October 1, 2025
Date: September 22, 2025
Location of meeting: Via Zoom
Time meeting was called to order: 7:03pm
Attendees: Kristin Berg, Nan Parson, Melani Kaplan, Jeanne Wells, Fee Tso, Kate Kerin, Eric Olijnyk
1) Housing Plan
a) Housing Plan Implementation
i) Kristin met with Director Drew Awsumb and Richard Koenig, Executive Director of HODC. Drew is looking for ways to get the word out to developers that Park Ridge is interested in affordable housing projects, especially a senior project. He stated that both city staff and the public need to be educated about AH and that he wants the city to build relationships with developers. Richard offered names of Planning officials in nearby suburbs who have RFPs and RFQs out and suggested this is a way to draw developer interest. There will be a follow-up meeting in October.
ii) Nan and Kristin ran into Mayor Maloney who stated that he did want to meet but had a lot on his plate and needed to talk about the city’s AH implementation with Director Awsumb first.
iii) Members of this committee and Action Ridge have emailed their Alderpersons about implementation of the AH Plan. No one received much of a response; however, a few have contacted Director Awsumb to learn more about what the city will do.
b) Monitor City Council/COW agendas for any Housing Plan discussions/actions/proposed multifamily and senior housing development
i) A discussion about converting office space toresidential, specifically Renaissance Place, is up for discussion on Oct 6that the COW Meeting
ii) discussion of the PUD Public Benefit list is up for discussion sometime in Q4 at the COW Meeting
c) Monitor PZC Agendas for any Housing Plan discussions/actions/ proposed multifamily and senior housing development
i) Update – the PZC met 9/23 and participated in an interactive discussion with the consultant about city priorities for the Comp Plan. AH was # 1 on the list!
2) Comprehensive Plan
a) The City Council approved a consultant contract for work on the Comp Plan on 8/4. Memo and Scope attached. The timeline is 12-18 months. Update-There will be community meetings and a community survey. A dedicated website will be created for the public to track progress.
3) Nan and Melani plan to meet with the Mayor to tell him about the Rockford IL Economic Plan.
4) A visit to the National Public Housing Museum is scheduled for Friday 9/26.
5) Time meeting adjourned: 7:55pm
6) The next meeting will be on Monday, 10/20 at 7:00pm on Zoom