Meetings scheduled for next week
- Tuesday, December 12:
- Aging in Communities Commission, 6 p.m. in Room 102
- Wednesday, December 13:
- Farmers’ Market Commission, 7 p.m. in Room 101
- Plan Commission, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Thursday, December 14:
- Civic Information Systems Commission, 7 p.m. in Room 102
- Historic Preservation Commission, 7:30 p.m. in Room 101
Oak Park was celebrated as the only community to earn gold designation in the first cohort of communities to complete the EV Readiness Program launched by ComEd and the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus. Oak Park and 11 other municipalities were recognized as electric vehicle ready communities during a luncheon Thursday in Warrenville. Municipalities participating in the program were required to put in place several core EV readiness actions, including updated zoning codes to support new charging infrastructure, new permitting and inspection processes aligned with state and national standards and training for first responders on incidents involving EVs. Click here to read more about the recognition.
Police Commander Schonella Stewart successfully completed coursework through Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety. She earned the Kreml leadership award on Dec. 1 upon graduating from the Center’s School of Police Staff and Command. The Northwestern University Center for Public Safety was established originally in 1936 to expand the scope of university-level education in traffic safety, having since broadened its scope to include police operations and management.
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The Greater Chicago Legal Clinic hosted another presentation this week for asylum seekers in Oak Park to provide an understanding of select legal documents and information on key steps in the asylum process. Plans for a third presentation are in the works, and presentation materials will also be translated from Spanish to English. The presentations are just one part of the ongoing care being coordinated by the Village for approximately 160 asylum-seeking migrants who arrived in Oak Park last month. The majority of the asylum seekers are temporarily housed at the West Cook YMCA and Carleton Hotel, where they are receiving wraparound services provided by Housing Forward and the Village. The latest official information related to the Village’s emergency response is at www.oak-park.us/emergencyresponse23.
The Village issued 96 new business licenses through November, with the new arrivals located throughout the community. Of the new businesses, 13 are home-based, reflecting the strong entrepreneurial spirit in the community that has resulted in 85 new business licenses over the past five years for home-based operations. The chart below compares the number of new business licenses going back to 2019. A list of new business licenses issued dating back to 2021 is available at www.pickoakpark.com/newbusiness. The site also includes videos that highlight Oak Park businesses and a map of the Village’s vibrant business districts.
The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met this week to discuss two applications. The ZBA unanimously recommended a special use permit for applicant Cristian De Avila-Perez, on behalf of Magical Forest Day Care, to operate a day care center at 917 S. Oak Park Ave. Unit A. Two people testified in support of the day-care center and no one testified in opposition. The applicant has operated a day-care facility for approximately seven years in Berwyn. The discussion related to an application from Stavniichuk and Svitlana Kryzhanovska seeking a variance to add a dwelling unit to the basement of a two-flat building for a total of three dwelling units at 140 S. Austin Blvd. was continued to the ZBA’s Jan. 3 meeting.
The Village has collected $435,881 in local gasoline taxes through the first 10 months of the year, according to the Development Customer Services Department’s analysis of Oak Park’s 6% gasoline tax per gallon sold. The chart below illustrates the gas tax collected in the first 10 months of the year from 2018 to 2023. While the tax collected this year is down almost 32% compared to 2018, this year’s totals are up almost 2% compared to last year. During the five-year period, the number of stations in Oak Park selling gasoline has remained constant.
The Village’s Development Customer Services Department is hosting another Codes & Coffee Chat from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 13 in Council Chambers at Village Hall. Representatives from the Permit Processing Division will be available to discuss the fundamentals of Oak Park’s updated building codes, including the new electrification ordinance, set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2024. Refreshments will be served.
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The Public Health Department hosted a free training Monday on how to identify, respond to and reverse an opioid overdose. Health educators and the public health nurse provided hands-on instruction to staff members of Age Options, an organization that provides services and resources to older adults in Oak Park. The training included education to help participants spot signs of an opioid overdose and how to render aid, including how to administer Narcan nasal spray. The training also provided background on the harm reduction approach to addressing the national opioid epidemic and where to obtain free Narcan in Oak Park. In addition to in-person trainings, the Public Health Department provides free opioid overdose prevention kits in seven locations throughout the community. Learn more about the program at www.oak-park.us/prevention. Trainings are ongoing, and any interested participants can reach out to the Public Health Department at 708.358.5480 or health@oak-park.us to be notified of the next training opportunity.
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The Health Department is hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic for anyone without insurance from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Dec. 12 at Cheney Mansion. Individuals with insurance are encouraged to contact their primary care physician or local pharmacies to obtain a vaccine. More information about COVID-19 vaccines and a link to register for the upcoming clinic are available at www.oak-park.us/vaccine.
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With the arrival of the holiday season often comes an uptick in common seasonal crimes such as package theft, pickpockets, auto burglaries and motor vehicle theft. The Oak Park Police Department is sharing tips to help reduce the chances of becoming a victim. Read more at www.oak-park.us/seasonalcrimetips.
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The Solar Switch auction planned for Dec. 12 offers Oak Park residents with an opportunity to get a considerable deal on solar installations. The more people who participate in the Solar Switch program, the more competitive the installer bids, with participants typically saving an average of $4,000 on a solar setup. Anyone interested in participating can visit www.solarswitch.com/oakpark for more information and to register.
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Visit Oak Park has released a 2023 Holiday Shopping Guide featuring 47 businesses, including 19 located in Oak Park. Click here to view the Holiday Shopping Guide. The guide provides great gift ideas in 10 different categories including The Foodie, The Book Lover and Your Furry Friend, to name a few. Visit Oak Park assists Oak Park and 20 additional communities in the area with marketing and advertising efforts to support local tourism. The Oak Park businesses featured in the Holiday Shopping Guide are Geppetto’s Toys, Pumpkin Moon, Fleet Feet, Oak Park Natural Pet and Fish, Via Clay, Einnim, Bead in Hand, Civinte, Careful Peach, Olive and Well, Carnivore, Anfora, 16 Suitcases, Filoni, Jayne, Monica’s Skincare, Scratch and Sniff, The Looking Glass and The Book Table. A directory of all Oak Park businesses is available on the Village’s Pick Oak Park website at www.pickoakpark.com.
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One Lake Brewing is hosting its third annual Holiday Makers Market from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Saturday and Sunday. Patrons will be able to support the area’s small business community by shopping wares from a wide array of local artisans. Santa will be available for photos on the rooftop, and the event will feature a full drink menu along with hot chocolate and cookies. A full list of vendors is available in One Lake’s Facebook event listing – click here to view.
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The Oak Park Arts District is hosting its first-ever Art & Wine Walk from 3 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 16. The holiday event will feature a variety of wines, hors d’oeuvres and holiday shopping throughout the Arts District along Harrison Street between Austin Boulevard and Ridgeland Avenue. Tickets are $40 and include a wine glass, complimentary tastings at participating locations, a bottle of wine from Oak Park’s Anfora Wine Merchants and more. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
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Interior remodeling is ongoing at the site of the new ComedyPlex Comedy Club in the lower level at 1128 Lake St. While there is still much work to do, the owners are hopeful to open during December. |
Sewer televising set to begin – The annual sewer cleaning and inspection project is set to begin. Crews will inspect approximately 30 locations throughout Oak Park, starting at upcoming capital improvement project locations and then shifting to the north part of town and moving south. Partial lane closures are anticipated when work is ongoing. Meanwhile, Nicor’s sewer inspection project is still ongoing, with crews excavating the 1100 blocks of S. Lombard Ave. and S. Scoville Ave. this week.
Street resurfacing project – Parkway restoration is underway and expected to continue into next week at locations where street resurfacing took place this. Pavement striping has been completed at multiple locations and will continue into next week until complete.
Forest and Ontario improvements – The construction area near the intersection of Forest Avenue and Ontario Street is partially shut down for winter. Landscape areas adjacent to new concrete will be backfilled this week. Sidewalk bricks have been installed except in locations where light pole installation is necessary. Future brick areas will be capped for the winter. The detour will be down for the majority of the winter, but the contractor may need to occasionally close the road for work.
Focus Development update – Exterior metal panels are being installed this week for the garage at the new Focus Development at the intersection of Pleasant and Marion streets. Balconies are being installed on the south elevation. Granite curb and gutter is being installed along the north elevation. Crews will begin asphalt milling and overlay on Marion Street early next week.
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