May 11, 2021 Meeting Minutes

Posted On August 23, 2021

The meeting was called to order by President Mike Zink at 6:00 p.m. Meeting was held over Zoom.

Directors Roll Call

  • Mike Zink, President
  • Patrick Nagle, Vice President
  • Brian Murphy, Secretary
  • Maureen Martino
  • Tom Rothschild
  • Terie Kata
  • Gregory Ratcliff
  • Heather Way Kitzes
  • Jean O’Neill
  • Patrick Carlson
  • Kit Welch
  • Tim Lindsey
  • Megan Grochowiak
  • Marty Wallace

Reports-Elected Officials

  • 46th Ward Update James Cappleman
    • Sheridan L stop, Stop would actually have to move to Irving Park on the north side of the street. This will take minimum 10’s of millions of dollars and federal money is a must for it to happen.
    • CDOT study on Sheridan is complete
    • Semenary shared street is funded and should start this summer
    • Waveland underpass getting cleaned, painted and new lighting will be installed
  • 44th Ward Update Calvin Catrel
    • What input about how people feel about the renaming of lake shore drive
    • 19th District Police are offering free security assessments. Reach out to aldermans office to schedule
    • Block parties and Yard sales applications should be opening up soon, no exact dates yet.
    • Will street closures still be a thing for restaurants? Southport, Broadway and Sheffield will have closures for restaurants
    • Will ward boundries be changing in light of the census? 44 and 46 may shrink as both have had population growth
  • Rep Croke – Jessica Lach
    • Please contact office with unemployment issues
    • Crypto currency bill and womens rights bill both passed the senate and looking to pass the house
    • COVID Vaccines distribution going well
    • Create better policy for moms in the state of Illinois
    • Redistricting is coming, our district may actually shrink because our district has grown in population.
    • CPS
  • Cubs Update 
    • Neighborhood Grounds Crew Event June 6th 10am meet at Wilton and Waveland last Sunday in June
    • Vaccination site still up and running at Wrigley around 36,000 people have been vaccinated. Walk ins still available every day.
    • Some Gallagher Way programing is coming, starting slow in June with fitness classes and family oriented events.
  • Congressman Quigley – Yoni Pizer
    • 10 community funding projects selected from 100 applications center on haltead youth housing, CPS elementary schools capital improvements, Lincoln Park zoo upgrades, advocate Illinois Mosonic expantion,
    • Upgrade of CTA blue line Irving Park Stop and making all stations accessible
    • Espanssion of 606 trail to Elston avenue 1.5 million
    • Mail delivery issues, USPS is short on staff and mail is not getting delivered
    • Q: Will the Sheridan L stop be getting repaired? A: funding was not granted in this round, but hopefully can get funded in the upcoming infrastructure bill.
  • Treasurer’s Report
  • Crime Update
    • Carjacking’s-Be aware entering and exiting your car even as incidents have been on the decline.
    • Catalytic converter theft have increased 5 fold over the last few months
  • New Business/Old Business
    • Lincoln Park Zoo Rat/Public Health Study-Jacqueline Buckley 
    • Next meeting is June 22, 2021 via Zoom
  • Adjournment

12th District Representative Margaret Croke

  • Contact (773) 348-8974
  • AIDS Garden grant money is coming through.
  • COVID vaccines for CPS teachers will be administered at Wiess Hospital March 24th
  • BIG Grants may be coming back for businesses in need.
  • May be a good idea to get an IRS pin number if you have been the victim of identity theft with unemployment benefits.

Questions:

What is the state holdup in cannabis laws? Cannabis expansion is getting stalled by the black caucus because of equity issues and this is also causing problems with zoning.

Bridget Gainer

Commissioner Bridget Gainer’s office contact: district10@cookcountyil.gov and (312) 603-4210

5th Congressional District Update – Yoni Pizer

  • Offices are open for phone and Email

Elli.Song@mail.house.gov

  • 773-267-5926
  • American Rescue Plan will send $1,400 to people making less than 75k per year
  • ACA has reopened
  • HR1 For the People Act is strengthening voting rights
  • Restoring the post office is a top priority.

Questions:

Where will the 2 trillion dollars to pay for the American Rescue Plan? Hoping to reestablish past tax rates to pay for bill. Spending in time of need will more than pay for itself in the future.

46th Ward Update –Alderman James Cappleman

  • Sewer collapse repairs continue should be completed by March 22
  • North Sheridan & Dakin Traffic Study – No stop sign, but bump out curbs would be appropriate.

Questions:

Is it possible to use a federal arts grant for 10k to be used on an art project under the Irving underpass? Yes, will look into it further, and am all for it.

44th Ward Update – Neighborhood Liaison Calvin Cottrell

  • Contact Info – calvin.cottrell@cityofchicago.org or at (773) 525-6034
  • Look for information on ward website and get on the ward email list: https://www.44thward.org/
  • 3440 N Broadway passed zoning, but still needs to pass final step for a use variance.
  • Former Treasure Island grocery store site is pushing traffic down Cornelia. Aldermans office will monitor.

Questions:

Will Broadway pedestrian space on street be available again this year? Yes, on the weekends. Would also like to expand to close more streets for pedestrians.

Cubs Update – Heather Way Kitzes

  • April 1st 1:20 Opening Day.
  • Cubs schedule is currently unchanged and is expected to go forward as scheduled
  • neighbors@cubs.com
  • Fans back at 20% for start of season
  • Safety measures in place: timed entries, touchless entry, no cash, Gallagher Way will not be open, designated bathrooms,
  • Cubs neighborhood advisory meeting is Thursday at 6pm on zoom.
  • Hoping to open mass vaccination site in Cubs building, may open as early as March 25th
  • No Remote parking will be available at the beginning of the season.

New/Old Business:

Brandon Cunningham:

  • Green team is looking for recruits.
  • Seminary shared street is moving forward.
  • Kelly Park Earth Day event April 24th
  • It’s Your Park Day at Kelly Park will be in May.
  • Construction plans are next step in Kelly Park renovation.

Sculpture requests are in, top 5 choices have been selected. Please send in location suggestions.

Lakeshore Drive Task force meets on Thrusday.

Oktoberfest Update: Patrick Nagle

  • Oktoberfest 2021 is 369 days away

Crime Update – Mike Zink

  • Be vigilant when getting in and out of your car, carjacking’s are on the rise in the neighborhood

36636Lakeshore Drive Development- Jack George

  • New York building issues have been resolved
  • Still some sticking points with the building to the north but a compromise appears to be eminent.
  • ELVN Board will vote on approval when issues are resolved with all neighboring buildings.
  • For info on this project go to: http://james46.wpengine.com/infrastructure/development/

ELVN Board Election

  • Motion to seat slate of candidates by Mike Zink
  • Seconded by Gregory Ratcliff
  • Slate of Candidates was approved by acclimation