President and Board of Trustees

123 Madison Street Village of Oak Park Oak Park, Illinois 60302 www.oak-park.us Meeting Minutes President and Board of Trustees Monday, June 28, 2021 6:30 PM Village Hall I. Call to Order Village President Scaman called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M. She authorized a statement be read providing that the meeting is being held remotely due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines and that it is not prudent to have people present at the Village Board's regular meeting location due to public health concerns related to that pandemic. II. Roll Call Present: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla Absent: 0 III. Consideration of Motion to Adjourn to Executive Session to Discuss Personnel It was moved by Village Trustee Robinson, seconded by Village Trustee Enyia, that this motion be approved to Adjourn to Executive Session to Discuss Personnel pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1). The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 V. Reconvene to Special Meeting in Council Chambers and Call to Order The Special Meeting reconvened at 7:25 P.M. VI. Roll Call Present: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla Absent: 0 VII. Agenda Approval It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee Buchanan, to approve the Agenda. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: Village of Oak Park Page 1 Printed on 7/21/2021 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 28, 2021 AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 VIII. Minutes There were no Minutes to approve. IX. Non-Agenda Public Comment There were no Non-Agenda Public Comments. X. Regular Agenda A. ID 21-171 Staff Presentation of the 2021 Sustainability Initiatives Status Report including the Public Marketing Campaign, Residential Retrofit Grant and Energy Efficiency Rebates, Consultant Services Request for Proposals (RFP) for Comprehensive Sustainability, Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, and Additional Sustainability Staffing Village Manager Cara Pavlicek introduced Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad and Sustainability Coordinator Mindy Agnew. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad thanked all staff who assisted in the development and implementation of all these programs. He gave some background and an overview of the process. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad introduced Peter Gray and Kayla Donato from Aileron Communications, the marketing firm that was selected to assist with the sustainability campaign for the village. Trustee Buchanan asked for details about the village carrying out the marketing campaign once it is established by Aileron Communications. Peter Gray responded that Aileron Communications will be developing the campaign and will work closely with the sustainability team and village staff to implement the actions after the campaign roll out. Trustee Taglia had a question about the public information campaign: is the social media portion covered under the budget of $35,000. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad responded that Aileron’s proposal came in well under the budgeted amount, and staff would go back to the Board if additional funds are needed. Trustee Parrakat asked Aileron for an overview of their scope and approach. Peter Gray responded they are hoping to offer options to the village Village of Oak Park Page 2 Printed on 7/21/2021 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 28, 2021 resident actions that they can take that impact climate change and to reduce their carbon footprint. Kayla Donato spoke to their central idea that there are many options that an average citizen can approach the problem; Aileron hopes to take all the ideas and simplify them to help people more easily see how they, as an individual, can impact climate change and their impact as a group. Trustee Parrakat asked for clarification on measuring the benchmarks and on the focus of scope (residential versus commercial, electric versus gas). Trustee Buchanan clarified that the original idea was to have really quick actions to reduce greenhouse gases (including energy retrofit grants and solar rebates), and it relies on residents knowing about these programs, which is where the public marketing campaign comes in. Trustee Robinson requested clarification on whether the vendor will provide suggested next steps post the campaign and throughout the year. Peter Gray responded they would be providing information and benchmarks throughout the campaign season and going forward. Trustee Walker-Peddakotla commented to the climate crisis impacting lower income residents or renters who this campaign may not target. Trustee Walker-Peddakotla wants to make sure we keep a holistic lens for all of Oak Park and not just home owners. Trustee Buchanan responded that the ad hoc committee’s specific goal was that number 2 be directed at low income residents. The energy retrofits were supposed to be directed towards low income home owners and their landlords. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad introduced Development Customer Services Director, Tammie Grossman, to discuss the existing energy retrofit program. Director Grossman gave an overview of the existing single-family rehab program for low income homeowners and rental rehab programs. Trustee Buchanan wants to ensure that this campaign is reaching the lower income and rental population. Trustee Parrakat requested clarification for a plan in place on how we measure the success of these programs so they do not get delayed. Sustainability Coordinator Mindy Agnew responded the village will have someone dedicated to getting this data. Trustee Taglia supports the low income approach and wondered how to avoid overlap between our programs and those that are existing from other utility companies. Sustainability Coordinator Mindy Agnew responded that the programs are designed to not overlap, but to fill in where the utilities do not cover. Village of Oak Park Page 3 Printed on 7/21/2021 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 28, 2021 Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad spoke to wanting to incentivize a certain behavior and want to encourage everyone to consider solar and retrofitting their homes to improve the overall housing stock of the community. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad spoke to the solar rebate program. Sustainability Coordinator Mindy Agnew hopes to increase the awareness of this solar program for all residence and gave background on the village’s solar program since 2004. This will build on the existing SolSmart program and streamline the process for residents to get solar. Trustee Buchanan expressed concerns for installing solar panels on older house stock and requested clarification on how to ensure that residents can prove they have done some energy retrofits so they are not generating energy that is leaking out of their house. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad responded that the retrofit program and solar program are on the same application. Director Tammie Grossman added staff could look at a history of past permits to see if an applicant’s home is a good candidate for solar. Trustee Buchanan requested clarification on the Request for Proposal (RFP) that would be released. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad and Sustainability Coordinator Mindy Agnew responded. Trustee Walker-Peddakotla stressed an urgency to have more than a plan by 2030 and the need to act now to get to 50 percent emission reduction well before 2050. Trustee Parrakat requested clarification on the greenhouse gas inventory data and its accuracy. Sustainability Coordinator Mindy Agnew and Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad responded that this can be incorporated into the scope of service contract. Trustee Taglia requested clarification on the timeline for the consultant to develop the sustainability and climate action plan. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad responded they anticipate a 6-month period from start to finish. Trustee Walker-Peddakotla commented on the sustainability when it comes to new developments and consider getting the new developments to be all electric. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad responded that this scope falls Village of Oak Park Page 4 Printed on 7/21/2021 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 28, 2021 under the RFP. Deputy Village Manager Ahmad Zayyad gave an overview of the additional sustainability staff that are coming on board. B. ID 21-182 Leaf Blower Ban - Discussion Village Manager Cara Pavlicek introduced this item. Deputy Village Clerk Linda DeViller read the Agenda Public Comment aloud. Scott Grams: Scott Grams, the Executive Director of the Illinois Landscape Contractors Association (ILCA), expressed his opposition to the Leaf Blower Ban. He believes strongly in sustainability and offered that the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) offers a reasonable path forward for progressive communities looking to reduce emissions and noise. The ILCA wants communities to wait on sweeping regulations as manufacturers and users of handheld equipment catch up. Scott McAdams: Scott McAdams spoke his comment out loud. He is in opposition of the Leaf Blower Ban. He believes it is unfair targeting of a single type of equipment and feel enforcement will be difficult to enact. Joshua Klayman: Joshua Klayman spoke his comment out loud. He would like the board to develop and enact a careful phased-in, year-round ban on the use of leaf blowers around the village. He believes that enforcement of noise limits is difficult and the Ordinance should address the type of equipment rather then setting hard to enforce noise limits. John Wielebnicki, Director of Public Works, gave an overview of the Item including the Village’s current leaf blower ban as well as what other communities are doing to address this issue. President Scaman expressed that this is a complicated issue with a lot to consider. Trustee Taglia commented that perhaps people being home during the pandemic might account for an up tick in complaints and recommended that this might be referred to the Environment and Energy Commission (EEC) for review and input. Trustee Buchanan realizes the complexity of this issue and wonders if the Village could work with home owners to inform them of the current ban to Village of Oak Park Page 5 Printed on 7/21/2021 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 28, 2021 assist with enforcement. Trustee Robinson recognizes that this ban could overly impact minority owned small business and would like the equity point to be broadened on this issue. Trustee Walker-Peddakotla agreed with Trustee Robinson point and also that the EEC should also review this item and give their recommendation. Trustee Walker-Peddakotla also recognizes the sustainability impact gas powered leaf blowers have on the community. Trustee Parrakat added the Board should make a decision based on the recommendation of the EEC, staff expertise, and community engagement. President Scaman would like this to be sent to the EEC and to be part of the Climate Action Plan discussion with the consultant. C. RES 21-140 A Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with CISYNC, LLC for Police Department Records Management Services in an Amount Not To Exceed $35,240 with an Option to Renew for Two Additional One-Year Periods and Authorizing its Execution Trustee Walker-Peddakotla requested to table this and send it to the Citizen Police Oversight Committee (CPOC) for review. Trustee Taglia does not think this is something under the purview of CPOC based on the Ordinance. Village Manager Cara Pavlicek gave an overview of the Item and introduced Chief of Police LaDon Reynolds. Chief Reynolds gave an overview of this request and the need to bring the Oak Park Police Department up to date with technology. This will allow the Police Department to be more transparent and agile with their data. Trustee Robinson requested clarification on the conflicting notice provision for termination. Village Attorney Paul Stephanides stated the conflict is taken care of in the Agreement. Trustee Parrakat sees this as a step in the right direction to create visibility and transparency. Trustee Walker-Peddakotla commented this is an example of why the CPOC Ordinance needs to be revised so they can have input on this issue. President Scaman clarified this Item was regarding software and not Village of Oak Park Page 6 Printed on 7/21/2021 President and Board of Trustees Meeting Minutes June 28, 2021 policing policy, and this Resolution will help the Board with their public safety goal to review crime statistics in ways to ensure the community is safe. Trustee Walker-Peddakotla responded reiterating her view on crime statistics and that statistics should not be utilized in the Board's conversations about community safety because it starts the conversation from the premise that crime is the underlying problem and not other social problems. Trustee Walker-Peddakotla wanted CPOC’s input from a statistical and data point perspective, not a policy perspective. It was moved by Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla, seconded by Village Trustee Robinson, to adopt this Resolution. The motion was approved. The roll call on the vote was as follows: AYES: 6- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, and Village Trustee Taglia NAYS: 1- Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla ABSENT: 0 XI. Adjourn It was moved by Village Trustee Buchanan, seconded by Village Trustee Robinson, to adjourn. The motion was approved. The Meeting adjourned at 9:10 P.M., Monday, June 28, 2021. Respectfully Submitted, Deputy Clerk DeViller AYES: 7- Village President Scaman, Village Trustee Buchanan, Village Trustee Enyia, Village Trustee Parakkat, Village Trustee Robinson, Village Trustee Taglia, and Village Trustee Walker-Peddakotla NAYS: 0 ABSENT: 0 Village of Oak Park Page 7 Printed on 7/21/2021