Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2026-03-24

Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission
 AGENDA

 March 24, 2026 | 7:00 pm
 Village Hall Room D/E
 Public Comments: sustainability@skokie.org

  I. Approval of Minutes
 a. SEAC Meeting 02/24/2026

  II. Old Business

 a. Call for Volunteers
 b. Edible garden maintenance ordinance
 c. Review of Sustainability Plan Sector Liaisons
 d. Residential Sustainability Awards


 III. New Business
 a. Welcome Commissioner Trudy Turner
 b. Interacting with other Commissions
 c. Removing the “Green Globes” designation for new construction from action item
 BE 1-4.


 IV. Other business
  V. Public Comment
 VI. Next meeting: May 19, 2026




Doc#: 626403, Version:1

Sustainable Environmental Advisory Commission
March 24, 2026 Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:03 PM in Conference Room D/E at Skokie Village Hall Present:
Vice Chair Jim McNelis; Commissioners Christopher Buccola, Michael Gershbein, Lisa Gotkin,
Lauren Grodnicki, liaison to Go Green Skokie, Emily Okallau, Robert Render, Charles Saxe, Trudy
Turner; Staff Liaisons Lisa Sanzenbacher, Sustainability Coordinator, Elizabeth Zimmerman,
Assistant to the Director of Public Works, Patrick Hastings, Public Works Director; Trustee Liasion
Lissa Levy

Absent (Excused): Chairperson Jennifer Grossman, Commissioners Andrew DeCanniere, Olivia
Mahoney, and Ryan Tappel

 I. Approval of Minutes
 There was a motion to approve the SEAC meeting minutes from 02/24/2026 from
 Commissioner Gotkin and seconded by C. Okallau. Motion passed.

  II. Old Business
 Discussed upcoming events including Spring Greening and the Energy resource fairs in
 April, as well as a table at the Skokie Farmers’ Market in June. New request from the
 mayor to have representation from all commissions for the Fourth of July Parade.
 Commissioners are to register by April 20. Staff Liaison Sanzenbacher passed out flyers for
 the upcoming Energy and Home Repair Resource fair and requested Commissioners
 distribute amongst the community.

 Discussed edible and native gardens. SEAC to review landscaping ordinance and other best
 practices for proper garden maintenance. Commissioners Gotkin and Okallau to get
 information.

 Reviewed commission rules and membership information. Commissioner Turner to act as
 sector liaison to the Health and Safety Sector.

 Reviewed the Residential Sustainability Awards. Updated the form with additional
 categories to focus on. Discussed communication plans for the awards.

 III. New Business
 New Commissioner Trudy Turner was welcomed and introduced herself and why she
 decided to join SEAC. New staff liaison Patrick Hastings introduced himself as the Director
 of Public Works and resident of Skokie.

 Clarification was given as how commissions are to interact with each other. SEAC
 members are welcome to join other Boards and Commission meetings as members of the
 public. Community Development Director to advise SEAC at a later meeting.

 Discussions regarding appropriate green building certification options for developments
 and will have more information about the various certification bodies at subsequent
 meeting.
IV. Other business
 Commissioners discussed upcoming events and anti-idling policies.

V. Public Comment
 There were no public comments

VI. Next meeting: May 19, 2026. Motion to adjourn by C. Okallau, and seconded by C.
 Gershbein at 8:237pm. Motion passes.