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June 15, 2026 Village Board Meeting
Published: Jun 15, 2026
Resident Raises Concerns Over Bike Lane Enforcement and Misuse in Skoi
During the public comment period, a resident discussed concerns about bike lanes. She expressed excitement about existing and planned bike lanes on Church, Crawford, and Oakton streets. However, she noted that drivers were observed parking their vehicles with tires fully in the bike lane, suggesting potential objections to bike lanes, inattention, or avoidance of traffic. She expressed worry that the police department is reluctant to enforce these infractions, emphasizing that bike lanes are exclusively for bikes and should not be used for parking or driving. She anticipates this will become a significant problem as more bike lanes are added in Skoi. The resident urged stricter enforcement to send a message that bike lanes are dedicated spaces.
Skoi Approves Draft 2026 CDBG Action Plan, Allocating Funds for Community Programs and Infrastructure
The village board reviewed and approved the draft one-year action plan for the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program before its submission to HUD. This plan outlines the budget for various projects and programs aligned with community goals, including public services, public facility improvements, and administration. The village's entitlement amount for this program year is $550,966. The plan allocates a maximum of $82,644 (15% cap) for public services, funding a social worker and three organizations. For public facility improvements (construction projects), all nine applying organizations and three village-initiated programs (home improvement, street resurfacing, sidewalk replacement) will receive funding. The administration category is capped at 20%, with $60,000 allocated for administration and planning, and an additional $50,000 for a new housing study. Next steps include notifying applicants of final decisions and submitting the plan to HUD by August 16th, with funding available October 1st. Discussion also included potential adjustments to the Home Improvement Program guidelines to improve flexibility and explore partnerships for training.
Resident Urges Skoi to Dismantle Flock License Plate Readers Due to Privacy, Security, and Ineffectiveness Concerns
During the public comment period, a resident named Sam, identifying as a Skoi resident and network security engineer, urged the board to dismantle the village's use of Flock Safety license plate readers. Sam highlighted a significant taxpayer investment of $255,000 in these cameras, compromising resident privacy and data. Concerns were raised about Flock's security practices, including login credentials being sold on hacking forums due to a lack of multi-factor authentication, unauthorized access to live streams, and the exposure of internal source code. The speaker argued that these systems put residents at risk of data breaches. Furthermore, evidence suggests these cameras do not reduce crime, with 99.7% of logged plates belonging to innocent citizens, creating a 'passive dragnet.' Documented cases of officers abusing data for stalking or illegal sharing were mentioned. The speaker urged the board to review evidence on deflock.org and remove the cameras, quoting Benjamin Franklin on the dangers of sacrificing liberty for temporary safety.
CTA Provides Update on Yellow Line Service, Ridership, and Safety Investments in Skoi
Molly Poppy, CTA Chief Planning and Innovation Officer, provided an update on the CTA Yellow Line's current operations, ridership, safety investments, and planned improvements. She highlighted that Skoi Swift has weekday service every 10-15 minutes from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., extended to midnight during Cubs games, and weekend service from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. While the Yellow Line serves 442,000 rides annually, ridership is down 53% compared to 2019 (832,000 rides), below the system-wide retention rate of 70%. Bus service, particularly the 97 Skoi route, performs well with 77% retention. Investments in security include a 40% decline in crime system-wide in May 2026, increased policing hours (75%), and collaboration with the State's Attorney's office. Non-policing efforts include safe ride specialists for crisis intervention and community violence intervention. Fare evasion is being addressed through station hardening and new faregates. Safety investments focus on grade crossings, with renewals completed at Nile Center Road and ongoing work at Crawford Grade Crossing funded by SB 2111 and NITA. Station revitalization includes work at Oakton and Dempster stations as part of the 'refresh and renew' program. Bus improvements include extended evening service on the 97 to Old Orchard. Discussions included the feasibility of extending the Yellow Line to Old Orchard, which would require years of planning and significant investment, and the potential for infill stations like Crawford. A post-mortem on a recent April incident revealed a signal compliance issue by an operator, leading to additional training. The CTA is adapting to changing mobility patterns, with midday and evening ridership increasing, and is focusing on improving bus connections and leveraging NITA funding for service enhancements.
Skoi Resident Criticizes Airbnb Pilot Program's Lack of Transparency; Student Shares Positive Homestay Experience
During the public comment period, Michelle McKenzie Voit, a 40-year resident of Skoi, spoke in support of Waqin and Patricia Mahia, who operated a licensed Airbnb for 13 years. McKenzie Voit criticized the new pilot program for short-term rentals, stating it was enacted without public comment, scrutiny, or notification to hosts, who only found out accidentally after the fact. She described this lack of transparency as 'inexcusable' and 'under cover of darkness.' McKenzie Voit argued that owner-occupied Airbnbs pose no risk and urged the board to create an exception or 'grandfather in' hosts like the Mahias, whose livelihood is being stripped away. She also deemed the proposed $5,000 annual license fee 'obscene,' punitive, and designed to eliminate Airbnbs. Michael Yao, an international student at Northwestern University, shared his positive experience staying with the Mahia family, highlighting how their owner-occupied Airbnb helped him adapt to American life and the local culture, fostering friendship and cultural exchange. He emphasized the importance of such homeshares for tourists and the local community. Another resident supported reconsidering the owner-occupied Airbnb rule for elderly residents on fixed incomes. Mayor Tennis addressed McKenzie Voit's comments, stating that short-term rentals were discussed at multiple board meetings and refuting the claim of policy enacted 'under the cloak of darkness.' She noted the pilot program is an 18-month trial and the village manager would reach out to the Mahias.
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