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It's about the long term, 
not just  "my term."

"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
  • WHY
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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.
“I took issue with the process, because when you are avoiding discussions with the full council and just having side conversations, that doesn’t foster a transparent, fully informed decision-making process, and that’s concerning,”   www.forestparkreview.com/2022/11/01/hoskins-commissioner-voogd-clash-over-new-staff-salaries/
STRATEGIC PLANNING
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We need a roadmap to success

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
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.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & OUTREACH
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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.
PUBLIC SAFETY
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A Safe Community is a Healthy Community.

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/​
  • On Monday evening at the Forest Park Village Council meeting, Commissioner Jessica Voogd was plain-spoken about issues of race and violence in America following the murder by police of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Voogd pledged personally to focus on being anti-racist in her actions. It is a pledge the entire council needs to take in governing this village in what will be, thankfully, a new and more complex time.” https://www.forestparkreview.com/2020/06/09/an-anti-racist-forest-park/
  • “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/

CONTACT US

417 DesPlaines Avenue
P.O. BOX #50
Forest Park, IL 60130
[email protected]
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