Village Seal Committee — Skokie, IL
Date: 2024-09-20

Agenda
 Village Seal Committee
 September 20, 2024 – 8:30 a.m.
 Village Hall, Conference Room A (1st floor)


 1. Review: Minutes from August 30 meeting
 2. Review design and border options
 3. Discuss community engagement
 4. Set date for next meeting
 5. Adjourn




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Village Seal Committee
September 20, 2024 Meeting Minutes
In attendance: Maria Monastero Bueno, Jasmine Gurneau, Trustee Khem Khoeun, Sheila Crumrine,
Thom DiMario (virtual), Emily England, Joe Hibdon, Dick Witry, Patrick Deignan, Alex Franz, Amanda
Sabri

Review Minutes from August 30, 2024 meeting

 • Minutes approved

Discuss Community Engagement

 • Patrick shared dates for upcoming Village Board meetings for the Committee to potentially
 provide a progress update and present a proposed design. Dates included October 21
 (preferred) or November 4.
 • The Committee discussed what public feedback would be valuable and important to solicit after
 presenting a proposed design. Sheila and Trustee Khoeun recalled the Village’s past community
 engagement efforts on other issues, and discussed if any insights could be applied to this
 project. Patrick agree to develop draft survey questions with Overbite Studio and Bumper Lanes
 for the group to review and discuss at the next meeting.
 • The group discussed the length of time the Committee would be provided to share progress and
 present a proposed design at the Village Board meeting. Patrick shared that typical
 presentations ranged from 5 to 15 minutes. The group agreed that it would be important for the
 Committee to be allotted time to share the entire story, from the review and ultimate decision
 to replace the current Village seal to arriving at and explaining a proposed design.
 • Dick suggested determining as soon as possible whether adopting a final seal design would
 require one or two readings from the Village Board. Patrick agreed to check with the Village’s
 Law Department.
 • Patrick shared additional community engagement and education opportunities, including
 creating a video detailing the proposed design and inspiration, providing a one-page fact sheet
 explaining the various design elements, sharing a press release and survey, meeting with Village
 staff, presenting an update to the Chicago American Indian Community Collaborative, posting a
 summary of community survey results, as well as possible opportunities for in-person
 engagement at the Skokie Farmers’ Market on October 27 or November 3.
 • Maria inquired if there were any late fall or winter community events planned where the
 Committee could have a presence. In the absence of a pre-existing event, the group agreed that
 a standalone event might be needed.
 • Jasmine shared that November is Native American Heritage Month, which could be an
 opportune time for additional public engagement and/or to adopt the final seal design.

Review design and border options

 • Joe emphatically shared that broadleaf cattails were indeed native to the Skokie area, even
 though some newer varieties are invasive. Patrick informed the committee that he also
 discussed this with a local landscaping expert, who confirmed that broadleaf cattails were
 indeed native. He planned an additional conversation with the Chicago Botanical Gardens.


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 • Overbite Studio presented updated Village Seal border and lettering options.
 • The group unanimously agreed that the Futura font was preferred over Times New Roman,
 Tahoma, or Helvetica.
 • The group reviewed border design options, including several braided and Native applique
 designs. The group unanimously preferred the cleaner, less busy design without a decorated
 border.
 • The group discussed what words should be included in the border design, including
 “Wabskoke,” “1888,” and “Illinois.” Overbite Studio agreed to provide updated options with
 different variations, while Bumper Lanes would confirm the correct Native word for Skokie.
 • Amanda, Maria and Patrick shared concerns that some elements did not come through as
 clearly in the black and white version of the design. Overbite Studio agreed to work on
 additional options, including filling in or shading areas.

 Next meeting steps

 • The next meeting date was set for October 4, 8:30 a.m., at Village Hall




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