CITY COUNCIL 2014/02/03 MinutesThe City of Lake Forest
CITY COUNCIL
Proceedings of the February 3, 2014 Regular Meeting
7:30 p.m. – Council Chambers
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Mayor Schoenheider called the meeting to order at 7:30 pm,
and Deputy City Clerk Margaret Boyer called the roll of Council members.
Present: Honorable Mayor Schoenheider, Alderman Novit, Alderman Waldeck, Alderman Moore,
Alderman Pandaleon, Alderman Tack, Alderman Reisenberg, Alderman Palmer and Alderman
Adelman.
Also present were: Robert Kiely, City Manager; Vic Filippini, City Attorney; Andrew Fiske, City
Attorney; Carina Walters, Assistant City Manager; Catherine Czerniak, Director of Community
Development; Susan Banks, Communications Manager, Michael Thomas, Director of Public Works,
Dan Martin, Superintendent of Public Works, Karl Walldorf, Deputy Chief of Police, Jim Held, Chief
of Police; Desha Kalmar, Director of Human Resources, and Anne Whipple.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance.
There were approximately 20 present in the audience.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS
Comments by Mayor
Mayor Schoenheider once again commended Michael Thomas and the snow removal teams on all
their hard work this season.
A. Police Commendation Awards
Officer Mark Senger and Dan Markus- Life Saving Award
Officer Mike Hughes- Department Commendation
Police Chief James Held introduced Officers Mark Senger and Dan Markus, Officers Mark Senger
and Dan Markus were returning from court in Waukegan when they came upon a traffic crash on
Route 120 at Route 41 on July 28, 2013. They quickly checked for injuries and located one driver, a
young woman, unconscious and not breathing. They removed the victim from the car, summoned
an ambulance and began CPR. They continued CPR until the ambulance arrived. By that time, the
woman was breathing was turned over to the ambulance for transport to a hospital and, by the
time the ambulance departed, the victim was conscious.
Chief Held stated that the efforts of Officers Markus and Senger directly contributed to saving the
life of the victim and for their quick thinking and effective action, they are presented being a with
the Department Life Saving Award.
Proceedings of the February 3, 2014
Regular City Council Meeting
Police Chief Held also introduced Officer Michael Hughes who was patrolling the Middlefork Farms
subdivision on September 8, 2013 at 2am due to recent car burglaries in that area. He found and
discretely followed a pickup truck driving suspiciously in the area. The pickup was pulling into
driveways with its lights off and then left the subdivision at a high rate of speed. Officer Hughes
stopped the vehicle and located four Indiana teens, two of whom were hiding in the bed of the
truck. A search of the vehicle uncovered drugs and numerous items of property stolen in several
recent Lake Forest car burglaries. The suspects eventually confessed to several offenses and were
charged with numerous felonies.
Chief Held stated that without Officers Hughes’s vigilance, this case would not have been solved.
Officer Michael Hughes was presented with a Commendation Award.
B. Swear in New Police Officers
Officer Brian Esmon
Officer Mark Schumacher
Mayor Schoenheider swore in Brian Esmon and Mark Schumacher
Comments by City Manager
A. Community Spotlight
Barry Rogers, Lake Forest High School Principal
Lauren Fagel, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction,
Technology and Assessment K-12
City Manager Robert Kiely introduced Barry Rogers, Lake Forest High School Principal and Lauren
Fagel, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, Technology and Assessment. Ms. Fagel
invited all to participate in a new initiative called “Beyond the Book, a Community Conversation”
and to read the book, “The Smartest Kids in the World and How They Got That Way” by Amanda
Ripley. A thought-provoking community conversation will be held on Tuesday February 18, from 1-
3 pm or Thursday February 20 from 7-9 pm at the Lake Forest West Campus, Administration
Center Board room located at 300 S. Waukegan Road to discuss the book..
Lake Forest High School Principal Barry Rogers then spoke to the City Council about the School’s
Mission, Vision and Goals process and asked how can they create the best experience for students
in a 21st century classroom.
COMMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
Proceedings of the February 3, 2014
Regular City Council Meeting
None.
ITEMS FOR OMNIBUS VOTE CONSIDERATION
1. Approval of the January 21, 2014 City Council minutes.
2. Check Register
3. Consideration of an Ordinance Approving a Recommendation from the Building
Review Board. (First Reading and if Desired by the City Council, Final Approval)
4. Consideration of a Resolution Encouraging Residents to become informed on the
Independent Redistricting Amendment
5. City Council Approval to Waive the Bidding Process and Authorize a Provisional
Salt Purchase for the 2013/2014 winter
COUNCIL ACTION: Approve the Five (5) Omnibus items as presented.
City Manager Robert Kiely asked that with respect to #5, to include “authorization to purchase 500
tons of salt and give the Chairman of the Finance Committee and Public Works Committees and
City Manager authorization to do so.”
Alderman Novit made a motion to approve by Omnibus vote designation including the City
Manager’s Clarification, seconded by Alderman Palmer. The following voted “Yea”: Aldermen
Novit, Waldeck, Moore, Pandaleon, Tack, Reisenberg, Palmer and Adelman. The following voted
“Nay”: None. 8 Yeas, 0 Nays, motion carried.
Information such as Purpose and Action Requested, Background/Discussion, Budget/Fiscal Impact,
Recommended Action and a Staff Contact as it relates to the Omnibus items can be found on the agenda.
ORDINANCES
1. Consideration of an Ordinance approving a Fee Schedule for The City of Lake
Forest (First Reading)
Public Works Committee Chairman Kent Novit opened the discussion saying that at its January 13,
2014, meeting, the Public Works Committee recommended increases to the City’s water rates.
Additionally, the Committee also recommended that the City explore alternative conservation
measures, such as public education and incentive programs to entice owners of sprinkling systems
to replace or upgrade controllers.
Proceedings of the February 3, 2014
Regular City Council Meeting
The City Council had discussion surrounding the topics of water conservation and how to reduce
usage during peak demand periods in the summer to minimize the need to impose water
restrictions, recognizing that increasing the capacity of the water plant at a significant capital cost
for a few days out of the year was likely not economically feasible. The Council also debated how
the proposed rate increase would ensure proper funding of the FY15 Water Fund operating
budget and the Water Fund Capital Improvement Program (CIP), while also beginning to
encourage conservation for residential consumers whose increased consumption during summer
months poses a challenge to the Public Works Department’s ability to produce sufficient water to
meet peak demand periods. They also discussed how peak demand results in the need to impose
water restrictions and in extreme cases, sprinkling bans, to ensure sufficient water to meet non-
recreational needs. A discussion took place on the Debt Service and an increase in the base fee
which would be equal to all users in the system, along with how the responsibility of paying the
Debt Service should be shared by all Lake Forest residents. The Council talked about a potential
incremental increase for residents over five years instead of one large payment.
Finance Director Elizabeth Holleb added that the proposed rate increase would ensure proper
funding of the FY15 Water Fund operating budget and the Water Fund Capital Improvement
Program (CIP). And that along with the rate increase, we need to reduce usage or promote
conservation among residential consumers whose increased consumption during summer months
poses a challenge to the Public Works’ Department’s ability to produce sufficient water to meet
peak demand periods.
She stated projected proposed increase in cost for typical consumers annually is as follows:
Single resident with minimal summer landscape water consumption - $21/year
Family with summer landscape water consumption - $36/year
Customer Charge – Water (Inside) Current Rate Proposed Rate*
Small (5/8” to 1.5” meter) $20/Quarter $25/Quarter
Medium (2” to 4” meter) $100/Quarter $125/Quarter
Large (6” and above meter) $500/Quarter $625/Quarter
Water Sales/1,000 Gallons – Lake Forest
Residential Customers:
1st Tier Usage to 60k Gallons/Qtr $5.14 $5.14
2nd Tier Usage over 60k Gallons/Qtr $5.14 $5.40
Other Customers:
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Regular City Council Meeting
All Consumption $5.14 $5.30
*Note: The proposed ordinance applies similar adjustments to rates outside Lake Forest.
Alderman Novit reported that the Public Works Committee also recommended that the City
explore alternative conservation measures, such as public education and incentive programs to
entice owners of sprinkling systems to replace or upgrade controllers.
COUNCIL ACTION: Grant first reading of the Ordinance approving a fee schedule for The City of
Lake Forest.
Alderman Palmer made a motion to grant first reading of the Ordinance approving a fee schedule
for The City of Lake Forest and increase the fixed rate by 50 %, seconded by Alderman Pandaleon.
The following voted “Yea”: Aldermen Novit, Waldeck, Moore, Pandaleon, Tack, Palmer and
Adelman. The following voted “Nay” Alderman Reisenberg. 7 Yeas, 1 Nays, motion carried.
Alderman Tack made a motion to grant first reading of the Ordinance approving a fee schedule for
The City of Lake Forest and increase the variable rate, seconded by Alderman Palmer. The
following voted “Yea”: Aldermen Novit, Waldeck, Moore, Pandaleon, Tack, Reisenberg, Palmer
and Adelman. The following voted “Nay”: None. 8 Yeas, 0 Nays, motion carried.
Mayor Schoenheider thanked the Public Works Committee and Elizabeth Holleb for all their time
and efforts.
NEW BUSINESS
None
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
None
9. ADJOURNMENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to 5ILCS 120/2 (c) (6), The City Council will be discussing the
consideration for the sale or lease of property owned by the Public Body;
City Manager Robert Kiley said that there will not be any action items when the Council returns
form executive session.
Alderman Palmer made a motion to adjourn into executive session for the purpose of discussing
the consideration for the sale or lease of property owned by a Public Body; at 8:50 p.m. seconded
by Alderman Tack. The following voted “Yea”: Aldermen Novit, Waldeck, Moore, Pandaleon, Tack,
Proceedings of the February 3, 2014
Regular City Council Meeting
Reisenberg, Palmer and Adelman. The following voted “Nay”: None. 8 Yeas, 0 Nays, motion
carried.
RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION
The City Council reconvened into regular session at 9:10 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business. Alderman Palmer made a motion to adjourn, seconded by
Alderman Moore Motion carried unanimously by voice vote at 9:12 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Margaret Boyer
Deputy City Clerk
A video of the City Council meeting is available for viewing at the Lake Forest Library and on file in
the Clerk’s office at City Hall. You can also view it on the website by visiting
www.cityoflakeforest.com. Click on I Want To, then click on View, then choose Archived Meetings
Videos.