Village Board, 14 Apr 2026: FY2027 Budget, New Trustee, and First-Ever Strategic Plan

The Board will consider the Village President's appointment of Tamara H. Reese to fill the vacancy created by Trustee Kohler's resignation. If approved, Reese will be sworn in at the meeting.

State statute requires a public hearing before adoption; both steps may occur at the same meeting. The Board will vote on two separate ordinances — one for the Village and one for the Northbrook Public Library, a legally independent taxing district whose budget the Village Board must approve under the Illinois Local Library Act. The FY2027 ordinance is described as materially consistent with the recommended budget presented to the Administration and Finance Committee on March 10, 2026.

The Board will consider a resolution to formally adopt the Village's first-ever five-year Strategic Plan, developed through Committee of the Whole discussions on September 3, 2025, January 13, 2026, and February 24, 2026.

The Board will consider a resolution establishing written protocols as a transparent guide for common Board practices. The protocols were discussed at the same Committee of the Whole sessions as the Strategic Plan.

The Board will consider an ordinance increasing the number of Class A liquor licenses so that one may be issued to LTF Club Operations Company Inc., doing business as Life Cafe and Poolside Bistro, at 1300 Techny Road.

The Board will consider waiving competitive bidding and approving a design-build contract with Crowne Industries Ltd. of Elgin to replace the Village's underground fuel storage, dispensing, and fuel management system at a not-to-exceed cost of $693,446. The existing tanks were installed in 1980 and fuel the Village's vehicle fleet; the replacement has been anticipated in the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan.

The Board will consider authorizing the purchase of three commercial-grade hoists from Vehicle Service Group, LLC of Madison, Indiana at a not-to-exceed cost of $370,294 through a General Services Administration contract. The hoists are a critical-path item: their bases must be installed before the concrete floors of the repair bays at 3504 Commercial Avenue can be poured and cured.

The Board will consider two resolutions authorizing the Village Manager to execute change orders for the new Fleet Maintenance Garage and Fire Station 11 at 820 Dundee Road. Additional project costs are estimated at $1,625,764 for the Fleet Maintenance Garage and $1,288,784 for Fire Station 11; expenditures beyond the authorized contingency amounts will return to the Board at future meetings.

The Board will consider authorizing the purchase of a Polaris Ranger UTV, a rescue skid, emergency vehicle lighting, and a cargo trailer using a state grant awarded jointly to Northbrook and Wheeling. The equipment will be shared under an intergovernmental agreement previously approved in 2025.

The Board will consider proclamations recognizing April 12–18 as Public Safety Telecommunicators' Week, April 22 as Earth Day, and April 24 as Arbor Day.

The Board will consider appointments of Dee Gvozden, David Harris, and Matthew Fera to the Arts Commission and Kristen Carsello to the Senior Services Commission.

More than twenty consent items cover renewals and new agreements for pavement marking, American elm tree treatment, overhead door maintenance, material hauling, asphalt and concrete purchases, backflow control, public works uniforms, right-of-way and facility landscape maintenance, electrical services, elevator maintenance, water sample testing, bridge inspection engineering, bicycle and pedestrian planning, and fire plan review services. The Board will also consider moving the Northbrook Days Festival's use of the West Metra commuter parking lot to August 5–9, 2026, and approving previously closed session minutes.

The Board will consider directing staff to partner with Braver Angels of Illinois and the Northbrook Public Library on a community event titled "Depolarizing Ourselves," proposed by the Village's Community Commission.