Consumer Affairs Commission

Village of Skokie Consumer Affairs Commission Wednesday, April 10, 2024 6:30 P.M. Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie IL, Conference Room A I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER I DECLARATION OF QUOURM TI. INTRODUCTIONS a. Members of the Consumer Affairs Commission b. Carol White, Economic Vitality Coordinator III. OLD BUSINESS IV. NEW BUSINESS a. Shop Local Campaign – Staff will provide ideas for creation of a 2024 theme. b. 2023 Business of the Year and nominee visits -Gary Merrill will report back on his interaction and visit to Charcoal Oven Restaurant. c. Policy recommendations impacting Consumer spending in Skokie V. COMMUNICATIONS a. Village Staff b. CAC Members VI. PUBLIC COMMENT VII. ADJOURNMENT The next regular meeting of the Consumer Affairs Commission is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 6:30 P.M. in Conference Room A. Please note -Supporting Village of Skokie Sustainability Initiatives - Guest Speaker – Lisa Sanzenbacher, Village Sustainability Coordinator shares initiatives in Downtown Skokie will be added to the May agenda as she is unavailable for April 10. #617569  Consumer Affairs Commission Minutes March 6, 2024 – 6:30pm | Meeting called to order by Biju Krishnan Attendance In Attendance:  Biju Krishnan, Chair  Ted Lavine  Jerry Kirkpatrick  George Mathew  Howard Meyer  Natalie Lopatkiewicz  Khem Khoeun, Trustee  Gary Merrill Village Staff:  Johanna Nyden  Carol White Excused:  Regina Kinyui  Pratap Sampat  Nancy Steinfink  Anil Pillai Minutes I. Meeting called to order at 6:30. II. Approval of Minutes. Chair Krishman motioned to approve the minutes from October 13, 2023. Howard Meyer seconded. Motion passed. III. New Business Discussion was focused on what the focus of the Commission would be for 2024. Four (4) topics were chosen. 2024 Business of the Year and implementation of a recognition plan of 2023 winners. The Commission approved the following volunteers to visit 2023 award winners and approved an agreed upon procedure to follow during the visit. 1. Schedule the visit in advance with the business. #618451  2. Inform Carol White, Ecomonic Vitality Coordinator so that she may schedule Village Marketing Coordinator to photo visit. If Marketing Coordinator unavailable, please have someone take photo of your visit and send to Carol White. 3. Introduce yourself and who you represent. Explain why you are there. ‐wear nametag ‐wear t‐shirt representing the Consumer Affairs Commission 4. Ask the following questions? ‐How did it feel to be recognized for 2023 Business of the Year? How did you celebrate it? 5. What can the Village do to help in the success of your business? The Schedule of Visits is as follows: Month of Visit Commission Member Business March 2024 (present back to Gary Merrill Charcoal Oven ‐ Maria Georgouses Commission at April 10 meeting) Franco, Rich Franco 4400 Golf Road (847) 675-8062 April 2024 (present back to Natalie Lopatkiewicz Soul Good Coffee – Christina Commission at May 8 meeting) 773.243.6471 June 2024 (present back to Natalie Lopatkiewicz Take Flight Spirits – Carrie Cole 8038 Lincoln Ave. (847) 324-9373 Commission at July 10 meeting) September 2024 (present back to Biju Krishman Qahwah House – Areeba Jaffery Commission at September 11 5238 W. Touhy (847) 305-1108 meeting) ** It was also identified that a visit to the Farmer’s Market would be appropriate. Ted Lavine volunteered to visit the Farmer’s Market in September and report back at the October 9 meeting. 2024 Business of the Year The following schedule was discussed and agreed on to choose the 2024 Business of the Year and nominees. As of July 1, 2024, ballot boxes will be placed at the four (4) businesses recognized in 2023. The Village will also post a link for online entries in their weekly e‐news and on ExploreSkokie social media sites. The collections will continue until the end of the month. In August 2024, a questionnaire will be distributed to all nominees to be completed and returned by August 30, 2024. Staff will then prepare packets with all the information collected for the Commission to review in September 2024. The Commission will choose the winner and nominees at the October 9 meeting and staff will inform winners with an invitation to the November 18 Village Board Meeting. Creation of a Skokie Specific Shop Local Campaign. Staff and Commission members will return to the April 10th meeting with ideas for this campaign. Staff will specifically look at best practices in other towns and share ideas for consensus at the April 10 meeting. Supporting Village of Skokie Sustainability Initiatives. Commission will support efforts presented by Lisa Sanzenbacher, Village Sustainability Coordinator at the April 10 meeting. The initiative will be focused on Downtown Skokie before expanding outward. Identify policy recommendations that impact Consumer spending. Page 2 The Commission will remain vigilant in their Village travels and report back to the group should a particular issue arise. IV. Communications Village Staff, Carol White shared the tremendous momentum in Downtown Skokie in the opening of new businesses. She was asked to order name tags for Commission members to be used when representing the Commission at Skokie businesses and provide a t‐shirt to Commission member Natalie Lopatkiewicz. It was noted that the murals above Kneads and Wants and Will’s Place are peeling and should be improved. V. Public Comment: None. Motion to adjourn was made at 8:40pm and was passed unanimously. Respectively submitted, Carol White, Economic Vitality Coordinator, Village of Skokie Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 6:30pm Page 3