Meetings scheduled for next week:
- Monday, February 12:
- Board of Health, 6 p.m. in Room 102
- Transportation Commission, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Tuesday, February 13:
- Village Board Finance Committee, 6 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Village Board meeting, 7 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Wednesday, February 14:
- Farmers’ Market Commission, 7 p.m. in Room 215
- Thursday, February 15:
- Building Codes Advisory Commission, 5:30 p.m. in Room 215
The newly renamed Development Services Department ushered in a new era this week with the arrival of new Director Emily Egan and new Deputy Director Brandon Crawford.
Emily, a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, comes to Oak Park with extensive experience in municipal government. Since 2021 she served as the Director of Community Development for the Village of Brookfield. She also served as the Village Planner in Brookfield and spent three years as the Assistant City Planner for the City of Elmhurst. Emily received a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies from Grand Valley State University and obtained a Master of Urban Planning and Policy degree from UIC with a concentration in economic development.
Brandon comes to Oak Park with a strong mix of experience in both private and public sectors. Most recently, he worked as a Site Development Portfolio Manager for Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook, Inc.). His professional career began as a Planner in the Village of Glenview. Brandon earned a Bachelor of Arts in Urban & Regional Planning from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He went on to DePaul University, where he added a Master of Science in Real Estate Investment & Finance.
Emily and Brandon will help lead the Development Services Department, which was recently reorganized to focus on four key areas: economic development and vitality, development and permits, planning and urban design, and parking and mobility services. Click here to read more about Emily, Brandon the Development Services Department.
The Development Services Department also welcomed Daniel Curry as the new Building Inspector in the permit processing division. A skilled carpenter, Daniel comes to the Village with years of experience as a general contractor and some time as a county building inspector in Arizona. He was sworn into his new position during a ceremony Thursday at Village Hall.
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The Village is happy to announce that the family-owned restaurant chain Egg Harbor Café will be joining Oak Park’s vibrant business community later this year. Egg Harbor Café has signed a lease for the former restaurant space at 1111 South Blvd. in the Village’s Pleasant Business District. Egg Harbor’s Oak Park location will be the chain’s 25th restaurant across three states in Illinois, Georgia and Wisconsin. For more information about Egg Harbor Café, including its delicious menu, visit www.eggharborcafe.com.
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The Village collected $519,527 in local gasoline taxes in 2023,according to the Development Services Department’s analysis of Oak Park’s 6% gasoline tax per gallon sold. See below for a chart that compares the gas tax collected from 2018 to 2023. While the tax collected in 2023 is down more than 32% compared to 2018, the 2023 totals are up more than 2% compared to 2022. During the six-year period, the number of stations in Oak Park selling gasoline has remained constant. All of the revenue from the municipal gas tax goes to the Village’s capital improvement fund.
The Vision Zero team engaged roughly 100 participants, including children, at the Safe Streets Workshop held at the Oak Park Conservatory on Feb. 3. Residents collectively provided more than 200 written comments about what makes them feel safe while getting around and how they envision improved safety for those walking, biking, driving and taking public transit. Nearly 300 pins were placed by participants on a map of Oak Park, indicating where they want to see more infrastructure to calm traffic and protect pedestrians and cyclists. The feedback provided at this workshop and through additional engagement efforts will inform the recommendations in the final Vision Zero action plan, coming later this year.
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Thirty-eight individuals representing 26 organizations participated in the Village’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) workshop on Thursday. During the workshop, which is required for organizations applying for local CDBG funding, participants learned about the Village’s status as a HUD entitlement community, the Program Year 2024 application process and what documentation must be included to request funding. The PY24 application period begins today (Feb. 9) and continues through 5 p.m. on March 1. If they are selected to receive funding, applicants will be able to use the money when the CDBG PY24 begins Oct. 1. Visit www.oak-park.us/cdbg for more information about the CDBG program.
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The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion recently learned that its proposal to work with Northern Illinois University Master of Public Administration students on the development of a language access plan for the Village has been accepted. The students’ work with the Village will be part of their capstone project this spring. Among the deliverables outlined in the proposal is the identification of the top three primary languages other than English used in Oak Park. The project will also include exploring efficient ways to translate the Village website, assisting with the procurement of resources that can provide services for the Village’s language needs and the creation of a document that compiles resources for the community.
The Pan-African flag is flying outside Village Hall this February in recognition of Black History Month. Created in 1920 by Marcus Garvey, the Pan-African flag – which has been known by names such as Afro-American flag, Black Liberation flag, and UNIA flag – was not without controversy. Having withstood many state legislative battles, the Pan-African flag now stands as an emblem of Black pride. The tri-color flag consists of three horizontal bands colored red, black and green. The red symbolizes the blood of the people that is shed in the ongoing struggle for Black liberation. The black represents the people of Black African ancestry. The green represents the abundance and resilience of the Black community, and the vibrant natural wealth of Africa. The flag became popular during the Black Liberation movement of the 1960s. Today, in honor of all people of the African Diaspora, the Pan-African flag stands as a symbol of black liberation around the globe as the fight for housing, economic, educational, health and social justice for Black people continues.
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The Village has been awarded more than $1.9 million by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus through its Supporting Municipalities for Asylum Seeker Services (SMASS) grant. Approximately $1.24 million of the new award will be distributed to a local nonprofit entity so that it may operate a new temporary shelter in Oak Park through the end of June 2024. This shelter will not be a continuation of the Village’s current shelter program at the West Cook YMCA or The Carleton Hotel of Oak Park, as those sites are scheduled to be unavailable after February 29. The funding will also be used for legal services and short-term rental assistance for asylum seekers. Read more about the grant funding at www.oak-park.us/SMASS and find the latest information from the Village about ongoing assistance for asylum seekers at www.oak-park.us/emergencyresponse23.
The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is seeking volunteers to serve on planning committees for the series of events the Village hosts throughout the year to celebrate Oak Park’s diversity. These occasions include A Day in Our Village, Juneteenth, Pride Month, Oak Park’s July 4th parade and Hispanic Heritage Month. Volunteers are needed to serve on planning committees for the various events. Volunteers are also needed to assist with logistics the day of the events. Anyone who is up to the challenge of helping bring the community together can sign up to volunteer at www.oak-park.us/CommunityEvents. For more information, contact the Village’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at 708.358.5405 or community@oak-park.us.
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The Village offers free mediation services to help landlords and tenants, as well other residents, to resolve issues that may be disrupting quality of life. Cases can include disputes about a lease violation, a dispute with a noisy neighbor or even a dispute over property lines. Participation is voluntary. Agreements are made between the parties and are not enforced by the Village. To learn more, email DEI@oak-park.us.
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To help restaurants comply with the Village's new polystyrene ordinance, the Village and the Smart Energy Design Assistance Center (SEDAC) teamed up to develop a sample list of environmentally-friendly (compostable, recyclable) disposable foodware as part of the Green Business Program initiative. The ordinance, which went into effect in January, prohibits the use of food service containers made with polystyrene foam packaging. Find the disposable foodware purchasing guide at www.sustainoakpark.com/disposablepurchasingguide.
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The Oak Park River Forest Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting this week at Pretty Please Bistro. Located at 210 Lake St. and owned and operated by Tracy and Deron Tucker, this new restaurant offers delicious treats including homemade baked mac and cheese with beef, gyro or steak in a waffle cone and a vegan patty melt. The restaurant’s signature drink, a whipped lemonade, is popular with customers. More information about Pretty Please Bistro is available on its Facebook page – click here to view.
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The installation of blue stone and street pavers is complete at the site of the new Focus Development located at the intersection of Marion and Pleasant streets. Granite curbs and planters have also been installed on Pleasant and are in the process of being installed on Marion. Exterior metal panels and garage screenings are also being installed, and garage sealing and traffic striping will begin net week.
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