we also this report, Aunt Daniel Porte and then the next agenda item do highlight ongoing initiatives that are still in process. So we do have our context study, which I'll give a little bit of an update on in a bit.

And then we have the IAD Displains River Bridge plan, which has a heritage cultural component to it that's also being undertaken along with the comprehensive plan. So does anyone have any comments or questions about the annual report?

I just wish it was funner like the one we used to do, but that's it.

I was I was just gonna ask, are there attachments, or this is just pretty much it? I

did neglect to do a staff cover sheet like I usually do, so I'm sorry about that. But that will accompany this to counsel and then downstate.

Well, I mean, in the old days, we would do, like, nominations or whatever. But we didn't I mean, that wasn't such

a big deal this year. Yeah.

Yeah. Okay.

Well, we had no nominations this year. Yeah. So let me just, yeah, let me just go through a couple of things. I think this is important. We had only five regular meetings in 2025 as opposed to 12.

We had zero certificates of appropriateness reviews here. Zero. So which is fine because in theory, unless you're doing a brand new garage or or an addition to some of your house, administrative reviews is built into the process. So that means people are doing stuff that doesn't require or they're not necessarily appealing our requirements or stuff that doesn't rise to that level. So we had 15, around 15, certificate of amends certificate appropriateness administrative reviews.

We had no landmark nominations. Are, as you know, we had no nominations. There are a number of local landmarks that I also include as those properties that are in our local historic districts did go down. So three years ago, we were gosh, we were 12 more. So we did low so two years ago, we lost the 800 block arrayer.

And then this in January 2025, we lost Whitney Terrace, the six houses that were there. So so we're down number of local landmarks. There was also no National Register nominations that came through the city at either a district or an individual listing, which is pretty typical, though. I mean, most communities don't have that. But we did have a banner of a couple years where we've had districts come through.

Staff and commissioners here today continue to go to trainings, which is important. So thanks to those who continue to do that. Just a reminder for everyone, I send these out every month when I get them. But the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions offers really great trainings virtually. And you were a member through our organizational membership.

So I often register for those. And even if you can't you register, but you can't make it, they always send you the video recording. So you can watch it, you know, nine PM on a Friday night if you want your pajamas. But they have those available. Then I also stream them here sometimes for a group if that's of interest to you. And I think that that's the highlights. This report does draw attention to the stuff that happens in May, which is kind of a concentrated time frame for us. It's National Preservation Month. So the same will occur this year.

Sharon? The the just for our new members. The other place that you can I I get the emails, and there are free webinars, but it's WJE with Janie Elsner?

Oh, yeah. And these are they're

a little more technical, but if you're into the architectural stuff or I think I mentioned a while back, there was one on brick and all the different kind of brick. Even if you're not into brick, it was really interesting. I mean, it's and it's not, like, so overly I mean, I can understand it. But it I I don't know if you just go to WJE and somehow or another, like, contact them and say, would you put me on your email list for free webinars? Because I think there's one coming up. I can't remember. Mhmm. But they they have really excellent ones. What is WJE? Wiss, w I s s.

Janney, j a n n e y. Elsner, e l s t n e r. It's a very it's a consulting firm. They're I mean, you know, like, they they they do the big projects. This is the big boy and girl club. Yeah. I mean, all over. It's not just Chicago, then I don't even know. I don't know if they're headquartered out in New York or DC or something, but it's a wje.com is the I'm I'm pretty sure that's a website. And, you know, I just said I'm a preservation commissioner. You know, for people who, like, need AIA credit or something like that, some some sometimes you can even get AIA, you know, credit for that.

Okay.

So at this point, if there's no other discussion on the twenty twenty twenty twenty twenty eight annual historic preservation strategy that will be I'm sorry, not strategy. The preservation commission annual report. For 2025, we do need a motion and a recommendation to approve with moving it forward to council.

I will make a motion to approve the Joliet Historic Preservation Commission CLG annual update and Report and forward this on to the Georgia City Council. Second.

Okay. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Any opposed? K.

Okay. Next on the end, know it be the twenty twenty six annual historic preservation

strategy. K. I'm gonna pull this up on your screen. So every year, we the last couple of years, I should say we identify action items that we would like to see occur. And they're put in these three buckets.

So we have educate the public about historic resources, we have the stewardship of designated historic properties, and then promote historic resources. So I'm going to just kind of quickly go through these. So educate the public about historic resources. The main one here is utilize historic preservation month. So staff has continued to complete daily posts about architectural styles and historic information.

The commission last year co sponsored Stone and Staples Architectural Tour. Then we also do our annual awards in the month of May. And I think that's it. Sorry. I forgot the annual awards.

Jane, can I is is the landlord training is the landlord conference still kinda going on? Did they even have a landlord conference last year?

I think they did.

Okay.

I just I I couldn't get there.

Yeah. It's not home in the city anymore. It's held by

the The realtor's association? Yeah. I just I had it on my calendar. I couldn't because that because

that Joliet Area Landlords Association or something like that because I thought they were kind of a sponsor. I mean

I think they were involved in some form.

Yeah. I see, like, one year, they were kind of the main gift. I mean, they were the one that put it down on, with other people obviously.

Yeah. Another action item was to partner with the Jewelry Historic Museum or comparable organization for a program utilizing research derived from HPC or city sponsored projects. So the commission did co sponsor the Stone and Staples Architectural Tour. And then the historical museum is a committed sponsor or partner, I should say, with the Joliet area African American Historic Context Study.

But also the oral history. Right? Is that a

separate one? And oral histories. Yeah. I kind of build them in together. Okay. Yeah. Good point.

But it's technically separate.

I'm gonna go down the list of educate. So a goal was to hold two technical workshops. I have been in conversation with the state historic preservation office about holding those. I know they still will. We just we were delayed with the adoption of the River Edge Redevelopment Zone program, so we haven't done that. We did not I should say we have. We didn't do it in 2025. This is a recap of 2025. So that did not occur.

Did the implementation of the RiverEdge redevelopment happen?

Yes. Okay. So

we can now possibly

So thanks for bringing that up. Because in November, it was still pending. So the city was fully accepted into the River Edge Redevelopment Zone Program. Those tax credits for properties that are in a National Register District, National Register Historic District, or individually listed on the National Register are available if someone were to do a qualified historic rehabilitation project. Or if there's a historic building, like, for example, the Eliza Kelly School is locally listed, but someone would need to place that on the National Register if they wanted to utilize the historic tax credits.

The reason why you would do that is because it's now in the River Edge redevelopment zone. So we purposely created the zone to include the oldest buildings in the city. So that's a big benefit. Here's that Mhmm. Landlord training. So, yeah, this did not occur in 2025. Sorry. That's okay. Yeah. Because I thought I put in there somewhere. Okay. And that's it for that category. So we're gonna go back up. So we have stewardship of designated historic properties. So this was under this category.

One of the items was to update the certificate appropriateness application form and website to ensure a clear transparent prompt and predictable permitting process. This form was not so this did not occur. The website has been updated over the last year, but the actual form has not been more streamlined. The next is to review data input processes and efficiency of the city's building permit software program. I inputted that this is ongoing.

No big changes that I don't have anything that's changed, but it's just ongoing. We continue to look at the process and promote applicable workshop opportunities to property owners. And specifically, first of all, this did not occur. But we identified having an email database of historic property owners so that we could forward them opportunities. I think it's well, we'll talk about this in a couple of minutes.

I think it's something we could still have as a goal. Establish a building permit fee waiver program and explore waiver of other development fees. Staff did prepare preliminary implementation, but that was done back in May. So we took this as an action item that the commission wanted us to look at. We did begin looking at it, but we have not moved forward yet with implementation.

What would it take to move forward with implementation on this?

It would just take staff to sit down and look through it a lot more and to start having conversations with the building director and bringing it back up to the city manager. The city manager and mayor were supportive of this when this came up a year and a half ago, which is why it landed on this. But it would just take time. Another stewardship item is to continue the holiday card project as a method of communicating updates and recognizing property owners' contributions to preserving Joliet's heritage. So this year, the holiday card was sent.

Featured the Rialto this year. Candice Johnson took the lovely picture that was featured on the card. This this year, my hope is to show a hitching post with a stocking cap on it. So I really wanna do that as the holiday card.

I I think I think, like, instead of helps on the shelf, helps on the.

That'd be

cute Or Santa or whatever,

you know, whatever holiday thing, a Christmas tree, whatever.

Yep. Okay. The next one is review applicability of existing building code and building inspection processes for designated and undesignated historic buildings. This did not occur. I did just have a conversation with another commissioner who's not here about this who's very interested in this as well. So I would my recommendation would be to keep this as an action item for the year 2026. Think this

was also brought up during our comprehensive plan meeting workshops Yeah. As well.

For sure. The other

people And that's it. I mean, that that's like a that existing building code exists. I I mean, we're not making that up. That exists

It does exist. Have it. I'm not qualified to talk about it. Okay. Right.

Yeah. But I think other cities have adopted it.

They have. Yeah. Yeah. And then we have meet with residents of the Upper Bluff Local Historic District. So this this did not occur. I would recommend that the state is an action item. And then address shortage of available and eligible historic preservation minded contractors. As I inputted, this is not this did not occur. This is a national issue, and it's also being addressed at higher levels. So it's something I know that's on the mind of Landmarks, Illinois.

Okay. Then going back up to the last column, we have promote historic resources. I wrote that the comprehensive plan project well, the action item or goal is to ensure that the city's historic resources are considered during the city's comprehensive plan process. So I said that the comprehensive plan project launched at '25. The goals and objectives do have there are goals and objectives related to neighborhood character, community identity, and heritage.

And they are included in the vision goals and objective statement. So if you haven't had a chance to look through that document, you'll see goals and objectives related to neighborhood character design, culture interwoven, and different areas of that document are not all in one chapter. And there also was a workshop that was held, which was in 2026, but that'll appear next year in your recap. We have encouraged use of the residential and commercial design guidelines manuals. So I inputted that targeted outreach in coordination with the CCP did not occur this year.

I will let you know I do as staff use that as a document, especially the commercial design guidelines lately, especially with interest we have hopefully hopefully, we'll have in our downtown and adjacent historic areas through the River Edge Redevelopment Zone program. So when someone isn't as experienced with redevelopment and architecture, this at least offers some baseline guidance for them. So I can just hand them a two pager excerpt from that document. Have Ensure, an active historic and cultural resource survey program. So ideas last year were a hitching post and related.

So I think it's great that we're starting that. We want to continue to identify Black and Latinx historic resources, neighborhood based businesses. We had an intern a couple of years ago who identified corner stores in the city. That's something that we can continue to highlight. And that catalog homes has always been on our minds.

So here's a recap. We did initiate a Hitching Post survey, and then the Delayed Area African American Historic Context study will result in resource identification. We have sponsored the annual historic preservation awards program. We did make two awards last year. So it was 900 North Raynor and then the Patrick Haley Mansion. I think that was really good. Both of them are really good nominations. We have nominate or encourage nomination of at least one property as a landmark. That did not occur. Survey properties on the endangered property list and regularly update and review the list of endangered historic properties.

We did not do a formal review last year. And then this is a long summary of our projects that we are monitoring to see the successful completion. So we have the Julian Aerie African American Historic Context Study. This project does have two components. We have the written study, then you have the oral histories.

We did receive an extension from the state of Illinois for the written study, and that will be that final conclusion is due to the state in August 2026. I'll just, I guess, just say it's now because I was gonna have it in my staff update. But for that project, the consultant team, which is Preservation Futures, is supposed to deliver me the the first draft on Friday. So that's the deadline. Myself and one other person are supposed to take a deep dive and look at it and then quickly, hopefully everything's fine, and then give it to the our special steering committee that's assigned to that project.

They wanna take a look at it, but then it will come to the commission. So the goal is to have that reviewed heavily in March, April, and May, and then any changes happen in June and July. So that's the the process for that. Many of you know we're in 2026. So last year, we spent time thinking about the Route sixty six centennial, and now we're here.

So staff continued then to participate in centennial events, as well as some of you in this room. And then one project that my colleagues oversaw was the completion of ADA circulation enhancements at Route 66 Park. So that was a companion engineering technical project with the exhibits that are at that park. But that's done. The I.

D. Des Plaines River Bridge community plan does have built into documentation of that neighborhood history and oral histories were done as part of that project, which I think is neat. So we used it as an opportunity to capture voices of people who were being displaced. I believe we've been able to interview people who had been displaced, even in the '60s, the first time the bridge came through. We also were able to do oral history with Milano bakery owners.

So again, that was a value add to the city. That project is expected to conclude at the 2026. And then I indicated again the comprehensive plan effort and how that relates to neighborhood character, community identity, and heritage. Well, there's my recap of 2025. So Any questions on the recap before we move into the draft for '26?

Okay. So this is the draft the draft goals and priority actions for '26 is really mostly the same as what you just saw. I didn't I don't think there was anything I changed, but we can go through this just quickly. So let me just look. Yeah.

I think everything is the same. And I I staff would recommend keeping everything the same even for things that weren't attempted last year because I I don't I think these are all still good action items to aspire to do. Mhmm. But is there any a, do you agree with staff's recommendation? And, b, is there anything that you feel is missing based on what you your experience, what you've heard over the last year?

Any changes?

No.

Okay. No one agrees. Well, if if there is if there's agreement that this is fine and this is I shouldn't say fine. This is great. This is what you would like, then I would be looking for a motion.

Do we need to do two different motions? One to approve the twenty twenty five year review or just altogether?

Just altogether. Okay. You're really accept you're really accepting the this is these are the goals and action items for 2026. I'll second it. Alright. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Okay. Any opposed? No. Alright.

Next on the agenda would be staff reports.

Okay. Julian Area African American Historic Context Study. I just gave the recap of that. Is there any questions or anything people want to know about that project at this time? Okay. Comprehensive plan. I think I gave a recap of what we've done, but what I haven't mentioned is that tomorrow night is community workshop number two. So this project has three major community workshops, so so community wide and focused. So the second one is tomorrow night. It's at the Joliet Public Library.

It's from five to 8PM. It is open house style, so you can come at any time between five and eight So what can you expect at this workshop is we want to give an update on what we've heard from the community so far through the process and what we've learned. So we'll be highlighting the major goals of the project. The big focus of this workshop is four different character areas. And we use the word character to really dive into what are the development patterns, the land uses, special components of these specific areas.

And again, we chose the word character area too because, yes, these areas have unique characteristics to them, but there's also similarities that we can take from these areas and apply them to other areas in the city. So the first area is the Ridge Road corridor from Black to Caton Farm on the far West Side. The Lewis Joliet Mall area is another area that we want to look at more closely. A third area is intersection of Chicago Street and McDonough Street, and then coming off of that. Looking at that as a commercial corridor that has strong residential components behind it.

And then the fourth area is this mixed residential and industrial neighborhood at Cass And Henderson Street. So looking at how you have older industrial, older homes and some commercial. And we want to see what's the possibilities in the future for areas that share those kinds of characteristics. So we're really excited about this workshop. We're going to have mini sandwiches from the new baby's cheesecake there. Cheesecakes. Cheesesteak. Cheesesteak. Yeah, hope to see everyone there at that tomorrow night.

This is also a moment for people to put in that they want to have art and and culture and heritage in some of these locations,

which are highly important. Yeah. So we're asking we'll have so thank you for bringing that up. We have we're gonna have four maps, large maps, and other visual aids that for each of these four areas. And then we're asking residents or participants to come and identify where they would like to see certain components, like public art, paths, neighborhood retail, or is it dining? Is it a grocery store? Is it day care? Yeah. What different types of housing? Is this would you like to see single family homes here, or townhouses, or multifamily?

So we're trying to draw that information out of people. Thank you. Okay. Next is I the IE Des Plaines River Bridge project. Mentioned what we've done so far.

Right now, the project's just we're working with the consultants to look at the actual costs of building a trail through the neighborhood and of diving into some of the engineering details. Still they, being the consultant team, is working with our sub consultant who's doing the history work on their draft. So I haven't even seen those yet. So that's in process. Choice Neighborhoods is another project that the city is working on in conjunction with Bicentennial Bluffs Neighborhood.

They have a robust website. At this point, they had community meeting number three. It was three. Yeah. I briefly was able to attend that. It was at the housing authority site just over here on the river. They are looking at different types of housing options specifically to replace these at Heritage Place

Heritage Place Apartments.

Heritage Place Apartments. That's the one right off. No.

It's right on Bridge Street and then Bridge from the river to Broadway and Bridge Street to Division yeah. Street. Because they want to minimize the number of housing there and then see what else they can add to that area.

River Edge redevelopment zone program, I mentioned that it was the state did approve it. So we are ready to accept qualified projects. March 1 is coming up, and that's usually when we announce that we are accepting nominations for the annual historic preservation award program. So expect to see some PR go out about that. I have an idea this year for a nomination.

But again, this is open to the public, and especially to the commissioners. Typically, commissioners really think about nominations and help vet those. So we accept the nominations. We do some internal vetting. And then we bring it to the commission for ultimate discussion and then recommendation. Actually, it's approval, I guess.

I did have a question about nominating someone. I didn't know if it was silly or not. The utility building on Jackson Street, right at the second Yeah. Yeah. They literally retock pointed and reinstalled all their mosaic tiles. And I know that seems so frivolous, but throwing them away.

I know. Yeah. I guess that

would be awesome. Yeah.

That they could have literally just filled it in with blankness, but yet they took the time to reassemble and reinstall and repair or, you know, fill in all those eggs on that building. So is that something that Yes. Did combat do anything?

I know. I

I thought it was electrical substations. I thought

I think it's electrical. I know. I just thought it was really I saw them doing the work. I didn't take any pictures because I didn't wanna be weird, but I thought it was pretty neat that they did that. And I didn't know if that would be an okay nomination.

I think it's an Okay nomination. Okay. Yeah. Okay.

And then what about someone who has their brickwork redone and has it put back to match the previous brickwork? Is that something that would be

Potentially, I mean

Rainer House was not sure.

Yeah. I mean, the Rainer House had somewhat something like that.

The the Boys and Girls Club, they just redid their north wall, the upper portion of the north wall. And instead of just doing regular flat bricks all the way up after having to take it down, they made sure that it was put back in the little design y thingies at

the top.

You know what I mean?

Yeah.

So I didn't know if that was something else.

I'd keep a list and then yeah. Yeah.

And and the project has to be done done. Yeah.

Both are both

are done

done. They'd be done.

No. The the one I'm thinking of is again, I wish I because when people like

you said, you don't wanna be weird or whatever.

But the house that's on the corner of Bridge And Center, the Northeast Corner painting that thing

for, like, twenty years, but I don't know if they're done done.

The the one thing I don't know it's been twenty years, but it's been years. But to me, the point of the matter is, I mean, it's not stupid. They took their time, but they're doing it themselves. Yeah. And they're doing a good job. It's just not, oh, let's just I mean, I I agree. And to me, even though people will be like, well, took you long enough. I'm like, it did, but you're doing it right. And you're Yeah. Because these craftsman talents are are Fading. Fading. And it's just like, no. They they're doing it. Yeah. I mean, that's to me very

exciting. Yeah.

I they look like they're mostly done,

but I'm

not sure.

Don't know the whole front. I So was super excited.

I don't know if the east wall is done, but I think the I know the the west and the north, and it seems like the the back where the stairs are done. But and the place looks great because it was kinda like like the bright green colors. And, I mean and, you know, the just the way the lighting lighting is and how they did the porch, I'm like, yeah. Yeah.

It looks good.

Yeah. I like that

one too. Mhmm. Alright. We'll get your ideas. Okay?

K.

Put them down. And then I wanted to just also just start thinking about anything we could be doing differently. Not that we need to be doing anything differently, but the National Historic Preservation Month in May for events and activities. So as of right now, I mean, I plan to do daily posts like we've done. I've been told that's the highest generating likes that we get.

Know it might seem weird, but what about, like, a this is so old school, but, like, a throwback Thursday Thursday, like, once a month. Thursday, every month, once a month. You know? So it's 12 posts a year, roughly, not putting many. And then we highlight the history of a building. You know?

Yeah. We're We should be doing that.

You know, like, we were talking about, you know, people don't know this is the museum. Right. It's like, hey. Hey. Did you know this? You know? Yeah. What about this? You know? Yeah. Here's our historic resources. That's what I did.

Yeah. We should do that.

Throwback first Thursday at home.

Yeah. Let's throwback Thursday and then

just choose

a Thursday. You know, you can even have her rotate.

Throwback third Thursday.

Okay. That was just Yeah. That's all I have for my staff report updates.

Okay. Awesome. National V Commissioner comments.

Of course. Know you have something. Well, I think it was February 1991 is when the commission started in business. We were formed in more like September or October, whatever. And that's when I was named. I told myself, okay, you've made 35. So I'll probably be resigning. And this is kind my informal announcement. I'm not

like leaving. Well, I

I I will kind of be leaving. But I'm I'm not, like, walking out the door saying I've I've had it with preservation. I know other commissioners have had stuff they call associates. I you know, I had some family concerns and and stuff like that. So I don't want to get myself in a position where it's not like, oh, I can't make a meeting. I can't do this, whatever. You know? It's like there's other people who may wanna serve. So I will probably be you know? I I know this sounds stupid, but I don't wanna have to fill out the statement of economic interest, so I might be before then. I know that's awful.

I already got my email today.

Yes. That's what I saw. I'm like, okay. What does this have to be done? Maybe I should resign by then. I don't know. And usually, that's it seems like around May 1 or something. So it's kinda right around preservation. So I I I I just kinda want people to know because if you know of somebody or whatever or you wanna say, get her the heck out of here, for god's sakes. No. But, yeah, I just you know, like I said, I think about thirty five years. Know? Some places, like, if you have thirty five years of service and you retire, it's like, oh, okay. You're getting you know, that's like full that that you you you did the full. Yeah. Full. Yeah. You're fully invested, whatever. So

I just kinda

wanna know. And like I said, I don't really just wanna, like, drop the ball. And, again, if people have ever heard me, I'm going through my papers. If there's something you know, I maybe bring a step in here. Like, do you want this? Can pop it.

For the stuff you brought in, by the way.

Oh, that that's I didn't I didn't know. I Yeah. I just okay. I'm wiring off topic. There had for our our newer members, every year, we would have a state conference. And we haven't had a state conference since 2015. We were in Carbondale, and it would go they would kind of alternate like a like an upstate and then a downstate. And so we were in Carbondale. We've been it's been all over the and I would keep a lot of my like, the agendas and, you know, whatever. It's kinda cool because you go back and some of the topics just still keep happening.

In 2017, we and then we started doing them every other year because it would be NAPC would have a conference. So it's kinda hard to, you know in 2017, the National Trust Conference was in Chicago. So we're like, really? You know, that's the game. And, really, since then, you know, that was just when the budget impasse in the late twenty teens 2018, 2019, like, there were frozen funds.

So some of the state funds, we couldn't have confidence. And then it was COVID, and then it's this, and that's that. So I I think with Landmark's, they wanna get that going. Just trying to bring that up, but, you know, I have some of my old stuff, and people are ever interested in looking at that. The other thing, there was a Illinois Association of Historic Preservation Commissions.

NAACC And is like national commissions. You know, besides the awards, we would do a training once a year. So especially smaller commissions, like, you know, it's hard to get a training so you can keep your CLG status. And we would do that with great sometimes great speakers. I think one of the first ones was the what's the not geolocation. But but, you know, like, going to, like, Google Maps and being able to put the layers of all the GIS. Yeah. Thank you. I'm sorry. I'm old.

I can't remember. I remember years ago, we had somebody who explained this. So sometimes we get, like, really good. And we would again, we would wander about, you know, Gales Burg, Blue Island, Rock Island, Bowling, Springfield. And what's really nice is being able to network with peers, seeing what their issues are, seeing other communities, being able to go out and and do whatever. So, anyway, they're just okay. Blah blah blah. I'll show them. Well,

I wanna say thank you for your service.

I When I when I when I was named in 1990 or whatever, it's like, oh, maybe I'll do this a couple years. You know? Well, you're looking for here. No.

Aw. That's kinda sweet, Sharon.

Don't worry. I'll I'll still show up to buy gloves. I'm gonna ask a lot of questions.

She's gonna input something on that hitching post survey.

You know, I I okay. I'm sorry. I haven't been able to do this. Again, family issues, health issues, whatever. But I there has to be some on Eastern Avenue, and I just haven't been able to go there. You know? Yeah. So I may have to, like, you know, take the dog for a walk. And sometimes people get a little bit nervous, like, homeowners. Like, what are

you taking a picture of?

Yeah. Yeah. There's been a couple of posts, though, and I saw someone look taking a picture of my house on Facebook.

I had we used to have little commissioner badges, like a little name badges. And I I had it with me. I was like, okay. Here. Cover us. Or

you can drive by, flag it in your head, go to Google Earth, or tell us. And we That is not don't wanna.

I know. Especially if it's, like, off

season or, the trees are in

the way. Yeah. Yeah. Best to me is, like, to have someone in the somebody else driving. Yes. You're in

the passenger seat.

And you're the Yeah. You're the cameraman.

Yeah. Last time to take pictures is usually April before the trees

Yeah.

Or the fall. So Yeah.

Does anybody else have any commissioner comments as long as they're not sad? I

actually have a maybe sad one too. So Kevin Heinemann, just before this meeting, gave me his letter of resignation. He he wants us to know that his residential address the reason why he's resigning is is no longer the city of Joliet or the state of Illinois. So he and his wife are have purchased a house in Indiana, and that is where they have already established permanent physical residency. They are still here, but that is their permanent address.

And they said it's been an honor and privilege to serve on this commission. He's also served as chair as a term, and he indicates the Historic Preservation Commission plays a vital role in preserving the historic integrity of this great city of Joliet, and he wishes you all continued success on that goal. So So I know. We have

I think Kevin and I are the same age. Isn't that weird?

That doesn't make it better.

So I will be looking he's his his resignation's immediate. Sharon has not resigned. Yes. Sharon's like But You know? So we are looking for another voting member. So if you have any ideas, please forward them to me. If ultimately it is the mayor's appointee, so that does go through the mayor's office.

Can we make a post on can we the city may post online that we have I

will agency? I will, yeah, I'll bring it up.

If there are certain things that we would be a good fit Yeah. That they know ahead of

time. Sure.

That that was one of the reasons that you know, because if if people wanted me to go tonight, I would, but I'm like No. Quorum. No. Quorum.

Yeah. Thank you. We like your questions. Okay.

Okay. Anybody else have anything? No? Did anybody make it to the work meeting workshop thing on the eighteenth? I could not go because I had a neighborhood a Choice Neighborhood meeting.

What was the eighteenth?

Wednesday, the eighteenth. February 18, it was a you sent us Yorkville?

No. Oh. Oh, that

it's like Kendall County. Yeah. Yeah. Historic Preservation Commission.

Yeah. Able to go because last minute, they had a an ambassador meeting for the Choice Neighborhood grant program,

so I could not go.

I didn't know if anybody was able to

make it.

The reason we get invited is because there's Sylvia Joliet is

in Kenilworth. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Could we apologize to them? Sure. Okay.

I I talk to him regularly, the gentleman who runs the planning he's the planning director. So, So, yeah. I went to their regional planning commission, not the preservation commission, but their regional planning commission meeting a couple Saturdays ago. So

Okay. So no hard feelings?

No hard feelings. No. Good. Good. Okay.

If there's no other commissioner

Motion to adjourn.

Second. All in favor of adjournment? Aye. Any opposed? Alright. Meeting adjourned.