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 Thursday, February 15, 2024 7:00 PM Village Hall I. Call to Order Village President Vicki Scaman called the Special Meeting to order at 7:03 P.M. II. Roll Call Trustee Enyia joined the meeting via remote participation per Village policy Trustee Straw joined the meeting at 7:15 P.M. 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. Agenda Approval It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Parakkat, to approve the Agenda. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. IV. Non-Agenda Public Comment Monica Lewis: She was sought after regarding the Percy Julian Museum and Learning Center and hopes this will pass. She said all extended Julian family members should be involved. V. Regular Agenda A. RES 24-137 A Resolution Approving a Funding Grant and Operating Agreement between the West Side Service Connector, d/b/a the Oak Park Family Transitional Shelter and the Village of Oak Park to Fund and Operate a Shelter Space for Asylum Seekers Residing in the Village and Authorizing its Execution President Scaman said all three Agenda Items will be discussed at once and voted on separately. Village Manager Kevin Jackson introduced the Item and Assistant Village Manager/HR Director Kira Tchang presented the Item. Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 3/6/2024 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes February 15, 2024 Trustee Buchanan inquired about the three Village employees to provide oversight. Director Tchang said they would be in a leadership capacity to ensure the Village has 24/7 direct visibility into and oversight of shelter operations at the request of our insurance carrier. The would be new temporary employees. Oak Park Family Transitional Shelter Director Jack Crowe said the oversight is welcome. Trustee Buchanan asked what will happen if SMASS does not fund it. Director Tchang said the Village has been in discussions with the Archdiocese, the state, and the county and they will approve additional funding for the direct employment of Village staff if approved by the Village Board. Trustee Buchanan reiterated her lack of enthusiasm for the Archdiocese's position on this and wished they had stepped up instead of putting this back on the Village when they have the wherewithal to play their role in hosting the migrants. At the request of Trustee Straw, Director Crowe described the programmatic offerings at the site. Trustee Straw inquired how the skills of the migrants will be determined. Director Crowe referenced the organization Year Up Chicago and said the first step is gaining trust and then determining skill sets to match with appropriate work. Trustee Straw asked how the budget will change with the decreasing shelter population. Director Crowe said we will start with the maximum number of people we can handle. If we have half the number of residents, we will make the appropriate adjustments to staff. Trustee Straw noted the likelihood of staffing needs decreasing over the four months as folks get resettled. Director Crowe said if the shelter becomes empty, they will shut down. Trustee Straw inquired about the future of the site and services. Director Crowe said he thinks we have policy choices to make going forward. Trustee Straw acknowledged the desire to grow capacity and serve populations who have been in need for decades. Director Crowe said part of the consolidation of Catholic parishes included an outreach of social ministry to the West wide of Chicago providing shelter and services. Trustee Buchanan inquired if the housing services included in the wraparound services are the same as the resettlement task force. Director Crowe responded that they will be working with the task force with the generous $450K. The Migrant Ministry has its own housing program and has been doing its own private philanthropy and he said he thinks there is a way we can collaborate. He said he wants to speak with the Oak Park Regional Housing Center about sourcing some units. Trustee Buchanan inquired who will supervise the three new Village employees. Director Tchang said the Village has not yet identified that and Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 3/6/2024 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes February 15, 2024 can follow up with that information. The Village will begin recruitment as soon as the Village Board approves the grant application. Those hires would not delay the migrants moving into St. Edmunds. It was moved by Trustee Buchanan, seconded by Trustee Enyia, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 4- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, and Village Trustee Straw NAYS: 3- Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Wesley ABSENT: 0 B. RES 24-142 A Resolution Approving an Amendment to the Grant Application with the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus for Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services (SMASS) in Partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services from $1,944,000 to $2,070,750 It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Enyia, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 4- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, and Village Trustee Straw NAYS: 3- Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Wesley ABSENT: 0 C. RES 24-143 A Resolution Approving a Lease Agreement between the Catholic Bishop of Chicago and the Village of Oak Park to Provide Shelter Space for Asylum Seekers Residing in the Village and Authorizing its Execution Subject to the Village Entering into an Operating Agreement for the Shelter Space It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 4- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, and Village Trustee Straw NAYS: 3- Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Wesley ABSENT: 0 VI. Call to Board and Clerk Clerk Waters announced that Early Voting starts March 4. VII. Adjourn It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, to Adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. Meeting adjourned Thursday, February 15, 2024 at 7:36 P.M. Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 3/6/2024