Consumer Affairs Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2024-03-06

Village of Skokie
 Consumer Affairs Commission
 Wednesday, March 6, 2024
 6:30 P.M.
 Skokie Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie IL, Conference Room A




 I. CALL MEETING TO ORDER I DECLARATION OF QUOURM

 TI. INTRODUCTIONS
 a. Members of the Consumer Affairs Commission
 b. Carol White, Economic Vitality Coordinator

 III. OLD BUSINESS

 IV. NEW BUSINESS
 a. Business of the Year -Implementation of recognition of 2023 winners.
 b. Shop Local Campaign – Creation and promotion of 2024 theme.
 c. Supporting Village of Skokie Sustainability Initiatives - Focus on cardboard recycling
 options for Downtown businesses.
 d. 2024 Business of the Year -Planning timeline, recognition and celebration.
 e. Commission's visibility at local events

 V. COMMUNICATIONS
 a. Village Staff
 b. CAC Members

 VI. PUBLIC COMMENT

 VII. ADJOURNMENT




 The next regular meeting of the Consumer Affairs Commission is scheduled for Wednesday,
 April 10, 2024 at 6:30 P.M. in Conference Room A. Please join us at the commissioner’s
 reception on March 13th, 2024




#617708
 Consumer Affairs Commission Minutes
 October 11, 2023 – 6:30pm | Meeting called to order by Biju Krishnan

Attendance

In Attendance:
  Biju Krishnan, Chair
  Ted Lavine
  Anil Pillai
  Jennifer Engel
  Jerry Kirkpatrick
  George Mathew
  Howard Meyer
  Natalie Lopatkiewicz

Village Staff:
  Johanna Nyden
  Carol White

Excused:
  Regina Kinyui
  Gary Merrill
  Pratap Sampat
  Nancy Steinfink
  Khem Khoeun, Trustee


Minutes

I. Meeting called to order at 6:37.
II. Old Business
None.
III. New Business
Introductions were made amongst Board Members and new Economic Vitality Coordinator, Carol White.
Farmers Market: Jennifer Engle gave an update to the success of the Farmer’s Market this year and shared ideas
for improvement next year. She shared there are 4 markets left and 42 vendors attend each week. She is looking
for more food vendors and bigger bands next year. She did receive a $20,000.00 Grant for Link reporting and
$5000.00 from the Northshore. The market handed out 5000 reusable bags this year. Biggest issue is no
bathrooms which should be resolved next year with restaurants opening across the street.
Business of the Year: Discussion took place regarding Business of the Year. A motion to nominate Soul Good
Coffee as the winner was made by Biju Krishnan and seconded by Jerry Kirkpatrick. All present voted in favor,
and Soul Good Coffee was confirmed as Business of the Year with honorable mention to Take Flight, Charcoal

 #616319
Oven and Qahwah House. All are invited to be recognized at the November 20 Village Board Meeting at
7:30pm at Village Hall. She was recognized for her outstanding work in managing the weekly event. Johanna
Nyden was going to reach to get the trophy back from Culver’s.
IV. Communications
Village Staff, Carol White shared her progress in her first 45 days as Economic Vitality Coordinator and
express her excitement to work with this board and the Village. Howard Meyer reviewed the plans for the
shredding event to be held the following Sunday. He recruited volunteers.
V. Public Comment:
None.


Motion to adjourn was made at 8:12pm and was passed unanimously.
Respectively submitted, Carol White, Economic Vitality Coordinator, Village of Skokie

Next Meeting: Wednesday, November 8, 2023 6:30pm




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Memorandum
Community Development Department, Economic Vitality Division
TO: Consumer Affairs Commission

FROM: Carol White, Economic Vitality Coordinator

DATE: January 4, 2024

SUBJECT: 2024 Consumer Affairs Commission Initiatives Discussion Topics at 2024
 Kickoff Meeting -Tuesday, February 13, 2024 7:30pm

2023 Business of the Year - 2023's Business of the Year announcement was a great success.
Can the commission discuss quarterly initiatives that share and collect feedback throughout 2024
in preparation for the November 2024 event? Can we celebrate our 2023 winner and three (3)
honorable mentions with quarterly Village social media exposure of one (1) per quarter ending in
fourth quarter celebration of the passing on of the honor?

Shop Local Campaign - Promoting a consistent theme of the importance of spending locally in
Skokie is very important. Can the commission discuss the proposed ideas and make the 2024
plan to support these initiatives? This could be an initiative where we assign commission
members for a pop in visit to show Village support.

Supporting Village of Skokie Sustainability Initiatives - collection of cardboard from
Downtown Skokie businesses could be a helpful program. Can the commission discuss
exploring options that other towns do to help in the cardboard recycling efforts?
2024 Business of the Year - Can the commission discuss the timeline of events in marketing
this honor, collecting the votes and celebrating the accomplishment?
Commission's Visibility at Local Events -The Farmer's Market and Cultural Fest are events
that welcome the presence of booths. Commission visits to a targeted list of business to reinforce
the shop local campaign could be well received as well. Drop-ins at our 2023 business of the
year and honorable mentions could serve as a year-long recognition of that honor. Can the
commission discuss hosting a booth a two (2) events this year where they can answer questions
and obtain feedback? Can a schedule be discussed assigning volunteers to visit our recognized
four (4) 2023 business of the year winners?




#617708 Consume_ Affairs_ 2024_Kickoff_ Meeting
 WEDNESDAY at 6:30pm TOPIC ACTION
 February 28 Planning for 2024 2024 Planning Discussion
 March 13 Commission's Reception - Attend at Holiday Inn.
 Invitation to go out in mail

 April 10 Shop Local Campaign Review Staff suggestions, decide
 on theme. Assign commission
 members to volunteer visits.

 Sustainability Support Guest Speaker - Lisa Sanzenbacher,
 Village Sustainability Coordinator

 Charcoal Grill drop in and social
 2023 Business of the Year Nominee media/Village News exposure
 Drop In/Social Media
 Approval of Shop Local
 exposure Shop Local Design Campaign (artwork) - recruitment
 of member drop-in supporting
 Review campaign

 May 8 Farmer's market I Cultural Fest Discussion of Dates and planning of
 Booth Plan Discussion booth details and goals

 Shop Local Campaign Follow up on drop ins and
 feedback collected

 Cardboard recycling programs Review staff s research on
 cardboard recycling programs.
 June 12 Shop Local Campaign Follow up on drop ins and
 feedback collected

 Cardboard recycling programs Staff sharing follow up to
 research completed - discussion of
 attainable action items
 July IO 2023 Business of the Year Take Flight drop in and social
 Nominee Drop In/Social Media media/Village News exposure
 exposure

 Shop Local/Sustainability Support Check in - are we on target
 according to plan we set forth in
 January?
 August 14 Visibility to the community Host Farmer's Market Booth
 Host Cultural Fest Booth
 September 11 Visibility to the community Discussion -share the experience of
 interacting on site at above events

 October 9 2023 Business ofthe Year Qahwah House drop in and social
 Nominee Drop In/Social Media media/Village News exposure
 exposure
 November 13 2024 Business of the Year Village Commission Chair recognizes
(in place of November 20" meeting) Board Meeting Celebration winners and celebration follows in
 lobby
 December 11 Summary of 2024 Progress Review commission's initiatives and
 chart success

Consumer Affairs Commission Minutes
 March 6, 2024 – 6:30pm | Meeting called to order by Biju Krishnan

Attendance

In Attendance:
  Biju Krishnan, Chair
  Ted Lavine
  Jerry Kirkpatrick
  George Mathew
  Howard Meyer
  Natalie Lopatkiewicz
  Khem Khoeun, Trustee
  Gary Merrill


Village Staff:
  Carol White

Excused:
  Regina Kinyui
  Pratap Sampat
  Nancy Steinfink
  Anil Pillai


Minutes

I. Meeting called to order at 6:30.
II. Approval of Minutes.
Chair Krishman motioned to approve the minutes from October 13, 2023. Howard Meyer seconded. Motion
passed.
III. New Business
Discussion was focused on what the focus of the Commission would be for 2024. Four (4) topics were chosen.

2024 Business of the Year and implementation of a recognition plan of 2023 winners.
The Commission approved the following volunteers to visit 2023 award winners and approved an agreed
upon procedure to follow during the visit.
 1. Schedule the visit in advance with the business.
 2. Inform Carol White, Economic Vitality Coordinator so that she may schedule Village Marketing
 Coordinator to photo visit. If Marketing Coordinator unavailable, please have someone take photo
 of your visit and send to Carol White.
 3. Introduce yourself and who you represent. Explain why you are there.
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 ‐wear nametag
 ‐wear t‐shirt representing the Consumer Affairs Commission
 4. Ask the following questions?
 ‐How did it feel to be recognized for 2023 Business of the Year? How did you celebrate it?
 5. What can the Village to help in the success of your business?

The Schedule of Visits is as follows:
 Month of Visit Commission Member Business
 March 2024 (present back to Gary Merrill Charcoal Oven ‐ Maria Georgouses
 Commission at April 10 meeting) Franco, Rich Franco
 4400 Golf Road (847) 675-8062
 April 2024 (present back to Natalie Lopatkiewicz Soul Good Coffee – Christina
 Commission at May 8 meeting) 773.243.6471

 June 2024 (present back to Natalie Lopatkiewicz Take Flight Spirits – Carrie Cole
 8038 Lincoln Ave. (847) 324-9373
 Commission at July 10 meeting)
 September 2024 (present back to Biju Krishman Qahwah House – Areeba Jaffery
 Commission at September 11 5238 W. Touhy (847) 305-1108
 meeting)
** It was also identified that a visit to the Farmer’s Market would be appropriate. Ted Lavine volunteered to visit the
Farmer’s Market in September and report back at the October 9 meeting.

2024 Business of the Year
The following schedule was discussed and agreed upon to choose the 2024 Business of the Year and nominees.
As of July 1, 2024, ballot boxes will be placed at the four (4) businesses recognized in 2023. The Village will also
post a link for online entries in their weekly e‐news and on ExploreSkokie social media sites. The collections
will continue until the end of the month. In August 2024, a questionnaire will be distributed to all nominees.
This will have a due date of August 30, 2024. Staff will then prepare packets with all the information collected
for the Commission to review in September 2024. The Commission will choose the winner and nominees at
the October 9 meeting and staff will inform winners with an invitation to the November 18 Village Board
Meeting.

Creation of a Skokie Specific Shop Local Campaign.
Staff and Commission members will return to the April 10th meeting with ideas for this campaign. Staff will
specifically look at best practices in other towns and share ideas for consensus at the April 10 meeting.

Supporting Village of Skokie Sustainability Initiatives.
Commission will support efforts presented by Lisa Sanzenbacher, Village Sustainability Coordinator at the
April 10 meeting. The initiative will be focused on Downtown Skokie before expanding outward.



Identify policy recommendations that impact Consumer spending.
The Commission will remain vigilant in their Village travels and report back to the group should a particular
issue arise.


IV. Communications
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Village Staff, Carol White shared the tremendous momentum in Downtown Skokie in the opening of new
businesses. She was asked to order name tags for Commission members to be used when representing the
Commission at Skokie businesses and provide a t‐shirt to Commission member Natalie Lopatkiewicz. It was
noted that the murals above Kneads and Wants and Will’s Place are peeling and should be improved.
V. Public Comment:
None.


Motion to adjourn was made at 8:40pm and was passed unanimously.
Respectively submitted, Carol White, Economic Vitality Coordinator, Village of Skokie

Next Meeting: Wednesday, April 10, 2024 6:30pm




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