Beautification and Improvement Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2026-03-04

Village of Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Agenda
 March 4, 2026 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
 Room A (downstairs)


 I. Approve February Minutes

 II. Presentation - Village of Skokie Stormwater Quality Program (Daniel Bounds, Baxter
 & Woodman)

 III. Task Tracker Review

 IV. Task Group Updates & Discussion, including

 a. April Library Speaker
 b. Gardenwalk
 c. Awards Criteria

 V. Report (optional) by Cathy Stevens, Assistant Director, Public Works

 VI. Report (optional), Trustee Liaison

 VII. Old Business

 VIII. New Business

 IX. Public Comment

 X. Adjournment


NOTE:

If you have an agenda item you would like to have considered for a future meeting, please let
me know!

Village of Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Minutes
 March 4, 2026, 6:30 PM


 Commission Members Present Commission Members Not Present

 Valerie Shuman, Chair Will Oney-Paige

 Mitchell Sandler, Vice Chair Ross Del Rosario

 Katy Darr George Huback

 Erin Maxen-Lewis Mike Madalinski

 Charles Levine Brandon Munden

 Edward Potash Vernell Ellison-Smith

 Lucas Reczek Celeste Roy

 Rachel Rosenberg Gary Schwarz

 Ron Schrag

 Tina Seville Velasco


Also present was Cathy Stevens, Village Forester; Vesna Zarros, community member; Daniel
Panico, Baxter and Woodman engineer

The meeting began at 6:32 PM.

  I.​ Approval of February minutes

Vice Chair Sandler made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Commissioner Levine.
Approved by voice vote.

 II.​ Presentation - Village of Skokie Stormwater Quality Program (Daniel Panico, Baxter &
 Woodman)

Mr. Panico provided an overview of all that the Village does to maintain its MS4 agreement with
the IEPA and keep stormwater clean. He commended the Village for including many excellent
educational resources on its website and for protecting stormwater quality.

 III.​ Task Tracker Review

The Commission reviewed upcoming initiatives and heard from project leads:
 ●​ April
 ○​ Library speaker event at the library on 4/14
 ○​ Arbor Day tree planting event on 4/24
 ■​ Forester Stevens shared that three trees will be planted at Meyer School
 at 1:15pm.
 ●​ May
 ○​ Spring weeding event - TBD
 ○​ Festival of Cultures - 5/16-17
 ■​ Commissioner Seville Velasco will prepare a jotform for attendees to
 share contact information with the Commission.
 ■​ She also stated that she would like to distribute native seed packets from
 the MWRD, as well as small oak tree saplings available from the MWRD.
 ■​ Forester Stevens said she can obtain some oak tree saplings and bring
 them as well.
 ■​ Commissioner Seville Velasco requested $175 for plants and materials to
 run the Commission’s table at the Festival of Cultures. Commissioner
 Potash moved to approve, and this was seconded by Vice Chair Sandler.
 The requested budget of $175 was approved.
 ●​ June
 ○​ Awards scouting begins
 ■​ Commissioner Darr volunteered to build a timeline for the awards
 scouting and judging process
 ●​ July
 ○​ 4th of July Parade
 ■​ Commissioner Levine shared that the commission has a spot in the
 parade and permission to include a vehicle.
 ■​ Chair Shuman said that next, the Commission should identify the vehicle
 to be used.
 ■​ Commissioner Rosenberg recommended that the vehicle be electric.
 ■​ Commissioner Levine explained that the team working on the parade next
 needs to decide on what is being handed out at the parade – flyers,
 stickers, candy, etc.
 ○​ Garden Walk - 7/12, 10-2pm

 ●​ October
 ○​ Awards Reception
 ■​ The commission is hoping to solidify October 19th as the date for the
 awards reception, and is waiting to hear of Village approval.

IV.​ Task Group Updates and Discussion, including:

 ●​ Library speaker event on 4/14
 ○​ Commissioner Rosenberg asked the other commissioners to share news of this
 upcoming speaker with their networks.
 ○​ Commissioner Seville Velasco stated she would create a poster to help promote
 the event. Commissioner Reczek said he would help as well.
 ●​ Garden Walk - 7/12, 10-2pm
 ○​ Forester Stevens shared that this event has been approved by the Village
 Manager.
 ○​ Commissioner Darr advised that communication to “Skokie’s Best” award
 winners will be going out soon, informing them of their chance to participate in
 the upcoming garden walk.
 ●​ Awards Criteria
 ○​ Discussion on the awards criteria was tabled until the next meeting.
 ○​ Commissioners were advised to read the proposed amendments brought by
 Commissioner Darr, as decisions will be made at the Commission’s next meeting.

  V.​ Report (optional) by Cathy Stevens, Assistant Director, Public Works

None.

 VI.​ Report (optional), Trustee Liaison

The Trustee Liaison was not present.

VII.​ Old Business

None.

VIII.​ New Business

Due to upcoming holidays in April, the Commission’s next meeting has been moved to
Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 at 6:30 PM, at the Skokie Public Library.

 IX.​ Public Comment

Ms. Zarros, Skokie resident who sat in on the Commission’s meeting, thanked the Commission
for its work.

  X.​ Adjournment

Commissioner Darr made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Vice Chair Sandler. The meeting
ended at 7:56 PM.




Submitted by: Commissioner Ron Schrag