FINANCE COMMITTEE 2009/05/18 Minutes
The City of Lake Forest
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Proceedings of the May 18, 2009 Meeting
6:30 p.m. – City Hall Council Chambers
I. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairman Grumhaus called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Present: Mayor Cowhey, Chairman Grumhaus,
Aldermen Goltra, Morsch, Hanrahan, Looby and Palmer. Absent: Aldermen Novit and Widman. Quorum
present. There were approximately 13 present in the audience.
Staff present: Robert Kiely, City Manager; Kathleen Reinertsen, Finance Director; Louise Breckan, Assistant
Finance Director; Ramesh Kanapareddy, Assistant City Engineer; Marcus Peccia, Assistant City Manager;
Rosemary Haack, Public Information Officer; Carina Walters, Assistant to the City Manager; Susan Kelsey,
Economic Development Coordinator and Victor Filippini, City Attorney.
II. Consideration of the Minutes from the Finance Committee meeting held on April 20, 2009
Alderman Looby made a motion to approve the minutes from the Finance Committee meeting held on April 20,
2009. The motion was seconded by Alderman Hanrahan. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
III. Western Avenue Project Acceleration
Mr. Robert Kiely, City Manager commented that progress was moving rapidly on the Western Avenue
project. The contractor has inquired about possibly accelerating the project. Mr. Kiely stated that he
wanted to discuss this possibility openly with the committee.
Alderman Novit entered the meeting at 6:35 p.m.
Mr. Ramesh Kanapareddy, Assistant City Engineer, reviewed a power point of the advantages and
disadvantages of accelerating the Western Avenue Construction Project. A major advantage would be that
disruption in the Central Business District would be limited to one year instead of two years. The major
disadvantages would be the impact to the Lake Forest Day parade, the Art Show and other special events,
the impact to the businesses and the contractor is not willing to reduce the contract amount.
Ms. Susan Kelsey stated that she surveyed a number of businesses as well as the Market Square Merchant
Association. She said that the majority of the retail businesses prefer to keep with the two year schedule.
She said that she also heard from the organizations that are planning special events. These organizations
were concerned that the change to one year would reduce attendance at these fund raising events.
Chairman Grumhaus asked for opinions from the audience.
Mr. David Lee, Clockworks stated that he was in favor of the one year construction time frame.
Mr. Robert Meers, owner of several buildings in the CBD, stated that he thinks that the City should
consider doing the construction in January, February and March 2010.
Mr. Kanapareddy stated that the start date for the second year of the project per the contract is March
2010.
Ms. Karen Longe, Deer Path Art League stated that they would prefer not to have the construction over
Labor Day weekend as was noted in the one year construction time frame. They are concerned that this
would reduce the number of people attending their annual fund raising art fair.
Finance Committee Meeting
Minutes – May 18, 2009
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Mr. Mike Mowder, The Toy Station stated that he believes that accelerating the project would be bad for
business.
The committee discussed the advantages and disadvantages of accelerating the project. Chairman
Grumhaus stated that the consensus of the committee was to leave the schedule as is.
Mr. Kanapareddy stated that he will keep the Finance Committee posted over the next months to
determine if there are some areas of the project that can be accelerated.
Mayor Cowhey commented that it was helpful to have this dialogue. The City will continue to
communicate with interested parties about the project and the City understands that these are challenging
times.
IV. Other Business
April 2009 Pre Audit Financial Flash Report – Chairman Grumhaus stated that that there have been no
significant changes from March 2009 to April 2009.
V. Opportunity for the Public to Address the Finance Committee
None
VI. Adjournment
There being no further business, Alderman Morsch moved, seconded by Alderman Looby to adjourn the
meeting at 7:25 p.m. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Louise Breckan
Assistant Finance Director