City of West Chicago, Illinois

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April 20 Marks 31-Year Anniversary of Killing of West Chicago Police Officer

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Photo of police memorial wall display at West Chicago City Hall

Thursday, April 20, 2023 marked the 31-year anniversary of the killing of West Chicago Police Department’s Michael A. Browning.

On Monday, April 20, 1992, Patrolman Browning was killed after responding to a burglary at an automobile dealership. After exiting his patrol car and drawing his weapon, the suspect drove through the dealership’s showroom in a stolen vehicle and struck Browning.

Browning had served as an officer with the West Chicago Police Department for only five months. Prior to being sworn in as an officer he had served as a cadet for two years.

The City remembers Patrolman Browning’s sacrifice through a decorative memorial installed in his, and other Officers, honor. The memorial is on public display within the West Chicago Police Department’s lobby, where it is viewed daily by fellow Officers and the public, and serves as a meaningful reminder of the sacrifices that are made by Police Officers to keep our communities safe.

Details were provided on the Officer Down Memorial website at ODMP.org.

City of West Chicago Awarded Urban Forestry Funding

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West Chicago Urban Forestry

The City of West Chicago was awarded a $25,000 grant to complete tree inventories and develop a management plan for its urban forest.

The funds were provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service through the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Urban and Community Forestry Partner Grant Program, and are administered by The Morton Arboretum and the Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI).

“The City of West Chicago is thrilled to be awarded these grant funds to complete a comprehensive tree inventory,” said West Chicago City Administrator Michael Guttman. “Trees play a significant role in our daily lives and are vital assets of this community. The funding will help protect one of the most critical infrastructure of the City.”

The City plans to utilize the grant funds to complete a Citywide parkway tree inventory in its Geographic Information System (GIS) as well as to prepare an Urban Forestry Management Plan.

The inventory will provide the City with a better understanding of the urban forest areas it is managing by revealing an estimated number of trees, their size, condition and species. The inventories will also identify opportunities to increase planting, and will inform the development of a comprehensive, long-term urban forest management plan.

Original Press Release

City Issues Ordinance Declaring Decision for Proposed Transfer Station

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On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the West Chicago City Council conditionally approved the Application for Local Siting Approval for Lakeshore Recycling Systems, LLC (LRS), for a new municipal waste transfer station in West Chicago.

A copy of the Ordinance is available on the City’s website at westchicago.org/transferstation for public view and is also be available for public inspection at the West Chicago City Hall.

Transfer Station Review Process Background

On Friday, September 16, 2022, the City received an initial formal siting approval application from LRS for the construction and eventual operation of a waste transfer station at its current property at 1655 Powis Road.

As part of the siting and application process, the City was required to hold at least one public hearing date. The City held the Public Hearing on seven dates from Tuesday, January 3, 2023 through Thursday, January 19, 2023. At the end, and for 30 days thereafter, public comment was received, which was included as part of the Hearing Record.

After the Public Comment Period ended, the Hearing Officer issued a written recommendation to the City Council that the City grant siting approval as the contents in the Application met the nine siting criteria listed within the Illinois Environmental Protection Act if certain conditions are met. The Written Recommendation and those Special Conditions were previously uploaded on the City’s website on Friday, February 24, 2023.

Subsequently, the City Council held a Special Meeting to discuss legal issues with its Special Counsel and to consider the record including the evidence and testimony presented in the public hearings. As previously communicated, the City Council members were required to make a decision solely on whether the criteria was met, and could not simply state that it does not want a transfer station within the City limits.

During the Special Meeting on February 28, the City Council announced the approval of the request for local siting through a written decision.

For more information about the transfer station review process and the City’s role in the process, visit the City’s website at westchicago.org/transferstation.

City Outlines Decision Timeline for Proposed Transfer Station

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The City of West Chicago has confirmed the following information pertaining to the City Council decision timeline and process in the matter of the application for local siting approval for Lakeshore Recycling Systems, LLC, for the West DuPage Recycling and Transfer Station at 1655 Powis Road.

For additional details about the proposed waste transfer station and the siting approval process, please visit the City’s website at westchicago.org/transferstation.

Saturday, February 18

Final Day to Submit Written Public Comment
Saturday, February 18 is the final day to submit written public comment. No further written comments or input from the parties or the public will be allowed after 30 days of the close of the Public Hearing, which concluded on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

Any person may file written comment with the City concerning the appropriateness of the proposed site for its intended purpose by this date. The City Council will consider any comment received or postmarked by this date, and these written public comments will become part of the record of proceedings.

Tuesday, February 21

Findings, Conclusions, and Conditions from Participating Parties in Public Hearing Due to Hearing Officer
The Parties that participated in the Public Hearing shall submit to the Hearing Officer proposed findings of fact; conclusions of law and conditions if any.

Friday, February 24

Hearing Officer’s Report Submitted to City Council
The Hearing Officer will submit his report to the City Council for its decision as to the ultimate approval or disapproval of the proposed site location.

Monday, February 27

City Council Special Meeting (Closed Session)
At the advice and legal direction of the City’s Special Legal Counsel, pursuant to Section 2 (c) (4) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act, the City Council will meet in closed session on Monday, February 27 to consult with its attorney regarding legal issues and to consider the record including the evidence and testimony presented in the public hearings. This process is necessary to protect the attorney-client privilege and is commonplace for local siting authorities.

This Special City Council meeting will occur at 6:00 p.m. at the West Chicago City Hall at 475 Main Street.

Please note, the City Council will not hear public comments during this meeting and no final decision will be made or will any other action be taken.

After consultation with legal counsel, the City Council will then come out of closed session and will continue the Special Meeting as an Open Session on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at 6:00 p.m. During this meeting, the City Council will publicly vote and make available for public inspection a written decision setting forth its determinative reasoning.

Tuesday, February 28

Approval or Disapproval of Request for Local Siting
The City Council will approve or disapprove the request for local siting through a written decision on the record from the public hearing during the continued Special City Council Meeting from Monday, February 27, 2023. The City Council will specify the reasons for its decision during this meeting, which will be held as an Open Session meeting.

This Special City Council meeting will occur on Tuesday, February 28 at 6:00 p.m. at West Chicago Community High School at 326 Joliet Street. Please use 'Entrance H' if attending.

After the City Council deliberates, and after a written decision of the City Council has been made, public comment as required under the Open Meetings Act will proceed. Under the law, the City Council cannot consider any public comments that were made outside of the record of proceedings.

In order for public comments to become part of the record of proceedings, members of the public must have already done so as part of the public hearing, or must have submitted a written comment received by the City, or postmarked on or before, Saturday, February 18, 2023.

Any comments made at the Special City Council meeting would be outside of the siting record and thus not lawfully considered by the City Council in making its decision.

Upon approval or disapproval, a copy of the City Council’s written decision will be posted on the City’s website and will also be available for public inspection at the West Chicago City Hall. A copy of this document will be available upon payment of the cost of reproduction.

West Chicago Resident to Compete in National Beauty Pageant

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Maria Paulina Garcia to Compete in Miss Earth® USA Beauty Pageant in January 2023

West Chicago resident, Maria Paulina Garcia, will be participating in the upcoming Miss Earth® USA beauty pageant. The pageant will take place in Orlando, Florida from Jan. 1 to Jan. 8, 2023.

Each of the, at least, 51 delegates of the national title pageant are judged based on multiple components. Components of the competition include the delegates’ interviews, promotional video content, swimwear and evening gown competitions, runway competitions, results of their special projects, and delegates' overall commitment to the environment.

Winners of the national pageant have the opportunity to compete for the international title, which is held in the Vietnam with 90 different countries participating.

Promoting Environmental Sustainability in West Chicago as Miss Earth Illinois

Prior to the national and international pageants, state pageants serve as the preliminary trials for delegates. Garcia currently holds the title of Miss Illinois Earth, and she has held the title since August 2022. She will remain the titleholder through April 2023.

While Garcia awaits her opportunity to compete for the national title, she has had multiple responsibilities as the current Miss Illinois Earth. Apart from assisting with the promotion of the mission and goals of the Miss Earth® USA pageant, her other responsibilities include assisting with educating the West Chicago community on the importance of environmental advocacy.

As part of this local promotion of best environmental practices, Garcia and all other state delegates are tasked with creating and executing a "Think Global, Act Local Project.” As part of the project, each delegate is required to engage and invite the local public within their communities to participate in activities that promote environmental sustainability.

In addressing how she hopes to encourage better environmental practices in West Chicago and fulfill the requirements of the special project, Garcia provided the following statement.

“It is everyone's responsibility to take care of our planet. From the CEO of an oil corporation, to the State Senator, to the working class citizen, to the student. We are all contributing to the healing or demise of the Earth.

I hope to encourage my fellow West Chicago residents to be informed about current environmental issues and how they can contribute to the solutions through volunteering with conservation organizations such as Fermilab Natural Areas and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County. There is little turnout from our community for these organizations’ volunteer events, and I continue to encourage my neighbors to join in the efforts to preserve our local prairies and forest preserves through volunteering.”

About Maria Paulina Garcia

Garcia’s family immigrated from Mexico to West Chicago when she was 3 years old, and she has now been a resident of the City for 23 years. She currently serves on the City of West Chicago’s Cultural Arts Commission and is also a member of the Mexican Cultural Center DuPage. Apart from her continued interest in competing in beauty pageants, Garcia aspires to build a career in cybersecurity in Japan.

When asked what her other goals were, Garcia stated that, “Ultimately, my goal is to inspire Latina women to follow their dreams. As a first generation immigrant, I had to pave the path to success with my bare hands. I am trying to be the role model I didn't have growing up for my niece and nephews, and I will gladly lend anyone the tools needed to carve their own paths. There is plenty of room for everyone to shine and thrive.”

Garnering Community Support Leading Up to the Competition

Garcia has garnered the support of West Chicago as she prepares for the upcoming national pageant. The City of West Chicago’s Mayor Ruben Pineda provided the following statement in regards to Ms. Garcia’s great achievement and upcoming competition.

“As the Mayor of West Chicago, and as a resident of this community, I am extremely proud of Maria Paulina and her achievements. Our community is comprised of individuals of great character, and Ms. Garcia is yet another prime example. Her dedication to her craft, her community, and the environment is commendable and is of great benefit to all of us as West Chicago residents. The City of West Chicago will be cheering for her this January, and will continue to wish her great success in all her future endeavors.”

 

About Miss Earth
Since 2001, the Miss Earth® organization has created a platform for women and girls to experience glamour of the beauty pageant industry while making an impact on our most pressing environmental issues around the globe.

The Miss Earth® USA organization offers multiple age divisions to help influential young women and girls gain experience and recognition for their achievements.

In partnership with our official 501(c)3 nonprofit organization B4ACUSA, the Miss Earth® USA organization values more than beauty. We are Beauties for a Cause®.