Oak Park planning commission approves six-year capital improvement plan; highlights include body camera replacement and new community center timeline

The Oak Park Planning Commission voted to approve the city—s six-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) packet for the 2025–26 budget process after a presentation by Deputy City Manager Dave DeCoster.

DeCoster told commissioners the CIP projects are included in the three years the commission budgets for and that the plan also forecasts the following three years. He described several line items called out during the meeting: periodic replacement of Axon body‑worn cameras (previously paid for via a grant), a community center campus project budgeted in the 2027–28 forecast, expanded park wayfinding and signage, replacement or addition of tree‑removal and stump‑grinding equipment (line item ME6), a camera‑replacement contingency (line item ME18) for facilities, and a forecasted fire truck replacement currently placed in the later CIP years (28/29) as a wish‑list item rather than a three‑year budgeted expenditure.

DeCoster said the city previously received a grant to initiate Axon body cameras and that such equipment is typically replaced on a roughly five‑year schedule. He also said voters had approved a general obligation millage that funds, among other things, a new community center and associated campus improvements; construction is anticipated to begin in the 2026–27 or 2027–28 budget years according to the packet.

Commissioners discussed funding options for signage, and DeCoster noted that the Corridor Improvement Authority would cover signage costs when the signs are within that district and that staff are seeking additional grants. Commissioners also discussed an outstanding approximately $500,000 shortfall connected to the district court that, if sustained, could require reductions to capital planning.

A motion to approve the CIP packet was moved by Mr. Brown and seconded by the mayor. The commission completed a roll call and recorded affirmative votes; the motion carried on the record. The transcript records that the CIP projection shown in the packet was lower than the current year—s projection and that the plan remains preliminary pending council budget work sessions scheduled for May 2.

The record does not include detailed line‑item dollar amounts in the transcript excerpts; the packet provided to commissioners was cited as containing the full CIP documentation.