Community Relations Commission

1 Minutes of a Meeting of the 2 Community Relations Commission 3 Northbrook, IL 4 Thursday, January 8, 2015 5 6 Present: Chairman Ray Wehr, Commissioners Bruce Doughty, Dale Duda, Linda 7 Goldsher, Safa Hamed, Chris Kosla, & Dr. Rochelle Singer 8 9 Representatives: Lou Gross, Mary Hansen, Alice Lonoff, Ron Mantegna, & Nancy Stoddard 10 11 Absent: Commissioner Elliot Bruckmann 12 13 Others: Director of Development and Planning Services Tom Poupard, Staff Liaison 14 Mike Strong, & Recording Secretary Gale Cerabona 15 16 Call to Order & Welcome 17 Chairman Wehr called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. in the Board Room at Village Hall. 18 19 Approval of December 4, 2014, Regular Meeting Minutes & Subcommittee Minutes 20 Revisions were identified as follows: 21  Under Representatives, add Lou Gross and Bob Lozaro 22  Line 50 replace Mr. Lozaro with “Commissioner Kosla” 23  Line 55 after the word “no” add “hear from the” 24  Line 81 replace sophomores with “student” 25  Line 84 add an “e” to Wolf 26  Line 121 replace is slow moving with “, the JRW response is in process.” 27  Line 129-130 replace could perform as well as the winning team with “might be able to 28 participate in place of the winning team.” 29  Line 142 replace is with “are” 30  Line 174 add “around” before 3,100 31 32 A motion was made by Commissioner Doughty, seconded by Commissioner Singer, to approve the 33 December 4, 2015, minutes as amended. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 34 35 A motion was made by Commissioner Doughty, seconded by Commissioner Singer, to approve the 36 October 29, 2014, Sister Cities Subcommittee minutes. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 37 38 A motion was made by Commissioner Singer, seconded by Commissioner Doughty, to approve the 39 December 3, 2014, Sister Cities Subcommittee minutes. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 40 41 Sister Cities Update 42 Commissioner Doughty advised that Carol Wolfe was unable to present this evening. He noted she will 43 offer a 5-10 minute presentation at the next CRC meeting to provide insight as to what’s being done in 44 Highland Park regarding Sister Cities. 45 46 Commissioner Doughty advised that 2-3 students are interested in joining the Sister Cities Subcommittee. 47 48 Commissioner Hamed spoke with Mr. Adam Kaplan, Vice President of Sister Cities International, who 49 requested a list be made of Sister Cities under consideration by the CRC. She suggested that interested 50 Commission members attend an upcoming Water after Borders conference in Chicago on April 23, 2015.  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission January 8, 2015 51 Representative Lonoff asked if anyone can attend the conference. Commissioner Hamed responded in the 52 affirmative. 53 54 Commissioner Hamed shared that Mr. Kaplan stated that typically an individual within the community 55 will champion the request and approach to a Sister City. Commissioner Doughty added that Highland 56 Park requires that subcommittees for each prospective relationship be formed and meet regularly to 57 indicate the seriousness of consideration that should be taken for the Sister City. Commissioner Hamed 58 advised that Mr. Kaplan is willing to speak to the CRC via Skype, if they are interested in learning more. 59 60 Hear From the Audience 61 No one from the audience chose to speak. 62 63 Village Staff Report 64 Staff Liaison Strong advised that Village staff is undergoing budget preparations for the fiscal year 65 beginning on May 1, 2015. He requested that Commissioners begin thinking about their events and what 66 resources may be required for the upcoming year. 67 68 Commissioner Duda asked Staff Director Poupard if he is in charge of the Mission Hills Red Seal 69 Development Project. Staff Director Poupard advised that staff will not take a seat on the project (which 70 will be approved on January 21, 2015). Commissioner Singer asked if Mission Hills is unincorporated. 71 Staff Director Poupard stated it is. 72 73 Asian Heritage Planning Discussion 74 Chairman Wehr advised that the event date is May 3, 2015 and all subcommittee members from last year 75 have been contacted; some have agreed to participate again this year. The first meeting will take place 76 next week. He advised that a smaller event is slated. Commissioner Singer asked if the entertainment and 77 vendors will be the same. Chairman Wehr stated various Consulates may come forth and present. 78 79 Black History Month Update 80 Commissioner Singer stated there is a verbal “yes” from the JRW. She relayed the signed agreement is 81 forthcoming. A flyer has been drafted. The next Subcommittee meeting is January 13, 2015. 82 Commissioner Singer noted things are on track. Based on the JRW, the cost of the event is higher. Three 83 banners are slated (the YMCA will absorb the cost of one). 84 85 Commissioner Singer asked the Commission if they believe this is a whole package (i.e. honorarium, 86 bussing, food and beverage, banners) – over $2,000.00. Replies were as follows: 87  Commissioner Duda asked if the honorarium and bus are deal breakers for the JRW. 88 Commissioner Singer responded in the affirmative. 89  Representative Mantegna stated this will be a spectacular event for Northbrook. 90  Representative Gross asked if the JRW doesn’t work out, could a Cubs player be recruited. 91 Commissioner Singer stated – potentially for more money. 92 93 Commissioner Singer concluded that other communities have tried to attain this team. She clarified that 94 she is enlisting the support of the CRC. 95 96 Chairman Wehr recalled ancillary items (i.e. food and beverage, banners, etc.). 97 98 Commissioner Singer read a paragraph on the essence of the program. 99 100 2  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission January 8, 2015 101 More replies: 102  Representative Mantegna stated an extra $300.00 is warranted for the event 103  Commissioner Duda agrees this is a once-in-a-lifetime event and should be allocated the 104 appropriate resources 105 106 Commissioner Singer stated that everything is ready to move, but an alternative event plan could be 107 formulated, if needed. 108 109 Additional comments: 110  Commissioner Doughty asked, and Commissioner Singer responded, that as soon as the 111 agreement is received, little league teams would be contacted. 112  Commissioner Kosla asked how much money is in the budget. Staff Liaison Strong advised 113 $2,800.00 is remaining. He stated other events are the Inter-Faith Sunday Walk, the CRC Award 114 Program, etc. He advised the food amount is very conservative. Commissioner Doughty 115 reminded that BHM came in at 60% of budget last year. 116 117 Commissioner Singer stated that she anticipates 100-300 attendees. 118 119 Commissioner Duda moved, seconded by Commissioner Doughty, to go forward with this event and the 120 dollars as budgeted ($2,300.00 without banners). 121 122 On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 123 124 Representative Mantegna distributed draft materials (flyer, banner, and program). 125 126 Commissioner Doughty departed the meeting at 7:50 p.m. 127 128 Annual Award Program Update 129 Commissioner Goldsher thanked Staff Liaison Strong for creating and posting the on-line nomination 130 form. Staff Liaison Strong advised that a press release was included in the January newsletter, and further 131 promotion will be included in February’s issue. He stated that 50 letters have been distributed to 132 community organizations and houses of worship. The budget is $125.00. He noted that an update on the 133 number of nominations will be shared at the next meeting. 134 135 Commissioners Singer, Hamed and Representative Stoddard volunteered to be on the Subcommittee. 136 137 Commissioner Goldsher noted that the event will be held on April 21, 2015, and the deadline for 138 nominations is February 16, 2015. 139 140 News from Clergy Association & Houses of Worship 141 Representative Lonoff noted the following: 142  St. Giles is hosting vocal solos on February 14, 2015. Suggested donation is $15.00 143  A Festival of Forgiveness, via the Archdiocese of Chicago, will be held on February 27-28, 2015 144  Martin Luther King Service Day is January 19, 2015 145  An April event is slated to discuss black issues. Representative Lonoff stated that the Clergy 146 Association is writing an open letter to the editor with an invitation to the Northbrook community 147 to participate in a conversation concerning the racial divide in our country in light of recent 148 events that have taken place in Ferguson, MO; Cleveland, OH; and Staten Island, NY. She stated 149 that the Clergy Association is planning to host this conversation in the near future. 150 3  Minutes of a Meeting of the Community Relations Commission January 8, 2015 151 Representative Mantegna concurred that this is an important subject and could be a future agenda item. 152 He noted that other races are affected as well. 153 154 Representative Hansen stated a movement is in place regarding reconciliation. For further information, go 155 to www.selmahandinhand.com 156 157 Commissioner Duda asked what the Clergy Association is asking the CRC to do. Representative Lonoff 158 advised that an article will be forthcoming to ask if such an event would be appropriate. Chairman Wehr 159 concluded that the CRC could reach out to its channels (i.e. Village). He reminded that the topic varies 160 throughout the nation. Commissioner Singer agreed that these misconceptions can be educated by other 161 races. Representative Lonoff advised that backup and statistics are forthcoming. Chairman Wehr 162 reminded that the CRC makes recommendations. Representative Lonoff concurred and stated same at the 163 Clergy meeting. 164 165 Commissioner Kosla distributed a volunteer sheet for the Inter-Faith Sunday Walk. 166 167 Representative Mantegna advised that on January 16, 2015, the Festival of Spirituals will take place at 168 7:30 p.m. at The Village Presbyterian Church. 169 170 News from Schools 171 Representative Gross advised: 172  Schools will be open (in spite of weather) 173  District 28 wrapped up the renovation project at Westmoor Elementary 174  Scott Gertz said “hello” to the CRC 175 176 Old Business 177 There was no Old Business. 178 179 180 New Business 181 Commissioner Duda advised that Phil Kiraly said “hello” to the CRC. 182 183 Eyes & Ears on the Street 184 Commissioner Singer suggested plows are needed (during this winter). 185 186 Next Meeting 187 The next meeting will be held on February 5, 2015, at the Village Hall. 188 189 Adjournment 190 A motion was made by Commissioner Kosla, seconded by Representative Gross, to adjourn the meeting 191 at 8:13 p.m. On a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. 192 193 Respectfully submitted, 194 195 196 197 Gale Cerabona 198 Recording Secretary 4