Voting Calendar

March 7th—Last day to register to vote by paper application

March 8th—First day of grace period registration

March 19th—Last day to register to vote by online application

March 20th—First day of early voting at Brookfield Village Hall

March 30th—Last day to request a mail ballot, including military and overseas voters

April 3rd—Last day of early voting, last day of grace period registration and voting

April 4th—Election Day 2017; Last day mail ballots can be postmarked

Voting or registration questions? Call Village Clerk Brigid Weber @ 708-528-3831

Home Sales Up In Brookfield

Brookfield has made great strides in community development. Recent studies

show Brookfield with some of the best value for your home dollar and a solid investment. Building permits also continue to increase each year. The Building De-partment issued 1,650 permits in 2016, a new record. Total permit values were $14.5 million, indicating a clear confidence in buying, building, and living in Brookfield. Sales of Brookfield homes were up 34.6% according to a 2016 Crain’s Chicago Business article. The number of Brookfield homes that sold for $300,000 or more doubled in 2015 to 44 sales.

Early Voting

at Brookfield Village Hall

Begins March 20th

WWW.PEPPARTY.COM

A Shields Avenue repair project was completed in 2016 and funded by a $1 million grant from the federal government. The Village, in partnership with the Village of Lyons, also received federal grant funding for improvements to Custer Avenue from Ogden Avenue to 47th Street. The two villages will also partner on repaving Custer Avenue north of Ogden Avenue in 2017.

In addition, the Village is near completion on a major flood prevention project: the Prairie Avenue Pump Station. This project will reduce flooding in the area directly adjacent to Salt Creek and will also increase sewer capacity in and around the properties extending west to Kemman Avenue. This $2 million project is being funded in part through a $1.5 million grant the Village pursued and received from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District.

Infrastructure work under the PEP administration has totaled nearly $35 million since 2005.

The Brookfield Monitor Volume 6, Issue 1 February 2017

With a voter-approved referendum and solid financial planning by staff, the Village under PEP leadership has completed the first stage of a $23 million street improvement program. In 2016, nearly 5 miles of streets were repaved and important water and sewer work completed.

Additional infrastructure improvements will take place over the next 10 years, and will include milling, patching, and resurfacing of pavement and full construction where appropriate. At the same time, deteriorated sewers, curbs, and sidewalks will be repaired in the same areas.

Approximately 37% of our streets are rated “1” or “2” by the Village engineers (“1” being the worst). The street program will focus on the worst streets first, with the remainder of the “1” rated streets being reconstructed in 2017, and subsequently the “2” rated streets. This year’s work totals approximately $5.2 million in street improvements and another $1.8 million in water and sewer improvements. The next round of projects are set to begin in April 2017. It is important to note that proceeds from the referendum can only be used for street improvements by state statute.

The Village has also developed an improved street maintenance program that will be funded with $275,000 in 2017. The program consists of spot street repairs, crack sealing, restorative maintenance, and catch basin repairs. This maintenance program is essential to protect and maintain the Village’s overall investment in infrastructure and will allow the Village to address street repairs before the streets reach the “1” or “2” rating. Doing so will result in further cost savings.

Major Street Improvements Underway $23 million in street & infrastructure improvements planned

Dear Resident:

What a great village we live in! Take a look around on any given day and you will see so much community pride on display in our village in the work being done and the fun being had. From art festivals to car shows and cruise nights, to street dances and duck races, farmers markets and community art, movie nights, concerts in the park, senior socials, little league baseball and softball games and biking events, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.

As your elected officials, our job is to continue to find ways to improve quality of life for our residents.

The PEP Party has been hard at work making improvements in Brookfield. With nearly $35 million so far in street and sewer improvements including close to $7 million set for 2017, we’re also making advances in street lighting improvements, technological improvements in overall operations, train station upgrades and more, all to better the community we live in.

We’ve invested nearly $4 million in our parks to support culture and recreation needs of our residents. The recently completed renovation of Kiwanis Park is a good example of a grant-funded project that shows our commitment to maintaining and enhancing our outdoor spaces and resources for all to enjoy. With a new band stage for summer concerts and other events like the Art Festival, walking paths, exercise equipment, nature trails, volleyball and basketball courts and frisbee golf—all in a beautiful setting—Kiwanis Park attracts visitors both local and from neighboring communities. The upcoming canoe launch project will be a welcome addition for outdoor enthusiasts as well.

Much of the capital work we have been able to accomplish can be attributed to the successes we have had in obtaining grant funds from the county, state and federal governments—over $6.1 million in just the past 36 months. Under PEP's leadership, the Village received over $18 million in grant funds overall! This can only happen with professional and knowledgeable in-house staff, good relationships with state and federal partners, and the backing of our board. Every dollar in grant money we receive is your county, state and federal tax dollars coming back to Brookfield.

Our Village continues to live within its means, but this is not easy, there is always more work to be done. However, with proper planning and good decision making by your Village board and staff, policies and procedures have been put in place that have had very positive effects. The Village of Brookfield maintains a balanced budget, consistently files on-time financial audits, and continues to make timely pension payments. General fund cash reserves are healthy and we consistently receive awards for our financial reporting. Brookfield has also seen increases in new residential and commercial development. With more and more businesses willing to invest in Brookfield, we’ve earned record sales tax dollars in 2016, and in 3 of the past 4 years.

This spring, residents will once again have an opportunity to vote for those who they believe are best suited to lead our Village. I commend all candidates, from all sides, who are interested in being part of the process in governing our Village. I do hope all candidates take the time to understand the issues, get involved in our community, and know the facts. It’s one thing to say something and make promises at election time just to get elected. It’s another thing to follow through. The PEP Party has been bringing real change and achieving real results and we are happy to share some of those results with you here in this newsletter .

As a Village board, there is much more work to do in continuing our course of good financial planning, making upgrades to our infrastructure, implementing plans to bring new business in and helping existing businesses to become more successful. It is difficult to know what truly lies ahead, and what decisions a Village board will have to make. That is why it is so important our residents choose the leaders that can make tough decisions when needed. It’s about leadership. It’s about dedication. It’s about trust.

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve Brookfield. We look forward to your continued support.

Kit P. Ketchmark, Village President

PEP Party P. O. Box 93 Brookfield, IL 60513

Local Postal Customer

For more information and news go to

www.pepparty.com

P.O. Box 93 Brookfield, IL 60513

708-528-3831 info@pepparty.com

Keep Brookfield Moving Forward

Vote PEP on April 4th to Keep Brookfield Moving Forward!

A copy of our report filed with the County Clerk is available for purchase from: Cook County Clerk, 69 W. Washington, Chicago, IL 60601

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Balanced Budget Key to Future Planning Smart financial planning results in positive bottom line

Our Village continues to live within its means, but this is not easy, as there is so much work to be done. However, with proper planning and good decision making by your Village board and staff, policies have been put in place that have had very positive effects.

The Village of Brookfield maintains a balanced budget, consistently files on-time financial audits, and continues to make timely pension payments. General fund cash reserves are healthy, sitting at close to $3 million. The Village board’s goal of maintaining a cash reserve equal to 3 months operating expenses should be reached ahead of schedule. Record sales tax dollars in 3 of the past 4 years has had a very positive effect on the bottom line. Success in obtaining grant funds has made this even better!

The Village operates on a two year budget cycle, and requires a balanced budget. Additionally, the Village board adopted a 5-year capital planning budget including expenditures such as street and sewer repairs, vehicle and equipment replacement. By planning long-term, the board is better able to deal with these larger expenditures, and puts us in a more strategic position to take advantage of available grant funding.

All of this helps the Village to maintain an excellent bond rating which translates into real savings for the residents. The recently issued bonds for the street work have an interest rate just over 2%, resulting in millions of dollars in savings. This is the lowest rate the village has paid for issued debt in decades. This savings in interest payments allows the Village to get even more work done.

Judiciously managing residents’ tax dollars is key for your Village board. Many residents do not realize that property taxes cover only about 50% of the Village’s operating budget. The rest is covered through sales tax revenue, income taxes, permit fees, etc. The Village receives approximately $8 million in property taxes each year and more than $2.8 million goes towards making required pension payments. This is about 16% of the overall budget. This is not something that can be avoided, even though some communities have decided to delay these payments.

The facts on Brookfield's finances are simple: expenses have been under budget, the General Operating Fund is balanced and shows slight surpluses and Brookfield is operating with a smaller, more efficient government staff. Managing our residents’ money has been the top priority of the Village Board. As national economic conditions have improved, Brookfield has weathered the storm and finds itself in good, stable financial shape.

Village staff announced that Brookfield has once again re-ceived

Village Wins Financial Award

In November 2016, The Village of Brookfield received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in

Financial Reporting. This award, presented by the Government Finance Officers is given out to government units whose comprehensive annual financial reports achieve the highest standards in government accounting and reporting. Under PEP leadership, Brookfield has received this award for the past 11 years.

Flood Mitigation Program Huge Success

Hundreds of Brookfield residents have been helped through the village’s flood mitigation program. This program provided cost sharing for residents wanting to install back flow prevention or overhead sewers. Neighboring towns have seen the success of Brookfield’s program and have asked us for assistance in starting their own. Financial assistance has ranged from $2,500 to $5,000 per household.

Vote PEP on April 4th

Ketchmark

for Village President

Weber for Village Clerk

Cote for Village Trustee

Garvey for Village Trustee

Gilhooley for Village Trustee

Village President Kit Ketchmark and the PEP Village Board have made community events and recreation in our parks and open spaces a priority.

New Band Shell & Events at Kiwanis Park

Recent improvements have been made with help from grant funding. The beautiful new band shell at Kiwanis Park has vastly enhanced music events including Battle of the Bands and summer concerts in the park. The Battle of the Bands held in May is an intense competition among young musicians. June kicks off the Concerts in the Park summer music series coordinated by our Recreation Department and Special Events Commission. The summer music series is a great opportunity to dine al fresco, while enjoying live music performances.

Park Amenities

Our major parks also offer meandering paved paths for walking, jogging, recreational biking and outdoor exercise. Special recreational amenities include a zero depth splash pad for children, a skate park for teens and a modern Frisbee golf course. Brookfield parks are also designed for baseball and softball, basketball, tennis, horseshoes, sand volleyball, bocce ball and bean bags.

Oak Savannah and Canoe Launch

Nature lovers enjoy the Oak Savannah and Salt Creek for a peaceful and convenient opportunity to walk and observe migratory birds and other wildlife. With the help of a grant obtained to enhance the canoe launch, new and improved ramped access for canoes and kayaks will be installed to provide better and safer access to Salt Creek and will also include a look-out area.

Bike Brookfield and Trail Access

Brookfield’s first annual 5k/10k Bike Brookfield event held in 2016 attracted hundreds of participants of all ages and cycling abilities. Join the community for the next ride in May 2017! Residents also have access to the regional Salt Creek Trail, a wonderful amenity that is locally accessible from the Zoo Woods Forest Preserve on 31st Street. The Salt Creek Trail offers an opportunity for biking and roller-blading in the summer, as well as cross-country skiing in the winter.

Partnerships & Special Events

PEP and the Village have a great relationship with the Brookfield Chamber of Commerce. We work with them to ensure our special events throughout the year are successful including: the Senior Valentine’s Day Social, the Easter Egg Hunt, the very popular Street Dance and the Auto Show. The Farmer’s Market held at Village Hall is one of the most popular in the area. These community events including the Fine Arts Festival, the annual “Monsters on Main Street” Halloween event, and the Winter Holiday Celebration draw crowds year-round. These events benefit our residents as well as our business community!

There are so many more events and organizations that make Brookfield a great place to live: Brookfield Little League, Recreation Department and Library programs, the 4th of July parade, outdoor movies at Ehlert Park, Brookfield Zoo attractions, SEASPAR activities for the disabled and service projects coordinated by the Beautification and Conservations Commissions like Project N.I.C.E. and Meet the Creek.

The PEP Party is a strong supporter of maintaining the quality of life of our residents by supporting these community-based resources, events and organizations. Look for us at an upcoming event!

Parks, Recreation & Community Events Something for everyone!

Campaign Volunteers Wanted

Electing thoughtful, responsible leaders to local government takes a lot of leg work. How about stuffing envelopes, posting a lawn sign in your yard, or walking with literature? To sign up to help our campaign to Keep Brookfield Moving Forward, visit our website at www.pepparty.com, find us on Facebook at PEP Party of Brookfield, call 630-816-3252 or email us at info@pepparty.com. Together, we can make a difference!

Board Adopts Open Space Master Plan

The Village Board recently adopted an Open Space Master Plan. This grant-funded plan, considers the current state and future uses of all village parks and other open spaces. The 2020 Master Plan for the Village includes a goal of reviewing our open space plan approximately every 10 years.

Upcoming projects include the Salt Creek canoe launch renovation at Kiwanis Park paid for with a $50,000 grant, Candy Cane Park upgrades and a renovation of the Veterans Memorial Circle Fountain. The Open Space Master Plan puts us in a good position to receive future grants for additional improvements.

The Village previously received OSLAD (Open Space Land Acquisitions and Development) grants for major improvements at both Ehlert Park and Kiwanis Park.

Kit P. Ketchmark for Village President

Kit currently serves as Village President after serving 10 years as Village Trustee.

Brigid Weber for Village Clerk

Brigid currently serves as Village Clerk, completing the term of Catherine Colgrass-Edwards, who passed away in August of 2015. Brigid previously served as Village Clerk from 2006-2013.

Edward J. Cote for Village Trustee

Ed currently serves as Parks and Recreation Commissioner.

Michael J. Garvey for Village Trustee

Mike currently serves as Village Trustee after serving as Village President from 2005-2013 and previously for 5 years as Village Trustee.

Nicole M. Gilhooley for Village Trustee

Nicole currently serves as Village Trustee after serving on the Beautification Commission as Chair and Commissioner from 2007-2013.

For more information on the qualifications and backgrounds of PEP Party Candidates, please visit www.pepparty.com.

The PEP Party Announces Candidates for April 2017 Election for Village Board

The PEP Party is proud to present our candidates for Village board for the election on April 4, 2017.

Each candidate has a long history of service to the community they call home. Our candidates have the experience and ability to keep Brookfield moving in the right direction.

Record Sales Tax Revenue 29 New businesses opened in 2016 - economic development strategies working

2016 brought record sales tax revenue to Brookfield, coming in at $1,452,111. Sales tax revenue accounts for approximately 8% of the overall Village revenues, with much of that coming from out of town visitors. The overall business climate has improved significantly, with 29 new businesses coming into the Village in 2016, and almost 100 since 2013.

Vacancies are down and business retention has been key to the Village’s economic development strategy. Notably, long-time downtown businesses, Paisans and Irish Times, each celebrated their 25th year in Brookfield and under-went major renovations. The Village’s relationship with the Chamber of Commerce remains strong as well.

The restructuring of the Community and Economic Development Department including the hiring of a Direc-tor for Community and Economic Development and a Community Planner is an integral part of our progress. Many pro-development policies have also been put in place by the PEP Village board and staff helping to streamline processes and guide development.

In addition, the Village hosts Developer and Realtor Breakfast presentations intended to inform outside developers and realtors about the many assets the community has to offer. This has led to increased

awareness of the Village of Brookfield. Events such as “Bike Brookfield” also give Brookfield visibility to the entire suburban area.

The PEP Village Board and staff continue to make economic development a top priority, taking a systematic long-term approach. Aggressive implementation of the 2020 Master Plan has been a big part of this, and a new Comprehensive Plan will be completed in 2018. The Board recently voted to adopt the most modern building code, as well as an overhauled zoning code. Also key to future development are the creation of the Ogden Avenue and 8 Corners Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) programs, related management plans, long-term capital planning, storm water management, and the purchasing of several key properties along Ogden Avenue. The Village also re-cently received a grant for an Active Transportation Plan to be implemented beginning in 2017.

With the recent developments along Ogden Avenue, funds in the TIFs are beginning to increase, which will give the Village more ability to assist in future development. The Board’s goal is to bring solid, desirable, and sustainable commercial development to Brookfield that continues to move our Village forward and strengthen the foundation of our community’s future.

Brookfield Wins Additional Grants to Fund Critical Projects for Growth Over $6.1 million in grant funding received in the last 36 months

Brookfield has achieved tremendous success in

obtaining grants under Village President Kit

Ketchmark and his PEP administration, with

grant dollars received over the past 36 months

totaling $6,171,558. Grants have been spread

over many areas including Kiwanis Park

renovations, street work, village street lighting

upgrades, and police and fire department

equipment and support.

Recent grants have allowed for the zoning code to

be updated and the creation of a village wide

Master Plan which will assist in economic

development and provide guidance for the future

of our village. Shields Avenue was reconstructed

with grant money and the soon to be completed

pump station at Washington and Forest, which

will assist with residential flooding, were all

funded in large part with grant capital! In 2017,

we will see the results of the latest grant funding

with work being done on the new canoe launch at

Kiwanis Park, additional street repairs,

the creation of an Active Transportation Plan,

and downtown train station improvements.

Grant writing in Brookfield is completed by

Village staff, with no commission charges that

are typical in other communities that use an

outside grant writer. The success in obtaining

these grants can be attributed to the relation-

ships Brookfield has built up with various

organizations and officials, our ability to

complete the projects once the grant money is

received, and the Village’s long-term financial

planning. Every grant dollar brought in allows

our village to get more done, and brings the

residents' county, state, and federal tax dollars

right back to Brookfield. Notable Grants 2013-2016

Open Space Planning $10,000

Fire Department $18,500

Rain Barrel Program $19,040

Community Planning $20,000

Department of Public Works $25,804

Active Transportation Planning $30,000

Street Lighting $31,806

Canoe Launch Improvement $50,000

Comprehensive Planning $50,000

Police Department $85,408

Sidewalk Replacement $150,000

Cook County Grant for Raymond Avenue $200,000

Metra Station Improvements $228,000

Park Improvements $295,000

Street Improvement $530,000

Custer Avenue $690,000

Shields Avenue $1,002,000

Brookfield Avenue Bridge Replacement $1,236,000

Prairie Avenue Pump Station $1,500,000

Total: $6,171,558

Keep Brookfield Moving Forward

Vote PEP!

When the Village Board voted to end 4:00 am liquor licenses and require local businesses to close earlier, it was the end of an era. Brookfield’s Police Chief and staff presented overwhelming evidence of incidents that occurred at late night establishments. Of the “serious” incidents such as battery, assault and theft, that occurred at businesses serving alcohol, nearly 70% occurred after 2:00 am. Brookfield’s police force routinely needed to call upon surrounding communities to assist in respond-ing to these calls.

Before the vote, Brookfield was one of only 20 communities in the state of Illinois (of more than 1,000 total communities) that still allowed such licenses. Most communities experienced improved safety as a result of not having “last call” happen in their towns at 4:00 am. We’ve since seen this to be true in Brookfield with late night crime now down nearly 80%.

With End to 4:00 am Liquor Licenses, Late Night Crime Down Nearly 80%