Park Ridge City Council Committee of the Whole Meeting – April 20, 2026

The Park Ridge City Council met on April 20, 2026, at 7:30 PM in the City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting began with a brief explanation from Public Works Director Mitchell about the transition of waste haulers from Groot to SBC, with SBC cans being delivered that week and the official start date of May 1st. The council then proceeded through action items, discussion items, and department reports, covering public works, public safety, finance, administrative services, and procedures and regulations. Key outcomes included approval of a one-year extension for the Elm and Ash Tree Injection Program, a contentious vote on a one-year RedSpeed contract, passage of a welcoming city resolution, and unanimous approval of a resolution opposing the state's BUILD agenda.

Consent Calendar

• Approve a One-Year Extension to the Contract for the Elm and Ash Tree Injection Program to Robert Kinnucan Tree Experts & Landscaping Company, Inc. in the amount of $80,997.50. This was the second and final extension with no change in pricing. Approved unanimously.
• Approve a Purchase Order for one (1) 2026 Ford Expedition Max for the fire department for $55,930.00 from Currie Commercial Center. Approved unanimously.
• Approve an Amendment to the FY2026 General Fund Budget in the amount of $15,000 for expenditures related to opioid settlement funds (restricted funds). Approved unanimously.
• Approve revised FY2025 end-of-year budget transfers for Sewer Fund overtime. Approved 7-0 via roll call.
• Approve a One-Year Contract Extension for Printing Services to PressTech Printing for $18,242 per year. Approved unanimously.
• Consideration of Recommendation for Approval for a New "Municipal Sign" at the Park Ridge Library (Eagle Scout project by Alex Jerome). Approved unanimously (final vote at subsequent city council meeting).

Public Comments & Testimony

• RedSpeed Contract: Evan Sanchez (1200 N. Hamlin Ave.) spoke in opposition to renewing the RedSpeed contract, citing that 94% of violations were right-on-red (3,374 of 3,589 in 2025), no accidents resulted from those, and the cameras provide no teachable moment. He urged greater scrutiny or a public ballot initiative.
• Welcoming City Resolution: Multiple residents spoke, generally supporting the resolution but urging it to be strengthened with an ordinance banning ICE from using city property, posting signage, training staff, and aligning police policy with the Trust Act. Speakers included: Eric O'Lenick (816 N. Hamlin), Renee Lewis (21 Gillick), Judy Foster (1785 Good Ave.), Elizabeth J. Cola (800 S. Fairview), Melanie (deaf resident, expressed fear), Catherine S. (2 S. Greenwood), Megan Barker (formerly of Park Ridge, now of Egan, MN – described ICE activities in Twin Cities), and others. All urged stronger action beyond a welcoming resolution.
• Municipal Housing Authority Resolution (actually opposing state BUILD agenda): Residents spoke in strong support of the resolution, calling the BUILD agenda a one-size-fits-all overreach that would destroy suburban character. Speakers included Missy Langan (7th Ward) and EJ Peprocky (1217 Potter Rd.).

Discussion Items

• Uptown Parking Study – Presented by a consultant from Walker Consultants. Key findings: nearly 2,400 total parking spaces in Uptown (740 on-street, rest off-street); overall peak occupancy 63%, but south of the tracks reached 80-85%. A parking deficit of 125-170 spaces is projected with future developments. Primary recommendation: a new parking garage (preferably above-ground, costing $45,000-$60,000 per space) or use of ATT surface lots as a stopgap. Also recommended: more uniform time limits, consistent enforcement, expanding the residential permit zone, and improving signage and wayfinding. Three scenarios for outdoor dining on Main Street were presented, each losing 22-23 parking spaces. Council discussed flexibility in bike lanes and sidewalk widths.
• RedSpeed Contract – Police Chief Campworth explained the two-year contract proposal for red-light enforcement at Northwest Highway and Oakton. The camera has been in place since 2010. Discussion focused on safety effectiveness (accident numbers: 5 in 2026 YTD, 34 in 2025, 25 in 2024, 20 in 2023) and revenue (~$180-$185k annually). Alderman Moran successfully amended the motion to a one-year contract to allow further evaluation. The amended motion passed 4-3 (Lawrence, Knowles, Sanchez opposed; Steinfelds, Rapusan, Leffler, Moran in favor).
• Welcoming City Resolution – Alderman Steinfelds noted the resolution already references the Illinois Trust Act. Council discussed the practicality of banning ICE from city property; City Attorney and Chief Campworth noted legal limitations and potential difficulties in enforcement. The consensus was to proceed with the resolution as written and pursue training for city staff on ICE encounters. Alderman Rapusan suggested staff training, which was supported by council. The resolution passed 6-0-1 (Sanchez abstained).
• Municipal Housing Authority Resolution – Despite the agenda title, the resolution was actually a statement opposing the state's BUILD agenda (governor's housing reform) and urging preservation of local zoning authority. Mayor and staff detailed the potential impacts: allowing up to six units on a typical 6,500 sq ft lot by right, eliminating local control over density, parking, and stormwater. The council discussed the loss of municipal authority and the lack of affordability requirements. The resolution passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Tree Injection Extension – Approved as part of consent calendar.
• RedSpeed Contract – Approved for one year (amended from two) by a 4-3 roll call vote. Requires two-thirds majority at council due to sole source; will proceed to city council for final approval.
• Fire Vehicle Purchase – Approved unanimously.
• Budget Amendments – Opioid settlement budget amendment approved unanimously; sewer fund overtime transfers approved 7-0.
• Printing Services Extension – Approved unanimously.
• Library Sign – Approved for recommendation to city council.
• Welcoming City Resolution – Approved 6-0-1 (Sanchez abstained). Council also directed staff to develop training for city employees on handling ICE encounters.
• Resolution in Support of Municipal Authority (opposing BUILD agenda) – Approved unanimously.
• Closed Session – The council voted to adjourn to closed session to discuss collective bargaining with the Illinois Council of Police, Clerical and Technical Staff.