The Winnetka Village Council unanimously approved a $147,920 contract with consultants Teska Associates to develop a master plan for the village’s struggling business districts at the Village Council meeting on July 7. Trustee Scott Myers was absent.
“After a thorough selection process for a downtown master plan consultant the village has selected a team led by Teska Associates to provide their expertise services,” President Gene Greable said.
Teska will lead a team comprised of Goodman Williams Group and Sam Schwartz Engineering.
Director of Community Development Michael D’Onofrio addressed a series of questions the Council had asked at its June 16 meeting. The Council had raised concerns as to whether $29,490 was sufficient for a market analysis by Goodman Williams. The payment was considerably lower than other bids. D’Onofrio explained that after discussing the scope of the project and the expected deliverables with Teska, it was apparent the consultants could deliver what was expected at that price point.
D’Onofrio also provided a brief overview of the community involvement in the project. A steering committee comprised of seven to nine community members will oversee the master plan. A working group of approximately 25 to 30 people will be divided into task forces that will work on individual issues such as parking, urban design or development regulations. The task forces will have a big communication component.
“They [will] serve as ombudsman to get the word out to the community as to what is going on,” D’Onofrio explained.
Teska also provided an updated 13-month project schedule. The consultant team plans to begin work in July, spending the first 60 days on data collection and analysis. The final report is expected to be completed by the summer of 2016.
While the trustees and public raised no questions, President Greable noted that the Council had budgeted $150,000 for the Master Plan and an additional $50,000 for the development of the Post Office site. Since Teska’s team would also address the Post Office site in its master plan, the overall cost to the village would stay just under $150,000.
While the mood at the meeting was one of optimism and excitement, Trustee Carol Fessler noted that the Master Plan would only be successful with community involvement.
“We are embarking on a couple of major projects that really require the community to get involved and to step up by volunteering their time, their efforts and their talents to this discussion,” Trustee Fessler said.