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An Ordinance Amending Chapter 29 ("Administrative Adjudication") Article 1 ("Administrative Adjudication System"), Section 29-1-9 ("Scope of Authority of Administrative Law Judges") of the Oak Park Village Code to Allow for Remedial Relief and Recovery of Costs Thereof
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Introduction
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On August 15, 2025, Governor Pritzker signed House Bill 1842 into law, amending the Municipal Code, broadening the authority of Administrative Law Judges within a municipal system of administrative adjudication to order remedial relief in order to cure violations without having to resort to filing suit in Circuit Court. This Amendment codifies that power for Village Administrative Law Judges.
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Recommended Action
Adopt the Proposed Amendment.
Prior Board Action
In 2020, the Board authorized the Administrative Law Judges to conduct remote hearings by amending Chapter 29-1-9 (Ord. 20-171).
Background
The Law Department and the Adjudication Department have examined House Bill 1842, and consulted with the likely affected Departments, Neighborhood Services, Development Services, Fire, and Health about the need for the Village's independent administrative law judges ("ALJs") to have the authority afforded by the Municipal Code if adopted. Each affected Department has developed criteria for when to elect to pursue such authority in a given case, and the Law Department must sign off on such a request before such a case is heard by an ALJ. The Law Department intends to staff such cases when the Village has elected to pursue remedial relief.
Such instances may include where fines alone have not resulted in compliance, absentee property owners, severe pest control issues, animal hoarding, significant unresolved life-safety violations, unresolved fire life safety violations, abandoned properties, and blighted sites.
Timing Considerations
There are no specific timing considerations associated with this item.
Financial Impact
This amendm...
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