Community Relations Commission

1 DRAFT 2 Minutes of a Meeting of the 3 Community Relations Commission 4 Northbrook, IL 5 Thursday, August 6, 2015 6 7 Present: Chairman Ray Wehr, Elliot Bruckmann, Dale Duda, Jason Han, Sharon 8 Latek, & Dr. Rochelle Singer 9 10 Representatives: Mary Hansen, Alice Lonoff, Ron Mantegna, Nancy Stoddard 11 12 Absent: Commissioners Bruce Doughty, Safa Hamed, Chris Kosla 13 14 Others: Staff Director Tom Poupard, Staff Liaison, Erik Jensen & Recording 15 Secretary Gale Cerabona 16 17 Call to Order 18 Chairman Wehr called the meeting to order at 7 p.m. in the Board Room at Village Hall. 19 20 Welcome 21 Chairman Wehr noted Jason Han is a new Commissioner to the CRC. 22 23 Thanks to Retiring Commissioner 24 Chairman Wehr advised that Commissioner Duda has been recruited by the Environmental 25 Controls Commission. He recognized Commissioner Duda for all of her efforts (with Flamingo 26 Fridays, etc.). 27 28 Approval of June 4, 2015, Regular Meeting Minutes & Subcommittee Minutes 29 Chairman Wehr noted these would be tabled until the next CRC Meeting. 30 31 Commissioner Han arrived at 7:04 p.m. 32 33 Chairman Wehr welcomed Commissioner James Han who introduced himself and described 34 his background. 35 36 Village Update 37 Staff Director Poupard advised Northbrook Days is on and shared new development projects: 38  350-unit apartment complex on Skokie Boulevard 39  70 townhomes downtown along Shermer Road 40  40 townhomes in another area 41 42 The Affordable Housing component was referenced. It was noted Fair Housing Ordinances are 43 being updated. Chairman Wehr advised of the Subcommittee on this project. Staff Director 44 Poupard noted the trend of younger folks being interested in living closer to where they work. 45 46 Staff Director Poupard introduced Erik Jensen as the new CRC Liaison & Assistant to the 47 Village Manager. Members of the CRC welcomed Staff Liaison Jensen who offered a brief 48 background of himself. 49 50 51  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission August 6, 2015 52 Commission Strategy/Objectives Discussion 53 a. Who are we? 54 b. What should we be doing? 55 c. How do we fulfill our mission? 56 57 Chairman Wehr advised it is time to evaluate the above. He noted events the CRC hosts and 58 discussed their statuses: 59  Asian Heritage and Black History Month are CRC mainstays; should they remain as is? 60  InterFaith Sunday is a triennial event; should another event be scheduled during in- 61 between years? 62  Clergy Luncheon is held in December 63  Welcome to Northbrook 64  Flamingo Fridays 65 66 Chairman Wehr suggested potentially interfacing/liaising with other Commissions. Discussion 67 took place on the above being relative to the CRC’s mission, etc. Chairman Wehr noted after 68 recommendations are established on the above events, ultimately the Village Board will receive 69 the CRC’s action plans. 70 71 Comments included: 72  Commissioner Singer stated that some Commissioners are not present, and they could 73 offer valuable input. She discussed condensing some of the larger events and noted the 74 smaller events have grown. 75  Commissioner Bruckmann noted how some committees have reached out to Police, 76 Fire, etc. for Northbrook Days and Flamingo Fridays, and attendance was well-attended. 77  Representative Lonoff reminded and read the CRC’s mission statement. She 78 commented that some events concur with the mission/criteria. Representative Lonoff 79 suggested a Village Open House on the years when InterFaith Sunday does not occur. 80  Representative Mantegna suggested a treasure-hunt event at various locations. He 81 concurred that the mission statement is met with the Asian Heritage and Black History 82 Month events. 83 84 Representative Mantegna noted there are many people in Northbrook who are not 85 served. Various recommendations for events were mentioned in this regard. 86  Representative Hansen suggested an Immigrant Heritage Month that could be tied in 87 with Taste of Northbrook. Staff Director Poupard advised that Lincolnwood has flags 88 displayed of residents’ places of origin. 89 90 Commissioner Singer noted there is a difference between ethnicity and religion 91 regarding diversity progam. 92 93 Commissioner Latek suggested celebrating diversity. She believes tolerance should be 94 taught to adults also and not only just to children. 95  Commissioner Duda suggested a larger team to coordinate Flamingo Fridays. 96 Commissioner Bruckmann noted his concern about the individual who will step into 97 Commissioner Duda’s role. Commissioner Duda advised the event began in 2009, and 98 she does not want to see the event scaled back. She referenced a book written by 99 Caitlin Kight (available on Amazon) and read an excerpt where Flamingo Fridays is 100 featured. Commissioner Duda will forward a web link to the CRC. 2  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission August 6, 2015 101  Representative Stoddard stated the Flamingo Fridays and Welcome to Northbrook 102 events are important. Commissioner Singer suggested Commissioner Bruckmann be the 103 leader for these events with Commissioner Duda’s consulting asssitance. Chairman 104 Wehr referenced Subcommittees where members could be outside of the CRC and 105 noted that fosters the mission statement. He shared the process of the CRC’s mission 106 statement. 107  Representative Mantegna advised there are more seniors (22%) in Northbrook than any 108 other North Shore City/Village. Chairman Wehr stated there should be a synergistic 109 need between the CRC, Senior Services, and the Youth Commission. 110  Commission Latek reminded and described Inside Out events (that provide 111 intergenerational and disaster assistance projects) which also meet the mission 112 statement’s criteria. Chairman Wehr stated students are often times required to perform 113 community service. Commissioner Bruckmann referenced Northbrook Cares as another 114 possibility for an Inside Out event. 115 116 Chairman Wehr noted next steps are: 117  review events 118  provide assignments 119  ascertain and fill gaps 120  apply synergy for youth, seniors, etc. 121  Staff Liaison Jensen will then provide the Village Board with a report 122 123 Staff Director Poupard noted aspirational Commissions vs. operational ones. He advised that 124 roles always need to be reviewed and potentially revised. 125 126 Numerous Commissioners shared they are in favor of a diversity event. 127 128 Commissioner Singer asked about monetary resources. Staff Director Poupard advised the 129 Village Board approved an increased budget for the CRC. 130 131 Chairman Wehr suggested that Commissioners forward an email to Staff Liaison Jensen with 132 further thoughts on the above events. 133 134 News from Schools 135 Commissioner Latek advised renovations are happening. She advised the theme is “Make a 136 World of Difference” at Westcott School. 137 138 Old Business 139 There was nothing to report. 140 141 New Business 142 There was nothing to report. 143 144 Eyes & Ears on the Street 145  Zucchini Day at the Farmer’s Market on August 19, 2015 146  Series on White Privilege with discussions on September 30, 2015 147  A Day of Service similar to the Martin Luther King Day of Service event on August 30, 148 2015 3  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission August 6, 2015 149  Amy Heiden was awarded the Chicago Bears’ scholarship which will be presented on 150 August 22, 2015 151 152 Next Meeting 153 Chairman Wehr advised the next meeting is September 3, 2015. 154 155 Adjournment 156 A motion was made by Commissioner Singer, seconded by Commissioner Duda, to adjourn the 157 meeting at 7:57 p.m. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 158 159 Respectfully submitted, 160 161 162 163 Gale Cerabona 164 Recording Secretary 4