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 Tuesday, May 20, 2025 7:00 PM Village Hall I. Call to Order Village President Vicki Scaman called the Regular Meeting to order at 7:03 P.M. II. Roll Call Trustees Enyia and Straw joined the meeting via video conference per Village policy for remote participation. Present: 6- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley Absent: 0 III. Agenda Approval President Scaman requested to remove Item L from the Consent Agenda to the Regular Agenda. It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, to approve the Agenda as amended. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. IV. Minutes A. MOT 25-183 A Motion to Approve Minutes from the March 18, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Village Board. It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Taglia, to approve the Minutes. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. V. Non-Agenda Public Comment Les Golden (virtual): The Park District approved a renovation of the Field Park playground. Citizen input was ignored. A waiting list for dance classes is driving this $3M project. President Scaman met with concerned citizens. He recommended the Village, Park District, and D97 get together in an IGOV meeting to discuss using the facilities that already exist at Mann School and save our park. Joyce Porter: The Park District is not listening to the residents and giving them what they want rather than imposing a project on them. Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 6/11/2025 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 President Scaman noted the summaries were from the neighbors and not from her. VI. Proclamation B. MOT 25-176 A Motion to Approve a Proclamation National Public Works Week - May 18 - 24, 2025. President Scaman noted the full proclamation can be found on the Village website. It was moved by Trustee Enyia, seconded by Trustee Wesley, to approve the Proclamation. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. C. MOT 25-181 A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Building Safety Month. President Scaman noted the full proclamation can be found on the Village website. It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, to approve the Proclamation. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. D. MOT 25-182 A Motion to Approve a Proclamation National Bike Month May 2025. President Scaman noted the full proclamation can be found on the Village website. It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Straw, to approve the Proclamation. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. VII. Village Manager Reports E. ID 25-333 Upcoming Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance Transition Assistant Village Manager/Neighborhood Services Director Jonathan Burch provided an update. Trustee Taglia inquired about getting the contractors registered. Director Burch said the Village will do more dedicated enforcement. Business licenses are only required if the business is established here in Oak Park. Trustee Wesley inquired about ticketing. Director Burch confirmed ticketing would be to both the contractors and the homeowners. Trustee Wesley said he does not want one to be ticketed without the other. He said the residents helping with enforcement feels icky to him. You need to talk to your neighbor and not just call the cops on them. The only way to keep this contained and reasonable is if there is interpersonal accountability amongst neighbors. He noted most contractors are going to be Hispanic where English is their second language so he wants the homeowner who hired them to also be held accountable. Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 6/11/2025 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 F. ID 25-367 Review of the Tentative Village Board Meeting Calendars for June, July, and August 2025. Deputy Village Manager Lisa Shelley presented the updated calendars. The June 3 bike plan update is a study session. The vote is designed to be about four weeks later in July. VIII. Village Board Committees There were no comments. IX. Citizen Commission Vacancies G. ID 25-369 Board and Commission Vacancy Report for May 20, 2025 There were no comments. XI. Consent Agenda Approval of the Consent Agenda It was moved to approve the items under the Consent Agenda. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 H. MOT 25-169 A Motion to Approve the Bills in the Amount of $5,185,607.73 from April 4, 2025, through May 1, 2025 This Motion was approved. I. RES 25-191 A Resolution to Approve Additional Implementation Hours to Current Agreement and Integration of BS&A Financial Software into AmpliFund. This Resolution was adopted. J. RES 25-195 A Resolution Approving a Towing Services Agreement with O’Hare Towing Services for a Two-Year Period with an Option to Renew for a One-Year Period and Authorizing its Execution. This Resolution was adopted. K. RES 25-203 A Resolution Approving a Contract with H. Linden & Sons Sewer and Water, Inc. for the 24-11 Water and Sewer Improvements Project, in an Amount not to Exceed $5,018,708, and Authorizing its Execution This Resolution was adopted. Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 6/11/2025 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 M. RES 25-216 A Resolution Approving the Engagement of an Additional Law Firm for Legal Services to be Performed on Behalf of the Village of Oak Park This Resolution was adopted. XII. Regular Agenda L. RES 25-205 A Resolution Approving and Adopting the Village of Oak Park’s Official Zoning Map Development Services Director Craig Failor presented the Item. Trustee Wesley said he refuses to vote for a zoning map that's racist. The zoning code has been in existence in Oak Park for decades and designed by the godfather of racist zoning Harlan Bartholomew and codified year after year without changes as we tout our inclusiveness, diversity, and commitment to equity. He hopes we will take the time and spend the effort to unwind the racism that is built into the current statute so a zoning code going forward can be without that built-in economic and race-based segregation. Unlike other communities, we are not eliminating single-family zoning. The fact that Oak Park is expensive is not unintentional. The point of the zoning code is to limit the supply of housing which thereby drives up the price of housing which then limits the number of certain people who can live here. We have the power at this Board table to say no. Trustee Leving Jacobson said she is also interested in eliminating single-family zoning as exclusionary housing is harmful. She is interested in approaching it comprehensively in a broader housing plan to look at both affordability and integration. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus report recommended a zoning reform advisory task force. She said she would like to look at the zoning map with a more robust Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO). Director Failor said staff met with the Village Board last June to discuss the zoning map and opportunities to eliminate or reduce single-family zoning. Staff met with MMC on several occasions. The Village is close to launching an RFP to look at the zoning ordinance, map, classifications, and missing middle housing opportunities. Staff heard what the Village Board said and are on our way to trying to do what Trustees Wesley and Leving Jacobson have indicated this evening. Trustee Straw noted that he and Trustee Wesley said they would vote for it last year but they would not vote for it again. We have enough information to eliminate exclusionary zoning, allow the construction of 2, 3, and 4-flats across Oak Park. The RFP can focus instead on additional steps to incentivize the construction of those so we can achieve our goals and Village of Oak Park Page 4 Printed on 6/11/2025 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 consider those other missing middle approaches. We do not need to pause consideration of eliminating exclusionary zoning before we study those other things. When putting out the RFP, we need to examine the appropriateness of both the scale of our historic districts and the scope of our historic preservation guidelines that make any work that homeowners want to do on their houses cost prohibitive and extend the timeline for that construction, which decreases diversity and increases expensive housing. He said he is ready to move forward on eliminating exclusionary zoning. President Scaman said she agrees with everything that has been said. She said she trusts it is worth working through the RFP and discussion for the benefit of our community. The protocol and goal-setting sessions will also be very fruitful. It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, 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 Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, and Village Trustee Taglia NAYS: 2- Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley ABSENT: 0 N. MOT 25-162 A Motion to Receive the Citizen Police Oversight Committee’s Semi-Annual Report Citizen Police Oversight Committee (CPOC) Chair Kevin Barnhart presented the Item. Trustee Wesley said he appreciates the report and the work of CPOC. Trustee Taglia inquired about the number of complaints and calls for service. Chair Barnhart said there were two complaints in the past six months. Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said for 2024, there were 42,000 police engagements where individuals called the police. Trustee Leving Jacobson said she would like to give CPOC more information so it can do the work it is tasked to do. She asked if CPOC has models from other communities regarding the flock ALPR oversight. Chair Barnhart said they have a consultant in Pivot Consulting Group who is helping CPOC revamp their rules to be able to go beyond just looking at compliance. Pivot is going to make a list of recommendations for us to follow. President Scaman asked why this is being brought to the Village Board now. Chair Barnhart said CPOC had been asked to look at this before Pivot was chosen as the vendor. She said she thinks Pivot is doing an Village of Oak Park Page 5 Printed on 6/11/2025 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 outstanding job and she is very grateful and she will be pausing until the Pivot report comes back. The capacity building is an important piece to this. Trustee Taglia said he agrees that we are going to have an outcome very shortly and we should consider that. Chair Barnhart said it would be considered as part of the overall package of what is going on. There is no way to evaluate flock without some way to measure it. Trustee Enyia said he has the privilege of working with CPOC as its Board liaison and Pivot and he wholeheartedly supports the recommendations as they have a track record for getting these things right. Trustee Straw agreed with CPOC's recommendation and waiting until we get Pivot's report before making adjustments to the CPOC ordinance. Chief Johnson said she supports waiting on the consultant's assessment and researching if there are other communities that have oversight over the license plate readers. She said the police department is happy to do whatever the Board desires. It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, that this Motion be approved. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 O. RES 25-196 A Resolution Approving a Sponsored Services Agreement with the Board of Trustees of The University of Illinois for the Village of Oak Park Building Assessments and Energy Efficiency Education for Commercial Tenants & Landlords Program in an Amount Not to Exceed $100,000 and Authorizing its Execution. Chief Sustainability Officer Lindsey Roland Nieratka presented the Item. Trustee Taglia inquired about the scope of work and if the five different types of buildings are not known. CSO Nieratka said building owners are interested in getting assistance from the Village to do full audits to help them understand opportunities and provide guidance on switching out certain technologies. Trustee Leving Jacobson asked how the different businesses and landlords will be identified. CSO Nieratka said they are looking for buildings that are already benchmarking through our ordinance. Development Services is promoting this opportunity to our business Village of Oak Park Page 6 Printed on 6/11/2025 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 community and help people get into compliance with the benchmarking ordinance. Staff will work with CDAC to look at the data to determine which buildings will get the most benefit from engaging and which businesses are interested. We will then design what the education outreach looks like. It will have in person, virtual, and hybrid options. Trustee Wesley asked if the results will be used to build out building profiles that we can then apply across the village and be used for education, which CSO Nieratka confirmed. This agreement is for the four educational events. Webinars will be recorded and materials will be housed on the Village website. Trustee Taglia asked if the Village came up with the $100K amount and then built out the budget to match that amount. CSO Nieratka confirmed the budget requested was based on the 2024 proposal. He said this is a good way of budgeting and looking at larger capital projects as well. President Scaman said she appreciates what this does for us. She recommended that one or two of the buildings be in dense areas. It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Enyia, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 XIII. Call to Board and Clerk Trustee Wesley congratulated Fire Chief Ron Kobyleski on his retirement. He welcomed Trustee Leving Jacobson. Trustee Taglia said he supports the bike plan and build-out of the greenway system in Oak Park. He and Trustee Wesley met with about 30 residents to discuss their concerns including how decisions were made, how Harvard Street was chosen, material changes to the car volume criteria and budget estimates, and the lack of ability to ask questions and get a specific response to questions. He appreciates that staff has met with residents but there is a lack of information that is concerning to him. He proposed a public meeting for Village staff and residents to engage and have a thorough discussion, preferably between the June 3 and July vote so it does not delay the process. He requested that Village staff let him know if this is possible. Trustee Straw noted his wife and parents are traveling so he is overseeing his children while participating in this meeting, which is only possible Village of Oak Park Page 7 Printed on 6/11/2025 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes May 20, 2025 because we implemented Board protocols that are designed to allow trustees to participate remotely when there is a childcare necessity. He said he is glad we are doing these very basic things to make serving as trustees a bit more accessible for folks who have young families. President Scaman noted this was made possible when the Governor expanded the rights following COVID-19. Trustee Enyia thanked Chief Kobyleski and his family for serving Oak Park for over 40 years. He said he is supportive of the bike plan and wants to make sure the Harvard residents have their time to speak to the Board because this needs more attention. Clerk Waters congratulated the OPRF High School prom goers and said we are all looking forward to graduation on June 1. She congratulated those who walked the entire perimeter of Oak Park, 9.5 miles, on Sunday. We plan to do it once a month. The Village is collaborating with several organizations tomorrow, May 21, 5:30-7:30 PM at the Austin PCC Family Health Center, 5461 W. Lake Street. Come enjoy the perspectives of medical and perinatal professionals across communities and organizations. Call Clerk Waters at 708-358-5672 to register. Dinner will be served by Passion Eats Catering and childcare will be provided by the Collaboration for Early Childhood. President Scaman acknowledged the passing of Project Unity president Nile Gossett and expressed her condolences to his friends and family. She noted her Move with the Mayor T-shirt and thanked the Public Health Department and Village Manager's Office for helping to coordinate the movement to promote taking a moment to consider your mental and physical health. She walked with residents from Village Hall to the Oak Park Farmers' Market and participated in gym classes at Mann and Longfellow schools and thanked the teachers and school administrators. River Forest is having their 100th Anniversary Memorial Day parade on Monday starting at 9:30 AM on the corner of Iowa and Ashland. There will be a Memorial Day ceremony starting at 11:00 AM at Scoville Park. Day in our Village is Sunday, June 1. She congratulated our 2025 graduates and Trustees Leving Jacobson and Taglia. XIV. Adjourn It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, to Adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. Meeting adjourned at 8:36 P.M., Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Respectfully submitted, Deputy Clerk Hansen Village of Oak Park Page 8 Printed on 6/11/2025