Oak Park council adopts special-assessment resolutions after public hearing on unpaid utility bills

Oak Park’s City Council held a public hearing on April 6 over four special-assessment districts covering unpaid water bills, false-alarm fees, concrete replacement and property blight. Following public testimony and staff assurances that exceptions and investigations would be applied where appropriate, the council adopted two resolutions confirming the rolls and setting the special-assessment due date.

Resident Julie Marcos told the council she was recovering from a serious medical condition and opposed a 10% penalty on unpaid utility bills, calling the penalty “extravagant” for neighbors who may be unable to pay. Deputy City Manager Dave DeCoster and staff said the council would consider exceptions, research each case and could recommend payment plans or other remedies in appropriate circumstances.

After reading a list of addresses that had requested exceptions, staff explained the municipal process: the city will investigate each objection, remove properties from the roll temporarily while staff verifies claims, and recommend remedies such as payment plans where warranted. Council then moved, and by roll-call vote approved Resolution #9 (confirming the special-assessment roles) and Resolution #10 (setting the due date of June 2, 2026 and the assessment penalty provisions) for SADs 7-31 through 7-34.

The council’s votes were recorded by roll call with affirmative votes from the five sitting council members. Staff emphasized that the public-hearing process remains open to documented exceptions and that the city will follow up on residents who presented letters or evidence.

What’s next: affected property owners will receive formal notices; staff will complete investigations on the exceptions noted during the hearing and report back to the council as required.