Western Springs meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Trustees to weigh liquor licenses, road work; commissions review fields, code

Western Springs officials met last week on several items, but no decisions have been published yet. The Board of Trustees considered an omnibus package that includes liquor licenses for a Burlington Avenue restaurant and a park district festival, plus contracts for road resurfacing and fencing. Two advisory commissions also met to discuss economic development and a high school athletic field expansion. Because minutes have not been published, none of these items are final.

Board of Trustees (Aug. 10)

The board met to consider a single omnibus vote covering multiple ordinances and contracts. Among the items:

• **Liquor licenses for Alano Ristorante** (Cotto Geneva LLC) at 821 Burlington Avenue: ordinances to amend the liquor code for Class B, G, and H licenses.
• **Harvest Fest license**: an ordinance creating a Class I liquor license for the Western Springs Park District's Harvest Fest 2026 at Spring Rock Park.
• **Road resurfacing**: a resolution for a $292,598.52 contract with M&J Asphalt Paving for the 2026 MFT roadway resurfacing.
• **Fence installation**: a resolution for a $34,450.00 contract with Innova Fence for Recreation Center fence installation.
• **Professional service agreements** with V3 Companies for the 2027 Road and Utility Program and with HR Green for Grand Avenue improvements.

The agenda also included discussion items on a leaf pickup resident survey and a change order for Recreation Center office furniture, plus proclamations, commission appointments, and approval of previous minutes.

Economic Development Commission (Aug. 19)

The commission met to approve minutes from July 23, 2025, hear public comment, and discuss new business. The agenda lists an economic development activity report, village facility use, and a proposed update to Village Code Section 2-6-2. No specific decisions or dollar amounts were listed.

Plan Commission (Aug. 20)

The Plan Commission considered an amendment to a conditional use permit and variations for athletic field improvements at Lyons Township High School South Campus, located at 4900 and 4940 Willow Springs Road. The proposal includes new discus and shotput areas with bleachers, relocated and additional athletic fields (including batting cages, a bullpen, and goalposts), and accessory hardscape and structures such as fencing and netting. The commission was set to make a recommendation on the petition.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. The minutes from the Aug. 10, Aug. 19, and Aug. 20 meetings have not yet been published, so decisions from those meetings are pending.

Western Springs trustees to vote on liquor licenses, road contracts at Aug. 10 meeting

Western Springs village committees met over the past two weeks to review liquor license requests, facility contracts, and road design work, but no final decisions were made because those meetings were agenda-only and minutes have not yet been published. The Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on several of these items at its Aug. 10 meeting.

Recent committee meetings

All five committee meetings held July 29 and Aug. 4 were agenda-only, meaning no votes were taken. Key items discussed include:

• **Liquor licenses**: The General Government Committee and Liquor Control Commission reviewed a request from Cotto Geneva LLC for Class B, G, and H licenses for Alano Ristorante at 821 Burlington Avenue. The Park District also requested a special events license and temporary use permit for Harvest Fest 2026.
• **TIF reports**: Two Joint Review Board meetings reviewed the 2025 Annual TIF Reports for the Downtown South and Downtown North Tax Increment Financing Districts. The North board also planned elections for a public member and chairperson.
• **Facility contracts**: The Properties and Recreation Committee discussed agreements for recreation center fencing (Innova Fence), fire sprinkler repairs, roofing supplies (Garland/DBS Inc. via Omnia Partners), and independent contractor agreements with Kensington School, Mattix Music, Premier Illinois, Jo's Footwork, and Montesori School of Western Springs. A change order for office furniture was also on the agenda.
• **Public works**: The Public Works and Water Committee reviewed design engineering for the 2027 Road and Utility Program (V3 Companies) and Grand Avenue improvements (HR Green, Inc.), a no-cost change order for water meter replacements, a leaf pickup resident survey, and a bidding update for asphalt patching and yard pavement resurfacing.
• **Budget**: The Finance Committee considered a budget amendment for the 2026 Recreation Center fence installation project.

Board of Trustees meeting (Aug. 10)

The Board of Trustees will meet today and is expected to vote on an omnibus package that includes:

• **Liquor license ordinances** for Alano Ristorante (Class B, G, and H) and a new Class I license for the Park District's Harvest Fest 2026 at Spring Rock Park.
• **Road resurfacing contract** with M&J Asphalt Paving for $292,598.52 under the 2026 MFT roadway program.
• **Recreation Center fence installation** contract with Innova Fence for $34,450.00.
• **Professional service agreements** with V3 Companies for the 2027 Road and Utility Program and HR Green for Grand Avenue improvements.

Discussion items include the leaf pickup resident survey and a change order for recreation center office furniture. The board will also consider proclamations, commission appointments, and approval of previous meeting minutes.

Coming up

The Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled for Aug. 10 at Village Hall. No other meetings are listed in the next 14 days.

Western Springs boards review TIF reports, facility contracts, and liquor licenses in late July

Several Western Springs advisory bodies met or were scheduled to meet in the final week of July 2026, covering topics from downtown tax increment financing districts to recreation center maintenance contracts and liquor license applications. Minutes have not yet been published for any of these meetings, so the items below reflect what agendas listed for discussion or possible action — not confirmed outcomes.

TIF Joint Review Board reviews downtown district reports

The TIF Joint Review Board was scheduled to meet July 29 to review the 2025 Annual TIF Reports for both the Downtown South and Downtown North Tax Increment Financing districts. The reports were submitted to the Illinois State Comptroller's Office and cover the effectiveness and status of each district for the 2025 audit year. The Downtown North agenda also included election of a public member and a chairperson.

Properties and Recreation Committee considers facility contracts

The Properties and Recreation Committee's July 29 agenda included several maintenance and contractor items for village facilities. Listed items were an agreement with Innova Fence for the 2026 Recreation Center fence installation and replacement, a 2026 fire sprinkler repair project, and a contract (PW1925) with Garland/DBS Inc. for roofing supplies and services through Omnia Partners. The committee was also set to review independent contractor agreements with Kensington School, Mattix Music, Premier Illinois, Jo's Footwork, and Montesori School of Western Springs, plus a change order for additional recreation center office furniture.

Liquor licenses under review for Harvest Fest and Alano Ristorante

The General Government Committee met July 29 at Village Hall to consider two liquor license requests. The Western Springs Park District requested a special events liquor license and temporary use permit for Harvest Fest 2026. Separately, Cotto Geneva LLC sought Class B, G, and H liquor licenses for Alano Ristorante at 821 Burlington Avenue. The Liquor Control Commission was also scheduled to discuss the Alano Ristorante application on the same date.

Police Pension Board reviews finances and holds elections

The Western Springs Police Pension Fund Board of Trustees met July 21. The agenda listed discussion or possible action on a cash management policy, approval of a Sikich CPA LLC invoice, and board officer elections for president, vice president, secretary, and assistant secretary. The board also addressed a membership application for Michael Andersen and reviewed a Municipal Compliance Report.

Recreation Commission gets department and program updates

The Recreation Commission met July 20 for a department overview and recaps of special events, athletics, and senior programs. Agenda items included updates on summer camps, a Tower Trot recap, a senior program overview, and a recap of the Teen Flashlight Egg Hunt.

Coming up

• **Aug. 4, 5:30 p.m. — Finance Committee, Village Hall:** Scheduled to consider a budget amendment for the 2026 Recreation Center fence installation project.
• **Aug. 4 — Public Works and Water Committee:** Agenda includes 2027 Road and Utility Program design engineering by V3 Companies, Grand Avenue improvements design engineering by HR Green Inc., a no-cost change order for the water meter replacement project, a leaf pickup resident survey, and a bidding update for asphalt street patching and Public Works yard pavement resurfacing.