Beautification and Improvement Commission

Minutes – 6/1/23 Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission Roll Call: Commissioners Present: Robert Quane (Chair) Sherwin Ditlove Vernell Ellison-Smith George Hubchak Edward M. Potash Rachel Rosenberg Valerie Shuman Ross Del Rosario Mike Madalinski William Barney Will Oney-Paige Commissioners Absent: Mitchell H. Sandler (Vice Chair) Ann Goldsha� Joseph Hasten Dalya Horowitz Charles Levine Barbara Rubins Brooke Sprague Forester Cathy Stevens and Trustee James Johnson - absent Forester Intern Kaylee Aleksic - present Minutes: 1. Call to order by Chair Quane at 6:35PM 2. Chair Quane asked everyone to sign atendance sheet and include vest size on atendance sheet. 3. Commissioner Shuman and Commissioner Oney-Paige second approval of the minutes from last mee�ng 4. Chair Quane went over details of the Skokie Fes�val of Cultures and stated that we can discuss what to do next year at a later date. a. Chair Quane thanked all commissioners who par�cipated and talked about all candy given away. b. Chair Quane provided stats on the fes�val raffle winners and who won (Jo Hammerman and Sehar Saeed) c. Chair Quane is looking to have Assistant to the Public Works Director Zimmerman get a beter rain barrel for next year d. Chair Quane is looking to see what trees are available in public works e. Commissioner Madalinski stated that a lot of candy was given away f. Commissioner Lisiewicz stated that a lot of people atended the Skokie Fes�val of Cultures from outside of Skokie 5. Skokie 4th of July Parade – Chair Quane a. Chair Quane extended an invita�on to commissioners to be on and/or walking next to the float b. Chair Quane extended invite to Go-Green Skokie and SEAC to be on the Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission Skokie 4th of July Parade float. c. Chair Quane looking at new signage for the Skokie 4th of July Parade float d. Consensus during mee�ng was “no” to seed giveaways e. Commissioner Shuman ques�oned if the Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission should have a QR code on signage on the float for the Skokie 4th of July Parade? f. Chair Quane stated that he’s said “no” to the mariachi guy on the Skokie 4th of July Parade float g. Chair Quane believes that the Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission’s float is the only tradi�onal float in the Skokie 4th of July Parade h. Chair Quane spoke to size/length of the Skokie 4th of July Parade i. Chair Quane discussed various marching bands in the area that may or may not par�cipate. j. Chair Quane stated that a marching band from Dubuque will be par�cipa�ng in the Skokie 4th of July Parade k. Chair Quane stated that the fee for par�cipa�ng in the Skokie 4th of July Parade is $125 for a business l. The Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission will look for flower shaped candies as give-aways seems to be consensus m. Commissioner Rosenberg asked for Chair Quane to clarify all instruc�ons about everything for the parade to the all par�cipa�ng members in the parade 6. Chair Quane introduces Forester Intern Aleksic, the new intern for public works a. Forester Intern Aleksic introduces herself and talks about her degree and how she’s working with Assistant to the Public Works Director Zimmerman b. Forester Intern Aleksic will help with the judging and nomina�ng of proper�es this summer for the Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission Award c. Chair Quane requested Forester Intern Aleksic to reserve the best area for a fall plan�ng for the commission 7. Chair Quane discusses grant proposal a. Tree canopy campaign i. Discusses the details and par�culars ii. Read proposal for all commission members iii. Recogni�on program iv. Evalua�on piece – how do we know we are successful? b. Commissioner Shuman and Chair Quane talked to Forester Stevens and Assistant to the Public Works Director Zimmerman, on how the Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission cannot be just “bystanders” to what public works is working on with tree plan�ngs c. Commissioner Shuman wants to go over what we can do to scout for tree plan�ng areas with businesses 8. Commissioner Shuman to discuss B & I awards updates a. Process b. What to look for i. Tree loca�ons (new) c. Nomina�on d. Scou�ng e. Schedule f. Commissioner Hubchak suggests using official Skokie envelopes for all mailings g. Forester Intern Aleksic brought addi�onal red Skokie Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission polo t-shirts h. Commissioner Hubchak will coordinate the judging again i. Commissioner Shuman will email everyone evening of June 1, 2023 j. Chair Quane, Commissioner Shuman and Commissioner to make sure Zones are assigned properly k. Announcement on June 13, 2023 to community about Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission Awards l. Commissioner Shuman may promote garden walk if current schedule works for next year m. Reviewed nomina�on zones 9. Old business a. Resource page was delayed per Assistant to the Public Works Director Zimmerman and Chair Quane’s conversa�on  b. Communica�ons Manager Meredith Gioia to review resource page c. June 13, 2023 will have an announcement for the Beau�fica�on and Improvement Commission awards d. Safety vests and envelopes to be sent to commissioners mid-week e. Commissioner Hubchak to assign judges online f. Chair Quane will get back to us on physical loca�on of where to pick up the vests and envelopes (for those who want to pick up) g. Forester Intern Aleksic will find a place for the September plan�ng 10. Commissioner Ditlove mo�on to adjourn a. Commissioner Shuman seconds mo�on to adjourn