Council members directed city staff on Nov. 25 to advance Concept 1 for the Lakeshore Drive reimagination and approved amending the capital improvement plan to include funding for the I‑41 pedestrian bridge.

Planning staff presented two 3‑D design concepts for the Lakeshore Drive area. Staff said advisory boards (Parks Board, Museum, Arts & Culture board) and a public survey recommended Concept 1. Council members asked questions about tree impacts, impervious surface, and utility access; staff said the project is roughly 40–50% through design development and that details such as path routing and tree selection can be refined as design advances. Several council members expressed preference for Concept 1 because it opens more lakefront access while improving maintenance access to the clear well structures.

Separately, Council considered Resolution 25‑618 to amend the capital improvement plan to include funding for the I‑41 pedestrian bridge. One council member (Flom) recorded a "present" vote, citing the project’s federal discretionary funding; the resolution nevertheless passed by a recorded vote of 5‑2. Members said the bridge funding ties to broader efforts to improve pedestrian connectivity and to leverage federal resources to complete major infrastructure projects.

Council directed staff to proceed with the preferred Lakeshore concept and to continue detailed design work, and adopted the bridge funding amendment as part of the capital plan.