Minutes - President and Board of Trustees

123 Madison Street

Oak Park, Illinois 60302

www.oak-park.us

Village of Oak Park

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.

6 -

Present:

Absent:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia

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:

5 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson,

Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia

NAYS:

2 - Village Trustee Eder, and Village Trustee Wesley

ABSENT:

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

6 -

Present:

Absent:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia

1 - Village Trustee Wesley

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

ID 26-368

Review of the Board Meeting Calendars for May, June, and July 2026

Village President Scaman and Village Manager Jackson reviewed revised

Board Meeting calendars.

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

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.

ID 26-387

Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Update

Item was Tabled.

XII. Village Board Committees

XIII. Citizen Commission Vacancies

ID 26-383

Board and Commission Vacancy Report for June 9, 2026

XIV. Citizen Commission Appointments, Reappointments and Chair Appointments

MOT 26-178

MOT 26-170

A Motion to Consent to the Village President’s Appointment of:

Plan Commission - Miriam Tamayo, Reappoint as Commissioner

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.

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:

6 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia

NAYS:

1 - Village Trustee Wesley

ABSENT:

RES 26-217

RES 26-219

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.

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.

RES 26-220

RES 26-221

ORD 26-142

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

This Resolution was adopted.

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.

*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.

ORD 26-143

RES 26-215

An Ordinance Authorizing the Donation of Surplus Fire Department

Equipment to the Black Fire Brigade

This Ordinance was adopted.

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

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 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:

6 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Eder, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Leving Jacobson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Taglia

NAYS:

1 - Village Trustee Wesley

ABSENT:

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

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