Oak Park council approves change order, special‑assessment exceptions and reports balanced budget progress

The Oak Park City Council approved several finance and public‑works items during its May 5 meeting, including a contract change order, special‑assessment exception recommendations and routine consent items, and received an update on the city’s bond and budget plans.

Economic development director Kim Maroney asked the council to approve Change Order No. 1 for $16,459.50 to Luigi Ferdinande and Son Cement Company of Roseville for the 2025 catch basin line replacement project (M779). The change order adds 1,550 linear feet of repairs; council moved, seconded and approved the change order unanimously as recorded on roll call.

Finance director Sandra Crawford presented exception recommendations related to special assessment resolutions adopted April 7; staff recommended restoring unpaid invoices for a set of parcels to Special Assessment District No. 721 and No. 724 with the original 10% penalty while removing other parcels after review. Council approved the recommended exceptions; staff confirmed letters had been mailed to owners and that 42 cases had been under review.

Council also approved the earlier consent agenda (routine minutes, multiple pay applications and contract payments including smaller contractors and utilities). Council member and staff remarks during the meeting described the city’s financial posture: staff reported a balanced budget after a full day of budget meetings and said the city is pursuing bond issuance for planning and construction under the Elevate Oak Park program. City manager Eric Tungate said staff hopes for a Standard & Poor’s rating upgrade (aiming for AA‑ minus) to reduce borrowing costs; he also reported a Moody’s upgrade and scheduled a public budget presentation for May 19 and the State of the City program on June 10.

The council unanimously carried the listed votes recorded in the transcript for the change order and other roll‑call items.