Meetings scheduled for next week:
- Tuesday, June 11:
- Village Board meeting, 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers
- Wednesday, June 12:
- Juneteenth Flag Raising Ceremony, 6 p.m. in Village Hall courtyard
- Farmers’ Market Commission, 7 p.m. in Room 215
- Thursday, June 13:
- Aging in Communities Commission, 6 p.m. in Room 124
- Board of Health, 6 p.m. in Room 102
- Community Development Citizens Advisory Committee, 6 p.m. in Room 101
- Civic Information Systems Commission, 7 p.m. in Room 215
- Historic Preservation Commission, 7:30 p.m. in Council Chambers
The entire community is invited to join in the Village’s Juneteenth celebration featuring a flag-raising ceremony from 6 to 8 p.m. at on Wednesday, June 12 and a community cookout from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, June 15. Both events will take place at Village Hall, and the cookout will feature music, activities for kids, a Black-owned business fair and, of course, delicious food. Find more information about the Juneteenth celebration, including registration links for businesses and organizations interested in participating in the cookout, at www.oak-park.us/juneteenth.
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Chief DEI Officer Dr. Danielle Walker is providing the keynote address at Dominican University’s Juneteenth event at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 13 in the Springer Suites on the campus of the River Forest school. Her address, titled “Where do we go from here?” will discuss how to draw lessons learned from Juneteenth to continue to forge a path of racial justice during turbulent times. Click here for more information and to register to attend the free event.
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The Village is joining communities around the world in recognizing LGBTQ+ Pride Month throughout June. Save the date for the second annual Oak Park Pride Party scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 22 at Village Hall. The Pride flag colors will also be on display on the ramp leading up to the Village Hall courtyard thorughout the month. Find more information about Pride Month in Oak Park at www.oak-park.us/pridemonth.
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The Illinois Recycling Foundation held its annual conference in Crystal Lake this week, where the Village of Oak Park received the Pathfinder Award for its pioneering CompostAble program. Environmental Services Manager Erica Helms was on hand to accept the honor from IRF President Clair Ryan. In addition to receiving the Pathfinder Award, Helms was elected as a new member to the IRF board.
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IRF President Clair Ryan and Environmental Services Manager Erica Helms
Kids interested in learning about law enforcement and careers in public safety are invited to register for the Junior Citizen’s Police Academy co-hosted by the Oak Park Police Department and River Forest Police Department this August 5-9. The free program is available to kids between the ages of 10 and 15 who live or go to school in Oak Park or River Forest. A wide range of activities related to community policing and public safety are planned. More information, including a link to the application form, is available at www.oak-park.us/jcpa2024.
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Director of Adjudication Robert Anderson retired at the end of this week following more than 16 years of service to Oak Park, including 14 as the department's leader. He initially joined the Village as an administrative law judge in 2008 and ascended to the Director of Adjudication two years later. Prior to his arrival at the Village, Anderson served as a hearing officer for Chicago Public Schools from 2007-08 and as an attorney in private practice for over 15 years.
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The Public Works Department welcomed Scott Reilly as the new Building Maintenance Contract Coordinator. Scott previously worked for the Village from 2008-2013 in a similar capacity.
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This week, Village President Scaman, Trustee Wesley, Village officials, staff and Chamber of Commerce representatives joined Focus Development representatives in cutting a ribbon acknowledging the substantial completion of The Porter development, 1105 Pleasant Street. This new transit-oriented seven story luxury apartment building has 159 residential units, 153 apartments and 6 maisonette homes. The development also includes a small but dramatic commercial space at the southwest corner of Pleasant and Marion Street. Village Economic Vitality staff is working with FOCUS Development to secure a food and beverage tenant to occupy the commercial space.
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The Public Works Department attended A Day in Our Village to present its progress on Vision Zero and the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape project. The team engaged many residents at their booth, promoting the two projects and handing out informational materials. There will be a public open house for the Oak Park Avenue Streetscape project on Tues., June 25 where the project team will present the latest Streetscape design and field questions. Visit https://www.renewtheavenue.com/ for additional information. There will be a Vision Zero open house on Sat., July 20, where the project team will present draft recommendations and strategies for achieving Vision Zero. Interested community members are encouraged to attend this fun, informative, and kid-friendly event to help shape the final Vision Zero plan. Visit: https://engageoakpark.com/visionzero for more information.
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The Public Works Department’s Engineering Division is moving ahead with an update to Oak Park’s bike plan. Initial steps include meeting with members of the Transportation Commission and Plan Commission. Village staff will also gather public input during the process from various stakeholders, host focus groups and collect feedback online using the Engage Oak Park website. An open house will also be planned as part of the community engagement strategy.
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The Village’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met this week and the following actions were taken: 1.) Petitioner DISH Wireless, seeking a special use permit to construct and operate a wireless telecommunication facility (co-locate antennas) on the roof of 715 Lake Street, received a 4-0 vote to send a positive recommendation to the Village Board; 2.) Petitioner Emily McNulty, seeking a variance to construct a new two-car garage featuring a setback from the corner side lot line of 3.5 feet at 850 Linden Avenue, received ZPA approval by a 4-0 vote; and 3.) Petitioner 427 Madison, LLC, seeking a special use permit to construct a 6-unit townhome development received a 4-0 vote to send a positive recommendation to the Village Board. In addition, 427 Madison, LLC. sought variances for: A.) A reduction of the rear yard setback from a required 25 feet to 15’-8”, inclusive of the alley, along the west lot line; B.) A reduction of the side yard setback from a required five (5’) feet to zero (0’) feet along the south lot line; and C.) An increase in height from a required 35 feet to 40’6” at 427 Madison Street. All of these variance requests received ZBA approval by a 4-0 vote. No residents spoke in opposition to the requests.
Alley project – Earth excavation and pavement removal is complete in the first seven alleys. All seven alleys have been reopened to the public. The contractor is currently working on the alley between the 200 blocks of Maple and Marion Sts. This alley will reopen early next week, followed by starting work in the alley between the 1000 blocks of Harvey Ave. and Mapleton St. The anticipated completion date of the first contract is end of June. The third alley for the second contract between the 1000 blocks of Humphrey Ave. and Austin Blvd. is excepted to start on June 18. Two alleys have been completed and reopened under the second contract.
Sidewalks – Sidewalk angle cutting is in progress this week. Sidewalk replacements are set to begin on Monday, June 10, weather permitting. Punch list items for the first sidewalk project will also be addressed the week of June 10th.
Austin Sewer Improvements – The contractor replaced curbs and sidewalks this week along Austin Blvd. between Garfield St. and Roosevelt Rd. Shotcrete work in the existing manholes is taking place this week as well. Sewer cleaning occurred last week in preparation for the upcoming sewer lining work. Traffic control at the intersection of Roosevelt Rd. and Austin Blvd. will be installed early next week to begin the remaining water main work for the project.
Lot 10 – The remainder of the sidewalk and curb on the north side of Lot 10 will be completed this week. Parking is currently available on the south side of the lot and along North Blvd. The parking lot will be closed on Monday, June 10 to begin work in the center of the lot. Parking will still be available on North Blvd. during this time.
Forest & Ontario – The detour around Forest and Ontario will remain in place for the upcoming monument installation. The stone base is anticipated to be installed later this week. Landscape restoration is currently in progress.
Madison Street Improvements – Last week, the contractor finished curb removal along the north side of Madison St. and began pouring new curb. The contractor will continue to pour back curbs and sidewalks on the north side of Madison St. this week and next week. The electrical contractor will continue light pole installations this week as well.
Euclid Water Improvements – This week, the contractor placed asphalt binder course along Euclid Ave. between Lake St. and North Blvd. Structure adjustments will take place for the remainder of the week. Weather permitting, the contractor will place the final layer of asphalt and perform landscape restoration in the next few weeks.
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