Meetings scheduled for next week:
- Monday, January 15:
- Village Hall closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- Tuesday, January 16:
- Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Wednesday, January 17:
- Facility Review Committee, 6 p.m. in Room 101
- Community Relations Commission, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Housing Programs Advisory Committee, 7 p.m. in Room 215
- Thursday, January 18:
- Building Codes Advisory Commission, 5:30 p.m. in Room 215
Oak Park's snow emergency parking rules went into effect Thursday night in anticipation of the winter storm impacting the Chicago area. The snow parking restrictions will continue until conditions improve. Parking is prohibited on designated snow routes and restricted to one side on all other streets, the side determined by the date. The rules are intended to give plows room to operate and execute the Village's snow removal strategy, with a focus first on clearing main routes to ensure emergency vehicle access. The latest information about the Village's response to the winter storm is available at www.oak-park.us/winterstorm24.
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Dangerously cold conditions are forecast for early next week, with high temperatures in the single digits and lows below zero. When dangerously cold temperatures strike, residents are urged to limit time outdoors for themselves and their pets, as well as to check in on friends and neighbors who may need assistance. Click here for information being shared through the Village’s communications channels about local warming centers and other cold weather safety tips. The messaging includes information about a warming center that is available to unhoused individuals at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church when outdoor temperatures drop below 5 degrees Fahrenheit and other extreme weather events. Click here for a flyer with information about local warming centers.
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In the midst of the ongoing winter storm, the Village is reminding property owners that Village ordinance requires snow and ice to be removed from the public sidewalk within 24 hours following any snow, sleet or freezing rain. Being a good neighbor is important, too, so property owners are urged to assist those who may need help clearing a sidewalk. And remember to clear the crossing ramps to ensure safe travel by individuals with disabilities, especially those in wheelchairs who face extraordinary challenges navigating snow-clogged sidewalks. For more information on the shoveling requirement or help resources, call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks@oak-park.us
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Village Hall will be closed on Monday, Jan. 15 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Should an incident that doesn't quite rise to the level of a 911 call occur when Village Hall is closed, call the Police non-emergency number 708.386.3800 for assistance. Regular Village Hall hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. More information about Village Hall is posted online.
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The Oak Park Department of Public Health presented at a League of Women Voters meeting this week on the topics of harm reduction, the opioid epidemic and how to administer Narcan to a person experiencing an overdose. The presentation at the Nineteenth Century Club included education to help participants spot signs of an opioid overdose, how to render aid and details about Oak Park’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Project, including the seven locations where community members can pick up free opioid overdose prevention kits. These kits were also provided to all participants. Learn more about the program at www.oak-park.us/naloxone. 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 Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) held a public hearing on Thursday to consider a Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the home at 430 S. Taylor Ave., which suffered fire damage in June 2023. The Commission voted unanimously (6-0) to deny the Certificate of Appropriateness on the grounds that the building is a contributing structure within the Ridgeland-Oak Park Historic District, which was reconfirmed by the State of Illinois Historic Preservation Office. The applicant was seeking the Certificate of Appropriateness to demolish the existing home. The HPC recommended that the applicant could apply for a Certificate of Economic Hardship, which would result in the applicant returning to the HPC for an additional public hearing on that issue. In addition, the applicant could also choose to appeal the HPC Certificate of Appropriateness decision to the Village Board.
Non-profit organizations that serve Oak Park and are interested in applying for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding are encouraged to save the date for a mandatory workshop that will be hosted virtually by the Village from 10 to 11 a.m. on Thurs., Feb. 8. Attendance at the workshop is required to apply for funds during Program Year 2024, which runs from October 2024 through September 2025. The workshops will provide details about the Village’s upcoming application process, including an overview of required documents, timelines and reporting requirements. Email grants@oak-park.us to receive the registration link or for more information. First-time applicants and existing grantees with new projects are also encouraged to meet with Village staff to determine preliminary project eligibility and receive technical guidance. Visit www.oak-park.us/cdbg to learn more about the CDBG program in Oak Park.
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Oak Park firefighter/paramedics responded to 723 calls in December, bringing the yearly total to 8,629. It was another busy year for the department, with the number of calls slightly up from the 8,594 calls in 2022. Calls for Emergency medical service continued to be the largest category.
The Village’s Development Customer Service Department has two thank you boards installed on the walls at Village Hall. Both boards were loaded with thank you e-mails, cards and notes from customers expressing appreciation for staff’s outstanding work over the course of the past year. This week both boards were cleared of cards, e-mails and notes sent in 2023 in preparation for the words of appreciation to come in 2024.
The Oak Park Police Department welcomed three new officers this week as Mario Mejia, Miguel Jimenez and Brenden Garcia (pictured from left) were sworn in during a ceremony Monday. Officer Jimenez will begin field training next week. He previously served four years in the U.S. Marines and most recently worked as an instructional assistant in High School District 214. Officers Mejia and Garcia will start training at the police academy later this month. Officer Mejia graduated from Saint Xavier University with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Officer Garcia majored in criminal justice and minored in psychology at Western Illinois. Additionally, Tyler Brown joined the Police Department this week as the newest Parking Enforcement Officer.
The Oak Park Arts District held its annual membership meeting this past week. Village President Vicki Scaman, Village Trustee Ravi Parakkat, Village Trustee Cory Wesley and Economic Vitality Administrator Cameron Davis joined the Arts District’s officers and members in celebrating the successes achieved in the past year. In addition, the Arts District membership voted to approve the following board members for 2024: President – Laura Maychruk; Vice President – Mimi Comerford; Secretary – Michelle Mascaro; Treasurer – Mona Navitsky; and Board Members Kim Humphrey, Marcia Brown-Jackson and Trevor Toppen.
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Oak Park’s newest restaurant, Pretty Please Bistro, is now open for business at 210 Lake St. Business owners Tracy and Baron Jones have information about the new eatery on the restaurant’s Facebook page – click here to view.
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Sewer televising – This week the contractor for the sewer televising project focused on Greenfield Street between Fair Oaks Avenue and East Avenue. Once complete, the contractor will start on the new locations added to the project in the north part of town and move south. Partial lane closures are anticipated while work is ongoing.
Focus Development update – Exterior metal panels and garage screening is being installed on all elevations this week at the Focus Development at the corner of Marion Street and Pleasant Street. Garage sealing and striping is in progress and will finish next week. Street pavers are being installed along Pleasant Street and fence posts were installed on Wednesday. A tent was installed over the north elevation to provide heat for the upcoming blue stone paver work.
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