some topics from may 2021
​local government meetings

Village Board/Committees/Commissions:

• Extensions of Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19
• Acknowledgment of the retirements of President Robert Bielinski and Trustee Joel Kurzman
• Swearing in of newly elected President Senta Plunkett and Trustees Kathy Dodd, Kate Gjaja, and Justin Shepherd
• Appointment and swearing in of Trustee Peter Barrow to fill the remainder of the unexpired term of Trustee Senta Plunkett
• Village Board committee assignments
• Business development update
• Parking fines and traffic study near Gillson Park
• Village Code amendments concerning outdoor restaurant seating
• Sesquicentennial planning
• Proclamation recognizing May 2021 as Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
• Village Statement regarding an anti-Semitic Display

 
Wilmette Park District Board of Park Commissioners/Committees:

• Gillson Comprehensive Plan Development--in final phase
• Recognition of outgoing Commissioners Bryan Abbott, Gordon Anderson, and Amy Wolfe
• Swearing in of newly elected Commissioners Patrick Duffy, Alison Frazier, and Kara Kosloskus
• Elections of Mike Murdock as Board President and Julia Goebel as Vice President

 
New Trier High School District 203 Board of Education:

• COVID-19 response, including 2020-21 school year operations and vaccination events at Northfield campus (in coordination with other local government entities)
• 2021-22 school year planning
• Recognition of outgoing Board Members Greg Robitaille, Carol Ducommon and Marc Glucksman
• Swearing in of newly reelected Board member Keith Dronen and newly elected Board members Kimberly Alcantara, Avik Das, and Sally Tomlinson
• Elections of Cathleen Albrecht as Board President and Keith Dronen as Vice President
• High school rankings
• School Board Policy Manual

 
Wilmette Public Schools District 39 Board of Education/Committee of Whole:

• COVID-19 response--including Metrics Team Update
• 2021-22 school year planning
• Tentative FY2021-22 Budget (FY begins July 1)--final to be voted on at August 23 meeting
• Strategic planning update
• Summer 2021 Construction Update, Summer 2022 and 5-year Construction Planning
• Potential intergovernmental agreement with Park District on WJHS bathroom

 
Wilmette Public Library Board/Committees:

• COVID-19 Response
• Recognition of outgoing Board Members Dan Johnson, Ronald Rodgers, and  Stuart Wolf
• Swearing in of new Board Members Trish Nealon, MaryAnne O’Keefe, and Tracy Sommer
• Election of Board Officers: Lisa McDonald as President, Joan Fishman as Vice President, Tracy Sommer as Treasurer, and Jan Barshis as Secretary.
• Draft FY2021-22 Budget (FY begins July 1)--to be voted on at June 15 meeting
• New automated material handling system update
• Building Project Updates
• Library Activities and Circulation and other Statistics in Director’s Report

 
New Trier Township Board:

• Recognition of outgoing Supervisor Alan Goldberg and Clerk Jerome Hoynes.
• Swearing in of newly elected Supervisor Gail Schnitzer Eisenberg, Clerk Nicole Capretta,  and Trustee Danielle Ruben and newly reelected Trustees Stephan Mozer, Elliott Robbins, and John Thomas.
• Approval of FY2021-22 budget ordinance (FY2021-22 started March 1)
• Formation of ad hoc committee to consider agency funding processes and advisory committees.  Applications for advisory committee membership open to township residents.
• Building operations update (building closed because of March 28 fire)
• Township activities update

some topics from april 2021
​local government meetings

​More detail on any of these topics can be found on the appropriate government website by reviewing their meeting packets, video recordings and/or minutes.
​
Village Board/Committees/Commissions:

• Extensions of Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19
• Residential Utility Bill Assistance Program
• Amendment to Village Reserve Policy
• 2021 First Quarter Financial Update and Public Pension Safety Funding Presentation
• 2021 Road Program and Alley & Brick Street Reconstruction Program Contracts
• Human Relations Commission (HRC) and other Commission Appointments
• HRC: Planning for Community Engagement Discussions and Recognition of Asian American and Pacific Islander Community Month and Pride Month
• Housing Commission (HC): Review of HC Functions and Priorities as set by Administration Committee, and accepted by HC
• Village’s 37th Consecutive Tree City USA Designation from Arbor Day Foundation

 
Wilmette Park District Board of Park Commissioners/Committees:

• COVID-19 response--including Summer Plans for Beach, Pool and Programs
• Gillson Comprehensive Plan Development
• Shoreline Protection Proposal for Langdon
• Potential Community Playfield improvements--including Bathrooms and Fitness Path
• Parks & Recreation Committee: Potential New Dog Park at Howard Park, Potential New Pickle Ball Locations, Potential Solar Panels at Community Recreation Center
• Lakefront Committee: Wallace Bowl and Lakeview Center Rental Fees and Park Permit Approval Process

 
New Trier High School District 203 Board of Education:

• COVID-19 response--including  2020-21 School Year Operations and Vaccination Events at Northfield Campus (in coordination with other local government entities)
• 2021-22 School Year Planning
• Tentative FY2020-21 Budget Amendment
• East Side Athletic and Academic Project Update
• Summer 2021 Construction Bid Package 2
• First Reading of Pending School Board Policy Manual--to be voted on in May

 
Wilmette Public Schools District 39 Board of Education/Committee of Whole:

• COVID-19 response--including SafeGuard Screening and Metrics Team Update
• Strategic Planning Update
• Administrators’ 2020-21 Contractual Salary and Benefits
• 2021-22 School Year Registration and 2021 Summer Registration
• Summer 2021 Construction Update
• Federal COVID Relief Funds to D39
• IL House Bill 7 on Consolidating School Districts
• Recognition of Departing BoE Members, Swearing in of New BoE Members
• Election of Board Officers, including Amy Poehling as Board President and Erin Stone as Vice President

 
Wilmette Public Library Board/Committees:

• COVID-19 Response
• Capital Project Updates
• Library Activities and Circulation and other Statistics in Director’s Report
• Policy Committee:  Operations Policy

 
New Trier Township Board:

• Fire at Town Hall
• FY2020-21 Year End Financial Report
• Draft FY2021-22 Budget--to be voted on at May meeting

 

some topics from march 2021
​local government meetings

​More detail on any of these topics can be found on the appropriate government website by reviewing their meeting packets, video recordings and/or minutes
 
Village Board/Committees/Commissions:

• Extensions of Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19
• First Quarter Report on Board & Commission Membership
• Finance Committee: Village Reserve Policy
• Environmental Energy Commission: Draft Sustainability Plan and 2021 Initiatives
• Housing Commission (HC): 1st meeting of recently reinvigorated HC--HC Overview and Affordable Housing Report
• Human Relations Commission (HRC): 1st meeting of recently reinvigorated HRC--HRC Action Plan Discussion

 
Wilmette Park District Board of Park Commissioners/Committees:

• COVID-19 response--including Summer Plans for Pool and other Programs
• New Social Equity Policy
• Gillson Comprehensive Plan Development
• Shoreline Protection Proposal for Langdon
• Potential Community Playfield improvements--including Bathrooms and Fitness Path
• Potential New Dog Park Locations
• Potential New Disc Golf

 
New Trier High School District 203 Board of Education:

• COVID-19 response--including Vaccination Events at Northfield Campus (in coordination with other local government entities)
• Potential rotating block schedule for 2021-22

 
Wilmette Public Schools District 39 Board of Education/Committee of Whole:

• COVID-19 response--including changes to be implemented for 4th quarter
• Approval of Summer 2021 Construction at WJHS
• Approval of Juneteenth paid holiday
• Update on new framework for future strategic planning
• Review of MAP assessment results

 
Wilmette Public Library Board:

• COVID-19 response
• Financial Management Policy
• Bid Package #2 totaling $768.2K for 2021 Capital Repairs Project
• Web Redesign Bid
• Review of library activities and circulation and other statistics in Director’s report

 
New Trier Township Board:

• Draft FY2020-21 Year End Financial Report
• Draft FY2021-22 Budget
• Annual Town Meeting (ATM) Agenda--ATM coming up on April 13

some topics from february 2021
​local government meetings

​More detail on any of these topics can be found on the appropriate government website by reviewing their meeting packets, video recordings and/or minutes
 
Village Board:

• Extensions of Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19
• Adoption of Master Bike & Active Transportation Plan
• Approval of Housing Commission and Human Relations Commission Appointments
• Approval of Environmental & Energy Commission Appointment
• Review of Fiscal Year 2020 year-end unaudited financial report
• Consideration by Village Board and Land Use Committee of potential zoning locations, if allowed, for cannabis retail--expect continued consideration by Land Use Committee before it makes a recommendation to Village Board.
• Presentation of the 2020 Census Report, with kudos given to the Complete Count Committee, which included Cindy Levine and Liz Seager from LWV-W.

 
Wilmette Park District Board of Park Commissioners:

• COVID-19 response
• Continued consideration of Gillson Comprehensive Plan--expect to hear at March Lakefront Committee and/or Park Board meetings about recently-held staff and consultant-led public open house
• Continued consideration of potential Community Playfield improvements by Parks & Recreation Committee--expect potential committee vote on recommendations on March 15
• Lakefront Committee’s review of shoreline protection design contract proposal for Langdon--expect whole board to review in committee-of-whole or board meeting on March 1
• Financial Planning & Policy Committee approval to recommend a new social equity policy for approval by Park Board--expect Park Board vote on March 8
• Parks & Recreation Committee’s consideration of a new dog park at Howard Park or Mallinckrodt--expect continued consideration on March 15
• Public comments on disc golf course at Gillson or elsewhere

 
New Trier High School District 203 Board of Education:

• COVID-19 response
• Approval of $75 million Winnetka campus east side academic and athletic project and related architectural/construction management contracts and bond issuances
• Consideration of a rotating block schedule for 2021-22
• Approval of agreement with Cook County Dept. of Public Health for vaccine distribution at Northfield campus

 
Wilmette Public Schools District 39 Board of Education:

• COVID-19 response
• 2020-21 Strategic Plan Mid-Year Update on continuing initiatives section
• Approval of Summer 2021 Construction at McKenzie and Romona
• Consideration of potential summer 2021 construction at WJHS--expect March vote
• Reaffirmation of Statement of Inclusion
• Discussion of support for Juneteenth paid holiday
• Presentation of upcoming dates and next steps for developing a new framework for future strategic planning

• Announcement that in-depth review of MAP assessment results to take place at March committee-of-the-whole

 
Wilmette Public Library Board:

• COVID-19 response
• Approval of $461.4K construction bid package #1 for 2021--expect consideration of bid package #2 at March meeting
• Approval of 3-year financial audit services proposal
• Review of library activities and circulation and other statistics in Director’s report

 
The New Trier Township Board:

• Approval of FY2021-22 agency funding requests (fiscal year begins March 1)
• Approval of amount for FY2020-21 community support grants
• Approval of funding request from The Record for a summer youth workshop
• Approval of FY2021-22 staff salaries and for a one-time across-the-board bonus for staff due to COVID-19
• Approval of checks for all of FY2020-21
• Review of FY2020-21 financial results thru Jan. 31 and approval of line-item budget transfers

 

SOME Topics from January 2021
Local Government Meetings

Village Board:

• Extensions of Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19
• Approval of Housing Commission Appointments
• Human Relations Commission Appointment Recommendations (expecting Feb. 9 approval)
• Environmental & Energy Commission (EEC) Appointment Recommendation (expecting Feb. 9 approval)
• Neighborhood Storage Project (stormwater)--approval of Phase 3 (Thornwood) design contract
• EEC’s Setting of 2021 Priorities: Renewable Energy, Urban Forest Preservation, Native Habitats
• Finance Committee’s review of reserve policy

 Wilmette Park District Board of Park Commissioners:

• Adoption of FY2021 Budget & Appropriations Ordinance
• Review of Year End FY2020 Financials (unaudited)
• Continued consideration of Gillson Comprehensive Plan--public virtual open house coming on Feb. 18 
  
• Continued consideration of potential Community Playfield improvements
• Lakefront Committee’s review of shoreline protection design contract proposal
• Financial Planning & Policy Committee--staff recommendation on new inclusion statement expected Feb. 16
  
• Parks & Recreation Committee’s consideration of a new dog park and changes to the garden plot fee structure

New Trier High School District 203 Board of Education (BoE):

• COVID-19--2020-2021 Reopening and Operational Plan
• Approval of Summer 2021 Construction Bid Package
• Discussion of Winnetka Campus East Side Academic and Athletic Study--expecting vote on project at February BoE
• Approval of FY 2022 Budget Assumptions and Parameters

Wilmette Public Schools District 39 Board of Education:

• COVID-19 response
• 2020-21 Strategic Plan Mid-Year Update on Annual Business section
• Approval of FY 2021-22 Budget Calendar and Resolution directing Superintendent to begin Preparation
• Proposed Summer 2021 Construction at McKenzie and Romona (expecting February vote)
• Proposed Summer 2021 Construction at WJHS (expecting March vote)

Wilmette Public Library Board:

• COVID-19 response
• 2021 Capital Repair Project Update
• Finance Committee’s review of financial policies, including on reserve funds (note: Observers did not review this meeting as Observer Corps was unaware of  it until after meeting and recording was not posted on website)
  

 The New Trier Township Board:

• Recommendations from advisory committees on FY2021-22 agency funding requests (expecting February vote)
• Discussion of Juneteenth holiday--tabled to February​