===== PDF PAGE 1 ===== C I T Y O F WEST CHICAGO W H E R E H I S T O R Y & P R O G R E S S M E E T 475 Main Street West Chicago, Illinois 60185 T 630.293.2200 F 630.293.3028 westchicago.org Daniel Bovey MAYOR Viviana Ramirez CITY ADMINISTRATOR ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION Thursday, October 22, 2026, 6:00 p.m. City Hall, 475 Main Street AGENDA 1. Call to Order & Establish a Quorum 2. Approval of Minutes a. Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of September 17, 2026 3. Public Participation/Presentations 4. Items for Consent 5. Review and Discuss the Commission Priority List a. Current List i. 2027 Environmental Commission Event Postcards 1. Determine Schedule b. New Additions or Upcoming Events i. Pumpkin Composting – November 7, 2026, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM 1. Location: New Hope United Methodist Church, 643 E. Washington St 2. Event Flyers/Cards – Yard Signage – Event Coordination/Setup ii. Holiday Lights Recycling Event – November 27, 2026 to January 15, 2027 1. Drop-off Locations: City Hall, New Hope United Methodist Church, Murphy Ace Hardware, Water Treatment Plant, West Chicago Library, The ARC Center, Jewel Osco 2. Draft Event Flyer (Enclosed) 6. Other Business a. Update from Community Development Department on the Data Centers and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) temporary moratorium. i. Interim report to the City Council is anticipated in November 2026 outlining the survey results and the framework for the proposed regulations. b. Upcoming Promotions – Pumpkin Composting, Holiday Lights Recycling Event (Draft Flyer Enclosed), Cooking Oil Recycling (Flyer Enclosed) 7. Sustainability Subcommittee Updates 8. Liaison Updates (e.g., Development Committee, Downtown Revitalization Commission) 9. Upcoming Commission Meetings a. November 19, 2026, 6:00 PM, City Hall b. December 17, 2026 – Cancelled 10. Adjournment ===== PDF PAGE 2 ===== WHERE HISTORY & PROGRESS MEET 475 Main Street West Chicago, Illinois 60185 T 630.293.2200 F 630.293.3028 westchicago.org Daniel Bovey MAYOR Viviana Ramirez CITY ADMINISTRATOR Draft MEETING MINUTES ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSION September 17, 2026, 5:00 P.M. 1. Call to Order & Establish a Quorum a. Dave Shah, Staff Liaison, called the meeting to order at 5:07 P.M. b. Members in attendance included Co-Chair Allen Rodriguez, Commissioner Victoria Burris, Commissioner David Carlson, and Commissioner Matt McClure. c. Aldermanic liaison present included Alderman Christopher Swiatek. d. Staff liaison present included Deputy Director of Public Works, Dave Shah. 2. Approval of Minutes a. Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of July 16, 2026 i. Rodriguez made a motion, seconded by Carlson, to approve the Meeting Minutes. 1. Voting Yea: Rodriguez, Burris, Carlson, and McClure 2. Voting Nay: None. b. Environmental Commission Meeting Minutes of August 28, 2026 i. Rodriguez made a motion, seconded by Carlson, to approve the Meeting Minutes. 1. Voting Yea: Rodriguez, Burris, Carlson, and McClure 2. Voting Nay: None. 3. Public Participation/Presentations a. None 4. Items for Consent a. None 5. Review and Discuss the Commission Priority List a. Current List Discussion: None. b. New Additions or Upcoming Events i. Fall Adopt-A-Highway Clean Up Event (Hawthorne Lane) – September 17, 2026, 5:00 P.M. 1. Meet Up Location: 1400 W. Hawthorne Lane Discussion: None. ii. Pumpkin Composting – November 7, 2026, 9:00 AM to 1:00 P.M. 1. Location: New Hope United Methodist Church, 643 E. Washington St Discussion: Shah stated that New Hope United Methodist Church agreed to participate again this year, and the dumpster has been coordinated with Groot. Commissioners approved the draft flyer and requested copies to distribute at Jewel and Sonny Acres. ===== PDF PAGE 3 ===== a. McClure made a motion, seconded by Burris, to approve the Pumpkin Composting flyer. i. Voting Yea: Rodriguez, Burris, Carlson, and McClure ii. Voting Nay: None. iii. Holiday Lights Recycling Event – November 27, 2026, to January 15, 2027 1. Drop-off Locations: City Hall, New Hope United Methodist Church, Murphy Ace Hardware, Water Treatment Plant, West Chicago Library, The ARC Center, Jewel Osco Discussion: Rodriguez suggested posters or larger signage to post near the collection bins to increase awareness of the event as well as small flyers to hand out to customers. 6. Other Business a. Commission’s FY 2027 Budget request was due Friday, August 21, 2026. The budget request was verbally discussed between the Staff Liaison, Chair, and Co- Chair on August 20, 2026. The following request was proposed by the Public Works Department: i. $5,000.00 – Promotional and Educational Materials ii. $10,000.00 – 2027 EC events postcards and postage fees Discussion: Shah summarized the budget discussion held on August 20, 2026, and advised that the $15,000.00 request was presented to City Administration for consideration in the FY 2027 Budget. b. 2026 Community Survey Results (Pending) – Commissioner Kesler Discussion: Shah summarized the findings provided by Commissioner Kesler regarding the 2026 Community Survey Results. Waste and recycling remain the dominant environmental concerns. Kesler wrote that leadership should focus on improving operational performance, communication, and public awareness in these areas. Residents believe the community to be generally clean, although not uniformly so. Visible local improvements, including improvements to parks, green spaces, and trails, as well as community clean-up efforts, generate strong resident support. Survey participants also indicated that education is a high- impact enabler for long-term success. 7. Sustainability Subcommittee Updates Discussion: Burris presented a draft letter addressed to the Mayor concerning train schedules and the noise pollution caused by train whistles. Commissioners expressed interest in receiving a future update regarding the City’s handling of future proposed data centers. Burris also raised the topic of reducing single-use plastic bag usage. 8. Liaison Updates (e.g., Development Committee, Downtown Revitalization Commission) Discussion: Carlson noted that the most recent Development Committee meeting had been cancelled. Rodriguez inquired about the status of the possible development of futsal courts downtown. Carlson confirmed that an ordinance had previously been passed to allow recreational development at the location, but construction would not begin until at least next year. Funding for the project remains unresolved. 9. Upcoming Commission Meetings a. October 15, 2026, 6:00 P.M., City Hall i. Rodriguez made a motion, seconded by Carlson, to move the next meeting to October 22, 2026. 1. Voting Yea: Rodriguez, Burris, Carlson, and McClure ===== PDF PAGE 4 ===== 2. Voting Nay: None. b. November 19, 2026, 6:00 P.M., City Hall c. December 17, 2026, 6:00 P.M., City Hall i. Rodriguez made a motion, seconded by McClure, to cancel the December meeting. 1. Voting Yea: Rodriguez, Burris, Carlson, and McClure 2. Voting Nay: None. 10. Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up Discussion: None. 11. Adjournment a. Following the conclusion of the Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up, the meeting concluded at 7:10 P.M. Respectfully, Ashley Heidorn Public Works Administrative Assistant ===== PDF PAGE 5 ===== From: Tyler Kesler To: Dave Shah Cc: Nazree Diane Williams; rodzallen Subject: 2026 Community Survey Results Summary Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026 3:37:32 PM Attachments: image002.png West_Chicago_Resident_Environmental_Survey_Summary.xlsx CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Hey team, Resident feedback regarding environmental priorities, community cleanliness, and future sustainability initiatives within the City of West Chicago. The survey indicates that residents generally view West Chicago as a clean and desirable community. Responses evaluating overall cleanliness were predominantly positive, with most residents rating the city as either "Good" or "Excellent." However, the data also suggests that residents believe there is room for improvement in maintaining consistency across neighborhoods and city services. A clear theme throughout the survey results is that waste disposal and recycling are the most significant environmental concerns among residents. Waste and recycling issues were identified more frequently than any other environmental topic, and resident comments specifically referenced concerns regarding garbage collection reliability. These findings suggest that residents place substantial importance on basic service delivery and visible environmental stewardship. As a result, efforts to improve recycling education, strengthen communication regarding waste services, and address service inconsistencies would likely resonate strongly with the community. The survey also reveals significant support for visible community enhancement projects. Residents frequently expressed interest in expanding parks, green spaces, tree planting initiatives, bike trails, and community cleanup programs. Open-ended comments repeatedly emphasized the value of improvements that residents can directly experience within their neighborhoods. This indicates that tangible environmental investments may be more impactful from a resident perspective than broader sustainability policies that are less visible in daily life. Education emerged as another recurring theme throughout the survey results. Recycling education programs were frequently identified as a desired improvement area, and resident comments highlighted the importance of engaging children and young people in environmental awareness efforts. One respondent specifically noted the need to "start with the children" so they understand their impact on the environment. These responses suggest that educational initiatives, particularly those developed in partnership with schools, could serve as an effective long-term strategy to improve environmental outcomes while strengthening community engagement. Based on the survey findings, four primary leadership themes emerged: 1. Waste and Recycling Remains the Dominant Environmental Concern ===== PDF PAGE 6 ===== Residents consistently identified waste management, recycling effectiveness, and service reliability as top priorities. Leadership should focus on improving operational performance, communication, and public awareness in these areas. 2. Residents Believe the Community Is Generally Clean but Not Uniformly So While overall sentiment is favorable, some residents continue to identify localized cleanliness issues. Maintaining strong citywide standards while addressing recurring concerns in specific areas may further improve resident satisfaction. 3. Visible Local Improvements Generate Strong Resident Support Parks, green spaces, trees, trails, and community cleanup activities were consistently viewed as valuable community investments. Residents respond positively to environmental initiatives that produce observable improvements in their neighborhoods. 4. Education Is a High-Impact Enabler for Long-Term Success Environmental awareness campaigns, recycling education, and youth engagement programs represent practical opportunities to encourage sustainable behaviors and strengthen community participation. In summary, the survey results suggest that residents want a practical, community-centered environmental strategy focused on reliable city services, improved recycling outcomes, expanded green space, neighborhood beautification, and educational outreach. Future environmental initiatives are likely to gain the strongest public support when they are visible, measurable, and directly improve residents' daily experiences within the community. ===== PDF PAGE 7 ===== Best regards, -- Tyler Kesler ===== PDF PAGE 8 ===== Question Metric / Response Category Directional Frequency Leadership Interpretation Data Caveat Q1 Waste disposal & recycling Most frequent Primary resident concern; prioritize waste/recycling reliability, education, and service communication. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q1 Air quality Second most common Secondary concern; monitor alongside broader environmental communications. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q1 Storm water / noise / light pollution Occasional Lower-frequency concerns but useful to track as localized environmental issues. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q2 Good — mostly clean with occasional issues Most frequent Overall cleanliness sentiment appears positive with room to address consistency gaps. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q2 Excellent Frequent Some residents view the city as very clean; opportunity to reinforce strengths. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q2 Fair Occasional A subset sees visible cleanliness issues; target improvements where recurring issues are identified. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q2 Poor Not observed in visible sample No clearly legible poor ratings observed in the readable sample. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q3 More trees / green spaces Frequently selected Residents value visible neighborhood improvements and expanded public green space. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q3 More community clean-up events Frequently selected Community engagement is a practical near-term lever for improving perceived cleanliness. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q3 Recycling education & awareness programs Frequently selected Education can support both resident behavior change and waste/recycling outcomes. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q3 Youth/school programs Less frequent Still relevant as part of education strategy, especially given Q4 comments about children. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. Q3 Broader environmental initiatives Less frequent Lower emphasis in readable sample versus tangible local improvements. Directional only; scanned PDF images limited exact tabulation. ===== PDF PAGE 9 ===== Comment ID Question Verbatim Comment Primary Theme Leadership Lens 1 Q4 Start w/ the children – they need to know the impact they have on our environment Education & youth engagement Build environmental awareness through schools/youth programming. 2 Q4 Keep expanding parks + bike trails Green space & active transportation Continue investment in parks, trails, and outdoor community infrastructure. 3 Q4 Somewhat inconsistent garbage pickup Waste service reliability Review garbage pickup consistency and resident communication on service issues. 4 Q4 Education Education & awareness Increase resident-facing education on recycling and environmental practices. 5 Q4 Hopefully make more parks Parks & green space Resident appetite for additional parks and green amenities. ===== PDF PAGE 10 ===== Rank Leadership Theme Evidence Recommended Leadership Message 1 Waste & recycling is the dominant concern Q1 responses most frequently pointed to waste disposal/recycling; Q4 included a garbage pickup reliability concern. Prioritize service consistency, recycling education, and clear resident communication. 2 Residents see West Chicago as generally clean, but not uniformly Q2 leaned toward Good/Excellent, with occasional Fair ratings. Build on positive cleanliness sentiment while addressing recurring operational gaps. 3 Visible local improvements resonate Q3 and Q4 comments emphasized trees, parks, green spaces, bike trails, and clean-up events. Frame environmental progress around tangible neighborhood improvements residents can see and use. 4 Education is a recurring lever Q3 recycling education appeared frequently; Q4 comments specifically referenced children and education. Develop simple education campaigns, with youth/school channels as one high-impact option. ===== PDF PAGE 11 ===== Executive Summary The West Chicago Resident Environmental Survey indicates that residents are generally positive about community cleanliness, while consistently pointing to waste/recycling, service reliability, green space expansion, and education as the highest-value improvement areas. The most actionable leadership themes are to strengthen waste and recycling communications, address garbage pickup consistency, continue visible investments in parks, trails, trees, and cleanup events, and expand practical environmental education—especially through youth and community-facing channels. Findings are directional because the source PDF is scanned and exact response counts could not be reliably extracted from all pages. ===== PDF PAGE 12 ===== [Blank page, visually verified.] ===== PDF PAGE 13 ===== [DRAFT watermark; visible text corrected against rendered flyer.] • West Chicago City Hall I 475 Main Street • New Hope United Methodist Church I 643 E. Washington Street • Murphy Ace Hardware I 319 S. Neltnor Boulevard • West Chicago Water Treatment Plant I 1400 W. Hawthorne Lane • West Chicago Public Library District I 118 W. Washington Street • The ARC Center I 201 W. National Street • Jewel-Osco I 177 E. Roosevelt Road WEST CHICAGO HOLIDAY LIGHT COLLECTION Strands of incandescent and LED holiday lights, and extension cords, may be dropped off at designated bins at the following locations from Friday, November 27 through Friday, January 15. This program is open to West Chicago Residents, businesses, clubs, churches and organizations, and is made available through the coordination of the City of West Chicago, the City of West Chicago’s Environmental Commission, SCARCE, and Groot. ===== PDF PAGE 14 ===== [DRAFT watermark; visible text corrected against rendered flyer.] • West Chicago City Hall I • New Hope United Methodist Church I • Murphy Ace Hardware I • West Chicago Water Treatment Plant I • West Chicago Public Library District I • The ARC Center I • Jewel-Osco I WEST CHICAGO RECOLECCIÓN DE LUCES NAVIDEÑAS Las luces navideñas incandescentes y LED, así como los cables de extensión, se pueden depositar en los contenedores designados en las siguientes ubicaciones desde el viernes 27 de noviembre hasta el viernes 15 de enero. Este programa está abierto a los residentes, empresas, clubes, iglesias y organizaciones de West Chicago, y se ofrece a través de la coordinación de la Ciudad de West Chicago, la Comisión Ambiental de la Ciudad de West Chicago, SCARCE y Groot. 475 Main Street 643 E. Washington Street 319 S. Neltnor Boulevard 1400 W. Hawthorne Lane 118 W. Washington Street 201 W. National Street 177 E. Roosevelt Road ===== PDF PAGE 15 ===== RECYCLE YOUR USED COOKING OIL! Protect Pipes. Save the Environment. Fuel the Future. DO YOU FRY, COOK, OR GRILL? Don't pour that oil down the drain! Used cooking oil can clog pipes, pollute waterways, and attract pests. But when recycled, it can be turned into biofuel, soaps, and more! WHY RECYCLE COOKING OIL? Prevent clogged pipes & sewer backups Keep our water clean Help create eco-friendly fuel Reduce landfill waste WHAT YOU CAN BRING: Used vegetable oil | Canola oil | Peanut oil | Corn oil | Olive oil **No household chemicals, bacon grease, or animal fats, please.** DROP-OFF LOCATION 1: West Chicago/Winfield Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant 725 Dayton Avenue West Chicago, IL 60185 Hours: 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM Open: Monday-Friday *Closed on Major Holidays DROP-OFF LOCATION 2: Well House 7/12 627 W Hawthorne Ln West Chicago, IL 60185 Hours: 24/7 Drop Off (PILOT SITE) HOW TO PREPARE YOUR OIL FOR RECYCLING: 1. Let oil cool completely. 2. Pour into a clean, shatterproof, sealable container (e.g., milk jug) 3. Label the container. 4. Drop it off at our drop-off site! Questions? 630-293-2255 (City of West Chicago) or 630-545-9710 (SCARCE) https://westchicago.org/ or https://www.scarce.org/ ===== PDF PAGE 16 ===== ¡RECICLA TU ACEITE DE COCINA USADO! Protege las tuberías. Cuida el medio ambiente. Impulsa el futuro. ¿FRÍES, COCINAS O ASAS? ¡No tires ese aceite por el desagüe! El aceite de cocina usado puede obstruir las tuberías, contaminar el agua y atraer plagas. ¡Pero cuando se recicla, puede convertirse en biocombustible, jabones y mucho más! ¿POR QUÉ RECICLAR EL ACEITE DE COCINA? Evita obstrucciones y desbordes en el sistema de alcantarillado Mantén el agua limpia Ayuda a crear combustible ecológico Reduce los residuos en los vertederos QUÉ PUEDES TRAER: Aceite vegetal usado | Aceite de canola | Aceite de maní | Aceite de maíz | Aceite de oliva **Sin productos químicos domésticos, grasa de tocino ni grasas animales, por favor.** PUNTO DE ENTREGA 1: Planta Regional de Tratamiento de Aguas Residuales 725 Dayton Avenue West Chicago, IL 60185 Horario: 7:00 a. m. – 3:30 p. m. Días: Lunes a viernes *Cerrado en días festivos importantes PUNTO DE ENTREGA 2: Well House 7/12 627 W Hawthorne Ln West Chicago, IL 60185 Hours: Entrega disponible las 24 horas, los 7 días de la semana (SITIO PILOTO) CÓMO PREPARAR TU ACEITE PARA RECICLAR: 1. Deja que el aceite se enfríe completamente. 2. Viértelo en un recipiente limpio, irrompible y con tapa (por ejemplo, una botella de leche). 3. Etiqueta el recipiente. 4. Déjalo en uno de nuestros puntos de entrega. ¿Preguntas? 630-293-2255 (Ciudad de West Chicago) o 630-545-9710 (SCARCE) https://westchicago.org | https://www.scarce.org