The Planning & Advocacy Division's
Committees and Task Forces
The GNMAA Planning & Advocacy Division operates under the directives and guidance of our over 150 member volunteers. Over time, these directives and initiatives have been shaped into a variety of committees and task forces, overseeing the variety of physical and social elements the make up North Michigan Avenue.
COMMITTEES
GNMAA P&A Division has five permanent committees that meet on a monthly basis, 11 months out of the year. These Committees are chaired by two GNMAA member volunteers and generally seat 15-20 committee members.
TASK FORCES
GNMAA Task Forces are instituted for a limited duration and are formed to address specific issues related to urban planning and advocacy in the GNMAA area, as they arise. Task forces pull members from the Division at large who specialize in the areas that the specific task forces address.
The Planning & Advocacy Division's Committees and Task Forces are described in greater detail, below.
COMMITTEES
PROJECT REVIEW COMMITTEE
Rafael Carreira, Co-Chair
The John Buck Company
Michael Csar, Co-Chair
DrinkerBiddleGardnerCarton
The GNMAA Project Review Committee is comprised of a hand-selected group of real estate, development, architecture and urban planning professionals responsible for reviewing all new developments in the GNMAA development review area. The boundaries for this area are: Oak Street to the north, Randolph Street to the south, State Street to the west and Lake Michigan to the east, although on occasion the Committee will review projects that fall outside of these boundaries as needed. This group works closely with area developers and the City of Chicago to preserve and enhance area character and encourage creative and innovative developments and projects. Positions on this Committee are by appointment only.
SIGN AND URBAN DESIGN COMMITTEE
Mary Lowe, Co-Chair
Property Manager
Dan Antolak, Co-Chair
FASTSIGNS
The GNMAA Sign & Urban Design Committee (also known as SUD) reviews building renovations (façade modifications, changes to design) and permanent and temporary signage, including construction canopies, banners, and window displays in the GNMAA signage review area. The boundaries for this area are Oak Street to the north, Randolph Street to the south, Rush Street to the west and St. Clair Street to the east. The Committee works closely with businesses, building owners, sign companies and the City of Chicago to encourage creative and innovative signage and design, promoting the unique character of North Michigan Avenue. Positions on this Committee are by appointment only.
PUBLIC WAY COMMITTEE
Mary Ann Rose, Co-Chair
Tamar Productions
Grace Rappe, Co-Chair
Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architecture, Inc.
The GNMAA Public Way Committee monitors conditions on the public right-of-way in the GNMAA area, with specific focus on North Michigan Avenue. This Committee encourages quality improvements to the public way, and monitors outdoor cafes, directional signage, bus shelters, newsboxes, etc. This Committee is also responsible for presenting the Annual GNMAA Beautification Awards, given each year to buildings along the Avenue with exceptional parkway plantings and exterior building conditions. This Committee is open to general GNMAA Membership.
TRAFFIC & TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
Gerald Eisenstein, Co-Chair
RSM McGladrey, Inc.
Michael Werthmann, Co-Chair
KLOA, Inc.
The GNMAA Traffic & Transportation Committee monitors and evaluates traffic related issues and proposals and looks at the long-term transportation needs of the GNMAA area. This Committee is made up of transportation industry professionals, parking garage and valet owners and operators, and representatives from the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Department of Transportation, METRA, and University of Illinois Urban Transportation Center. This Committee is open to those GNMAA members specializing in the areas of traffic and transportation.
SECURITY & EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS COMMITTEE
Ellen Morse, Co-Chair
Ellen Morse Travel
Jack Wooten, Co-Chair
REALTOR Building
The GNMAA Security & Emergency Preparedness Committee works to promote safety and security and to look at long-term security needs and emergency preparedness planning in the GNMAA area. This Committee is made up of GNMAA retail, hotel and building security professionals, GNMAA member security companies, area institutions, and representatives from the Chicago Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Office of Emergency Management and Communications and Cook County State's Attorney's Office. This Committee is open to those GNMAA members specializing in the areas of security and emergency preparedness.
TASK FORCES
MICHIGAN AVENUE BOULEVARD PLAN TASK FORCE
Jeff Reinke, Co-Chair
OWP/P
The GNMAA Michigan Avenue Boulevard Plan Task Force was established to work with the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) in the development of a plan to upgrade and enhance the physical character of North Michigan Avenue, from Oak Street on the north to the Chicago River on the south. The plan will identify and potentially build upon important nodes along the Avenue, developing and enhancing potential gateways and linkages to adjacent communities. This Task Force will remain in tact through CDOT's Boulevard Plan planning process. Positions on this Task Force are by appointment only.
PROTOCOL FOR USE OF THE PUBLIC WAY TASK FORCE
Holly Agra, Chair
Chicago's First Lady Cruises
The GNMAA Protocol for Use of the Public Way Task Force was developed to address the need for a free and clear public way in the GNMAA area, specifically on heavily trafficked North Michigan Avenue. This Task Force seeks to take a closer look at how to manage the numerous uses of the public way along North Michigan Avenue, including advertising, panhandling, street performers, illegal businesses and homelessness. Working with a variety of city departments, including the City of Chicago Department of Law, the Department of Business Affairs and Licensing, the Mayor's Office and the Chicago Police Department the Task Force is working to ensure that North Michigan Avenue provides a safe, open and clear public way. Positions on this Task Force are by appointment only.
SIGN ORDINANCE REVIEW TASK FORCE
Edward Kus, Chair
Shefsky & Froelich Ltd.
The GNMAA Sign Ordinance Review Task Force was developed to revisit the existing Michigan Avenue Corridor Special Sign District, a portion of the existing sign ordinance that regulates signage on Michigan Avenue, from Oak Street on the north to Roosevelt Road on the south. The Task Force is reviewing the special ordinance to ensure that it addresses the needs of all those who use it, retailers, commercial businesses, planners, and city officials while promoting and protecting the special character of the Avenue. This Task Force will also be developing a protocol for dealing with violators of the ordinance. Positions on this Task Force are by appointment only.
PLANNING FOR SUSTAINABLE GARDENS TASK FORCE
David Quinnert, Chair
Ad Compensation, Inc.
The GNMAA Planning for Sustainable Gardens Task Force was created to explore alternative funding mechanisms for the planting and maintenance of North Michigan Avenue's privately funded median gardens. Positions on this Task Force are by appointment only.
Planning & Advocacy
| August | ||||||
| S | M | T | W | T | F | S |
|
1 |
2 |
|||||
|
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
|
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
|
17 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
|
24 |
25 |
26 |
27 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
|
31 |
||||||
|
Aug 27, 2008 Lights Festival Operations Committee Aug 28, 2008 Traffic & Transportation Committee Meeting |
