Environmental Concerns Commission

Public participation is invited. When called upon, please approach the microphone and state your name. Kindly limit your remarks to three (3) minutes. VILLAGE OF VILLA PARK Village of Villa Park, Committee of the Whole Room 20 S. Ardmore Avenue Villa Park, IL 60181 Environmental Concerns Commission June 26, 2025 7:00 PM Chairperson: Robert Wagner Commissioners: Joe Amore, Marianne Greco, Sandra Hill, Ellen Jurkonis, Allan Leishman, Lynn Smith and Junior Commissioner Ivan Figueroa. 1. Call to Order - Roll Call 2. Public Comments on Agenda Items 3. Amendments to the Agenda 4. Consent Agenda a. Approval of Meeting Minutes - May 22, 2025 b. Approval of Meeting Minutes - Special Meeting - June 19, 2025 5. Business a. Report of the Bike, Pedestrian and Transit Subcommittee b. Go Green Illinois - Presentation by Molly Karcz c. Update - Lead Service Line Policy d. 2025 Goal Setting - Engagement, Education, and Advocacy Groups e. Update - Recommendation on Community Solar and Electrical Aggregation f. Discussion and Action - Possible Participation in National Night Out - Tuesday, August 5th g, Discussion of Proposed Garden Village Commission 6. Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items 7. Commissioner Comments 8. Chairman Comments 9. Village Board Liaison Comments 10. Village Staff Comments 11. Adjournment Villa Park Environmental Concerns Commission Minutes of the 5/22/25 Meeting Committee of the Whole Room Village Hall 1.​ Call to Order a.​ Meeting called to order at 7:17 pm by Chairperson Robert Wagner (RW). Commissioners Allan Leishman (AL), Marianne Greco (MG), Joe Amore (JA), Lynn Smith (LS), and Junior Commissioner Ivan Figueroa (IF) in attendance. Commissioners Hill and Jurkonis have excused absences 2.​ Public Comment on Agenda Items a.​ None 3.​ Amendments to the Agenda a.​ None 4.​ Consent Agenda a.​ Approval of Meeting Minutes - April 24, 2025 i.​ LS motioned to approve the minutes, seconded by JA. Motion passed by unanimous voice vote. 5.​ Business a.​ Report of the Bike, Pedestrian, and Transit Sub-Committee i.​ AL gave report about the Sub-Committees activities during Bike Month and RW’s attendance of the Illinois Walk and Bike Summit. Further details included in the Minutes of the 5/22/25 BPT Meeting. ii.​ LS was curious about how to register ones bicycle with the police, and RW clarified that it can be completed on the Village’s website. b.​ Discussion & Action - Selection of Chairperson, Secretary & Possible Vice Chairperson 2025 - 2027 i.​ RW explained the Commission’s authority to create new officers if need be. JA asked whether IF could be promoted from a Junior Commissioner into one of these roles. RW stated that since we were missing several voting members of the board that these discussions could be postponed until the June meeting c.​ Recap of Arbor Day Celebration & Green Champion Award i.​ RW reported that both the tree planting and the ECC received some good publicity from the Villa Park Review, and thanked Sandy Hill and Ellen  Jurkonis for their work presenting the Green Champion award. MG and LS were also in attendance at the presentation of the award. d.​ Report on Spring Sweep 2025 i.​ RW thanked the Commissioners and Rich Salerno for their help staffing the event. RW reported that the Community FUN Commission previously stated their intent to bring 4 volunteers, but none showed. RW plans to speak with the CFUN Commission to see if they are still interested in partnering in this event. RW estimated that there were 368 cars in attendance and reported on the size of collections that different organizations reported to the ECC. RW reported that Trustee Alfano personally thanked the ECC at the last Board Meeting, and that Manager Harline thanked Public Works and Riley Pillar.​ ​ The committee then discussed ways that the event could be improved next year. Ideas considered included: 1.​ Making the signs bigger 2.​ Making sure the CSO’s block Home Avenue until the event is ready to begin 3.​ Asking CERT to bring volunteers for traffic control/ lane switching 4.​ Adding a list of what each vendor was collecting to the back of the map e.​ Lead Service Line Update i.​ RW reported that he’s spoken with Public Works Director Guerra about the Lead Service Line webpage they hope to publish soon. RW reminded him that the ECC could help spread the message to the public.​ ​ The new program provides $5k or 50% funds for replacement of lead service lines, whichever is less.​ ​ RW expressed his desire to have a one pager​ ​ JA and MG stated that their houses were both selected for the random water collection tests, and JA asked when the results of that will be available. VV said he would follow up with the utilities foreman ii.​ LS asked if their will be an RFQ for consultants to help with the replacement. VV said that there will be. VV stated that Public works will produce a one-pager f.​ 2025 Goal Setting - Engagement, Education and Advocacy Groups i.​ Education  1.​ LS has reached out to Openlands, and they do have a landscape ecologist that gives public talks for a $50 donation to openlands 2.​ MG plans to reach out to Pace about participation in Brewfest 3.​ RW reminded the Commission about the upcoming Green Cleaning program at the Library. The Commission discussed various other environmental landscaping programs that could be done ii.​ Engagement - No report iii.​ Advocacy - No report g.​ Discussion & Action - Recommendation on Community Solar and Electrical Aggregation i.​ RW reported that the Village Manager is asking for a recommendation by July 10th. RW reminded the Commission that there are three options worth considering: 1.​ 100% renewable energy credits 2.​ Price Match with 5% renewable energy credits 3.​ Price Match with the Civic Grant ii.​ LS motioned to endorse the Price Match w/ Civic Grant program, seconded by JA. Yeahs: LS and JA, Nays: AL and RW, Abstained: MG. Motion failed. iii.​ JA motioned to table the discussion, seconded by LS a.​ AL amended the motion to table until a Special Meeting prior to June 23rd. b.​ Amended motion passed unanimously iv.​ LS said that it would be nice if we could get an educated third party to attend h.​ Discussion & Action - Possible Participation in 2025 Summer Festival - Saturday, June 21st i.​ RW reminded the Commission of the upcoming event. AL motioned to have the Commission participate, seconded by JA. Passed by voice vote. ii.​ RW will speak to Parks and Rec about our station, and talk to Director Guerra about getting some literature about the Lead Service Line program. 6.​ Public Comments on Non-Agenda Items a.​ Molly Karcz would love to volunteer at Summer Festival, and will reach out to Ace Hardware to see if they would donate a raffle prize. MG will reach out to Trek for the same reason. 7.​ Commissioner Comments  a.​ None​ 8.​ Chairperson Comments a.​ None 9.​ Village Board Liaison Comments a.​ None​ 10.​Village Staff Comments a.​ None​ 11.​Adjournment a.​ AL motioned to adjourn, seconded by JA.