February 2025 Online Candidate Forum
RESPONSE
[Disclaimer: The Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative (BTCI) is a non-political community group. We do not support or endorse and political candidates. Any views expressed on this website by candidates are not necessarily the views of BTCI, and should not be attributed to BTCI.]
Q1: What is your vision for a healthy Berwyn? What are the key components of your vision and how would you support them? You may want to address people, neighborhoods, and the environment, as well as the role of equity, communication, and education and how you plan to respond to input from residents.
My vision for a healthy Berwyn is one that is more safely walkable with more trees and plants. I’d like the city to adopt a new masterplan with community input to be inclusive of all neighborhoods reflecting the diversity of our city. We already have the density of a walkable city, but the sidewalks of our commercial and residential corridors need to be more shaded with trees. This master plan should include a green infrastructure plan that includes preservation of historic commercial and residential properties, innovative and energy-efficient new building requirements, and setting a portion (percentage of cost) of building projects for a greening of Berwyn fund and art fund that creates greater interest throughout city. In short, the city’s elected leaders need to better communicate the benefits of adopting a green infrastructure and master plan as well as educate residents on the advantages of trees on our streets while dispelling falsehoods. Plant more trees.
Q2: The City of Berwyn’s Urban Forestry Management Plan sets a goal of increasing tree canopy coverage from 20.91% (as of 2022) to 23% by 2032. If elected, what would you do to ensure this and other goals of the Plan are met?
As alderman, I would ensure the Urban Forestry Management Plan is funded as a fixed cost in the city budget. There is a cost for removal of aged out, dead or damaged trees and we have to accelerate their replacement with new trees. The city needs to assess areas of highest need for a tree canopy and develop a program with the following prioritization: 1) the city determines where trees should be planted based on the need assessment; 2) the city accepts requests from residents for new parkway tree, when available and to replace aged out trees; and 3) the city allows residents to pay for a new parkway tree from a list of city-specified trees. Plant more trees.
Q3: Flooding is a big concern for many residents and with a warming climate we know to expect more extreme weather events. If elected, what would you do to decrease flooding and ensure our community is ready for a changing climate?
We have already witnessed extreme weather events due to climate change, from flooding to drought. And this requires much broader collaboration to address, including local, county, state and federal agencies. Flooding events are very dangerous and costly to residents and the city. Our city’s sewer and drainage systems need to handle more stormwater and be upgraded over time as budgets and grant funding allow. The city needs to collaborate with MWRD and more to handle more water. In the meantime, we can adopt green practices such as planting more trees identified above, when hard surfaces such as parking lots need to be replaced, they should use water-permeable upgraded pavement. It will take a multi-pronged, comprehensive approach beyond an individual homeowner installing an overhead sewer system. Plant. More. Trees.
Berwyn Tree Canopy Initiative | Berwyn, Illinois 