The Planning Charette at the Village of North Utica, Illinois on Saturday September 25, 2004 was a great success. Over 100 local residents, and city planners and landscape architects attended the event. The group toured the downtown, and then broke into 8 smaller groups to focus on specific issues of interest to the village.

At the end of the session each group presented their findings and recommendations. A number of excellent concepts and proposals were made. The Village will incorporate many of these ideas into the downtown improvement plan currently underway.

Our thanks to all who attended, and to the Fire Department who hosted the event. Special thanks to the Grace Bazelewski and the Pro Bono Committee of APA, who planned and coordinated the event.
City Planning
UTICA DESIGN MEETING
 
FOCUS ON DOWNTOWN
 
FIRE STATION
 
 SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2004
 
 8:30 AM TO 1:00 PM
 
Join your fellow citizens, city planners, and landscape architects in refining and improving the plan for Utica.  Projects include:
 
            Downtown streetscape & landscape
            Front and rear design of downtown buildings
            Improvements to the I & M Canal and bikepath
            Improvements to water quality, fountains, aerators
 
            Design & location for a Village and Township Hall
            Strategies to promote economic development & tourism
            Neo traditional development
            Housing redevelopment 
 
            The location and the design of a memorial 
            Park expansion near the I & M Canal
            Park plan for land along Illinois River and Rt. 178       
            Plan for Illini Native American Museum & Living Farm
 
The work developed by the group will be included in the detailed plans to be developed by the COG, consultants, and Village Engineer.
 
 
Everyone is invited & encouraged to attend

AGENDA FOR THE PLANNING MEETING SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2004
at 8:30 am at the Utica, Illinois Fire Station in Beautiful Downtown North Utica, Illinois

8:30 REGISTRATION, VIEW PLANS & GRAPHICS IN FIRE STATION

9:00 INTRODUCTIONS
Mayor Esmond or Clerk Brown Welcome everyone
Grace Bazylewski Welcome, explain process

9:15 PRESENTATION OF RECOVERY PLAN
John Paige & Craig Hullinger briefly discuss plan
Grace assign people to teams

9:30 WALKING TOUR
Led by Mayor, Trustees, Plan Commissioners, Paige, Hullinger, Lindeman, Fesco, Oliphant, Brown, Heitz

10:00 BREAKOUT SESSIONS

11:30 WORKING LUNCH - any fine restaurants in beautiful downtown Utica

12:30PM RECAP OF FINDINGS - Reconvene entire group, each presents - Grace

1:00 GENERAL DISCUSSION OF WHAT NEXT - IDEAS AND CONCEPTS
Will be incorporated into next set of plans, which include Downtown Improvement Plan Facade Improvement Plan, Economic Development Strategy, Marketing Work, Codification, I & M Improvement, Park development, etc. COG Planners, Village Engineer, & Recovery Manager are there to ensure that findings are included in subsequent plans.

GENERAL RULES
TOPIC AREAS

1. Downtown Plan - for existing downtown, streetscape, facades
2. Downtown Plan for area destroyed by tornado
3. Plan for I & M Canal through town - landscape, water flow, bikepath, etc
4. Plan for expansion of downtown park to the northeast and to the south across the I & M
5. Park Concept Plan for 13 acres at north of IL River and east of Rt 178.
6. llini Native American Museum and Living Farm north of Il River and east of Rt 178
7. Tourism Marketing Plan, Historic preservation, presentation
8. Economic Development Strategy
9. Anything else for the good of the community - THE RECOVERY PLAN ACTUALLY HAS SOME 20 INTEREST AREAS TO CONSIDER


American Planning Association/American Institute of Certified Planners Charrette Rules

The day will be divided into three major sections

1. A general introduction of the community, a recap of activities taken to date, a tour and a general visioning session undertaken by the whole group to confirm and/or select breakout session topics

2. A series of small group discussions listing on indicators to measure community assets listing approaches to facilitate change listing of priorities for action conceptualization of ideas through graphics

3. A summary session for the entire group

In order for the day to go smoothly and effectively the following are the rules of engagement for the exercise:

There are no observers. This is a participation exercise. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to join in and everyone has something to contribute.

There are no right or wrong answers as we think about the future of the neighborhood and its residents.

Respect the opinions of others. Encourage others to participate.

Commit yourself to a team approach together we can find solutions and directions.

Think in terms of how to make things happen.

For the small group discussions select a topic of interest and/or expertise.

If you came with your spouse or relative or another member of your block club or the same organization
consider splitting up to different focus groups to spread your knowledge and input.

Most of all -----------have fun!!!


Three categories of participants

Local residents: these are the experts on local conditions, issues and history. They hold the knowledge of what the community has to offer, the barriers they face and the future they see for themselves. We ask the local residents to be up-front, candid and vocal about their experiences, expectations and needs in improving their community.

APA/AICP/LAS attendees: these attendees come to the charrette with expertise in a wide variety of planning practice, experience and application. They are the resources in planning methods that they have seen applied in other communities across the country. We ask the attendees to listen to the residents and draw upon their professional expertise in incremental problem-solving to seek attainable solutions to the issues being discussed.

Agency representatives: there are a number of agencies and organizations that serve the community. These are often the "tool keepers" that hold the information to programs and tools that can get things done in the neighborhood. We ask these tool keepers to participate by keeping a keen eye out for
opportunities to use their treasure chest of tools.


In the large group

Listen to the presentations.

Contribute to the general discussion.

Ask for clarification as needed. There are no dumb questions!!!

Be respectful of other's perspectives.

Try not to be repetitive but build on the discussion of others.

Once in the small groups

Introduce yourselves: include personal information - what brings you to the charrette, what you hope to achieve in participating and so on.

Residents include how long you have lived in the area, what you like or dislike about their community.

Planners identify where you come from, what do you do in your profession.

Select record keeper and spokesperson:

The record keeper's job is to accurately capture and record the major points of discussion. The record keeper needs to be a good listener and be able to quickly record what the group discusses.

The spokesperson's responsibility will be to report back to the entire group of attendees when we reconvene on the findings of the individual focus group. Local residents are encouraged to take on these roles.

Small group activities - Take some time clearly state the issue for discussion what would be the ultimate solution or outcome envisioned?

If you do not understand anything presented do ask for clarification.

Challenge your fellow participants to think outside the box.

Do not dominate the discussion. Listen listen listen!!!!

Think in terms of doable steps in recommending approaches and setting priorities.

The reporter and the spokesperson in each small group should be ready to report. If they need some help in clearly presenting the findings of your group do help them along.

AGENDA FOR THE PLANNING MEETING SATURDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2004
at 8:30 am at the Utica, Illinois Fire Station in Beautiful Downtown North Utica, Illinois

8:30 REGISTRATION, VIEW PLANS & GRAPHICS IN FIRE STATION

9:00 INTRODUCTIONS
Mayor Esmond or Clerk Brown Welcome everyone
Grace Bazylewski Welcome, explain process

9:15 PRESENTATION OF RECOVERY PLAN
John Paige & Craig Hullinger briefly discuss plan
Grace assign people to teams

9:30 WALKING TOUR
Led by Mayor, Trustees, Plan Commissioners, Paige, Hullinger, Lindeman, Fesco, Oliphant, Brown, Heitz

10:00 BREAKOUT SESSIONS

11:30 WORKING LUNCH - any fine restaurants in beautiful downtown Utica

12:30PM RECAP OF FINDINGS - Reconvene entire group, each presents - Grace

1:00 GENERAL DISCUSSION OF WHAT NEXT - IDEAS AND CONCEPTS
Will be incorporated into next set of plans, which include Downtown Improvement Plan Facade Improvement Plan, Economic Development Strategy, Marketing Work, Codification, I & M Improvement, Park development, etc. COG Planners, Village Engineer, & Recovery Manager are there to ensure that findings are included in subsequent plans.

GENERAL RULES
TOPIC AREAS

1. Downtown Plan - for existing downtown, streetscape, facades
2. Downtown Plan for area destroyed by tornado
3. Plan for I & M Canal through town - landscape, water flow, bikepath, etc
4. Plan for expansion of downtown park to the northeast and to the south across the I & M
5. Park Concept Plan for 13 acres at north of IL River and east of Rt 178.
6. llini Native American Museum and Living Farm north of Il River and east of Rt 178
7. Tourism Marketing Plan, Historic preservation, presentation
8. Economic Development Strategy
9. Anything else for the good of the community - THE RECOVERY PLAN ACTUALLY HAS SOME 20 INTEREST AREAS TO CONSIDER


American Planning Association/American Institute of Certified Planners Charrette Rules

The day will be divided into three major sections

1. A general introduction of the community, a recap of activities taken to date, a tour and a general visioning session undertaken by the whole group to confirm and/or select breakout session topics

2. A series of small group discussions listing on indicators to measure community assets listing approaches to facilitate change listing of priorities for action conceptualization of ideas through graphics

3. A summary session for the entire group

In order for the day to go smoothly and effectively the following are the rules of engagement for the exercise:

There are no observers. This is a participation exercise. Everyone is encouraged and welcome to join in and everyone has something to contribute.

There are no right or wrong answers as we think about the future of the neighborhood and its residents.

Respect the opinions of others. Encourage others to participate.

Commit yourself to a team approach together we can find solutions and directions.

Think in terms of how to make things happen.

For the small group discussions select a topic of interest and/or expertise.

If you came with your spouse or relative or another member of your block club or the same organization
consider splitting up to different focus groups to spread your knowledge and input.

Most of all -----------have fun!!!


Three categories of participants

Local residents: these are the experts on local conditions, issues and history. They hold the knowledge of what the community has to offer, the barriers they face and the future they see for themselves. We ask the local residents to be up-front, candid and vocal about their experiences, expectations and needs in improving their community.

APA/AICP/LAS attendees: these attendees come to the charrette with expertise in a wide variety of planning practice, experience and application. They are the resources in planning methods that they have seen applied in other communities across the country. We ask the attendees to listen to the residents and draw upon their professional expertise in incremental problem-solving to seek attainable solutions to the issues being discussed.

Agency representatives: there are a number of agencies and organizations that serve the community. These are often the "tool keepers" that hold the information to programs and tools that can get things done in the neighborhood. We ask these tool keepers to participate by keeping a keen eye out for
opportunities to use their treasure chest of tools.


In the large group

Listen to the presentations.

Contribute to the general discussion.

Ask for clarification as needed. There are no dumb questions!!!

Be respectful of other's perspectives.

Try not to be repetitive but build on the discussion of others.

Once in the small groups

Introduce yourselves: include personal information - what brings you to the charrette, what you hope to achieve in participating and so on.

Residents include how long you have lived in the area, what you like or dislike about their community.

Planners identify where you come from, what do you do in your profession.

Select record keeper and spokesperson:

The record keeper's job is to accurately capture and record the major points of discussion. The record keeper needs to be a good listener and be able to quickly record what the group discusses.

The spokesperson's responsibility will be to report back to the entire group of attendees when we reconvene on the findings of the individual focus group. Local residents are encouraged to take on these roles.

Small group activities - Take some time clearly state the issue for discussion what would be the ultimate solution or outcome envisioned?

If you do not understand anything presented do ask for clarification.

Challenge your fellow participants to think outside the box.

Do not dominate the discussion. Listen listen listen!!!!

Think in terms of doable steps in recommending approaches and setting priorities.

The reporter and the spokesperson in each small group should be ready to report. If they need some help in clearly presenting the findings of your group do help them along.