The Rundown with Allison Longenbaugh

05/31/2026

**NEW PZC meeting time: 6pm!!**
Three items on Wednesday’s PZC agenda. This one will be longer than 10 minutes!

1. Asphalt Paving Professionals (1756 North Aurora) - Front yard setback variance for new office/warehouses building.

2. Naperville Ridge (75th & Ranchview) - Annexation of 32 acres of heavily-wooded wetland formerly owned by DuPage Water Commission, to build 94 market-rate duplexes. Requests include R2 rezoning, conditional use PUD, and variances (setbacks, fence, parkway trees, & right-of-way width). Over 800 trees would be removed. Units are 2-story, start around $700K, lack zero-step entry, and are targeted to the “aging demographic”.

3. CityGate Centre II (1900 Ferry Rd) - 4-story, 297-unit market-rate apartment building with 5-story enclosed parking deck. Requesting PUD, conditional use multi-family in OCI zone, and variances (density, parking, height, setbacks, retaining walls, & pickleball). The adjacent Dominion CityGate (285 units, completed 2022) received similar approvals. Per the petitioner, over 90% of units would be priced within reach of households earning 80% of Naperville’s Average Median Income (AMI=$150K).

Agenda: https://naperville.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1369883&GUID=58639CD4-782C-4914-B838-071D6FD9D43D&Options=&Search=
Sign up to speak at the Municipal Center between 5:30p-5:50p before the meeting starts.
Submit written comments/position statements to [email protected]. https://www.naperville.il.us/government/board-and-commissions/planning-and-zoning-commission/

05/25/2026

“Never forget the cost of freedom.” This morning I stood with Naperville veterans and community members at wreath-laying ceremonies, honoring those who gave everything for this country. In these troubled times, that sacrifice feels more important than ever to remember.

At 3pm, please pause for one minute for the National Moment of Remembrance, honoring those who never came home.

Learn about Memorial Day’s origins: https://www.history.com/articles/memorial-day-history

05/22/2026

Lines are the wurst but Kreger's is worth it! Happy Memorial Day weekend!

05/19/2026

I’ll be live commenting below. I still can’t access the meetings on Xfinity.

YouTube link to meeting (you can turn on closed-captioning, which is helpful): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6VxyTHtuIg
Legistar link to live meeting: https://naperville.granicus.com/player/event/cbfc8719-13d6-47d4-b451-f53ee5a51009?redirect=true

05/19/2026

Tuesday’s meeting starts with one of my favorite recognitions– the Naperville Accessible Community Task Force - ACTF & Advisory Commission on Disabilities student recognition awards. These honor students for committing to removing barriers for students with disabilities. When so much in the world is negative, it is important to celebrate kindness.

Like last time, the heavy lifting will come at the end of the meeting.
1. $209K change order for Amazon office supplies. (Great catch by Gibson in Q&A!) Last summer, we approved an 18-month contract for $200K that was $219K lower than previous years. Staff says it was a miscalculation and also noted that costs have been rising. I asked last year about tariffs; looks like we’re seeing that impact.

2. Update the ordinance for ambulance & emergency billing. Adds billing authority for mobile-integrated services from EMS and adds a $400/call fee for facilities requesting more than 6 lift assists/year. Chief Puknaitis confirmed to me that it will NOT impact the CART program.

3. $2M* for NCC Riverwalk Park (at Washington St Bridge) 1) connect the paths under the bridge, 2) two gathering plazas highlighting NCC, 3) NCC monument sign. This is a gateway to downtown & it’s vital for ADA to connect the paths under the bridge. Given how expensive everything is right now, I’m wondering if the plazas & sign could be done later. https://www.dailyherald.com/20140212/news/north-central-planning-new-park-sign-along-naperville-riverwalk/

4. Discuss modifications to SECA procedures. This captures the concerns the commission has had over the years. Policy questions: 1) Move Memorial Day parade to city obligation? 2) How to handle “change of scope” after funding approval? 3) Support for a formal path to self-sufficiency? 4) Standardize parade routes?

5. Choose a Special Study ($150K budget). TED Planning Team can only undertake one: 5th Avenue, I88 Land Use, Housing. Staff likes I88, which isn’t surprising given that they are clearly spending A LOT of time on this and the Mayor mentioned it multiple times in the State of the City. “Plans are underway to establish an I88 corridor identity.” NDP asked for a permanent $150K budget increase for this marketing which I think they got (but I couldn’t figure it out in comparing the budgets). Gibson asked a ton of questions in Q&A. Responses were vague & her question about data centers vs residential went unanswered.

6. Staff report on Due Process ordinance options. It focuses on how the city manages its own property. It does not restrict access to public areas, private property, and does not limit the PD’s ability to respond to criminal activity. Council can choose to direct staff to: 1) prepare ordinance for first reading, 2) prepare a resolution, 3) pursue legislative initiative at state/federal level, 4) take no formal action.

Full agenda: https://naperville.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1355606&GUID=91CBA711-F91C-4835-89B4-AB3EE2665544&Options=&Search=
You have until 4pm Tuesday to submit written comments and until 6:30pm to sign up for public comment. https://www.naperville.il.us/government/board-and-commissions/city-council-meetings-and-workshops/city-council-speaker-sign-up/

*Why is the city on the hook for $2M? To secure the easements for the bridge, previous councils (2014? 2016?) agreed to construct the parks. (I’m glad they didn’t agree to a fountain.)

05/19/2026

**NEW PZC meeting time: 6pm!!**
Only one item on Wednesday’s agenda, a setback variance for a deck. Owners are replacing the deck and because the original was approved non-conforming, the new deck needs a new variance. Other than the material, there are no changes to the footprint.

Agenda: https://naperville.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1369882&GUID=71065E5C-FF83-4994-A179-3D45C866FD4B&Options=&Search=
Sign up to speak at the Municipal Center between 5:30p-5:50p before the meeting starts.
Submit written comments/position statements to [email protected]. https://www.naperville.il.us/government/board-and-commissions/planning-and-zoning-commission/

05/05/2026

YouTube link to meeting (you can turn on closed-captioning, which is helpful): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RW9Q0l6sr1M
Legistar link to live meeting: https://naperville.granicus.com/player/event/eeb95db0-7947-4c1b-ad7f-237bf70cdb47?redirect=true
I'll be live commenting below.

05/05/2026

Tuesday’s agenda is pretty short, but the meeting might not be, as the Electric Utility will deliver its first presentation at the end of the night.
1. Proclamations for Mental Health Awareness Month & the USPS Stamp Out Hunger food drive on 5/9.

2. Maintenance contract for “sidewalk shaving”. This saves money by “shaving” trip hazards from concrete instead of replacing entire squares.

3. New utility poles on Mill between Ogden & Bauer. They’re not Night Sky compliant, but they are “nighttime friendly”.

4. Approval of the D203 Transportation Building variances

5. Selection of the 2031 Bicentennial Committee tri-chairs (Stacey Fontechia, Atusa Freyer, and Paul Hinterlong) https://www.nctv17.org/news/naperville-chooses-leaders-for-its-2031-bicentennial-celebration/

6. Electric Utility presentation-Joint Action Agencies.

As an aside, I noticed one of the India Day speakers appeared in meeting minutes with only a first name. I went back & re-listened to confirm, she hadn’t given her last name when the Mayor asked her to identify herself. This made me curious! Technically, the Municipal Code doesn’t require it, but a last name can provide helpful context for a discussion. It probably happens pretty often during signup, but it caught my eye this time because Council had to give permission for her to speak.

Full agenda: https://naperville.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1355605&GUID=A52B5836-589A-4783-9380-358AEC12DD19&Options=&Search=
You have until 4pm Tuesday to submit written comments and until 6:30pm to sign up for public comment. https://www.naperville.il.us/government/board-and-commissions/city-council-meetings-and-workshops/city-council-speaker-sign-up/

04/25/2026

Have you seen the new Accessible Agenda column on the Council agenda page?

Quick backstory: The DOJ requires cities to meet Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 Level AA) standards. They extended the deadline to April 2027, giving the Community Services team more time to get it right.

PDFs can be tough for assistive technologies, so Staff worked with Granicus to replace them with native HTML agendas that are easier to search & are more mobile-friendly. They’ll also be updating social media posts, redesigning e-newsletter templates, & working toward a new City website.

Accessibility is inclusion, and making sure every resident can access city information is at the heart of Naperville’s commitment to diversity, equity, & inclusion.

Want to learn more? ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/

04/24/2026

"You can't hear if you're talking." Intergenerational conversations are a valuable way to listen, share stories, and ask questions. This Saturday 4/25, join your neighbors at the second NCC-student organized "Connecting Across the Generations" event.

Time: 1-3pm
Place: Naperville Public Library Nichols Library Community Room

To attend, register here: bit.ly/NapervilleGenerations2
https://www.naperville.il.us/government/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/embrace-community/

The weekend will be here soon! There's still time to register for Saturday's intergenerational event, "Continuing the Conversation," from 1 to 3 p.m. at Nichols Library. Seniors and college students will come together to share experiences and make connections across the generations. You won't want to miss it! Register at bit.ly/NapervilleGenerations2.