123 Madison Street  
Oak Park, Illinois 60302  
www.oak-park.us  
Village of Oak Park  
Meeting Minutes  
President and Board of Trustees  
Tuesday, May 7, 2024  
7:00 PM  
Village Hall  
I. Call to Order  
Village President Vicki Scaman called thee Regular Meeting to order at  
7:03 P.M.  
II. Roll Call  
6 -  
Present:  
Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village  
Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Straw  
1 - Village Trustee Wesley  
Absent:  
III. 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.  
IV. Minutes  
MOT 24-157  
A.  
A Motion to Approve Minutes from the April 9, 2024 Special Meeting and  
April 11, 2024 Special Meeting of the Village Board  
It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Robinson, to Approve the  
Minutes. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.  
V. Non-Agenda Public Comment  
Alicia Chastain: Tonight's community safety materials lack demographic  
data. Invest in community-led supports for safety.  
VII. Village Manager Reports  
ID 24-219  
F.  
A Presentation on the Community Safety Project and Strategic Plan by  
Michele Weinzetl, BerryDunn Consulting  
Village Manager Kevin Jackson introduced the Item. Oak Park Police  
Department (OPPD) Chief Shatonya Johnson presented the Item.  
BerryDunn Law Enforcement Consultant Michele Weinzetl provided  
additional information via remote participation.  
Trustee Buchanan inquired about the timeline for this plan. Chief Johnson  
said the Village is working on multiple recommendations simultaneously  
and they are divided into short-term, mid-term, and long-term plans.  
Manager Jackson said the Board can expect periodic updates on the  
implementation of the plan.  
VI. Proclamation  
MOT 24-164  
B.  
A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Recognizing May 2024 as National  
Bike Month  
Trustee Straw read the Proclamation into the record. David Marshall of  
Bike Walk Oak Park expressed his gratitude.  
Trustee Buchanan announced a bike ride to the Village Board meeting on  
May 21.  
It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Enyia, that this Motion be  
approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.  
MOT 24-165  
C.  
A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Recognizing May 5-11, 2024 as  
International Compost Awareness Week  
Environmental Services Manager Erica Helms presented information about  
the Village's composting program and benefits of leaving the leaves.  
President Scaman encouraged the community to read the proclamation.  
It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Buchanan that this Motion  
be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.  
MOT 24-166  
MOT 24-167  
D.  
E.  
A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Recognizing May 2024 as Jewish  
American Heritage Month  
Trustee Buchanan read the Proclamation into the record.  
It was moved by Trustee Robinson, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, that this  
Motion be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.  
A Motion to Approve a Proclamation Recognizing May 2024 as Asian  
American/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Desi Heritage Month  
Trustee Parakkat read the Proclamation into the record.  
It was moved by Trustee Parakkat, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, that this  
Motion be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.  
VIII. Village Board Committees & Trustee Liaison Commission Reports  
There were no comments.  
IX. Citizen Commission Vacancies  
ID 24-263  
G.  
Board & Commission Vacancy Report for May 7, 2024  
There were no comments.  
X. Citizen Commission Appointments, Reappointments and Chair Appointments  
MOT 24-168  
H.  
A Motion to Consent to the Village President’s Appointment of:  
Building Codes Advisory Commission - Derek W Eder, Appoint as Member  
President Scaman read the name into the record.  
It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Buchanan, that this Motion  
be approved. A voice vote was taken and the motion was approved.  
XI. Consent Agenda  
Approval of the Consent Agenda  
It was moved by Trustee Robinson, seconded by Trustee Straw to approve the  
items under the Consent Agenda. The motion was approved. The roll call on the  
vote was as follows:  
6 -  
AYES:  
Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village  
Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Straw  
0
NAYS:  
1 - Village Trustee Wesley  
ABSENT:  
RES 24-183  
RES 24-185  
I.  
A Resolution Approving a Local Public Agency Engineering Services  
Agreement with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc, for the Phase I  
Preliminary Engineering Design of the Home Avenue Bridge in an Amount  
Not to Exceed $1,812,191 and Authorizing its Execution  
J.  
A Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Sam  
Schwartz Consulting, D.P.C. for an Addendum to the Oak Park Bike Plan in  
an Amount Not to Exceed $92,800, Authorizing Its Execution, and Directing  
Staff to Prepare the Necessary Budget Amendment  
This Resolution was adopted.  
RES 24-194  
K.  
A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of an Illinois Environmental  
Protection Agency Driving a Cleaner Illinois - Climate and Equitable Jobs  
Act (CEJA) Grant Application with a Requested Funding Amount of  
$100,000 and Approval of Any Subsequent Agreements and Authorizing  
Their Execution  
This Resolution was adopted.  
RES 24-199  
L.  
A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Safe Streets and Roads for All  
(SS4A) Application with the United States Department of Transportation  
for a Planning and Demonstration Project Grant to Implement  
Recommendations from the Vision Zero Plan  
This Resolution was adopted.  
XII. Regular Agenda  
ID 24-193  
M.  
Public Safety Annual Report  
Chief Johnson presented the Item.  
Trustee Straw referenced the five-year crime data and inquired about the  
year-over-year differences stemming form motor vehicle theft and retail  
theft. Chief Johnson said OPPD classifies a burglary as entering a  
structure, which includes vehicles whereas NIBRS classifies that as a theft.  
He asked if the Kia and Hyundai thefts are big drivers of the changes we  
see. Chief Johnson said OPPD did a huge initiative last year by handing  
out wheel locks and educating the public. She said it is a trend but she  
doesn't see it continuing throughout 2024.  
Trustee Straw referenced the five-year staffing trend data and shortage and  
inquired where she sees that hiring number ending up for 2024. Chief  
Johnson said OPPD started this year with 87 officers and she believes  
OPPD will be closer to 95 by year end. He asked if OPPD will do three  
rounds of testing. Chief Johnson said it depends on how often there will be  
police academies.  
Trustee Straw inquired how many traffic enforcement citations have been  
issued thus far in 2024. Chief Johnson said she doesn't have that  
information in front of her though it is more than OPPD ended with in 2023.  
He said it would be helpful to see that data broken out geographically  
across the village to see where traffic enforcement is occurring. Chief  
Johnson said OPPD enforces traffic based on the complaints they receive,  
based on where traffic crashes are occurring, and based on where our  
schools and parks are located. He said he would like to see more data on  
the parking enforcement and where it is occurring.  
Trustee Buchanan requested clarification on whether the 2023 numbers  
include trespassing and disorderly conduct. Chief Johnson confirmed they  
do not. OPPD staff removed them from all years. Trustee Buchanan  
inquired about an investigative search. Chief Johnson said that is where  
detectives may run a partial plate through Flock to see if we have any  
vehicles matching that partial plate in the area where the offense may have  
occurred. Trustee Buchanan inquired about the 33 significant incidents in  
patrol. Chief Johnson said that is where the patrol division received alerts  
and were able to stop a vehicle.  
President Scaman noted that each time an officer uses Flock, it is logged  
and reviewed by our Citizens Police Oversight Committee (CPOC). Chief  
Johnson confirmed all Flock alerts are reviewed by CPOC. CPOC has not  
disagreed with a decision to use Flock, nor has OPPD received any  
complaints from anyone who has been stopped as a result of a Flock alert.  
Trustee Robinson said we are hearing more and more about reckless  
driving throughout the village. She inquired how that folds up into the  
citations officers are writing. Chief Johnson said she can send her that  
information. Trustee Robinson read a question from a resident asking  
whether the recorder used at WestComm was replaced and if the public  
will have access to dispatch communications with the new system. Chief  
Johnson said Oak Park is part of a three-town community that uses  
WestComm and Oak Park was outvoted so we went for full encryption.  
Manager Jackson said the Village does not have the authority to change  
the equipment because the organization voted to move forward with  
encryption as planned.  
Trustee Robinson inquired about the three ways in which OPPD is currently  
using Flock. Chief Johnson responded that it is violent offenses, missing  
persons, and stolen motor vehicles. Any request to use Flock beyond those  
reasons has to be submitted in a written form to Chief Johnson for  
approval. Trustee Robinson inquired about stolen vehicles not being  
removed from the Flock system and vehicles being pulled over in error.  
Chief Johnson said OPPD officers have every right to stop the vehicle. The  
issue is that they were not removed from the system and officers have not  
received any complaints regarding our officers' interaction with that. OPPD  
can do community engagement to encourage people to report their  
recovered vehicles to the police. Trustee Robinson said this is where the  
Flock conversation should be centered to enhance the positive results,  
mitigate this issue of vehicles that should not be in the system, and if there  
are other ways OPPD would like to utilize Flock.  
Trustee Parakkat asked if there are specific things we can do to help us  
keep the uptick in armed robberies in check. Chief Johnson said it begins  
with looking at the data to see where those crimes are happening and then  
using our various police strategies to deploy resources to those areas and  
collaborating with other police departments. Trustee Parakkat said it would  
be good to see a breakdown on the kinds of stops. Chief Johnson said that  
information can be provided.  
Manager Jackson said staff hear the Board's interest in data and are doing  
everything we can with our current systems to be able to produce the data  
we are looking for. The new CAD RMS system will allow us to do that more  
systematically and efficiently. He said he will provide some additional  
information and follow-up regarding the StarCom radio transition.  
President Scaman expressed her condolences on the passing of George  
Thompson. She was co-chair with him on the Law Review Committee that  
led to youth adjudication and removing punitive consequences.  
Manager Jackson noted the needs assessment on the RMS CAD project  
is a collaboration internally as well as with WestComm. It is a big project  
with alignment with two other districts and it will pay dividends for us when  
we start implementation.  
XIII. Call to Board and Clerk  
Village Clerk Christina Waters said voter registration is underway. October  
8 is the last day to vote by paper or in-person registration. October 20 is  
the last day to register to vote by online application. Please feel free to  
reach out to the Clerk's Office at 708-358-5672 or email  
clerk@oak-park.us.  
Trustee Buchanan referenced the Walk the Walk Oak Park report sent to  
the Board on February 29 entitled Historical Harms to the Black  
Community of Oak Park, Illinois and Suggested Repairs. She  
recommends her colleagues read the in-depth and thoughtful report. She  
said she looks forward to the discussions on reparations.  
Trustee Robinson noted the Historic Preservation Commission is  
continuing its speaker series on May 11 at Village Hall featuring  
PlaceEconomics Director of Research and Data Analytics Alyssa Frystak.  
Trustee Straw noted he was sworn in a year ago this week. He encouraged  
the community to consider whether they want to serve on this body or  
another body in Oak Park. Our democracy is always healthier when there is  
a healthy exchange of ideas.  
President Scaman announced the national Move with the Mayor initiative,  
this year focusing on mental health. Our public health department has  
helped plan a family-friendly event where we will give out free bike helmets  
on May 14 from 5:00-6:30 P.M. in the Village Hall parking lot.  
XIV. Adjourn  
It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Robinson, to Adjourn. A  
voice vote was taken and the motion was approved. Meeting adjourned at 8:52  
P.M., Tuesday, May 7, 2024.  
Respectfully submitted,  
Deputy Clerk Hansen