The commission voted unanimously to concur with staff and recommend site-plan approval, a subdivision consolidating seven lots, a zoning change to TX Transit Mixed Use and a narrow driveway relief for a 58‑unit townhome project; staff recommended a $300,000 fee‑in‑lieu for three required affordable units.

After a six‑month review, the board approved staff recommendations to lower fees, cut the minimum stay and remove stay limits for owner‑hosted short‑term rentals; trustees added an amendment directing staff to send data to one or more advisory commissions for review.

Deputy Chief John Oakley told the Village Board the ALPR system stores reads for 30 days, access is limited to authorized personnel, searches require justification and monthly audits are conducted; he gave examples where ALPR aided missing‑person and stolen‑vehicle cases.

At the Sept. 8 Skokie Village Board meeting, multiple residents and technologists urged the board to pause or constrain use of Flock automated license‑plate readers, citing FOIA data, suspected accuracy errors and data‑sharing risks; the village said it will pursue a commissions‑led review and build a public portal.

The Skokie Village Board on July 20 approved a $50,000 storefront enhancement grant for the Skokie Theater, accepted a $1.83 million bid for Main Street streetscape improvements, authorized staff to draft a business registration ordinance, contracted for an economic vitality strategy, approved lobbying services, and advanced several ordinances including a water-rate increase for first reading.

The Plan Commission continued the zoning chapter amendment on accessory dwelling units (Case 2025-21P) and asked staff to draft a cover memorandum and text for the Village Board and to return to the commission with a review draft on July 16, 2026; commissioners cited pending state and federal legislation and public-input needs as reasons for the delay.

Public speakers urged the board to grandfather owner-occupied short-term rentals and criticized perceived lack of notice on a short-term rental pilot; a resident-security engineer urged removal of Skokie's $255,000 Flock license-plate reader system citing security and privacy risks; the mayor said staff will follow up with affected hosts.

CTA Chief Planning and Innovation Officer Molly Poppy told Skokie trustees the Yellow Line carried about 442,000 rides in 2025 (down from roughly 832,000 in 2019) and described safety, grade-crossing and station investments funded in part by SB 2111; trustees asked about extensions and the April service incident.

Mayor and trustees condemned recent incidents at the Festival of Cultures, highlighted the new Stand Up Skokie campaign with the Park District, and urged residents to report hate incidents so the village and partners can document and respond. A public commenter criticized police response and urged more proactive victim support.

The board advanced four related zoning and special‑use items to allow a relocated Dunkin' with a 10‑vehicle on‑site drive‑through at 8357 Skokie Boulevard. Staff and the petitioner said the design contains circulation and screening; residents and some trustees warned the site is better suited for transit‑oriented development and raised traffic and air‑quality concerns. First readings passed with several trustees voting Nay on some items; second readings are required.

After a presentation showing the streaming surcharge could raise about $1.07 million for FY27, the Skokie Village Board voted to direct corporation counsel to draft an ordinance to increase the amusement surcharge and add a streaming component; second reading is scheduled for June 1, 2026.

The mayor of the Village of Skokie told the Chamber of Commerce she marked her first year in office by advancing economic development, ending a 35‑year property tax freeze with a modest levy increase to restore staffing, pursuing lead service‑line replacement and responding to recent antisemitic incidents with communitywide prevention efforts.

The Appearance Commission approved exterior alterations to convert a former 7‑11 at 8357 Skokie Boulevard into a Dunkin'/Baskin‑Robbins with a drive‑through, requiring removal of about 500 sq ft and new facade materials; commissioners required replacing Vinca ground cover with a more maintainable native planting.

The planning commission debated proposed accessory dwelling unit (ADU) zoning amendments — including unit size, parking, rental allowances and entrance design — and voted to continue the item to June 25 for further review while the state legislature considers related bills.

At the first Community Development Block Grant public hearing Justin Malone said Skokie's 2026 CDBG allocation is $550,966. Seventeen applicants presented requests including HVAC repairs for a health center, services for homelessness prevention and counseling, senior services and capital repairs for group homes and nonprofit facilities.

Mayor Tennis told the village board that three antisemitic incidents involving youth occurred in Skokie parks in the prior two weeks, with two escalating to physical altercations. He announced a community-wide campaign on upstanding behavior, targeted park-district training, increased police visibility and coordination with schools and faith leaders.

Trustees voted to concur with staff to amend chapter 58 of the village code to enable a Skokie Community Land Trust and create a dedicated housing fund; the ordinance returns for a second reading May 4.

Mayor Tennis and multiple residents described two weekend incidents in village parks that involved antisemitic language and physical altercations; the board and callers urged clearer reporting, school involvement and a community gathering to reaffirm support for Jewish residents.

Public works staff told trustees the village will ramp up lead‑service line replacements (target ~688), add staff and equipment for in‑house crews, replace water mains (1.7 miles planned) and begin a 10,000‑foot transmission‑main assessment as part of a multi‑year infrastructure program.

Village manager Maritas told trustees the proposed FY27 budget includes $70,000 to hire a consultant to produce an ADA self‑evaluation and transition plan and to support a public dashboard tracking the village strategic plan’s progress.

Police Chief Jesse Barnes reported hiring 12 officers this year, a newly qualified candidate list of 66 from 73 test takers, fleet updates including EV patrol vehicles, and requested funding to unfreeze a sworn position while piloting NextGen 911 and a digital‑evidence specialist role.

The Skokie Village Board approved an intergovernmental agreement with Cook County for Oakton Street improvements and authorized a change order to expedite water-main replacement, with the village's financial exposure capped at $150,000 and water-fund reserves covering additional costs.

Commissioners and residents debated a proposed amendment to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in Skokie, raising parking, permeable-surface, owner‑occupancy, inspection capacity, and state-preemption concerns; no final recommendation was adopted and staff will return with materials for continued review (tentatively March 19).

The Village Board voted to concur with the Plan Commission’s recommendation for a 68‑unit Fulton Street Companies townhome development at 4600 Main Street, approving a fee‑in‑lieu of on‑site affordable units. An amendment to require four on‑site affordable units failed; neighbors raised traffic and fire‑access concerns during public comment.

The board approved the Village of Skokie's 2024 CAPER for CDBG, which reported a HUD entitlement of $548,892 plus $116,000 in prior-year funds for a total of $665,560 and detailed spending across public services, streets/sidewalks and facility improvements.