CEMETERY COMMISSION 2011/10/12 MinutesCEMETERY COMMISSION MEETING
LAKE FOREST CEMETERY GATEHOUSE
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011, 5:30 P.M.
MEETING MINUTES
ROLL CALL/ CALL TO ORDER: The meeting of the Cemetery Commission convened at 5:00 p.m. at the Lake Forest Cemetery Gatehouse. The following members were present: Chairman Ronald Sevcik;
Commission Members Ginny Grace, John Greene, Prue Beidler, and Colin Silvester; and Staff Members Robert R. Kiely, Jr., City Manager; Dan Martin, Superintendent of Public Works; and
Phil Alderks, Cemetery Sexton. Also attending was Tony Hoban from William Blair and Company.
CONSENT AGENDA: Chairman Sevcik presented the following items for approval:
Approval of Minutes from the Cemetery Commission Meeting held on July 20, 2011
Sales Report
Member Prue Beidler made a motion to approve the July 20, 2011 minutes and to approve the Sales Report. Member Ginny Grace seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.
THIRD QUARTER INVESTMENT REPORT FROM WILLIAM BLAIR AND COMPANY: Tony Hoban from William Blair and Company (WBC) presented the Cemetery Investment Report to the Commission. Mr. Hoban
stated that the quarter was weak in terms of performance with the portfolio mainly purchasing stocks. He said that due to the volatile economy WBC had the portfolio in a conservation/quality
growth investment style. Hoban said that macro issues are driving the market at this time, with the biggest being how to insulate Europe from a Greek default.
Following review of the WBC report, the Commission received the financial report. GC.
STATUTS REPORTS: Sexton Phil Alderks gave the following status reports:
Lake View Planting – Alderks reported to the Commission that the Lake View planting has been 95% completed. Alderks said that all the remained to be planted were some groundcovers and
there were plans to include some spring flowering bulbs in the area. Member John Greene expressed concern that even though some of the plants at the Views were small, the views to the
lake were impeded. Member Beidler concurred in principle with Member Greene’s assessment. Following discussion by the Commission it was determined that Sexton Alderks will take pictures
of the primary lake views and email them to the Commission members for comment. Comments will be returned to Alderks and he will report back to the members via an email report. Should
members desire to view the project in person, they may contact Sexton Alderks directly. Alderks will report back to the Commission members before the next Commission meeting.
Barrell Gateway Restoration – Sexton Alderks reported Conservation of Sculpture and Objects Studio is continuing work on the Barrell Arch and Gate. Alderks stated that they have about
2 more weeks of work and the restoration will be complete.
Member Silvester stated that he heard the Lake Forest – Lake Bluff Historical Society would be having a tour of the Cemetery. Silvester commented that the Cemetery should commit to whatever
is necessary to support the event.
Tuohy Family Monument – Sexton Alderks informed the Board that the Tuohy situation has been resolved and the monument has been delivered and installed.
CONSIDERATION OF FEES AND CHARGES FOR FY2013: Sexton Phil Alderks presented the proposed Cemetery Fees and Charges for FY2013 to the Cemetery Commission Members. Alderks said that the
proposed increase across the fees would average +/- 2% depending on the individual fee. This he said was due to adjusting numbers to round figures. Alderks continued by saying that preliminary
expense projections for FY2013 are going to be in the 2.6% increase range.
He told Commission members that even though the economy is tough they must think of the time when there are no more interment rights available for sale and the Cemetery would need to
depend on income from the Cemetery’s investment funds. He reminded them that they are not just covering expenses, but also continuing to build the Cemetery’s investment fund.
Following discussion by the Commission, Member Beidler motioned to approve the FY2013 Fees and Charges. Member Ginny Grace seconded the motion which passed unanimously.
FY2013 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT BUDGET: Phil Alderks and Dan Martin presented the 5-Year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) to the Commission Members. Alderks reminded the Commission that
the $200,000 for the Ravine Restoration would only be spent if the Cemetery secures a grant for the project.
Member Colin Silvester motioned to accept the FY2013 CIP Budget which was seconded by Prue Beidler. The vote to approve the CIP was unanimous.
APPROVAL OF TARGET NUMBER FOR FY2013 BUDGET: Phil Alderks presented the FY2013 Revenue Projection Sheets to the Cemetery Commission. Revenue projections were done based on conservative,
optimistic and pessimistic sales projections and economic qualifiers. Alderks explained the projected inflation rate and investment performance figures came from Tony Hoban and the research
staff at William Blair and were approved by the City’s Finance Department. Alderks said that revenue projections are based on last year’s actual financials, the investment/inflation
factors and sales numbers based on historical sales data.
The Commission examined the spreadsheets for all three scenarios without coming to an agreement on which scenario to use for the FY2013 Revenue Target Number. The consensus among the
Members seemed to be somewhere between the Conservative and the Pessimistic scenarios mainly based on the thought that investment returns were a little too optimistic on the Conservative
scenario. Member Colin Silvester asked for a projected revenue figure based on the current sales climate and the given economic factors. Sexton Phil Alderks suggested the figure of $750,000
based on current sales and inquiries.
Being that this projected revenue figure is slightly above the pessimistic projection and a little lower than the Conservative projection, Member Ginny Grace motioned to set the FY2013
Budget Target number at $750,000. Member Silvester seconded the motion. The Commission discussed the motion and voted unanimously to approve $750,000 as the Target Number for the FY2013
Budget.
DISCUSSION TO CONSIDER PROCEEDING WITH AN ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION FIRM TO DESIGN THE CEMETERY RAVINE RESTORATION PROJECT: Phil Alderks shared the history of Lake Forest Ravine Restoration
and about the grant that was secured to make the project happen. He also shared that the Cemetery has been applying for additional monies to complete restoration of the Cemetery Ravine
System with little success. Public Works Superintendent Dan Martin explained how the City was able to acquire funding for the East Side Train Station Renovation following the acquisition
of a historical structure report and suggested that it may be an advantage for the Cemetery to complete the engineering for the Ravine Project to show grant-making authorities that we
are serious and are shovel ready. Alderks stated that this has also been suggested by our grant writing consultants. The Commission stated that the ravines are important to the Cemetery
and their desire to keep the ravine system stable. Member Beidler suggested there may be an opportunity to partner with the Lake Forest Garden Club or others in the stewarding of the
ravines.
Member Colin Silvester motioned to approve an amount not to exceed $50,000 for the ravine engineering. This was seconded by member Ginny Grace and passed unanimously.
OTHER MATTERS: None.
CITIZENS’ OPPORTUNITY TO ADDRESS CEMETERY COMMISSION: No members of the public were in attendance.
ADJOURNMENT: Member Silvester motioned to adjourn the meeting which was seconded by member Grace. The meeting was adjourned at 8:15 p.m.
Phil Alderks
Sexton, Lake Forest Cemetery
Cemetery Commission Minutes
October 12, 2011
Page 4 of 4