President and Board of Trustees

123 Madison Street Village of Oak Park Oak Park, Illinois 60302 www.oak-park.us Meeting Minutes President and Board of Trustees Wednesday, July 5, 2023 6:00 PM Village Hall I. Call to Order Village President Vicki Scaman called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:06 P.M. II. Roll Call Trustees Robinson and Straw joined the Meeting at 6:11 P.M. during Executive Session. Clerk Waters joined the Meeting via video conference per Village policy for remote participation. Present: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley Absent: 0 III. Consideration of Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session to Discuss Pending Litigation It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, to adjourn into Executive Session. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 5- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 2- Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Straw V. Reconvene to Regular Meeting in Council Chambers and Call to Order The Regular Meeting reconvened at 7:24 P.M. VI. Roll Call Present: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley Absent: 0 VII. Agenda Approval Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 8/1/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes July 5, 2023 It was moved by Trustee Enyia, seconded by Trustee Wesley, to approve the Agenda. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. VIII. Minutes A. ID 23-323 Motion to Approve Minutes from Regular Meeting of June 5, 2023 and Special Meeting of June 12, 2023 of the Village Board. It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Enyia, to approve the Minutes. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 IX. Non-Agenda Public Comment There was no Non-Agenda Public Comment. X. Village Manager Reports There was no Village Manager Report. XI. Village Board Committees & Trustee Liaison Commission Reports There were no comments. XII. Citizen Commission Vacancies B. ID 23-325 Board & Commission Vacancy Report for July 5, 2023. There were no comments. XIII. Consent Agenda Approval of the Consent Agenda It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Enyia, to approve the items under the Consent Agenda. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 C. RES 23-209 A Resolution Approving an Amendment to a Professional Services Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 8/1/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes July 5, 2023 Agreement with Health Inspection Professionals, Inc. to Extend the Term for an Additional Six Months through December 31, 2023 and to Change the Not to Exceed Amount from $48,000 to $96,000 and Authorizing its Execution This Resolution was approved. D. RES 23-213 A Resolution Approving a Contract with R.W. Dunteman Company for Project 23-2, Resurfacing of Various Streets, in an Amount not to Exceed $2,877,840 and Authorizing its Execution This Resolution was adopted. E. RES 23-218 A Resolution Approving a Task Order for Professional Engineering Services with V3 Companies, Ltd. for Construction Engineering Services for Project 23-2, Resurfacing of Various Streets, in an Amount Not to Exceed $218,053 and Authorizing its Execution This Resolution was adopted. F. RES 23-219 A Resolution Approving an Agreement with the State of Illinois for the North Avenue (IL 64) Intelligent Transportation System Project, Contract No. 62N40, in an Amount Not to Exceed $40,072, Authorizing its Execution and Approving a Funding Resolution for Said Agreement This Resolution was adopted. G. ORD 23-58 An Ordinance Establishing All-Way Stops at the Intersection of South Boulevard and Scoville Avenue This Ordinance was adopted. H. ORD 23-73 An Ordinance Authorizing the Donation of Surplus Bicycles Owned by the Village of Oak Park This Ordinance was adopted. XIV. Regular Agenda I. MOT 23-70 Discussion of Regulations to Require the Safe Storage of Firearms in Homes in the Village and to Allow the Village to Buyback Weapons Manager Jackson introduced the Item. Rev. Michael G. Hayes, staff chaplain at Loyola University Medical Center: We have waited too long for lasting common sense policies to help stem this public health crisis in this community. Urges the Village Board to listen to the voices of the victims and pass a measure requiring that all firearms be secured with gun locks. Trustee Straw withdrew the motion to direct staff to draft an ordinance Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 8/1/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes July 5, 2023 since it is already on the agenda. Manager Jackson responded that staff would not put an ordinance on the agenda without first getting direction from the Village Board. The motion is an option for the Village Board to consider the ordinance. Trustee Straw said he does not support requiring identification (ID) when surrendering a firearm. Police Chief Shatonya Johnson responded that the Oak Park Police Department (OPPD) supports the program. Current policy requests an ID to write a report and ensure the firearm has not been used in a crime, reported stolen, and to keep individuals accountable. OPPD will accept a firearm from anyone who does not wish to provide ID. OPPD acquired 17 firearms in the past year. Trustee Straw wondered if it would be safer to have an anonymous program than to have people dispose of guns elsewhere. Chief Johnson said this community is about accountability and serving victims and families and she would like to require ID for a buyback program and thinks it will be equally successful. President Scaman added the importance of building relationships. Trustee Buchanan said she supports directing staff to create an ordinance and she supports an anonymous buyback program. Trustee Robinson said she supports OPPD's current practice. Trustee Wesley asked if a surrendered firearm has ever led to an arrest or closure of a case. Chief Johnson said the process takes two years before a firearm can be destroyed so she would have to research that answer. Trustee Wesley said he supports anonymous and requesting ID but not requiring it. Trustees Parakkat and Enyia and President Scaman agreed with Trustee Wesley. It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, that this Motion be approved. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 L ORD 23-75 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 27 (“Weapons”), Article 1 (“Firearm Sale or Rental”), Article 2 (“Possession and Carrying of Weapons”), Article 4 (“Penalties”) and Section 27-4-2 (“Voluntary Delivery to Police Department”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Allow for the Village to Village of Oak Park Page 4 Printed on 8/1/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes July 5, 2023 Buyback Weapons and Regulate the Safe Storage of Firearms Nora Schlesinger: Resident expressed strong support for secure gun storage ordinance and urged Village Board to pass it as soon as possible to keep Oak Parkers safe and prevent accidental gun deaths in our community. Jenna Leving Jacobson, local lead for Moms Demand Action: May and June has seen a record number of unintentional shootings by children. Urged the Village Board to establish local regulations requiring the secure storage of firearms in Oak Park. Also supports the proposed amendment that would allow for the anonymous surrender of firearms. Crime and violence prevention must be the priority of this body. Trustee Parakkat said he supports the ordinance as amended. If Chief Johnson's concern becomes a reality, he said he would support an updated ordinance. Trustee Robinson said she supports the ID requirement because of the impact to victim's families, including her own. She said she fully supports the rest of the ordinance but does not support the ID requirement. Trustee Straw referenced Section 27-2-2 subsection D which notes that this ordinance can provide the basis for civil liability for the owner who does not adequately secure their firearm. He said this is a very good ordinance and significant action toward addressing gun violence. President Scaman said building relationships with neighboring communities and organizations to get at some of the root causes of gun violence is a shared agenda as well. Trustee Straw moved to make a friendly amendment and remove the strikethrough of the word "identification" in Section 27-4-2 of the ordinance; Trustee Buchanan seconded. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: Straw-Aye, Buchanan-Aye, Enyia-Aye, Parakkat-Nay, Robinson-Nay, Wesley-Aye, and President Scaman-Aye. It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, that this Ordinance be adopted as amended. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 Village of Oak Park Page 5 Printed on 8/1/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes July 5, 2023 J. MOT 23-67 A Motion to Select an Option for the Police Station Improvement Project and Direct Staff to Prepare Final Conceptual Design Drawings and Advance to Schematic Design the Village Board’s Selected Option Manager Jackson introduced the Item. Public Works Director Rob Sproule presented the Item with FGM Architects Vice President Ray Lee and Architect Louise Kowalczyk. The four options presented are: 1) Build a police station addition on the existing site and renovate the basement; 2) Build a new station elsewhere; 3) Build a new station elsewhere and renovate Village Hall; or 4) Rebuild a new Village Hall and station on the existing site. President Scaman said she toured OPPD's station in 2015 and saw and heard how challenging it is to work and serve the community from Village Hall's basement. She spoke from her experience about the challenges of working in Village Hall including noise, wasted space, lack of disability access, lack of sustainability, and temperature problems. Trustee Robinson noted that the independent BerryDunn report identified the same issues as FGM Architects. She asked if the preference is to keep staff and OPPD in the same location. Manager Jackson affirmed that would be most desirable or for them to be in close proximity. She asked if the highest numbers might increase even more. VP Lee said they compared all of their bids from 2019 and the present to understand the cost increases and he thinks this is a good solid number to work with. Relocation costs are not included. Trustee Robinson said she favors Option 4. Trustee Parakkat asked if 30 years is a typical timeframe. VP Lee said the buildings will last longer but 30 years is when systems start to need replacing. Trustee Parakkat said he supports Options 1 and 4 and recommended a referendum for Option 4 as he does not think there is enough community support to modify Village Hall. VP Lee estimated the cost of repairs to the existing Village Hall to be $14-$16M over the next 10 years. Trustee Buchanan recommended that FGM Architects read the BerryDunn report. She asked if an onsite firing range is necessary. Chief Johnson responded that going off-site would be a logistical challenge. Trustee Buchanan inquired about increased parking. VP Lee responded that inadequate parking can pose safety issues for officers. Trustee Buchanan said she is in favor of Option 4. Trustee Enyia said he wants officers to feel a sense of pride in their workplace and he supports Option 3A or 4. Village of Oak Park Page 6 Printed on 8/1/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes July 5, 2023 Trustee Wesley said the $1,000/square foot seems extremely high. VP Lee said that includes contingencies fees and furnishings in addition to construction costs. Trustee Wesley said the 78,000 square feet seems large. VP Lee said there are a lot of things missing in the current building. Trustee Wesley inquired about the 25% increase in size for Village Hall. Manager Jackson said the Village's remote work policy is now permanent. The proposal includes some clinical space for the health department. A public process will be built into the next phase of schematic design. There is always the option to change course though that might add expense and time. Trustee Wesley said he is in favor of Option 4 if it has a referendum. He asked if the Village is considering partnerships with other governments. Manager Jackson said the Village would be supportive of that interest. VP Lee said a schematic design phase with community input can take 3-4 months. Trustee Straw referenced Appendix B in the BerryDunn report regarding alternative responses to calls for service and the potential for changing the police and public safety infrastructure. VP Lee said their firm is working with other communities having those same discussions. Manager Jackson said those considerations would be fleshed out in the next stage and coincide with the task force's timeline. Trustee Straw said he favors Option 3A. Manager Jackson suggested the Village Board could choose two options for a conceptual phase with community engagement and then choose one of those options to move forward with schematically. Director Sproule said if the Village can begin the schematic design process, it will be able to provide the public with better information and can either move forward or circle back based on community feedback. President Scaman said she favors Option 4. Manager Jackson asked VP Lee if Option 3A is compatible enough with Option 4 to be a concurrent consideration. VP Lee said the difficulty would be identifying a site to be able to do it concurrently which can take some time. The majority of Trustees were in favor of Option 4. It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Robinson, that this Motion be approved. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 5- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 2- Village Trustee Parakkat, and Village Trustee Straw ABSENT: 0 Village of Oak Park Page 7 Printed on 8/1/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes July 5, 2023 XV. Regular Agenda for Items Pursuant to Village Code Chapter 3 Alcoholic Liquor Dealers or Related M. ORD 23-68 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 3 (“Alcoholic Liquor Dealers”), Article 8 (“List of Licenses For Each License Class”), Section 3-8-1 (“Number of Licenses Permitted to be Issued Per License Class”) and Section 3-8-2 (“Licenses by Name and Address Per License”) of the Oak Park Village Code for the Issuance of a Restaurant Class B-2 Liquor License to VFJ Enterprises II Inc., DBA Chicago’s Home of Chicken & Waffles Attorney Stephanides introduced the Item. Liquor Control Review Board Chair Sarah Corbin introduced the Item. Trustee Enyia left the Meeting at 10:38 P.M. It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Wesley, that this Ordinance be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 5- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Enyia RECUSED: 1- Village Trustee Parakkat N. ORD 23-67 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 3 (“Alcoholic Liquor Dealers”), Article 8 (“List of Licenses For Each License Class”), Section 3-8-2 (“Licenses by Name and Address Per License”) of the Oak Park Village Code for the Issuance of a Restaurant Class B-4 Liquor License to Sistar 5 Inc., DBA Rustico Attorney Stephanides introduced the Item. An owner from Rustico introduced the Item. It was moved by Trustee Robinson, seconded by Trustee Straw, that this Ordinance be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 5- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Enyia RECUSED: 1- Village Trustee Parakkat K. ID 23-324 Cultural Competency Training Part 2 Manager Jackson introduced the Item. Village of Oak Park Page 8 Printed on 8/1/2023 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes July 5, 2023 Chief DEI Officer Dr. Danielle Walker presented the Item and led the Trustees through Part 2 of the training. XVI. Adjourn It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Straw, to Adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. Meeting adjourned at 11:46 P.M., Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Respectfully submitted, Deputy Clerk Hansen Village of Oak Park Page 9 Printed on 8/1/2023