Village Positions

 Forms of Local Government Consensus (1976)

 1.     Do you see sufficient benefits to the Manager-Council or any other forms of local government sufficient to warrant a change in the form of Glen Ellyn’s government?

A different form of government is not needed. The present President-Trustee form with the Village Administrator provides both professional administration and a flexibility which allows the President and Trustees to determine how much time they wish to put in above the minimum time necessary.

2.     Do you favor election by wards or at-large?

We favor at-large election of Trustees. The Village is neither so large nor so diverse as to warrant election by districts.

Village Planning Consensus (1978) (revised 2003)

The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn believes the following procedures facilitate the planning process:

1.     Boards and commissions should have formalized operating procedures, guidelines, or by-laws consistent with one another and the Village Board. New members of boards and commissions should receive training so that they may fully understand both their responsibilities and their limitations.

2.     Boards and commissions should prepare and circulate annual reports. Each board or commission should meet annually with the Village Board to review their annual report and to discuss plans for the coming year. When major reports are completed and submitted to the Village Board, the Village Board and the Commission in question should meet for full discussion.

3.     The Village Board should report in writing to the members of boards and commissions the action it takes on each of their reports or recommendations. Boards and Commissions should appoint observers to Village Board meetings to report to their membership the actions of the Village Board.

Home Rule for Glen Ellyn Consensus (1983) (revised 2003)

The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn supports the concept of Home Rule for Glen Ellyn.

Village Budget Study Consensus (1987) (revised 2003) (revised 2010)

Glen Ellyn’s budget should be designed to provide services desired by a predominantly residential community. The basic form and underlying principles of the budget should be adequate and appropriate for serving the Village into the future.

Human services are an important part of the Village budget, and it is appropriate to fund these from general revenues. League members expressed particular concern for the continuation of services for seniors, adolescents and people who are disabled. Any expansion beyond the current level of human services should be carefully weighed.

Village revenue should come from a variety of sources, including property, sales and utility taxes, among others, and user fees when appropriate. The Village should encourage the development of vacant land to its optimum use as income producing property, as well as encourage Central Business District enterprises that might increase sales tax revenue with a minimum increase in demand for services. The Village should be alert to ways to increase revenue without increasing the tax burden on residents, and should examine home rule revenue options and adopt appropriate ones when possible. The Village should constantly seek to limit expenditures by encouraging increased efficiency, by increasing privatization of services where feasible and cooperating with other units of government like the Park District to avoid unnecessary duplication of services.

Although the Village budget process is careful and thorough, public input is actively sought only after the budget is almost complete. The Village should seek and the League should offer public input early in the budget process, instead of only at the end.

House Size in Relation to Lot Size Consensus (January, 1993)

The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn supports zoning that ensures the preservation of open space, light, air and accessibility in the Village of Glen Ellyn. New and add-on single family house construction should maintain the diversity of the community. We support housing improvements that are consistent with these principles. We support the following sections of the 1989 Glen Ellyn Zoning Code as amended, that control house size in relation to lot area size:

•      Setback minimums and height maximums.

•      Setback minimums for lots less than 66 2/3 feet.

We favor the following additions to the Glen Ellyn Zoning Code that would limit the bulk or volume of a house in relation to the lot area while maintaining flexibility for the property owner:

•     Footprint or lot coverage maximum which limits the area of the house to a percentage of the lot area.

•      Floor area ratio which limits the volume of a house to a percentage of the lot area.

Socio-Economic Study Consensus (1977) (1994) (revised 2005) (revised 2012) (2019) (2021) (2023)

LWV believes that all levels of government (local, state, federal) share the responsibility to provide equality of opportunity for education, employment, housing and health care including behavioral health care for all persons in the United States regardless of their race, color, gender, religion, national origin, age, sexual orientation, or disability. *as summarized from the following LWV positions: Equality of Opportunity (page 122 of the 2022-2024 LWV Impact on Issues) and Health Care (pages 137-139 of the 2022-2024 LWV Impact on Issues).

1.  Affordable Housing and Temporary Shelter

 LWV of Glen Ellyn believes that safe, quality, affordable housing is essential to the health & well-being of individuals, families, and the community.

A.  Is there a need for more affordable housing in Glen Ellyn? If so, to what degree is the need being met?

The Glen Ellyn Planning Department reports that our Village meets and exceeds the requirement that 10% of all housing stock in a community be affordable, as defined in the Illinois “Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (AHPAA). The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn believes however, that as older multi-family housing and other properties continue to be redeveloped into higher-priced housing, and single-family homes continue to increase in value, meeting and exceeding this minimal threshold will not be sustained unless proactive steps are taken by the Village.

As the Village assesses housing needs, consideration also needs to be given to changing demographics, including the housing needs of our aging population, persons with disabilities, of singles and young married couples, many just beginning their professional careers, and the increasing number of people working in service sector jobs.

Glen Ellyn has the opportunity through thoughtful, informed and deliberate planning to influence the types and price points of housing especially within the downtown retail and transit-oriented district. Deliberate planning can result in housing that appeals to and is affordable for people with a wide range of incomes and lifestyles, and promotes a vibrant, welcoming community. This will require the Village to purposefully use its zoning and approval process to influence developers, based on the Village’s Comprehensive Plan and with input from the community.

The League encourages the Village to require builders of large multifamily developments to include a percentage of affordable housing as well as encourage the use of tools, such as inclusionary zoning and density variances as a way to leverage well-planned housing development.

B.     Is there a need for more temporary shelter in Glen Ellyn?

There is a major need for shelter with case management to help homeless persons become situated in adequate residences. During the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic, DuPage PADS congregational model has shifted to emergency housing in hotels. DuPage PADS has since purchased a hotel in Downers Grove in 2021. There is a need to find more permanent housing, and this should continue to be pursued.

2.    Employment

Is employment a problem in Glen Ellyn?

Despite the fact that there are programs to assist people looking for employment, transportation and child care issues remain a problem.

3.    Public Transportation

Is there a need for improved public transportation in Glen Ellyn?

The public transportation system in DuPage County needs to be better coordinated and enlarged in order to serve the community adequately.

4.      Needs of Senior Citizens

How have the needs of senior citizens changed? Are the identified needs being met?

The infrastructure exists to help seniors manage everyday life and stay as long as possible in their homes. The Glen Ellyn Senior Center provides many services to residents 60 years of age and older and is supported by the Village of Glen Ellyn. Transportation, continues to be a problem. Additional concerns are mental health and housing.

5.    Children and Family Support Services

A.    Are childcare and support services for Glen Ellyn’s young families adequate?

Childcare and many support services are available, some on sliding fee scales. Subsidized childcare opportunities may be limited, but do exist. The 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic exposed the unmet needs for childcare, before and after school care programs, and summer and vacation programs for families in all socio-economic categories. For many children in Glen Ellyn, our public schools are the most stable part of their lives. Social workers and counselors play an important role in meeting the needs of children and families, but there’s also a continued need to expand services and access for all families.

B. Are services for 6th through 12th graders and their families adequate?

The overwhelming concerns for our teens are related to mental health and suicide as a result of social- emotional challenges. The 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic has exacerbated these concerns. In response, the Village increased their support for Glen Ellyn Youth and Family Counseling Service which provides mental health services and counseling. The Glenbard Parent Series (GPS) provides programs on mental health issues and parenting topics. Yet, this may not be enough to meet the mounting need. Race and culture matter. Local Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts attempt to address these issues. In addition, the limited programming currently offered to this age group through public funded sources such as the schools and Park District should be improved and expanded.

The Relationship of Local Government and Local Business in Glen Ellyn Consensus (1996) (Updated 2011) (Updated 2013)

A.    The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn believes that the Village government should:

1.     Support, as a funding priority, economic development in business and retention.

2.     Support a professional business recruiter in the office of planning and development.

3.     Evaluate tax rebates and increments carefully, case by case, as to their impact on all aspects of the community.

4.     Encourage maintenance of the Roosevelt Road Aesthetic Plan (proposed 1996), and continue emphasis on aesthetics in the Central Business District.

B.    The League also believes that it is critical to educate the residents of Glen Ellyn about the value of supporting local business by promoting:

1.     Shopping in the Village.

2.     Using tax revenues to sustain a healthy business climate.

Comprehensive Plan Consensus (2000 – revised 2003 – revised 2015)

Revision reflects the adoption of the new comprehensive plan in 2001. All of the points of concern from our 1987 and 2000 studies are presented here, organized in the order of appearance in the plan.

Reference the need for a stoplight at Spring & Rt 53 eliminated (accomplished!). Items 1, 2, 5, 7, 11 are from the 1987 position, the rest are from the 2000 position.

The League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn strongly supports the need for continual review and updating of the Comprehensive Plan for the Village of Glen Ellyn (current version adopted April, 2001). As the plan is used and implemented, LWVGE particularly supports and/or is concerned about the following elements (listed in Plan order, not in order of importance):

1.     Providing for ecological balance and maintaining Village character through preservation of trees and reforestation.

2.     Providing access to parks and open space for all residential neighborhoods.

3.     Encouraging residential development that provides for a range of housing types and costs reflective of the present and anticipated future needs of the Village’s population and that maintains the current 60/40 ratio of single-family to multi-family dwellings and incorporates Illinois affordability ratios.

4.     Zoning that ensures preservation of open space, light, air and accessibility; and that specifically controls house size in relation to lot size and limits bulk or volume. (For LWVGE’s complete position on teardown-related issues, see the 1993 House Size in Relation to Lot Size Consensus.)

5.     Using density definitions for guidance in the plan and for implementation in the Zoning Code that specifically include 10 to 18 units per acre for medium density housing, and 6 to 10 units per acre for low density attached housing. LWVGE strongly advocates development of a similarly clear definition of high-density housing for downtown that is acceptable to the community.

6.     Continuing to seek ways of broadening the tax base while maintaining the basic character of the Village.

7.     Working with IDOT to limit widening of IL Rte. 53 to no more than three lanes with a plan that complements adjacent land development, enhances the Village’s image and character, and is safe and convenient for bicyclists and pedestrians as well as motorists.

8.     Providing solutions to parking problems in the central business district that conform to the Village’s environmental standards and character.

9.     Pursuing the feasibility of providing public transportation to link various key locations within the Village.

10.  Working cooperatively with DuPage County to develop the proposed trail along the East branch of the DuPage River, including a grade-separated crossing and a 10-foot riparian buffer.

11.  Continuing development of the proposed north/south trail connecting the central business district and the College of DuPage, eventually linking to other trails. The bike lane that has been created on Lambert Rd. between Roosevelt Rd. and COD is a step toward achieving this goal.

12.  Developing/implementing zoning in the downtown area that promotes the co-existence of retail, commercial, office and residential dwellings.

13.  Restricting buildings in the central business district to 3 or 4 stories, when possible; and, otherwise, requiring that they be of the same scale as adjacent buildings in height and mass and consistent with factors for consideration as outlined in the Village’s Comprehensive Plan.

14.  Continuing and maintaining the beautification of the Roosevelt Road corridor.

15.  Providing ample opportunities for public/community input to plans for revised traffic flow at Five Corners, which must be coordinated with DuPage County.

Glen Ellyn Selection of Village and Library Board Offices (2008) (2022)

It is the consensus of the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn that the Civic Betterment Party (CBP) serves the purpose of identifying nominees as potential CBP candidates for Village offices (Village President, Village Trustee, and Library Board) in the IL Consolidated Election. We believe the CBP’s intent is to be inclusive of all who reside within the Village limits. We agree that the CBP process has yielded many qualified candidates who may not have considered a run for political office had they not been encouraged by a member of the CBP.

However, we are concerned that many of the residents of the Village are not knowledgeable about the CBP and that there is a perception that the process is exclusive and lacks transparency. We encourage the CBP to increase awareness of the organization by consistently updating their website, using social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and other social media platforms, and by partnering with a wide range of community and civic organizations to identify candidates for their nominating committee and to promote participation in their biennial Town Meeting. We also recommend that they consider strategies to increase voter turn-out, including Drive-Thru voting. Consistent with our recommendation in 2008, we suggest the CBP explore dropping the word “party” from their name and substituting committee, organization, or another suitable word, that better reflects their function and to address perceptions of exclusivity.

The LWVGE recommends that CBP provide written procedures for all of their processes (i.e., selection of members of the nominating committee, identification of nominees, slating of candidates for public office, voter eligibility and all other voting procedures). We also recommend that CBP periodically review their bylaws and their online content to ensure that there is consistency between the two. CBP procedures and practices should be readily available to the public and monitored for compliance.

Lastly, LWVGE suggests the time between when the nominating committee first convenes and when the Town Meeting occurs be lengthened. According to the CBP bylaws, the nominating committee must meet by September 1st, preceding the Town Meeting which historically takes place at the end of November. This is too short a period of time to organize the committee, develop questions to be asked of the candidates, identify and interview candidates, and decide on candidates. It is suggested that this process begin no later than the spring preceding the Town Meeting.

It is the consensus of the League of Women Voters of Glen Ellyn that the current “Guidelines for Participation in the Local Nominating Process”, as published in the policy section of its handbook, is valid.