Glendale Heights adopts $1 "forever" vehicle sticker; ordinance effective May 1, 2026

The Village Board of Glendale Heights on Nov. 6 adopted Ordinance 2025-50 to change the village vehicle-sticker program, making village stickers still required but creating a $1 "forever" sticker that takes effect May 1, 2026. The ordinance was adopted after the board voted to waive first reading and approved the measure by roll call.

Why it matters: The change is intended to preserve residents' overnight-parking privileges while sharply reducing the administrative costs of the sticker program, village officials said. The village explained postage and staff time for mailing tens of thousands of stickers made the prior model costly; the new approach aims to lower those recurring costs.

Board action and votes: The board first voted to waive first reading on the ordinance so it could be considered that night. Trustee Schmidt moved to adopt Ordinance 2025-50; Trustee Metrasco seconded. During the roll-call vote trustees present responded 'yes' and the motion passed (adoption recorded in the meeting minutes as approved). The meeting record shows the board also moved consent item 3 (payroll/accounts-payable) to new business, then amended the total from $1,421,064.52 to $1,513,054.90 (an increase of $91,990.38) and approved that amendment on roll call.

What the ordinance does: The board and staff described the new vehicle-sticker model as follows: village stickers will remain a requirement for overnight street parking, but the village will issue a permanent, low-cost sticker. Mayor Giannelli summarized the practical change, saying, "They are still required, but they will only cost $1." A staff representative (identified in the record as Ward) added: "If you have a current 2025 vehicle sticker, that's your forever sticker." Officials stressed enforcement and parking privileges remain in place; the ordinance's effective date was stated as May 1, 2026, and the current 2025 stickers remain valid until then.

Public comment and budget context: During public comment, a resident (Ed) questioned why the village is considering changes that increase revenues while also discussing a potential tax-levy hearing. He noted an estimated near-$200,000 uptick from food-and-beverage tax changes and asked whether raising the levy was necessary. Village staff and the mayor replied that the village's portion of the levy remains relatively flat and pointed to rising operational costs—most notably a multi-year increase in liability insurance—when explaining revenue and levy planning. The record notes the village has seen a roughly $270,000 increase in insurance costs over the past three years.

Next steps: The mayor called a public hearing on the annual tax levy for Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m., and the board scheduled a special meeting for Nov. 13 to discuss the midyear budget. The ordinance will take effect May 1, 2026, according to the adoption language recorded at the meeting.

Votes at a glance: - Ordinance 2025-50 (vehicle-sticker program) — Adopted (motion: Trustee Schmidt; second: Trustee Metrasco) — roll-call approval recorded at the Nov. 6 meeting. - Payroll/accounts-payable amendment (10/24/2025 payroll and 11/06/2025 accounts-payable) — Amended from $1,421,064.52 to $1,513,054.90 (increase $91,990.38) — Adopted (motion: Trustee Light; second: Trustee Schmidt).

The board adjourned after routine committee reports and additional public comment. The tax-levy public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 20 and the board will meet Nov. 13 to review the midyear budget.