Residents criticize Old Firehouse stakeholder process; council schedules focus groups and stakeholder review

Several residents expressed frustration during public comment about the stakeholder process for the Old Firehouse Teen Center, saying the stakeholder list was overstaffed with city staff and commissioners, that meetings were not being recorded and that community voices were being sidelined.
A speaker identifying themself as Wolf Adriatico said the stakeholder group exceeded a stated 20-member limit and "everyone is pointing the finger at each other" over who approved the list. He said the initial stakeholder meeting felt like a one-way presentation rather than a dialogue.
Chester Anderson, a resident who said they relied on the firehouse as a "third space" for teens, said closing the facility had "closed down a vital third space and public resource to teens who need it most." Anderson said they helped start the stakeholder group to get teens' perspectives into the process and expressed concern the city was steering toward redevelopment rather than investing in teens. Another speaker urged that focus-group sessions be open, recorded and accessible to the public.
Council response: Council President Kritzker and other council members acknowledged the concerns and outlined ways to increase outreach. Kritzker said the stakeholder kickoff had occurred and that the city planned focus groups for Sept. 22 and Sept. 24; he said summary material and focus-group information would be distributed so council members can share invitations in their networks. "We'll find a way for the focus group information to not only go to the stakeholder group ... but also will include the direct feedback from the focus groups to council," Kritzker said.
What happens next: The council subcommittee directing the process said it will receive input from the stakeholder group over the coming weeks and that the focus-group summaries will be provided to council. No final decision on the facility was taken at the meeting; council members said they expect recommendations after the stakeholder and focus-group process concludes.