Community Relations Commission
Regular MeetingWheaton, IL · October 1, 2025
Minutes
COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
WHEATON CITY HALL 50$ W WESLEY STREET, WHEATON, ILLINOIS 60157
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
7:00 to 8:30 pm
Gamon Room, Wheaton City Hall
I. Call to Order - 7:04 PM
II. Roll Call —
In Person: Dave Sohmer, Kathy Bushong, Shauna Thorson, Andrea Clayton, guest - Sharon Holtrop,
Absent: Michael Hodel, Andrew McGady, Tim March
III. Approval of Minutes
a. Approval of minutes from September 3, 2025 regular commission meeting - motion to approve by
Shauna, second by Kathy, unanimous approval. Approval of minutes from September 16, 2025 special
meeting - motion to approve by Shauna, second by Kathy Bushong, unanimous approval.
lV. Old Business
a. Wheaton Block Party event
i. Committee report (Dave, Kathy, Shauna, and Andrew) - plan date for block party for next
year at next commission meeting
ii. Discuss and document lessons learned - Discussion on the pros and cons of booths/tables,
games, decorations, volunteers, performers and food trucks. New ideas posed for
improvement for the Block Party 2026. A document with notes from this discussion was
created.
b. Wheaton Gives Back (WG B)
i. Report and planning —- Kathy Bushong - Posters given to commission members to put up in
local businesses; Downtown Wheaton Association has been putting together a Iist of
businesses who will participate in WGB. Laura Bennett from Wheaton College wanted to
participate but will not be able to. Boxes will be distributed to businesses by commissioners.
c. Review Annual Report draft -
i. Dave will present the Annual Report document by October 15th. Annual report reviewed
with commission. Discussion about which programs we will participate in in 2026. Ideas for
potential new programs in 2026 discussed. The Commission worked on filling out the annual
report.
V. New Business
a. Website refresh ~ Idea raised to refresh the website for the CRC - motion to refresh the
website with our focus added which are our three big events (Wheaton Block Party,
Wheaton Gives Back, Good Citizens Award) as well as our special focus on Veterans,
Seniors and Special Needs. Motion by Kathy and seconded by Shauna, vote was
unanimous.
"Autism
b. Certified City/Autism Friendly City” - to be discussed at next commission meeting.
Vl. Public Comment
VII. Adjournment - 8:43PM
W
David Sohmer
Chairman, Wheaten Community Relations Commission
Dec 3, 2025
Agenda
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
7:00 to 8:30 pm
Gamon Room, Wheaton City Hall
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a notification asking you to press *6 to unmute yourself. Please announce your name and address before
commenting and ensure you are in a quiet place.
I. Call to Order
II. Roll Call
III. Approval of Minutes
a. Approval of minutes from September 3, 2025 regular commission meeting and
September 16, 2025 special meeting
IV. Old Business
a. Wheaton Block Party event
i. Committee report (Dave, Kathy, Shauna, and Andrew)
ii. Discuss and document lessons learned
b. Wheaton Gives Back
i. Report and planning – Kathy Bushong
c. Review Annual Report draft
V. New Business
a. Website refresh
b. "Autism Certified City or/and Autism Friendly City"
VI. Public Comment
VII. Adjournment