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, June 9, 2026 6:00 PM Village Hall I. Call to Order Village President Scaman called the Meeting to order at 6:10 P.M. II. Roll Call Village Trustee Eder arrived at 6:16 P.M. Village Trustee Enyia attended Remotely. Present: 6- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia Absent: 1- Village Trustee Wesley III. Consideration of Motion to Adjourn to Closed Session to Discuss the Appointment, Employment, Compensation, Discipline, Performance, or Dismissal of Specific Employees, Security Procedures and the Use of Personnel and Equipment to Respond to an Actual, a Threatened, or a Reasonably Potential Danger to the Safety of Employees and the Public and Public Property, and Ongoing, Prior, or Future Criminal Investigations. It was moved by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, seconded by Village Trustee Straw to adjourn to Executive Session. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 5- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 2- Village Trustee Eder, and Village Trustee Wesley IV. Adjourn to Closed Session V. Reconvene to Regular Meeting in Council Chambers and Call to Order The Regular Meeting reconvened at 7:37 P.M. VI. Roll Call Present: 6- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia Absent: 1- Village Trustee Wesley Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 6/17/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 9, 2026 VII. Agenda Approval Village President Scaman announced that Item Q will be moved from Regular Agenda to Consent Agenda. It was moved by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, seconded by Village Trustee Straw, that this be approved as amended. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. VIII. Minutes A. MOT 26-177 A Motion to Approve Minutes from the May 19, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Village Board It was moved by Village Trustee Eder, seconded by Village Trustee Straw to approve the Minutes. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. IX. Non-Agenda Public Comment Resident Kevin K. expressed concern about eliminating single family zoning in Oak Park, questioning why increased density is needed given current housing availability and the village’s already high population density. He urged more transparency, broader public input, and a clearer explanation of goals before making major zoning changes. Resident Brynne H. questioned the Board regarding the police shooting of Christian Wallace, including why the stop occurred, why Wallace was ordered out of the car, when video will be released, and whether CPOC will be involved. She also raised concerns about racial disparities in policing, community fear, and what actions the trustees plan to take in response. Resident Kristina R. urged the board to confront the role of police violence in the death of Christian Wallace, arguing that government has failed to protect its residents and that current systems cause ongoing harm. She called on trustees to pursue transformative change to ensure such a tragedy never happens again, emphasizing that Oak Park is not exempt from broader patterns of racism and policing. Resident Dot R. urged the board to release the video of Christian Wallace’s killing and ensure the Citizen Oversight Commission is fully involved in the process. They emphasized the need for courage, transparency, and swift truth seeking to avoid deception, delays, or cover ups. Resident Frank S. spoke about the single family zoning debate and emphasized that some supporters of abolition view such zoning as historically tied to racial exclusion. He described his own efforts to understand racism and avoid “white thinking,” and said he plans to return to Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 6/17/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 9, 2026 address what he sees as a major national factor in housing affordability: large private equity firms purchasing single family homes. Resident Michelle S. raised concerns about the high cost and short notice for required lead service line replacements, noting that Oak Park places the full financial burden on residents while neighboring communities offer financial assistance. She asked the village to consider applying for grants, negotiating lower contractor rates, waiving or reducing permit and deposit fees, and covering water meter costs to help lessen the significant expense for affected households. Resident Chris D. reported that the zoning proposal for 61 Roosevelt Road passed the commission and will soon come before the board, which he views as positive for affordable housing. He asked the board to ensure transparency about the property transfer between the current owner and the Community Builders so the village secures fair value and uses public funds responsibly. Resident Rohini D. urged the board to eliminate nonsafety traffic stops, citing ACLU findings and local data showing significant racial disparities and the risks such stops pose, especially for Black and Brown drivers. She asked trustees to redefine what counts as a true safety stop and end policing practices that allow minor infractions to serve as pretexts for unnecessary and dangerous encounters. Resident Monique M. criticized the board and village leadership for lack of responsiveness, citing unresolved resident concerns ranging from hit and run cases to unsafe housing conditions and the high costs of lead service line replacements. She urged stronger accountability, clearer planning, and more decisive action from the president and trustees, emphasizing that residents expect solutions rather than inaction. Resident (name undisclosed) spoke about Oak Park’s transient nature, noting that many families leave because of high taxes and a lack of affordable long term housing options. They emphasized that affordable housing is essential for helping seniors and other long time community members stay in Oak Park. X. Proclamation B. MOT 26-173 A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day - June 5, 2026 Village President Scaman asked Village Trustee Leving Jacobson to read the Proclamation aloud. Alison G. described the ongoing realities of living as a survivor of gun Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 6/17/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 9, 2026 violence from the 2020 Oak Park shooting. She explained that although the incident had influenced her career path, sense of purpose, and personal strength, it had also taken an irreplaceable part of her former self, leaving her with lasting physical and emotional challenges. Despite ongoing grief, she highlighted how survivors continue fighting, supporting one another, and pushing for change because they have already overcome so much together. Rev. Michael H. Chaplain at Loyola Medical Center, reported that during a single weekend shift, the hospital experienced three gunshot wound fatalities, a rate he stated he hoped would not recur. He reflected on his transition from pediatric chaplaincy to Loyola’s Level I trauma center, noting how gun violence had personally affected him as the parent of a teenager whose soccer practices were repeatedly interrupted due to neighborhood shootings. He emphasized that gun violence awareness should be seen as an opportunity to shape a safer future, highlighting recent legislative progress on secure firearm storage and urging continued community advocacy to protect children and reduce violence. It was moved by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, seconded by Village Trustee Straw, that this Motion be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. C. MOT 26-174 A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Celebrating Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer Plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month - June 2026 Village President Scaman read the Proclamation aloud. Out With Purpose Co-chair Lynn G. thanked the Board for the proclamation and urged them to resume stalled LGBTQ+ listening sessions by scheduling the first one this summer and recommitting to completing meaningful protections for transgender residents. It was moved by Village Trustee Straw, seconded by Village Trustee Eder, that this Motion be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. D. MOT 26-175 A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Recognizing Juneteenth Annually on the 19th of June Village President Scaman asked Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer Kellye Keyes to read the Proclamation aloud. It was moved by Village Trustee Straw, seconded by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, that this Motion be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. XI. Village Manager Reports E. ID 26-368 Review of the Board Meeting Calendars for May, June, and July 2026 Village President Scaman and Village Manager Jackson reviewed revised Village of Oak Park Page 4 Printed on 6/17/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 9, 2026 Board Meeting calendars. F. ID 26-385 Update on Heritage House Code Compliance Efforts Neighborhood Services Compliance Manager Tina Brown reported on extensive code enforcement efforts at Heritage House, detailing hundreds of violations identified since 2023 and the corrective actions, citations, and follow up inspections that followed. She explained that most recent resident concerns involve operational or management issues rather than code violations, and emphasized that property management has generally responded and remained compliant compared to similar large multifamily buildings. Neighborhood Services Director/ Asst. Village Manager Jonathan Burch explained that beyond code enforcement, the Village is working to address operational and security issues at Heritage House by coordinating with property management and other partners, building on past improvements like updated fob systems and lobby access. He also noted that the Village plans to revisit and modernize its outdated 1981 nuisance code to strengthen enforcement tools for addressing problematic properties. He explained that the Village has been consulting with HUD to understand when the current assistance contract for Heritage House ends and what enforcement powers HUD can exercise beyond local code authority. He noted that, similar to other ordinances, reaching certain thresholds of violations could trigger additional requirements-such as mandatory improvement plans-giving the community more certainty about corrective actions expected from the property owner or management firm. Resident Carl S., AMENS Group, criticized the Village’s report on Heritage House as failing to reflect the serious quality of life problems residents have repeatedly described. He expressed shock and frustration that longstanding issues persist despite years of public attention, calling for a far more urgent and compassionate response from village leaders. Village Trustee Taglia expressed deep frustration with the ongoing conditions at Heritage House, describing chronic underinvestment, persistent safety and sanitation problems, and residents who feel unsafe and unwelcome in their own building. He urged the board to take much stronger action, including potentially “throwing the book” at management, increasing oversight, and directly engaging with residents to fully confront the severity of the situation. Village Trustee Straw agreed with prior comments and emphasized the need for a strengthened nuisance ordinance to give the Village more legal tools to address chronic mismanagement at problematic properties. He noted that moving certain issues from civil landlord tenant matters into code Village of Oak Park Page 5 Printed on 6/17/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 9, 2026 compliance would allow the Village to act more effectively on behalf of residents who lack the resources to challenge landlords on their own. Village Trustee Leving Jacobson agreed the situation at Heritage House is unacceptable and asked how HUD’s involvement or replacing the current management company might affect residents, including whether such a transition could cause disruption or hardship. She also asked whether other management firms are available that could step in quickly and make the necessary investments to improve conditions. Village Trustee Eder agreed action is needed and asked for clarification on the data behind Heritage House inspections, noting that the initial 533 violations in 2023 seemed inconsistent with the much smaller numbers found in later visits. He requested help reconciling this disparity and understanding whether the Village is inspecting the same units each time or only a subset, and how that might explain the gap between official reports and resident experiences. Former Village Clerk Sandra S. reflected on Oak Park’s history of strong housing enforcement and urged the board to return to more rigorous inspections and proactive oversight. She emphasized that past ordinance enforcement significantly improved housing conditions and encouraged trustees to engage directly with residents and former staff to better understand needed reforms. Village Trustee Enyia expressed deep frustration that serious problems at Heritage House persist despite years of complaints, saying it is heartbreaking and unacceptable for seniors to live in such conditions in a community that prides itself on supporting aging in place. He voiced strong support for aggressive action, including using nuisance enforcement to compel meaningful change or to replace management if necessary, so residents can finally experience safe and dignified living conditions. G. ID 26-387 Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Update Item was Tabled. XII. Village Board Committees XIII. Citizen Commission Vacancies H. ID 26-383 Board and Commission Vacancy Report for June 9, 2026 XIV. Citizen Commission Appointments, Reappointments and Chair Appointments I. MOT 26-178 A Motion to Consent to the Village President’s Appointment of: Plan Commission - Miriam Tamayo, Reappoint as Commissioner Village of Oak Park Page 6 Printed on 6/17/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 9, 2026 It was moved by Village Trustee Eder, seconded by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, that this Motion be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. J. MOT 26-170 A Motion Acknowledging the Village President’s Appointment of Kevin Bueso to the Village Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees and the Village Firefighters’ Pension Fund Board of Trustees It was moved by Village Trustee Eder, seconded by Village Trustee Straw, that this Motion be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. XV. Public Hearing XVI. First Reading XVII. Second Reading XVIII. Consent Agenda Amended to move Item Q from Regular Agenda to Consent Agenda This was approved as amended. Approval of the Consent Agenda It was moved by Village Trustee Leving Jacobsonand seconded by Village Trustee Straw 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 Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Wesley K. RES 26-217 A Resolution Approving a Contract with Strada Construction Company for project 26-3, Sidewalk Improvements, in an amount Not to Exceed $435,109 and Authorizing its Execution This Resolution was adopted. L. RES 26-219 A Resolution Approving Amendment No. 1 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 This Resolution was adopted. M. RES 26-220 A Resolution Approving a Contract with Visu-Sewer of Illinois, LLC for Project 26-10, 2026 Sewer Rehabilitation, in an Amount not to Exceed $350,000 and Authorizing its Execution Village of Oak Park Page 7 Printed on 6/17/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 9, 2026 This Resolution was adopted. N. RES 26-221 A Resolution Approving a Contract with R.W. Dunteman Company for Project 26-2, Resurfacing of Various Streets, in an Amount not to Exceed $4,665,519 and Authorizing its Execution This Resolution was adopted. O. ORD 26-142 *Concur with the Zoning Board of Appeals and Adopt the Ordinance Approving a Special Use Permit for a Banquet/Reception Facility at 6136 Roosevelt Road This Ordinance was adopted. P. ORD 26-143 An Ordinance Authorizing the Donation of Surplus Fire Department Equipment to the Black Fire Brigade This Ordinance was adopted. Q. RES 26-215 Adopt a Resolution Supporting and Consenting to Renewal of the Class L Designation for the Nineteenth Century Charitable Association Located at 178 Forest Avenue This Resolution was adopted. XIX. Regular Agenda R. RES 26-216 A Resolution Approving an Independent Contractor Agreement With Nerd Power Il, LLC for Facility Solar Design and Installation Representing Five Percent of Estimated Total Project Cost to Secure Federal Incentives in an Amount not to Exceed $162,541.00, Authorizing Its Execution and Waiving the Village’s Bid Process for the Agreement Chief Sustainability Officer Lindsey Roland Nieratka explained a proposed agreement with Nerd Power that would allow the Village to pay 5% of projected solar installation costs now in order to lock in federal tax credits and gain four additional years to complete up to seven solar projects. She noted that choosing this option avoids rushing to finish projects by the December 2027 deadline and allows each installation to go through the normal budget and CIP process. She also emphasized that if fewer than seven projects are completed, the upfront 5% would be applied to whichever projects do move forward. Village Trustee Eder asked about the upcoming July 4 deadline tied to tax credit eligibility and why the Village was requesting to waive the bidding process. He expressed concern about the timing but ultimately supported the agreement, citing financial benefits, climate benefits, and the opportunity to secure significant federal incentives. Village of Oak Park Page 8 Printed on 6/17/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 9, 2026 Village Trustee Leving Jacobson supported the proposal and asked how the Village plans to track savings from solar installations, especially given commitments to direct a portion of benefits toward vulnerable populations. She said she is interested in follow up information on monitoring cost savings and ensuring alignment with broader equity goals. Village President Scaman closed the discussion by thanking Lindsay, expressing enthusiasm for the project, and noting that the board is familiar with the proposal and supportive of moving forward. It was moved by Village Trustee Eder, seconded by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, 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 Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 1- Village Trustee Wesley XX. Call to Board and Clerk Village Trustee Straw congratulated the Oak Park Youth Baseball Softball (OPYBS) organization for serving nearly 1,500 children annually and thanked Brendan Heffernan for his dedicated reporting with the Wednesday Journal as he departs. He also reaffirmed her commitment to a full investigation into Christian Wallace’s death and emphasized the need to prevent such tragedies from occurring again in Oak Park. Village Trustee Leving Jacobson reflected on the evening’s proclamations, emphasizing how they are interconnected through themes of truth, equity, and community care. She shared her own long involvement in gun violence prevention, highlighting both the human toll behind the statistics and the disproportionate impact of police involved shootings on Black people. She connected this broader crisis to the recent death of Christian Wallace, noting the painful tension between individual loss and systemic patterns of violence. Village Trustee Eder thanked community members for their engagement and emphasized that public accountability and criticism are essential to the board’s work. He described Christian Wallace’s death as a tragedy and committed to ensuring the release of video footage, supporting a full investigation, and pursuing any necessary policy changes, including reexamining traffic stop practices, to prevent future harm. He also noted an upcoming community event on data centers and invited residents to learn more and share feedback on related policy issues. Village President Scaman invited the community to attend the Juneteenth Village of Oak Park Page 9 Printed on 6/17/2026 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 9, 2026 flag raising ceremony and thanked the many volunteers who help uphold the values reflected in the Village’s proclamations. She noted that she had already shared all she could about ongoing matters earlier in the meeting. She closed by encouraging anyone in need of mental health support to reach out to the Village or partner organizations such as ECHO and Thrive. XXI. Adjourn Adjourn-- It was moved by Village Trustee Leving Jacobson, seconded by Village Trustee Straw to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 9:55 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Deputy Clerk Carswell Village of Oak Park Page 10 Printed on 6/17/2026