Kenilworth leaders lay out priorities for 2025 budget

From building security analyses to updating a zoning code that hasn’t been comprehensively modernized since 1969, Kenilworth’s Village Board now has a set of goals to kick-start the 2025 budget process.

Village trustees approved those goals — an annual process — at their board session on Monday, Sept. 16. Village President Cecily Kaz said the board’s next step will be to meet, if possible, on Oct. 16; at that point, trustees and staff can begin to turn the seven major goals into budgetary reality, she and Village Manager Kathy Thake said.

“We take a high level look at what we’re trying to achieve in the following year, in terms of important projects, and certain initiatives,” Kaz said. “This is above and beyond the regular budgeting process and capital expenses.

“Obviously this is the first step in a several-meeting process that ends with the public hearing in November.”

As approved, the goals are:

• Continued progress on the village’s lakefront and water plant improvement projects;
• The comprehensive zoning code update;
• Further work on Kenilworth’s Green Bay Road business corridor, both long-term improvements like traffic flow and creation of residential gathering spaces and short-term aesthetic improvements;
• A security assessment by the police department of Kenilworth’s Village Hall, public works and water plant buildings;
• Improvement of the village’s plan review process for projects that trigger draining or grading regulations, and updating Kenilworth’s online application processes; 
• A review the village’s IT infrastructure, with an eye toward improving its security and efficiency measures; and
• The continued education of residents and businesses, through emailed newsletters, social media and print material, about ways to operate sustainably.

Thake, who was attending her first meeting as Kenilworth’s new village manager, said lakefront improvement continues to top the list. That includes both the shoreline protection project slated for completion next spring and progress on revamping the old water treatment plant for community use. 

“We are getting into the design and development phase, and preparation of the construction documents,” for the water plant building, she said. Tackling that goal will also include discussion on how to help pay for the project with community fundraising, Thake added.

In March, residents approved a $2.5 million bond issue, which will make up a significant part of the $8.4 million officials expect to spend on the water plant and beach modernization effort. Additional funding is predicated on using about $3.3 million in existing fund balances and on raising at least $2.5 million in donations.

Heather McFarland, assistant to the village manager, told trustees that Kenilworth’s zoning code hasn’t been comprehensively updated since roughly 1969. A code audit undertaken this year has provided the village with ways to improve it, she said.

“Trustee (Amy) Hannus will be leading an ad hoc work group to work on identifying what policies we have, the theme of the zoning code update and then working on actually drafting the new language,” McFarland said.

Trustee Matt Lojkovic told his colleagues that residents he’s talked to understand the lakefront’s priority but want to know what the timeline might be for improving the Green Bay corridor: “I know it’s a multiyear effort to say the least. But I think the more that we can start to put together some type of framework that can be shared in some shape or form .. I know there’s a lot of curiosity out there.”

Kaz said issues such as traffic flow and parking along Green Bay would require partnerships with businesses in the corridor, and said that the Village should check on how neighboring Winnetka is dealing with its own Green Bay road configuration efforts. 

“I don’t think it’s something the board has discussed in a while, and it would be nice to get an update just what that picture looks like,” she said.

Trustee Walter Kelly agreed, and asked about also checking in on Wilmette’s Green Bay Road situation.

Kelly also suggested that the village look at staffing issues, whether or not that becomes part of the budget discussion: “There’s a fair amount to do, and a busy schedule. I’m curious if we’ve had any thoughts of current staffing, and if there are additional needs, given what we’ve been talking about.

“I wouldn’t anticipate an answer right now, but I’d like to know that you’re thinking about that.”

Police Chief Bryan Carlson told trustees that the security review of the village’s three municipal buildings is necessary. 

“We have limited or no fire, carbon monoxide or burglar alarms in these buildings. We have little, or no, or outdated (closed circuit television) monitoring,” he said, adding that putting together the assessment next year would allow the village to tackle the updates in 2026.

The next budget step is the Village Board’s committee of the whole session on Oct. 15. A proposed budget would be presented to the board on Oct. 28, with a potential budget adoption on Nov. 18. Any necessary further discussion or budget amendments could take place in early December. 

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