Park Ridge City Council Regular Meeting - October 5, 2026

The Park Ridge City Council convened at 7:00 PM on Monday, October 5, 2026, in the City Hall Council Chambers. All seven alderpersons were present (Moran, Sanchez, Lawrence, Muno, Steinfels, Rapisand, Lefler), with Alderperson Muno attending remotely. The meeting included approval of prior minutes, several proclamations, consent agenda approvals, reports from boards and commissions, public works contracts, and three final readings of zoning variances.

Consent Calendar

• Approved the City Council minutes and Committee of the Whole minutes from September 21, 2026, both by 7-0 roll call votes.
• Approved the following routine items by a single 7-0 vote (Consent Agenda):
  • Contract for Classification and Compensation Study with MGT Impact Solutions, LLC for $26,550.00.
  • Contract for Hydro Excavating Water Service Lines Program with Anchor Heavy Civil, LLC for $50,000.00.
  • Contract for Rock Salt with Morton Salt, Inc. for $240,266.40.
  • Contract for Metra Train Station Exterior Door Replacement with Anderson Lock Company, Ltd. for $62,276.00.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No members of the public addressed the Council on non-agenda items.

Discussion Items

• Mayor’s Report:
  • Appointed eight individuals (Mary Ginal, Eamon Healy, Emily Huser-Ward, Emma Milligan, Andre De Rosa, Emilia Tsipas, Abby Matza, and Paige Fallico) to the Youth Commission for two-year terms expiring June 30, 2028. Approved 7-0.
  • Proclaimed October 23, 2026, as Arbor Day, noting Park Ridge’s Tree City USA designation and urging tree planting.
  • Presented Historic Preservation Awards to four properties: 1 South Northwest Highway (Sustainability/Adaptive Reuse Exterior), 100 Courtland Avenue (Restoration/Rehabilitation Exterior), 223 South Fairview Avenue (Stewardship Exterior), and 1700 Ballard Road (Stewardship Exterior).
  • Recognized Gabriella Foukas as the National American Miss Illinois Princess 2026.
• City Clerk: Announced that in-person voter registration is closed; online registration available through October 18. Early voting location changed to the Centennial Activity Center (attached to the pool) from October 19 to November 2.
• Finance Director: Presented warrant reports; no questions.
• Community Health Commission (Ald. Rapisand): Announced the “Run/Walk Park Ridge” pilot program, active October 1 – December 31, 2026. Participants are encouraged to walk or run all approximately 140 miles of city streets, tracked via an app. T-shirts offered.
• Farmers Market Committee (Ald. Muno): Four markets remain; last market is Saturday, October 31 (Halloween). Next committee meeting October 21.
• Historic Preservation Commission (Ald. Sanchez): Next meeting October 7; will discuss state grants and the awards program just presented.
• Planning & Zoning Commission (Ald. Steinfels): Reported that on September 29, the commission gave a negative recommendation on a proposed hotel development; timeline for council review is TBD. Next meeting October 13.
• Public Works Committee (Ald. Lefler):
  • Holiday Lights Contract: Moved to approve a contract with B&B Holiday Decorating, LLC for $103,068.25. This item was amended at the September 21 Committee of the Whole to include roofline lighting, requiring a budget amendment to follow. Ald. Rapisand opposed, stating the rooftop lighting was not worth the overage. The motion passed 6-1.
  • Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) Resolution: Approved a resolution (7-0) to apply for an 80/20 grant (80% state, 20% local match) for constructing a side path connector on Touhy Avenue between Talcott Road and Dee Road, linking to the Des Plaines River Trail entrance. The sidewalk will be on the south side of Touhy.
• Sustainability Commission (Ald. Lefler): Meeting scheduled for October 7 at 7:00 PM.
• Youth Services Commission (Ald. Lawrence): Noted the new Youth Commission appointments and encouraged nominations for the Golden Apple Award for youth leadership.
• Zoning Board of Appeals (Ald. Lawrence): Three final readings approved unanimously (each 7-0):
  1. 2800 Habberton Avenue (VA-26-21): Variances to install new ground-mounted mechanical equipment within the interior side yard setback and permit encroachment. The property is undergoing an addition; existing HVAC equipment is a legal nonconformity. ZBA recommended approval 5-0.
  2. 766 N Northwest Highway (VA-26-22): Variances for exterior stairwell encroachment into the interior side yard setback, and balcony encroachments into both the interior side yard and rear yard setbacks. The lot is irregular due to diagonal plating along Northwest Highway. ZBA recommended approval 5-0.
  3. 1309 S Crescent Avenue (VA-26-23): Variances to permit a residential fence on an irregularly shaped double-frontage lot and allow the fence in required yard areas. The lot is triangular with frontage on Crescent and Talcott. ZBA recommended approval 5-0.

Key Outcomes

• All consent agenda items and routine approvals passed 7-0.
• Holiday lights installation contract approved 6-1 (Ald. Rapisand dissenting).
• ITEP resolution for sidewalk on Touhy Avenue approved 7-0.
• Three zoning variance ordinances approved on final reading, each 7-0.
• Next Committee of the Whole meeting will include a budget amendment for the holiday lights roofline lighting overage.