MAYOR JOE’S PUBLIC FORUM

1. MAYOR JOE’SPUBLIC FORUM April 23, 2014

2. AGENDA • 125th Anniversary Celebration • Residential Grant Update • Memorial Bench Program • Fire Department Hiring • City Web Site – Social Media • Projects Update

3. 125th ANNIVERSARY • Event Focus - July +/- • 119th Street Archway • Events • July 3rd Fireworks • July 4th Parade • Mickey & Minnie special guests • Other Cartoon Characters • Mascot theme • July 11th Studio 659 “Images of Whiting”

4. 125th ANNIVERSARY • Events • July 16th Cruise Night • Pixar Cars – Mater, Lightning McQueen and Batmobile • July 19th Symphony in the Park • Special “Disney” Production • July 25th – 27th Pierogi Fest • Special Fireworks show on Saturday night • August 13th Lakefront Park “Open House” • Family activities • Disney Radio Road Crew appearance

5. 119th STREET ARCHWAY

6. RESIDENTIAL GRANT PROGRAM • Program opened on April 1 • $550,000 allocated • To date: • 82 matching assistance applications • City Investment Totaling $275,000 • Community Investment Totaling $750,000 • 16 Senior Low Income Grants • City Investment Totaling $58,000 • Community Investment Totaling $72,500 • Total Community Investment $825,000

7. MEMORIAL BENCH PROGRAM

8. MEMORIAL BENCH PROGRAM • 42 benches at the new Lakefront Promenade • $500 donation to dedicate a bench to: • Deceased family memberor friend • Honor someone who is still living • Show support for an organization • Class Reunion Project • To date 29benches dedicated • Money will go into the Park Donation Fund • Nameplates will be placed sometime spring/summer

9. FIRE DEPARTMENT HIRING • Current 2-Year “Hiring List” expires April 30 • Testing in progress to establish a new list • Current plans are to hire: • 3 new firefighters on June 1 • 3 new firefighters on January 1, 2015 • Vacancies created by the retirement of 5 firefighters

10. NEW WEB SITE ROLLOUT • New Web Site rolled out last month • Features include: • Community calendar • Allows anyone to post to the calendar subject to City approval • Improved navigation • Social Media integration • Twitter news! • Mayor Joe is planning on entering the Twitter World • Will focus on project updates & important news • Stay tuned

11. PROJECTS UPDATE • Controlled Chaos • Disruption • Inconvenience

12. LAKEFRONT PARK • Roadway/Trail Project • Take trail across tracks • Finish roadway • Repave existing park paths • Utility work • Front Street turning lanes • Underway – Estimated completion August 1st

13. LAKEFRONT PARK • Gazebo – Formal Garden • Gazebo • Event facility • Available for rent • Sound system • Formal Garden • Event facility • Available for rent • Folly structure for wedding ceremonies • Project in progress – Completion by August 1st

14. LAKEFRONT PARK • Entry Monuments • Bidding completed • Construction begins – May • Completion by August 1st • Project includes: • Monuments at Front and 117th entry ways

15. LAKEFRONT PARK • Restaurant • Still working on final design to ensure successful operation • Need to be sure that the layout will work for multiple operations/restaurants • Next step is to release an RFP to select operator • Significant interest • Need to do this correctly • Expect construction to begin by summer • Goal is for early 2015 opening

16. LAKEFRONT PARK • Whihala Improvements • Boat docks being installed now • Ready for launch season • Parking area redesign • Repaving & Restriping • Connecting Trail - Promenade to Concession Stand area • Maintenance Facility upgrades • Entrance Road modifications? • Log Cabin – home of Whiting-Robertsdale Boat Club • All should start in 2014 – early 2015

17. LAKEFRONT PARK • Parking Plan • Programmable Parking Meter System • Determine 46394 • Set rates by address or use (boat launch) • Rates changeable remotely • Automation – eliminate gatekeepers • Will receive new incremental revenue • Parking Enforcement Team • In place by year end 2014

18. LAKEFRONT PARK • Whihala Attractions • Aerial Course • High Ropes • Zip Line • Rock Climbing • Unique to area – Customers with disposable income • Beach Related Rentals • All in discussion phase for implementation in 2015

19. LAKEFRONT PARK

20. STADIUM DISTRICT • Acquisitions • Recently acquired 5 properties from willing sellers • Currently working on 4 more • Successfully found new homes for 3 families • No shortage of willing sellers at this point • Expect the process to take several years

21. STADIUM DISTRICT • Museums • Final phase of the Feasibility Study will be completed in early May • Will determine the proposed size of the building(s) • Will determine the programming of the Museums • Will allow the City to determine cost of construction • Will allow the City to determine “Go or No-Go” status • Current plan leaning toward • 1 larger building for CBM and MHOF • 1 smaller building for Whiting-Robertsdale Museum

22. STADIUM DISTRICT • New Public Works Facility (PWF) • Final design in progress • Move to location further away from Front Street • Greener operation • Wash Bays – recycled water • Salt & fuel containment • Energy efficient • Added features include: • Security – Super Recycling Center – Fleet storage • Allows for Front Street development

23. STADIUM DISTRICT • New Public Works Facility (PWF) • Design completed by August 1 • Construction start by October • Estimated completion date – April 2015

24. INDIANAPOLIS BOULEVARD • Project bid and cost determined • Whiting share is $2,750,000 • Estimated construction start – May ?? • Estimated completion - ?? • Contractor will have 18 months to complete • Anticipate a much earlier completion • Project includes: • New surface – new sidewalks – elimination of high curbs • Ornamental street lights – sewer lining – turning lanes • On Street Parking

25. QUIET ZONE • Project is funded • Engineers working on updating the safety analysis • Expected to be completed this summer • Next steps will be for Railroads to update our costs • Hope to have crossing upgrades started in late 2014 • Newest target for implementation is 1Q 2015

26. 117th Street • Design completed - Bids opened May 6th • Construction to begin in May - Completed in 2014 • Project includes: • Reconfigured Oliver intersection to improve safety • New water & sewer lines • Brick intersection feature • Ornamental lighting • 1500 – 1600 Atchison Avenue sidewalks • ADA ramps across north side of City

27. WHITING COMMUNITY CENTER • Preliminary work completed • Asbestos abatement • Demo - exploration • Design complete • Bids opened April 29th • Construction estimated to begin in May • Completion estimated December 1st • YMCA estimated to begin operation on January 1st • Follow the project online with the WCC photo blog

28. WHITING COMMUNITY CENTER

29. T-BALL FIELD • Work in progress • Estimated completion early May • Project highlights: • Artificial turf • Additional Restrooms

30. TOURISM

31. AMUSEMENT TRAIN • Working on final design • Estimated arrival in time for Lakefront Open House • Plans to operate on weekends and for Special Events • Future plans to: • Install replica “depot” • Install working crossing gates and flashers • Children’s attractions bring parents and grandparents into the community to spend $$

32. MISCELLANEOUS • LF Hotel – still having discussions with developers • 119th Apartment Building – very soon!!! • St. Mary’s – city now owns the school and parking lot • Illiana Hotel – working with multiple developers • Senior Housing? • Paving Plan – Hard Winter • 16 alleys on 2014 Plan • Finalizing Street list but anticipate some street paving • City Hall Plaza – Bids open April 29th

33. MISCELLANEOUS • Norfolk Southern Railroad • Adding a 3rd track at 117th Street • NIPSCO • Adding a new high pressure gas line along Standard Avenue – Front Street – Through Whiting Park

34. Q&As