The Village of Riverside Board of Trustees convened on April 17, 2025, to discuss several key agenda items, primarily focusing on the urgent need to update the village's building codes. The current codes, which date back to 2005, require modernization to comply with state mandates, specifically the adoption of the 2018 codes by January 1, 2025.

During the meeting, staff presented a proposal to move forward with the update to the 2024 codes, highlighting that approximately 50 hours of work remain to complete the project. The estimated cost for this completion is projected to be between $6,000 and $8,000, but staff indicated that the total could rise to about $18,000, exceeding the current budgeted amount. The board was asked for approval to proceed with this expenditure.

In addition to the code updates, the proposal included the purchase of an infield device aimed at modernizing the village's technology for building permits and plans, which currently rely on paper documentation. This modernization is expected to streamline processes and improve efficiency.

Trustees expressed support for the project, acknowledging the importance of updating the codes to avoid reliance on state codes that do not incorporate local amendments specific to Riverside. Andrew Francis, a trustee, noted that other communities in the West Cook area are also facing similar challenges and are moving quickly to update their codes. He emphasized that Riverside is ahead in this process compared to others.

The board discussed the timeline for the code updates, indicating that the new codes would not take effect until 30 days after notification to the state, likely pushing implementation to late 2025. The consensus among board members was to proceed with the consultant's assistance to ensure compliance with state requirements.

In conclusion, the meeting underscored the village's commitment to updating its building codes in a timely manner, with plans to utilize both staff resources and external consulting to achieve this goal. The board's direction to continue with the project reflects a proactive approach to maintaining local governance standards and ensuring community safety.