Human Relations Commission — Skokie, IL
Date: 2025-01-27

Human Relations Commission
 Monday, January 27, 2025
 6:30pm

Location: Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street – Conference Room D & E (2nd Floor)

 AGENDA

I. Call to Order


II. Approval of Agenda


III. Presentation on the Policy for Early Identification and Intervention in Initial Incidents of Hate


IV. Public Comments


V. Approval of Minutes of December 9, 2024 Meeting


VI. Committee Reports

 A. Neighbor Engagement Committee
 1. Block Party of the Year Award Recognition
 2. Block Party Forum

 B. Housing Committee
 1. Housing Subcommittee
 2. Fair Housing Ordinance

 C. Equity and Diversity Committee
 1. Early Intervention Hate/Bias Incidence
 2. Skokie Pride
 3. Women’s History Month


VII. Other Items of Business
 A. Village Seal Redesign
 B. Skokie Police Use of Force Review Board


VIII. Adjourn


 Next Meeting: February 24, 2025, 6:30pm at Village Hall 5127 Oakton Street, Skokie IL. 60077

Human Relations Commission
 Monday, January 27, 2025

 Minutes

Location: Village Hall, 5127 Oakton Street – Conference Room D & E (2nd Floor)

In Attendance: Commissioners: Sheryl Bloom Basile, Gurjot Bilkhu, Alex Chaparro, Sheila Crumrine (vice-chair),
David Donegan, Carl Johnson, Jonathan Lavin, Maria Monastero Bueno (chair), Swarupa Pahan, Jeremy Segall,
Karen Sherman, Valeriya Slutskaya, James Specker, Brad Sugar, Margaret van Steenderen, Trustee Khem
Khoeun, Skokie Staff Liaison: Amanda Sabri

Not in Attendance: Anthony Agee, Marcos Levy, Josef Meyers (E)

I. Call to Order: 6:30 PM


II. Approval of Agenda
 A. Sheila Crumrine motioned to approve the agenda. The motion was seconded by Alex Chaparro.
 All were in favor and the motion carried.


III. Presentation on the Policy for Early Identification and Intervention in Initial Incidents of Hate
 A. Corporation Counsel, Michael Lorge, Trustee Khem Khoeun, and staff liaison, Amanda Sabri,
 presented the Policy for Early Identification and Intervention in Initial Incidents of Hate. The
 commission was informed about why the policy was developed, key components of the policy,
 and responsibilities of the Human Relations Commission laid out in the policy. Commissioners
 asked clarifying questions about the policy and provided feedback.


IV. Public Comments
 A. No public comments given.


V. Approval of Minutes of December 9, 2024 Meeting.
 A. Sheryl Bloom Basile motioned to approve the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by
 James Specker. All were in favor and the motion carried.


VI. Committee Reports

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A. Neighbor Engagement Committee
 1. Block Party of the Year Award Recognition: The commission was notified that the Block
 Party of the Year Award winners will be honored at Board of Trustees meeting on April 7, 2025
 at 7:30pm.
 2. Block Party Forum: Alex Chaparro provided an update that planning for the Block Party
 Forum has begun. Once the location is finalized, Alex will notify the commission of the date,
 likely in March or April. Meeting space at either the Skokie Library or Skokie Park District
 buildings are being considered. Promotion through Village social media channels will begin once
 the date and location are finalized.
 3. Block Party of the Year Award Applications and Judging Process: Brad Sugar shared
 suggestions on a rubric for judging the Block Party of the Year Award finalists and
 recommendations on guidance to be given to the applicants so that the submissions would be
 more consistent. Maria Monastero Bueno explained that historically judging of the awards has
 been approached more subjectively than objectively. Commissioners provided information on
 how information about the finalists had been communicated in the past that would be helpful
 for future years, including having the slideshow of finalists emailed ahead of time and a list of
 block parties with highlighted events printed for the voting process. Commissioners and staff
 also discussed the practice of commissioners attending block parties throughout the summer.
 Amanda Sabri will ensure that all commissioners have access to the live Google spreadsheet that
 contains the information about block parties that have requested permits. Commissioners will
 add their name to the appropriate column if they plan to attend a particular block party.

B. Housing Committee: Jon Lavin announced that Margaret van Steenderen has agreed to co-lead
 the Housing Committee with him.
 1. Housing Subcommittee: Jon Lavin reported that the Housing Sub-Committee of the Plan
 Commission met on January 2nd and will be meeting quarterly. Jon has also been placed on a
 sub, sub-committee that will meet on matters related to accessory housing.
 2. Fair Housing Ordinance: While Corporation Counsel, Michael Lorge, was present at the
 meeting, Jon Lavin requested confirmation of the commission’s role in hearing fair housing
 complaints. Michael Lorge provided an overview of the commission’s role, as is detailed in
 Skokie’s Fair Housing ordinance, and explained that he would provide guidance, as needed, to
 the commission if a complaint is brought forth. A fair housing training developed by Margaret
 van Steenderen will be presented at the following meeting.

C. Equity and Diversity Committee
 1. Early Intervention Hate/Bias Incidence: Presentation on the current draft of the Policy
 for Early Identification and Intervention in Initial Incidents of Hate was presented at the
 beginning of the meeting.
 2. Skokie Pride: Sheila Crumrine provided an update that the commission is now registered
 for a table at this event, which will take place on June 22, 2025 from 1-4pm at Oakton Park.
 3. Women’s History Month: Sheila Crumrine provided an overview of this event and
 updated the commission that the walk will take place on March 30, 2025 from 10am-12pm. The


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 walk will have room for 20-40 participants. All promotional materials will indicate that the walk
 is being sponsored by the Human Relations Commission.


VII. Other Items of Business
 A. Village Seal Redesign: Maria Monastero Bueno provided an update that the Village Seal
 Committee will be meeting again tomorrow, January 28, to continue fine tuning the design.
 B. Skokie Police Use of Force Review Board: James Specker reported that he will be meeting with
 Chief Barnes and one other person from the commission to finalize the report before it is
 brought to the Board of Trustees. After that is completed it can be shared with the Human
 Relations Commission.
 C. Maria reminded the commission that the Boards & Commissions Reception is set for
 Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at 6:00pm. Commissioners will receive an official invitation from
 the Mayor’s office via email in the coming weeks.
 D. Swarupa Pahan asked if election of a new Mayor impacts the appointments of commissioners.
 It was indicated that commissioner’s reappointments would likely be reviewed at the end of
 their term, as is the current practice.


VIII. Adjourn: 8:30 PM




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