123 Madison Street

Oak Park, Illinois 60302

www.oak-park.us

Village of Oak Park

Meeting Minutes

President and Board of Trustees

Tuesday, March 4, 2025

6:30 PM

Village Hall

I. Call to Order

Village President Vicki Scaman called the Regular Meeting to order at

6:32 P.M.

II. Roll Call

Trustee Robinson joined the meeting at 6:35 P.M.

6 -

Present:

Absent:

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

Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley

1 - Village Trustee Robinson

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

Litigation

It was moved by Trustee Straw, seconded by Trustee Wesley, to adjourn into

Executive Session. 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 Straw, and Village Trustee Wesley

NAYS:

1 - Village Trustee Robinson

ABSENT:

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

The Regular Meeting reconvened at 7:01 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 Wesley, seconded by Trustee Straw, to approve the

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

VIII. Minutes

A Motion to Approve Minutes from the January 22, 2025 Special Meeting

and the February 11, 2025 Regular Meeting of the Village Board.

MOT 25-134

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

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

IX. Non-Agenda Public Comment

There was no public comment.

X. Village Manager Reports

Review of the Updated Village Board Meeting Calendars for March 2025.

ID 25-263

Village Manager Kevin Jackson presented the updated Board meeting

calendar for March.

XI. Village Board Committees & Trustee Liaison Commission Reports

Village Clerk Christina Waters announced the digital onboarding system is

a go for new commissioners.

XII. Citizen Commission Vacancies

ID 25-244

Board and Commission Vacancy Report for March 4, 2025

There were no comments.

XIII. Citizen Commission Appointments, Reappointments and Chair Appointments

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

Liquor Control Review Board - Todd Kuna, Reappoint as Commissioner

Zoning Board of Appeals - Seth Jansen, Appoint as Member

MOT 25-133

Clerk Waters read the names into the record.

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

approved. 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:

XIV. Consent Agenda

Approval of the Consent Agenda

It was moved by Trustee Robinson and seconded by Trustee Wesley to approve

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

the vote was as follows:

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:

RES 25-110

A Resolution Approving a Second Amendment to a Professional

Services Agreement and Software License and Support

Agreement Between Passport Labs, Inc., a Division of Passport

Parking, and the Village of Oak Park to Provide Payment

Merchant Solutions for the Village's Flowbird (Cale) Pay Stations

and Authorizing Its Execution.

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving an Extension of an Independent Contractor

Agreement with Thrive Counseling Center for an Additional Six-Month

Term Through October 31, 2025, in an Amount Not to Exceed $83,000 and

Authorizing its Execution.

RES 25-151

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Metropolitan Water

Reclamation District of Greater Chicago Green Infrastructure

Partnership Program Application for the 2026 Green Alleys Project

RES 25-156

RES 25-157

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Approving a Task Order for Professional Engineering

Services with Edwin Hancock Engineering Co. for Construction

Engineering Services for Alley Improvements in 2025 in an Amount Not to

Exceed $198,520 and Authorizing its Execution

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of a Professional Services

Agreement with The Lakota Group, Inc. to prepare an Update to the

Roosevelt Road Plan, titled “A Plan for the Redevelopment of Roosevelt

Road - A Joint-Municipality Study of the Roosevelt Road Corridor” in

Collaboration with the City of Berwyn.

RES 25-158

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of One 2025 John Deere 320 P

Backhoe Loader from West Side Tractor Sales of Lisle, Illinois through

the Sourcewell Joint Purchasing Program in an amount not to exceed

$122,224.09 and Waiving the Village’s Bid Process for the Purchase

RES 25-160

RES 25-161

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Authorizing the Use of Motor Fuel Tax Funds in the amount

of $1,811,680.00 for the Maintenance of Streets in the Village of Oak Park

for Fiscal Year 2025

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution Authorizing the Submission of a Fire Station Construction and

Rehabilitation Grant Application to the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal to

Rehabilitate Station 3 and Approval of any Subsequent Agreements and

Authorizing their Execution

RES 25-162

This Resolution was adopted.

A Resolution To Adopt The Update Of The Cook County

Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan

RES 25-176

ORD 25-123

This Resolution was adopted.

An Ordinance Authorizing the Sale of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment

Owned by the Village of Oak Park

This Ordinance was adopted.

XV. Regular Agenda

An Ordinance Amending the Table of Contents for Article 12 (“Ordinance

Administrators”), Amending Article 5 (“Commercial Districts”), Amending

Article 7 (“Design Standards”) and Amending Article 12 (“Ordinance

Administrators”) of the Oak Park Zoning Ordinance Regarding the

Community Design Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals

ORD 25-110

Development Services Director Craig Failor presented the Item.

President Scaman noted that she spoke to the members of the Community

Design Commission about their interests.

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:

An Ordinance Amending Chapter 7, Article 7 (“Sign Code”) relative to

Eliminating references to the Community Design Commission in the Oak

Park Village Code

ORD 25-111

There was no discussion.

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

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

as follows:

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:

An Ordinance Amending Chapter 2 (“Administration”), Article 18

(“Community Design Commission”) of the Oak Park Village Code and

Various Other Provisions to Eliminate the Community Design

Commission and Reassign its Duties.

ORD 25-112

There was no discussion.

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:

A Study Session on the Draft Recommendations and Objectives Outlined

in the Economic Vitality Strategic Plan Prepared by Consultant Camoin

Associates, Inc.

ID 25-243

Manager Jackson and Economic Vitality Administrator Brandon Crawford

introduced the Item and Camoin Associates Senior Vice President Dan

Gunderson presented the Item.

Trustee Robinson asked if the individuals needing to be hired have a

specific skill set. VP Gunderson said you do not need staff to be

technology specialists to understand a good customer relationship

management (CRM) software. He recommends creating a dashboard.

Manager Jackson said the Village uses Power BI and has those

capabilities.

She asked if the consultants interacted with our Civic Information Systems

Commission (CISC). VP Gunderson said they did not. Manager Jackson

said CISC can review the Village's applications around technology. The

entire organization is interested in CRM to better deliver on customer

service and track and report out on all of our business activities, including

the open data portal which will be published in the near future.

She requested clarification on the role of the Oak Park Economic

Development Corporation (OPEDC), OPEDC Board, and Economic

Vitality Commission. VP Gunderson said their recommendation is to

reinstitute the OPEDC. Manager Jackson said we are discussing a

modified version of it. It would be advantageous for us to have a

public-private partnership with the operations being managed out of the

Village Manager's Office through the economic vitality staff. The Open

Meetings Act (OMA) would govern the OPEDC meetings.

She requested more information about the formalized regional

partnerships. VP Gunderson said they are not recommending formal

agreements but rather regular outreach and communications with regional

partners.

President Scaman asked who would be leading the OPEDC. Manager

Jackson said the strategic plan should drive the agenda. Programs and

policies are developed at the staff level with input from the commission that

then go to the Village Board for adoption. The OPEDC will be guided by

Village policy. The appointments will come through the public process and

here at the Village Board.

Trustee Parakkat inquired about the economic vitality cabinet. VP

Gunderson said that is an internal team of department heads. Trustee

Parakkat asked if the OPEDC Board can be expanded and combined as

a single entity. VP Gunderson said they see the commission as providing a

policy perspective and being more broad-based. With the OPEDC, you

need board members with technical expertise in finance, real estate, and

entrepreneurial ventures and small businesses.

Trustee Parakkat expressed concern about the time commitment of the

commissions. Manager Jackson said if the Village had an Economic

Vitality Commission, we would get their input on the policy before bringing

it to the Board. The policy would guide the work of the OPEDC in

partnership with the staff.

Trustee Parakkat said the quantification of some of the aspects of

strategies is missing. It will be good to understand where we are and where

we want to go with women and minority-owned businesses. Director

Crawford said we can get numbers on those as we continue to collect

demographic data on our business composition. Manager Jackson said if

the Board adopts the policy, the Village will be in a position to respond

more favorably and efficiently to new businesses.

Trustee Parakkat asked if the K-12 entrepreneurship training program will

be done in partnership with the school districts. Director Crawford said

there are opportunities to explore partnerships with D97, D200 and other

community youth organizations that are well positioned to take on this work

as well. Manager Jackson said the thinking is collaboration and

partnerships so there is coordination in providing an easy on-ramp for the

young population we are trying to serve.

Trustee Parakkat inquired about the costs of getting this off the ground.

Manager Jackson said the additional position is already budgeted. Trustee

Parakkat inquired about the inspection process. Manager Jackson said

the Village has a Business Services liaison who is dedicated to helping our

businesses navigate Development Services' processes.

Trustee Straw asked what barriers exist in Oak Park to begin attracting

nightlife experiences. Camoin Associates Director of Strategic Planning

Lindsay Johnson said they heard a real interest in activating different

commercial corridors which do not have all equal economic vitality. The

barrier is intentional design and investment and marketing around these

different corridors and how we can bring them alive. President Scaman

said you cannot have just one venue, you have to create a corridor to

create an experience.

Trustee Straw inquired about the timeline for outcomes. Manager Jackson

said the quicker we adopt the plan, the better so we can go on offense and

be aggressive. Staffing recruitments are underway and we can move

quickly into implementation.

Trustee Enyia said you have to be intentional. Creating a nightlife doesn't

just happen unless you build the surrounding pieces around it.

Trustee Buchanan said she is happy with how thorough and informative this

is and she feels really positive about it. She asked if the Village Manager

agrees with everything in this consultant's report. Manager Jackson said he

spent a lot of time with the consultants and he does support it and is

excited about this position we are evolving to.

Trustee Wesley said building the operational foundation is important and

will serve the Village well. He said the "why" is lacking, particularly the

challenges minority-owned businesses face. VP Gunderson said black

homeownership drives every housing recommendation in this report and it

needs to be corrected. Camoin Associates Economic Data and Research

Analyst Connor Allen said 35% of the black population in Oak Park are

homeowners which is below the rates of the county, state, and nation. That

trend continues across other racial categories as well.

Trustee Wesley inquired about the retail leakage at gas and convenience

stores. VP Gunderson said if someone wants to make a fast buck, they'll

go where the fast cars are. Residents may be fine with that. You could also

capture limited service restaurants. President Scaman said you want to

look at where the traffic is going, particularly during the commute toward

I-290. Trustee Wesley said there is no differentiation between the things

that are potentially too expensive or inconvenient versus the things that are

not present like nightlife and he would like to see that analysis.

He inquired about attracting remote workers and younger folks. VP

Gunderson said the population is very well educated and professional. A lot

more work can be done locally and home-based. Then businesses are

spending their dollars within the community. To do that, you need to fill

some of these gaps. Some can be done through messaging that the

building is open for this type of business. Director Johnson said there was

an interest in modernizing the co-working spaces available which the

Village would play a supporting role. President Scaman said you also need

a gym, coffee shop, and places to eat lunch they can walk to. She said we

could try to solicit the Micro Brew Review vendors to bring a microbrewery

here.

Trustee Wesley said he does not see any ROI here. VP Gunderson said

economic impact analysis wasn't part of the scope, though they do a lot of

that as a firm. He said they wouldn't have put these strategies in here if they

weren't going to be revenue generators. This will have a difference and it

will be significant and seen within five years. Trustee Wesley said it would

be helpful to have an estimate.

He questioned the recommendation for outdoor dining on Roosevelt Road

which he doesn't think people will want to do. VP Gunderson said the point

is to get some on-street vibrancy. He asked about enabling enhanced

transit for the medical corridors. Both the green and blue CTA lines and

#12 Bus go to the medical districts. VP Gunderson said you really want to

make sure that those in the medical profession could get back and forth

easily and safely and comfortably.

He said he appreciates the recommendation to bring back the OPEDC as

he did not want to get rid of them. He expressed concern about how it

would function as an extended entity of staff but somehow independent and

setting up a complicated structure of the cabinet, commission, and the

OPEDC. Manager Jackson said the only thing that is new is the

commission and we are bringing the OPEDC closer to the staff and Board

to make the system more efficient. He added that we need to be looking at

how we can strategically connect minority entrepreneurs to flexible capital.

President Scaman said it's fair to be cautious as we flesh out the scope

and purpose of a commission. She said she thinks the finance piece and

the cultural relevancy piece are separate. She said she is happy to see a

place for the talented members of the OPEDC Board. She said she is

looking for something that is able to adjust easily with the changing

landscape of opportunity. This is making something systemic and hopefully

long-lasting and intentional with our goals of what we want to see happen. It

will take time and investment.

XVI. Call to Board and Clerk

Clerk Waters wished a happy birthday to Trustee Straw. Early voting starts

Monday, March 17 through March 31. If anyone has questions, feel free to

contact the Clerk's Office at 708-358-5670.

Trustee Enyia sent condolences to the Good family. Jackie was a longtime

TA at Hatch.

Trustee Wesley noted the report doubles down on the fact that our housing

strategy is in need of change and we need more housing, more missing