Beautification and Improvement Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2026-01-08

Village of Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Agenda
 January 8, 2026 from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
 Room D & E (upstairs)


I. Approve December Minutes

II. 2026 Planning – Making Decisions (Activities & Task Leads)

III. Garden Walk Task Group Update

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

V. Report (optional), Trustee Liaison

VI. Old Business

VII. New Business

VIII. Public Comment

IX. Adjournment

Village of Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission
 Meeting Minutes
 January 8, 2026, 6:30 PM


 Commission Members Present Commission Members Not Present

 Valerie Shuman, Chair Ross Del Rosario


 Mitchell Sandler, Vice Chair Vernell Ellison-Smith


 Katy Darr Charles Levine


 Sherwin Ditlove Brandon Munden


 Mike Madalinski Edward Potash


 Erin Maxen-Lewis Ron Schrag


 Lucas Reczek Rachel Rosenberg


 Celeste Roy


 Gary Schwarz


 Tina Seville Velasco




Also present was Cathy Stevens, Village Forester.

The meeting began at 6:37 PM.

  I. Approval of December 4, 2025 Minutes

Commissioner Madalinski made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Vice Chair
Sandler. Approved by voice vote.

Chair Shuman informed the Commissioners of a seed swap event with Go Green Mount
Prospect. Commissioners were encouraged to participate, if their schedule allows.
Commissioner Maxen-Lewis shared that there is also a seed swap event at the Chicago Botanic
Gardens. Commissioners were encouraged to also attend this event.
 II. 2026 Planning – Making Decisions (Activities & Task Leads)

Chair Shuman reviewed the decisions of last month’s Beautification and Improvement
Commissions meeting in regard to the overall goals of the Commission being “More Trees,
More Natives, More Wings” along with the associated events and initiatives discussed. Chair
Shuman asked that the Commission review each event at this meeting and assign two team
leads for each of the 2026 initiatives. The following task force leads and support Commissioners
were agreed upon:

Library Speaker Series
 Lead: Commissioner Rosenberg
 Co-Lead: Commissioner Roy
 Support: Commissioners Seville Velasco and Del Rosario

Arbor Day
 Lead: Village Forester Stevens
 Co-Lead: Commissioner Reczek

There was a brief discussion on the tasks needed for Arbor Day preparation. These include
coordinating with the Mayor and school principal as well as deciding upon what tree-related
books will be donated by the Beautification Commission to the school. Preparation for this event
will need to begin soon to meet the event date.

Demonstration Plantings and Weeding
 Lead: Commissioner Darr
 Co-Lead: Commissioner Madalinski
 Support: Commissioners Del Rosario, Seville Velasco and Rosenberg

Festival of Cultures
 Lead: Commissioner Seville Velasco
 Co-Lead: Commissioner Madalinski

There was a brief discussion on the dates of the Festival of Cultures and that support from
many Commissioners will be needed to ensure adequate staffing at the booth.

Chair Shuman reminded the Commissioners that we must refrain from inadvertently triggering a
meeting in accordance with the Open Meetings Act and that task teams must be limited to 5 or
fewer Commissioners. Task teams are intended to bring forth items for approval and discussion
to the Commission and act upon that approval in-between meetings. Chair Shuman suggested
that the task teams establish regular days to meet between meetings.

Garden Walk
 Lead: Commissioner Schrag
 Co-Lead: Commissioner Darr
 Support: Commissioners Seville Velasco and Schwarz

There was a brief discussion on limiting concrete in front of businesses and how the
Commission can get involved in the process of enforcement.

Chair Shuman informed the Commissioners that she will circulate the list of all initiatives to all
Commissioners via email, should Commissioners who are not present be interested in signing
up for the initiatives.

Awards Judging
 Lead: Commissioner Darr
 Co-Leads: Commissioner Seville Velasco and Maxen-Lewis

4th of July
 Lead: Commissioner Schwarz
 Co-Lead: Commissioner Levine

There was a brief discussion on purchasing a float for the parade. Chair Shuman noted that at
the December meeting, the Commission discussed simply walking in the parade instead of
purchasing a float. Commissioner Schwarz agreed that walking without a float would be a viable
option. Commissioner Madalinski noted that it has been fun to walk alongside the float with our
butterfly wings on, that the float was not necessary in the past, and that he would prefer the
Commission spend more money on stickers and candy to pass out to patrons of the parade and
additional wings for Commissioners walking.

Chair Shuman asked for a motion to suspend purchasing a float for the 4th of July parade.
Commissioner Madalinski made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Commissioner
Seville Velasco. Approved by voice vote.

Chair Shuman noted to Commissioner Schwarz that the Commission may need to register early
to share our intent to walk with the parade organizers.

Awards Reception

There was a brief discussion that Commissioner Ellison-Smith normally assists with the
reception and may want to act as the lead for this task force. Chair Shuman noted that since we
have some time before this, she will circulate all of the events and initiatives via email to the
Commissioners to ask if anyone would like to act as team lead or support for this event, as well
as all others.

Chair Shuman informed the Commission that she had created a draft task list and overview of
things to consider for each event. This will be circulated to all Commissioners via email.
Commissioners are encouraged to volunteer during any one of the events.

Chair Shuman shared with the Commission the other items that the Commission had expressed
interest in and asked what the bandwidth of the Commission is to perform some of these
initiatives. These initiatives include school outreach, tightening Awards rules, Commercial
Development regulations, beehive ordinances and no mow may. The Commission expressed
interest on all of these initiatives again and so task leads and additional discussion will need to
be had.

Awards Rules Review
 Lead: Commissioner Darr
 Co-Leads: Commissioner Madalinski
 Support: Commissioners Schrag, Seville Velasco and Roy

Chair Shuman shared that before making recommendations to ordinance changes, she wants to
get a pulse on the Village Board's appetite to make changes. As such, she will connect with the
Beautification and Improvement Commissions Trustee Liaison to see if this would be supported
at the Board level and return to the Commission with an update.

 III. Garden Walk Task Group Update

None.

 IV. Report by Cathy Stevens, Village Forester, Public Works

None.

  V. Report by Trustee Liaison

The Trustee Liaison was not present.

 VI. Old Business

None.

VII. New Business

The Commission briefly discussed potential noise ordinances for gas powered lawn equipment.
Commissioner Madalinski shared that he would be happy to lead certain community outreach
initiatives with schools and scout groups as he was an Eagle Scout.

VIII. Adjournment
Commissioner Roy made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Darr. The meeting
ended at 7:35 PM.




Submitted by: Commissioner Katy Darr