Senta Plunkett
Wilmette Village Board
candidate video
responses to voter guide questions
Introduction:
Please tell us about yourself, your qualifications and what prompted you to run for Village President.
I’ve had the privilege of serving as Village President for the past four years. My family and I have lived in Wilmette for 20 years now and it has been a wonderful place to raise our three children. I grew up in Chicago and attended Northwestern University and law school at the University of Illinois. As a lawyer I worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. When we moved to Wilmette, I was eager to continue my involvement in local government. It all began when I submitted a Talent Bank Questionnaire to the Village and was (eventually) appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission. I went on to serve as Chair of the HPC, then as an appointed member of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. Ultimately I decided that I would like to serve in a broader capacity; I ran for office, and was subsequently elected to the Village Board. Six years and two elections later I took the next step (or leap) to run for Village President. It has been 15 years since I began volunteering with the Village and my appreciation for this great community only continues to grow.
Questions:
1. What do you hope to accomplish as Village President? Please share your goals and how you would lead the Village Board and staff to realize them.
There are a number of major initiatives currently underway in the Village that I would like to see reach completion. I remember when the Neighborhood Storage Project for stormwater retention was a long-time aspiration. It was amazing to see that project through from the first public input meetings and difficult decision making to construction and a very successful realization. Currently we are at the decision making phase of a new police station that has followed years of forethought and financial planning. I look forward to making those decisions in the coming months and then following this project, which is so essential to the public safety of our community, through to its ultimate completion.
We are currently embarking on several longer-term Infrastructure projects that I am eager to see progress, including the lead service line replacement project, water plant improvement projects and several significant roadway improvement projects.
These past four years have also seen new and exciting economic development throughout the Village as we welcome new retail and restaurants. We adopted a groundbreaking Tree Preservation Ordinance, hired a new shared Sustainability Coordinator, adopted a broad-ranging Comprehensive Plan, completed Skokie-Lake intersection improvements and the construction of Ouilmette Way. Work is underway on a new Housing Plan and we are in the beginning stages of an Historic Preservation Plan, whose main goal will be to create incentives for homeowners to preserve historic structures in Wilmette.
I hear much positive feedback about our expanding Village sponsored community events including the Block Party, Holiday Happenings, Winterfest, the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Festival, Music on the Green and the Wilmette Art Fair. I’m looking forward to the continuation and growth of these events and continue to seek out new ways for us to come together as a community.
2. What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing the Village of Wilmette, and how would you address that issue as Village President?
As an older built-out community, we have significant Infrastructure needs. Among those include the new police station, replacement of all of the lead service pipes within the Village, important improvements to our Water Plant and its distribution system, and several major roadway and streetscape improvement projects. These projects are in addition to our annual road, alley and sidewalk programs that need to be maintained and strengthened to ensure that the overall condition of our roadways improves, rather than degrades over time.
It will be important to address those infrastructure needs while being mindful of the already high cost of living in our area. In the past four years we’ve been able to minimize tax increases (and in one year decrease taxes), while also growing our reserve levels. Attracting new economic development as well as keeping our existing businesses is an important piece of that economic puzzle. Most of us remember a Wilmette that was not nearly as vibrant as bustling as it is now. Wilmette’s revitalization did not happen by chance, and it will take continued efforts to ensure that it lasts.
3. What, if any, capital projects do you think the Village should undertake during your term, and what do you think of projects that are currently underway or proposed, such as a new police station? How do you propose funding new capital projects?
The Village utilizes long-term capital improvement planning. Those projects to be undertaken or completed during the next four years have been planned well in advance. The project at the forefront right now is the very important project to replace our aging police station. This project has been contemplated since the early 2000s and has been a line-tem in our CIP Budget for the last eight years. Other planned capital improvement projects include the lead-service line replacement project, improvements to the Water Plant and its distribution system and several major roadway projects.
There are different funding mechanisms depending on the project. A new police station has been part of a long-term financing plan, and earmarked for construction in
2026-2027 to coincide with the rolling off of existing debt service for prior capital improvements. As such, the project will not require the Village to raise property taxes.
The lead service line replacement project, which we are placing on an accelerated schedule, will take advantage of 0% interest EPA loans. While the loans require that the Village fund both the public and private portions of the lines, it is nevertheless the most cost effective and efficient way to ensure that all of the lead service lines in the Village are replaced in as timely and equitable a manner as is feasible, considering the enormous scope of this project. Other water and sewer projects take advantage of low-interest IEPA loans.
Significant road projects such as Lake Avenue Improvement project, Green Bay Road and Hibbard Road projects, require grant funding as the major share of funding.
4. In 2023, Wilmette government agencies hired a shared Sustainability Coordinator to implement programs that protect our environment, conserve natural resources, and address the climate crisis. In what areas do you feel the Village has made the best use of this Coordinator's time, and where would you like to see increased focus?
Having a shared Sustainability Coordinator has been a game changer for Wilmette. It assures that sustainability is at the forefront of what we do and enables us to broadly increase sustainability initiatives across the Village.
One initiative recently completed was Wilmette’s greenhouse gas inventory. Now that we have that in hand, it is easier to work on initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint.
Public education is another area in which having a shared coordinator is so beneficial; the message can be shared throughout the Village. The Sustainability issue of the
Communicator is a great example of that. It is a great resource and remains available on the Village’s website in case your copy has been recycled!
I also look forward to our continued efforts to promote native plantings, to promote community solar, to reduce or eliminate gas-powered leaf blowers, to eliminate the use of private mosquito spraying that can harm beneficial insects and lead to pesticide resistant mosquitos, and to working with our Coordinator to ensure that future infrastructure projects such as our new Police Station focus on sustainability from the start.
5. Currently, the Housing Commission is working on a Housing Plan. What is your position on the availability of affordable housing in Wilmette? How, if at all, would you address affordable housing in Wilmette?
Housing prices in Wilmette continue to rise. While many residents benefit from the increased equity in their homes, it can be difficult for existing residents who want to move within Wilmette, perhaps to downsize, and near impossible to attract new residents seeking attainable, let alone affordable housing. In the past several years more affordable housing opportunities, including Cleland Place (16 units) and homes and rental units in partnership with Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) (15 units) have become available. 20 more affordable units are planned in partnership with CPAH to be funded by a $3.8 million grant from the forthcoming Optima project.
Other upcoming affordable projects are contemplated, but not finalized.
The Housing Plan is important to understand the current and future housing needs of our community, to set affordable housing expectations for new development, to review potential zoning changes that could promote more affordability, and to try to ensure that the housing that we currently have that is more affordable, or attainable, remains as such.
Please tell us about yourself, your qualifications and what prompted you to run for Village President.
I’ve had the privilege of serving as Village President for the past four years. My family and I have lived in Wilmette for 20 years now and it has been a wonderful place to raise our three children. I grew up in Chicago and attended Northwestern University and law school at the University of Illinois. As a lawyer I worked as an Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago. When we moved to Wilmette, I was eager to continue my involvement in local government. It all began when I submitted a Talent Bank Questionnaire to the Village and was (eventually) appointed to the Historic Preservation Commission. I went on to serve as Chair of the HPC, then as an appointed member of the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners. Ultimately I decided that I would like to serve in a broader capacity; I ran for office, and was subsequently elected to the Village Board. Six years and two elections later I took the next step (or leap) to run for Village President. It has been 15 years since I began volunteering with the Village and my appreciation for this great community only continues to grow.
Questions:
1. What do you hope to accomplish as Village President? Please share your goals and how you would lead the Village Board and staff to realize them.
There are a number of major initiatives currently underway in the Village that I would like to see reach completion. I remember when the Neighborhood Storage Project for stormwater retention was a long-time aspiration. It was amazing to see that project through from the first public input meetings and difficult decision making to construction and a very successful realization. Currently we are at the decision making phase of a new police station that has followed years of forethought and financial planning. I look forward to making those decisions in the coming months and then following this project, which is so essential to the public safety of our community, through to its ultimate completion.
We are currently embarking on several longer-term Infrastructure projects that I am eager to see progress, including the lead service line replacement project, water plant improvement projects and several significant roadway improvement projects.
These past four years have also seen new and exciting economic development throughout the Village as we welcome new retail and restaurants. We adopted a groundbreaking Tree Preservation Ordinance, hired a new shared Sustainability Coordinator, adopted a broad-ranging Comprehensive Plan, completed Skokie-Lake intersection improvements and the construction of Ouilmette Way. Work is underway on a new Housing Plan and we are in the beginning stages of an Historic Preservation Plan, whose main goal will be to create incentives for homeowners to preserve historic structures in Wilmette.
I hear much positive feedback about our expanding Village sponsored community events including the Block Party, Holiday Happenings, Winterfest, the Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Festival, Music on the Green and the Wilmette Art Fair. I’m looking forward to the continuation and growth of these events and continue to seek out new ways for us to come together as a community.
2. What do you believe is the most pressing issue facing the Village of Wilmette, and how would you address that issue as Village President?
As an older built-out community, we have significant Infrastructure needs. Among those include the new police station, replacement of all of the lead service pipes within the Village, important improvements to our Water Plant and its distribution system, and several major roadway and streetscape improvement projects. These projects are in addition to our annual road, alley and sidewalk programs that need to be maintained and strengthened to ensure that the overall condition of our roadways improves, rather than degrades over time.
It will be important to address those infrastructure needs while being mindful of the already high cost of living in our area. In the past four years we’ve been able to minimize tax increases (and in one year decrease taxes), while also growing our reserve levels. Attracting new economic development as well as keeping our existing businesses is an important piece of that economic puzzle. Most of us remember a Wilmette that was not nearly as vibrant as bustling as it is now. Wilmette’s revitalization did not happen by chance, and it will take continued efforts to ensure that it lasts.
3. What, if any, capital projects do you think the Village should undertake during your term, and what do you think of projects that are currently underway or proposed, such as a new police station? How do you propose funding new capital projects?
The Village utilizes long-term capital improvement planning. Those projects to be undertaken or completed during the next four years have been planned well in advance. The project at the forefront right now is the very important project to replace our aging police station. This project has been contemplated since the early 2000s and has been a line-tem in our CIP Budget for the last eight years. Other planned capital improvement projects include the lead-service line replacement project, improvements to the Water Plant and its distribution system and several major roadway projects.
There are different funding mechanisms depending on the project. A new police station has been part of a long-term financing plan, and earmarked for construction in
2026-2027 to coincide with the rolling off of existing debt service for prior capital improvements. As such, the project will not require the Village to raise property taxes.
The lead service line replacement project, which we are placing on an accelerated schedule, will take advantage of 0% interest EPA loans. While the loans require that the Village fund both the public and private portions of the lines, it is nevertheless the most cost effective and efficient way to ensure that all of the lead service lines in the Village are replaced in as timely and equitable a manner as is feasible, considering the enormous scope of this project. Other water and sewer projects take advantage of low-interest IEPA loans.
Significant road projects such as Lake Avenue Improvement project, Green Bay Road and Hibbard Road projects, require grant funding as the major share of funding.
4. In 2023, Wilmette government agencies hired a shared Sustainability Coordinator to implement programs that protect our environment, conserve natural resources, and address the climate crisis. In what areas do you feel the Village has made the best use of this Coordinator's time, and where would you like to see increased focus?
Having a shared Sustainability Coordinator has been a game changer for Wilmette. It assures that sustainability is at the forefront of what we do and enables us to broadly increase sustainability initiatives across the Village.
One initiative recently completed was Wilmette’s greenhouse gas inventory. Now that we have that in hand, it is easier to work on initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint.
Public education is another area in which having a shared coordinator is so beneficial; the message can be shared throughout the Village. The Sustainability issue of the
Communicator is a great example of that. It is a great resource and remains available on the Village’s website in case your copy has been recycled!
I also look forward to our continued efforts to promote native plantings, to promote community solar, to reduce or eliminate gas-powered leaf blowers, to eliminate the use of private mosquito spraying that can harm beneficial insects and lead to pesticide resistant mosquitos, and to working with our Coordinator to ensure that future infrastructure projects such as our new Police Station focus on sustainability from the start.
5. Currently, the Housing Commission is working on a Housing Plan. What is your position on the availability of affordable housing in Wilmette? How, if at all, would you address affordable housing in Wilmette?
Housing prices in Wilmette continue to rise. While many residents benefit from the increased equity in their homes, it can be difficult for existing residents who want to move within Wilmette, perhaps to downsize, and near impossible to attract new residents seeking attainable, let alone affordable housing. In the past several years more affordable housing opportunities, including Cleland Place (16 units) and homes and rental units in partnership with Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) (15 units) have become available. 20 more affordable units are planned in partnership with CPAH to be funded by a $3.8 million grant from the forthcoming Optima project.
Other upcoming affordable projects are contemplated, but not finalized.
The Housing Plan is important to understand the current and future housing needs of our community, to set affordable housing expectations for new development, to review potential zoning changes that could promote more affordability, and to try to ensure that the housing that we currently have that is more affordable, or attainable, remains as such.