123 Madison Street

Oak Park, Illinois 60302

www.oak-park.us

Village of Oak Park

Meeting Minutes

President and Board of Trustees

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

6:30 PM

Village Hall

I. Call to Order

Village President Vicki Scaman called the Regular Meeting to order at

6:30 P.M.

II. Roll Call

Trustee Wesley joined the Meeting at 6:39 P.M.

Trustee Straw joined the Meeting at 6:51 P.M.

5 -

Present:

Absent:

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

Trustee Parakkat, and Village Trustee Robinson

2 - Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley

III. Consideration of Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session to Discuss Collective

Bargaining and Pending Litigation

It was moved by Trustee Buchanan, seconded by Trustee Enyia, to adjourn into

Executive Session. 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

NAYS:

2 - Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley

ABSENT:

V. Reconvene to Regular Meeting in Council Chambers and Call to Order

The Regular Meeting reconvened at 7:34 P.M.

VI. Roll Call

7 -

Present:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Straw, and Village

Trustee Wesley

Absent:

VII. Agenda Approval

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

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

VIII. Minutes

MOT 24-139

A Motion to Approve Minutes from the March 5, 2024 Regular Meeting

and March 11, 2024 Special Meeting of the Village Board

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

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

IX. Non-Agenda Public Comment

Betty Alzamora, on behalf of Oak Park Resettlement Task Force:

Requesting assistance with legal services for a particular individual and to

allow her to work with the contracted lawyers to coordinate logistics.

Village Manager Kevin Jackson noted deportation defense is not included

in the Village’s contracted services. Chief DEI Officer Dr. Danielle Walker

said the services included are change of venue and applying for asylum

and work authorization. She encouraged Ms. Alzamora to contact her.

President Scaman acknowledged Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Executive

Director Neil James who was in attendance.

X. Proclamation

MOT 24-130

A Motion to Approve a Proclamation to Proclaim April 2024 as Earth

Month

Trustee Buchanan read the Proclamation into the record. Public Works

Director Rob Sproule highlighted the Earth Month events and

acknowledged partners OPCAN, Oak Park Library, and our Village Clerk.

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

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

MOT 24-138

A Motion to Approve a Proclamation for National Public Health Week

April 1-7, 2024

Trustee Straw read the Proclamation into the record. Health Director Dr.

Theresa Chapple encouraged the community to visit the website,

newsletter, and Facebook for ways to be involved in public health.

It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Wesley, that this Motion be

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

XII. Village Board Committees & Trustee Liaison Commission Reports

There were no comments.

XIII. Citizen Commission Vacancies

There were no comments.

ID 24-209

Board & Commission Vacancy Report for March 19, 2024

XIV. Citizen Commission Appointments, Reappointments and Chair Appointments

MOT 24-141

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

Civic Information Systems Commission - Sharon Newton, Reappoint as

Member

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

the Appointment. 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 Straw, and Village

Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

XV. Consent Agenda

Approval of the Consent Agenda

It was moved by Trustee Robinson, seconded by Trustee Enyia, 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 Straw, and Village

Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

MOT 24-123

MOT 24-131

A Motion to Approve the Bills in the Amount of $7,548,253.56 from

January 29, 2024, through February 29, 2024

This Motion was approved.

A Motion to Concur with the Transportation Commission’s

Recommendations for Traffic Calming on the 900 and 1000 Blocks of N.

Humphrey Avenue and at the Intersection of Berkshire Street with N.

Humphrey Avenue

This Motion was approved.

ORD 24-109

RES 24-146

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 a Feasibility Study of Bike Lanes on

Ridgeland Avenue in an Amount Not to Exceed $86,309, Authorizing its

Execution and Directing Staff to Prepare the Necessary Budget

Amendment

This Resolution was adopted.

RES 24-139

RES 24-151

A Resolution Approving a Funding Grant Agreement Between Housing

Forward and the Village of Oak Park in the Amount of $500,000 in

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds and Authorizing Its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving the Renewal of the Annual Software License and

Support 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 $208,464.30

and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

RES 24-153

RES 24-154

A Resolution Approving an Independent Contractor Agreement with

Midwest Services and Development Corp. for the Main Fire Station HVAC

Replacement Project in an Amount Not to Exceed $94,500.00 and

Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving the Replacement of Three Salter Bodies on Village

Dump Trucks Through the Purchase and Installation of Certain Equipment

from Lindco Equipment Sales, a Division of Viking-Cives, Through the

Sourcewell Joint Purchasing Program in an Amount Not to Exceed

$147,483.00 and Waiving the Village’s Bid Process for the Purchase

This Resolution was adopted.

RES 24-155

RES 24-159

RES 24-160

A Resolution Approving the Rebuilding of One Dump Truck Through the

Purchase and Installation of Certain Equipment from Lindco Equipment

Sales, a Division of Viking-Cives, through the Sourcewell Joint Purchasing

Program in an Amount Not to Exceed $88,587.00 and Waiving the Village’s

Bid Process for the Purchase

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a United States Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention Application for a Public Health Associate to

Assist the Village’s Public Health Department with Violence and Injury

Prevention Programs, HIV Surveillance Based Services, and other Health

Education Projects from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2026

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving a Contract with Triggi Construction, Inc. for Project

24-4, Alley Improvements, in an Amount Not to Exceed $2,318,347,

Authorizing its Execution and Directing Staff to Prepare the Necessary

Budget Amendment

This Resolution was adopted.

RES 24-161

A Resolution Approving a Contract with J. Nardulli Concrete, Inc. for

Project 24-18, Alley Improvements, in an Amount not to Exceed $730,000

and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

RES 24-166

RES 24-168

A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Settlement Agreement in

Workers’ Compensation Case Number 2021 WC 34500

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving the Work Plan of the Village of Oak Park’s Citizen

Involvement Commission for 2024

This Resolution was adopted.

XVI. Regular Agenda

ID 24-160

A Presentation by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Regarding the

Comprehensive Housing Study Update to the Homes for a Changing Region

Report

Ralph Lee, representing Diversity Oak Park: Concerned with the lack of

intentionality and investment in the racial and economic diversity of our

community. Outlined core values they believe should be at the heart of the

efforts to address housing and neighborhoods.

Rob Breymaier, member of Diversity Oak Park: Asked the Village Board to

recommit and reinvest to our community's integration strategy and take the

threat of segregation and its many negative consequences for our

community seriously.

Paul Sakol, member of Diversity Oak Park: Recommends revising the

multi-family incentives program to provide incentives for property owners to

engage in integration efforts through partnership with the regional housing

center. Read statement on behalf of Burcy Hines.

Henry Fulkerson, member of Diversity Oak Park: Much-needed changes to

the IHO must be combined with other affordable housing strategies, a

comprehensive racial equity assessment, and intentional integration plan.

John Duffy, member of Diversity Oak Park: Village racial equity work

demands the permanence of a racial equity ordinance designed in

collaboration with the community.

Manager Jackson and Village Planner Craig Failor introduced the Item.

Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (MMC) Housing and Community

Development Associate Ben Schnelle presented an overview of the 2024

Housing Study. Development Services Deputy Director Brandon Crawford

highlighted the next steps toward implementation.

Trustee Robinson inquired if the recommendation is to increase the

number of units that are provided at affordable rental price points or if the

term affordable housing as determined by the area median income (AMI) in

our ordinance. Associate Schnelle said the terminology is to increase the

supply of affordable rental housing which is defined through a

measurement as the number of rental options that are affordable for

households earning 60% of the area median income.

She asked if it is possible to break down MMC's assessment of

affordability between commercially-owned buildings and multi-unit rental

properties. Associate Schnelle said unfortunately that data is not available.

She said it would be desirable to have it if it can collected. Manager

Jackson said staff can look into that. Planner Failor added that the Village

has a rental registry we can look at.

She said she is in favor of adopting the study with a few exceptions. She

referenced recommendation #4. Associate Schnelle said their

recommendation is to go through that goal-setting process and then

consider revenue options, to be decided by the Board. She said she would

like to consider removing the housing authority grant funding from the

Housing Trust Fund.

She referenced the recommendation to revise the parking requirements.

Associate Schnelle said the first part is focused on the onsite

requirements. Parking is focusing on both multi-family and missing middle.

She said she is not in favor of making an adjustment to the overnight

parking ban and she likes the ability to grant parking variances and use

that to encourage the kind of development that we want to see. She said

she fully supports looking at the IZO, considering adjusting the fee in lieu,

and she thinks the map should be expanded.

She said she agrees with the homeownership focus and would like to see

a restructure of our partner agency relationships and look for partners that

can prioritize homeownership opportunities. She noted the lack of rental

stock that is unsuitable for families. Manager Jackson said he looks

forward to those conversations. Trustee Robinson added she will no longer

support housing programs or partners that do not have language access

considerations.

Trustee Buchanan requested clarification on the definition of affordable.

Associate Schnelle said the rationale behind that being identified as a

challenge and a goal was the input that they received through community

engagement. The challenge of rental affordability was by far the top theme

they heard through community input. Oak Park is outperforming many of

your peers in terms of the percentage of housing that is affordable. They

also heard a desire to continue that and expand on the supply of affordable

rental housing.

She asked if he agreed that the way to approach the overall housing

shortage is to build more units. He said there are very good arguments for

the simple supply and demand idea. Increasing supply overall is helpful and

creates less competition and increasing affordable housing specifically is

helpful. She noted the distinction between subsidized housing that might be

luxury units and building smaller units. He said there are great examples of

both strategies working well here in Oak Park.

She said she is interested in the issue of changing the zoning and asked if

developers would come in and build them. He said you could ask that to

small-scale missing middle housing developers directly because a lot of it

depends on the site.

She asked how staff chose the three out of the nine recommendations.

Director Crawford said staff wanted to prioritize based on how far-reaching

we thought those initiatives could be. She said she would love to see a plan

and timeline for all nine of them.

Regarding the climate goals for housing, she said she would not be in favor

of alternative compliance pathways but finding ways to make it affordable

because we know these retrofits are going to be expensive. She said she

supports all of these and would be ready to discuss getting rid of the

overnight parking ban. She said as elected officials, we experience a lot of

push back against development and construction and she said you cannot

say you care about affordable housing and then protest against density.

Trustee Enyia said affordability is something that cripples a lot of Oak

Parkers and we want to figure out how we can adapt this housing stock to

truly accommodate everyone. He noted seniors are a substantial growing

demographic and the need to put affordability as an actual thought and not

an afterthought.

Trustee Parakkat said he thinks affordability is important for diversity. He

said he is skeptical in how we can achieve housing affordability in the

context of making this community more desirable. He noted the tension

between sustainability, affordability, and equity and he said he thinks

sustainability has to be prioritized because it has generational impact into

the future. He requested staff to provide a way to manage that tension. He

said he sees tension between home ownership versus rental and the

amount of available dollars that we have and its efficiency and use against

that. He said he would like to see what the give and take is around that in

terms of the metrics. He said he is in support of keeping the overnight

parking ban based on what's available at this point unless there is a

compelling metric on certain parts of the community where it's needed.

Regarding the IZO, he said he is willing to look at what comes back.

Trustee Straw said he broadly supports adoption of the report with the

understanding that several recommendations call for fleshing out with

additional detail through further study with staff and Board. He appreciates

the report reflects the complex and interrelated nature of so many policy

areas. When we're requiring mandatory minimum parking onsite, it reduces

the number of units we're going to develop, which plays into the need to

examine the overnight parking ban. He said he hopes staff looks at how

density bonuses are going to play into the missing middle zoning issues.

Regarding the recommendation to revise the IZO, he said he hopes that as

we analyze this, we are thoughtful about where we want to set that minimum

for where the inclusionary housing ordinance applies. He said he would

support the IHO covering all of Oak Park as a necessary starting point.

He asked how the AMI for Oak Park is determined. Associate Schnelle

said the AMI is for the Chicago region. The area median income in 2022

was roughly $85K. Trustee Straw noted that the median unit we're selling

now is $230K than would be affordable under that calculation and that is

why this missing middle strategy makes so much sense and he is

interested in aggressively moving forward on that.

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

meeting past 10:00 P.M. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.

Trustee Wesley said he would like to see a recommendation to build more

units and sets a target for the number of units over a 1-year, 5-year, and

10-year period. Building more units correlates positively with more

affordable housing in our village. He referenced the Illinois Housing

Development Association's ratings of municipalities on the percentage of

affordable housing. He noted that prior to 1939, Oak Park had 14,566

housing units. Today Oak Park has 24,708 housing units.

He said he supports all of the recommendations. He said he would like to

see the option that missing middle is a by right feature of the zoning code

and not something that has to go through an approval process or deployed

in very specific areas of the village. He'd like to view the village in its

entirety and not in specific districts. He said he thinks we need to set the

baseline of why this happened in order to reverse it. He said he is

supportive of an IHO and does not want to see one that prevents us from

adding more units. He read a statement from 46th Ward Alderman James

Cappleman and said studies showed that building more units increased

affordable housing.

He said prices are higher here because Oak Park is so desirable. We

won't ever be able to catch up with the naturally occurring affordable

housing that we built 100 years ago. People wanting to move here will rent

naturally occurring affordable housing which will drive out people with lower

incomes from our community which makes it a less diverse place which

decreases the equity. He suggested we take the things that we know work

and do those things here.

Trustee Straw noted that Oak Park is less dense than we were 50 and 80

years ago. Since the advent of single-family zoning, we have seen

duplexes and three-flats being down-converted to single-family housing

zoning. The historical character of Oak Park neighborhoods has always

included multi-family housing. Missing middle is not new; it is talking about

restoring the historical character of our neighborhoods.

Trustee Parakkat noted the density comparisons from the average

household in the U.S. included more kids. People at $70K to $150K also

need housing they can afford. People are stretching themselves too much

to buy a house and some are buying lower because that's what's available.

That takes supply out of the market and creates a problem in affordable

housing. A lot of these affordability programs are on the back of that

middle. They do not have appropriate housing and are overburdened in

their housing commitments and lack of support. He said he wants us to

consider broadening that to make appropriate housing for different income

levels so our affordable housing stock is protected for truly affordable

housing needs. Trustee Wesley said he heard "build more." Trustee

Parakkat said "thoughtful development."

President Scaman said she agrees and as we work to identify our more

specific goals around how we are going to use our Housing Trust Fund and

its guidelines and choose projects and development that get us to those

goals, we are going to have to be intentional and she would like to see

those projects that allow us to maintain some level of ability to track

whether we're accomplishing what we want to do. She said she supports

the report and looks forward to hosting the conversations, identifying more

revenue sources for the trust fund, reviewing zoning, and she is interested

in the parking ban.

Manager Jackson said staff will reflect on the feedback heard tonight and

bring the report back for the Board to adopt. Trustee Straw requested any

redline changes on the report, which Manager Jackson confirmed.

ID 24-193

Public Safety Annual Report

It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Robinson, that this Report

be tabled. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.

ORD 24-110

An Ordinance Amending the Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Budget

Interim CFO Donna Gayden presented the Item.

Trustee Buchanan inquired if the public health grant is all grant funding,

which CFO Gayden confirmed.

Trustee Parakkat inquired if the 2025 budget is based off of the 2024

revised carry forward number. CFO Gayden said the 2023 carry forward

are projects that were not completed in 2023 and are moving to 2024. The

2025 budget will only be based on the budget that was done for 2024. A

budget is never created based on carry over.

It was moved by Trustee Wesley, seconded by Trustee Straw, that this Ordinance

be adopted. 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 Straw, and Village

Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

XVII. Call to Board and Clerk

Clerk Waters said early voting ended yesterday. The final count for early

voting was 2,502 voters in comparison to last year was 1,407. She thanked

the staff at Village Hall and Public Works. Recycle yard signs in the Public

Works lobby, 201 South Blvd., weekdays March 19-April 2 from 7:30 A.M.

to 4:00 P.M. For more info, contact 708-358-5700. She thanked her mother

who was an election judge this year.

Trustee Enyia expressed his gratitude for the ability to be able to vote and

to everyone who makes it possible. He acknowledged the accessibility

issues of the current Village Hall building.

Trustee Robinson thanked Trustees Buchanan, Wesley, and Parakkat for

elevating her concerns and questions in the meetings she had to miss.

Trustee Parakkat wished the community a Happy Holi, which is March 25.

He thanked Dr. Walker and her team for working on Holi-related

programming on April 14.

President Scaman announced the Village will host a Women in Leadership

Symposium at the CRC this Saturday at 10:00 A.M. She will serve on a

panel with Trustees Buchanan and Robinson, Community Mental Health

Board Executive Director Cheryl Potts, and D97 Superintendent Dr.

Ushma Shah. She participated in a Wednesday Journal interview with

River Forest Village President Cathy Adduci, Police Chief Shatonya

Johnson, and Oak Park postmaster Kenya Thomas.

She said as she reflects on her experience as a woman in her position as

Village President, she emphasized that we are all here to work for the

people of this community. She is resilient and powerful and leads with

empathy and compassion. She works hard to center the best interests of

our residents and her service is to the community and not about her, which

helps her not internalize criticism and learn from a differing perspective.

She said she needs to be careful to not say or do anything that could hurt

the reputation of Oak Park. She does not accept interviews with media that

have the intent of taking sound bites out of context. She works hard to listen

to her duly elected colleagues and bring those voices together. She

encourages Trustees to do the same and be unapologetically themselves.

She has to work to create a safe space for all perspectives and she thinks

she has been successful at that. She is grateful for this Board.

She takes seriously her responsibility to shut down abusive, bullying

behavior that is unproductive, violates our values and guidelines as a

Board, and interferes with our work, even if that means adjourning a

meeting, as has recently been the case. She is restorative justice trained

and works to understand why bullying behavior leads to an individual

changing facts to suit their own agenda. A letter to the editor has been

printed that does not represent the facts consistent with the intention to

repair harm. This has been an extremely challenging time for herself and

her family and she will rely on her skills to work to ensure this Board can

focus on our important work and shared goals.

XVIII. Adjourn

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

vote was taken and the motion was approved.

Respectfully submitted,

Deputy Clerk Hansen