Winnetka meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Winnetka boards weigh post office site, zoning, and pensions; no decisions published yet

No decisions have been published from Winnetka's recent government meetings, as minutes are not yet available. The Village Council is scheduled to vote on a consultant for the former U.S. Post Office site, and several other boards have upcoming agenda items.

Recent meetings (agenda only)

Village Council (Aug. 18) — The council considered three resolutions: hiring SB Friedman Development Advisors LLC for professional services on the former U.S. Post Office site (R-60-2026), a technology contract with CDW Government LLC (R-62-2026), and an extension of engineering services with W.F. Baird & Associates for the Tower Road Pier structural assessment (R-61-2026). The council also discussed a draft 2027 IMEA Sustainability Plan and approved a warrant list dated July 31 – August 13, 2026. No votes have been published.

Zoning Board of Appeals (Aug. 10) — The board reviewed a continued case for a swimming pool setback at 286 Ridge Avenue (Case No. 26-07-V2) and a new application for a detached garage setback at 925 Elm Street (Case No. 26-22-V). No decisions are published.

Firefighters Pension Board (Aug. 18) — The board considered approving a regular retirement for Erik Thornton, reviewing the actuarial valuation and tax levy request, and reviewing BMO and Northern Trust account statements. No decisions are published.

Environmental, Forestry, & Sustainability Commission (Aug. 12) — The commission received presentations on safe biking routes (with guest John Lankford), solar power (by Tim Ring), buckthorn eradication (by Liz Kunkle), a leaf blower study (by King Poor), and composting. A presentation by Louisa Hernandez was also on the agenda.

Cancelled meetings — The Planned Development Commission meeting scheduled for Aug. 19 and the Design Review Board meeting scheduled for Aug. 20 were both cancelled.

Coming up

Zoning Administrator (Aug. 25) — A public meeting will consider a zoning variation for 1050 Starr Road to allow an addition with a reduced side yard setback (Case No. ZBA-26-26-ZA). The Zoning Administrator has final authority on this request.

Plan Commission (Aug. 26) — The commission will receive updates on the zoning ordinance rewrite and the open space zoning district, and will discuss the Affordable Housing Plan and next steps. No final decisions are listed.

Design Review Board (Aug. 27) — A special meeting will review several applications, including a continued case for a four-story mixed-use building at 901-05, 907-09, 911-13 Green Bay Road and 1007-11 Tower Court (Case 25-19-PD), playground improvements at Tower Road Beach (Case 26-27-V), a facade material change at 564 Green Bay Road (Case 26-14-DR), a sign permit for Solidcore at 736 Elm Street (Case 26-15-DR), and awning modifications at 525 Lincoln Avenue (Case 26-16-DR). The Village Council will ultimately decide the mixed-use building case.

All meetings are open to the public. Agendas and minutes are available on the village's website.

Winnetka boards set short-term rental ban, Climate Action Plan for votes; Plan Commission meeting cancelled

Winnetka's Village Council was scheduled to take up two of the summer's most consequential items at its July 21 meeting: an ordinance prohibiting short-term rentals village-wide and a resolution adopting the Climate Action Plan. Minutes from that meeting have not yet been published, so the outcomes of those votes are not yet confirmed in the public record.

Village Council — July 21

The agenda listed Ordinance No. MC-03-2026, which would prohibit short-term rentals in Winnetka. Also on the agenda was Resolution R-54-2026, adopting the Village of Winnetka Climate Action Plan.

Other scheduled items included:

• Resolution R-55-2026, waiving bidding to purchase indoor range equipment from Inveris Training Solutions, Inc.
• Resolution R-57-2026, approving purchase of a public works vehicle from Transchicago Truck Group.
• Council discussion of the zoning ordinance rewrite and an open space zoning text amendment.

Because only the agenda is available and minutes have not been published, it is not yet possible to report how the council voted on any of these items.

Foreign Fire Insurance Board — July 20

The board was set to meet at the Winnetka Fire Department to review minutes from its October, April, and May meetings and accept a treasurer's report. Discussion items included EMS equipment and Carhartt cold-weather jackets, a review of the Station MedVault and inventory tracking software, and "Identifire" name tags. Minutes are not yet published.

Plan Commission — July 22

The regular monthly meeting of the Plan Commission, scheduled for July 22, was cancelled. No other business was listed.

Police Pension Board — July 23

The Police Pension Fund Board was scheduled to act on a regular retirement benefit for Karl Larson and process a separation of service for Marek Strzelec. The agenda also included review and approval of the annual actuarial valuation and tax levy request, election of board officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary), and review of the cash management policy. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

• **Aug. 3 — Historic Preservation Commission.** The commission will review a demolition permit application for 1020 Cherry Street (Case No. 26-14-HPC) and a building size bonus application plus landmark nomination for 115 DeWindt Road (Case No. 26-15-HPC). A preservation award plaque update and monthly communications are also listed.
• **Aug. 4 — Village Council.** The council is scheduled to consider Ordinance No. M-12-2026, a zoning variation and Certificate of Appropriateness for a Gaga Ball Pit at Greeley Elementary School, 275 Fairview Avenue. Also on the agenda: Resolution No. R-59-2026 awarding a contract to Wesco Distribution, Inc. for 600 Volt underground cable, a discussion on village parking review, and an update on village-owned street ends.

Note: All recent meetings above are listed as agenda-only; minutes have not been published. Residents seeking confirmed outcomes should watch for the official minutes on the Village of Winnetka website.