Naperville’s Master Plan
Last night, Naperville residents gathered at the Municipal Center and the 95th Street Library for discussions on the major updates that will be made to the city’s Comprehensive Master Plan. The plan has gone through minor changes since it first was created in 1960, but the last major updates were in the 1990s. The city has hired the consulting firm Houseal Lavigne Associates to advise on the updates, who hosted last night’s outreach sessions. Residents brainstormed several issues they felt the plan should address, with ideas as broad as sustainability and as specific as more housing for young professionals. If you were unable to attend the meeting, there is a questionnaire on the city’s website you can fill out, or you can hold a “do-it-yourself workshop” to discuss the plan. Workshop kits are available for free at the Municipal Center.
203 Budget Approved
District 203 has adopted its 2019-2020 budget. At last night’s board meeting the group approved a budget of $290.8 million in revenue and $282.9 million in expenditures. There was a reduction of $400,000 in expenditures from the tentative version presented in May, which were removed due to being one-time items carried over from last year’s budget. The Fiscal Year 2019-2020 budget can be viewed by the public on the district’s website.
Top in Retail
Naperville is once again the top suburb in the Chicago area for retail sales. According to an annual report based on Illinois Department of Revenue statistics, from 2017 to 2018 total retail sales rose by 1.2% in town. This is the second year in a row Naperville takes the top spot, while also being No.1 in auto, grocery, and home improvement sales for the past ten years.
LGBTQ Discussion
Congressman Sean Casten and Congressman Bill Foster are hosting a community discussion on LGBTQ issues. Their panel will discuss the steps Congress is making to protect against discrimination and what can be done in our community. Also on the panel will be Denika McMillen from Naper Pride, Harley Jones from 360 Youth Services, Nancy Mullen from Youth Outlook, and some local LGBTQ youth leaders. The event will be held this Saturday at 10 a.m. at the DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church in Naperville.