Beautification and Improvement Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2026-02-04

Village of Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Agenda
 February 4, 2026 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
 Room A (downstairs)


I. Approve January Minutes

II. 2026 Planning – Making Decisions (Activities & Task Leads; Tracking Templates)

III. Task Tracker Review

IV. Garden Walk Task Group Update

V. Awards Criteria Task Group Update

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

VII. Report (optional), Trustee Liaison

VIII. Old Business

IX. New Business

X. Public Comment

XI. Adjournment

Village of Skokie BeauƟﬁcaƟon and Improvement Commission

MeeƟng Minutes

February 4, 2026, 6:30 PM



The meeƟng began at 6:30 PM

 I. Approval of January 8, 2026 Minutes

Vice Chair Sandler idenƟﬁed an error in the January 8 Minutes in the “Fourth of July Parade”
updates. The previous minutes stated Commissioner Madalinski made a moƟon to approve the
minutes which was incorrect. This was amended to “Commissioner Madalinski made a moƟon
to suspend purchasing a ﬂoat for the 4th of July parade.”

A moƟon was made to approve the January 8 Minutes as amended. Approved by voice vote.

Chair Shuman informed the Commission that one of the Sustainability Commission’s objecƟves
is to idenƟfy and improve pollinator and wildlife corridors. Mapping the Pollinator Pantry
winners shows that we have made an excellent start on supporƟng this iniƟaƟve.

 II. 2026 Planning – Review & FinalizaƟon

Chair Shuman reviewed the planned schedule of events for 2026 with which the BeauƟﬁcaƟon
and Improvement Commission will be involved. No changes were made to the list of events.

 III. Task Tracker Review

Chair Shuman reviewed the list of events to conﬁrm Task Leads, co-leads, and parƟcipants from
the Commission, as well as their current status and the planned next steps for each task. These
updates are noted below, divided between Events and AcƟviƟes.

EVENTS

Fourth of July Parade

 - Commissioner Levine conﬁrmed that we are registered for a spot in the Skokie Fourth of
 July Parade, and that we will not be purchasing a ﬂoat this year. We have a slot reserved
 for a vehicle as well as a walking group. There was a brief discussion on potenƟally
 decoraƟng a pickup truck as a display vehicle. The task team will evaluate opƟons and
 make a decision at a later date.
 - Vice Chair Sandler brought up a concern of making sure the provider of the ﬂoat is
 informed that we will not be purchasing one this year, to avoid the possibility of the
 Commission having previously commiƩed to future purchases and a future conﬂict with
 the vendor.
 - Commission Del Rosario was added as a parƟcipant in the task list.

Library Speaker (Spring)

 - Commission Rosenberg provided an update on the library speaker event and conﬁrmed
 the correct date of April 14th, 2026. The next step is promoƟng the event through all
 available channels. Forester Stevens oﬀered to help get space in the Skokie Village
 NewsleƩer to promote the event, with help from Commissioner Reczek to provide
 wriƩen copy for the newsleƩer.

Arbor Day

 - Forester Stevens gave an update on planning for Arbor Day. A meeƟng is scheduled with
 Dr. Wei, Principal of Elizabeth Meyer School (District 73.5) to conﬁrm interest in hosƟng
 the event and picking spots for tree planƟngs.

Spring Weeding

 - No schedule updates yet as this is dependent on weather.

FesƟval of Cultures

 - The next steps are to register with the FesƟval to reserve a booth and conﬁrm the
 budget to purchasing plants to oﬀer as giveaways to booth visitors. Commissioner
 Seville-Velasco agreed to draŌ a budget for review by the Commission.
 - Commissioner Seville-Velasco asked for volunteers to take shiŌs at the booth throughout
 the FesƟval. A sign-up sheet was passed around to get the contact informaƟon and
 preferred dates/Ɵmes for volunteers.

Awards Judging

 - Chair Shuman conﬁrmed a transfer meeƟng was completed to share informaƟon from
 previous years.
 - The Task Group will review the acƟon items and provide a plan.

Awards RecepƟon

 - Commissioner Ellison-Smith conﬁrmed her parƟcipaƟon as one lead. Another lead and
 addiƟonal parƟcipants are TBD.

Library Speaker (Fall)

 - No updates
ACTIVITIES

Commission Reporters

 - Commissioner Reczek volunteered to be one of the Commission reporters and to take
 minutes. Commissioner Schrag (not present for this meeƟng) was tentaƟvely named as
 the second reporter and note-taker.

Tools Management

 - Chair Shuman asked for volunteers who can manage all of the commission’s digital
 assets, ﬁles, and other soŌware applicaƟons. Chair Shuman volunteered as the
 temporary lead, and Commissioner Seville-Velasco volunteered as the co-lead.

Corporate Outreach – Trees

 - Cathy Stevens conﬁrmed grant funding for the planƟng of 100 trees in private, non-
 residenƟal areas is back. Volunteers are needed to help idenƟfy businesses which would
 be eligible for tree planƟngs and to reach out to business owners to conﬁrm their
 interest and acceptance of new trees.
 - Chair Shuman and Commissioner Seville-Velasco were named as co-leads.
 - There was a discussion about whether to adverƟse this program through the Skokie
 NewsleƩer. Since this program is separate from the residenƟal parkway tree planƟngs,
 and promoƟon of this would need to be very clear on eligibility to avoid confusion from
 Skokie residents.

Inﬂuencing Village Rules

 - Vice Chair Sandler and Chair Shuman conﬁrmed as co-leads.
 - Next step is for the Commission to set prioriƟes and general direcƟon to the task group
 in a future meeƟng (March or April).

Pollinator Pathway/Village CerƟﬁcaƟon

 - Chair Shuman said she would reach out to the Sustainability Commission to learn more
 about their acƟviƟes and idenƟfy areas of synergy.

Chair Shuman closed the Task Tracker Review by asking Task Leads to ﬁll out a template for each
event, in preparaƟon for the March meeƟng. The template includes a list of parƟcipants,
general event info, acƟon items, and necessary materials.

 IV. Garden Walk Task Group Update
Commissioner Darr gave a presentaƟon of updates for the 2026 Garden Walk. The walk will be a
self-guided tour highlighƟng previous award winners, pending their parƟcipaƟon. A map of
gardens to visit will be posted online and will be able to be accessed via QR code.

There was a discussion about the need for Commission volunteers to be present at the gardens
to aid homeowners in hosƟng visitors. Some homeowners may want to have a commissioner act
as a co-host, or backup host if they are unavailable to parƟcipate themselves. No decision was
made at this meeƟng as to whether the commission will oﬀer, but the task group will consider
surveying homeowners on their level of interest.

Commissioner Rosenberg suggesƟng organizing the featured gardens in the walk to ensure a
more curated experience featuring the best gardens with a narraƟve to share. The task group
will be reaching out to the “Best Of” winners to conﬁrm their parƟcipaƟon before deciding on
how to organize the walk.

The task group oﬀered three potenƟal dates for the Garden Walk. The commission chose the
date of Sunday, July 12th. Per the Village calendar, no conﬂicƟng Village events were idenƟﬁed
with this date. AŌer a brief discussion, the Ɵmeframe of 10am-2pm was the preferred opƟon of
the commission.

 V. Award Criteria Task Group Update

Commissioner Darr gave a presentaƟon on proposed updates to the 2026 B&I Awards website,
criteria, and nominaƟon forms.

Proposed website changes include ﬂipping the layout of the current website to feature
informaƟon about the BeauƟﬁcaƟon Awards at the top of the page, below the current scroll of
2025 winner photos, and moving general commission informaƟon such as the list of
Commissioners lower on the page.

Further proposed changes to the website include ediƟng the current language to be more clear
and easy to read, adding a start date to accept submissions (June 15th), updaƟng broken
hyperlinks, and adding a speciﬁc call out to show our alignment with the Village’s Sustainability
AcƟon Plan.

Proposed changes to the Awards Criteria included:

  In the Design secƟon, the Layout, ProporƟon, and Harmony categories may be combined
 into the category of “AestheƟc Balance”.
  Color was may be updated to “Color PaleƩe”.
  The Plant Choices secƟon may be updated to include trees and shrubs, and a link to the
 Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ list of naƟve plants.
  Removing Hardscaping as part of the judging criteria in the Maintenance category.
 Discussion included the exact deﬁniƟon of hardscaping and whether it should be
 included in judging. Commissioner Roy asked for clariﬁcaƟon on whether Award Judges
 would be evaluaƟng cement work and paƟos in addiƟon to the garden. Chair Shuman
 reminded the commission that the overall appearance of the property has typically been
 a factor in judging.
  Landscaping may be updated to “Plant Care” and “Upkeep”.
  In the Special Awards secƟon, specifying requirements for Pollinator Pathway
 consideraƟon, with updated links to online resources for further informaƟon on the
 beneﬁts of pollinator friendly landscapes.
  Edible Garden may require a majority of plants in the garden to be edible.

Proposed changes to the submission form included:

  Change the Ɵtle of the submission form to “Entry Form” instead of “NominaƟon Form”,
 to emphasize that property owners/residents should be the ones submiƫng gardens for
 consideraƟon, rather than nominaƟng other properƟes.
  Include updates to clearer language, QR codes for easier access to links, add a secƟon
 for addiƟonal details to provide by the submiƩer, a request to parƟcipate in future
 garden walks, and a request for addiƟonal photos. Forester Stevens suggested requiring
 at least one photo of the full property/garden.

Commissioner Schrag has resigned from the Awards Judging task group due to other
commitments.

 VI. Report by Cathy Stevens, Assistant Director, Public Works

A guest speaker was invited by Public Works to speak at the next B&I Commission MeeƟng
about stormwater management and rain gardens. The Commission was asked to allow for extra
Ɵme to accommodate the speaker, which will take about 30 minutes including a Q&A session.

Cathy Stevens also oﬀered upcoming volunteer opportuniƟes through the Skokie Park District,
and asked for any commissioners interested in volunteer events to contact her.

 VII. Report by Trustee Liaison

The Trustee Liaison was not present.

 VIII. Old Business

None.

 IX. New Business
None.

 X. Public Comment

None.

 XI. Adjournment

A moƟon was made to adjourn, and was seconded. The meeƟng ended at 7:40pm.




SubmiƩed by: Commissioner Lucas Reczek.