If the Bears proposal moves forward, most of the local decisions (zoning, site plans, development agreements) will be made by the Arlington Heights Village Board. Here’s how the village government is set up and how to take part.
How the village is run
Arlington Heights, incorporated in 1887, uses a council-manager form of government: an elected board sets policy, and a professional village manager runs day-to-day operations.
| Role | Who |
|---|---|
| Mayor (village president) | Jim Tinaglia, elected April 2025 |
| Trustees (8, elected at large) | James J. Bertucci, Wendy Dunnington, Colin Gilbert, Robin LaBedz, Bill Manganaro, Carina H. Santa Maria, Thomas F. Schwingbeck Jr., Greg Zyck |
| Village Manager | Randall Recklaus (appointed 2014, per the village website) |
Board membership is current as of the village website in October 2026. Trustee Carina Santa Maria is also on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Illinois Senate District 27.
Village Hall
- Address: 33 S. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL 60005
- Phone: 847-368-5000
- Agendas and minutes: CivicClerk portal
- Live and recorded meetings: Board Meetings Online and the village’s Arlington Heights TV YouTube channel
- Meeting calendar: vah.com calendar
How to follow and comment on the Arlington Park project
- Project page: the village’s Arlington Park redevelopment page posts agreements, studies and FAQs, and is updated when the topic is on an agenda.
- Public comment: the village says Committee of the Whole meetings are open to the public and include time for comment.
- Future hearings: the village says formal public hearings and neighborhood meetings will be held once the Bears submit formal plans. As of October 2026, no planned-development application has been filed.
- Updates: sign up for the village’s E-News and Arlington Alert, or follow its social channels.
- Questions: use the village’s Contact Us form or call 847-368-5000.
Key documents the village has posted
- Pre-Development Agreement with the Bears (November 2022)
- 2022 overlay-zone ordinance for the Arlington Park site
- Memorandum of Understanding with School Districts 15, 211 and 214 (December 2024)
- HR&A economic impact report for the Bears (July 2025) and Hunden Partners’ review for the village (September 2025)
- Mayor Tinaglia’s open letter to Illinois lawmakers (January 16, 2026)
Sources
- Village of Arlington Heights: Village Board
- Village of Arlington Heights: Village Manager
- Village of Arlington Heights: Arlington Park redevelopment
- WBEZ: Arlington Heights elects new mayor amid stadium push
- Daily Herald: What Arlington Heights-area candidates say about Bears stadium proposals
- Wikipedia: Arlington Heights, Illinois (form of government)
