About IGOV

Information provided by IGOV.

IGOV is a standing, non-statutory working committee created by the six major Oak Park governing bodies to collectively address issues, align strategic priorities, and uphold our community’s shared values.

Aerial photo of Oak Park at sunset.
Photo courtesy of Bruce Unruh.

This collaborative structure is especially impactful because Oak Park operates as a home rule municipality. This status grants its local government broad authority to enact and enforce local ordinances, set property tax levies, and implement other taxes and fees—provided they are not prohibited by the state constitution.

IGOV provides the essential forum for these separate governing bodies to coordinate and leverage this home rule power effectively, enabling them to proactively address regional issues without requiring specific state approval for each initiative.

The group is supported by Executive Coordinator Lou Anne Johnanesson.

Mission, vision & values

Vision statement

Oak Park IGOV supports integrated governance, encouraging municipal actions that are collaborative, data-informed, and strategically aligned to respond to the community’s evolving needs across governing bodies.

Mission statement

IGOV is dedicated to fostering a collaborative environment among Oak Park’s governmental bodies. Our mission is to advance efficiency, champion shared standards, streamline joint service messaging, and enable collective problem-solving. Our ultimate goal is to build a more resilient, innovative, and prosperous community for all residents. IGOV strives to:

  • Enhance Information Sharing. Share data, reports, and current updates on projects, public services, and emergency response efforts, reducing redundancy and improving situational awareness.
  • Identify Commonality in Best Practices. Identify, analyze, and disseminate proven strategies and models for effective municipal governance.
  • Facilitate Community Access to Resources: Create structured forums, workshops, and public communications that center on resident needs and eliminate organizational barriers.

Values

  • Integrated Action. We actively dismantle silos, committing to operate collaboratively to the benefit of the community.
  • Data-Driven Stewardship. We champion the responsible and shared use of information and evidence, ensuring that public and intergovernmental resources we promote are informed by shared data and measurable insight.
  • Proactive Responsiveness. We foster resilient internal relationships to enable swift, anticipatory problem-solving. Our goal is to be nimble and timely, supporting each governmental body’s ability to address community needs before they become complex crises.
  • Strategic Alignment. We provide a forum to discuss intergovernmental strategic alignment, supporting municipal actions and investments that are aligned with Oak Park’s long-term prosperity and collective goals.
  • Equity. We embed the principles of equity and inclusion into every process and decision, ensuring that all residents, especially those historically underserved, have fair access to resources and that collaborative efforts lead to just and proportional outcomes across the entire community.

IGOV Representatives

IGOV representatives serve two-year terms, with the next term ending in 2027.

Oak Park Elementary School District 97

  • Nancy Ross Dribin, Vice Chair

Oak Park Public Library

  • Kristina Rogers, Chair 
  • Annie Wilkinson

Oak Park and River Forest School District 200

  • Audrey Williams Lee

Park District of Oak Park

  • Ade Onayemi
  • Chris Wollmuth 

Township of Oak Park

  • Dr. Margie Trybus

Village of Oak Park

  • James Taglia
  • Jenna Leving Jacobson

Resources, provided by IGOV

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