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, March 3, 2026 7:00 PM Village Hall I. Call to Order Village President Scaman called the Meeting to order at 7:01 P.M. II. Roll Call Village President Scaman announced that Village Trustee Enyia is remote for reasons within Protocols. Present: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley Absent: 0 III. Agenda Approval It was moved by Village Trustee Eder, seconded by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson to approve the agenda. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. IV. Minutes A. MOT 26-127 A Motion to Approve Minutes from the Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Regular Meeting of the Village Board It was moved by Village Trustee Wesley, seconded by Village Trustee Eder to approve the Minutes. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. V. Non-Agenda Public Comment Resident Jessica K. urged the board to schedule a study session on establishing a 60 foot maximum height standard for Rush Oak Park Hospital. She emphasized the need for a transparent approval process for taller construction near residential homes and expressed frustration with ongoing delays. Resident Bruno G. supported the request for a height limit study because a 125 foot building could significantly affect his residents. He asked the board to honor its previous motion to review construction exceeding 60 feet. Resident David O. expressed strong frustration that the board had not Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 3/11/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 3, 2026 acted on its unanimous June 2023 vote to study lowering height limits in the hospital district. He insisted the delay was unreasonable and asked the board to either move forward or openly state if they no longer intended to. Resident Michael W. supported his neighbors’ comments and stressed that the board was responsible for setting the agenda and directing staff, noting that residents had been patient for 33 months. He urged the board to follow through on its prior commitment to schedule the study session. VI. Proclamation B. MOT 26-128 A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Honoring the Life and Legacy of Reverend Jesse L Jackson, Sr. Village President Scaman asked Village Trustee Wesley to read the Proclamation aloud. It was moved by Village Trustee Enyia, seconded by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, that this Motion be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. C. MOT 26-129 A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Honoring Women’s History Month in the Village of Oak Park, IL March 2026 Village President Scaman read the Proclamation aloud. Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer Kellye Keyes invited the community to the March 21 event celebrating women who shape the world and thanked the board and staff for supporting the recent Black History Month program. It was moved by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, seconded by Village Trustee Wesley, that this Motion be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. VII. Village Manager Reports D. ID 26-215 A Report on Pedestrian (Field) Stop Data from 2025 Police Chief Johnson explained that the police department had compiled all 2025 field contact card data into a single annual report because delays during the year prevented quarterly reporting. She summarized that 569 total cards were completed, most originating from calls for service, and that the stops resulted in 101 arrests. She also described her new strategic intelligence manager’s efforts to automate the process and improve clarity while the department awaited the new records management system (RMS). Village Trustee Wesley thanked the Chief for the transparency and reiterated his appreciation for seeing the data regularly. He explained that Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 3/11/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 3, 2026 reviewing field stop information helped him understand trends, distinguish between self initiated and call for service stops, and assess their outcomes. He emphasized that the value of the information lay in monitoring demographic patterns and maintaining accountability. Overall, he supported continuing the quarterly reports and felt the current graphs greatly improved accessibility. Village Trustee Leving Jacobson appreciated the work behind the report but said she struggled to interpret the data due to inconsistent formats and unclear terminology. She noted racial disparities in the figures but felt unable to draw conclusions without clearer presentation. She requested more standardized reports and definitions of acronyms and technical terms. She connected the issue to board goals around data informed policing and asked for future versions to be easier for both the board and public to understand. Village Trustee Eder commended the transparency but expressed concern that data inconsistencies and slow turnaround times. He encouraged building on the current foundation, potentially with support from CPOC and Pivot, to strengthen the village’s data transparency. He stressed that his feedback was meant constructively and rooted in an expectation that the village could meet higher standards. Village Trustee Taglia said he valued transparency but admitted he found the extensive report difficult to digest and did not gain much insight from it. While appreciative of the police department’s effort to compile such a large document, he questioned how much useful interpretation could realistically come from it. He reiterated his confidence in the police department’s overall judgment and practices. Village Trustee Enyia suggested focusing on outcomes such as search numbers, firearm seizures, drug seizures, and arrest rates to better interpret effectiveness. He supported involving CPOC to help analyze and simplify the information for broader understanding. He emphasized the need for clearer data. Village President Scaman emphasized shared goals around transparency, digestible data, and constructive partnership with the police department. She encouraged one on one discussions between trustees and staff to clarify expectations before future reports. She noted the village’s ongoing work with Pivot and the BerryDunn recommendations to improve policing data systems. E. ID 26-216 Review of the Tentative Village Board Meeting Calendars for March and April Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 3/11/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 3, 2026 VIII. Village Board Committees IX. Citizen Commission Vacancies F. ID 26-222 Board and Commission Vacancy Report for March 3, 2026 This report lists the expected number of members, current number of members seated and number of active vacancies for the Village’s 18 citizen boards and commissions. There are currently 20 vacancies. X. Citizen Commission Appointments, Reappointments and Chair Appointments XI. Public Hearing XII. First Reading G. ORD 26-106 First Reading and Possible Adoption of Ordinance to Amend the 2026 Building and Construction Permit Fees of the Village of Oak Park Director of Development Services Craig Failor explained that the village needed to update its fee schedule to match increased elevator inspection costs and add a $50 administrative fee to cover staff coordination work. He also proposed adding penalties for contractors and homeowners who violate stop work orders and noted that sustainability related permit credits approved in January were included in the updated schedule. Board of Trustees agreed to waive Second Reading. It was moved by Village Trustee Wesley, seconded by Village Trustee Straw, that this Ordinance be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 XIII. Second Reading XIV. Consent Agenda Approval of the Consent Agenda It was moved by Village Trustee Strawand seconded by Village Trustee Wesley 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 Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley Village of Oak Park Page 4 Printed on 3/11/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 3, 2026 NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 H. ORD 26-107 An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”) By Adding a New Article 16 (“Conveyances”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Adopt the Illinois Local Elevator Safety Program to Align with Section 140 of the Elevator Safety Act (225 ILCS 312/140) This Ordinance was adopted. I. RES 26-149 A Resolution Approving and Adopting the Village of Oak Park Climate Ready Energy Rebate Program Guidelines This Resolution was adopted. J. RES 26-151 A Resolution Approving the Renewal of an Independent Contractor Agreement with Revcon Technology Group, INC. for the Service and Maintenance of Parking Access and Revenue Control Systems at the Holley Court and Avenue Parking Garage for Fiscal Year 2026, in an Amount Not to Exceed $110,000 This Resolution was adopted. K. RES 26-154 A Resolution to Approve Certain Citizen Commission Work Plans for 2026 This Resolution was adopted. XV. Regular Agenda L. RES 26-148 A Resolution Approving and Adopting the 2026 Special Events Fee Schedule Village Manager Jackson noted that a full, in depth review of the special events system was scheduled for April. He emphasized that the village had been doing considerable work to evaluate the process and would present broader recommendations soon. Neighborhood Partnerships Administrator Paola Garibay explained the special events permitting process, including when permits were required and how multiple departments reviewed applications for safety and coordination. She outlined application requirements, the 50% upfront payment structure, and emphasized that all fees were based solely on cost recovery. She also described the SPARK Oak Park grant program and ongoing work with staff and peer communities to assess best practices. Village Trustee Wesley expressed appreciation for the detailed overview and asked what the village viewed as the purpose of special events - specifically whether they supported economic vitality or simply community Village of Oak Park Page 5 Printed on 3/11/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 3, 2026 engagement. He requested an analysis of what it would cost the village to reduce event fees by 25% and 50% to explore options for better supporting organizers. Village Trustee Straw asked whether the village analyzed how assigning ambulances or fire vehicles to special events affected overall service delivery. He expressed concern about response times if multiple special events required emergency presence at the same time. After hearing explanations from staff and chiefs, he said he found it helpful to understand how off-duty staffing, reserve vehicles, and limits on certain requests helped prevent service gaps. He also asked about how police staffing was handled under similar circumstances. Fire Chief Terry explained that the department reviewed each special event to understand route impacts and increased visitor volume, but that on-duty crews were not pulled from service for events. He said any requested fire or EMS presence was filled using off-duty personnel and reserve vehicles, ensuring emergency coverage remained intact. He also noted that impacts from traffic rerouting were considered, but emergency response capacity was not reduced. Police Chief Johnson stated that special event police staffing was similarly handled through voluntary extra shifts, and when insufficient, through reassignment from support units. She added that the department was exploring private security options to supplement staffing when needed due to department capacity. This ensured adequate coverage both at events and across the village. Village President Scaman said the discussion was helpful and reflected common municipal practices around impact recovery fees. She emphasized that, beyond cost recovery, she was most interested in how the events process aligned with board goals around economic vitality and tourism. She requested information about the budget for grants and the financial “profit and loss” reality of village supported events. She highlighted the need for balance between supporting community events and maintaining fiscal responsibility. She also encouraged exploring new revenue sources, like museum or liquor taxes, to support future decisions. Village Trustee Taglia agreed with the economic vitality perspective but cautioned that any fee reductions should be paired with identified revenue sources. He said the board would need a clear understanding of the financial impact and a plan for replacing lost revenue if adjustments were made. It was moved by Village Trustee Wesley, seconded by Village Trustee Eder, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote Village of Oak Park Page 6 Printed on 3/11/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 3, 2026 was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 M. RES 26-109 A Resolution Approving the Village Board Goals for 2026-2028 as Reviewed at the July 29, 2025 Village Board Meeting Village Manager Kevin Jackson introduced Deputy Village Manager Lisa Shelley to lead the discussion on the updated goals document, noting that staff had incorporated feedback from the prior summer’s planning session and providing a handout with minor economic vitality updates. He emphasized that department leaders were available for questions and explained that the purpose of the meeting was to review and finalize the board’s goals. He also stressed the importance of measuring community belonging, supported adding clearer survey metrics, and focused on aligning community feedback with ongoing village initiatives.emphasized the importance of measuring community belonging and understanding how village initiatives impacted residents. Deputy Village Manager Lisa Shelley reviewed how the pillars, priorities, and strategic initiatives reflected updates based on the board’s summer discussions. She highlighted new additions, such as references to changing demographics and expanded public health priorities. Lisa clarified that staff aimed to present two-year goals that were ambitious but achievable and invited trustees to raise concerns or request adjustments. She said updated language would be included on the next consent agenda. The revisions would focus on clarity and alignment with board discussion. Chief Communications Officer Dan Yopchick explained that the village’s national community survey already included standard questions on municipal services, though some topics were less relevant due to separate taxing bodies. He noted that staff updates the survey each cycle and can include local questions as needed. He confirmed that new metrics could be added if the board directed. Village Trustee Wesley agreed that belonging should be measured more intentionally and supported improving methods to capture resident experiences. He emphasized that meaningful data was essential for evaluating the success of village initiatives. Village Trustee Straw noted that many goals were interconnected and appreciated how affordability and revenue considerations aligned across the plan. He encouraged using surveys to gather resident feedback on Village of Oak Park Page 7 Printed on 3/11/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 3, 2026 these baseline services and to reach those who rarely contact the board. Village Trustee Enyia supported exploring prioritization and emphasized the importance of civic engagement across the goals. He praised efforts to expand public participation, including through the Welcome Center. Village Trustee Eder reiterated his interest in developing a structured prioritization process and shared that he created a spreadsheet listing all goals for ranking. He proposed that the Reimagining Government Committee review it before it is shared with the full board. Village President Scaman praised the strength of the goals and highlighted the potential role of the Reimagining Government Committee in refining prioritization. She reminded the board to remain attentive to accessibility, especially for older adults. She also noted cultural and economic opportunities, such as pursuing a cultural arts center, and stressed aligning ambitious long term plans with consistent daily service delivery. The Village Board declined to approve RES 26-109 and agreed to revisit at a later date. XVI. Call to Board and Clerk Village President Scaman announced that early voting was underway and encouraged residents to make a plan to vote. She later thanked trustees for supporting the Julian family and highlighted an upcoming proclamation for Faith Julian. Village Clerk Waters reported record early voting turnout, noting that 204 voters participated on the first day- far higher than in previous gubernatorial years. She thanked staff for their welcoming environment. Village Trustee Enyia shared heartfelt remarks about Faith Julian’s terminal illness, expressing the community’s love and support for her and praising Trustee Taglia’s assistance to the family. She emphasized Julian’s lifelong dedication to Oak Park and asked for continued thoughts and prayers. Village Trustee Straw praised the DEI staff for an impactful Black History Month event and encouraged residents to make a solid plan for voting during the early voting period. He emphasized the importance of submitting mail ballots early and understanding voting deadlines. Village Trustee Taglia echoed support for the Julian family and thanked colleagues for visiting Faith Julian. He also raised concerns about the village’s structural deficit and the need to address potential revenue losses, emphasizing the importance of identifying sustainable financial solutions. Village of Oak Park Page 8 Printed on 3/11/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes March 3, 2026 Village Trustee Leving Jacobson praised the recent Black History Month celebration. She also noted that March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and urged everyone to stay up-to-date on screenings. Village Trustee Eder highlighted upcoming meetings on the sustainability fund and Roosevelt Road, noting that March would be full of significant discussions. He ended by expressing concern about U.S. involvement in Iran, urging an end to what he described as an illegal war. XVII. Adjourn It was moved by Village Trustee Straw, seconded by Village Trustee Enyia to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:53 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Deputy Clerk Carswell Village of Oak Park Page 9 Printed on 3/11/2026