Community Relations Commission

1 Minutes of a Meeting of the 2 Community Relations Commission 3 Northbrook, IL 4 Thursday, June 5, 2014 5 6 7 Present: Chair Ray Wehr; Members: Elliot Bruckman, Bruce Doughty, Dale Duda, Scott 8 Gertz, Linda Goldsher, Lou Gross, Mary Hansen, Safa Hamed, Sue Huang, 9 Chris Kosla, Alice Lonoff, Ron Mantegna, Dr. Rochelle Singer, Susan Weil 10 11 Absent: Nafisa Choudhury, Nancy Stoddard, and Recording Secretary Julie Weldon 12 13 Others: Robert Lozaro, Liaison Mike Strong, and Jason Batalden 14 15 16 Call to Order 17 The meeting was called to order at 7:00 pm at the Northbrook Police Department, Training 18 Classroom by Chair Ray Wehr. 19 20 Approval of May 1 Community Relations Commission Minutes 21 Motion: (Linda Goldsher - Rochelle Singer) Approve the minutes of the May 1, 2014 22 Community Relations Commission with the following amendments: 23 - Line 13 – Remove Nancy Stoddard and Susan Weil 24 - Line 50 – Change “committee” to “artist” 25 - Lines 77-78 – Add “Member Gertz suggested that a city in Palestine, or Israel, 26 specifically Haifa, be pursued as additional options.” 27 - Line 85 – Change “of” to “to” 28 - Line 91 – Bahai should state “Baha’i” 29 - Carried. 30 31 Asian Heritage Event 32 Commissioner Huang provided a synopsis of this year’s event and explained that there were 33 approximately 1,000 attendees as reported by the YMCA. She stated that the event was within 34 budget, and that the cost sharing of promotional items helped defray costs for the event. 35 Member Huang stated that a wrap up meeting was held a couple weeks prior to the meeting 36 and the group identified some improvements that can be made for future events. 37 38 Member Susan Weil stated that it was great to have so many individuals jump in to help out 39 during the event, and stated that there was media coverage in several local publications. 40 41 Member Ron Mantegna suggested that the raffle be looked at next year, and suggested that 42 some changes to the format be contemplated. Committee member Robert Lozaro stated that 43 he felt more audience participation should be encouraged next year, and that more restaurants 44 be contacted to participate. 45 46 General discussion took place regarding the event and what members thought of it. Overall, the 47 members provided high praise for another successful event. 48 49 50 Flamingo Friday/Welcome to Northbrook Event  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission June 5, 2014 51 Commissioner Dale Duda stated that the event was well attended despite the poor weather. 52 She stated that all of the flamingos were passed out during the event. 53 54 A general discussion took place regarding whether additional flamingos should be purchased for 55 the event. The general consensus was that the number of flamingos available should not be 56 increased, as there are local vendors who provide them for sale. 57 58 Commissioner Bruce Doughty stated that the Geographic Information System (GIS) 59 demonstration was a great addition to the event. He stated that it was nice to see Civic 60 Foundation participate, and applauded the Park District’s efforts to change their activities on the 61 fly due to the weather. Commissioner Doughty suggested that the Committee look to additional 62 civic organizations to participate next year. 63 64 Northbrook Cares Update 65 66 Chair Ray Wehr stated that he is still searching for assistance to complete the web site and that 67 hopefully the group would be meeting in the next few months. 68 69 Sister Cities Update 70 Commissioner Bruce Doughty reported on updates from the subcommittee, and stated that they 71 are moving along in creating and identifying the roles, responsibilities, and appropriate members 72 for a committee that will move this project forward. Commissioner Doughty stated that they are 73 in the process of identifying the purpose of the program which includes, codifying the goals and 74 purpose of the program, and identifying candidate cities that Northbrook would like to consider 75 being involved with. 76 77 Commissioner Safa Hamed stated that she has been in collaboration with Glenbrook North High 78 School to facilitate a discussion with students about the program. Commissioner Hamed stated 79 that the program could also provide an avenue for human exchanges, beyond the typical 80 cultural exchange that is seen in a sister city relationship. She stated that over the next couple 81 of months, the subcommittee is hoping to continue to work on these efforts and will be providing 82 an update to the Commission on its progress in the future. 83 84 General discussion took place regarding opportunities that they would like to see in the cultural 85 or human exchange concept within the Village’s program. 86 87 Some Commissioners expressed concern with the current cultural characteristics of prospective 88 cities being explored and whether they would be a good fit for Northbrook. The Commission 89 requested that the subcommittee continue to develop the characteristics that should be 90 contemplated and evaluated among prospective cities for the program. 91 92 Members agreed that the subcommittee was heading in a good direction, and that they would 93 look forward to any progress made regarding the discussion that was held. 94 95 Northbrook Forum Update 96 Chair Ray Wehr stated that Village President Sandy Frum approached him about coordinating a 97 general forum at a house of worship in the Village sometime this fall. He stated that the 98 purpose of the forum would be to speak openly and genuinely about a topic or theme. He 99 stated that the theme they discussed for this year would be “What is Northbrook?”. Chair Wehr 2  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission June 5, 2014 100 stated that he is currently working on an outline for the event and would have more information 101 at a future meeting. 102 103 104 105 106 Future Planning 107 Chair Ray Wehr stated that the Commission would need to start thinking about future planning 108 for events, which includes a discussion on event chairs, budget, program outlines, and event 109 schedules. He stated that the Commission would be focusing on this during its next scheduled 110 meeting in August. 111 112 News from Clergy Association and Houses of Worship 113 Commissioner Chris Kosla reported that a recent walkthrough was held at Covenant Village, 114 and that significant progress was being made on the project. He also stated that Melissa Erley 115 would be promoted to President of the Association, and encouraged members to get involved in 116 future events and activities. 117 118 Member Elliot Bruckman stated that the Temple Beth ‘El annual golf outing will be held at Chevy 119 Chase on July 20th, and encouraged members to participate in the event or share the 120 information with coworkers. 121 122 News from Schools 123 Commissioner Lou Gross stated that the school year for District 28 was winding down, and that 124 the graduation for the junior high would be held on Monday, June 9. He stated that Westmoor 125 School would be undergoing significant improvements this summer that would help improve the 126 parking situation, as well as improve the interior of the school. 127 128 District 225 held graduation on Sunday for Seniors, and exams are finishing up for everyone 129 else which will end on Friday. Summer school will start on Wednesday, June 11. Also an 130 ongoing enrollment study is taking place, and the district issued a statement a couple weeks 131 ago stating that boundaries will not be moved in the first two school years. 132 133 Old Business 134 Commissioner Dale Duda asked about whether a new member would be joining the 135 Commission to replace the outgoing representatives. Chair Ray Wehr stated that the Village 136 Board may be considering a replacement in the next few weeks. 137 138 New Business 139 Commissioner Linda Goldsher moved, seconded by Member Rochelle Singer, to cancel the 140 regular Commission meeting scheduled for July 3, 2014, motion carried unanimously. 141 142 Member Elliot Bruckman stated that in light of the July meeting cancellation, members should 143 attend the Temple Beth-El golf outing on July 20 at Chevy Chase Golf Course. 144 145 Member Ron Mantegna stated that tickets are still available for the North Shore Chamber 146 Festival which will be held at Northbrook’s Village Presbyterian Church on Wednesday, Friday 147 and Saturday June 4, 6, and 7. 148 3  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission June 5, 2014 149 Member Susan Weil stated that the Northbrook Block Party is coming up on June 7 and will 150 feature games, music, and fun. The event is open to the public. 151 152 Chair Ray Wehr thanked Staff Liaison Jason Batalden for his service to the Commission, and 153 for his support and assistance with the Commission’s events. Chair Wehr also stated that he 154 would be working with new Staff Liaison Michael Strong on the future location of meetings. 155 156 Eyes and Ears on the Street 157  The Farmers Market will open June 18th at Meadow Plaza. Village President Sandy 158 Frum will preside over the watermelon cutting ceremony and Reverend Melissa Earley of 159 Northbrook United Methodist Church will give the blessing. 160  The Encompass Championship in Glenview is looking for volunteers. 161  The Youth Commission’s Film Festival will be held on Monday, June 9, at Glenbrook 162 North High School, you are encouraged to attend as there will be several great entries 163 and candy available to patrons. 164 165 Next Meeting 166 The next meeting will be held August 8, 2014 at a location to be named later. 167 168 Adjournment 169 Motion: (Linda Goldsher – Rochelle Singer) Move to adjourn the meeting at 8:45 pm – Carried. 4