Village Board, 14 Apr 2026: FY2027 Budget, New Trustee, and First-Ever Strategic Plan
The Board will hold a public hearing and vote on FY2027 budgets for both the Village and the Northbrook Public Library, seat a newly appointed trustee, and adopt the Village's first-ever five-year Strategic Plan.
Key items
- FY2027 Budget Adoption — The Board will finalize spending for the fiscal year starting May 1, 2026 for both the Village and the legally independent Northbrook Public Library.
- Underground Fuel Tank Replacement — $693,446 — Tanks installed in 1980 will be replaced under a no-bid design-build contract with Crowne Industries of Elgin, waiving competitive bidding.
- Fleet Garage and Fire Station 11 Change Orders — Estimated additional costs of $1.6M for the Fleet Maintenance Garage and $1.3M for Fire Station 11 at 820 Dundee Road require new Board authorization.
- Vehicle Hoists — $370,294 — Three hoists for 3504 Commercial Avenue are a critical-path purchase that must be completed before garage floor concrete can be poured.
- First-Ever Village Strategic Plan — After three Committee of the Whole sessions, the Board will vote to formally adopt Northbrook's inaugural five-year Strategic Plan.
Full agenda — click any item to expand
Swearing In of Trustee Tamara H. Reese
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.
FY2027 Budget Public Hearing and Adoption
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.
Five-Year Strategic Plan Adoption
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.
Village Board Protocols
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.
Liquor License for Life Cafe and Poolside Bistro at 1300 Techny Road
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.
Underground Fuel Storage System Replacement
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.
Three Commercial Vehicle Hoists for New Fleet Maintenance Garage
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.
Change Order Authority for Fleet Maintenance Garage and Fire Station 11
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.
Grant-Funded Public Safety UTV and Equipment Purchase
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.
Proclamations
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.
Commission Appointments
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.
Routine Consent Agenda Items
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.
Braver Angels Depolarization Event
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.
What actually happened
Village Board, 14 Apr 2026: FY2027 Budget Adopted, New Trustee Sworn In
The Northbrook Village Board adopted its fiscal year 2027 municipal and library budgets and swore in a new trustee at its April 14 meeting. The board also authorized a liquor license for a new Life Time Fitness café operation and approved a large roster of service and infrastructure contracts.
New Trustee Tamara Reese Appointed and Sworn In
The board voted 5–0 to confirm President Kathryn Ciesla's appointment of Tamara Reese to fill a vacancy on the Village Board of Trustees. Reese was sworn in at 7:37 p.m. during the meeting. President Ciesla noted the appointment followed a community-driven selection process and cited Reese's leadership, fresh perspective, and commitment to public service.
FY2027 Village and Library Budgets Adopted
Following a public hearing that drew no public comment, the board voted 6–0 to adopt both the Village of Northbrook municipal budget (Ordinance 2026-15) and the Northbrook Public Library budget (Ordinance 2026-14) for the fiscal year beginning May 1, 2026 and ending April 30, 2027. Trustee Israel described the budget as balanced with strong fund reserves, reflecting key staffing priorities and operational adjustments developed through a detailed staff and board review process. Trustees Ross, Cassidy, and Israel praised staff for the addition of key positions and efforts to maintain strong services and fiscal responsibility.
Liquor License Approved for Life Time Fitness Café and Poolside Bistro
The board voted 6–0 to adopt Ordinance 2026-16, amending the annual fee ordinance to increase the number of Class A liquor licenses to allow a license to be issued to LTF Club Operations Company Inc. for the Life Cafe and Poolside Bistro at 1300 Techny Road.
Underground Fuel System Replacement and Fleet Garage Contracts
Among a large consent agenda approved 6–0, the board authorized a design-build contract with Crowne Industries Ltd. of Elgin at a not-to-exceed cost of $693,446 to replace the Village's underground fuel storage, dispensing, and fuel management system (Resolution 2026-R-46). The board also authorized the Village Manager to execute change orders for construction of the new Fleet Maintenance Garage and new Fire Station 11, with the Village Manager explaining the contingency funds are intended to cover unexpected construction issues consistent with standard municipal practice.
Braver Angels Civil Dialogue Workshop Approved
The board voted 6–0 to direct staff to engage Braver Angels of Illinois for a special community event, as proposed by the Community Commission. Staff explained the Community Commission is partnering with Braver Angels and the Northbrook Public Library to host an October 11 workshop aimed at helping residents understand and engage with differing viewpoints.
Strategic Plan and Board Protocols Deferred
Two resolutions — Resolution 2026-R-32 adopting the Village's Five-Year Strategic Plan and Resolution 2026-R-33 approving Village Board Protocols — were not acted upon. By board consensus, both were moved to the April 28, 2026 meeting.
Commission Appointments Confirmed
The board voted 6–0 to approve appointments to the Arts Commission and Senior Services Commission. Dee Gvozden and David Harris were appointed to the Arts Commission with terms expiring April 30, 2028; Matthew Fera was appointed to the Arts Commission for a term beginning May 1, 2026 and expiring April 30, 2029. Kristen Carsello was appointed to the Senior Services Commission for a term beginning May 1, 2026 and expiring April 30, 2029.
Read the official documents
{
"card_hook": "Northbrook adopts FY2027 municipal and library budgets unanimously, calling the balanced plan fiscally strong with key new staff positions.",
"key_items": [
{
"title": "FY2027 Budget Adopted",
"why_matters": "The Village's spending plan for the year starting May 1, 2026 is now law, covering all municipal services and the public library."
},
{
"title": "New Trustee Tamara Reese Sworn In",
"why_matters": "Reese fills a vacancy on the Village Board, giving residents a new elected representative for the remainder of the term."
},
{
"title": "Liquor License for Life Time Fitness Café at 1300 Techny Road",
"why_matters": "A new Class A liquor license expands alcohol-serving venues in Northbrook to include the Life Cafe and Poolside Bistro at the Techny Road facility."
},
{
"title": "Underground Fuel System Replacement — $693,446",
"why_matters": "A nearly $700,000 design-build contract will replace aging underground fuel infrastructure serving Village operations."
},
{
"title": "Braver Angels Community Workshop Approved",
"why_matters": "An October civil dialogue event, co-hosted with the public library, will bring a structured program on bridging political differences to Northbrook residents."
}
]
}