[0:24] Okay, we're going to get started with the Committee of the Whole meeting.

[0:31] Okay, good evening. It's 6:57 p.m. on Monday, August 10th, 2026. I'd like to

[0:35] call to order the Village of Brookfield Committee of the Whole meeting.

[0:38] Mike, will you roll call for the committee, please?

[0:40] » Trustee Katchmar. >> Here.

[0:41] » Trustee Whitehead. >> Here.

[0:43] » Trustee Hendricks. >> Here.

[0:44] » Trustee Nerematsu. Trustee Gilhooley. >> Here.

[0:47] » Trustee Kalo. >> Here.

[0:48] » President Garvey. >> Here.

[0:49] » Thank you, Mike. Okay, well, we have one item up to discuss under regular

[0:52] business, a discussion concerning November referendum to finance a 25-year

[0:56] bond improvement program. Um, this has been an obviously ongoing

[1:00] discussion. The board previously approved the language for the ballot

[1:02] question. Um,

[1:06] had a very very good conversation at the previous Committee of the Whole meeting

[1:09] about um, what steps can be taken going forward if if the referendum pass, and

[1:15] there's some talk about the education campaign. We have a very detailed memo,

[1:19] and uh I'm going to Tim, you want to take the lead? I'm going to turn it over

[1:22] to Tim to kind of let us know what's happened information

[1:25] since the last board meeting, what's uh what the next steps recommended for the

[1:28] board are. >> Thank you, President Garvey. As as

[1:31] you've said, we've had a lot of discussion about the referendum program,

[1:34] and a lot of progress. We have a question that's been filed

[1:38] to be put on the ballot for the referendum has been filed with the

[1:40] county. So, we're all set in that regard. We are ready to work with Mek

[1:44] first strategies to start. We've already started a little bit of the public

[1:47] education campaign, but I would like to finish that, and then then obviously

[1:52] continue with that as we lead up to November.

[1:55] Um, it really

[1:58] the lion's share of the money for this referendum is going to be for roads. We

[2:02] we all know that and and that's I think clearly understood.

[2:06] Where we've had a lot of discussion and a lot of good lively debate is should we

[2:10] include an alley program with that? The challenge is we don't know what the

[2:14] alley program is going to consist of yet. And clearly staff, we don't know

[2:18] yet. We we don't know what it should or would consist of. The board is I think

[2:21] grappling with that. And so I understand that and it's logical that at this point

[2:26] in time that's that's that's the reality of

[2:30] where we are. So we've met. Staff has met since last

[2:34] board meeting with our consultants. And it is our collective recommendation to

[2:39] at this point start the public education campaign.

[2:43] Focus on where the lion's share of the money is going and that is the roadway.

[2:46] And talk about the what we're how we're going to

[2:50] maintain the road in a 25-year road program. How that is going to be funded

[2:55] consistently through this funding source without raising properties taxes on our

[3:00] residents. Um

[3:03] and then in the public education campaign say that if the referendum

[3:06] passes, we commit and the village board commits to holding uh public workshops,

[3:11] public meetings, and having more discussion about what and how should our

[3:16] alley program consist of as we move forward. And uh we can lay out all the

[3:20] options there. We can have more uh comments, more analysis much as we'd

[3:25] like. Um at least we'll know then if we have this money available, it won't be

[3:29] all the cut-offs and what-ifs and should-ofs. It'll be this is the money

[3:33] we have. This is the best way to spend it. And then we'll come back after these

[3:36] workshops, come back to the village board, we'll have further discussions

[3:39] about that. So campaign, focus on the road program,

[3:43] alley program we commit to having more public

[3:47] discussion about it and then public input coming back to the board for a

[3:50] final call on that. Okay. Questions or comments from the

[3:55] board?

[3:58] » I I know there was a I know this has been in the works for quite a while and

[4:02] I know there's a kind of an education campaign and

[4:05] strategy, um which I think was already I know it's already started with the basic

[4:09] uh first post and email. Um

[4:14] I assume there's a like a regular schedule or information we're going to

[4:17] get out that include I mean and I know staff does a good job of as the board

[4:21] has anticipating frequently asked questions and those are things that

[4:24] you'll be able to address in the materials.

[4:27] » Yeah, this is the uh the same slide we showed a couple meetings ago, the our

[4:31] intended public outreach schedule. Uh we're going to focus the rest of the

[4:35] summer into the September on additional website updates, social media posts.

[4:41] Uh we were going to host uh pop-up events

[4:44] at probably the farmers market and identify other suitable events as well,

[4:48] but farmers market seems to be the most logical place to do this.

[4:52] A big push and a big uh obvious our one piece of of written information

[4:57] that gets mailed out, the only piece that gets mailed out to every home in

[5:02] and every property owner in Brookfield is the is the Brookfielder. That's

[5:06] coming out in the fall. We would have a an article in the next edition of that.

[5:10] And then in October uh our idea is to host an open house

[5:14] here in this room. Uh be available, have the key individuals available for

[5:18] questions and answers. Again, another website update in

[5:22] October. Um and then in middle to late October, we're going to be sending out

[5:27] an information pamphlet every home in every property owner in Brookfield.

[5:32] And then obviously the referendum then is November 2nd. Or I'm sorry, the

[5:36] referendum is November 3rd, Tuesday. That's the schedule that we talked about

[5:40] in the past. >> Okay.

[5:44] All right. I mean, that so staff's recommendation and you know, the last

[5:47] meeting there was a lot of conversation about this and I think it was

[5:51] clear from the board there wasn't a clear-cut decision made, but I also

[5:54] thought there was a clear direction from the board that

[5:57] we would need more public input on any decision on any what an alley paving

[6:02] program would look like in terms of funding and cost match or anything like

[6:05] that. And I think thought there was a kind of consensus

[6:09] that that really couldn't be worked out or agreed in this period of time and

[6:12] couldn't be done without I mean, I envision that being a pretty large

[6:16] public input, maybe a special meeting or a special committee of the whole item

[6:20] where it's advertised that we're talking about that dedicate a lot of time to

[6:23] taking public input on any program going forward. So

[6:27] » Yeah, I agree. I I know we've heard consistently from staff that it's the

[6:30] the number one issue that they hear about from residents. And I know we've

[6:33] gotten a few public comments at our board meeting discussions, but

[6:37] um certainly not, you know, the level of comment that I think is represented of

[6:41] the community as a whole. So I feel like if we're going to

[6:44] before we can make uh decisions about the specific structure

[6:47] of the program and the cost share, I feel like we need to hear more from

[6:50] residents, particularly if our if our goal is to ultimately get more alleys

[6:54] paved. We want to know how they feel about uh you know, residents taking on

[6:59] portion of the cost and the the associated timeline or the village's

[7:02] role. Um so I I think this is the the right approach in terms of uh the

[7:08] high-level messaging on the alleys and if the referendum were to pass

[7:12] um to work out the details collaboratively with residents.

[7:16] » Uh I I agree. I I like the approach of taking more time and getting more

[7:20] village um property owner input. We have seen only two submissions to the current

[7:27] program in quite a while. So that either says either people don't want their

[7:32] alleys paved or they that program isn't working for them. So clearly we need

[7:36] some other options and it would be great to hear from people and see which way

[7:42] they're leaning um and any other ideas. I know we have also a lot of creative

[7:47] people and and talented professionals in the community that I'm sure have some

[7:53] some ideas to share or maybe they've lived in other communities that have

[7:57] had other solutions. So I'd I'd love to hear more from the people.

[8:04] » I would agree with all that's been said. But adding on to that, I think we have

[8:10] to put our focus on

[8:14] the referendum passing and what that's about because that's about the streets.

[8:19] Um

[8:24] You know, when we in 2016, we we went to referendum for the series

[8:29] of bonds that were issued. Those bonds are expiring now.

[8:33] There is no continuing source of revenue for streets after these bonds are little

[8:39] the bonds I think it was over what? Two uh

[8:43] six years that we issued them two years apart. Three issues so that you know,

[8:48] the the payments gradually went up and the

[8:51] payments are gradually coming down. This would take the place of that. If if

[8:56] we do not do this, there isn't a funding source for continuous street

[8:59] improvements. I think that has to be the largest part

[9:03] of our education cuz if you simply read the question that's being put out there

[9:07] to the voters, it's pretty hard to understand what that

[9:11] means. And I mean, we explained it with the you know, the question and answer

[9:15] and that. We got to keep putting that out there time after time after time

[9:19] explaining what the question is, what it's about. Um

[9:24] you know, the idea that your taxes will not go up with this, that's key to it. I

[9:28] mean, that this is taking the place of paying off the bonds.

[9:31] That should be our chief focus with this.

[9:34] Uh the other thing I mentioned, President Garvey mentioned at the last

[9:36] meeting, looking at the dates of the postings in that, do we remember the

[9:41] early voting? So, I don't know if that's 30 days prior

[9:45] to that, but some of these things might be a moot

[9:49] point if it's coming out, you know, the day

[9:52] before election day, cuz people been voting for a month.

[9:56] » Yeah, I thought that early voting is important because I I don't know all the

[10:00] exact numbers, but I know this is in general the Village of Brookfield

[10:05] site for early voting is one of the more popular ones in the

[10:10] suburbs, and if people are going to if more Brookfield residents are going to

[10:13] take advantage of that, um it does change the timetable and

[10:17] schedule in terms of getting the message out. I mean, we've dealt

[10:21] with this over the years in, you know, local elections and things you the whole

[10:25] the whole timetable changed a little bit with early voting, and when you have an

[10:28] early voting site that's convenient and accessible,

[10:32] um I know there's still people that like to vote on election day, and I'm one

[10:36] that tends to do that. I think I voted early voting last year for

[10:40] due to a schedule conflict, but there's a lot of people that like to vote on

[10:43] election day, but there are also a lot of people that vote early, and they've

[10:46] already obviously voted and made up their mind before some of this has come

[10:50] out, so that's why I, you know, raised the issue, and I think that's an

[10:53] important part of the education campaign is to get [clears throat] the

[10:55] information out there as early as possible and maybe expedite

[11:00] the schedule and the dot in terms of the key pieces getting out there and

[11:03] continue all the way through to election day in terms of getting the education

[11:07] materials out there. And again, just to echo Trustee

[11:10] Ketchmark's point, I mean, you were on the board I think you were

[11:14] president in 2016, so he he was something in 2016.

[11:19] He was sitting in he was sitting in this seat. He's

[11:23] He's been something for a long time. >> [laughter]

[11:31] [snorts] >> But we, you know, and I was I was on the

[11:34] board also and and we did talk about that that that that referendum was

[11:38] necessary to and Barb you've been around too. You

[11:41] this was to this was we portrayed it and it was true at the time. This was at

[11:45] that point we were doing a catch-up from years of not funding streets properly.

[11:49] So this large bond issue was needed to get the streets to a level

[11:54] um that they should be at and we did live up to that commitment

[11:59] and um did what we said we were going to do

[12:02] with the bond money and we did improve the streets but staff was very clear and

[12:06] Derek from Hancock Engineering and Dan have been very clear that

[12:10] the streets have a useful life and we do maintain them. We do take good care of

[12:15] them but they don't last forever. It's it's

[12:18] like owning a house when you replace the roof, you know,

[12:21] you hope you don't have to replace it again for however how many years but you

[12:25] know at some point if you're going to be around long enough and

[12:28] Barb I hope none of us get hit by a bus and I hope a lot of us serve around.

[12:33] I'd like to be around to see some streets get done too. So uh

[12:36] but it's our obligation to plan for the future even if some of us might not be

[12:40] around. We can't just say, well, we got us

[12:43] through this you know, 20-year period. We got the streets fixed over 20 years

[12:46] and now whoever's in next figure it out how to

[12:49] do it. We do have to give them a source of revenue to do this and Barb

[12:54] I know you look at your tax bill and I look at my tax bill and you could say

[12:57] how much your village tax bill went up over the years and I

[13:01] don't doubt your numbers and figures but other taxing bodies their their rates

[13:06] have gone up also and what you get out of your village taxes, I know you're a

[13:12] very careful person who looks at things and watches things but you know that

[13:15] that line item for your property tax bill for the Village of Brookfield go

[13:18] they're going to add more tax dollars to other things but

[13:23] I am certain that we need these funds from the referendum to keep the streets

[13:29] at the level that we have them now and improve them over the next, you know,

[13:32] the the plan we have to improve them over the next 25 years is what we need

[13:35] to do to be responsible. I think the easiest thing in the world

[13:39] for some of us to do is say, "Look, we got us to this point. Let's just step

[13:42] back and forget it. Let the next group figure it out."

[13:44] That's not how this board has worked and that's not how the staff has worked. We

[13:48] plan for the future and this is part of our planning for the future. We're going

[13:51] to try and educate the residents and put out the best information we can and

[13:55] we're going to explain if it passes, this what's going to

[13:57] happen. We will also be very honest and say if it doesn't pass, that this is the

[14:01] problem and this is what's going to happen. Streets will not be able to be

[14:04] maintained at the level recommended going forward and then,

[14:08] you know, there might have to be cuts in other areas or different things. I'm

[14:12] never going to be able to come up with an additional $2 million

[14:15] um that we need to do the streets. We'll do the best we can, um but it's just the

[14:19] streets aren't going to be maintained the proper way without some other cuts

[14:23] or other significant changes. So, I think that's what this is all about.

[14:27] Trustee Catchmark keeps hitting on it and I think

[14:30] the board agrees, it's an education campaign. We're going to make our case.

[14:34] This is why it's needed. This is what it's needed for.

[14:37] And what we said back in 2016, we lived up to and we meant it.

[14:42] A lot of things have changed in the world in 2000 since 2016. There's been a

[14:46] lot of things that have changed the financial impact and cost for everyone.

[14:51] And I know homeowners face large increased costs and large increased tax

[14:55] bills and more money at the pumps and more money

[14:57] at the grocery stores, but we as a village with your money face the same

[15:01] things. Our vehicles cost more. Our gas for those vehicles cost more.

[15:06] Our employee, we have to pay our employees to keep them. Those Those

[15:11] costs also go up for the village. We kind of

[15:13] we treat the village like you treat your family budget. We have to do the same

[15:17] thing. We have to keep up. So, as costs have increased for everyone, we've tried

[15:21] to do the best we can to be responsible, so

[15:25] we'll do the best we can with the education campaign and let the voters

[15:28] decide.

[15:30] » On the education campaign, I I feel like um

[15:34] in particular the article in the Brookfield err and the direct mail piece

[15:38] to residents will be critical in terms of informing folks.

[15:42] I know we have social media in here and I know there's always online chatter

[15:45] about ideas like this, but I think we need to keep in mind that that's a

[15:48] really limited audience the people who are engaging with this content on

[15:53] on social media. Um so I I I trust we'll be putting

[15:57] proper attention and resources into the direct mail piece and the Brookfield err

[16:01] article and I hope that we as a board, I don't know if it's in one of our

[16:04] September meetings, have an opportunity to provide input maybe on the direct

[16:08] mail piece. I understand we're not going to be advocating for voting uh one way

[16:13] or another, but as as Trustee Ketchmark and and others have said the referendum

[16:17] question itself is not self-explanatory, right? So we need

[16:22] to make sure um that residents understand what they're voting on and I

[16:27] think in particular the direct mail piece and the Brookfield err article um

[16:31] will be critical to achieving that goal.

[16:36] » And I I hope people understand, we've said this several times,

[16:39] we didn't choose that language on the ballot by choice. We didn't get to write

[16:42] our own language. That's what's required by state statute and it's it we admit

[16:47] that it's confusing, but we didn't choose that language to confuse anyone.

[16:50] We could have put it a lot simpler, but uh

[16:54] when lawyers and legislators get involved, things get messy. I mean, we

[16:57] could we if we chose the language we wanted, I think it would be a lot

[17:00] clearer what what the vote's about, so I hope people I hope the residents

[17:03] understand that.

[17:07] Other questions or comments from the board?

[17:11] Okay. Well, thank you for the informational

[17:14] update. I think there's a clear con- consensus on the direction. I You

[17:19] know, as the you know, information about the you know, education campaign goes

[17:23] forward, information that can and should be shared with the board, please do so.

[17:28] Um I I know we have consultants and I know

[17:30] we have very knowledgeable staff, but we also have board members up here

[17:34] who are familiar with the community and familiar with uh

[17:37] and I think they could give some good input. So, uh if there's any

[17:41] opportunity for input from the board, uh please reach out to the board and give

[17:45] them the opportunity to do that. So. And I know there's been a lot of time

[17:49] spent on this already and I know there's going to be a lot of time spent on it

[17:52] going forward. So, thank you. All right. Anything else from anybody on

[17:56] this topic? Okay.

[17:59] Um that's the only item we had up for discussion tonight. I'm going to once

[18:03] again open it up to public comment. I'm going to switch. First time, anybody on

[18:06] this side?

[18:08] Anybody on this side? Okay, hearing no public comment. Tim, is

[18:12] there need for executive session? >> No.

[18:14] » Okay. At 7:16 p.m. I'd entertain a motion to

[18:18] adjourn the committee of the whole meeting.

[18:21] » So moved. >> So, it's Trustee who was

[18:27] Trustee Klusena and then who was Trustee Nerematsu or Trustee Katchmar? Motion by

[18:31] Trustee Klusena, second by Trustee Katchmar. Roll call, please.

[18:35] Trustee Katchmar. >> Aye.

[18:37] » Trustee Whitehead. >> Aye.

[18:38] » Trustee Hendricks. >> Aye.

[18:39] » Trustee Nerematsu. >> Aye.

[18:41] » Trustee Kahoun. >> Aye.

[18:42] » Trustee Klusena. >> Aye.

[18:43] » Motion carries. Okay, we're adjourned at 7:16 p.m. Thank you for coming.

Committee of the Whole - 10 Aug 2026

Transcript