Beautification and Improvement Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2024-08-01

Village of Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Agenda
August 1, 2024 from 6:30 to approx. 8 pm (okay if you need to leave at 7:30)
 Rooms D & E (upstairs)


 I. Approval of June 6, 2024 Minutes

 II. Skokie 4th of July Recap-Quane

 III. New Initiatives Committee-General Overview of Fall Activities

 IV. Education Committee: Brooke

 V. Fall Planting Update: Mike and Katy

 VI. Awards Program Update-Will & George

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

 VIII. Report (optional) by James Johnson, Trustee Liaison

 IX. Old Businesses

 X. New Business

 XI. Adjournment

Email me if you have an agenda item you would like to be considered for a future meeting.
Thanks.

Bob Quane, quane@siu.edu
847-271-3868

Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Minutes – August 1, 2024

Time: 6:38 p.m.
Place: Skokie Village Hall, Rooms D & E
Date: August 1, 2024

Commissioners Present: Vernell Ellison-Smith George Hubchak, Chuck Levine, Edward Potash,
Ross Del Rosario, Mike Madalinski, Katy Darr, Cathy Stevens, Bob Quane
Commissioners Absent: Sherwin Ditlove, William (Tony) Barney, James Johnson
Excused: Frederick Lisiewicz, Rachel Rosenberg, Mitchell Sandler, Valerie Shuman, William
Oney-Paige
Resigned: Brooke Sprague, William (Tony) Barney, Mike Madalinski



 I. Resignations
Bob Quane began the mee�ng by saying that board resigna�ons were not uncommon. William
(Tony) Barney needed to focus on his new business (making pot pies). Brooke Sprague’s work
obliga�ons had expanded. Bob had asked Mayor Van Dusen to replace the two recent
resigna�ons.

 II. Approval of June 6, 2024, Minutes-Bob Quane
Bob asked for the June 6, 2024, Mee�ng minutes to be accepted as read. Vernell Ellison-Smith
mo�oned for the minutes to be accepted. Sherwin Ditlove seconded the mo�on. Bob agreed to
accept the minutes, with one correc�on: Mitchell Sandler should be “Mitchell” throughout the
minutes, not “Mitch.”

 III. Skokie 4th of July Recap-Bob Quane
Bob said everybody did a great job on the 4th of July Parade. The Parade Float was a bucket ﬂoat;
everyone could just step curbside onto the Float. Candy was handed out; ﬁve people
(commissioners) signed up to be on the Float. Bob needed to tap email lists to get more people.
Seventeen people wound up being on the Float. Bob remarked that it was a struggle to get people
on the Float. Maybe having a ﬂoat for the 4th of July Parade should be reconsidered.

 IV. New Initiatives Committee - General Overview of Fall Activities
Bob said we needed to guard our own publicity. The strategy should be two-fold: Plant a tree and
submit a form and you would be in a drawing for a $100 gi� card in October. Bob said a tree-
plan�ng program should also be started. One person on each block should advocate for plan�ng
trees. The Skokie Scoop should be used for adver�sing for the next tree-plan�ng program. A free
tree-plan�ng program should be adver�sed. Cathy Stevens said that the grant had ﬁnally been
realized for plan�ng ﬁ�y trees at Skokie schools.




 1
 Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Minutes – August 1, 2024
 V. Education Committee-Bob Quane
Bob said that Rachel Rosenberg had taken leave from the Commission. Someone needed to be
the ac�ng chair for the Educa�on Commitee. Someone also needed to chair the Speaker
Program. Katy men�oned that master gardeners could also give presenta�ons.

VI. Fall Planting Update-Mike Madalinski and Katy Darr
Katy suggested September 29 or October 6, 2024, as dates for plan�ng na�ve plants. Help was
needed in mapping out the loca�on. Cathy said that an earlier date would be beter for ge�ng
plants more established.

VII. Awards Program-William Oney-Paige and George Hubchak
George said that July 15, 2024, was the deadline for turning in entries for the Awards Program.
Eighty entries were submited. George, Mike, Edward Potash, and Katy volunteered to be judges.
Bob would learn who the winners were at the September 1st Mee�ng. The Skokie Scoop Online
Newspaper would announce the Award winners. Yard signs could be le� with either person from
the winning household or le� at the door. Commission Members leaving the yard signs should be
wearing Commission vests.

 VIII. Report by Cathy Stevens, Assistant Director, Public Works
Cathy said that November 4 or October 21 would be possible dates for the Awards Program. The
Awards Program needed to be redesigned. There were twenty-three winners last year. George
said that the judgement session for the Award entries needed to be two hours. Cathy suggested
two dates for the Awards Program: October 21st or November 4th. Many members wanted
November 4th. Bob chose November 4th as the date for the Awards Program.

 IX. Adjournment
Chuck made a mo�on to adjourn the mee�ng; Katy seconded the mo�on. The mo�on to
adjourn the mee�ng passed without objec�ons. The Mee�ng adjourned at 7:31 p.m.



Submitted by Edward M. Potash

September 3, 2024




 2