Board of Health — Skokie, IL
Date: 2014-06-12

Skokie Board of Health
 June 12, 2014
 7:30 p.m.
 AGENDA
 U




 I. Call to Order


 II. Approval of Minutes


 III. Carrie Haberstich, AICP
 Planner/CDBG Administrator
 Department of Community Development
 Village of Skokie Bike Plan


 IV. Chair’s Report


 V. Personal Statements


 VI. Director’s Monthly Report


 VII. Community Health Plan Initiatives Updates


 VIII. Adjournment/Next Meeting:


 Thursday, September 11, 2014

 See you then!

 7:30 p.m.
 Skokie Village Hall
 Annex Room



452820 v.2

Skokie Board of Health
 June 12, 2014


Present Excused
Mr. Abbasi Dr. Prince Ms. Nickisch Duggan
Dr. Drachler Dr. Sood Dr. Herwitz
Dr. Gaynes Ms. Jones Thorne Dr. Luka
Ms. Langguth Dr. Topouzian Dr. Williams
Mr. Nidetz Ms. Urbanus
Mr. Pandya Dr. Usman
Dr. Plotkin Ms. Varma
Dr. Polin Dr. Veis


Guests
Carrie Haberstitch, Department of Community Development, Planning Division

Dr. Counard, Director of Health
David Clough, Staff

Call to Order - The meeting was called to order at 7:39 p.m. following the Board of Health annual group
picture by Dr. Drachler, Chairman.

Approval of Minutes –The minutes of the previous meeting were approved.

Dr. Counard introduced Ms. Haberstitch.

Carrie Haberstich, Update on Bicycle Facilities
Ms. Haberstitch provided an overview of types of bicycle facilities, Skokie’s bicycle facility plans, and
current status of bicycle facility development. A copy of the presentation is attached.

Types of Bicycle Facilities used in Skokie:
 • Bike routes – A road shared by cars and bikes that is marked by signage.
 • Bike lanes – A road where pavement markings designate a specific lane for bikes.
 • Bike/Multi-Use paths – Independent paths for bikes, runners, skaters, etc. that are separate from
 the street and not used by cars.

Types of Bicycle Facilities not currently used or planned for in Skokie:
 • Sharrows – Wide curb lanes with bicycle markings but no pavement stripe creating a separate
 lane.
 • Protected Bike lanes – A blocked lane for bicycle traffic with bollards, striped pavement and
 possible outside parallel parking between bikes and traffic. These are not currently being
 considered in Skokie because automobile traffic would have to be redirected to make room.

The Northwest Municipal Conference Bicycle Plan
This plan was adopted in December of 2010 to coordinate bike plans between multiple communities in
the Northwest Suburbs. Coordinating efforts between multiple communities increase grant opportunities
to develop bicycle facilities. Skokie’s bicycle parking facility zoning codes are featured in the plan.
Village of Skokie Bicycle Facility Plan
Ms. Haberstitch presented a map of bike lanes, bike routes, and multi-use paths in the Village.
Completed bicycle facilities were marked with solid lines and proposed bike lanes were marked with
dotted lines. Planned start and completion dates were also displayed on proposed bike lanes.

Timeline:
 2014 – A multi-use path will be constructed in front of the new Walmart development on Touhy
 2015 – Bike lanes will be added on Main Street and a segment of Old Orchard Road
 - Maintenance will be performed on the Sculpture Park path
 - A multi-use path will be constructed on Howard between East Prairie and McCormick
 - Complete path between Oakton and Jarvis (see below)
 2016 – Bikes lanes will be added on Gross Point Road between Golf and Old Orchard
 2018 – Bike lanes will be added on Church Street.

Skokie Valley Trail
Skokie has partnered will a number of other suburban municipalities and counties to complete this
proposed trail which will reach from Chicago to the Wisconsin border. The Planning and Health
Departments have partnered to apply for grants used to fund the initial phases of construction for the
Skokie portion of the trail. In 2012 a one mile segment of the trail between Dempster and Oakton was
constructed. Construction of the segment from Oakton to Jarvis is planned for 2014. Funding is currently
being sought to complete the segments from Golf to Dempster and Central to Golf.

Building the trail required a recreational lease with ComEd which took two years to negotiate. The final
price for the 20 year lease was $1.00 with an option to renew in five year increments. There are various
neighborhood connections planned for the trail including one linking to Oakton Community College.

Ms. Haberstitch concluded by showing the Board of Health where links to bicycling information could be
found on the Village website and showing pictures of the new bike racks that were put up this Fall.

Mr. Veis asked if they would consider putting up reminder signs about bike rider etiquette. He has
experienced some issues with bike riders not sharing the paths carefully with pedestrians, which is
dangerous for individuals who can’t move quickly. Ms. Haberstitch replied that the police department
has a bike safety day but agreed that some signage could help.

Mr. Abbasi asked if the bike paths were wide enough for two bikes to ride side by side. Ms. Haberstitch
replied that the paths were ten feet wide but technically they were not designed for two bikes to be able to
ride in either direction. Mr. Abbasi asked if there were any plans for water fountains along the path. Ms.
Haberstitch replied that they were looking into a water bottle filling station and drinking fountain.

Dr. Drachler asked if there was some way to encourage people to park their car and then use their bicycles
to go shopping. Ms. Haberstitch replied that they don’t have a designated parking area for that but she
would float the idea in the planning department. Dr. Topouzian pointed out that carrying items purchased
on the bike might be an obstacle to this.

Dr. Drachler inquired if there was a way to get a north/south bike route straight down the center of
Skokie. Ms. Haberstitch pointed out that the location of the Evanston Golf Club necessitates alternate
routes to bypass it.

Dr. Gaynes suggested putting the bike trail map on signs in locations throughout Skokie. He believes this
would offer a clearer path then the bike route signs currently posted. He also pointed out that the
sidewalk on Skokie Blvd. between Oakton and Howard is extremely dangerous due to the lack of any
barrier between the sidewalk and the street. Mrs. Haberstitch stated she would bring this idea up to
engineering.

Dr. Usman asked if small motorized bikes would be allowed on the paths. Ms. Haberstitch replied that
she was envisioning only non-motorized vehicles but she would check Village code to see if those were
technically allowed.

Dr. Prince asked about access to Old Orchard as he sometimes would like to bike there but finds the
traffic too dangerous. Ms. Haberstitch replied that a bike path connecting Gross Point and Skokie Blvd to
Old Orchard is planned for 2015.

Chair’s Report
Dr. Drachler presented two options for dates to have the Board of Health dinner. August 21st was
selected. Mr. Pandya suggested the Skokie Club and offered to speak with the restaurant owner. Dr.
Drachler pointed out that the owner used to be a member of the Board of Health. Mr. Pandya agreed to
speak with the restaurant owner and negotiate separate checks.

Personal Statements
No new personal statements.

Personal Statements
No new personal statements.

Directors Monthly Report – a copy is attached
• Tobacco Cessation and Mental Health - Developing a program for Turning Point
 The Department is working closely with Turning Point staff to develop a tobacco cessation program
 for Turning Point clients. This will be a first for the facility, and is a goal of the Skokie Community
 2012 Health Plan. David Clough, Susan Reisberg, Dr. Counard and Turning Point staff participated
 in a day-long seminar on mental health and tobacco cessation at Loyola University Medical Center as
 part of the process. Funding for the program will be provided through an Illinois Tobacco-Free
 Communities grant. We are collaborating with the Cook County Department of Public Health to fund
 this project.

• Childhood obesity project – met with District 69 Superintendent
 Another Community Health Plan priority is to systematically collect obesity data from school
 physical forms at all Skokie public schools with a Kindergarten, 6th, or 9th grade (the required years
 for school physicals). It is important to have local data in order to respond appropriately. The Centers
 for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a tool for collecting aggregate data (age, height,
 weight and sex) from school physical examination forms. No personal information will be collected
 that could identify specific students. Nurse Susan Reisberg and Dr. Counard met with the Dr.
 Quentin Shepherd, Superintendent of District 69, to begin the process. We next plan to ask Districts
 73 ½ and 65 to participate next.

• Neighborhood Integrity
 Bruce Jones, Environmental Health Supervisor, presented during the first Neighborhood Integrity
 Ordinance Seminar given to a small group of rental property owners and Village Environmental
 Health & Property Standards Staff. This important program is off to a good start!

Dr. Drachler asked how large a building you needed to do the property rental training. Dr. Counard
reported that anyone renting any property would do the training. There is a nominal fee of $25 per unit
rented but after three years without any problems the fee would be waived.
Dr. Drachler asked if other municipalities were doing this and Dr. Counard reported that while other
municipalities have programs like this we are the first in Northern Cook County.

Ms. Jones Thorne asked if there is a point of contact for renters who believe there is a health problem in
their building. Dr. Counard reported that there is a web based reporting form for renters to fill out that
goes to the Village. Ms. Jones Thorne suggested promoting that resource by publishing an article in New
Skokie because some renters might be unaware of their options.

Community Health Plan
Dr. Drachler reported that some new members have been added to the IPLAN committee. Mark
Schroeder, Head of Public Relations from North Shore Health Care Systems will be joining the
committee. Additionally, the head social worker from Niles Township and the Community School
Manager from District 69 will be joining.

• Access to Healthcare
 Dr. Drachler reported making frequent use of Erie Evanston/Skokie Family Health Center as a
 referral source, and that feedback from patients has been positive. Dr. Drachler also suggested
 inviting Asian Human Services to speak to the Board of Health in the fall.

• Obesity Prevention
 Dr. Drachler mentioned that he is pleased the BMI data is being collected from schools. He is also
 working on getting a speaker on postpartum obesity treatment to present to the Board of Health.

• Tobacco Use Prevention
 Dr. Drachler shared a news report that high school smoking is under 16% for the first time in decades
 but e-cigarette and cigar usage are up.

 Mr. Pandya reported that he has had multiple patients show up with e-cigarettes and report that they
 were using them instead of smoking. These patients showed no sign of understanding that they could
 benefit from quitting e-cigarettes as well.

• Healthy Environment
 Mrs. Langguth presented a summary of the North Shore University Health System’s Green Team.
 The hospital has been discussing environmentally sound practices. For example, there is a paper
 reduction committee and there are full time environmental staff dedicated to these efforts. Mrs.
 Langguth plans to bring more information about these efforts to future meetings.

Old Business
Dr. Drachler asked about the results of the gun sales ordinance. Dr. Counard reported that the ordinance
passed and the specifics were available on the Village website.

New Business
Pat Urbanus shared an article from the Pioneer Press on the walking group that was initiated in Evanston.
She also shared an article about a synagogue that had a textile recycling program. This program allowed
all clothing to be donated regardless of usability.

Adjournment The meeting adjourned at 8:52 p.m.