Patrick Ainsworth

The meeting addressed two primary cases concerning the property at 3325 W Arthur Ave. Case # VAR-17-25 involved a request for a 5ft fence in the corner side yard, and Case # SFNC-18-25 involved approval of natural screening in the public right of way. Significant discussion occurred regarding the appropriate location, height, and compliance status (legal non-conforming vs. updated code) of the existing arborvitae and fence installation, particularly concerning the right of way. The petitioners agreed to revise their plan to exclude the right of way. A motion was made to continue this combined case to the March 4th, 2026 meeting. In a staff update, the Assistant Director informed the commission about upcoming discussions on parking pads in February and requested prompt responses to staff emails. The meeting concluded after an adjournment motion.

The meeting agenda included a discussion on Vehicle Stickers, presented by the Finance Director. The discussion focused on proposing amendments to Village Code Section 8-7-2 to require a Village vehicle license for any vehicle registered with the State of Illinois to an address within the Village limits, aiming to increase the compliance rate from the current 62.4% to a goal of 80%. Recommendations included a proposed enforcement schedule spanning from March to December 2026. The Fire Chief also provided an operational review of the Lift Assist Program, noting that lift assists account for approximately 12.5% of total calls and resource diversion. The Board discussed amending the current fee structure for non-emergency lift assists, with a consensus to suspend enforcement of the existing ordinance and billing until a revised fee structure is finalized, prioritizing health and safety over immediate fee application.

The Plan Commission/Zoning Board of Appeals meeting addressed several cases requiring variations from the Zoning Ordinance. Case #VAR-01-26 involved a request to allow an as-built driveway width of approximately 23 feet at the property line, which exceeded the 20-foot maximum. Case #VAR-02-26 concerned a variation request to permit 6-foot-tall solid fences in the interior side yards, exceeding the 4-foot height limit and openness requirement. Case #VAR-03-26 requested a variation to allow a second wall sign, identifying the "Ohr L'Nefesh Campus," on the same façade as an already approved sign. Additionally, the agenda included a case continuance (Case # SFNC-14-25) related to Natural Screening, and extensive discussion regarding Zoning Text Amendments concerning regulations for Open-Air, Off-Street parking spaces (Parking Pads) in Residential Zoning Districts.

The meeting agenda included standard items such as the approval of warrants totaling $912,294.45, and various reports from the Village President, Trustees, Clerk, and Manager. Key discussions in the Regular Business section centered on the process for the FY2026 Appropriations Ordinance, including the allocation of funds for rollovers and a 15% contingency. Additionally, the Board discussed the implementation of credit card transaction fees, ultimately agreeing to waive these fees for charitable donations while maintaining the fee structure for other services, and decided against pursuing a discounted Visa rate for utility payments. The Consent Agenda covered the approval of a resolution for the Friends of the Chicago River Annual Chicago River Day Event at Centennial Park on May 9, 2026, and the approval of three resolutions requesting Motor Fuel Tax Funds from the State of Illinois totaling $856,914 for general maintenance, capital improvements (2025 Infrastructure Plan construction), and debt service.

The Committee of the Whole meeting focused on presenting the 2025 Annual Report, detailing key achievements in Community Development, Finance (including the implementation of the municipal grocery tax), Fire Department upgrades, Parks & Recreation grants and planning, Police Department technology improvements like ALPR installation, and Public Works infrastructure reinvestment. The Board also discussed revisiting Parks and Recreation rental policies, specifically concerning large events that charge admission or conduct fundraising on Village property, leading to a consensus to explore a strictly conditioned special event permit process with higher fees and mandatory profit sharing for 2026. Furthermore, the committee addressed the Aquatic Center admission process, implementing stricter verification measures for youth and increasing the non-resident pool pass cap by 150.