Quorum Forum

In this special meeting of Ancel Glink's Quorum Forum podcast, attorneys Erin Monforti, David Silverman, and Greg Jones break down Governor Pritzker's proposed BUILD Plan (Building up Illinois Development). This initiative intends to reduce costs and eliminate barriers to housing development, but it includes proposals that could significantly limit local authority over zoning, building codes, and fees. The team discusses what these potential statewide mandates could mean for the future of Illinois communities. Thoughts? Questions? Email us at [email protected]! 
Highlights:
The BUILD Plan: An overview of the Governor's February 2026 proposal to cut "bureaucratic red tape" through new legislative and regulatory standards.
"Middle Housing" Mandates: A look at bills that would require local governments to allow duplexes, triplexes, and townhomes in any area currently zoned for single-family homes.
Limits on Local Review: Discussion on provisions that would prevent municipalities from requiring special use permits or variances for middle housing if those same rules don't apply to single-family homes.
Statewide Zoning Standards: The potential shift toward inflexible statewide rules for residential building heights, setbacks, and how much of a lot can be covered by a building.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): How proposed laws would normalize "granny flats" across the state, potentially making it easier for homeowners to get financing while increasing local density.
Standardizing Impact Fees: Assessing the move toward mandatory state formulas for school and park impact fees to make costs more predictable for developers.
Strict Permit Deadlines: New requirements for municipalities to complete plan reviews within 15 to 30 days, or else developers may hire their own third-party inspectors to do the work.
Public Comment: A critical update for FOIA officers regarding emails caught in spam filters. A recent court ruled that a request is considered "received" even if it is automatically quarantined by your IT system.
Upcoming Presentations:
APA-IL Virtual Plan Commissioner Training: Register for a virtual training hosted by the APA-IL on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
APA-ISS Spring Conference: Join us Ancel Glink at the APA-ISS Spring Conference April 16-17 to discuss the BUILD plan and local zoning preemption.
The Legacy of Euclid 100 Years On: See David Silverman at the 2026 National Planning Conference in Detroit on Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 9:30 AM.
The Annual APA-CMS Bar Exam: Join Greg Jones and colleagues for the American Planning Association – Chicago Metro Section's annual planning and zoning case law update on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, in Chicago.
Resources:
Governor Pritzker's State of the State Address (BUILD Plan Announcement)
House Bill 5626: Omnibus Housing Reform (40-page comprehensive bill)
Senate Bill 4060: Middle Housing Requirements
Senate Bill 4061:  Single Stairway Building Code
Senate Bill 4062: Mandatory Impact Fee Formulas
Senate Bill 4063: Building Permit Review Deadlines & Third-Party Inspectors
Senate Bill 4064: Residential Parking Standards
Senate Bill 4071: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
Municipal Minute: General Assembly Sends "People Over Parking Act" to the Governor
Municipal Minute: FOIA Deadlines and Quarantined Emails
Credits:
Chair: Erin M. Monforti
Featured Guests: David S. Silverman and Gregory W. Jones
Producer: Daniel J. Bolin
Executive Producer: Keri-Lyn Krafthefer
Engineers: Ricardo Perez and Matt Smith
This podcast is provided as a service to our public and private sector clients and friends. It is intended to provide timely general information of interest, but should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. Read our full disclaimer: www.ancelglink.com/disclaimers.
Resources:
Credits:
Chair: Erin M. Monforti
Featured Guests: David S. Silverman and Gregory W. Jones
Producer: Daniel J. Bolin
Executive Producer: Keri-Lyn Krafthefer
Engineers: Ricardo Perez and Matt Smith
This podcast is provided as a service to our public and private sector clients and friends. It is intended to provide timely general information of interest, but should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. Read our full disclaimer: www.ancelglink.com/disclaimers.

In this episode, Jamie Wilkey, a Partner at Lauterbach & Amen, joins Ancel Glink's Katie Nagy to discuss the Department of Justice's final rule on web accessibility under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). They explore the new requirements for state and local governments to ensure their web content and mobile applications are accessible to individuals with disabilities, and offer practical advice on implementation, technical standards, and compliance deadlines starting on April 24, 2026 for some larger governments. Questions? Email us at [email protected]!
Highlights:
The Technical Standard: An overview of WCAG 2.1 Level AA, the benchmark for digital accessibility compliance.
Defining Web Content: Understanding how the rule applies to websites, mobile apps, social media, online payment portals, and digital documents like meeting minutes and agendas.
Compliance Deadlines: Key dates for local governments (April 24, 2026 for populations over 50,000; April 26, 2027 for smaller entities and special districts).
Practical Implementation: Steps for success, including identifying an internal team, conducting an inventory of digital assets, and prioritizing remediation.
Exceptions and Limitations: A breakdown of what content is exempt, such as archived web content, pre-existing conventional documents, and certain third-party content.
Risk Management: Analyzing the legal, financial, and reputational risks of non-compliance.
Public Comment: A discussion on the Seventh Circuit's decision in O'Donnell v. City of Chicago regarding vehicle forfeiture programs and unconstitutional takings.
Upcoming Presentation:
Illinois Township Attorneys Association Annual Seminar: See Ancel Glink attorneys present on May 15, 2026, at the Hanover Township Senior Center.
Resources:
Fact Sheet: New Rule on the Accessibility of Web Content and Mobile Apps Provided by State and Local Governments
DOJ Guidance: First Steps Toward Complying with the ADA Title II Web and Mobile Application Accessibility Rule
Municipal Minute: City's Vehicle Forfeiture Program Not an Unconstitutional Taking
Credits:
Featured Guest: Jamie L. Wilkey, Lauterbach & Amen
Chair: Katherine Nagy
Producer: Daniel J. Bolin
Executive Producer: Keri-Lyn J. Krafthefer
Engineers: Rick Perez and Matt Smith
Disclaimer: This podcast is provided as a service to our public and private sector clients and friends. It is intended to provide timely general information of interest, but should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. Read our full disclaimer: www.ancelglink.com/disclaimers.

In this episode, we share Ancel Glink attorney Melissa Hall's recent ILCMA presentation, "Digital Decisions: Navigating AI's Impact on the Modern Workplace." Mysi examines the current legal landscape surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in labor relations and employment practices.
Highlights:
The Legal Landscape: Overview of federal and state regulations, including EEOC guidelines on Title VII and the ADA.
Illinois Specifics: A look at the AI Video Interview Act (AIVIA) and the 2026 amendments to the Illinois Human Rights Act.
Bias and Mitigation: Understanding automation bias, selective adherence, and real-world examples of algorithmic discrimination.
Labor Relations: How major unions (ILA, SAG-AFTRA, AFL-CIO) are negotiating AI safeguards and transparency.
Best Practices: Practical steps for employers, including the NIST Risk Management Framework and the importance of human oversight.
Upcoming Presentation:
The Legacy of Euclid 100 Years On: See Ancel Glink's David S. Silverman at the 2026 National Planning Conference in Detroit on April 26, 2026, at 10:30 AM.
Resources:
Presentation Slides: Digital Decisions: Navigating AI's Impact on the Modern Workplace
Municipal Minute: The New Year Countdown – Public Safety
Coalition Resource: San Jose Government AI Coalition
Credits:
Featured Guest: Melissa A. Hall
Producer/Chair: Daniel J. Bolin
Executive Producer: Keri-Lyn J. Krafthefer
Engineer: Rick Perez
This podcast is provided as a service to our public and private sector clients and friends. It is intended to provide timely general information of interest, but should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. Read our full disclaimer: www.ancelglink.com/disclaimers.

We have a quorum! In this special 100th episode, we celebrate a major milestone by hosting a special live recording from Ancel Glink's Chicago headquarters. Our featured guest is our esteemed friend and colleague, Julie Tappendorf, who joins us on the eve of her retirement to reflect on her distinguished career in local government law. Julie is a prolific writer and counselor helping local governments across Illinois with land use, social media, legal compliance, and more. In this career retrospective, Julie shares the professional lessons she learned along her journey—from her early days in military intelligence to becoming a leading local government lawyer.
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Episode Highlights
• From Cryptology to Codes: Julie reflects on her eight years as a Korean cryptologic-linguist in the U.S. Army and how the discipline of military intelligence prepared her for legal practice.
• The Land Use Landscape: We review the evolution of development and annexation agreements. Julie explains how these contracts reduce adversarial friction and why formal agreements are critical for risk management.
• Municipal Minute: Julie shares the origin story of her award-winning blog, Municipal Minute, which has registered over 3.3 million visits. She discusses her foresight in identifying social media as a legal issue for local governments as early as 2011.
• Social Media After Lindke: What the Supreme Court's ruling in Lindke v. Freed means for local officials. Julie provides essential advice on maintaining separate personal and official accounts and navigating the "actual authority" test.
• The Future of the Field: A candid discussion on the next "tweeting into trouble" moment—Artificial Intelligence. Julie warns about the risks of AI "hallucinations" and the importance of verifying legal output.
• Public Comment Segment: Ancel Glink attorneys share the most impactful lessons they have learned from Julie over the years, ranging from effective meeting procedures to the "gold standard" of responsiveness.
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Contact Us
How has the Municipal Minute blog or the Quorum Forum podcast helped your organization? We want to hear from you!
• Email: [email protected]
• Hotline: 312.604.9185
• Website: quorumforum.ancelglink.com
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Resources
• Municipal Minute
• Development by Agreement: A Tool Kit for Land Developers and Local Government, Second Edition
• Social Media and Local Governments: Navigating the New Public Square, Second Edition
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Credits
• Producer: Daniel J. Bolin
• Executive Producers: Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, Julie Tappendorf
• Chair: Daniel J. Bolin
• Co-Hosts: Erin Monforti, Katie Nagy, Tyler Smith
• Engineer: Rick Perez (behind the glass for our protection)
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Disclaimer
This podcast is provided as a service to our public and private sector clients and friends. It is intended to provide timely general information of interest but should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. Read our full disclaimer at www.ancelglink.com/disclaimers.

Farewell, 2025—and a warm welcome to the New Year! In this holiday episode, the Quorum Forum podcast hosts its annual tradition of revisiting new legislation and case law that local government listeners should know for 2026. Ancel Glink attorneys Erin Monforti, Katie Nagy and Alexis Carter captained teams of Ancel Glink attorneys in a competition to leave the most messages about new laws on the Quorum Forum hotline. Who will win? Our listeners, of course! The episode provides critical updates on laws taking effect (or possibly taking effect) in 2026, including Open Meetings Act amendments, Freedom of Information Act amendments, a law restricting local parking requirements near transit, and more! Email your questions to [email protected]. Happy Holidays!
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Resources
• Illinois General Assembly Passes Bill Amending OMA and FOIA
• In the Zone: General Assembly Sends "People Over Parking Act to the Governor
• Public Act 104-0078: Amendments to Military Leave Act
• Public Act 104-0171: Amendments to Victims' Economic Security and Safety Act
• Public Act 104-0076: Amendments to Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act
• Public Act 104-0193: Amendments to Employee Blood and Organ Donation Leave Act
• Public Act 104-0259: Family Neonatal Intensive Care Leave Act
• Bitner v. City of Pekin
• Workers Compensation Benefits Barred Where Pension Board Denied Line-of-Duty Benefits
• Public Act 104-0364: Amendments to Interstate Mutual Emergency Aid Act
• Public Act 104-0097: Amendments to Counties Code, Municipal Code
• Bill Requiring Local Libraries to Stock "Opioid Antagonists" Passes Both Houses of General Assembly
• Narcan in Libraries
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Credits
Producer: Daniel J. Bolin
Executive Producers: Keri-Lyn Krafthefer, Julie Tappendorf
Chair: Erin M. Monforti
Engineers: Ricardo Perez, Matt Smith
This podcast is provided as a service to our public and private sector clients and friends. It is intended to provide timely general information of interest, but should not be considered a substitute for legal advice. Read our full disclaimer: www.ancelglink.com/disclaimers