Board of Trustees — Skokie, IL
Date: 2026-04-27

REVISED

 Village of Skokie
 FY27 Budget Hearings
 Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street
 Conference Room D & E

 MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026 - 6:15 PM

 Municipal Finances 101 and Budget Overview
 Review of Budgets:
 Board of Trustees/Liquor Control Commission
 Village Clerk
 Corporation Counsel
 Finance Department
 Public Comment
 Closed Session (Wage & Benefit):
 Pursuant to Section 2, Paragraph C.2 of the State of Illinois Open Meetings Act,
 a closed session is requested to discuss wage & benefit of all Village employees
 and to adjourn therefrom.


 THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2026 – 6:15 PM

 Review of Budgets:
 Administration
 Police Department
 Board of Fire & Police Commission
 Public Works/Capital Improvement Program
 Public Comment


 REVISED: TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 2026 – 7:00 PM

 Review of Budgets:
 Fire Department
 Community Development
 Economic Vitality/TIF
 Health and Human Services
 Public Comment


 REVISED: MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2026 - 6:15 PM

 Review of Budgets:
 Boards and Commissions
 Budget Discussion
 Performing Arts Center
 Grant Programming
 Public Comments
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Village of Skokie Board of Trustees
Budget Hearing #4 Meeting Minutes
April 27, 2026 | 6:15 p.m.
Conference Room D & E or Village of Skokie YouTube Channel
5127 Oakton St., Skokie, IL 60077

The Village’s FY27 Proposed Budget and Budget Message, a detailed summary of the budget,
are available for review on the Village’s website, www.skokie.org/budget. Annually, the Village
Board reviews the budget at four public budget hearings. These hearings are open to the public
and also are streamed live and archived on the Village’s YouTube channel.

Call to Order
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Tennes. Mayor Tennes asked if there were any
objections to Trustees Kimani Levy and Pure Slovin participating remotely. Hearing none, she
confirmed that Trustees Kimani Levy and Pure Slovin would participate remotely.

Roll Call/Declaration of Quorum
In attendance: Trustees Lissa Levy, Pure Slovin, Kimani Levy, Schechter, Robinson and Mayor
Tennes. Also present was Deputy Corporation Counsel, Barb Mangler, Village Clerk Minal Desai,
Village Manager, John Lockerby, Assistant Village Manager, Nick Wyatt, and Assistant to the
Village Manager, Alex Franz.

Not in Attendance: Trustee Iverson.

Review of Budgets
 I. Human Relations Commission
 Vice Chair, Sheila Crumrine, and Staff Liaison, Amanda Sabri, presented the FY27
 Human Relations Commission budget and accomplishments from the prior year.
 Mayor Tennes thanked the commission for their work. Trustee Lissa Levy asked if
 the budget request reflects the needs of the community given the recent incidents
 of hate. Vice-chair Crumrine explained that the budget is sufficient. Trustees
 Robinson and Pure Slovin commended the Commission for their work. Trustee
 Schechter noted the upcoming items that the Commission will be tasked with and
 suggested additional funding. Mayor Tennes noted the likelihood of an intern
 through the Simon Wiesenthal Center who will assist in some of the workload.

 II. Board of Health
 Chair, Dr. Edward Linn, Vice-chair, Sibyl Yau, and Staff Liaison, Mike Charley,
 presented the FY27 Board of Health budget and accomplishments from the prior
 year. Mayor Tennes commended the Medical Reserve Corp.




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 III. Commission on Family Services
 Chair, Harold Primack, and Staff Liaison, Melissa Versch, presented the FY27
 Commission on Family Services budget and highlights from FY26. Trustee Robinson
 suggested collaborating with the Evanston Township High School Abilities
 Conference. Trustee Schechter asked how the Youth Commission will work with the
 Commission on Family Services. Mayor Tennes explained the role of the Youth
 Commission and possible future collaborations. Trustee Kimani Levy noted her
 appreciation for the work of the Commission.

 IV. Plan Commission
 Chair, Paul Luke, and Staff Liaison, Johanna Nyden, presented the FY27 Plan
 Commission budget and accomplishments from the prior year. Trustee Schechter
 suggested including an objective to revise the findings of fact sections of the Plan
 Commission reports to include the sustainability plan and housing chapter. Trustee
 Lissa Levy asked how the recommendations from Matrix report would impact the
 Plan Commission budget. Johanna noted that the impacts would largely be seen by
 staff and explained the increases in the budget. Trustee Robinson acknowledged the
 hard work of the Commission.

 V. Zoning Board of Appeals
 Chair, Brian O’Donnell, and Staff Liaison, Brian Augustine, presented the FY27 Zoning
 Board of Appeals budget and accomplishments from FY26. Trustee Schechter asked
 if recent changes to the zoning code would have an impact on the Zoning Board of
 Appeals. Brian noted that it will have a small impact. Mayor Tennes noted the
 impact a prior change in the code relating to fences made.

 VI. Appearance Commission
 Vice-chair, Thomas DaMario, and Staff Liaison, Angel Schnur, presented the FY27
 Appearance Commission budget and highlights from the prior year. Mayor Tennes
 asked what was the most challenging case before the Commission. Vice-chair
 DaMario noted the 4600 Main Street development. Mayor Tennes thanked the Vice-
 chair for his leadership.

 VII. Public Safety Commission
 Chair, Melissa Villegas, and Staff Liaison, Russ Rietveld, presented the FY27 Public
 Safety budget and accomplishments from the prior year. Trustee Schechter inquired
 about civil immigration actions in the Village and the Commissions role. Chair
 Villegas explained that the Commission receives reports from the Police
 Department. Mayor Tennes noted past collaborations between the Public Safety and
 Human Relations Commissions and possible future collaborations between the two
 on immigration enforcement and hate incidents. Trustee Kimani Levy asked about
 the membership dues line item. Chair Villegas noted it is for supplies.




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 VIII. Fine Arts Commission
 Chair, Ellen Blum Barish, and Staff Liaison, Meredith Gioia, presented the FY27 Fine
 Arts Commission budget and accomplishments from FY26. Mayor Tennes thanked
 the Commission for their work. Trustee Schechter asked what the budgeted
 contractual and professional services were. Meredith detailed the expenses of the
 Commission. Trustee Schechter asked why grant expenses weren’t labeled as
 “Grants.” Nick noted the restrictions of BS&A when labeling ledger accounts. Trustee
 Schechter asked about accessibility to The Storefront. Meredith explained the
 accessibility of the building.

 IX. Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Chair, Valerie Shuman, and Staff Liaison, Cathy Stevens, presented the FY27
 Beautification and Improvement Budget and highlights from the prior year. Mayor
 Tennes commended the Commission for their work. Trustee Schechter shared the
 success of her native garden and asked about the role of the commission in
 alleviating litter. Mayor Tennes noted that the Public Safety Commission had worked
 on litter in the past. John noted the Village’s programs on reducing litter and will
 provide a summary of what has been done. Mayor Tennes commended the
 commission on their upcoming garden walk.

 X. Budget Discussion
 Trustee Schechter asked about the Village’s lobbyist pilot program. Mayor Tennes
 explained the history of the program, the competitive process for selecting a
 lobbyist and provided a status update.

 XI. Performing Arts Center
 Executive Director of the North Shore Center for the Performing Arts, Lynn Cannon,
 Regional Vice President of VenuWorks, H.R. Cook, Chief Operating Officer, Mike
 Silva, and Staff Liaison, Alex Franz, presented the FY27 Performing Arts Center
 budget and accomplishments from the prior year. Trustee Lissa Levy asked how a
 naming rights sponsor would be selected. Mayor Tennes and Lynn explained that the
 Village would have final approval. Trustee Schechter asked how the Center was able
 to break the national trend of declining ticket sales. Lynn noted the increased
 marketing efforts. Trustee Robinson commended staff for their work on the dance
 recitals.

 XII. Grants Programming
 Assistant to the Village Manager, Alex Franz, presented the FY27 Grants
 Programming budget.

Public Comment
James Cardasus commended the Village for the mural at Kilpatrick and Oakton. He also spoke
on the upcoming road work on Oakton Street and business vacancies in the area. Mayor Tennes
noted Diana’s Bridal as being a destination for shoppers.




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New Business
Mayor Tennes asked if the Board was interested in meeting only once in July and August during
the second meetings of both months. The Board agreed so long as there is flexibility to meet at
the first meeting, if needed.

Trustee Lissa Levy asked what the Board can do to address incidents of hate. Mayor Tennes
noted three upcoming meetings; one between the Village, Park District, Skokie Police
Department and Jewish community to address safety in parks, one between the Village, School
Districts, and Jewish community, and the regularly scheduled Faith Leaders meeting. She
further noted that the Human Relations Commission is working on the issue. Trustee Robinson
noted that the end of the school year is approaching if the Village wants to engage with youth.
Mayor Tennes noted the work that is being done to train camp counselors and life guards.
Trustee Schechter noted the positive feedback that was expressed at the last Human Relations
Commission meeting on the Village’s response to the recent hate incidents. Trustee Pure Slovin
noted the on-going advocacy that is occurring in the Jewish Community.

Trustee Schechter asked about the Yellow Line and if the CTA would give a report to the Village.
Mayor Tennes said she will try to schedule a presentation at a June Board meeting. Trustee
Lissa Levy asked if the Village could resume conversations on extending the Yellow Line to Old
Orchard. Mayor Tennes noted that these conversations had begun and provided a brief history.

Adjournment
Motion to adjourn 8:35 p.m.

Moved: Trustee Lissa Levy
Seconded: Trustee Schechter
Ayes: Lissa Levy, Kimani Levy, Schechter, Pure Slovin and Robinson
Nays: None.
Absent: Trustee Iverson
MOTION CARRIED




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