"It is so important to find that balance between dealing with the issues of today, while also adopting a long term plan that focuses on building a resilient, sustainable, and financially sound Forest Park."
TRANSPARENCY
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Transparency is crucial to effectively meeting the challenges facing the Village. This is why Jessica sees it as her first priority. Without transparency, any attempt to address those challenges fail to meet their full potential.
"Transparency and accountability are important because they promote open communication, access to information, and encourages compliance with our processes, which reduces the likelihood of corrupt behavior. When community members and policy makers work together, in an open and honest way, we enact stronger, more inclusive policy."
Reducing the likelihood of corruption through transparency and accountability:
strengthens good governance
supports efficient allocation of resources
promotes equitable development and a fair playing field for public and private sectors
It also helps to ensure policy decisions and priorities are in the best interest of the public
Government should provide transparency and be responsive to residents, but a truly accountable government is shaped by an engaged community that demands transparency and provides oversight.
Strategic Planning Sessions (SPS) are vital to success. They help your government effectively use its resources to meet specific goals and the needs of the community. Though Commissioner Voogd lobbied for months to hold a SPS after the 2019 election, her requests fell on deaf ears. The new council will certainly benefit from a SPS. They can discuss goals, village issues, and plan for the next four years. Jessica is determined to make this happen. Thankfully, Village Administrator Amidei has indicated his support for holding a SPS with the newly elected council.
"As a newly elected commissioner, I started my term with a long list of ideas and goals. Other challenges and issues presented themselves along the way and the most challenging was certainly the pandemic. I accomplished so much of what I set out to do, despite having to work in a piecemeal and arbitrary way. Imagine how successful your representatives could be if they are working together and supporting each other!"
TOPICS FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION The key is getting together to share ideas, highlighting important goals and to establish a plan
Share mayor's and commissioners' goals
"State of the Village" from administrator and department heads
Create financial plan
Update the comprehensive plan
Update village code and zoning
Set goal-posts and check in accordingly
SUSTAINABILITY & GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE
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Continue advocating for green infrastructure and sustainable and environmentally sound policies and practices. This is important for many reasons:
Meeting environmental, economic, and social goals
Improves quality of life and makes a commitment to future generations
Helps manage storm water and reduces flooding by alleviating the burden on our sewers during heavy rain events
Permeable surfaces slowly release and filter water into the ground which reduces the amount of pollutants entering our waterways
Continue to advocate for tree care and protection. Some benefits of our urban forests :
Cleans air of pollutants
Increases property values
Helps manage storm water, reducing flooding
Provides shade and natural cooling that reduces the heat island effect
Improves mental well-being
Must avoid a silo approach and consider all opportunities
There's no "one perfect solution" to environmental challenges or meeting goals
Even small steps continue us along the path toward a more sustainable Forest Park
Partnerships and Grants
Working with our neighboring communities and organizations can lead to innovative discoveries, collective buying power, and support in reaching shared goals
Jessica is a village representative with C4 (Cross Community Climate Collaborative) and also volunteers on a sub-committee discussing the transition to alternative fuel landscaping equipment. A key goal is to provide educational outreach to the community and landscaping businesses.
Accept grant opportunities and partnerships to offset potentially higher upfront costs
Advocate for sustainable, equitable, and inclusive policy decisions and discussion
Transition village fleet and equipment to alternative fuel options
Full assessment of all village owned buildings
Stop piecemeal, reactionary improvements
Full picture may reveal better opportunities for green investments
Support local businesses, residents, and organizations to create consistent messaging and support of sustainable practices
Currently working with the Chamber of Commerce and local businesses to develop a single-use plastics ordinance that not only helps the environment and reduces trash on public property, it also helps businesses save money
“We were also heartened by the comments of Commissioner Jessica Voogd who proclaimed the economic development value of green space. She could not be more correct. Well planned and well executed, the future park at the Altenheim will be a selling point for Forest Park for decades to come.” https://www.forestparkreview.com/2021/01/26/open-altenheim-planning/
FINANCES
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
BUILDING ASSESSMENT
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We must think about the long-term while meeting the needs of today.
The demands on the Village's budget continue to grow and intensify, as do the demands on each department. The Village provides a high level of service to residents but the ability to meet those expectations becomes more difficult each year. This is why we must critically and impartially evaluate all expenditures.
"We must be thoughtful in our approach by understanding the demands of today without compromising the needs of the future. We want that future to meet our general operating needs while still providing a positive working environment, fair living wages, and that high-level of service provided to residents."
I will continue to provide accountability, transparency, and engagement while:
Practicing fiscal responsibility with a generational budgeting mindset
Carefully considering all potential revenue generating opportunities
Ensuring the Village is consistently and fairly enforcing code
Critically and impartially examining all expenditures
Example: Worked with Dir Stella to reduce his proposed budget for FY 2023 by 9k to convince skeptical council members to support the tree survey grant. He and I worked to identify expenditures that could be put on hold for a year to cover the costs of the matching grant. I understood the importance of the survey and the Urban Forest Management Plan provided by the grant. It has been invaluable to the long-term planning and care of our urban forest. The relatively small upfront costs were truly an investment with a huge long term return.
Economic development is crucial to Forest Park's future and its ability to continue to provide a high-level of service to the community.
Thoughtfully leverage ARPA and State capital grant funds
Modernize village processes to create more efficiency, reducing the burden on staff time
Invest in services, infrastructure, and showcasing our community to entice businesses and attract new residents
Create a small-business resource portal that shares opportunities and information in one convenient place, like the Village website
Continue working closely with the Chamber of Commerce
Complete a full assessment of all village owned buildings
Much like our aged fleet, village owned buildings have been managed in a reactionary way for years. This has left most buildings in need of extensive repairs and upgrades. A thorough assessment of all village owned buildings will provide a much clearer picture of the work to be done. A full understanding of our property needs results in better planning of improvements and avoids a more costly, uncoordinated, and piecemeal approach.
ALTENHEIM
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The Altenheim property is a precious parcel to many of us. Over the last few decades, the village has held many town halls, community outreach sessions, formed committees, and listened to passionate residents provide insight and ideas on what might become of the multi-acre property.
Jessica has consistently pushed throughout her first term to continue that dialog. As a result, the Village has a newly formed advisory committee. They are an engaged group of people exploring potential uses for the property.
But, the work is not done.
The community must show up and hold decision-makers accountable. Jessica continues to push for an open, transparent process but we must work together to keep politics or personal preferences from influencing any decision. We've had this property for over 20 years, it would be a shame to rush something through and lose it forever.
“Green space is economic development,” Voogd said. “It increases property values; it brings businesses and retains them. There are countless studies that I found and am happy to share with people about how making green space and parks and trails and all of these different things actually helps the community; it increases jobs, it creates revenue, it reduces municipal overhead. I mean, there’s so much economic value with green space.” https://www.forestparkreview.com/2021/01/26/council-approves-altenheim-demolition-grant/
Jessica consistently advocates for community engagement and outreach.
Government should provide transparency and access to information and process. Jessica's commitment to the community has been to show up, respectfully respond to questions and concerns, and encourage community involvement.
"A truly accountable government is shaped by an engaged community that demands transparency and provides oversight. We are stronger together."
WAYS WE CAN WORK TOGETHER:
Fill volunteer board and commission vacancies and restart meetings
Many village sanctioned boards and commissions have not resumed and seats remain unfilled following the pandemic shutdown in 2020
Provide clear direction to board and commission volunteers
Many volunteers have expressed frustration with a lack of direction and confusion about how to communicate with staff and the village council.
I have recommended the adoption of a volunteer handbook and presented examples to the village administrator. This would provide a clear overview of each board or commission's duties and outline effective communication protocols.
Respectful responsiveness
Continue to work with fellow council members, staff, and community
When members of the community share their concerns or ideas, I strive to respond promptly and actively listen to the suggestion, concern, or problem. We are able to work together to find a solution or get an answer to their question.
The commissioner said she hopes that Juliet’s fundraiser would inspire others.“I want to say that it is just wonderful to see young people looking to get involved with their community,” Voogd said. “Juliet’s initiative, hard work, and kindness are impressive. I am thrilled to do what I can to encourage civic engagement such as this.” https://www.forestparkreview.com/2022/05/10/fifth-grader-raising-funds-to-upgrade-dog-park/
We all play a role in public safety. The police work to deter crime and protect the community from harm. The public provides oversight, maintains relationships with their neighbors, and takes steps to secure their property. Elected officials ensure police have the resources they need to do their jobs and provide oversight. There is also a public health component to public safety. All of these elements work together and it is important to embrace this holistic approach to public safety.
"The Forest Park Police Department has been doing a great job, especially over the past few years given the challenges facing communities all over the country. Because of this, it has become more evident that public safety is not just the responsibility of the police. It requires collaboration with the community, policy makers, and our officers. I advocate for a holistic approach to public safety. "
Encourage the continued good work of our police dept., recognizing their professionalism and respectful engagement with the community
Ensure the department has the appropriate tools they need to do their jobs
Embrace new technology and resources while keeping constitutional rights, privacy and accountability a top priority
Continue to support our many community outreach programs; I.E. Citizens Watch, Citizens’ Police Academy, etc.
Create a Police-Community Engagement board to share feedback with our department and serve as a conduit for resident
Strengthen our civic infrastructure. We must acknowledge that mental health, youth services, education, housing, economic opportunity, and community investment all contribute to the community's well-being and safety.
“That said, we are grateful to Village Commissioner Jessica Voogd for her strong questioning of Police Chief Ken Gross during the village council meeting. Voogd raised necessary questions, both broad and narrow, about the cameras. She rightly targeted civil rights issues...This ought to, at least, give us pause. It represents a vast societal change. Necessary? Yes, you can argue that is. Inevitable? That seems undeniable. But also worth throwing up a cautionary flag, and good for Voogd for doing that.” https://www.forestparkreview.com/2022/01/15/necessary-surveillance-discussion/
“I hope my attendance at the Feb. 24 press conference,” Voogd said, “demonstrates my solidarity with communities that have been historically marginalized and also honors our Forest Park resolution, which states, in part, that it is the policy of the village to welcome and treat all persons entering or living in our community with the same respect, fairness, and dignity, and to continue providing municipal services and enforcing the law on an equal basis to all people, regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or nation of origin or descent or federal immigration status.” https://www.forestparkreview.com/2020/03/04/paso-works-to-educate-latinx-population-about-census/