[PAGE 1] Village of Skokie Beautification and Improvement Commission Meeting Minutes January 8, 2026, 6:30 PM Commission Members Present Commission Members Not Present Valerie Shuman, Chair Ross Del Rosario Mitchell Sandler, Vice Chair Vernell Ellison-Smith Katy Darr Charles Levine Sherwin Ditlove Brandon Munden Mike Madalinski Edward Potash Erin Maxen-Lewis Ron Schrag Lucas Reczek Rachel Rosenberg Celeste Roy Gary Schwarz Tina Seville Velasco Also present was Cathy Stevens, Village Forester. The meeting began at 6:37 PM. I. Approval of December 4, 2025 Minutes Commissioner Madalinski made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Vice Chair Sandler. Approved by voice vote. Chair Shuman informed the Commissioners of a seed swap event with Go Green Mount Prospect. Commissioners were encouraged to participate, if their schedule allows. Commissioner Maxen-Lewis shared that there is also a seed swap event at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. Commissioners were encouraged to also attend this event. [PAGE 2] II. 2026 Planning – Making Decisions (Activities & Task Leads) Chair Shuman reviewed the decisions of last month’s Beautification and Improvement Commissions meeting in regard to the overall goals of the Commission being “More Trees, More Natives, More Wings” along with the associated events and initiatives discussed. Chair Shuman asked that the Commission review each event at this meeting and assign two team leads for each of the 2026 initiatives. The following task force leads and support Commissioners were agreed upon: Library Speaker Series Lead: Commissioner Rosenberg Co-Lead: Commissioner Roy Support: Commissioners Seville Velasco and Del Rosario Arbor Day Lead: Village Forester Stevens Co-Lead: Commissioner Reczek There was a brief discussion on the tasks needed for Arbor Day preparation. These include coordinating with the Mayor and school principal as well as deciding upon what tree-related books will be donated by the Beautification Commission to the school. Preparation for this event will need to begin soon to meet the event date. Demonstration Plantings and Weeding Lead: Commissioner Darr Co-Lead: Commissioner Madalinski Support: Commissioners Del Rosario, Seville Velasco and Rosenberg Festival of Cultures Lead: Commissioner Seville Velasco Co-Lead: Commissioner Madalinski There was a brief discussion on the dates of the Festival of Cultures and that support from many Commissioners will be needed to ensure adequate staffing at the booth. Chair Shuman reminded the Commissioners that we must refrain from inadvertently triggering a meeting in accordance with the Open Meetings Act and that task teams must be limited to 5 or fewer Commissioners. Task teams are intended to bring forth items for approval and discussion to the Commission and act upon that approval in-between meetings. Chair Shuman suggested that the task teams establish regular days to meet between meetings. Garden Walk Lead: Commissioner Schrag [PAGE 3] Co-Lead: Commissioner Darr Support: Commissioners Seville Velasco and Schwarz There was a brief discussion on limiting concrete in front of businesses and how the Commission can get involved in the process of enforcement. Chair Shuman informed the Commissioners that she will circulate the list of all initiatives to all Commissioners via email, should Commissioners who are not present be interested in signing up for the initiatives. Awards Judging Lead: Commissioner Darr Co-Leads: Commissioner Seville Velasco and Maxen-Lewis 4th of July Lead: Commissioner Schwarz Co-Lead: Commissioner Levine There was a brief discussion on purchasing a float for the parade. Chair Shuman noted that at the December meeting, the Commission discussed simply walking in the parade instead of purchasing a float. Commissioner Schwarz agreed that walking without a float would be a viable option. Commissioner Madalinski noted that it has been fun to walk alongside the float with our butterfly wings on, that the float was not necessary in the past, and that he would prefer the Commission spend more money on stickers and candy to pass out to patrons of the parade and additional wings for Commissioners walking. Chair Shuman asked for a motion to suspend purchasing a float for the 4th of July parade. Commissioner Madalinski made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Commissioner Seville Velasco. Approved by voice vote. Chair Shuman noted to Commissioner Schwarz that the Commission may need to register early to share our intent to walk with the parade organizers. Awards Reception There was a brief discussion that Commissioner Ellison-Smith normally assists with the reception and may want to act as the lead for this task force. Chair Shuman noted that since we have some time before this, she will circulate all of the events and initiatives via email to the Commissioners to ask if anyone would like to act as team lead or support for this event, as well as all others. Chair Shuman informed the Commission that she had created a draft task list and overview of things to consider for each event. This will be circulated to all Commissioners via email. [PAGE 4] Commissioners are encouraged to volunteer during any one of the events. Chair Shuman shared with the Commission the other items that the Commission had expressed interest in and asked what the bandwidth of the Commission is to perform some of these initiatives. These initiatives include school outreach, tightening Awards rules, Commercial Development regulations, beehive ordinances and no mow may. The Commission expressed interest on all of these initiatives again and so task leads and additional discussion will need to be had. Awards Rules Review Lead: Commissioner Darr Co-Leads: Commissioner Madalinski Support: Commissioners Schrag, Seville Velasco and Roy Chair Shuman shared that before making recommendations to ordinance changes, she wants to get a pulse on the Village Board's appetite to make changes. As such, she will connect with the Beautification and Improvement Commissions Trustee Liaison to see if this would be supported at the Board level and return to the Commission with an update. III. Garden Walk Task Group Update None. IV. Report by Cathy Stevens, Village Forester, Public Works None. V. Report by Trustee Liaison The Trustee Liaison was not present. VI. Old Business None. VII. New Business The Commission briefly discussed potential noise ordinances for gas powered lawn equipment. Commissioner Madalinski shared that he would be happy to lead certain community outreach initiatives with schools and scout groups as he was an Eagle Scout. VIII. Adjournment [PAGE 5] Commissioner Roy made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Darr. The meeting ended at 7:35 PM. Submitted by: Commissioner Katy Darr