Joint Meeting of Plan Commission, Environmental Advisory Board, Advisory Recreation Board, & City Council

Minutes Agenda City Website ↗

City boards and the City Council held a joint work session on Lake Michigan shoreline resilience, reviewing early concept boards for erosion and flooding protection along the lakefront. No formal decisions were made; the project team said they’ll refine concepts based on feedback and bring updates back later.

Stantec and city staff walked through coastal resilience research and early shoreline concept ideas aimed at erosion, flooding, and long-term lakefront management—work that could shape future projects (and future spending) along the waterfront.

Concept boards included possible shoreline protection, park upgrades, and access improvements, including ideas for waysides along Mariners Trail and Memorial Drive—changes that would affect how residents and visitors use the lakefront.

The Advisory Recreation Board did not have a quorum, limiting its ability to take any formal action even if something had been teed up—another reminder that attendance can undercut boards’ usefulness when big park/lakefront topics are on the table.

No public comments or communications recorded for this meeting.

DISCUSSION -- Lake Michigan Coastal Resilience Research and Planning
Staff and consultants (Stantec) presented research and early planning concepts focused on erosion, flooding, and long-term shoreline management, with city leadership framing it as proactive planning for lakefront assets. Attendees then reviewed concept boards showing possible shoreline protection, park enhancements, access improvements, and upgrades to waysides along Mariners Trail and Memorial Drive. The meeting functioned as a feedback session: the team said they will review comments, refine concepts, and return with updates at future meetings—so residents should expect more concrete options (and costs) later, not now.
NEXT MEETING
The group flagged additional community outreach as the next step, signaling this project is still in the concept-and-feedback stage. What matters is whether the city follows through with outreach that reaches beyond the usual meeting crowd, since lakefront changes affect the whole community.