Council Recap — September 17: Six Days Before the Hearing, Not One Word on Open Space
A two-and-a-half-hour meeting found time for a mural, a condo concept and permit fees. The Park District came with a plan for working together in writing. The Open Space District — six days from its only public hearing — never came up.
OTW’s take, up front: The Park District stood before the Council and asked to make cooperation “a written organizational commitment.” That is exactly what OTW urged on September 14. But in 147 minutes, no one mentioned the dog beach, Tower Road Pier, Elder Lane — or the Open Space District, whose one Plan Commission hearing is Wednesday, September 23, 7 p.m. And the livestream launched September 1? It didn’t run.
The September 17 regular meeting (watch the full video here) ran 2 hours and 27 minutes, and it was not live-streamed. Village Manager Kazenas explained the stream fails when anyone joins by Zoom; a fix is hoped for in October (34:57). Two weeks after the launch, the cameras were already off.
The Park District offers a handshake — in writing
The Park District presented its 2027–2031 strategic plan. Its intergovernmental goal: to “move intergovernmental coordination from something that happens informally to a written organizational commitment” (13:57) — quarterly staff meetings, shared project review, joint alerts on closures and safety. Its executive director said she and the Village Manager are working through old agreements, “some of the things that existed from 1942” (19:23). Trustee Dalman called it “an excellent document.”
It is. It is also close to word for word what OTW asked for in “Big-Footing”: sit down on a public agenda and put in writing who decides what. The Council thanked her — and asked nothing about the dog beach it shelved June 30, the pier fenced since 2020 or the Elder outfall. Park District land sits inside the Open Space District, too. That didn’t come up either.
“The price of the steak”
The best line of the night came from public comment. A Kent Road resident asked the Council to publish the fiscal impact of every Post Office scenario before choosing: “Here’s the price of the steak. Here’s the price of the lobster. Now tell us what you want to order” (23:42). No trustee responded. With the Post Office decision due this fall — and the lot now drawn into the Open Space District — that menu matters more than ever.
Permit fees: a fix, then a retreat
Staff proposed longer building permits for new homes and cutting the extension fee from 50% of the base fee to 10% (37:47). The Village Manager called today’s extension fees “almost in the same category as like a fine or a penalty” (53:31). Agreed. The draft would have refunded about $100,000 to homeowners who already paid; trustees stripped the refunds, introduced the ordinance on a divided voice vote, and asked staff to look at renovations too. Adoption is set for October 6. Relief going forward — cold comfort for those who already paid.
An hour on Tower Court
The Tower Court condo concept in Hubbard Woods drew an hour of detailed, engaged trustee feedback (1:24:15). President Dearborn: “It’s mission critical to get this one right” (2:20:56). We agree — and wish the same hour had gone to the land-use change that will govern every public parcel in town.
Consent, again
Three contracts totaling well over $1.5 million — underground cable, water plant piping and a Public Safety Building rooftop unit, the last after all bids were rejected — passed 5–0 without discussion. The Council also hired a tax-credit consultant without bidding, on a 10% contingency, to pursue an estimated $500,000–$680,000 federal geothermal credit for the Village Hall project (1:07:04). A reasonable deal, fairly presented.
OTW Top Ten scorecard — September 17
#8 Collaboration: Park District’s written-coordination plan ✓ — the Council asked nothing.
#1 Post Office: a resident asked for the costs — no response.
#9 Property Rights: permit-fee relief going forward ✓ — refunds removed.
#7 Downtown: Tower Court got real engagement ✓.
#2 Leadership: livestream down two weeks after launch.
#4 Pier & Beaches · #5 Stormwater · #11 Open Space District: silence.
Watch the September 17 meeting for yourself: Village of Winnetka — September 17, 2026 Regular Council Meeting (YouTube). Then come to the Plan Commission hearing, Wednesday, September 23, 7 p.m., Council Chambers, 510 Green Bay Road. If the Council won’t talk about it, the rest of us will. Read OTW’s op-ed →
Published by Our Town Winnetka · Our Town. Our Future. Your Voice.
Sources: Village of Winnetka, September 17, 2026 Regular Council Meeting (video, agenda and packet); OTW’s September 1 recap. Quotes are taken from the meeting video’s transcript; timestamps are linked for verification. Minutes are scheduled for approval October 6.