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A Resolution Approving the Village Board Goals for 2026-2028 as Reviewed at the July 29, 2025 Village Board Meeting
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Introduction
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After every election cycle, the Village Board renews the Village Board Goals document. The purpose is to announce the Village Board’s strategic priorities to the community and provide staff with strategic direction. This document also assists with the annual development of the Village budget.
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Recommended Action
Approve the Resolution.
Prior Board Action
The last update to the Village Board Goals was adopted on January 23, 2024. The Village Board held a meeting on July 29, 2025, to review and update the Village Board Goals document.
Background
The Village Board maintained the following strategic goals, in no particular order: (1) Community Affordability, (2) Community Health and Safety, (3) Racial Equity, Vibrant, Diverse Neighborhoods, (4) Sustainability & Resiliency, and (5) Economic Vitality. In addition, the Village Board explored adding a sixth goal, Organizational Effectiveness, with an emphasis on innovation and technology. A full copy of the new additions and changes is attached to this agenda item.
The Village Board also revised various priorities (also contained in the attached document). The staff typically creates the strategic initiatives to achieve the priorities.
Below is a summary of new or revised Priorities:
• Community Health & Safety: The Village Board created a new priority #5 to support Oak Park’s public health network and a new priority #6 to support unhoused residents
• Vibrant, Diverse, Connected Neighborhoods: Included sustainable transportation under priority #2 related to supporting strategies for parking & mobility
Below is a summary of new or revised Strategic Initiatives:
• Community Health & Safety: Evaluation of the pilot ECCO program and potential expansion, include Vision Zero and Updated Bike Plan recommendations in the CIP, create a strategic financial plan for Village facilities, implement an employee wellness plan, implement recommendations of the Unhoused Task Force and various new strategic initiatives for Oak Park’s public health network such as reviewing health equity and social determinants of health, collaborating with schools on vaccine educations, enhance partnerships for emergency planning, and the creation a public dashboard for food inspections and health metrics
• Racial Equity: Expand fair housing enforcement and refresh the affirmative marketing program
• Vibrant, Diverse, Connected Neighborhoods: Review the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance to incorporate zoning code changes to support new housing supply, strengthen vacant building ordinance, review expansion of rental inspections with three or less units, evaluate the impact of the current home ownership program, review financial incentives to support missing middle housing, include the Bike Plan into future capital planning, create a neighborhood registry to enhance communication with the Village, re-establish the Condo network, build visibility by the Village in neighborhoods and community engagement, grow the resident volunteer registry and opportunities, begin to update the Comprehensive Plan, and design and build the first phase of the Percy Julian Streetscape Project
• Sustainability & Resiliency: Expand solar opportunities, investigate a bulk-purchase discount program for home electrification, a feasibility assessment of the district heat/geothermal energy networks to replace gas, develop programs in large buildings to increase energy efficiency, pursue opportunities to increase renewable energy supplied to Village facilities through on-site solar or community solar, complete the Green Infrastructure and Enhanced Park Management Plan, work with Community Partners to explore climate resilient hubs, connect businesses to sustainable practices, and update CROP metrics quarterly and seek collaboration with local partners to achieve CROP goals
• Organizational Effectiveness (NEW): Update IT strategic plan to assess current systems, assess AI tools and other emerging technologies, implement a community engagement plan, maintain core services, and annually assess the cost of maintaining core services
Timing Considerations
There are no specific timing considerations associated with this item; however, ideally, it is best to finalize the goals by the 1st Quarter in 2026 to give staff adequate time to plan for new goals, priorities, and strategic initiatives.
Budget Impact
The goal and priorities are a guide for staff. As staff reports on board goal initiatives, more comprehensive cost estimates are presented during study sessions, contained in an agenda item, or presented during future budget meetings.
Operating Impact
The staffing impact will vary by each strategic initiative. The annual budget process will also highlight staffing impacts and costs for certain Village Board goals.
DEI Impact
There are various DEI impacts across each pillar, priority, or strategic initiative. In addition, there is a specific goal pillar for Racial Equity. The priorities for this pillar are as follows:
Priority 1: Ensure Equitable Access to Government Services and Contracts
Priority 2: Assess and Address Historical Lack of Equity
Priority 3: Support Integrations and Diverse Community Entry Points
Priority 4: Enhance Cultural Sense of Belonging
Community Input
There are multiple priorities and strategic initiatives that focus on community input and engagement.
Staff Recommendation
Approve the Resolution.
Advantages:
• The document provides strategic direction to staff for the next two years
Disadvantages:
• There are no disadvantages to this action.
Alternatives
Alternative 1:
The Village Board could delay action and seek additional information.
Advantages:
• It is essential to have a concise and complete goal document prior to staff working on each priority and strategic initiative. Staff will provide the Board with the requested information.
Disadvantages:
• Staff recommends that the Village Board approve this document no later than Quarter 1 in 2026.
Anticipated Future Actions
Many of the priorities and strategic initiatives require future discussion or action at a Village Board meeting to implement.
Prepared By: Lisa Shelley, Deputy Village Manager
Reviewed By: Ahmad M. Zayyad, Deputy Village Manager
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution
2. Draft 2026-2028 Board Goals with edits