Election Day is April 1, 2025

https://www.northbrookcaucus.org/platform

Strong financial stewardship of taxpayer dollars: This includes continuing our AAA bond rating, balanced budgets, and low property tax levy (the Village’s share when compared to 14 peer communities). It also includes putting extra dollars towards our police and fire pension funds. Last but not least, it includes maintaining positive relationships with other government officials in order to look for cooperative efficiencies and lobby for grant opportunities.

Thoughtful growth: Sales tax revenues make up 32% of the Village’s budget. Despite high inflation and high interest rates over the last four years, sales tax revenues have continued to climb for the Village (up 5.8% from last year and 12.7% when compared with the average over the previous four years) and we have had many exciting new businesses open this year. This is due to intentional work on the part of the Village to make Northbrook more business-friendly. We plan to continue this trend with:

• Our recently kicked-off ERP system which will allow electronic submission and processing of permits, business licenses, and payments via the Village’s web site.
• A soon-to-be finished new zoning code which will be easier to navigate, less cumbersome, and friendlier for today’s businesses’ needs.
• Economic incentives in the form of small business boosts, as well as the larger investments, with clear criteria for funding. These incentives may come in the form of: sales tax rebates, TIFs, small business grants, loans, a Cook County 6b, and others.
• Northbrook Chamber of Commerce partnership to produce an annual guide and facilitate discussions with the board about issues of importance to the business community.
• Work with the North Shore Convention & Visitor Bureau to encourage Northbrook as more of a visitor destination.

Northbrook Court: Our slate is committed to seeing the overhaul of Northbrook Court become a reality and is a top priority due to the opportunity it offers. The Village has worked closely with the owner/developer on a Master Plan, incentive package, zoning, and more. As interest rates come down and funding the re-development becomes cheaper, the Village is ready to go! We also plan to continue the regular meetings with the owner/developer, encourage use of the existing space with things like the Lucid pop up being planned for this February, and leave no stone unturned in terms of how the Village can support a redevelopment that will be a shining jewel for the North Shore. Finally, our slate firmly believes that Northbrook Court is a huge opportunity and having experienced leaders get it right is critical.

A Reimagined Downtown: Building a more vibrant downtown is underway. Our goals are to attract the right investments so that residents have a downtown that is full of fun places to eat, great retail, and things to do. With a phase one of new streetscaping, a new Hometown Coffee & Juice, and a bike and pedestrian pathway extension down Shermer Rd. from Willow Rd into downtown.  We also plan to:

• Kick off a new Downtown Master Plan with an urban planner and public input.
• Roll out new economic incentives for existing and small businesses.
• Improve both parking and wayfinding signage.
• Create additional events with partners in order to attract more downtown foot traffic.
• Look for new opportunities to improve density so that our downtown has more daily foot traffic.
• Consider developing a non-profit to focus on the needs of downtown - events, marketing, and volunteers.
• Continue to work closely with downtown businesses and the Chamber to monitor impact and needs.

Village Infrastructure & Facilities: These new facilities are far past their useful lifespan and many of the Village’s processes have been manual and time-consuming. Our slate promises to fast-track these projects to set the Village infrastructure up for the future. Work is already underway for:

• a new fire station & fire administration
• a new police station
• a new Public Works Fleet maintenance garage
• replacement of outdated water meters with digital ones
• a new ERP system for electronic submissions for permits and licenses

World Class Village Services: We are in a service business first. It is our goal to make sure that Village staff delivers the best in services to ensure the safety, well-being, and beauty of our community. In turn, we will continue to prioritize the satisfaction, health, and safety of those who look out for Northbrook’s safety and well-being by making sure that they have tools, training, and job satisfaction.

Community Connections: You may not be aware of all the ways that you can learn about what the Village is up to, but here are some ways we invite you to learn more. We pledge to find new ways of sharing information and collecting feedback from the community from online videos, social media, and newsletters, to special community meetings, surveys, and focus groups. Have an idea? Send it our way. And if you want to be involved, consider applying to join one of the Village’s different commissions that provide the board with valuable input. Starting now, send us a question here. 

Climate Action Plan: We will continue to focus on how the Village can reduce its environmental impact as outlined in the Village’s Climate Action Plan. Effects from climate change has a real impact on the costs that the Village will have to bear, especially in how it impacts our infrastructure. Finding ways to do our part to reduce these impacts is both the right thing to do and fiscally-responsible in the long run. 

https://northbrookfocused2025.com/policy-1/f/northbrook-%E2%80%93-it-is-time-for-a-change

Northbrook Focused is proud to present our platform to advance and strengthen Northbrook. Our approach is rooted in thoughtful discussions with residents and outside partners, and we acknowledge that there will always be more to learn. We are committed to understanding resident concerns, refining our ideas, and continuously improving our vision. We are not bound by ideology; we are dedicated to pragmatic solutions that move Northbrook forward. We welcome constructive discussion and collaboration as we work towards the betterment of our community.

Communication & Transparency

• We commit to fostering open discussion on the Village Board and will never pressure members into unanimous votes.
• Every trustee should be free to express their views without outside influence.
• True inclusivity requires respect for diverse perspectives and honest dialogue.

Northbrook Court

• Brookfield Properties currently owns Northbrook Court and has a significant national presence in commercial real estate.
• We anticipate that Brookfield is already in discussions with other developers to partner on building the various components in the 2023 master plan.  We will commit to be both an asset and a partner as village representatives to those discussions when requested.
• We commit to regular updates including a detailed development schedule which is regularly updated between the village and development teams.
• Developers & Investors require a municipality that is a true partner. Our slate is committed to working proactively to support projects, address challenges, and ensure success while respecting community concerns.
• We will advocate for a structured development process that prioritizes community engagement, minimizes bureaucratic roadblocks, and maximizes project success.
• We commit to transparent communication with neighboring residents and utilizing village staff to facilitate development-friendly policies.

Grainger Property

• The Grainger Property is composed of Lot 1 and Lot 2.
• The approved development for Lot 1 consists supportive housing, which provides vital housing for families with disabled members requiring specialized care.
• We commit to working towards a successful and recently approved project on Lot 1 with the development team at HODC, who has a strong reputation as both a developer and operator.  
• Included with the work on Lot 1, we are committed to smart planning of infrastructure that can be incorporated into the Lot 2 development.
• The current Lot 2 development, currently planned to be multi-family, will be addressed through a transparent RFP process, with public review of proposals.
• Potential options for Lot 2 at Grainger include: 
  • Review the consequences of a lower density development versus higher density development. Impact on real estate sale price and downtown development.
  • Feasibility of potentially relocating police/fire/municipal services and reposition existing properties for future residential development.
• Traffic concerns along Shermer Road will be reviewed in partnership with traffic engineers and District 225 to identify workable solutions, such as staggered parking entry times for the three main parking lots.

Village Employees

• We will conduct a comprehensive review of staff positions to ensure efficiency and alignment with Northbrook’s vision.
• We will focus on hiring top-tier professionals with experience in municipal planning and regional mall development, a skill set currently lacking in Northbrook.
• Asses the current village employee leadership bonus incentive program and publicly post any considered defined incentive-based goals to encourage excellence in: 
  • Sales Tax Growth from physical properties: Encouraging staff to attract development, support local businesses, and foster economic growth.  Northbrook should not rely solely on positive sales tax growth thru online revenue.
  • Employee Retention: Reducing turnover to improve village services.
  • Public Safety: Implementing effective safety programs, reducing crime, improving emergency response, and fostering professional development in emergency management.
  • If the village wins, then the staff wins.

First Responders

• We are committed to ensuring our Police, Fire and Public Works have the leadership, resources, and equipment needed to maintain exceptional service standards.
• We will review employee surveys and recommendations to ensure fair treatment and effective communication between leadership and personnel.
• We are committed to reviewing existing facilities utilized by village employees and first responders, ensuring that we are attracting the best talent for these critical positions.

Digital Citizenship

• Many municipalities worldwide have implemented successful digital citizenship programs to educate residents about responsible online behavior, cybersecurity, digital literacy, and civic engagement.
• We are committed to educating Northbrook’s youth on responsible digital behavior.
• Social media can be a difficult space, even for the strongest individuals. 
• We are committed to working with schools and community organizations to provide resources that encourage respectful and responsible online interactions.

School Bonds

• The Village Board does not have authority over school bonds and should not take a formal position.
• We recognize that strong schools enhance Northbrook’s reputation and property values.
• We support responsible long-term investments in education, ensuring future generations benefit from quality facilities.

Downtown Revitalization

• We acknowledge that revitalization takes time, but we will act quickly to remove unnecessary barriers to development.
• Within 90 days of taking office, we will initiate public discussions to review and adjust ordinances hindering downtown growth.
• We will actively engage with developers and communicate that Northbrook is a business-friendly community eager to collaborate on projects that benefit residents.

Affordable Housing

• Affordable housing encompasses many different housing types making blanket statements difficult to address the complexity of this issue.
• Current affordable housing requirements serve as a barrier to development, leading to stagnation and further exacerbating housing affordability challenges.
• We propose revisiting—not eliminating—affordable housing requirements to align with successful models in neighboring communities such as Wheeling, Deerfield, and Glenview. Northbrook has struggled with major residential projects and find revisiting of requirements to be imperative to the future development of our community.
• Our goal is to create a framework that attracts development while ensuring affordability for those in need. Less restrictive requirements can lead to more housing, benefiting the most vulnerable residents.

Grocery Tax & Bag Tax

• Beginning January 1, 2026, Illinois will eliminate the 1% state grocery tax.  The state has given municipalities the ability to retain or remove the 1% state grocery tax.
• We propose a maximum three-year continuation of the grocery tax, phasing it out once new revenue streams are secured.
• The village must balance climate initiatives with economic considerations.
• The bag tax revenue is currently split between the village and retailers. 
• In lieu of the current bag tax paid by customers, which is a punitive measure to change behavior, we propose an incentive program towards existing businesses to encourage sustainable behaviors.
• A small portion of the new grocery tax revenue will fund reusable bag incentives, benefiting both businesses and environmentally conscious consumers.  
• The incentive program will reward retailers to encourage the use of reuseable bags by rebating back to the retailer a small portion of the grocery tax revenue in lieu of a punitive customer paid tax.
• Rewarding behavior changes rather than punitive impacts has been shown to be successful.  The hope is that by rewarding existing business, customers will be more encouraged to participate in sustainable practices. 

Vacant Commercial Properties

• We support strict enforcement to maintain the appearance of vacant commercial properties.
• Neglected sites create an impression of economic decline and discourage investment.
• Owners of vacant properties must be held accountable for proper site maintenance.

Northbrook Focused is committed to fostering an inclusive, business-friendly, and resident-centered community. Our platform is built on pragmatic solutions, responsible governance, and continuous engagement with residents to ensure Northbrook thrives for generations to come.