Minutes - President and Board of Trustees

123 Madison Street

Oak Park, Illinois 60302

www.oak-park.us

Village of Oak Park

Meeting Minutes

President and Board of Trustees

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

7:00 PM

Village Hall

I. Call to Order

Village President Scaman called the Meeting to order at 7:02 P.M.

II. Roll Call

7 -

Present:

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

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

Trustee Wesley

Absent:

III. Agenda Approval

Village President Scaman announced that Item F will be moved from

Consent Agenda to Regular Agenda.

It was moved by Village Trustee Straw, seconded by Village Trustee Taglia to

approve the agenda. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved as

amended.

IV. Minutes

A Motion to Approve Minutes from the June 9, 2026 Regular Meeting of

the Village Board.

MOT 26-180

It was moved by Village Trustee Eder, seconded by Village Trustee Leving

Jacobson to approve the Minutes. A voice vote was taken and the motion was

approved.

V. Non-Agenda Public Comment

Frank S. commented on proposed zoning changes and expressed

concerns about the potential effects on single-family homes,

redevelopment patterns, housing density, and neighborhood character. He

also discussed affordable housing funding and stated that he intended to

return to provide additional information regarding housing policy research.

Mark K. commented on proposed bicycle lane improvements on Harvard

Street and expressed concerns about safety related to driveways, alleys,

sightlines, and potential conflicts between bicyclists and vehicles. He

suggested consideration of a bicycle boulevard as an alternative approach.

Monique M. commented on community safety and a recent death in the

community. She encouraged residents and Village leaders to work

together in support of the community.

VI. Proclamation

No proclamations were presented.

VII. Village Manager Reports

ID 26-399

Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Update

Neighborhood Services Director/ Asst. Village Manager, Jonathan Burch

explained the status of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, noting that it

operated as a market based tool and currently applied only in limited areas

and to developments of 25 units or more. He said staff paused proposed

updates until zoning recommendations from Shape Oak Park were clearer

but continued background work and analysis so updates could move

quickly once direction was set. He also noted that a task force, if created,

would not slow staff’s ongoing preparations.

Village Trustee Jenna Leving Jacobson expressed appreciation for the

update and emphasized the urgency of aligning zoning reform and IHO

changes, citing expert recommendations to improve affordability. She

noted that unexpected development opportunities could arise and believed

a stronger IHO needed to be in place beforehand. She asked for a

concrete timeline, additional data, and updated drafts to accompany

ongoing zoning decisions.

VillageTrustee Brian Straw stated that the IHO update should move quickly

and noted that substantial time had passed since the August 2024

discussion. He acknowledged the connection to zoning but argued the two

processes should not overly delay each other, particularly since many

zoning changes would not affect large projects covered by the IHO. He also

pointed out that the projected zoning timeline extended to 2027, making it

important not to postpone IHO reforms that long.

Village Trustee Cory Wesley cautioned that IHO decisions must account for

current economic conditions, particularly high interest rates that make

development harder to finance. He praised Oak Park’s existing IHO for

generating significant affordable units and funding, noting it was among the

region’s most effective. He urged the board to decide whether to prioritize

onsite or offsite affordable units and to avoid strengthening the ordinance in

a way that unintentionally halted development. He shared data

demonstrating the IHO’s impact, including nearly $5 million collected and

over 10,000 months of affordable rent funded. He noted that the ordinance

had supported 86 existing affordable units with 64 more potentially

forthcoming. He emphasized that any revised ordinance should at least

match this level of effectiveness.

Village Trustee Chibuike Enyia thanked staff for the update and discussed

how limited land availability and development opportunities posed

challenges for adding affordable housing. He emphasized the value of

onsite affordable units and the need for deeper community conversations

to address misconceptions. He supported acting quickly while still

coordinating with zoning work and partners like Opticos.

Village Trustee Derek Eder supported pairing zoning changes with IHO

reforms, saying the two must be aligned to avoid generating only luxury

housing. He acknowledged community concerns about affordability and

stressed that timeliness was essential, since developers might attempt to

avoid requirements by proposing projects just below IHO thresholds. He

said he looked forward to continuing work and improving on the strong

results achieved so far.

Village Trustee Jim Taglia said he heard both the urgency and the caution

expressed by others and believed a balanced approach was necessary.

He reflected on the creation of the original IHO, noting early fears it might

stall development but pointing out that the ordinance ultimately proved

successful. He expressed confidence that the new reforms would also be

well-crafted and effective.

Village Manager Kevin Jackson clarified the timeline, noting that staff had

made rapid progress after 2024 but intentionally paused updates to ensure

alignment with broader housing and zoning initiatives. He emphasized that

urgency remained important and that the board could proceed sooner if it

chose, though staff recommended coordinating the processes strategically.

He reiterated that the pause was deliberate, not due to inaction.

Village President Vicki Scaman expressed confidence in the board’s

ability to hold thoughtful, intentional discussions about the IHO and zoning.

She said the update helped clarify shared goals and stressed the

importance of community engagement, especially given the variety of

housing needs from seniors to families to people with disabilities. She

noted that incentives might be necessary for smaller, more affordable

projects and that development types varied widely in the community,

making balanced policy crucial.

VIII. Village Board Committees

This section is intended to be informational. If there are approved

minutes from a recent Committee meeting of the Village Board, the

minutes will be posted in this section.

Pending Committee Meeting Minutes

Finance Committee Meeting Minutes from May 21, 2026

Village Trustee Cory Wesley announced that the Civics Information

Commission would be organizing a fall Civic Hackathon, planned to

engage village departments and local high school computer science

students, and said he would continue promoting it regularly until the event

occurred.

IX. Citizen Commission Vacancies

ID 26-392

X. Citizen Commission Appointments, Reappointments and Chair Appointments

Board and Commission Vacancy Report for June 16, 2026

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

Civic Information Systems Commission - Derek Arguello, Appoint as

Commissioner

MOT 26-182

Civic Information Systems Commission - Daniel Fargano, Appoint as

Commissioner

Village Clerk Waters read the names aloud.

It was moved by Village Trustee Straw, seconded by Village Trustee Wesley, that

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

XI. Public Hearing

XII. First Reading

XIII. Second Reading

XIV. Consent Agenda

Approval of the Consent Agenda

Village President Scaman announced that Item F will be moved from

Consent Agenda to Regular Agenda.

It was moved by Village Trustee Wesleyand seconded by Village Trustee Straw

to approve the items under the Consent Agenda. The motion was approved. The

roll call on the vote was as follows:

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AYES:

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

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

Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

A Resolution Approving an Intergovernmental Agreement Between the

Village of Oak Park and the Oak Park Township to Participate in the

Township’s Youth Engagement Program

RES 26-201

RES 26-225

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Authorizing the Release of Certain Closed Session Minutes

This Resolution was adopted.

XV. Regular Agenda

A Resolution Amending the Professional Services Agreement between

the Village of Oak Park and Opticos Design, Inc. in an amount not to

exceed $128,000 for Additional Services

RES 26-222

Development Services Director Craig Failor outlined the amendment

requesting economic feasibility work, additional outreach, and creation of a

zoning comparison tool. He described how the first phase of engagement

had centered on listening, and the second phase would focus on educating

residents and gathering feedback in a more neighborhood based format.

He detailed plans for postcards to all households, multiple neighborhood

meetings, and greater involvement from Neighborhood Services and the

Communications team. He clarified that the feasibility study would examine

the financial viability of missing middle housing and whether incentives

might be required. He also emphasized that the zoning recommendations

were nearly complete, that public engagement would continue, and that the

July 28 vote would set the policy direction before the legal hearing process

began.

Village Trustee Leving Jacobson asked for more detail on how community

outreach meetings would be conducted. She noted that the Village had

received negative feedback about the first engagement phase and asked

for clarity on how the next phase would be more intentional and reach

uninformed residents. She questioned logistics, such as whether outreach

targeted only single family households. She stressed the importance of

planning outreach methods carefully and transparently.

Village Trustee Eder asked for clarity on when deliverables, especially

recommendations and feasibility results, would be ready. He also

questioned why feasibility work was being added now rather than included

from the beginning, noting that community concern had been predictable.

He supported the new work but emphasized the need to clearly

communicate long term expectations and avoid public misconceptions.

Village Trustee Wesley expressed frustration about the multi year process

and concern that delays could push a final decision into 2027. He strongly

argued that continued delays perpetuated inequities within the current

zoning code, which he characterized as exclusionary.

Village Trustee Taglia expressed concern that the new work seemed

unbudgeted, though he supported increased outreach, especially

traditional communication like postcards. He worried that residents still

misunderstood the proposal and argued that major decisions should not be

rushed. He also introduced the idea of a referendum, saying it could

enhance education and debate.

Village Trustee Straw agreed with concerns about timing but supported the

additional outreach as long as it did not slow the overall process. He said

the Village had already engaged the public extensively since 2023 and

believed a public hearing should be held before the end of the current year.

He supported pairing public engagement with the legal process so both

could progress at the same time. He also supported feasibility testing and

communication enhancements.

Village President Vicki Scaman emphasized that public engagement was

not a formality but a way for the Board to understand impacts before

making decisions. She also acknowledged the Board’s evolving positions

and stressed the importance of giving residents clarity about what was

under consideration.

Public Comment

Resident Frank S. stated that he had been unaware of the earlier outreach

efforts and believed many residents had similar experiences. He supported

sending postcards and conducting more visible, accessible engagement.

He warned that residents might feel the decision was already made if

broad outreach occurred only after the Board set a direction. He urged the

Board to ensure residents were reached before major votes.

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

Jacobson, that this Resolution be adopted. The motion was approved. The roll

call on the vote was as follows:

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AYES:

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

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

Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

A Resolution Approving an Extension of an Independent Agreement with

Thrive Counseling Center for an Additional Six-Month Term Through

December 31, 2026, in an Amount Not to Exceed $83,000 and Authorizing

its Execution

RES 26-213

Director/ Asst. Village Manager Jonathan Burch explained that the item

extended the existing police contract with Thrive for six months to align with

the next agenda item, which proposed a new one year contract beginning

January 1, 2027 to ensure uninterrupted service.

It was moved by Village Trustee Enyia, seconded by Village Trustee Straw, that

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

was as follows:

7 -

AYES:

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

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

Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

A Motion To Direct The Finance Committee To Identify Funding Sources

Through The 2027 Budget Process To Implement The Staff

MOT 26-176

Recommendation For Phase Two Of An Alternative Response Model And

Direct Staff To Further Study The Expansion of The ECHO Program

Director/ Asst. Village Manager Jonathan Burch explained the current 911

triage process, the very small number of calls diverted through CESSA to

988, and how police currently determined when to involve Thrive. He

outlined how the recommended model would integrate the BerryDunn

report and Mental Health Task Force recommendations by expanding

Thrive into proactive co-response for mental health crises and potentially

positioning ECHO for future social service call response. He walked the

Board through call types, system design, dispatch limitations, and the

phased plan to build alternative response capability through West

Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center by 2027. He also detailed

timelines, costs, and performance measures, explaining that staff

recommended delaying an expanded ECHO program until more data and

the new dispatch system were in place.

Thrive Clinical Director Sarah Wiemeyer explained Thrive’s current and

proposed role, emphasizing a shift from police initiated involvement to

proactive engagement on clearly defined mental health call types until full

alternative dispatch becomes available. She described the goals of

de-escalating crises, avoiding unnecessary hospitalization, and releasing

police from scenes as soon as it was safe to do so. She detailed staffing

requirements, safety procedures, dedicated response teams, and follow-up

obligations, including 24/7 availability for assessments. She also reviewed

state guidelines under CESSA, clarified how Oak Park could align with

upcoming 2027 diversion protocols, and stressed the importance of

integrated training with police.

Community Mental Health Board Executive Director Cheryl Potts explained

that the Task Force’s earlier memo had responded to an outdated staff

proposal, and she noted that the revised presentation addressed many of

their previous concerns. She emphasized that the Task Force had always

prioritized reducing police involvement in mental health crises and

strengthening post crisis follow-up as part of trauma informed care. She

expressed optimism about the improved collaboration between the Village,

Thrive, and ECHO, as well as the clearer separation between mental health

and social service call types. She also stressed the need for strong

coordination between Thrive and ECHO and clear referral pathways to

ensure seamless care.

Village Trustee Wesley asked detailed operational questions about

dispatch, co-response, and the distinctions between Thrive and ECHO call

types. He strongly supported expanded alternative response and pressed

for faster implementation, including preparing ECHO for direct dispatch

once technically feasible. He also raised concerns about relying on

co-response and emphasized the importance of reducing police

involvement in non-police matters.

Village Trustee Eder asked questions about call volume data, inter-agency

coordination, and the declining number of police referrals to Thrive. He

emphasized the need for better integration between Thrive, ECHO, and

police, and noted public facing gaps in understanding roles and

responsibilities. He expressed conditional interest in expanded ECHO but

wanted clearer definitions of “social service calls” before supporting 2027

implementation.

Village Trustee Leving Jacobson highlighted the need for clearer timelines,

particularly around when alternative dispatch would reduce police

involvement on mental health calls. She expressed appreciation for

improved collaboration between staff, Thrive, and the task force, and

sought clarity on how the transition from co-response to alternative

response would unfold. She also stressed distinguishing maintenance of

current ECHO services from any future expansion.

Village Trustee Straw framed alternative response as both a service quality

improvement and a way to ease pressure on police staffing. He supported

moving quickly toward police-free responses in appropriate cases and

noted that 6,000 calls could eventually be diverted from police to civilian

responders. He said expanded ECHO could make sense if it operated as

alternative response, not co-response, and urged staff to move

expeditiously.

Village Trustee Taglia raised concerns about the long-term financial impact

and stressed that new programs must be sustainably funded rather than

rely on fund balance drawdown. He questioned what the finance committee

would be asked to evaluate and sought clarity on how expanded ECHO

would or would not be included in the 2027 budget.

Village Trustee Enyia voiced strong support for alternative response,

emphasizing community safety and the benefits of reducing police

involvement where appropriate. He praised Thrive’s collaboration with

police and valued ECHO’s role in helping residents navigate complex

service systems. He encouraged continued partnership building and said

he felt more confident after hearing the task force’s improved alignment

with staff.

Chief Financial Officer Kevin Bueso explained that the Village had not yet

begun the 2027 budget process and that internal and Board level budget

planning would begin soon. He noted that approximately $472,000 would

be needed if the Board chose to expand the ECHO program, but no

funding source had been identified yet due to rising costs and competing

priorities. He emphasized that only the Board’s direction would determine

whether expanded ECHO was included in the proposed 2027 budget, and

that the Finance Committee would be tasked with identifying sustainable

long term funding options.

Village Manager Jackson stated the Finance Committee still needed to

discuss how to fund the initiatives. He explained that the main question was

whether to implement expanded ECHO now or wait until the Thrive

alternative response system was fully in place. He also clarified that the

Village already had the technical capability to use ECHO for alternative

dispatch, since West Suburban Consolidated Dispatch Center could

dispatch Village staff without issue.

Village President Vicki Scaman stressed the need for clear roles between

Thrive as the clinical responder and ECHO as the connector, along with

maintaining strong collaboration. She supported moving toward an

alternative response model that reduces police involvement and expressed

optimism about improved coordination with West Suburban Consolidated

Dispatch Center. She noted the importance of sustainable budgeting and

suggested exploring phased options for any ECHO expansion during the

upcoming budget season. She added that she trusted the Village Manager

to bring the issue back at the right time once more questions were

resolved.

It was Motioned by Village Trustee Eder, seconded by Village Trustee

Leving Jacobson, to extend the meeting beyond 10P.M.

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

Jacobson, that this Motion be approved. The motion was approved. The roll call

on the vote was as follows:

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AYES:

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

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

Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

ABSENT:

XVI. Call to Board and Clerk

Village Clerk Christina Waters No Comments.

Village Trustee Chibuike Enyia wished his brother a happy birthday.

Village Trustee Cory Wesley wished his wife a happy birthday.

Village Trustee Jim Taglia No Comments.

Village Trustee Brian Straw No Comments.