Board of Trustees

Village of Skokie Board of Trustees Budget Hearing #4 Meeting Minutes April 27, 2026 | 6:15 p.m. Conference Room D & E or Village of Skokie YouTube Channel 5127 Oakton St., Skokie, IL 60077 The Village’s FY27 Proposed Budget and Budget Message, a detailed summary of the budget, are available for review on the Village’s website, www.skokie.org/budget. Annually, the Village Board reviews the budget at four public budget hearings. These hearings are open to the public and also are streamed live and archived on the Village’s YouTube channel. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tennes. Mayor Tennes asked if there were any objections to Trustees Kimani Levy and Pure Slovin participating remotely. Hearing none, she confirmed that Trustees Kimani Levy and Pure Slovin would participate remotely. Roll Call/Declaration of Quorum In attendance: Trustees Lissa Levy, Pure Slovin, Kimani Levy, Schechter, Robinson and Mayor Tennes. Also present was Deputy Corporation Counsel, Barb Mangler, Village Clerk Minal Desai, Village Manager, John Lockerby, Assistant Village Manager, Nick Wyatt, and Assistant to the Village Manager, Alex Franz. Not in Attendance: Trustee Iverson. Review of Budgets I. Human Relations Commission Vice Chair, Sheila Crumrine, and Staff Liaison, Amanda Sabri, presented the FY27 Human Relations Commission budget and accomplishments from the prior year. Mayor Tennes thanked the commission for their work. Trustee Lissa Levy asked if the budget request reflects the needs of the community given the recent incidents of hate. Vice-chair Crumrine explained that the budget is sufficient. Trustees Robinson and Pure Slovin commended the Commission for their work. Trustee Schechter noted the upcoming items that the Commission will be tasked with and suggested additional funding. Mayor Tennes noted the likelihood of an intern through the Simon Wiesenthal Center who will assist in some of the workload. II. Board of Health Chair, Dr. Edward Linn, Vice-chair, Sibyl Yau, and Staff Liaison, Mike Charley, presented the FY27 Board of Health budget and accomplishments from the prior year. Mayor Tennes commended the Medical Reserve Corp. 639209  III. Commission on Family Services Chair, Harold Primack, and Staff Liaison, Melissa Versch, presented the FY27 Commission on Family Services budget and highlights from FY26. Trustee Robinson suggested collaborating with the Evanston Township High School Abilities Conference. Trustee Schechter asked how the Youth Commission will work with the Commission on Family Services. Mayor Tennes explained the role of the Youth Commission and possible future collaborations. Trustee Kimani Levy noted her appreciation for the work of the Commission. IV. Plan Commission Chair, Paul Luke, and Staff Liaison, Johanna Nyden, presented the FY27 Plan Commission budget and accomplishments from the prior year. Trustee Schechter suggested including an objective to revise the findings of fact sections of the Plan Commission reports to include the sustainability plan and housing chapter. Trustee Lissa Levy asked how the recommendations from Matrix report would impact the Plan Commission budget. Johanna noted that the impacts would largely be seen by staff and explained the increases in the budget. Trustee Robinson acknowledged the hard work of the Commission. V. Zoning Board of Appeals Chair, Brian O’Donnell, and Staff Liaison, Brian Augustine, presented the FY27 Zoning Board of Appeals budget and accomplishments from FY26. Trustee Schechter asked if recent changes to the zoning code would have an impact on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Brian noted that it will have a small impact. Mayor Tennes noted the impact a prior change in the code relating to fences made. VI. Appearance Commission Vice-chair, Thomas DaMario, and Staff Liaison, Angel Schnur, presented the FY27 Appearance Commission budget and highlights from the prior year. Mayor Tennes asked what was the most challenging case before the Commission. Vice-chair DaMario noted the 4600 Main Street development. Mayor Tennes thanked the Vice- chair for his leadership. VII. Public Safety Commission Chair, Melissa Villegas, and Staff Liaison, Russ Rietveld, presented the FY27 Public Safety budget and accomplishments from the prior year. Trustee Schechter inquired about civil immigration actions in the Village and the Commissions role. Chair Villegas explained that the Commission receives reports from the Police Department. Mayor Tennes noted past collaborations between the Public Safety and Human Relations Commissions and possible future collaborations between the two on immigration enforcement and hate incidents. Trustee Kimani Levy asked about the membership dues line item. Chair Villegas noted it is for supplies. 639209  VIII. Fine Arts Commission Chair, Ellen Blum Barish, and Staff Liaison, Meredith Gioia, presented the FY27 Fine Arts Commission budget and accomplishments from FY26. Mayor Tennes thanked the Commission for their work. Trustee Schechter asked what the budgeted contractual and professional services were. Meredith detailed the expenses of the Commission. Trustee Schechter asked why grant expenses weren’t labeled as “Grants.” Nick noted the restrictions of BS&A when labeling ledger accounts. Trustee Schechter asked about accessibility to The Storefront. Meredith explained the accessibility of the building. IX. Beautification and Improvement Commission Chair, Valerie Shuman, and Staff Liaison, Cathy Stevens, presented the FY27 Beautification and Improvement Budget and highlights from the prior year. Mayor Tennes commended the Commission for their work. Trustee Schechter shared the success of her native garden and asked about the role of the commission in alleviating litter. Mayor Tennes noted that the Public Safety Commission had worked on litter in the past. John noted the Village’s programs on reducing litter and will provide a summary of what has been done. Mayor Tennes commended the commission on their upcoming garden walk. X. Budget Discussion Trustee Schechter asked about the Village’s lobbyist pilot program. Mayor Tennes explained the history of the program, the competitive process for selecting a lobbyist and provided a status update. XI. Performing Arts Center Executive Director of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Lynn Cannon, Regional Vice President of VenuWorks, H.R. Cook, Chief Operating Officer, Mike Silva, and Staff Liaison, Alex Franz, presented the FY27 Performing Arts Center budget and accomplishments from the prior year. Trustee Lissa Levy asked how a naming rights sponsor would be selected. Mayor Tennes and Lynn explained that the Village would have final approval. Trustee Schechter asked how the Center was able to break the national trend of declining ticket sales. Lynn noted the increased marketing efforts. Trustee Robinson commended staff for their work on the dance recitals. XII. Grants Programming Assistant to the Village Manager, Alex Franz, presented the FY27 Grants Programming budget. Public Comment James Cardasus commended the Village for the mural at Kilpatrick and Oakton. He also spoke on the upcoming road work on Oakton Street and business vacancies in the area. Mayor Tennes noted Diana’s Bridal as being a destination for shoppers. 639209 New Business Mayor Tennes asked if the Board was interested in meeting only once in July and August during the second meetings of both months. The Board agreed so long as there is flexibility to meet at the first meeting, if needed. Trustee Lissa Levy asked what the Board can do to address incidents of hate. Mayor Tennes noted three upcoming meetings; one between the Village, Park District, Skokie Police Department and Jewish community to address safety in parks, one between the Village, School Districts, and Jewish community, and the regularly scheduled Faith Leaders meeting. She further noted that the Human Relations Commission is working on the issue. Trustee Robinson noted that the end of the school year is approaching if the Village wants to engage with youth. Mayor Tennes noted the work that is being done to train camp counselors and life guards. Trustee Schechter noted the positive feedback that was expressed at the last Human Relations Commission meeting on the Village’s response to the recent hate incidents. Trustee Pure Slovin noted the on-going advocacy that is occurring in the Jewish Community. Trustee Schechter asked about the Yellow Line and if the CTA would give a report to the Village. Mayor Tennes said she will try to schedule a presentation at a June Board meeting. Trustee Lissa Levy asked if the Village could resume conversations on extending the Yellow Line to Old Orchard. Mayor Tennes noted that these conversations had begun and provided a brief history. Adjournment Motion to adjourn 8:35 p.m. Moved: Trustee Lissa Levy Seconded: Trustee Schechter Ayes: Lissa Levy, Kimani Levy, Schechter, Pure Slovin and Robinson Nays: None. Absent: Trustee Iverson MOTION CARRIED 639209