Public Safety Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2026-05-20

Skokie Public Safety Commission
Regular Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, May 20, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.
Skokie Police Department Training Room

1) Call to Order
2) Approval of Meeting Minutes from April 15, 2026
3) Public Comment (3 minutes per person)
4) Fire Department Report
 a) Presentation – Fire Prevention Bureau
5) Police Department Report
6) Engineering Report
7) Unfinished Business
8) New Business
9) Adjournment


Next meeting of this Commission is scheduled for June 17, 2026.
Individuals with questions or feedback about an agenda item may contact Russ Rietveld by calling 847/933-
8289 or by emailing publiccomments@skokie.org. All emails and comments submitted will be made public
and shared with this body.




The Village, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests that persons with disabilities
who require certain accommodations to allow them to observe or participate in this hearing, or who have
questions about the accessibility of the meeting facilities, contact the Village’s ADA coordinator Angel
Schnur at angel.schnur@skokie.org or 847/933-8400.
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SKOKIE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES
 WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2026

 PRESENT: Hal Bernstein, Carrie Bradean, Marcie Claus, Connell Collins, John Domke, Fire Chief Nicholas Eschner, Marcus
 Hayes, Avron Kahn, Trustee Kimani Levy, Senior Engineer Samantha Maximilian, Fred Moore, Police DC John
 Oakley, Arnie Oskin, Leslie Post-Weissinger, Howard Rosenburg, Jeffrey Schvimer and Irwin Shiffman

 EXCUSED: Michael Anderson, Police Chief Jesse Barnes, Oren DeKalo, Police DC Denise Franklin, Fire DC Stephen Jagman,
 Deputy Chief Adam Pease, Paul Pitalis (Emeritus), Director of Engineering Russ Rietveld, Vice Chair Dennis Rizo
 Chair Melissa Villegas and Staff Liaison Erik Sanchez

  ABSENT: Mark Brines, Paul Kruszynski and Bryant Smith

CALL TO ORDER AND APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
In the absence of both the Chair and Vice Chair, the Commission Liaison Samantha Maximilian called the meeting to order at 7:02
p.m. A quorum was confirmed to be present.

Pursuant to Robert’s Rules of Order, the Commission proceeded with the election of a Chair Pro Tem to preside over the meeting. The
floor was opened for nominations.

Commissioner Kahn was nominated by Commissioner Schvimer and the nomination was seconded by Commissioner Bernstein. Upon
a vote, Commissioner Kahn was elected Chair Pro Tem by unanimous vote, with all members present voting in favor and none
opposed.

The meeting was then turned over to Chair Pro Tem Kahn who requested a motion to approve the April minutes. Commissioner
Schvimer moved, Commissioner Bernstein seconded, all approved and the minutes were approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT
None

FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Chief Nick Eschner presented the Fire Department’s April report. He noted that summer events have begun and that the Fire
Department has been present at community events, including neighborhood block parties and last weekend’s Festival of Cultures.
Chief Eschner also reported that the fourth ambulance will be placed into service on June 2 and will operate out of Station 18.
Questions and answers followed.

Division Chief Michael Greenwood provided a presentation on the Fire Prevention Bureau. Questions and answers followed.

POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORT
Deputy Chief Oakley presented the Police Department’s April report. He reported that departmental roll calls will be re-implemented
at different parks every two weeks as part of an effort to further engage with the community. Questions, answers, and discussion
followed.

ENGINEERING REPORT
Samantha Maximilian provided a verbal Engineering Report. She stated that the division remains focused on delivering infrastructure
improvements, coordinating with regional partners, and advancing Capital Improvement Program (CIP) projects throughout the
Village. Questions and answers followed.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None

NEW BUSINESS
Discussion was held regarding the proposed Yellow Line extension. No formal action was taken.
Commissioner Bradean raised the topic of recent hate crime incidents and expressed interest in the Commission addressing the issue.
During this discussion, a member of the public arrived and requested to address the Commission. Commissioner Rosenburg moved to
reopen the public comment period to allow the speaker to address the Commission. The motion was seconded by Commissioner
Schvimer. By consensus, the Commission agreed to reopen public comment.

The speaker Roxann Salgado provided public comment regarding a reported hate crime incident, subsequent interactions with school
and law enforcement officials, and the need for additional hate crime education and community awareness.

Following public comment, the Commission discussed the matter further, including allowing law enforcement to complete its
investigation and coordinating with the Village Manager’s Office and another commission that had also begun addressing the topic.

Document Number: 508651
Document Name: Public Safety Commission Minutes Version: 91
The Commission also discussed the possibility of a future presentation regarding the co-responder program and procedures related to
hate crime incidents.

No formal action was taken.

ADJOURNMENT
At approximately 8:32 p.m. Commissioner Schvimer made a motion to adjourn, Commissioner Domke seconded, all approved and the
meeting was adjourned.

 THE NEXT MEETING OF THE SKOKIE PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION WILL BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY,
 JUNE 17, 2026 AT 7 P.M. AT SKOKIE POLICE STATION 17 AT
 7300 NILES CENTER ROAD




Document Number: 508651
Document Name: Public Safety Commission Minutes Version: 91