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CCAC eNews
February 2014
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CCAC eNews is the perfect place for members to share your newsworthy organizational stories. To submit news, contact Kelly O'Brien at (312) 602-5148 or  kobrien@ccac.org.
CCAC 2014 Calendar
The 2014 meeting calendar is available to download. Remaining hosting organizations include Drinker Biddle & Reath, Jenner & Block, Cushman & Wakefield, DePaul University, The Field Museum, US Army Corps of Engineers, University of Illinois at Chicago, Sidley Austin LLP, and Bryan Cave LLP. 
Download Calendar (PDF)
CCAC eNews is the monthly newsletter of the Chicago Central Area Committee. For more information about the CCAC or to inquire about membership, please contact Kelly O'Brien at (312) 602-5148 or kobrien@ccac.org.
SOM's "Great Cities, Great Lakes, Great Basin" Exhibition
Great Lakes Discussed at February Lunch Hosted by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
The CCAC would like to thank Douglas Voigt AICP, Director of Urban Design and Planning at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM), for hosting our February 11 lunch. Mr. Voigt gave an audiovisual presentation of SOM’s “Great Cities, Great Lakes, Great Basin” exhibition, mounted around the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s downtown model in the Atrium Gallery of 224 South Michigan Avenue. The exhibition examines issues affecting the Great Lakes, and identifies ideas and strategies for protecting the watershed and ensuring its ecological and economic health into the future. Voigt said that protecting the Great Lakes builds upon the CCAC’s key themes of economic development, leadership, and collaboration, and bridges development with environmental restoration.  
Members also heard from Lt. Col. Kevin Lovell, Deputy Commander, US Army Corps of Engineers—Chicago District. Lt. Col. Lovell discussed the Corps’ inter-agency coordination to address the threat from invasive species in the Great Lakes. He said the Corps submitted an array of potential responses to Congress, and now Congress must decide how to move forward. Possibilities include improvements to the existing fish barrier system, hybrid solutions, policy decisions such as a requirement to clean hulls when moving between water basins, and structural solutions such as locks. 
Racine, Wisconsin Mayor John Dickert
Racine Mayor John Dickert to Lead Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative
Hon. John Dickert, Mayor of Racine, Wisconsin, attended the CCAC February lunch to discuss the role of intergovernmental cooperation in protecting the Great Lakes. Mayor Dickert announced that in 2015 he will become president of the Great Lakes & St. Lawrence Cities Initiative, a bi-national organization of mayors working together across borders to protect the Great Lakes watershed. He told members that protection of the Great Lakes is an issue of key economic importance, and identified protecting the Great Lakes fishing industry from Asian carp as among the region’s top priorities. 

Download Mayor Dickert's bio (PDF)
DPD Deputy Commissioner Brad McConnell
CCAC Hears from DPD Deputy Commissioner Brad McConnell on Neighborhood Planning Initiatives
At the CCAC February lunch, members also heard from Chicago Department of Planning and Deveopment (DPD) Deputy Commissioner Brad McConnell, who discussed the Emanuel administration’s new, neighborhood-based planning initiative. McConnell said DPD is rebuilding its capacity to do local planning. The department will define approximately 16 new geographical areas of Chicago that reflect practical borders, and will inventory businesses, amenities, and open space within those areas in conjunction with local stakeholders to develop new neighborhood-level plans and implement them with the help of the development community. McConnell said DPD welcomed CCAC's planning efforts, including the recent Illinois Medical District Planning charrette and the older Central Area Plan, and is open to deepening its collaboration with CCAC in the future.
Time to Send in Your Dues
CCAC dues invoices for 2014 were mailed to members in January. Our impact on critical Chicago planning decisions is strengthened by the active engagement of our members. We appreciate your continued commitment, and ask that you return your membership donations as soon as possible.
Upcoming Topics
In consultation with the Executive Committee, staff is currently strategizing timely and informative lunch programs for meetings through the end of 2014. Potential topics include public transit, intermodal freight transportation, cultural and tourism planning, development challenges in the Central Area, the infrastructure needs of biotech, and locational challenges for maturing tech companies.
CCAC Meeting Reminder
The CCAC will meet next on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 from Noon to 1:30 p.m. at the offices of Drinker Biddle & Reath, located at 191 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL ( map). On behalf of our host, George McKann, Partner, we hope you will join us! RSVP to kobrien@ccac.org.
(312) 602-5148
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