123 Madison Street

Oak Park, Illinois 60302

www.oak-park.us

Village of Oak Park

Meeting Minutes

President and Board of Trustees

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

7:00 PM

Village Hall

I. Call to Order

Village President Vicki Scaman called the Regular Meeting to order at

7:03 P.M.

II. Roll Call

Trustees Enyia and Straw joined the meeting via video conference per

Village policy for remote participation.

6 -

Present:

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

Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley

Absent:

III. Agenda Approval

President Scaman requested to remove Item L from the Consent Agenda

to the Regular Agenda.

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, to

approve the Agenda as amended. A voice vote was taken and the motion was

approved.

IV. Minutes

A Motion to Approve Minutes from the March 18, 2025 Regular Meeting of

the Village Board.

MOT 25-183

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Taglia, to approve the

Minutes. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.

V. Non-Agenda Public Comment

Les Golden (virtual): The Park District approved a renovation of the Field

Park playground. Citizen input was ignored. A waiting list for dance classes

is driving this $3M project. President Scaman met with concerned citizens.

He recommended the Village, Park District, and D97 get together in an

IGOV meeting to discuss using the facilities that already exist at Mann

School and save our park.

Joyce Porter: The Park District is not listening to the residents and giving

them what they want rather than imposing a project on them.

President Scaman noted the summaries were from the neighbors and not

from her.

VI. Proclamation

A Motion to Approve a Proclamation National Public Works Week - May 18

- 24, 2025.

MOT 25-176

President Scaman noted the full proclamation can be found on the Village

website.

It was moved by Trustee Enyia, seconded by Trustee Wesley, to approve the

Proclamation. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.

MOT 25-181

MOT 25-182

A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Building Safety Month.

President Scaman noted the full proclamation can be found on the Village

website.

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, to

approve the Proclamation. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.

A Motion to Approve a Proclamation National Bike Month May 2025.

President Scaman noted the full proclamation can be found on the Village

website.

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Straw, to approve the

Proclamation. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.

VII. Village Manager Reports

ID 25-333

Upcoming Gas-Powered Leaf Blower Ordinance Transition

Assistant Village Manager/Neighborhood Services Director Jonathan

Burch provided an update. Trustee Taglia inquired about getting the

contractors registered. Director Burch said the Village will do more

dedicated enforcement. Business licenses are only required if the business

is established here in Oak Park.

Trustee Wesley inquired about ticketing. Director Burch confirmed ticketing

would be to both the contractors and the homeowners. Trustee Wesley said

he does not want one to be ticketed without the other. He said the residents

helping with enforcement feels icky to him. You need to talk to your

neighbor and not just call the cops on them. The only way to keep this

contained and reasonable is if there is interpersonal accountability

amongst neighbors. He noted most contractors are going to be Hispanic

where English is their second language so he wants the homeowner who

hired them to also be held accountable.

Review of the Tentative Village Board Meeting Calendars for June, July,

and August 2025.

ID 25-367

Deputy Village Manager Lisa Shelley presented the updated calendars.

The June 3 bike plan update is a study session. The vote is designed to be

about four weeks later in July.

VIII. Village Board Committees

There were no comments.

IX. Citizen Commission Vacancies

ID 25-369

Board and Commission Vacancy Report for May 20, 2025

There were no comments.

XI. Consent Agenda

Approval of the Consent Agenda

It was moved 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 Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson,

Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

A Motion to Approve the Bills in the Amount of $5,185,607.73 from April 4,

2025, through May 1, 2025

MOT 25-169

RES 25-191

This Motion was approved.

A Resolution to Approve Additional Implementation Hours to Current

Agreement and Integration of BS&A Financial Software into AmpliFund.

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving a Towing Services Agreement with O’Hare

Towing Services for a Two-Year Period with an Option to Renew for a

One-Year Period and Authorizing its Execution.

RES 25-195

RES 25-203

RES 25-216

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving a Contract with H. Linden & Sons Sewer and

Water, Inc. for the 24-11 Water and Sewer Improvements Project, in an

Amount not to Exceed $5,018,708, and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving the Engagement of an Additional Law Firm for

Legal Services to be Performed on Behalf of the Village of Oak Park

This Resolution was adopted.

XII. Regular Agenda

A Resolution Approving and Adopting the Village of Oak Park’s Official

Zoning Map

RES 25-205

Development Services Director Craig Failor presented the Item.

Trustee Wesley said he refuses to vote for a zoning map that's racist. The

zoning code has been in existence in Oak Park for decades and designed

by the godfather of racist zoning Harlan Bartholomew and codified year

after year without changes as we tout our inclusiveness, diversity, and

commitment to equity. He hopes we will take the time and spend the effort

to unwind the racism that is built into the current statute so a zoning code

going forward can be without that built-in economic and race-based

segregation. Unlike other communities, we are not eliminating single-family

zoning. The fact that Oak Park is expensive is not unintentional. The point

of the zoning code is to limit the supply of housing which thereby drives up

the price of housing which then limits the number of certain people who can

live here. We have the power at this Board table to say no.

Trustee Leving Jacobson said she is also interested in eliminating

single-family zoning as exclusionary housing is harmful. She is interested in

approaching it comprehensively in a broader housing plan to look at both

affordability and integration. The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus report

recommended a zoning reform advisory task force. She said she would

like to look at the zoning map with a more robust Inclusionary Housing

Ordinance (IHO).

Director Failor said staff met with the Village Board last June to discuss the

zoning map and opportunities to eliminate or reduce single-family zoning.

Staff met with MMC on several occasions. The Village is close to launching

an RFP to look at the zoning ordinance, map, classifications, and missing

middle housing opportunities. Staff heard what the Village Board said and

are on our way to trying to do what Trustees Wesley and Leving Jacobson

have indicated this evening.

Trustee Straw noted that he and Trustee Wesley said they would vote for it

last year but they would not vote for it again. We have enough information to

eliminate exclusionary zoning, allow the construction of 2, 3, and 4-flats

across Oak Park. The RFP can focus instead on additional steps to

incentivize the construction of those so we can achieve our goals and

consider those other missing middle approaches. We do not need to

pause consideration of eliminating exclusionary zoning before we study

those other things. When putting out the RFP, we need to examine the

appropriateness of both the scale of our historic districts and the scope of

our historic preservation guidelines that make any work that homeowners

want to do on their houses cost prohibitive and extend the timeline for that

construction, which decreases diversity and increases expensive housing.

He said he is ready to move forward on eliminating exclusionary zoning.

President Scaman said she agrees with everything that has been said.

She said she trusts it is worth working through the RFP and discussion for

the benefit of our community. The protocol and goal-setting sessions will

also be very fruitful.

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, that this

Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was

as follows:

4 -

AYES:

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

and Village Trustee Taglia

2 - Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

A Motion to Receive the Citizen Police Oversight Committee’s

Semi-Annual Report

MOT 25-162

Citizen Police Oversight Committee (CPOC) Chair Kevin Barnhart

presented the Item.

Trustee Wesley said he appreciates the report and the work of CPOC.

Trustee Taglia inquired about the number of complaints and calls for

service. Chair Barnhart said there were two complaints in the past six

months. Police Chief Shatonya Johnson said for 2024, there were 42,000

police engagements where individuals called the police.

Trustee Leving Jacobson said she would like to give CPOC more

information so it can do the work it is tasked to do. She asked if CPOC has

models from other communities regarding the flock ALPR oversight. Chair

Barnhart said they have a consultant in Pivot Consulting Group who is

helping CPOC revamp their rules to be able to go beyond just looking at

compliance. Pivot is going to make a list of recommendations for us to

follow.

President Scaman asked why this is being brought to the Village Board

now. Chair Barnhart said CPOC had been asked to look at this before

Pivot was chosen as the vendor. She said she thinks Pivot is doing an

outstanding job and she is very grateful and she will be pausing until the

Pivot report comes back. The capacity building is an important piece to

this.

Trustee Taglia said he agrees that we are going to have an outcome very

shortly and we should consider that. Chair Barnhart said it would be

considered as part of the overall package of what is going on. There is no

way to evaluate flock without some way to measure it.

Trustee Enyia said he has the privilege of working with CPOC as its Board

liaison and Pivot and he wholeheartedly supports the recommendations as

they have a track record for getting these things right.

Trustee Straw agreed with CPOC's recommendation and waiting until we

get Pivot's report before making adjustments to the CPOC ordinance.

Chief Johnson said she supports waiting on the consultant's assessment

and researching if there are other communities that have oversight over the

license plate readers. She said the police department is happy to do

whatever the Board desires.

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, that this

Motion be approved. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as

follows:

6 -

AYES:

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

Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

A Resolution Approving a Sponsored Services Agreement 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 in an Amount Not to Exceed $100,000 and

Authorizing its Execution.

RES 25-196

Chief Sustainability Officer Lindsey Roland Nieratka presented the Item.

Trustee Taglia inquired about the scope of work and if the five different

types of buildings are not known. CSO Nieratka said building owners are

interested in getting assistance from the Village to do full audits to help

them understand opportunities and provide guidance on switching out

certain technologies.

Trustee Leving Jacobson asked how the different businesses and

landlords will be identified. CSO Nieratka said they are looking for

buildings that are already benchmarking through our ordinance.

Development Services is promoting this opportunity to our business

community and help people get into compliance with the benchmarking

ordinance. Staff will work with CDAC to look at the data to determine which

buildings will get the most benefit from engaging and which businesses are

interested. We will then design what the education outreach looks like. It will

have in person, virtual, and hybrid options.

Trustee Wesley asked if the results will be used to build out building

profiles that we can then apply across the village and be used for

education, which CSO Nieratka confirmed. This agreement is for the four

educational events. Webinars will be recorded and materials will be

housed on the Village website.

Trustee Taglia asked if the Village came up with the $100K amount and

then built out the budget to match that amount. CSO Nieratka confirmed the

budget requested was based on the 2024 proposal. He said this is a good

way of budgeting and looking at larger capital projects as well.

President Scaman said she appreciates what this does for us. She

recommended that one or two of the buildings be in dense areas.

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Enyia, 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 Enyia, Village Trustee Leving Jacobson,

Village Trustee Straw, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

XIII. Call to Board and Clerk

Trustee Wesley congratulated Fire Chief Ron Kobyleski on his retirement.

He welcomed Trustee Leving Jacobson.

Trustee Taglia said he supports the bike plan and build-out of the greenway

system in Oak Park. He and Trustee Wesley met with about 30 residents to

discuss their concerns including how decisions were made, how Harvard

Street was chosen, material changes to the car volume criteria and budget

estimates, and the lack of ability to ask questions and get a specific

response to questions. He appreciates that staff has met with residents but

there is a lack of information that is concerning to him. He proposed a

public meeting for Village staff and residents to engage and have a

thorough discussion, preferably between the June 3 and July vote so it

does not delay the process. He requested that Village staff let him know if

this is possible.

Trustee Straw noted his wife and parents are traveling so he is overseeing

his children while participating in this meeting, which is only possible

because we implemented Board protocols that are designed to allow

trustees to participate remotely when there is a childcare necessity. He

said he is glad we are doing these very basic things to make serving as

trustees a bit more accessible for folks who have young families. President

Scaman noted this was made possible when the Governor expanded the

rights following COVID-19.

Trustee Enyia thanked Chief Kobyleski and his family for serving Oak Park

for over 40 years. He said he is supportive of the bike plan and wants to

make sure the Harvard residents have their time to speak to the Board

because this needs more attention.

Clerk Waters congratulated the OPRF High School prom goers and said

we are all looking forward to graduation on June 1. She congratulated

those who walked the entire perimeter of Oak Park, 9.5 miles, on Sunday.

We plan to do it once a month. The Village is collaborating with several

organizations tomorrow, May 21, 5:30-7:30 PM at the Austin PCC Family

Health Center, 5461 W. Lake Street. Come enjoy the perspectives of

medical and perinatal professionals across communities and

organizations. Call Clerk Waters at 708-358-5672 to register. Dinner will

be served by Passion Eats Catering and childcare will be provided by the

Collaboration for Early Childhood.

President Scaman acknowledged the passing of Project Unity president

Nile Gossett and expressed her condolences to his friends and family. She

noted her Move with the Mayor T-shirt and thanked the Public Health

Department and Village Manager's Office for helping to coordinate the

movement to promote taking a moment to consider your mental and

physical health. She walked with residents from Village Hall to the Oak

Park Farmers' Market and participated in gym classes at Mann and

Longfellow schools and thanked the teachers and school administrators.

River Forest is having their 100th Anniversary Memorial Day parade on

Monday starting at 9:30 AM on the corner of Iowa and Ashland. There will

be a Memorial Day ceremony starting at 11:00 AM at Scoville Park. Day in

our Village is Sunday, June 1. She congratulated our 2025 graduates and

Trustees Leving Jacobson and Taglia.

XIV. Adjourn

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Leving Jacobson, to

Adjourn. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. Meeting

adjourned at 8:36 P.M., Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Respectfully submitted,

Deputy Clerk Hansen