CITY COUNCIL 11-16-00 agendaTHE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
COUNCIL AGENDA
November 16, 2000
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
Honorable Howard J Kerr, Mayor
Samuel J. Henry, Alderman First Ward Roger J. Mohr, Alderman Third Ward
Robert T. E. Lansing, Alderman First Ward Timm Reynolds, Alderman Third Ward
Peter M. Mott, Alderman Second Ward Mary Ann Pekarek, Alderman Fourth Ward
Michael J. Burns, Alderman Second Ward James J. Cowhey, Jr., Alderman Fourth Ward
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS
1. Comments by Mayor
2. Comments by City Manager
3. Comments by Council Members
1. Consideration of an Ordinance Establishing the Tax Levy for 2000 (Grant First Reading Approval)
PRESENTED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JERRY HENRY
The annual tax levy must be filed with the County Clerk before the last Tuesday in December. A report reviewing the tax levy for 2000 was reviewed in detail at the Finance Committee
meeting held during the day on November 16, 2000.
The tax levy to be approved includes the needs of all City departments, as well as for pensions and debt service requirements. In addition, the tax levy for School District 67 is
included for your consideration. A summary of the proposed levies is as follows:
Fund/Purpose
1999 Levy Proposed
2000 Levy Change 1999 – 2000
$ % City General $ 9,576,626 $ 9,712,845 $136,219 1.42% Pension Funds 1,955,587 2,130,738 175,151 8.96% Recreation Fund 905,897 930,356 24,459 2.70% Library Board 1,941,208 1,993,621 52,413 2.70% Debt
Service Funds 2,329,450 2,329,143 (307) (0.01%) Sub-Total $16,708,768 $17,096,703 $387,935 2.32% Projected Growth 2000 NA $425,008 $425,008 NA CITY TOTAL $16,708,768 $17,521,711 $812,943 4.87% School
District 67 $18,128,367 $19,145,527 $1,017,160 5.61% GRAND TOTAL $34,837,135 $36,667,238 $1,830,103 5.25%
The proposed tax levy for 2000 reflects a 4.9% increase over the 1999 tax levy extensions for the City, Recreation, and Library operating funds. This increase is in full compliance
with the property tax cap limit of a 2.7% increase, plus new growth, which is estimated at 2.8%. Importantly, the average increase to existing residents will be approximately 2.3%.
Recommended Action: Grant First Reading approval of the proposed tax levy ordinance for 2000. (Staff Contact: Robert Shaffer 615-4222)
2. Abating 2000 Tax Levies for Various G.O. Alternate Revenue Bond Issues (Grant First Reading Approval)
PRESENTED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JERRY HENRY
A. An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being levied in 2000 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1998A General Obligation (PARK AND PUBLIC LAND) Bond Issue ($460,167.50).
B. An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2000 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1992A General Obligation TIF Bond Issue ($313,125.00)
C. An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2000 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1993B General Obligation TIF Bond Issue ($1,136,677.50).
D. An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2000 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1997A General Obligation (WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM) Bond
Issue ($303,750.00).
E. An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2000 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1997B General Obligation (PARKING DECK) Bond Issue ($152,675.00)
F. An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2000 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1999 General Obligation (Cemetery) Bond Issue ($154,955.00).
These ordinances provide for the abatement of 2000 taxes levied for the various outstanding general obligation ALTERNATE REVENUE bond issues. The tax levies for all bond issues are
established and recorded with the County Clerk at the time the bonds are issued. Therefore, in order to reduce the bond tax levies, an abatement ordinance must be approved and filed
with the County Clerk before December 31, 2000.
A summary of the proposed tax levy abatements are noted below:
Bond Issue Original Tax Levy Tax Abatement Net Bond Tax Levy 1998A G.O. Bonds (PARKS) $460,167.50 $460,167.50 $0 1992A G.O. Bonds (TIF) 313,125.00 313,125.00 0 1993B G.O. Bonds
(TIF) 1,136,677.50 1,136,677.50 0 1997A G.O. Bonds (WATER) 303,750.00 303,750.00 0 1997B G.O. Bonds (PARKING) 152,675.00 152,675.00 0 1999 G.O. Bonds (CEMETERY) 154,955.00 154,955.00
0 TOTALS $2,521,350.00 $2,521,350.00 $0
The abatement of these general obligation (ALTERNATE REVENUE) bonds is possible due to the fact these bonds funds have an adequate revenue source from TIF district collections, water
sales, cemetery revenue, parking charges or utility taxes. Therefore, the general obligation tax levy can be abated as was planned at the time the bonds were issued.
Copies of the abatement ordinances are attached for your consideration.
Recommended Action: Grant First Reading approval of the ordinances abating tax levies for various general obligation bond issues. (Staff Contact Persons: Robert Shaffer 615-4222)
Consideration of an Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance of $5,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2000, of The City of Lake Forest, Illinois (Final Approval)
This ordinance authorizes the sale of $5,000,000 in general obligation bonds for the purpose of making improvements to The City’s Municipal Services facility and acquiring and improving
real property in the vicinity of Western and Laurel Avenues.
These bonds were approved by referendum on March 21, 2000, by the residents of Lake Forest. Importantly, as stated in the referendum material, this bond issue will not increase a resident’s
tax bill. The tax levy for this issue is offset by the tax levy coming off-line with the Beach Bonds being fully retired.
The financing timetable for this bond issue is as follows:
Thursday, November 16, 2000 Bond bid opening at 11:00 A.M., with the award of bond sale and final adoption of Bond Ordinance at City Council meeting that evening.
Tuesday, December 12, 2000 Receive bond proceeds.
The Bond Ordinance is attached for your review and consideration. Final changes to the ordinances will be made on Thursday, November 16, 2000 after the bond bids are opened and the
final interest rates and tax levy amounts are determined.
Recommended Action: Grant final approval to the ordinance authorizing the issuance of $5,000,000 General Obligation Bonds. (Staff Contact: Robert Shaffer, 615-4222).
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL
CONSENT AGENDA
1. Approval of Minutes from the November 6, 2000 Meeting
Recommended Action: Approval of the Consent Agenda items as presented.
ORDINANCES
1. Approval of an Ordinance Allowing the Partial Vacation of Saunders Road (Waive First Reading and Grant Final Approval)
PRESENTED BY DIR. OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CHUCK CROOK (615-4207)
At the November 6, 2000 meeting, the City Council considered a request from OPUS Development Corporation to vacate approximately the southern half of Saunders Road between Route 60 and
the barricade in the road located approximately 1,300 feet south of Route 60. The OPUS request would vacate 40,739 square feet of the road. (See the attached map) The Council reviewed
background information explaining that the City has rights in Saunders Road by way of a prescriptive easement.
The Council acknowledged that the road vacation will allow for a slightly larger building, an increase in size of approximately 3%. The Council also recognized that there has, to some
extent, been general support from the City for the ultimate buildout of this site as proposed by OPUS. However, the Council questioned whether the proposed $3 per square foot, (a total
of $122,217), as determined by MAI appraised, represents a fair value for vacation of the road given the benefit that will accrue to the property owner. In response to the concerns
expressed by the City Council, a revised value of $210,000 is now proposed. This value represents $300,000 ($30/ft x 10,000 sq. ft. additional building) less the value of other site
and public roadway improvements that OPUS is committed to provide. This number results in an increased return for the City, but also recognizes that as part of this development, Opus
will be playing a key role in getting the improvements to the Route 60 and Saunders Road intersection underway.
Staff Recommendation:
In conclusion, we believe the vacation is clearly in the best interest of the City and the City’s long-term objective for the area and we recommend that the City Council approve the
ordinance as revised.
2. Consideration of an Ordinance for the Levy and Assessment of Taxes for Each of the Tax Levy Years Beginning 2000 and Ending 2019 in and for The City of Lake Forest Special Service
Area Number 15 (First Reading)
PRESENTED BY SUPERINTENDENT OF
SCHOOL DISTRICT 67, HARRY GRIFFITH
This ordinance authorizes a direct annual tax of $650.00 in addition to all other taxes for a 20-year time period starting in 2000 and going through 2019. This tax levy would be applied
to all the taxable property located in Lake Forest Special Service Area 15.
The City Council adopted an ordinance establishing Special Service Area 15 on January 3, 2000 for the purpose of providing educational services to benefit the properties within the district.
The ordinance before the City Council must be approved and filed with the County Clerk of Lake County to extend the special tax levy for each of the taxable parcels within Special Service
Area 15.
The ordinance is attached for your review and consideration.
Recommended Action: Grant First Reading Approval to the proposed ordinance to levy taxes for Special Service Area 15.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Office of the City Manager
November 10, 2000
The City of Lake Forest is subject to the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Individuals with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who require
certain accommodations in order to allow them to observe and/or participate in this meeting, or who have questions regarding the accessibility of the meeting or the facilities, are required
to contact City Manager Robert R. Kiely, Jr., at (847) 234-2600 promptly to allow the City to make reasonable accommodations for those persons.
November 16, 2000 Agenda Page 4