City of Joliet Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee met Feb. 4.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes – Pending Approval February 4, 2026 Citizens who are unable to attend the meeting can email comments in advance of the meeting to publiccomment@joliet.gov.
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
Present Terry D’Arcy, Cesar Cardenas, Elaine Bottomley, Nora Gruenberg, Hugh O’Hara, Juan Rico, Jim Roolf, Theresa Rouse, Diana Viveros, Boise Walker and Damon Zdunich
Absent Warren Dorris, Jen Howard, Wendell Martin, Christopher Parker, Doug Pryor and Steven Randich
ALSO PRESENT: Deputy City Manager Christa Desiderio, Community Development Director Dustin Anderson, Planning Director Jayne Bernhard, Planner Raymond Heitner, Planner Francisco Jimenez, Legal Assistant Katy Fyksen, and Records Coordinator Lauren Helland
Lamar Johnson Collaborative consultants, Lesley Roth and Prayag Bagde, joined via Microsoft Teams.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 1-7-26
A motion was made by Theresa Rouse, seconded by Terry D’Arcy, to approve Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes 1-7-26. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: D’Arcy, Cardenas, Bottomley, Gruenberg, O’Hara, Rico, Roolf, Rouse, Viveros, Walker and Zdunich
Absent: Dorris, Howard, Martin, Parker, Pryor and Randich
CITIZENS TO BE HEARD ON AGENDA ITEMS
None
OLD BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
Status Update: Topic Area Workshops
Planning Director Jayne Bernhard summarized the topic area workshops held in December 2025 and January 2026, including attendance and information collected through the Mentimeter online platform. Committee members provided feedback on workshop attendance, discussions, and activities. Ms. Berhard, Dr. Theresa Rouse, Mayor Terry D’Arcy, and Nora Gruenberg provided an overview of the Superintendents Roundtable held on January 9, 2026.
Community Workshop #2
Ms. Bernhard explained that committee members would staff Community Workshop #2 and assist with outreach and communications to promote attendance. Ms. Roth provided an overview of the workshop stations and explained that the workshop would introduce four character areas and explore conceptual development ideas for each.
Committee members discussed the need for redevelopment in St. Joe’s Hospital area, the definition of character areas, whether a Community Workshop #3 would be held, online engagement for Community Workshop #2, attendance at Community Workshop #1 and expectations for Community Workshop #2, mailers for the four subareas, Louis Joliet Mall redevelopment, and the River Edge Redevelopment Zone program.
Subarea Plans Committee members discussed subarea plans in connection with Community Workshop #2.
STAFF REPORTS
Ms. Bernhard explained that the Equitable Transit Oriented Development (ETOD) zoning project had begun, the consultant was in the data gathering phase, and a steering committee would be established.
MEMBER COMMENTS
Jim Roolf noted an upcoming presentation to the City Center Partnership Board and a Community Expo at Joliet West and encouraged committee members to participate or engage other organizations through outreach or presentations.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Damon Zdunich, seconded by Cesar Cardenas, to approve adjournment. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: D’Arcy, Cardenas, Bottomley, Gruenberg, O’Hara, Rico, Roolf, Rouse, Viveros, Walker and Zdunich
Absent: Dorris, Howard, Martin, Parker, Pryor and Randich
This meeting will be held in an accessible location. If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact The City Clerk Office, 150 West Jefferson Street, Joliet, Illinois 60432 at (815) 724-3780.
m/joliet/meetings/2026/2/2584_M_Comprehensive_Plan_Advisory_Committee_26-02-04_Meeting_Minutes.pdf
