There are 24 separate and independent Boards and Commissions in the City of Oak Park operating in an advisory capacity to the City Council and City Administrative Staff. All are primarily composed of citizen volunteers and perform vital functions for our City.

Section 4.18, Independent Boards and Commissions, of the City of Oak Park Charter, states: "The Council may not create any board or commission, other than those provided for in this Charter, to administer any activity, department or agency of the City government except (a) a municipal hospital, (1)) recreation or (c) any activity which by statute is required to be so administered. The Council may, however, establish (a) quasi-judicial appeal boards and boards or commissions to serve solely in an advisory capacity. The following Boards and Commissions have been created.

To be a member of a Board or Commission, you must be a two (2) year resident of Oak Park. If you would like to volunteer for a position on one of the Boards or Commissions, please contact the City Manager at 248-691-7410 or complete the e-mail form in the forms and brochure page.

Energy Conservation Advisory Committee: 691-7410
The Energy Conservation Advisory Committee shall perform the following functions: a) Increase public awareness of the need to conserve energy. b) assist in a concentrated City-wide energy conservation program. c) Assist in the development of statistics on energy conservation in private business and local government and to measure its effects. d) Evaluate the impact of measures to conserve energy. e) Work on energy conservation programs. f) Receive energy conservation suggestions. g) Recommend regulations that might reduce consumption of energy. h) Encourage energy audits.

Ethnic Advisory Commission: 691-7410
The function of the Ethnic Advisory Commission is to improve ethnic relations within the City of Oak Park. It is appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council. Its mission is to recognize, maintain, communicate and celebrate the cultural richness of our community.

COMMISSIONERS:

• Lisa Clark-Woods, Chairperson
• Denise Sharpe
• Sudha Chandra Sekhar
• Rosetta Kinkaid
• Mattie Boykin
• Reatha Richmond
• Elaine Stephens
• Robert Abramson
• Nathaniel Warshay
• Lantonja Stephens
• Anita Warner
• Scott Pratt, Deputy Director of Recreation, Staff Liaison

Top Row: Councilman Paul H. Levine, Rosetta Kincaid, Nathaniel Warshay, Councilwoman Angela Diggs Jackson, Scott Pratt
Bottom row: Mattie Boykin, Denise Sharpe, Sudha Chandra Sekhar

INFORMATION:

The function of the Ethnic Advisory Commission is to improve ethnic relations within the City of Oak Park. It is appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council. Its mission is to recognize, maintain, communicate and celebrate the cultural richness of our community.

DEMOGRAPHICS (2000 CENSUS):

Races in Oak Park:

• White Non-Hispanic (46.4%)
• Black (46.0%)
• Two or more races (4.1%)
• Hispanic (1.3%)
• American Indian (0.8%)
• Filipino (0.7%)
• Other race (0.6%)
• Vietnamese (0.6%)

Ancestries:

• Polish (5.7%)
• German (5.1%)
• Russian (4.9%)
• United States (4.0%)
• Irish (3.5%)
• English (2.9%)