Beautification and Improvement Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2024-09-05

Village of Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Agenda
September 5, 2024, from 6:30 to approx. 8 pm (okay if you need to leave at 7:30)
 Rooms D & E (upstairs)


 I. Approval of August 2024 Minute

 II. New Member, Brandan Munden-Bob

 III. New Initiatives Committee-Trees, Valarie & Bob

 IV. Education Committee, Spring event: Bob

 V. Fall Planting Project, September 29: Katy and Mike

 VI. Nov. 4 Awards Program and Winners-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 – September 5, 2024
Commissioners Present:
George Hubchak, Chuck Levine, Frederick Lisiewicz, Edward Potash, Mitchell Sandler, Valerie
Shuman, Ross Del Rosario, Bob Quane, Katy Darr, Cathy Stevens, Mike Madalinski

Commissioners Absent:
James Johnson Sherwin Ditlove, Vernell Ellison-Smith, Rachel Rosenberg, William Oney-Paige

Bob Quane called the mee�ng to order at 6:36 pm. There was a correc�on of the Mee�ng Minutes
for August 2024: Mike Madalinski did not resign. The Commission approved the August Mee�ng
minutes. Bob Quane announced a new mee�ng member: Brandon Munden. Brandon said he was
an engineer and worked with plas�cs and metal. A neighbor encouraged him to work with the
government. So, he joined our commission. Each member introduced themselves to Brandon.

New Initiatives
Valerie Shuman inquired about parkway tree backlogs.

Cathy Stevens sent out two hundred applica�ons; she had 194 trees. They needed to send the
applica�ons to her. Many parkway trees were replacements. The Applicant list had automa�c
loca�ons on the List.

Fred Lisiewicz said he s�ll had two trees that were three or four feet tall; they were swamp white
oaks.

Bob said Edward Potash told him about the results for the winner of the trees. If there was no
response, he should tell Bob, and they would get two new takers for the trees.

Bob and Rachel were on leave, so the Educa�on Chair was s�ll absent. It was too late to get a
speaker for Fall 2024. But Bob would try to get a speaker for February, March, and April.

Katy Darr said Piso, a landscaping company, might want to send a representa�ve speaker. Cathy
said she would check with Liz Zimmerman on that. Katy said the date for the Fall plan�ng projects
was September 29, 2024. Cathy said we had many extra plants; Piso would agree to plan�ng the
plants. The plan�ng was scheduled for 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

George Hubchak thanked the judges who par�cipated in the evalua�on of the entrees for the
Beau�ﬁca�on awards. He praised Cathy and Marcus (Intern) for gathering informa�on on the
eighty entrees.

Chuck Levine said he averaged the scores from the judges and dropped the weakest score. There
were twenty-eight winners. The address of 4225 Lee Street was clear and above the best entry
(chosen by Mike Madalinski).
 Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Minutes – September 5, 2024
Bob said the Commission had sent out honorable men�ons in the past. The Commission should
con�nue doing that for par�cipants. The Commission needed volunteers to distribute
congratula�ons and awards signs to winners. Bob encouraged members to pick up signs before
they le� the mee�ng for distribu�on to the winners.

Bob said no na�ve plants could be given away at the ceremony (November 4, 2024). Succulents
(indoor plants) could be given away.

Cathy said they would be reaching their goal of plan�ng 480 trees this year.

Bob said they needed to think of a diﬀerent date for the October Mee�ng, owing to Rosh
Hashanah [the Jewish New Year]. October 7th was possible. Bob would suggest that to the mayor
and other village representa�ves.

Mike Madalinski asked if the Commission would have an oﬃcial tree or pollinator for Skokie. Bob
said that was an idea he had suggested. Cathy said the topic of an oﬃcial tree or pollinator was
not very popular, as there was so much else going on. Edward said the topic might be divisive.

Valerie said the New Ini�a�ves Group should be planning a mee�ng for September or October
2024.

Bob introduced a mo�on to adjourn the Mee�ng. Mitchell Sandler supported the mo�on; Valerie
seconded the mo�on.

The Mee�ng adjourned at 7:39 p.m.

Submited by Edward M. Potash

December 1, 2024