123 Madison Street

Oak Park, Illinois 60302

www.oak-park.us

Village of Oak Park

Meeting Minutes

President and Board of Trustees

Monday, March 21, 2022

7:00 PM

Remote

I. Call to Order

Village President Scaman called the meeting to order at 7:01 P.M. She

authorized a statement be read providing that the meeting is being held

remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines and that it is not

prudent to have people present at the Village Board's regular meeting

location due to public health concerns related to that pandemic.

II. Roll Call

7 -

Present:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village

Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

Absent:

III. Agenda Approval

It was moved by Village Trustee Parakkat, seconded by Village Trustee

Walker-Peddakotla, to approve the Agenda. The motion was approved. The roll

call on the vote was as follows:

7 -

AYES:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village

Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

NAYS:

ABSENT:

IV. Minutes

ID 22-85

Motion to Approve Minutes from Regular Remote Meeting of March 7,

2022, Special Remote Meeting of March 14, 2022 of the Village Board.

It was moved by Village Trustee Parakkat, seconded by Village Trustee Enyia, to

approve the Minutes. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as

follows:

7 -

AYES:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village

Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

NAYS:

ABSENT:

V. Non-Agenda Public Comment

Village Clerk Christina Waters read the following non-Agenda Public

Comment aloud:

Chris Donovan: Chris Donovan submitted their public comment regarding

the proposed redevelopment of 6401 Roosevelt Road as a parking lot/

recharging station for electric vehicles. They have not seen any reference to

this redevelopment in the Plan Commission or the Energy Environment

Commission meeting minutes, and feels it is important for the public to

know in advance what, if any, requests would be made of the village before

any decision is made to authorize a parking lot/ recharging station at the

proposed location.

VI. Village Manager Reports

Village Manager Kevin Jackson introduced Deputy Village Manager Lisa

Shelley.

Deputy Village Manager Shelley gave an update that the virtual Policing

Community Forum that will take place on Wednesday night from 6:00 P.M.

to 8:00 P.M., with an in person forum scheduled at Barrie Center on March

31 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

VII. Village Board Committees & Trustee Liaison Commission Reports

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla requested an update on the Farmers'

Market Manager position.

Deputy Village Manager Shelley will provide an update to the Board.

Village Trustee Buchanan mentioned the Oak Park Economic

Development Corporation (OPEDC) plans to hold an open meeting

sometime in April to explain the role of the OPEDC and take questions

from the public.

Village Trustee Parakkat requested clarification on if there are any plans

from the Environment and Energy Commission (EEC) for Earth Day in

April.

Village Trustee Buchanan responded her understanding was the village

was not gong to host an event at Public Works this year, and the EEC was

hoping to hold an event at Scoville Park and possibly work with the

Wednesday Journal to have a special pullout section in their paper.

Deputy Village Manager Shelley clarified the village is hoping to hold a

scaled back event and will update the Board.

Village Trustee Enyia provided and update for the Community Relations

Commission (CRC) that the Day in Our Village will be returning this

summer.

VIII. Citizen Commission Vacancies

There was no further discussion for this Item.

ID 22-86

Board & Commission Vacancy Report for March 21, 2022.

IX. Citizen Commission Appointments, Reappointments and Chair Appointments

ID 22-87

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

Environment & Energy Commission - Carly Provost-Rizor, Appoint as Member

Farmers Market Commission - Julia Knier, Appoint as Chair

Farmers Market Commission - Rachel Hahs, Appoint as Member

Plan Commission - Frank Sullivan, Appoint as Member

Transportation Commission - Aaron Stigger, Reappoint as Member

Transportation Commission - Garth Katner, Reappoint as Member

Zoning Board of Appeals - Debra McQueen, Reappoint as Member

It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee

Enyia, to approve the Report. The motion was approved. The roll call on the

vote was as follows:

7 -

AYES:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village

Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

NAYS:

ABSENT:

X. Consent Agenda

Approval of the Consent Agenda

It was moved by Village Trustee Parakkat, seconded by Village Trustee

Walker-Peddakotla, to approve the items under the Consent Agenda. The motion

was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows:

7 -

AYES:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village

Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

NAYS:

ABSENT:

MOT 22-16

A Motion to Approve the February 2022 Monthly Treasurer’s Report for All

Funds

This Motion was approved.

MOT 22-17

ORD 22-17

A Motion to Approve the Bills in the Amount of $4,381,429.48 from

February 4, 2022, through March 10, 2022

This Motion was approved.

An Ordinance Amending Chapter 20 (“Public Health”), Article 7 (“Garbage,

Weeds and Littering”) of the Oak Park Village Code to Delete and Remove

Section 20-7-21 (“Institutional Customer Rates”)

This Ordinance was adopted.

ORD 22-19

RES 22-62

An Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment

Owned by the Village of Oak Park

This Ordinance was adopted.

A Resolution Approving a Task Order for Professional Engineering Services

with TranSystems Corporation for Design Engineering Services for the 2024

Austin Boulevard Resurfacing Project in an Amount Not To Exceed

$146,155 and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

RES 22-63

A Resolution Approving the Renewal of the Annual Software License and

Support and Maintenance Agreement dated December 15, 2014, with

CityView, a Division of N. Harris Computer Corporation, for the Village’s

Permitting, Licensing, and Inspection Services in an Amount Not to Exceed

$180,346.45 and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

RES 22-67

A Resolution Approving an Amendment to the Independent Contractor

Agreement with HR Green, Inc., for Building Permit Application Plan

Reviews and Inspections, for the Fiscal Year 2022 to Change the Not to

Exceed Amount from $1,000,500 to $1,010,500, to allow for Health Plan

Reviews and Health Inspection Services Due to a Staff Shortage in the

Health Department and Authorizing Its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

RES 22-70

RES 22-71

A Resolution Approving a Task Order for Professional Engineering Services

with Edwin Hancock Engineering Co. for Design Engineering Services for

the 2023 Division Street Resurfacing Project in an Amount Not To Exceed

$264,942 and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Statewide Planning and

Research Program (SPR) Grant Application with the Illinois Department of

Transportation for a Vision Zero Plan

This Resolution was adopted.

XI. Regular Agenda

ORD 22-20

An Ordinance Amending Chapter 3 (“Alcoholic Liquor Dealers”), Article 8

(“List of Licenses for Each License Class”), Section 3-8-1 (“Number of

Licenses Permitted to be Issued Per License Class”) and Section 3-8-2

(“Licenses by Name and Address Per License”) of the Oak Park Village Code

for the Issuance of a Restaurant Class B-1 Liquor License to The Little Gem,

Inc., DBA Encore by Little Gem and to Delete Certain Liquor Licensees from

the Village Code

Village Trustee Parakkat recused himself from the discussion.

Village Attorney Paul Stephanides introduced the Item and gave an

overview.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla requested clarification on the

businesses in the Ordinance that have been crossed out.

Village Attorney Stephanides responded those that are crossed out are

being deleted from the code as they no longer are in need of a liquor

license.

It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee

Robinson, to adopt the Ordinance. 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 Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

NAYS:

ABSENT:

1 - Village Trustee Parakkat

ABSTAINED:

ORD 22-18

An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7 (“Buildings”), Article 7 (“Signs”) of the

Oak Park Village Code to Amend Various Sections of Article 7

Village Manager Jackson introduced Development Customer Services

Director Tammie Grossman to provide an overview of this Item.

Village Planner Craig Failor then gave a brief presentation overview of the

recommended amendments to the sign code.

Village Trustee Robinson requested clarification regarding how many

businesses will be affected by these changes and what is the opportunity

for businesses to be compliant.

Village Planner Failor responded these restrictions would be in place

going forward and it is not meant to be retroactive.

It was moved by Village Trustee Robinson, seconded by Village Trustee

Walker-Peddakotla, to adopt the Ordinance. The motion was approved. The roll

call on the vote was as follows:

7 -

AYES:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village

Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

NAYS:

ABSENT:

RES 22-69

A Resolution Approving a Services Agreement with Flock Group Inc. for

License Plate Recognition Cameras and Software for an Amount Not to

Exceed $112,500 for a Two-Year Period, Authorizing its Execution and

Waiving the Village’s Bid Process for the Agreement

Village President Scaman made the recommendation to consider

postponing the vote on this Item until the first week of April to allow Village

Manager Jackson some time to better understand the Item, and to allow the

community to weigh in on the topic who have not had the opportunity to do

so in light of the number of public comments that will be heard at the end of

the meeting.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla agreed to postponing the vote being it

is Village Manager Jackson's first day on the job to allow him time to

understand everything that is going on with this vote.

Village Trustee Enyia agreed with Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla.

Village Trustee Robinson requested clarification on any impact to the

contract if they decided to delay the vote.

Village Trustee Buchanan agreed to have an intensive discussion tonight

and listen to all the public comment and delay the vote due to the newness

of the Village Manager and the complexity of the issue. They also

requested an update from staff regarding the traffic safety issues that have

resulted from the reckless driving in Oak Park.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla commented there are traffic calming

measures that can be done. They understand there is a backlog of

petitions but wondered if there was a possibility for the Transportation

Commission push through those traffic safety measures for the particular

area affected by the increase in reckless driving.

Village Trustee Taglia commented they are comfortable with the Village

Manager's newness to the role and are prepared to vote on this Item

tonight.

Village Trustee Parakkat commented they are as prepared as they can be

on this topic at this point and is ready to take a vote on this Item.

Village Trustee Enyia commented he does not feel that enough of the

community has been engaged on this topic since this was initially a

southwest Oak Park issue, but now this Item is expanding to more cameras

across the village.

Police Chief LaDon Reynolds then gave a presentation overview of this

Item.

The following persons spoke their Agenda Public Comments aloud:

Michael Baldwin: Michael Baldwin spoke there public comment urging the

Board to not delay implementing the FLOCK system. They spoke that this

is not just a southwest Oak Park issue, but a village issue and asked the

Board to answer their call and support the police and their community with

voting yes on installing the ALPR cameras.

Brynne Hovde: Brynne Hovde spoke their public comment in response to

the comments and narratives heard at the last Board meeting regarding the

ALPR cameras, and expressed their desire to try other options over

implementing the ALPRs, including waiting to see what impact the

cameras that were installed on the 290 highway have on that section of

Oak Park, conducting a thorough racial equity assessment of the system,

and wait for the report from BerryDunne.

Village Clerk Christina Waters then read the following Agenda Public

Comments aloud:

Jim Terretta: Jim Terretta submitted their public comment requesting the

Board inquire about the chain of custody for the data of the FLOCK

cameras and ensure it is owned fully by the Village of Oak Park and that

FLOCK cannot access it.

Lotus Lindez: Lotus Lindez submitted their public comment in opposition

to the FLOCK cameras, and feel that adding this level of public surveillance

will continue to exaggerate and enforce local economic disparities

enflamed by policing practices. They asked the Board to vote no on the

Flock camera budget motion and indicate to the Police Chief that while

they support him, the Board is not supportive of installing Flock cameras as

a first response to addressing crime in Oak Park.

Meghan Carter: Meghan Carter submitted their public comment in

opposition to the FLOCK cameras as they do not increase public safety,

and expressed data privacy and budgetary concerns. They stated we need

to value our privacy and our own and our neighbors' quiet enjoyment of our

community. We need a plan that furthers community safety that doesn't

compromise those values.

Yoko Terretta: Yoko Terretta submitted their public comment asking the

Board to vote no on the Flock camera budget motion and indicate to the

Police Chief that while they support him, the Board is not supportive of

installing Flock cameras as a first response to addressing crime in Oak

Park. They feel the company is trying to manipulate the community to get

access to the data.

Sara Muriello: Sara Muriello submitted their public comment asking the

Board to approve the contract for the Flock cameras. They want to stay in

OP but need to know that the people given the privilege of representing the

community will make fighting this up tick in crime a priority and feel that

Oak Park's reputation is at stake.

Sue Haas: Sue Haas submitted their public comment urging the Board to

vote no on the installation of Flock cameras in Oak Park.

Suzanne Feeney: Suzanne Feeney submitted their public comment

asking the Board to vote no on the budget motion to indicate the Board is

not supportive of installing Flock cameras as a first response to addressing

crime in Oak Park. They asked to delay this decision and have a proper

evaluation which includes hearing from stakeholders outside of the police

and Flock representatives. As a quick response, please implement traffic

calming measures as soon as possible.

Robert Biggins: Robert Biggins submitted their public comment in

support of license plate readers to give the police department any resource

available to make our neighborhoods safer. They requested the need for

speed bumps to alleviate speeding through the streets in southwest Oak

Park.

Paul Gorre: Paul Gorre submitted their public comment in support of the

license plate cameras.

Nubia & Ramon Durazo: Nubia & Ramon Durazo submitted their public

comment in support the license plate readers for their neighborhood.

Molly Wulkowicz: Molly Wulkowicz submitted their public comment

expressing their deep concern about Oak Park police installing and using a

FLOCK camera system, of top concern being the high rate of errors.They

feel the FLOCK cameras are not an equitable, safe solution, and that the

Board has an obligation to seriously investigate and consider all the

dangerous ramifications of installing this kind of invasive technology in Oak

Park.

Maggie Karnick: Maggie Karnick submitted their public comment

expressing their support to move forward with adding ALPRs in southwest

Oak Park. They feel there is a true urgency with spring coming and the

usual rise in crime that comes with it. Crime is out of control in their area,

please help.

Midge and Jim Cogan: Midge and Jim Cogan submitted their public

comment expressing their support for license plate readers to catch

criminals and reduce crime in Oak Park neighborhoods. They want the

village board to support this vote tonight.

Miran Baric: Miran Baric submitted their public comment expressing their

support for APLRs to empower the Oak Park Police Officers so they can

do their jobs effectively.

Lenor D'Silva: Lenor D'Silva submitted their public comment expressing

their support for the initiative for ALPRs (License Plate Readers), for a

safer Oak Park believing it will help solve crimes and serve as a deterrent

against future crime in the village.

Laura & Eric Reeb: Laura & Eric Reeb submitted their public comment

expressing their concern regarding the installation of the FLOCK cameras.

They feel the decision is being hastily made and may be the result of

fear mongering and urged the Board to do a little more research and put a

little more thought into the decision.

Kathy Rush: Kathy Rush submitted their public comment expressing their

support for APLRs.

Kathryn Humphreys: Kathryn Humphreys submitted their public comment

against the implementation of the FLOCK camera system which they feel is

ineffective and unnecessary. This money should be spent on items that

actually make a difference in beginning to turn over the systemic issues that

are at the root of any issues, not on a knee-jerk surveillance state system

that does nothing to make a true difference.

Kelly Bencola: Kelly Bencola submitted their public comment urging the

Board to vote no to approving funds for FLOCK cameras. They feel that

installing these cameras would be a crucial turning point for the Village - a

turn from being a community where we build relationships with our

neighbors to one where we view all who live here and pass through our

village as suspicious. These cameras and this process does not reflect

who we are as a Village.

Jim Schwartz: Jim Schwartz submitted their public comment requesting

the Board to vote no on the budget motion and indicate to the police chief

that the Board is not in support of installing Flock cameras in Oak Park.

Jenna Leving Jacobson: Jenna Leving Jacobson submitted their public

comment requesting the Board to vote no on the Flock camera budget

motion, and would rather the Village and Police Department invest in

evidence-based crime prevention to address crime and safety in the

community. They are also in support of support a Safe Firearm Storage

campaign.

John E. Figel: John E. Figel submitted their public comment expressing

their support for the license plate readers, asking that the camera program

gets pushed through quickly before something tragic happens.

Community Members in South Oak Park: Community Members in

South Oak Park submitted their public comment in opposition to the

installation of FLOCK cameras. They expressed their concern by the

speed at which this conversation is moving, and asked the Board to allow

the research to be thoroughly conducted before they install these cameras.

They requested that efforts be focused on traffic calming - specifically

focused on temporary speed bumps and 4 way stop signs.

Frank E. Stachyra: Frank E. Stachyra submitted their public comment

expressing their support for the Automatic License Plate Reader Camera.

They believe it will be an effective law enforcement tool that will help keep

their southwest Oak Park neighborhood safer than it is now.

Eugene White: Eugene White submitted their public comment in support

for cameras to keep their neighborhood safe.

Liz Lukehart: Liz Lukehart submitted their public comment urging the

Board to vote "no" on the Flock Camera System. They feel there is little

evidence to show this technology increases community safety, and good

evidence to show it has a high error rate and ends up disproportionately

impacting Black and Brown community members. They feel it is neither an

equitable, nor fiscally responsible decision and is in direct opposition to the

Board's stated core values, as well as its community safety and racial

equity goals.

Deborah Stewart & Roy Plotnick: Deborah Stewart & Roy Plotnick

submitted their public comment expressing their alarm at the uptick in

violent crime they have experienced in southwest Oak Park, and are

satisfied that installation of the Flock system can provide a valuable

crime-solving tool and help with more timely responses to criminal

incidents for those tasked with our public safety in the Village.

Dave Enderle: Dave Enderle submitted their public comment in support of

the installation of ALPR cameras as a relatively low cost and easy solution

which can identify those vehicles known to have committed a crime that the

police can then be notified of their whereabouts and respond accordingly.

They also asked why have there not been speed tables and a cul de sac at

Lexington and Harlem.

Camile Lindsay Kumi: Camile Lindsay Kumi submitted their public

comment asking the Board to vote no to the ALPR funding that the police

department is requesting. Their research suggests that ALPRs used in

neighborhoods like ours do not reduce crime in general or violent crime

specifically, and they are unwilling to support purchasing equipment to

solve crimes if it means that equipment will have a disparate negative

impact on Black and Brown people.

Ben Newton: Ben Newton submitted their public comment in support of

Automated License Plate Readers. They expressed concern that there

were 3 dozen shots fired in front of their home from three different cars and

they still don't know who fired these shots.They encouraged the Board to

ask the Police Chief how many additional arrests the cameras will allow

and how many additional officers it would take to make the same number

of arrests, and then follow up in a year and see if they are worth the cost.

Ann & Terry Roach: Ann & Terry Roach submitted their public comment

in support of the FLOCK system. They expressed their concerns about the

increase of crime in their southwest Oak Park neighborhood. They feel

identifying criminals using FLOCK may help decrease repeat offenders

from coming back to cause more car jackings, gun fight chases and other

possibly deadly acts.

Andy Sjostrom: Andy Sjostrom submitted their public comment in support

for the proposed ALPRs as proposed by FLOCK. They expressed their

concerns regarding the increased level of careless/reckless driving and

dangerous joy-riding of people using the east/west streets as by-passes,

as well as a car-jacking of their neighbors. While they do not believe that

adding ALPRs to the neighborhood should be the only aspect to

addressing this problem, they do believe it would be beneficial to getting a

handle on what seems to be a trend that should be curtailed before it gets

worse.

Amelia Mutso: Amelia Mutso submitted their public comment in support

for the Police Chief's request to bring the ALPRs from FLOCK to Oak

Park. With spring upon us when there is a usual up tick in crime, they

encourage the village leaders to vote in support of installing these in Oak

Park.

Abby Baric: Abby Baric submitted their public comment asking the Board

to vote to get the ALPR cameras. They feel they would make a huge

difference and one more second of not doing anything is another

opportunity for something horrible to happen.

Cathy Flowers: Cathy Flowers submitted their public comment asking if

detailed due diligence been conducted to determine the effectiveness of

the Flock Safety Cameras, have they produced metrics outlining the actual

crimes captured using their technology, and is there any particular reason

why this initiative is bypassing the Village Bid Process? They asked for the

board to please vote no on Res 22-69 and not rush this through the

process as it will have a lasting impact on Oak Park.

Jacquelyn Rodriguez: Jacquelyn Rodriguez submitted their public

comment urging the Board to vote no to any new funding to the police

department. They feel it is premature to fund anything at this time as we

have not been given the Berry Dunn report, this hasn't been mentioned to

the CRC, and we haven't yet created a formula for governing for racial

equity (which is in the board goals).

Kelley Clink: Kelley Clink submitted their public comment asking that

instead of cameras, the board and police department use traffic calming

measures to keep pedestrians and cyclists safe in Oak Park. They support

converting 2- way stops to four way stops, implementing more crossings

such as the pedestrian light at Harvey and Chicago, re-introducing slow

streets, increasing safe bike lanes, and speed bumps.

Helen Quinn Pasin: Helen Quinn Pasin submitted their public comment

asking the Board to vote no on Flock.

John Duffy: John Duffy submitted their public comment urging the Board

to conduct a full vetting of how FLOCK surveillance technology will impact

our community, its values, and its vision and path to be a welcoming,

racially just, and safe environment for all. They added the evaluation should

include a racial impact assessment process and a full understanding of

how FLOCK technology may compromise individual privacy and how its

data is being used by ICE in ways that will violate the Oak Park ordinance

on non-cooperation with finding and deporting undocumented immigrants.

Cassandra West: Cassandra West submitted their public comment

appealing to the Board to not approve FLOCK cameras as a so called

"solution to crime". The feel it is not a solution, and this not-fully-vetted

decision appears rushed and misguided. They requested the Board to wait

for the Berry Dunn report and the new village manager to have time to

assess the situation.

Michelle Major: Michelle Major submitted their public comment asking the

Board to vote no on the Flock camera budget motion and indicate to the

Police Chief that while they support him, the Board is not supportive of

installing Flock cameras as a first response to addressing crime in Oak

Park.

Jenna Holzberg: Jenna Holzberg submitted their public comment

expressing their concern about the planned implementation of FLOCK

cameras around the Village. They are deeply concerned and very confused

how and why cameras are being used as a solution to address the

pervasive behavior of unsafe driving on our village streets as cameras do

not deter nor do they prevent unsafe driving. They feel it is only through the

application of thoughtful traffic calming infrastructure can we begin to

address speeding and cut-through traffic on our residential streets.

Thomas H. Ptacek: Thomas H. Ptacek, a member of the Civic Information

Systems Commission (CISC), submitted their public comment that the

CISC is currently tasked with recommending a privacy policy to post on the

Village website, and suggests that the Village go further than this. Oak

Park should have a policy stating its privacy principles, and, in addition, it

should consider a resolution making those privacy rules binding for all

Village staff, across all departments. Oak Park should lead on privacy by

having privacy rules with teeth, and model them for the rest of Chicagoland.

Cooper Quintin: Cooper Quitin, a representative of the privacy advocacy

group Elecronic Frontier Foundation, submitted their public comment

expressing their concern that ALPR is a powerful surveillance technology

that can be used to invade the privacy of individuals as well as to violate the

rights of entire communities, and that law enforcement agencies have

abused this technology. In addition to deliberate misuse, ALPRs

sometimes misread plates, leading to dire consequences. They feel if the

Oak Park Village Board goes ahead with the plan to install ALPRs, they will

be subjecting their own residents to a Pandora's Box of surveillance.

Alicia Chastain:Alicia Chastain submitted their public comment asking

the Board to please vote no on the Flock cameras tonight. The Village is

rushing this decision and failing to make a case for why Oak Park needs to

be heavily surveilled. They feel the Flock cameras will not deter crime or

mitigate traffic issues, the Village is not doing its due diligence while

making this decision so quickly, and asked the Board to please honor their

commitments to meaningful community collaboration and racial equity.

Burt Blanchard: Burt Blanchard submitted their public comment

expressing their support for the installation of vehicle/ license plate

cameras.

Anne McNamee-Keels: Anne McNamee-Keels submitted their public

comment expressing their concern about the safety of community members

in Oak Park, and asked the Board to vote no on the budget motion for

Flock cameras and delay the decision until after a full evaluation of the

program, including a racial equity assessment. They feel the FLOCK

cameras have not been proven to meaningfully deter crime, and an

expensive new program that doesn't deter crime and in fact may lead to

mistaken identifications by police puts citizens at more risk, not less.

Rachel Poretsky: Rachel Poretsky submitted their public comment

expressing their concern that yet another student was involved in traffic

violence this morning on the way to school when they were knocked off their

bike by a hit and run driver. They urged the Board to take action and to

implement connected bikeways, slower speeds, safe crossings (including

the permanent removal of beg buttons so that people always get a walk

light), convenient and secure bike parking, fewer car parking spaces in

favor of public space, and encouragement and support for kids to bike or

walk to school and adults to bike or walk or use transit to their destinations.

Rebecca Malinowski: Rebecca Malinowski submitted their public

comment that the Village of Oak Park should not adopt the FLOCK

surveillance technology. They expressed serious concerns raised by the

experts at the Brennan Center, including high error rates, privacy and data

security concerns, data sharing concerns, lack of transparency and access

controls, and disparate impact concerns.

Paul Muriello: Paul Muriello submitted their public comment in support of

immediate installation of license plate readers in the Village, and feels the

village can do this the right way and protect our safety, our privacy, and our

property.

Maggie McMahon: Maggie McMahon submitted their public comment

expressing their concern regarding FLOCK cameras. They feel the village

needs an entire traffic reassessment, not cameras in some spots --

dangerous driving is pervasive here and the 2-way stops surrounding

schools and parks are an accident waiting to happen.

Jennifer: Jennifer submitted their public comment stating the Flock

cameras are not the solution to reducing unsafe driving practices that

present a real danger to pedestrians and cyclists in the Village. The Village

should instead invest in traffic calming infrastructure to address this very

serious and too often deadly issue.

Meeting went into Recess at 9:08 P.M.

Meeting Reconvened at 9:15 P.M.

Village Trustee Taglia then read out loud some concerning comments he

received regarding the FLOCK cameras and their being used as

surveilling and criminalizing people of color. He asked Chief Reynolds for

his thoughts on the comments.

Chief Reyonolds responded it is not his intent, or his staff's intent, to utilize

this technology in that fashion.

Village Trustee Buchanan posed a set of scenarios as it relates to the use

of FLOCK cameras to which Chief Reynolds responded to.

Village Trustee Robinson requested clarification again as to if there are

any consequences if they delay this decision.

Chief Reynolds responded there were some fees waived if they locked into

a contract by March 25th, so there will be some financial repercussions.

Village Attorney Stephanides confirmed there was a $3,500 discount for

entering into the contract by March 25th.

Village Trustee Robinson added they feel comfortable that they have heard

from a significant portion of the community with multiple perspectives and

points of view. Given there is a time sensitive element to this contract, the

Board should heavily consider that as they decide whether or not to move

forward with a vote tonight versus delaying it two weeks, and what the value

is that is gained in the delay.

Village President Scaman requested clarification on the contract going

from implementing eight cameras to twenty cameras.

Chief Reynolds responded staff felt it would be prudent to approach this

holistically and include all the zones and the entire community to have the

benefit of this tool and not just southwest Oak Park.

Village President Scaman requested clarification on how staff would

approach inaccurate reads for license plates.

Chief Reynolds responded it is incumbent upon the responding officer to

verify the information - physically identify the plate number is the same

number identified in the system, verify the VIN number, and also have a

conversation with the driver.

Village President Scaman requested clarification on the FLOCK cameras

being used as a tool not necessarily in stopping crime but in solving crime.

Chief Reynolds responded the village has had the opportunity working in

partnership with other municipalities to borrow this technology as an

investigative tool to solve crime; in 2021 there were 29 instances where

they were able to recover 28 vehicles, in 2019 they had 6 instances

resulting in 2 arrests related to license plate readers; in 2020 there were 15

arrests, and so far in 2022 there have been 6 incidents resulting in 4

arrests, all of these through the use of automatic license plate readers.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla expressed their concerns regarding

this Item and statements made regarding this technology being a

completely unbiased system. They then asked for clarification regarding

where the 20 cameras would be installed.

Chief Reynolds responded there are no specific locations as the contract

has not been finalized, but the plan is to place them in areas where they

would have the most value based on the data.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla requested clarification on who has final

say as to where the cameras would be located.

Chief Reynolds responded he does in collaboration with the Village

Manager's office.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla expressed concerns that the contract

stipulates that FLOCK has the final say as to the location.

Chief Reynolds differed questions regarding the contract to Village

Attorney Stephanides.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla requested clarification on who owns

the data that is collected from the ALPRs.

Chief Reynolds responded it is his understanding that the village owns the

data.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla added they do not believe the village

owns the data based on page 13 of the contract.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla reiterated their concern to the use of

this technology, its being used as a tool for spying on the public, and the

lack of data security.

Village President Scaman requested clarification regarding the privacy

policy the Village of Oak Park would have and what kind of transparency

there could be around that policy.

Chief Reynolds responded staff would work with the company to ensure

those two things are congruent, and that he would review the specifics as it

relates to their policy and report back to the Village Manager's Office and

the legal department to ensure they are addressing those items

appropriately.

Village Trustee Enyia commented their understanding regarding the

contract language relating to the placement of the cameras is the company

can advise on placement of the cameras to obtain optimal visual recording,

but the village has the final say as to the placement (location) of the camera

itself. They also added it is a fallacy to think the company could not offer a

discount of some kind after the March 25th date.

Village Trustee Enyia expressed their concern that they are jumping very

quickly to the most drastic solution - they understand the need for tools for

the police to do their jobs but that this is not the tool needed right now.

People are still going to commit crimes even if they see cameras. They do

not feel that they have heard from enough of the community or that they

have captured enough feedback from the majority of the people in Oak

Park for something that is going to impact as many people as it will.

Village Trustee Parakkat commented nothing they are seeing regarding

this technology, as it stores and retains data, comes anywhere close to the

surveillance that is possible with the data that is currently already available

through cell phones and social media in terms of being able to trace and

track someone.

Village Trustee Parakkat then requested clarification on if they the contract

can be revoked at the end of the two-year agreement after they have had a

chance to review how the technology is actually working in terms of solving

crime.

Chief Reynolds responded in the affirmative.

Village Trustee Robinson commented for them it comes down to two points

- accuracy and usage. The police department is already using license plate

and other types of information that FLOCK cameras pick up, although

currently they have to go and talk to residents to get footage from their Ring

cameras or eyewitness testimony. They believe implementing the FLOCK

cameras is a way to get highly accurate information into the hands of the

police department in a more efficient and cost effective way. Regarding

usage, they believe there are already guardrails in place to protect against

misuse and illegal use of this information, both in respect to the contract

and in the way that the police policy and protocol requires staff to use this

information. They do not see the benefit of delaying the vote on this Item.

Village Trustee Buchanan commented they have spent a lot of time over

the last few weeks researching this Item, including speaking with three

attorneys, watching the RBO meeting, communicating with racial equity

leaders in the community, and reading articles on both sides of the issue.

They have run into misunderstandings on both sides of the issue, including:

that the cameras will make the neighborhoods safer, for which there is no

evidence that the use of cameras will decrease crime (the cameras are not

a crime fighting tool); or that people will be surveilled (these cameras do

not film people, they take pictures of license plates).

Village Trustee Buchanan then expressed their concern over the high error

rates of the cameras and the impact of a license plate alerting the police in

error and what the response could be if the car is full of young black men

versus a white family. Village Trustee Buchanan added they are choosing

to listen to their black residents' concerns, and prioritizing their concerns,

over the lackluster evidence that thee cameras will make a difference in out

safety.

Village Trustee Taglia commented they have listened very carefully to the

concerns of residents regarding privacy, which is something he takes

seriously. He strongly and respectfully disagrees with the idea of Oak Park

becoming a surveillance state or that there would be spying on behalf of the

police. As a resident and Village Trustee, they personally do not want to

see stolen vehicles freely traveling throughout the village, and believes, as

a body, the majority of the Board have spoken in favor of giving the police

department the tools necessary to do their jobs effectively.

Village Trustee Enyia added the Board agreed as one of their goals to

have BerryDunn complete the safety study and report back with the results

of their study prior to moving forward with this, and recommended waiting a

few weeks to get the results back from the contractor and use that data.

Village Trustee Parakkat commented this is a complex issue; a $100,000

investment towards community safety in a community like Oak Park is a

very small investment to make. Regarding the community safety study work

being done by BerryDunn, they feel this feeds into their work and can help

give enough information to better support decisions that come out of the

study.

Village President Scaman commented the mistrust that exists in our nation

and the trust that we have to rebuild in our own community is well worth the

two weeks delay.

Village President Scaman then asked for a motion to table the Item and

bring it to the next meeting and to remove the FLOCK budget amendment

from the next Item.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla moved to table the Item.

Village Trustee Enyia seconded the motion to table this Item.

It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee

Enyia, to table this Resolution. The motion was approved. The roll call on the

vote was as follows:

4 -

AYES:

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

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

3 - Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Taglia

NAYS:

ABSENT:

ORD 22-9

An Ordinance Amending the Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Budget

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla moved to adopt the Ordinance with the

removal of the FLOCK camera budget amendment.

Village Trustee Robinson requested clarification regarding the $150,000

request for businesses for proof of vaccination that is still included in the

Item since the vaccination order has been lifted.

Director of Development Customer Services, Tammie Grossman,

responded the Board approved that program back in January and the

village has since given out a lot of the funding, but the budget was never

amended. This request is needed to amend the budget to account for the

funds that have already paid out.

It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee

Buchanan, to adopt the Ordinance as amended. The motion was approved. The

roll call on the vote was as follows:

7 -

AYES:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village

Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

NAYS:

ABSENT:

XII. Call to Board and Clerk

Village Clerk Waters had no comment.

Village Trustee Enyia thanked the Board for being considerate and trying

to find the best in our community and do what is best by all of our residents.

He would like to address the traffic safety on Taylor Street and move up

their traffic safety petition in the Transportation Commission and possibly

look at making their street a one way street to help mitigate the residents'

concerns - as well as look at the traffic concerns and remedies for

Lexington Street and Maple Ave. He also expressed support for the voters

in Oak Park to be able to petition the Board with issues for the Board to

vote on.

Village Trustee Parakkat wished the community a Happy St. Patrick's Day

and a Happy Holi.

Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla expressed her support for Village

Trustee Enyia's comments and suggested looking into implementing a

"Notice of Appearance" system, which is used in the state legislature, as a

more effective way to gather what the community thinks about an issue.

Village Trustee Robinson had no comment.

Village Trustee Taglia had no comment.

Village President Scaman mentioned Jenna Jacobson had submitted a

public comment regarding safe firearm storage, and added the Board

would work to share that information as a village.

XIII. Adjourn

It was moved by Village Trustee Parakkat, seconded by Village Trustee

Robinson, to Adjourn. The motion was approved. The Meeting adjourned at 10:50

P.M., Monday, March 21, 2022.

Respectfully Submitted,

Deputy Clerk DeViller

7 -

AYES:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village

Trustee Walker-Peddakotla

NAYS:

ABSENT: