>>PRESIDENT Scaman: okay, it is
7:01 pm.
This is absolutely glorious to
see you all here.
Amazing.
This should be every single
meeting, but I am grateful that
you came out.
Yes!
[Applause]
Truly beautiful.
With that, I would like to
officially call this meeting of
the village board to order.
Clerk waters, please take the
roll.
>> trustee buchanan is absent.
Trustee enyia.
>> here.
>> trustee parakkat.
>> here.
>> trustee robinson.
>> here.
>> trustee straw.
>> here.
>> trustee wesley.
>> here.
>> PRESIDENT Scaman.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: here.
Okay, I would entertain a
motion to approve the agenda as
presented this evening?
>> so moved.
>> second.
Scaman: all I favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: excellent.
A motion to approve minutes
from the MARCH 4, 25 regular
meeting of the village board.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>> motion by trustee wesley and
seconded by trustee straw.
All in favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: hearing no
nay's, the meeting minutes are
approved.
we have public comment this
evening?
>>clerk: we do.
It is for an agenda item.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: are there
any non-agenda public comment
this evening?
Thank you.
So we will not read all of
these proclamations, but the
most important ones-they are
all important ones.
I would entertain a motion to
approve a proclamation honoring
fire chief ronald kobeleski, in
honor of his retirement.
>> so moved.
>> second
[Applause]
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: wo was the
motion and the second?
Trustee robinson and trustee
wesley.
So we will read the
proclamation, if you want to
step up so we can have you-
show our full appreciation for
your 40 years of service.
>>chief kobyleski: thank you,
thank you.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: in oak
park, are you sure?
Okay.
>> whereas, fire chief ronald
kobyleski will retire
officially on MAY 10, 2025,
after more than 40 years of
outstanding and meritorious
service to the residents of the
village of oak park; and
.
>>trustee enyia: whereas, chief
kobyleski began his public
service career with the village
of oak park in 1985 as a
firefighter/emt and through
hard work, meritorious service
and leadership, rose through
the ranks to serve as a
lieutenant, lieutenant of
training, battalion chief and
deputy chief before reaching
his final and most important
position of oak park's fire
chief on NOVEMBER 22nd, 2021;
and
.
>>trustee straw: whereas,
during his tenure, chief
kobyleski has demonstrated
exceptional leadership,
unwavering dedication and a
profound commitment to the
well-being of the village of
oak park; and
.
>>trustee robinson: whereas,
throughout his five decades of
service chief kobyleski hs
served as a certified fire
investigator,
hazardous-materials technician
and technical rescue specialist
in building collapse, high-rise
rescue, trench rescue and
confined-space rescue, also
creating the mutual aid box
alarm system technical rescue
team, while leading them for
nine years; and
.
>>trustee wesley: whereas,
chief kobyleski is certified as
advance fire officer and
training program manager and he
has been affiliated with the
international fire chief's
association, illinois fire
chief's association and the
national fire protection
association; and
.
>>trustee parakkat: whereas,
chief kobyleski has led the oak
park fire department to make
great strides in providing
accommodations for all genders
and sexual orientations by
enclosing the sleeping quarters
at two of its stations and
reimaging and modernizing
washroom and locker facilities.
>>village manager: whereas,
chief kobyleski's dedication to
the safety and welfare of oak
park's residents and visitors,
as well as the women and men of
the oak park fire department,
has earned him the respect and
admiration of his colleagues,
community leaders and the
entire village of oak park.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: now,
therefore, be it resolved, by
the board of trustees of the
village of oak park, cook
county, illinois that we take
this opportunity to express our
sincere and grateful
appreciation and hereby extend
our congratulations to fire
chief ron kobyleski on his
well-earned retirement and our
best wishes to him for
continued success and happiness
in the years to come.
[Applause]
[Standing applause]
>>chief kobyleski: thank you
all.
It is a very humbling.
Especially when it is read like
that.
I have to say thank you to the
village board for supporting
the fire department mission for
all of these years and to the
public.
They have always rallied on our
side.
Always come to our aid when we
need their help and I
appreciate that.
It has been a fantastic 40
years.
I was not kidding when I said
it goes by quick.
I remember my first day like it
was yesterday and it has been
an experience.
i cannot even tell you.
I really appreciate everybody
who came out here for me.
My wife, former member-
(Speaker away from mic).
Thank you.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: at thank
you, chief!
We have a month or so to drop
by the station and assure our
regards.
We very much appreciate you and
wish you all the best in
retirement.
All in favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: motion to
approve a proclamation for
arbor day, APRIL 25, 2025.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: okay.
Many of these motions are going
to be honored more so in the
month of APRIL with events and
more information.
There is a video of this one on
the website and as we get
closer to the date we will be
publicizing it more.
Thank you.
All in favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: motion to
approve a proclamation
designating APRIL 21 of 2025 as
national community development
week.
Motion, please?
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: all in
favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: at thank
you.
Again the same.
Motion to approve a
proclamation for black maternal
health week of APRIL 11-17,
2025.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: at thank
you.
Clerk waters has read this one
unto the record on the website
and so let's please I'll check
that t and again, we will do a
great deal more that week in
APRIL.
At thank you.
All in favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: yes!
Also a special thank you to
clerk waters for bringing us
that proclamation.
Yes.
[Applause]
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: motion to
approve a proclamation of
arab-american heritage month
2025 and I have asked trustee
parakkat if he would please
read this aloud.
Motion, please.
>> so moved.
>> second.
Scaman: at thank you.
>>trustee parakkat:
arab-american heritage month,
APRIL 2025.
Whereas, the village of oak
park is committed to fostering
a community that is welcoming,
-- arab-americans in our
country come from a variety of
natures, cultures, and faith
backgrounds, and from one of 22
arabic-speaking countries,
infusing resilient values,
strong work ethic, dedication
to education and diversity; and
whereas, the diversity of oak
park is a constant source of
strength and enrichment for our
community and this month we
recognize and celebrate the
vibrant arab american
community, its history, culture
and achievement in oak park and
around the country; and
whereas, proclaiming
arab-american heritage month in
oak park serves to promote
understanding, appreciation and
respect for the contributions
and experiences of
arab-american people, while
also celebrating their
heritage, culture and
successes; and
whereas, while arab american
heritage month occurs during
APRIL, we recognize the rich
culture shared by arab
americans makes a positive
impact in our community
throughout the entire year; and
whereas, we take time to pause
and reflect on the pain being
felt by arab americans and
arabs around the world as a
result of the ongoing conflict
in gaza. We know the gravity of
the situation affects many
around the globe; and
whereas, we have heard from and
affirm the many local voices
that have spoken to raise our
collective awareness of these
heartbreaking events over the
last several months. Now more
than ever, it is imperative
that we come together in
solidarity and show compassion
to one another in the midst of
adversity. In doing so, we
shall reiterate our commitment
to empathy and open dialogue as
we strive for peace and justice
both locally and around the
world. Whereas, the village of
oak park is excited to --
2025, honoring the rich
cultural traditions, history
and contributions of
arab-american's.
The celebration will feature an
array of educational and
cultural experiences, including
live music, traditional dance,
food, and art, calligraphy and
cultural displays.
Selecting the vibrancy and
diversity of the arab-american
community and fostering the
great understanding and
inclusion throughout the
village.
Be it resolved that the village
of oak park supports the
celebration of arab-american
heritage month, and now,
therefore, I, ravi parakkat, on
behalf of vicki scaman,
PRESIDENT Of the village of oak
park and the board of trustees,
do hereby proclaim APRIL as the
month of our arab-american
heritage month celebration and
encourage all residents to join
us in embracing the enrichment
that their cultures bring to
our lives. Let us come together
as a community to celebrate
arab-american heritage month,
honoring our shared values of
inclusivity and cultural
appreciation. Dated this 18th
day of MARCH, 2025.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: at thank
you. >>PRESIDENT Scaman:
thank you.
Maybe we can have an all in
favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: just a
moment of silence for the
devastation in gaza and israel
right now.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: I think you
as this continues to weigh
heavy on our hearts.
I would entertain a motion to
approve a proclamation of
national public health week for
APRIL 7-13th of 2025.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: all in
favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: again, we
will have some really wonderful
things around public health,
particularly mental health as
we move forward and I think our
public health department for
leading on the and our clerk's
office, always.
And the staff.
A motion to approve a
proclamation for doctor percy
julian, 2025.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: I have
asked christina, trustee enyia,
and a trustee wesley to please
lead on the proclamation.
>>clerk:
julian was born in montgomery,
alabama on APRIL 11, 1899, and
was encouraged by his family to
leave the segregated south in
pursuit of higher education,
and graduating first in his
class from depauw university
with a bachelor's degree in
chemistry in 1920, earning a
master's degree in chemistry
from harvard university in
1923, and awarded a ph.D. From
the university of vienna,
austria, in 1931, being one of
the first african americans to
achieve this distinction; and
whereas, throughout his career
he faced discrimination,
relying on his brilliant
scientific mind, remarkable
work ethic, congenial spirit,
and deep religious beliefs to
become a renowned chemist who
would earn more than 130
patents and publish 150
scientific articles in his
career, receiving numerous
honors and a national and
international reputation, and
reaching breakthroughs in the
development of affordable,
commercial synthetic steroids
and hormones that have been
used in a wide range of
applications including birth
control pills and medications
to combat glaucoma and
rheumatoid arthritis; and
.
>>trustee enyia: whereas, his
wife anna also broke down
academic barriers when she
earned a ph.D. In sociology
from the university of
pennsylvania in 1937, one of
the few women to earn such a
distinction; and
came to the chicago area in
1936, when he was named to a
top research position at
glidden paint company in
chicago before founding his
laboratory, julian
laboratories, in franklin park,
illinois in 1953; and
julian was named chicagoan of
the year for his scientific and
community achievements, and
that same year he and anna
julian moved with their
children from their home in
nearby maywood, illinois, to
oak park; and
.
>>trustee wesley: whereas, very
early in their residence in oak
park, the julian family
experienced racism and threats
of violence, their home being
twice attacked by arsonists,
and yet the julians would
persevere against these acts of
hostility and discrimination
and became honored community
leaders, and whose children
were graduates of oak park
river forest high school and
whose daughter remains an oak
park resident in their original
family residence. Now,
therefore, I, trustee cory
wesley, on behalf of vicki
scaman, PRESIDENT Of the
village of oak park and the
board of trustees, do hereby
proclaim APRIL 11, 2025, DR.
Percy l. Julian day in the
village of oak park, and
encourage our community to
reflect on the many
achievements of DR. Percy
julian in science, medicine,
and research, as well as one of
oak park's pioneers in the
quest for inclusion, human and
civil rights, and a catalyst
for integration and diversity
to which the village of oak
park has committed. Dated, this
18th day of MARCH 2025.
[Pause]
[Applause]
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: a thank you
so much for reading with us
today-all in favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: excellent.
Next, we have a motion to
approve a proclamation for
transgender day of visibility
MARCH 31, 2025.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: I have
asked christina to start us
off.
>>clerk: whereas, the village
of oak park is committed to
fostering a community that is
welcoming, inclusive, and
affirming of all individuals,
regardless of gender identity
or expression; and
whereas, transgender day of
visibility, observed annually
on MARCH 31, is a day to
celebrate the resilience,
contributions, and achievements
of transgender, non-binary, and
gender-diverse individuals,
while also recognizing the
ongoing challenges they face in
the pursuit of equality and
justice; and
whereas, transgender people
have made immeasurable
contributions to our society,
enriching the cultural,
economic, and social fabric of
oak park and beyond, and
deserve to live with dignity,
respect, and the freedom to be
their authentic selves; and
.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: whereas,
while great strides have been
made toward equity and
acceptance, transgender
individuals continue to
experience discrimination,
violence, and barriers to
healthcare, employment, and
housing, reinforcing the need
for continued advocacy,
education, and policy efforts
to ensure full inclusion and
equal rights; and
whereas, the village of oak
park recognizes both
transgender day of visibility
MARCH 31, and transgender day
of remembrance NOVEMBER 20, as
opportunities to stand in
solidarity with transgender
residents, allies, and
advocates, to uplift their
voices, and to reaffirm our
commitment to equity,
diversity, and inclusion for
all.
Now be it resolved that the
village of oak park supports
the recognition and celebration
of transgender day of
visibility, and now, therefore,
I, vicki scaman, PRESIDENT Of
the village of oak park and the
board of trustees, do hereby
proclaim MARCH 31, 2025, as
transgender day of visibility
in the village of oak park and
encourage all residents to join
us in uplifting and celebrating
the transgender community. Let
us come together as a community
to honor our shared values of
inclusivity, equity, and
visibility for all gender
identities.
[Applause]
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: you are
beautiful.
If aaron, sarah, jane, anybody
wish to come up and share?
[Applause]
>>speaker: let me get my
remarks out.
First of all, I wanted to say
thank you so much and thank you
all so much.
It is an honor and a privilege,
deep deep gratitude, especially
in these times for the
recognition, the visibility,
the right to be free, the right
not to be under attack and
those of you who know me are
not surprised that I also want
to ask for more.
I would like to ask for oak
park, not today, but for us to
prepare to recognize and become
a trans sanctuary.
I also want to ask everybody or
invite everybody to come
celebrate with us.
We are having a butterfly dance
party on MARCH 30 in the
scoville park and it is open
everybody who is anybody and an
ally, technically everybody,
but if you're not, you can stay
home.
I want to say that trans day of
visibility is more than a
chance to be seen and more than
a party, and more than just
about dancing.
Our fundamental human rights
are under attack and now more
than ever.
Action must be taken.
I want to make it clear that
our rights are your rights.
The attacks on us are a attack
on everybody.
Trans people are more than just
people in this situation.
We also represent the
fundamental rights to
self-expression and
self-determination among other
things but real freedom
includes the choice to know
yourself for who you are and
the choice to live and love the
way that you choose.
We also represent the right to
healthcare in these times.
As our neighboring states make
it harder to exist as a trans
person, people are coming from
all over looking for a century
where they can be who they are
and access the healthcare they
need to thrive.
I want to thank you again for
organizing the importance of
trans visibility with this
resolution and I'm excited to
work with all of you to build
oak park into more of a
snctuary then we even are
today.
It will affirm people of all
identities and say we are all
welcome here.
I hope you all can make it to
the party.
Name is mike jackson and I
don't have anything prepared
for comments, but I want to say
-as you can see from my hat,
we recently moved back to oak
park, right before oak
park/river forest started.
We previously lived here from a
2002-2016 and I accepted a job
in tennessee in the SEPTEMBER
2016.
Tennessee is no problem, but
some events happened in a
NOVEMBER 2016 that you might
remember turned things around.
When PRESIDENT Trump was
elected the first time.
We had some bumpy neighbors,
but really tennessee was the
seed that was planted that
saved hatred.
It was planted in this country
and it spread like wildfire.
It was awful.
I am here with my beautiful
transgender daughter, leah,-
is absolutely thriving now that
she is up in oak park again.
From the beginning we got
interviewed by lambda at legal,
to be in the case in front of
the supreme court right now.
They said she has a compelling
case because she-she started
gender affirming care and it
was being taken from her.
Through a road that was just
absolutely horrible for her and
horrible for her whole family,
especially her mother and
myself.
It has been absolutely,
absolutely devastating.
She has got friends that are
similar to her going through
this.
But here's the thing, we know
that there is a plan, a place
we could return to.
A lot of people do not know oak
park and I have been spreading
the word as much as I can.
Come to oak park, here is the
letter from the school
superintendent.
Here are statements.
Here are proclamations of this
place.
this is like a fairyland, safe
for transgender people.
It is so welcoming and I cannot
tell you how great it has been
to be back here.
Having gone through all of
this, I could absolutely,
unequivocally say that equity,
diversity, justice, love,
acceptance, and most important,
gender affirming care.
Yes, gender affirming care does
save lives and do not let
anybody ever, ever tell you
otherwise.
[Applause]
>>speaker: thank you for the
opportunity, my name is jane
and I have found it to be a
real privilege to be here
tonight because, of course of
the transgender proclamation,
but also hearing about doctor
julian's being honored and the
black maternal health care that
the village is doing.
Thank you for all of these
efforts.
I find that it is important to
center trans voices and build
allies.
You will see a lot of people
that are parents of trans kids,
but I want to honor people who
are not parents of trans kids
or just feel the cause.
Like we can be intersectional
and that and I really mean
that.
It is so beautiful to see.
I wasn't schooled by my son
when I attended a different
thing that I did not say it the
right way because he was saying
that what we want to emphasize
and teach people who are not
allies, who do not see it this
way is that trans people have
done nothing wrong.
They are totally beautiful,
innocent, and whole human
beings full of integrity and
there is no backing down from
that.
To have you all supporting us
as a system and being proud is
very beautiful.
Thank you so much.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: that is
okay.
We will get one.
Thank you so much and thank you
all for being here.
You are the beautiful ones that
organize and make this so
special for us to support and
just love oak park.
Oak park is about the people
who live here and make it
great.
It is about the parents that
organize to support other
parents and our children who
are truly, truly beautiful.
Thank you.
All in favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: wonderful.
We do have a motion to proclaim
national volunteer week of
APRIL 20-26, 2025.
Motion?
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: this
proclamation also is available
on the website and, you know, I
have to say that volunteerism
in our community is also really
at the core of who we are.
I love this proclamation and I
hope you will take a longer
look and I look forward to what
we can do to support the
volunteers in our community
during the month of APRIL.
All in favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Saman: I have a
motion to approve a
proclamation for earth month of
APRIL 2025.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: okay, thank
you.
Again, the same and I know we
will have wonderful activities
around this as well.
All in favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: thank you.
We are moving on t our village
managers report.
Village manager jackson?
>>village manager: yes, thank
you PRESIDENT Scaman and
trustee members.
I have one quick update and I
will close with a
acknowledgment that I want to
make.
For a special guest here
tonight.
First and foremost I want to
acknowledge that we are working
to identify an alternative date
in APRIL for the board to hold
a discussion on municipal
campus police project, it was
originally planned for tonight.
Based upon the accelerated
schedule that we initially
published.
Just want to acknowledge that
the rescheduling process is
underway and we anticipate
finding a date in APRIL and we
look forward to having the
opportunity to finish the work
on the design schemes that we
previously talked about.
We have been talking about
since the project has been
underway and also providing the
updated and more refined cost
information, in addition to
responding to the boards
interest that was expressed at
the last meeting about sme
high-level financial analysis
of the potential schemes.
So again, I think in
conclusion, what we want to do
is do what we intended to do
from the outset and that is to
facilitate a complete
discussion with the board and
provide complete information to
the board to have the
opportunity to make the best
judgment on the next step in
the process and I think
included with that complete
information, it was always our
plan to provide the information
in enough time, given the
complexity and magnitude of the
project or the board would have
adequate time to review all of
the conclusions from this stage
of the process, as well as the
public.
We are happy to answer any
questions.
We are diligently continuing to
work on this effort and we have
director sproule from a public
works to answer any questions
if necessary.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: trustee
robinson?
>>trustee robinson: I have a
calendar question.
What is the first date that we
are supposed to be back in MAY?
Has that been calendared?
>>village manager: I think it
is MAY 6 is the first meeting
and that is the meeting where
the new board is seated.
>>trustee robinson: the
additional meeting would have
us coming back a week early
essentially?
>>village manager: yes.
>>trustee robinson: I think the
original plan was to have the
next facilities discussion,
which is APRIL 29, possibly may
1 that is possibly being
scheduled, have that be the
final facilities discussion?
Is that right?
Or are we still going to-it
is a lot to discuss in one
meeting, even in one special
meeting.
I'm just curious whether it is
your thought that we would sort
of bridge that over two
meetings?
Or are you thinking that is
just going to be that meeting
and we have to get it all done
then?
>>village manager: our hope is
that the board will have
complete information as planned
for tonight and an adequate
amount of time to provide the
staff with direction to move
the project to the next stage,
which is to finish this kinetic
design process.
In that meeting we are hoping
to get direction on one
variation of the one design
option that the board has
directed us to work on and then
once the board provides that
direction, then it makes sense
for us to work with jl k to
finish the schematic design
with that one option.
I think that was kind of always
the plan to work towards one
option before we spend any
additional money on the project
and move the project to the
next stage because moving the
project to the next stage is
kind of the first step towards
implementation.
>>trustee robinson: okay.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: any other
questions?
Okay, I will just share as is
often the role of the village
PRESIDENT To summarize what i
have heard is the consensus of
the board, as this was not our
expectation this evening.
We did fully originally expect
to be discussing the schematics
before upcoming events in
APRIL.
It is a very big decision and
one that we know that our staff
and architect are working
diligently to be responsive to
the board direction that has
been heard.
That being that the police
station has been said many
times to be the priority of the
project.
That there has been great
concern, particularly in the
last meeting about cost.
Want to make sure that
everybody is in agreement so
I'm not speaking out of turn
and that there is potentially
wanting to understand with
potentially phasing in
rehabilitation of village hall
with the ultimate goal that we
have a facility that meets the
needs of our staff and is
accessible to our community.
That it be that long term
solution that is not making our
community pay more over time
that the analysis of a
strategic funding-financial
analysis of how we would pay
for whatever the decision of
the board would be.
Knowing that majority of the
cost is the police department
and numbers we have heard in
the past being anywhere around
$80 million, but then the
potential rehabilitation and
maintenance that we have
learned is, you know, mother 20
million-40 million.
What we know and appreciate is
that while tis extra time is
not what we plan for, it is the
best and most responsible way
to move forward so we have all
the information that we need to
make the decision for the
community and that the
community deserves to hear from
the seven people that have been
working on the project over the
last year and 1/2.
If there are no further
comments, then we do think you
and we know that you are
working hard to be responsive
to all the concerns you have
heard from the village board to
help us with a very big
decision.
Okay?
Thank you.
>>village manager: I will just
make one-you bet.
I'm excited to do it.
I want to say welcome and happy
birthday to its old martinez,
who is a senior in high school
at the cornerstone academy here
in oak park.
She is the next to her teacher.
Itzel was going to attend the
meeting to watch us to business
for a little while now and I'm
excited about the fact that she
e chose her birthday to
exercise her civic interest.
She is very involved in it
civic throughout the community
and I know she has taken a
strong interest in oak park and
her teacher is excited about
the work she is doing in
school.
I was excited to introduce her
tonight.
Welcome, itzel.
Glad you could make it and I am
sure you probably anticipated a
longer meeting tonight.
Congratulations for exercising
your civic interest and thank
you for letting me acknowledge
itzel tonight.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: welcome,
you don't have to, but you can
come up and say hello.
Up to you.
>>speaker: good evening, my
name is itzel martinez, to
share a little more about me,
I'm a senior at cornerstone
academy.
It's a small private christian
school that is almost like an
alternative school.
They focus on individual needs
of students.
Walking into cornerstone I
realized the lack of mental
health resources and where I
came from, my previous goals,
they lack the resources, too.
In that way I found a need and
they spark in a drive to do
more.
What I've been doing at my
school as I have been reaching
out to mental health resources
and building connections with
organizations and trying to do
more, find more because I see
it here and it needs to be seen
and I did not realize how
important it was for youth to
be a part of that.
I have been going to places and
voicing the needs and the
things we need and people see
it and they want to hear more.
My way I want to get the
attention o more youth because
I think we are out there and I
think this is really cool.
Thank you.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: clerk
waters is glowing.
I hope you will share your
contact info so she can reach
out and help coordinate these
efforts.
And thank you so much for being
here.
I can feel your power, you are
truly amazing.
Thank you.
>>trustee wesley: happy
birthday.
>> happy birthday.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: happy
birthday!
Aything else from the village
managers report?
Of course, of course.
Village board committees and
the trustee liaison commission
report.
Any updates?
Okay.
Citizen commission vacancies.
Clerk waters, thank you, again!
Clerk waters provides the
vacancy report and anybody
interested in serving on one of
the boards or commissions can
reach out to clerk waters at
clerk@oak-park.Us.
We then have a few
appointments.
I entertain a motion to consent
to the village presidents
plemons of, clerk waters, do
you mind?
>>clerk: sorry, I have too many
papers in front of me.
Charyl a. Wisniewski, to the
community relations commission.
Rachel l. Gresk, appointed as a
commissioner to the community
relations cmmission.
Steve nations, point is a
commissioner to the environment
and energy commission.
>>jonathan burch:, appointed as
a commissioner to the
environment and energy
commission.
>> frank sullivan, reappoint
for a second term to the plan
commission.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: all in
favor?
yes, please.
Motion, please?
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: motioned by
trustee enyia and send dead by
trustee wesley.
Now and all in favor?
>> aye.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: a thank you
and thank all of our
commissioners for their service
.
And I would entertain a motion
to approve the consent agenda
as presented.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: clerk
waters, please take the roll.
>> I think that was trustee
robinson-brian?
And then trustee straw is the
second.
>> trustee robinson.
>> yes.
>> trustee straw.
>> yes.
>> tustee enyia.
>> yes.
>> trustee parakkat.
>> yes.
>> trustee wsley.
>> yes.
>> PRESIDENT Scaman.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: yes.
Consent agenda has been
approved.
We have a motion by trustee
parakkat and seconded rustee
robinson to discuss current
village regulations on mobile
food vendors and potential
amendments to regulations to
the village board to consider.
Motion, please?
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: thank you.
This is a discussion only.
there is nothing to vote on,
but I appreciate the motion
from a trustee parakkat and
trustee robinson.
That was my fault for confusing
the matter.
I will turn over to trustee
parakkat then?
>>trustee parakkat: thank you.
The reason we are having this
discussion is in our village,
we have well-established
brick-and-mortar businesses and
their businesses are sometimes
affected when we have food
trucks that come and park right
next to them, selling similar
types of food and undercutting
the cost because they have
slightly different cost
structure.
In fact, the cost structure is
much lower than what we have
for our brick-and-mortar
businesses that pay into the
taxes.
They have payroll and a lot of
other costs.
This is just to see if we can
create a level of fairness in
terms of our business
environment so nobody is
disproportionately affected by
having a differentiated cost
structure or a favorable cost
structure.
Looking at more of a level
playing field.
That is the intent of this
discussion and in examination
what we received through the
staff from that research is
there are differences in
different communities and how
this is handled and there are
recommendations as well.
The discussion is about looking
at the recommendations and
figuring out what makes sense
for our community and what can
be fomented to create that
level playing field.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: thank you.
We have a public comment on
this item this evening.
>> (Speaker away from mic).
>>public commenter: hi.
My name is carla (Name?) And I
have been a proud resident of
oak park for over 20 years as a
latina woman and business
owner.
I deeply value the cultural
entrepreneurial spirit that
makes our community a vibrant
one.
My investment in oak park
extends beyond my business.
I actively support schools,
literally, the arts and the
several non-for-profit
organizations and additionally
I'm committed to employing
local residents and students
who rely on these jobs for
growth and financial stability.
I appreciate and fully support
the recommendations that I have
been discussing with the
business office in oak park as
it reflects the village's
commitment to balancing
economic growth, while
protecting businesses that have
long been a part of oak park's
economic and cultural fabric.
While I welcome a business,
while I welcome food trucks and
the diversity they bring, our
brick-and-mortar businesses are
the backbone of our local
economy.
And we operate under higher
standards.
I believe these recommendations
help maintain a fair playing
field and acknowledge the
significant and financial
personal investments we have
made in oak park through
contributing, creating jobs,
paying rent, paying property
taxes.
The recommendations that is
poposed as a 250 foot distance
requirement from existing food
and beverage establishments.
That ensures food trucks
complement instead of directly
compete with the local
businesses.
Fr the past few months I have
had a food truck operating
directly in front of me and
then he moved 100 feet down.
From my shop selling the same
food daily from 10:00 A.M.-8
pm.
They are mobile, they are not
moving.
10 hours a day.
When I kindly asked the owner
to move further down, he
refused, citing that the
village currently has no
restrictions or ordinances.
That lack of regulation puts
brick-and-mortar at a this
advantage.
The other recommendation is
designating specific areas for
food trucks to operate.
That brings structure,
organization, fairness and
helps prevent tradition while
allowing food trucks to operate
successfully without negatively
impacting existing businesses.
Additionally, restricting food
trucks in key business
districts, such as madison
street or other corridor's
helps preserve the vitality of
our commercial corridors,
ensuring that long-standing
businesses that contribute to
oak park's character and charm
continue to thrive.
So I urge the village, as other
towns have to support the
well-thought-out
recommendations to foster a
thriving, fair and sustainable
business environment for all.
I appreciate the board's
efforts in promoting both
innovation and stability in our
community, and to thank you for
your time and consideration.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: thank you.
So then we will open it up for
discussion unless you have more
to share?
Or greg does?
>>village manager: yeah, I will
go ahead, craig, as craig is
coming up.
We are trying to be responsive
to the motion.
As well as being responsive to
the community input we received
concurrent with the motion.
What we hve done is
preliminary work to frame the
discussion.
There ae some preliminary
options outlined, but what we
are looking for is feedback
from the board so we can bring
something back, that is
responsive of the entire
board's interest.
Tonight we can certainly offer
what we found so far, but we
are looking forward to getting
your input so we get the
ordinance proposal back at a
later time.
>> thank you, manager jackson,
craig failor, deponent services
director.
We have been working on a
things to think about in
regards to food tracks.
Nomi diaz will walk through
that.
We have also been talking to
the health the permit on this
as well.
We have reached out to other
persons in our department and
other departments o help us
formulate these ideas and I
think k nomi will indicate that
she has looked at other
communities.
>> thank you, craig.
Good evening, nomi diaz,
administered of officer in a
development services.
We did rsearch on neighboring
communities that is attached to
the agenda item, estimated
about 18 different communities
and what their current
regulations are for any mobile
food truck vendors.
Looking at an analysis of that
and some history of what the
village currently has.
Currently, the requirements for
any mobile food truck vendors
is that they have to-they
have to have a health
inspection conducted by our
department of health.
They also have to be compliant
with ay parking restrictions
and not obstructing any
right-of-way.
Have to have an active business
license and the cost of the
business license is dependent
on the number of inspections
that the food truck has to get
on an annual basis and that is
determined by our health
department based on what the
food risks are.
That is currently what we have
in place.
Looking at the communities we
researched, we made three
potential recommendations for
the board to consider.
The first one being mobile food
vendors must operate at least
250 feet and any food and drink
establishment.
To give a little bit of a
visual of what 250 feet looks
like.
The scope of how long the
village campus is currently.
Clearly outside a village hall
sidewalk to sidewalk is about
250 feet.
Currently our commercial blocks
are about 400 feet.
Just to give a little bit of
perspective of what that looks
like.
That is one recommendation for
the board to consider in the
second is mobile food vendors
are allowed to operate in
designated areas in the village
this is previously been
explored by village staff.
A couple about eight years ago
in terms of setting direct
areas where mobile food trucks
can park their vehicle and the
cell and it creates a different
commercial corridor for mobile
food vendors and 1/3 potential
regulation is mobile food
vendors are not able to operate
in a business district.
Currently the village
recognizes 12 different
districts throughout oak park.
Ultimately that would limit as
to where they would be able to
park in the sell their goods,
but those are the three
different that we have come up
with in terms of
recommendations for the board
to consider.
Village staff supports any of
the three that the board would
like to pursue.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: thank you.
Please go ahead.
>>trustee parakkat: just a
quick question on
applicability.
If there are events, special
events that happen, is this
applicable in those instances
as well or is this non-event
related regulation?
>> this is not event related
read any mobile food vendor
that would like to participate
at any of our special events or
events throughout the village,
they have to go through a
different special event
permitting process.
>>trustee parakkat: that is
separate.
That is true for block parties
and smaller events as well?
Okay, thanks.
>>trustee robinson: I want to
clarify-let's say we adopt
all three of the
recommendations.
Even if it takes place in a
business district, as long as
they go through whatever this
separate permitting process is,
they would be able to set up
their food truck for a special
event, even if it is in a
business district?
If that is regulated based on
the staff's recommendations,
correct?
>>speaker: correct.
>>trustee robinson: in
addition, I'm in agreement with
what trustee parakkat said and
the public comment her as well.
I just want to point out the
public comment or sent us what
I thought was just a really
detailed email that we received
a b a week ago, maybe a week
and 1/2 ago, something like
that.
But I thought did-really
echoed what she said tonight,
but did a great job of
explaining sort of the
difficulty and that this unfair
competition point.
How brick-and-mortar stores-
food trucks can sort of pop up
without warning, out of nowhere
and to be parked outside of
their establishment for really
any length of time, as long as
they comply currently with
parking and the health
inspection.
That adds a level of
competition that does not
really exist right now for
other businesses.
While I certainly am in favor
of a free market, I think we
regulate our business districts
and we do so for specific
reasons.
Safety, health.
But this idea of really trying
to not compromise the integrity
of our business districts and
our brick-and-mortar stores is
a way that this type of
regulation can help further
preserve the integrity of those
districts.
The only thing I wanted staff
to opine on his I noticed in
the oak one regulation it
included a requirement that
food trucks have a plan for
waste disposal.
I was curious what staff
thought about that.
You know, we have areas of oak
park that certainly have
oversized trash cans, but I
assume those are based on the
number of brick and mortar
establishments that are already
there?
So what does staff think about
adding a plan for waste
disposal, especially as we
consistently try to fight
against sort of the
proliferation of rats?
We do not want food, other
types of food, of disposal to
be outside of garbage cans.
do you foresee any problems or
maybe what do you think about
incorporating that and of
folding that into whatever our
regulatory structure is?
>> absolutely.
I will start off by saying that
we have not had any issues in
terms of a waste disposal of
any of the current active
license that we have for mobile
food vendors, however, we would
definitely explore
incorporating that into the
regulations if that is
something the board desires.
>>trustee robinson: based on
your research, what I was
reading referred to special
disposal methods or certain
types of food waste.
Like greece for example.
What are your thoughts about
incorporating that specifically
so we sort of award off and
prevent any disposal method
that could create a bigger
problem or a bigger mess for
public works, for surrounding
businesses, etc.?
Absolutely.
I definitely explore that with
te health department and the
health inspectors and making
sure we are addressing proper
and safe waste disposal.
>>trustee robinson: okay, okay.
So we deal with it in
designated areas, but not
business districts, are we
saying they can be set up
throughout our residential
districts?
>> more or less.
Essentially, not all of lake
street is a business district.
So there would be certain areas
and our intent would be if that
is not potential regulation of
the village board as to pursue,
we would come back with a map
that highlighted the areas that
would be appropriate for mobile
food truck vendors.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: that sounds
good to me.
I am certainly on board with
the three regulations.
The only other thing I will
point out is that in the
board's future our summit
zoning discussion, including
the possibility of creating
residential housing in the
commercial districts, maybe in
an expanded capacity.
So I would just want any-
anything that staff comes back
with to have that in the back
of your mind as we sort of have
these conversations
sequentially to make sure we
are not stepping over ourselves
as we figure this stuff out.
I thought the recommendations
were great and I would like to
include a plan for waste
disposal.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: please,
brian.
I'm sorry.
>>trustee straw: I think first,
starting with the third
recommendation.
I'm not entirely sure I
understand the idea behind a
recommendation that mobile food
vendors are not able to operate
in any business district
because that would-that would
mean that we would only be
allowing mobile food vendors to
operate in our residential
neighborhoods, which when I was
looking through the comparable
-the other communities, most
of those had regulations
limiting mobile food vendors,
food trucks from parking in
residential areas and selling
in residential areas.
I understand businesses wanting
to limit the risks of
competition, but why would such
a broad-based approach of
preventing all sales and
business districts be the
direction we want to go.
>> our intent was to kind of
encourage mobile food vendors
to go to chools, parks and
really go into untouched
territories, where
brick-and-mortar businesses are
unable to capture those.
>>trustee straw: okay.
I guess I-that is something I
would need to give a little
more thought to.
I guess I have some concern
about setting up secondary
business districts if we had a
situation where now we have a
food truck row on a residential
street and we are diverting
traffic to a food truck row.
Typically there is a reason we
concentrate business activity
in business districts.
I think it makes sense to have
food truck vendors are going to
want to go where there is foot
traffic as well.
I think that-I do not think
that right now I would be in
favor of the third
recommendation.
I don't necessarily want to be
pushing food truck vendors to
be in residential neighborhoods
as opposed to in our business
districts.
I think it would be helpful
when we get any specific
ordinance back around number
one to see what a map would
look like with, you know, if we
did a 250 foot bubble around
any drink establishment, are we
saying that food truck vendors
cannot be in these swaths of
the village because a 250 foot
bubble-I imagine that blocks
off most of downtown oak park,
most of the hemingway business
district.
So I'm curious whether there's
any way to have it be a
limitation where you have
direct competition.
I know the situation that
brought us here tonight on this
discussion was a food truck
selling tacos immediately
adjacent to a brick-and-mortar
store that sells tacos and I
understand how that is unfair,
but I think if there was a food
truck that sold ice cream that
parked right next to a store
selling tacos, that might not
be a problem.
In fact, it might be a bonus to
business.
And drive more foot traffic.
I think if there is a way for
us to be creative so we can
prevent some of the direct
competition, but not prevent
entrepreneurs who are just
trying to start a business from
chasing those dreams in our
community, I think there is a
balance to be found because I
know there are a lot of those
brick-and-mortar restaurants,
where people were able to make
those brick-and-mortar
restaurant dreams come true
because they started with a
food truck with the lower
overhead.
I want to find-I want to make
sure we are finding a balance
with the lightest touch
possible on regulation that
protects the vital small
business community that we have
that has made these
brick-and-mortar investments
who is employing our next
generation of entrepreneurs in
our community.
I think that is vital, but I do
not want to drive investment in
food trucks out of our
community and I think if we
take too heavy a hand that we
might go too far.
Thank you.
>>trustee enyia: this is a
random question, but our ice
cream trucks considered food
tricks, too?
>> yes they are.
Very conflicting.
>> they are.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: if nobody
is jumping forward, somewhat
similar to brian's concern, I
definitely agree that-to have
a food truck in front of a
brick-and-mortar with the
expense and commitment that is
also serving the same food, it
should certainly not be okay
and permitted grade what im
curious about is the beer shop.
It is in a business district
and we have encouraged them to
seek out relationships because
they do not serve food and we
do not otherwise have bars in
our community that do not serve
food.
I remember when we give them
their liquor license initially
we encouraged them to build
relationships with neighboring
restaurants and food trucks.
How does it work in that lot?
How would tat lot be affected
by this ordinance?
We built that lot out recently
to be kind of an event space or
turn into an event space.
I like the idea of the beer
shop being able to invite food
trucks, particularly in the
summertime.
is there something we can do to
carve out that law or other
areas in the community where
the addition of a food trucks
is actually contributing to
vitality in a not as
competitive way to local
businesses?
Could it be something about the
type of food or could they get
a certain number of times a
month that they could?
I don't know.
Can we try to consider some
options for us I don't know,
what you think?
>> absolutely.
That is something we can
explore in this next month
while we prepare something to
come back to the board.
We explore the potential of
either excluding certain lots
that are (Word?) During periods
of time like summertime,
assuming the food truck vendor
does not sell the same or
similar type of menu as the
neighboring restaurants in the
area.
And we can also export
different event types, permits
and what that would look like.
We need to do more research.
>> some of our food trucks are
also brick-and-mortar
restaurants.
So they are making the same
level of commitment in another
way, the same way, but the
mobile truck is an extension of
the brick-and-mortar business.
That is the thought-the only
thought that I have concern
with here.
>>trustee wesley: I agree with
you on that.
I think on the lot tenant
thing, couldn't we sell food
truck spots in that lot and
that extra cost would make it a
bit more commiserate with the
investment of the surrounding
businesses and therefore seems
like it might put at least in
that one space, things on a bit
more even competition?
But in general, I agree with
some sort of space around
brick-and-mortar restaurants
that should be food truck free.
Chicago went through this a few
years ago.
Might be 10 years or 11 or
something like that.
It was a whole big thing and I
knew a few restaurant owners at
the time that were being
impacted by this in the river
north area and it would like-
I don't remember the figures.
I remember that the difference
between their lunch take on a
day when the food truck was
there versus in a food truck
wasn't was significant.
So I do think that this is a
worthwhile ordinance to
consider, at least with some
level of fee, away from the
brick-and-mortar businesses.
Two trustee straw's point about
concentrating business activity
and business districts I'm
never going to MISS The chance
to talk about zoning and I will
point out that before exclusive
single-family home zoning,
residents intermingled and
economic activity was part of
life and not a part that was
separate.
Exclusion-exclusionary
zoning, we have places where we
put businesses in places where
we put people MAY think what we
have noticed is when we put
people where the businesses
are, like in dtop we get a lot
of vibrancy.
a psalm in support of
intermingling people in
businesses and any chance we
can get, including with food
trucks.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: trustee
enyia?
>>trustee enyia: I agree with
what PRESIDENT Scaman was
saying, they have chips, the
beer shop has a chips.
Part of the stipulation.
I do agree that knowing,
working downtown for a long
time, understanding that there
are some opportunities that are
missed from brick-and-mortar
because-mainly it is
distance, but there is also the
level of convenience that
sometimes the food truck gives
you for special events.
I think that makes perfect
sense and in the summertime it
is one of those opportunities
for a place like the beer shop
and other places that do not
serve technically full-service
food and they did try other
options, but I know their most
profitable option was the food
truck.
They did try having a delivery
service with japanese
restaurant that is very nearby
and they tried to do a delivery
to the beer shop, but it did
not hit off as far as as well
as having a food truck there.
I think there should be
consideration to that, but I
completely understand parking
in front of a location-it is
not fair to the business owner
of the brick-and-mortar
location, but I think there
should be some type of
designated spot if that is
something that the board has an
appetite for going further down
research, but also I think as
you said before, it does lend
some new opportunity to talk
about where in the village
would it make sense for a food
truck to operate that is nt as
close everything?
I know there are parts of oak
park that are pretty much
untapped and we talked about
north oak park where I grew up,
there are not many options.
Is there something that can be
set up so they can re-envision
what that could be in other
areas of oak park that would
never otherwise see an
opportunity to seize food.
Bring up the ice cream truck
thing because I know in so many
situations, as a kid, after
table games and all of those
things, you think about, what
is the first thing that is
going to show up here?
I would hate to think that
because of certain distance
rule, that you would ice out
the ice cream truck.
Those are just things, but I
definitely agree with the owner
of-I believe it is taco 76
that had to deal with that.
That is undercutting her
business and that is not what
we would want to see happening
for businesses like that.
I promise you.
>>trustee straw: responding to
trustee wesley, I want to be
clear, did not propose
preventing food trucks from
operating in residential areas.
Although, I will note that
right now it is pretty much
just the ice cream trucks that
show up in those residential
areas because there is not as
much foot traffic with the
exception of when there is a
block party or something like
that, where they are specially
invited.
I certainly have no issue with
food trucks operating in
residential areas.
I think that we just need to be
thoughtful as we move forward
with regulation and that is
why, you know, sort of seeing
mapped out, what would 250 feet
mean the versus 150 feet?
What is the right distance that
would provide opportunities or
-I don't know if this is a
question that staff is ready to
answer today or if a village
attorney.
Is there a way to regulate by
the type of cuisine so we
prevent that kind of
competition, where you have a
food truck selling the same
food right in front of a
brick-and-mortar?
I think that is really the type
of competition that it sounds
like is problematic here.
Rather than if I'm in the mood
for chicken and waffles and
that is why I'm going there, a
taco truck being parked out
front of them is not
necessarily going to change my
mind.
I was going for chicken and
waffles.
I do not want to prevent
business activity where we are
not actually seeing a problem.
I want to just make sure that
we are identifying and
targeting what they problematic
behavior is.
That is the only thing that I
was trying to highlight and
sort of the being thoughtful of
having as narrow of a scope as
possible.
>>trustee robinson: I think
trustee straw, your point is
well taken.
I don't want to regulate it by
food type.
I think we get too much in the
weeds.
Does that have to be the type
of food that that truck
exclusively cells, mostly
cells?
Can they sell ice cream and
tacos and park outside of taco
76?
Idon't want people to be slick
with it and then we are like
cutting hairs on what type of
food is sold.
That's a type of regulation
that gets more granular than I
would thank staff would want to
be.
I think you are right, that is
the competition point, that is
exactly the competition point.
That is just my thought on
edge.
It seems to invite a level of
specificity and granularity,
and regulation that I'm not
quite sure we want to really
get into.
I will point out that-did you
mention hot chocolate coffee?
Has been a long time since my
kids played baseball, but there
used to be a hot chocolate
coffee food truck at baseball
games who was a lifesaver on
cold game days.
I think it might be a little
more variety than we might be
naturally thinking of in our
residential areas.
You would park near a baseball
park, which those parts are in
residential areas.
There might be more variety
than we might be assuming.
So anyway, those are the two
things I wanted to add.
>> I think she has a bike now.
I think is a bike and said of a
truck.
-instead of a truck.
>>trustee parakkat: I agree
with trustee robinson that I
think the specificity can
become an enforcement challenge
quickly and that is
counterproductive to what we
are trying to do in the second
thing is also in terms of our
ability to attract future
businesses into a business
district as certain
ramifications in terms of our
attitude towards food trucks in
general, while it might be
complementary to begin with,
but let's say we d not have a
korean barbecue in our
community or we do not have a
specific kind of business,
their ability to come into it
and someone looking at oak park
as an investment opportunity
might be the fact that there
are food trucks that might
violate that or that becomes an
impediment.
It can be, I'm not saying it
will, but it could be.
Something to examine is our
ability to attract future
businesses and be a better
business environment for the
community in the long run.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: anything
further?
>>trustee wesley: I want to
note, trustee enyia, you were
mentioning about-the beer
shop and food trucks.
I thought about ken's locker
and how there is always a food
truck outside of ken's locker
because there's no rstaurants
around there.
I don't want to prevent the
food truck from sitting outside
of ken's locker, where they
have service there.
Yeah, yeah exactly.
It is the depot.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: what the
ordinance have that?
Want to make sure we are not
shutting out hot cocoa trucks
and coffee drugs and I want to
think about this from the
perspective of incentivizing
folks into areas.
To the point of-I know you
were not saying combine the
two, trustee straw, I saw
opportunity to talk about
zoning, so I took it.
I think getting food trucks
into places like around our
parks where people are
congregating and figuring out
how we can encourage that or in
northeast oak park they are
always in, we do not have a
coffee shop.
We cannot put a food truck that
allows you to have coffee, but
you can have a food truck with
coffee in the area MAY be
consistently and at a certain
spot and maybe that is
something that can bootstrap a
little bit of economic activity
in the area.
I'm open to not just how we
need to limit this around our
brick-and-mortar businesses,
but how we can encourage it in
other places where that level
that needs to protect against
competition is not there.
>> I was going to say one thing
great outside of special
events, we could look at MAY be
limiting the duration that they
are in one spot so they are not
there all day, lunch and dinner
or whatever or potentially look
at hours of operation when they
cannot be there or something,
but we can sort of mix that
into the evaluation of this.
>> I think all the comments
tonight have been good.
The consensus truly being that
we do value the investment of
brick-and-mortar businesses.
We want to be honoring that.
We also do not want to
completely cycle vibrancy and
parts of our community where it
is not necessarily in conflict.
How do we do that?
Good luck.
>> thank you.
>>trustee wesley: better you
than us.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: this is the
village manager form of
government.
We say what we hope to
accomplish and they help us
find it.
Figure out how to get there,
right?
Then it is called to board and
clerk.
Clerk waters?
>>clerk: we have another
non-agenda public comment.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: great.
>clerk: aiden?
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: well,.
-welcome.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: they are
not comfortable cues, but thank
you for being here.
>>public commenter: sorry,
hello, my name is aiden
sullivan and I was born in my
suburban 25 years ago and I
have known oak park ever since.
There we go.
My question today is for
village PRESIDENT Scaman.
Village hall since inception
has been (Word?) Of finland
greatest similarities both the
static, both the static and
programmatic.
most productively, village
halls of mass timber, disparate
and gathered together.
As we do today, and more
generally as villagers.
I understand your opponents
position in regards to this
issue, however yours, with all
due respect gives me pause.
Would you alleviate my concerns
today by articulate and want
to, thankfully, flopped your
original stands as to the fate
of this building and what
impetus you have personally
found towards its preservation
that will prevent your stance
from flipping again once the
scrutiny of an upcoming
election is no longer a fctor
in the decision.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: I'm happy
to answer it.
I'm not sure this is a forum so
I would offer anyone the
opportunity to counter also
respond.
In all fairness.
The process of the facilities
committee did have me
appreciating the beauty of this
building and I feel as a
community if we can demonstrate
how to renovate it so it can be
-respond to our communities
needs for the next 50 years
that we are setting an example
of how to do it.
Recognizing that it is
challenging and expensive.
>>public commenter: I
appreciate the drive for
sustainable architecture and
that sort of thing.
I don't know, the cause of this
comes from just an
understanding of historic
preservation and that notion
that the greenest building is
the one that is already here
and if this one is such a nice
one to begin with, we should do
everything we can to make sure
it is still around.
I don't know, you see -- that
got tore down across from tasty
dog and all of that.
It would be a shame to see the
same fate of all of this.
I keep driving by for many
years to come.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: at thank
you.
In all fairness, if anybody has
any comment they would like to
make?
In response to the question I
have received?
Then I would welcome.
Okay.
Very good.
Thank you for engaging with
your local government.
Mhm.
Then back to clerk waters.
>>clerk: just wanted to remind
our community that we are in
our second day of early voting
and the so it is really
important that you stop by
village hall within the next
week and 1/2, at this point
now.
We will be open from 9:00
A.M.-at 5:00 P.M.
Monday-saturday.
On sundays from 10:00 A.M.-4
pm.
We are not a polling place on
election day, however, you will
have 18 polling locations to
choose from that are inclusive
of 32 different precincts.
We are very lucky in that
sense.
Just for member to vote, local
elections are important and you
want to vote for your village
PRESIDENT, your trustees, your
clerk, who shape and create
policy, your school boards for
district 97, which cover
kindergarten through eighth
grade, district 200, which
covers high school grades 9-12
and even district 504, which
covers triton community
college.
There is also the township, the
park district as well a the
library.
That is on the ballot.
I also want to make mention in
celebration of a volunteer we,
the village of oak park will
host its second annual
neighborhood cleanup on a
saturday, APRIL 12 from 9:00
A.M.-noon and I also wanted to
make mention and think the
village of oak park for
allowing the clerk's office to
bring forward the proclamation
for black maternal health week.
As a mother of four, this is a
very important proclamation.
It is the first.
So again, I want to thank
everyone and I just want to
provide this quick synopsis
that black maternal health week
is a crucial initiative focused
on raising awareness and
maternal health disparities
faced by black women.
Advocating for equitable
healthcare access and
addressing the root causes of
these inequities.
Including systemic racism,
socioeconomic factors and
inadequate healthcare
infrastructure.
Thank you.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: at thank
you.
>>trustee enyia: thank you for
all of these amazing
proclamations.
Thank you so much for joining
us today.
I think that is amazing, mental
health is huge and to have an
advocate like you will
definitely help drive this in
our village and there is a lot
of good partners that I know
are willing to help in that
push for you.
Really want to be think of for
this population for doctor
percy julian and his wife.
Their contributions to this
village are so, so much.
I can never repay someone who
has done so much for all of us
and we do not even know it.
Some people have no idea of the
great works that he and his
wife have gone through and
their son who was a civil
rights attorney.
They are a model of what you
hope for in the human spirit
and condition and what they
push for and strive for and the
perseverance they had through
all the challenges that they
met here in oak park and still
pushed through and wanted to
make this place their home.
I tried to reach out to faith
and was unsuccessful, but I
know she will want to see this
and probably ask for the
recording of this meeting.
Lastly, not lastly, but I will
bring up-since you brought up
a volunteering.
If you have a chance you can go
to the (Word?) Website and they
have -- they have multiple
days through the month of APRIL
that you can donate two hours
of your time.
It makes a huge difference in
people's lives.
Lost a friend last weekend it
has been a really, really
difficult week for my group of
friends here in oak park.
His name was colin thorpe and
his family has lived here for a
long, long time and still do.
He was very special to this
community.
He was always a happy face to
see on difficult days and he
always had a bright smile and
always, always made you feel
better.
We are all hurting that he is
not here anymore.
I just want to make sure his
family knows that we are all
here for them, no matter what
they need.
They are such a light for our
community and it is so sad to
see that he is not here
anymore.
I wanted to make sure that they
know we are here for them.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: thank you.
>>trustee straw: first I want
to, you know, thank the whole
board for all of these lovely
proclamations that we did here
tonight and I want to speak
particularly to the
proclamation around trans day
of a visibility and just the
incredible group of people who
came out tonight and supported
it.
I have had it so many
conversations over the course
of the last year or two in
particular with families of
trans youth that have moved to
oak park recently as a result
of just really terrible
situations in the states they
were moving from and that oak
park is seen as a community
where they can feel safe and
included, and that is an
example of how the values that
we are talking about at this
table and our efforts around
truly being an inclusive
cmmunity, how meaningful they
can be.
That children who were
suffering are able to come into
our community and begin to
thrive because they are ending
up in a place where they feel
loved and supported, and
included.
It is incredibly important and
I is a success story for oak
park and this proclamation
tonight is an important part of
that, making sure that
community feels seen and
valued, and included.
You know, I want to thank the
community and that the board
for making that proclamation
happen.
And I did-I do want to
respond to-a little bit to
the public comment that we had
here at the end.
It just briefly because I feel
like there has been a good
amount of confusion recently
around the village hall process
because there is a great deal
of-a great deal of space
where everyone on this board
agrees.
We have to move forward with a
new police station and that is
the highest priority and it is
also in every budget estimate
we have seen, it is the largest
portion of any facilities plan
goes towards the police
station.
We have to take care of
deferred maintenance and upkeep
in the village hall.
That is something that from
what I've heard, there is a
broad concern here on the board
and from the numbers we have
seen, that is in the range of
$20 million.
that is a place where everybody
here is in agreement, I believe
folks will correct me if I'm
wrong, I'm sure.
The disputes then just come
down to end the discussion that
will be ongoing comes down to
how much a well renovations go
beyond just deferred
maintenance and upkeep and what
will the timeframe be?
So like, we have heard a lot of
confusion and back and forth
and big numbers.
It is the police station, there
is consensus that is going to
happen.
Have to figure out how much
that is going to cost.
It is always the largest part
of every estimate we see.
We have to take care of
deferred maintenance and upkeep
and it is just a question of,
are we doing bare minimum on
renovation or how big would
renovation be?
That is the conversation and
that is the conversation we
will keep having at the board
table, and it is going to be a
while before we are doing a yes
or no vote on a particular plan
with a particular budget.
So we have a wild to go on that
discussion.
It is not going to be this
exact board who is making the
final decision.
>>trustee wesley: I just want
to say how amazing it is to be
part of something that supports
a year so full of awful bigotry
and to see us fill these
chambers up and supporting the
folks that are here, supporting
the friends and family of the
folks that are here really does
-it is a welcome beacon of
hope and support in this year.
that's all.
>trustee parakkat: two things.
One is a response to village
hall situation, the fact that
we were not able to discuss
this, I think it deserves
comment.
I think the issue is that JULY
2023, we as a board made a
decision that that is the only
time we made a cost estimate
based decision where the cost
of demolition rebuild, which is
option four I got selected up
to $138 million.
The cost of a police station is
$65 million at that point in
time.
That is option one.
The fact that we decided to go
with option four is the time we
indicated to everyone that we
are willing to spend that kind
of money on this village hall.
Hundred and $14 million.
They put a target on our back.
Architect started seeing dollar
signs on oak park and we have
been having discussions over
the last two years.
So much so that our much-needed
established need for a police
facility has now been delayed
by two years and we have been
bogged down by the and not made
any decisions yet.
I think the cost, even if it is
just the police facility, we
should have actually had a
limit or constraint placed on
top of that to make sure that
we are setting the stage for
setting the right constraints
for what is affordable to this
community.
I think at this point, in the
last two years we have had
facilities commission and other
discussions interpreted through
the process is pointless
because we have already made
the poor decision to set the
stage for $114 million
expenditure and that is not
fair on the community.
That is definitely against our
values of affordability and
inclusivity.
That is the point in making and
let's see what comes in APRIL
and figure out where we go from
here, but the last two years we
spent $2 million on many
architects and haven't gotten
anywhere.
The second thing, this is the
last board meeting before we
have the election and this is
the last board meeting that I
will be a trustee.
I'm very glad that I was able
to discuss a topic or bring to
the board a topic and discuss
it around food, small
businesses, which is near and
dear to my heart.
I appreciate the opportunity
and see everybody in the next
session.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: thank you.
It is unfortunate that we are
not able to talk about the
village board hall this
evening.
There was an appropriate time
during the board agenda to have
a discussion of-which wasn't
just a statement and you could
dialogue with your colleagues,
which were all your colleagues,
trustee parakkat.
Colleagues have said for a year
and 1/2 that they are not
comfortable with $138 million.
So I'm not sure that you do not
trust your colleagues when they
say that or what the case is,
but when we voted on that, you
are right, that is the estimate
that was brought forward, but
at the same time, the board
said, when is our opportunity
to challenge that amount
because all we were voting on
was building up a new police
station, which as brian has
said many times is the lion
share of any cost and that we
will have renovation that will
be necessary and we will have
maintenances in the building
that will be necessary and then
we have values of which we all
weighed in on values in a
session and our entire process
has been to bring us as much
information as possible so we,
as responsible elected
individuals can make our
decision based on as much
information as possible.
This board has been very
careful on all of or decisions
to center affordability and to
-we challenge regularly making
sure that we have a high level
of information in making our
decisions.
So it has been a joint process
of which we have all been able
to weigh in on.
So we decided, as a board, the
consensus of the board was new
police station is the priority.
We addressed maintenance and
rehab and as brian said, how
much we have or the ability to
phase in has been said many
times.
We all said, when will we be
able to challenge what the cost
was when we made that vote?
It was just deciding the
direction and working with an
architect, with our staff to
challenge and then find where
our comfort zone was.
I will say, since we have our
wednesday journal in the room,
I did not say under $100,000.
that would also be me
perpetrating a false narrative
and I am not about that.
There is no way it will be
under $100,000.
$100 million.
I don't know why it is such a
challenge to be quoted
properly, but the police
station itself will most
definitely need to be under
that in order for us to have
any reasonable budget.
Maybe-I literally just read.
Otherwise, yes.
Your colleagues have been
together in the saying they are
not comfortable with $130
million yet.
That number keeps going out
there, disrespecting her
colleagues and the staff.
I would rather concentrate on
the beautiful night we had with
all of the-those in the
transgender community who came
out and their allies in such a
beautiful way and I think,
again, my colleagues and staff
in our village clerk for
supporting this proclamation
and the idea of really, truly
embracing and being a safe
place for all.
Have a good evening.
I entertain a motion to
adjourn.
>> so moved.
>> second.
>>PRESIDENT Scaman: all in
favor,