123 Madison Street

Oak Park, Illinois 60302

www.oak-park.us

Village of Oak Park

Meeting Minutes

President and Board of Trustees

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

6:00 PM

Village Hall

I. Call to Order

Village President Vicki Scaman called the Regular Meeting to order at

6:04 P.M.

II. Roll Call

Trustee Enyia joined the Meeting at 6:36 P.M. via remote participation per

Village policy. He was absent for the vote on Item O and re-joined the

Meeting at 7:42 P.M.

Clerk Waters participated remotely starting at 7:42 P.M per Village policy.

6 -

Present:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Wesley

1 - Village Trustee Straw

Absent:

III. Agenda Approval

President Scaman moved Item O after Item L.

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

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

V. Non-Agenda Public Comment

There was no public comment.

VII. Village Manager Reports

ID 24-382

An Update on the Housing Trust Fund and Consolidated Plan

Village Manager Kevin Jackson introduced new Chief Sustainability Officer

Lindsey Roland Nieratka. CSO Roland Nieratka introduced herself.

Assistant Village Manager/Neighborhood Services Director Jonathan

Burch provided an update on the Housing Trust Fund and upcoming

consolidated planning process.

Trustee Robinson asked if the updated materials have already been

disseminated. Director Burch said an outreach plan is being developed to

disseminate them on August 9. Trustee Robinson requested to see the

updated versions and redlines. She said she would love to take a monetary

contribution to the Housing Fund in lieu of the type of large art on new

development ground.

Trustee Buchanan noted the rolling submissions are not competing against

each other but rather for whatever money is left.

Trustee Parakkat said he would be curious to understand the scoring

sheets and any early indications on how that is being determined.

ID 24-385

An Update on Pedestrian/Field Stop Data for 2024 Q2

Police Chief Shatonya Johnson provided an update on field stops.

Trustee Wesley requested clarification on new officers and field training

and calls for service leading to more stops. Chief Johnson said new

officers are directed and encouraged to volunteer for calls. The seven

officers in training took the majority of the calls for service. There is more

engagement and calls for service typically during the summer months. The

field training does not create an elevated calls for service. Trustee Wesley

noted that he appreciated the detailed remarks included in this report and

requested a key for the acronyms.

Trustee Wesley requested more detail for a stop card for a juvenile. Chief

Johnson said officers were responding to a motor vehicle theft and were

able to initiate a stop on four juveniles. She said it should have been listed

as suspicious activity. Trustee Wesley asked if a person's description is

stored anywhere. Chief Johnson said that information can be located on

the CAD database.

Trustee Wesley inquired why OPPD gave out a stop card for the subject on

the blue bike. Chief Johnson said that would have been an alternative call

for service. It was a pedestrian stop card. Trustee Wesley inquired about

the stop for filling a water bottle from a hose. Chief Johnson said a

neighbor calls and officers responded and engaged with him. He noted

there were a lot more stops than there were arrests.

Trustee Enyia requested the classification for white for the field stops.

Chief Johnson said the H indicates if the individuals stopped were

Hispanic. He noted there are a lot more stops on a bad trajectory for black

and brown individuals in Oak Park. He asked what they are looking for to

initiate the stop in the training. Chief Johnson said nearly 90% of the stops

are calls for service and most are from the business districts.

Police Chief Shatonya Johnson provided an update on staffing.

Trustee Wesley asked if more resources could be given to work through

folks quicker. Chief Johnson said OPPD has the resources necessary to

get through the process.

Trustee Parakkat asked if the staff increase is 5. Chief Johnson said

OPPD lost 14 and we have hired 7 with 6 conditional offers. She is hopeful

OPPD will have over 90 staff by the end of the year.

President Scaman welcomed Attorney Greg Smith with Elrod Friedman.

Attorney Smith introduced himself.

VIII. Village Board Committees

There were no comments.

IX. Citizen Commission Vacancies

ID 24-388

Board & Commission Vacancy Report for July 30, 2024

President Scaman noted the Village is taking a temporary pause on board

and commission appointments for the month of August.

X. Citizen Commission Appointments, Reappointments and Chair Appointments

MOT 24-208

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

Board of Health - Jill Baker, Appoint as Member

Citizen Involvement Commission - Jill Eid, Appointment as Commissioner

Historic Preservation Commission - Rachel Michelin, Appoint as

Commissioner

Housing Programs Advisory Committee - Sarah Louise Beck, Appointment as

Commissioner

Liquor Control Review Board - Ricardo Hinojosa, Appoint as Member

Transportation Commission - Ericka Johnson, Appointment as Commissioner

Village Clerk Christina Waters read the names into the record.

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, that these

Appointments be approved. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote

was as follows:

6 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

1 - Village Trustee Straw

ABSENT:

XI. Consent Agenda

Approval of the Consent Agenda

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

items under the Consent Agenda. The motion was approved. The roll call on the

vote was as follows:

6 -

AYES:

NAYS:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Wesley

1 - Village Trustee Straw

ABSENT:

RES 24-184

A Resolution Approving a Joint Funding Agreement for Federally Funded

Preliminary Engineering with the State of Illinois for the Design of the

Home Avenue Bridge Replacement Project and Authorizing Its Execution

This Resolution was approved.

RES 24-215

RES 24-221

A Resolution Authorizing Local Funding for the Federally Funded Phase I

Preliminary Engineering Design of the Home Avenue Bridge Replacement

Project, Section Number 24-00269-00-BR

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving a Contract with William T. Connelly, Inc., d/b/a

Connelly Electric Co. for Project 24-12, North Pumping Station Generator

Addition, in an Amount Not to Exceed $420,000 and Authorizing its

Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

RES 24-260

RES 24-267

RES 24-271

A Resolution Approving a Subordination and Standby Agreement with the

Oak Park Residence Corporation and Hinsdale Bank & Trust Company,

National Association, and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving an Independent Contractor Agreement with Ray

King Studio, Ltd. for the Flame Beacon Art Installation, in an Amount Not

to Exceed $154,250 and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving an Amendment to the Funding Schedule of the

Funding Grant Agreement Between the Village of Oak Park and the West

Cook Young Men’s Christian Association Incorporated in an Amount Not to

Exceed $1,275,147 and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Grant Application to the Metropolitan

Mayors Caucus for Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services (SMASS)

III in Partnership with the Illinois Department of Human Services with a Requested

Funding Amount of $350,000

RES 24-272

This Resolution was adopted.

XII. Regular Agenda

ORD 24-142

Concur with the Plan Commission and Adopt an Ordinance Granting a

Special Use Permit for a Major Planned Development Containing a

Five-Story Residential Building Consisting of 36 Dwelling Units at the

Property Located at 1106 Madison Street

Development Services Director Emily Egan presented the Item.

Trustee Robinson inquired about church ownership to nonprofit ownership

and exempt to potentially exempt. Village Planner Craig Failor said it is

currently exempt. The applicant will pay taxes on an affordable housing

development. The possibility exists for them to apply for exempt status later

though it has not been their record in the past. It is estimated to be 12-18

months before the county gets the records and corrects the taxes.

Trustee Robinson asked how this development fits within the Village's

strategic housing plan. Planner Failor referenced the goals identified in the

staff report to the Plan Commission that were set by the Village Board,

including the goal to finish and implement the housing study. She asked

how this particular development hits on the sustainability goal. Planner

Failor said this development is a 36-unit affordable housing complex. The

developers are proposing a green communities rating, putting solar panels

on the roof, and all electric.

Trustee Robinson asked if this permit falls under the fee structure, which

Planner Failor confirmed it does. They will get 6-month extensions on the

front and back ends. Trustee Robinson suggested providing a waiver if we

have a development like this that crosses off so many of our goals.

Trustee Parakkat inquired about the tax differential between this

development versus the multi-unit development. Planner Failor said he will

provide that information once it is available to him. Trustee Parakkat

inquired if this is transitory versus long-term housing. Interfaith Housing

Development Corporation President Perry Vietti said the referrals will

come through Housing Forward. The two rental subsidy sources are Blue

Cross Blue Shield and Cook County Health.

Trustee Parakkat asked if any ground floor business development has

been considered. President Vietti said commercial space was considered

but we need all of the space in the building for the common area on the

ground floor. Trustee Parakkat inquired about Al's Grill. President Vietti

said their general contractors met with him about trying to make it as

pain-free as possible. His primary concern is parking. President Vietti said

we will not have a parking problem because we are serving people at 30%

of the area median income and below. The hospital is willing to work with

us and their garage is mostly empty at night. He publicly made the

commitment to pay the affordable property tax rate. Trustee Parakkat said

he is supportive.

Trustee Wesley said he is super supportive of this use case in this place.

He inquired if the parking issue is due to lack of spaces or if there are

spaces that are not allowed for parking. Director Egan said the site itself

would not allow for the required number of parking spaces.

Trustee Buchanan said she is supportive of this development and

encourages everyone to go to Al's Grill during construction.

Trustee Enyia said he is very supportive of the project.

President Scaman expressed her appreciation to Interfaith and Housing

Forward. She recommended watching the Plan Commission video.

It was moved by Trustee Robinson, seconded by Trustee Wesley, that this

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

as follows:

5 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Parakkat,

Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

2 - Village Trustee Enyia, and Village Trustee Straw

ABSENT:

RES 24-261

A Resolution Approving an Amendment to the Professional Services

Agreement with Johnson Lasky Kindelin Architects, Inc. for Historic

Preservation Architectural Services for Additional Conceptual Solutions for

Village Facilities to Change the Not to Exceed Amount from $45,000 to

$265,000 and Authorizing its Execution

Manager Jackson introduced the Item.

Frank Heitzman: Resident and long-time architect. He said he is in favor of

hiring JLK for the additional work.

Public Works Director Rob Sproule presented the Item. Facilities

Committee Co-Chair Colette Lueck provided additional information.

President Scaman said if there is no longer a will of the Board to demolish

this building, then let's move forward without the feasibility study, provide

that direction to staff this evening, and continue to work through the process

of choosing an architect to set the budget and prioritize our needs.

Trustee Robinson said she is in favor of moving ahead without the

feasibility study. She said her two priorities are reconfiguring Chambers

with safety in mind and creating a welcome center.

Trustee Parakkat said he has consistently been against demolition to

rebuild Village Hall. He said the renovation option makes a lot of sense

though he is still not in favor of a $100M cap. He recommended it be an

open bid process and make a decision based on what we can afford.

Trustee Buchanan said she is in favor of pursuing Option 3 and not

delaying this any further. She would want the renovation to include

significant sustainability factors to the degree that would be reached with a

new construction. Director Sproule said the Village always strives to meet

the sustainability goals. The construction bidding happens typically after the

design is complete. The architectural firm will hire a consultant who does

cost estimates of the different options for the Board to decide.

Trustee Parakkat said the $60M estimate is in the public domain and we

have to decouple the process from that number.

Trustee Wesley said he does not need the feasibility study. He said he

likes the new police station but does not like rehabilitating or tearing down.

He recommended leaving the existing Village Hall as is and building a new

police station on this lot and adding a couple floors to it for Village Hall. We

can get sustainability options, it will be less expensive, and we can design

it to be accessible and welcoming. He said he is also opposed to

spending $100M on this.

President Scaman said her appreciation for Village Hall grew through the

facilities committee process though her concerns for its functionality

remain. She considered the possibility of donating the building but does

not believe the Village is in the position to do that without exceptional

delays and costs. She said she believes there are opportunities for

partnerships and she wants to work toward all of those possibilities.

Trustee Enyia said he would go with Option C to build something

separately for the police station and rehab the existing Village Hall.

President Scaman said this motion will die. We have consensus of the

Board to investigate moving forward with Option 3, which is to build a new

police station on this lot and make renovations to the existing Village Hall.

Manager Jackson said staff will pursue next steps for Option 3 and will

return with the appropriate business items at a future meeting.

Trustee Parakkat asked if the new police station can go forward without

being coupled to any renovation conversations in terms of size and scale.

President Scaman said we need to understand the cost benefit in order to

be able to answer that question.

This Resolution was denied.

ORD 24-143

An Ordinance Approving a Sixth Amendment to the Redevelopment

Agreement for the 700-728 Madison Street Redevelopment Project

between the Village of Oak Park, Jupiter Realty Company, LLC, Oak Park

Madison Street, LLC (Pete’s), and AH Oak Park, LLC and Authorizing Its

Execution

Director Egan presented the Item.

Trustee Wesley said this has been an incredibly long and frustrating

process. He said he hopes for more candid communication from Pete's to

this Board in the future. Developer Grzynkowicz said he understands

completely and they are just as frustrated. He said transparency from them

to the Board has been 100% clear. They lost their architect, permitting

restrictions prevented work from being able to be done on the site. A new

architect has new drawings and new permits. He says he thinks they are

going to get a permit this week and are ready to start.

Trustee Wesley said it would have been useful to hear that months ago and

have check-ins prompted by Pete's rather than the Village. Developer

Grzynkowicz said now that their architect is in play, drawings are in, we

have a full core shell package to permit. We will follow up with our interior

package which will proceed in about three months.

Trustee Wesley inquired about the clawback language in the

redevelopment agreement and why it does not include all of the property.

Attorney Sachs said the clawback in place now applies to the first deadline

which applies to the entire property. Trustee Wesley noted the clawback

right is for the entire site previous to the first deadline but only the North

Foley site after the first deadline. Attorney Sachs said that was what was

agreed upon and would only apply if they abandoned the project.

Trustee Wesley asked if the Village could have a new agreement as a sign

of good faith to the community. Attorney Sachs said they would have to

discuss it with their client. Attorney Sachs said at this point there is a

significant investment of the property in the millions. By the time the ERS

system and foundation gets installed, we'll be into the project more than

$10M. There is no reason to ever stop working on the project. Trustee

Wesley noted it has happened in the Village in the past. Attorney Sachs

said Pete's is and continues to be a good neighbor.

Developer Grzynkowicz said Pete's is 100% committed to the project. Our

steel is pre-ordered and we are not leaving. He said he is working on the

parking lot and that will be tidied up in about two months. Trustee Wesley

said Pete's did not come before the permit extension. Developer

Grzynkowicz said they go to the building department for the extensions, not

the Village Board. Trustee Wesley said he has seen these issues in the

past and does not want to see them going forward.

Attorney Sachs said he was there for the original agreement. The clawback

clause is there. If Pete's does not meet the deadline, the Village has the

whole property back. If it is missed on the end, it will cost Pete's $45K a

month.

Trustee Parakkat agreed that reinvestment in our partnership in good faith

to get to the finish line as quickly as possible is in our shared interests. He

asked for their perspective on the Aldi development down the street.

Developer Grzynkowicz said they don't share the same market. Trustee

Parakkat said the terms seem appropriate so he is okay with it.

Trustee Robinson said this is a good opportunity to push the reset button.

She said the two items that make this palatable for her are the entire

property clawback provision in conjunction with the lost opportunity costs

increase. Staff put in a lot of effort to get us to a place where the Village's

interests are more protected while still preserving the relationship with

Pete's. She said she is encouraged that this is where we landed.

President Scaman said Pete's responded in a way that demonstrates

good faith and she looks forward to our continued partnership.

Developer Grzynkowicz said a lesser developer may have just walked

away but that is not them. Attorney Sachs said he appreciates working with

staff, the Village Manager, and Village President. Developer Grzynkowicz

said he would still like to come in and provide quarterly updates or

whatever is preferred.

It was moved by Trustee Enyia, seconded by Trustee Robinson, that this

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

as follows:

5 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Parakkat, and Village Trustee Robinson

1 - Village Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

1 - Village Trustee Straw

ABSENT:

ORD 24-126

An Ordinance Granting an Extension of Time to Complete Construction of

the Planned Development at 640-728 Madison Street (Pete’s Market) to

Sixteen Months after the Permit Date as Defined in the Sixth Amendment

of the Redevelopment Agreement

There was no further discussion.

It was moved by Trustee Robinson, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, that this

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

as follows:

5 -

AYES:

Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village

Trustee Parakkat, and Village Trustee Robinson

1 - Village Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

1 - Village Trustee Straw

ABSENT:

XIII. Call to Board and Clerk

Clerk Waters said the Clerk's Office was at the Concert in the Park this

past Sunday hosting a voter registration and will return Sunday, August 4.

We are combining with the League of Women Voters OPRF and will be at

Thursday Night Out on August 8. We will host several other voter

registration booths throughout the month.

Trustee Enyia sent his deepest condolences to the family of Sonya

Massey. There is no room for it in our country to have these types of actions

carried out against people that are calling for service and help from our

police officers. We need to work with our communities and police on

making sure they're trained the right way.

Trustee Robinson acknowledged the work of the Plan Commission and

Village Planner Craig Failor on the Pete's development.

Trustee Parakkat acknowledged the Plan Commission and staff for

responding to the Items on tonight's Agenda.

President Scaman said she appreciated Trustee Enyia's words very

deeply and expressed her condolences to Sonya Massey's family. It is

important that we hold ourselves accountable to continuing to work towards

the values that we share with our alternative response training.

XIV. Adjourn

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Enyia, to Adjourn. A voice

vote was taken and the motion was approved. Meeting adjourned at 8:51 P.M.,

Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

Respectfully submitted,

Deputy Clerk Hansen