Lombard to host video gaming discussion March 7
On Thursday, March 7, the Lombard Village Board will hold its second workshop meeting to discuss video gaming.
Workshops and meetings are open to the public.
The question of overturning the ban to allow video gaming in Lombard was originally brought before the village board by restaurant owners during public comment at the board of trustees meeting on Aug. 16, 2018.
Since then, the topic has been discussed by the village's four committees including the finance and administration committee on Oct. 22, the public safety and transportation committee on Nov. 7, the community relations committee on Nov. 12, and the economic & community development committee on Dec. 10.
The discussions were limited to each committee's focus area. All committees voted to move the discussion forward to the village board for further consideration.
The village board held a workshop Jan. 24 for discussion only. The workshop allowed the village board an opportunity to discuss the topic and provided members of the community to offer public comment.
A total of 17 residents and business owners spoke. No formal action was taken at the initial workshop meeting.
The village board discussed two options during the workshop. One included placing a video gaming ordinance on a future village board agenda for consideration. The other included consideration of a non-binding referendum on the March 17, 2020 ballot.
Upon conclusion of the discussion, no consensus on how to proceed was identified. In response, staff was directed to draft language for both options.
This includes drafting of a modified liquor license ordinance that would permit video gaming and an ordinance that would place a referendum question on the ballot next year. It was agreed that these ordinances would be discussed at a future workshop session of the village board.
The village board will hold another workshop at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 7, where the draft ordinances will be discussed.
Once available, copies of the draft ordinances will be made available for public inspection on the village website.
The draft ordinances will be posted on www.villageoflombard.org/videogaming and a link to the video gaming web page will be shared in the village's weekly E-Pride newsletter (www.villageoflombard.org/epride) and on Lombard's Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. No final action will be taken at the workshop on March 7th. Any ordinances to take final action on this issue would require review and approval at a subsequent village board meeting.
In the meantime, all members of the community are encouraged educate themselves and to reach out to the village with their thoughts on this issue. Visit www.villageoflombard.org/videogaming for more information.
Comments may be submitted to videogaming@villageoflombard.org.