CITY COUNCIL 11-15-01 council agendaTHE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
COUNCIL AGENDA
November 15, 2001
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
Michael J. Burns, Alderman Second Ward James J. Cowhey, Jr., Alderman Fourth Ward
S. Michael Rummel, Alderman Second Ward Kimberly G. Moss, Alderman Fourth Ward
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS
1. Comments by Mayor
2. Comments by City Manager
3. Comments by Council Members
A. Finance Committee Report
Consideration of an Ordinance Authorizing the Issuance of $4,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2001A, and $1,000,000 General Obligation Bonds, Series 2001B, of The City of Lake
Forest, Illinois (Final Approval)
PRESENTED BY FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JERRY HENRY
This ordinance authorizes the sale of $4,000,000 in general obligation bonds to finance the initial phase of the upgrading and expansion of the Water Treatment Plant. These bonds are
alternate revenue bonds to be retired with revenues from the Water and Sewer Fund and the annual tax levy abated each year.
This ordnance also authorizes the sale of $1,000,000 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 Avenue and Laurel Avenue. Lake Forest voters authorized by referendum on March 21, 2000, $6,000,000 in general obligation bonds. The City issued
$5,000,000 of the authorized amount in November 2000 and this ordinance will issue the remaining $1,000,000.
The financing timetable for these bond issues is as follows:
Thursday, November 15, 2001: Bond bid opening at 11:00 A.M., with award of bond sale and final adoption of Bond Ordinance at City Council meeting that evening.
Wednesday, December 12, 2001: Receive bond proceeds.
The Bond Ordinance is attached for your review and consideration. Final changes to the ordinance will be made on Thursday, November 15, 2001, 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.)
Abating 2001 Tax Levies for Various G.O. Alternate Revenue Bond Issues (Grant First Reading Approval)
An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2001 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1992A General Obligation TIF Bond Issue ($300,062.50)
An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2001 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1993B General Obligation TIF Bond Issue ($1,123,802.50).
An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2001 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1997A General Obligation (WATERWORKS AND SEWERAGE SYSTEM) Bond Issue
($293,000.00).
An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2001 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1997B General Obligation (PARKING DECK) Bond Issue ($153,375.00)
An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being levied in 2001 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1998A General Obligation (PARK AND PUBLIC LAND) Bond Issue ($467,042.50).
An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2001 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 1999 General Obligation (Cemetery) Bond Issue ($156,195.00).
An Ordinance Abating the Total Tax Being Levied in 2001 for the Annual Payment of the Principal and Interest on the 2001-A General Obligation (Waterworks and Sewerage System) Bond Issue
($823,500.00)
A summary of the proposed tax levy abatements are noted below:
Bond Issue Original Tax Levy Tax Abatement Net Bond Tax Levy 1992A G.O. Bonds (TIF) $ 300,062.50 $ 300,062.50 $0 1993B G.O. Bonds (TIF) 1,123,802.50 1,123,802.50 0 1997A G.O.
Bonds (WATER) 293,000.00 293,000.00 0 1997B G.O. Bonds (PARKING) 153,375.00 153,375.00 0 1998A G.O. Bonds (PARKS) 467,042.50 467,042.50 0 1999 G.O. Bonds 156,195.00 156,195.00 0 (CEMETERY) 2001
G.O. Bonds (WATER) 823,500.00 823,500.00 0 TOTALS $3,316,977.50 $3,316,977.50 $0
These ordinances provide for the abatement of 2001 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, 2001.
The abatement of these general obligation (ALTERNATE REVENUE) bonds is possible due to the fact these bond 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 Establishing the Tax Levy for 2001 (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 2001 was reviewed in detail at the Finance Committee
meeting held during the day on November 15, 2001.
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 2000 Levy Proposed
2001 Levy Change 2000 – 2001
$ % City General $ 10,059,515 $ 10,295,333 $235,818 2.34% Pension Funds 2,157,828 2,337,400 179,572 8.32% Recreation Fund 962,485 995,209 32,724 3.40% Library Board 2,064,684 2,134,883 70,199 3.40% Debt
Service Funds 2,375,163 2,347,268 (27,895) (1.17%) Sub-Total $17,619,675 $18,110,093 $490,418 2.78% Projected Growth 2001 NA $442,903 $442,903 NA CITY TOTAL $17,619,675 $18,552,996 $933,321 5.30% School
District 67 $19,105,035 $20,374,000 $1,268,965 6.64% GRAND TOTAL $36,724,710 $38,926,996 $2,202,286 6.00%
The proposed tax levy for 2001 reflects a 5.3% increase over the 2000 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 3.4% increase, plus new growth, which is estimated at 2.8%. Importantly, the average increase to existing residents will be approximately 2.8%.
Recommended Action: Grant First Reading approval of the proposed tax levy ordinance for 2001. (Staff Contact: Robert Shaffer 615-4222)
OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL
ORDINANCES
Consideration of an update of the City of Lake Forest Tree Preservation and Landscape Ordinance (first reading).
PRESENTED BY CITY FORESTER DAN REEVES (615-4232) AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CATHERINE CZERNIAK (615-4299)
At the May 17, 2001, Committee of the Whole meeting, staff provided an overview of the City’s Tree Preservation and Landscape Ordinance. At the conclusion of that meeting, the Council
directed staff to move forward with revisions to update and clarify the ordinance, and to bring the ordinance into conformance with other related processes and regulations.
On July 11, 2001, the City Council received a memo from staff outlining the policy framework being used to revise the ordinance. Some of the key policy issues are summarized below.
The ordinance focuses on tree preservation on properties where development or redevelopment is occurring.
On developed lots, tree protection along the streetscape is strengthened.
Specific criteria for tree removal are established with the ability to approve tree removal, even when criteria are not met, under certain conditions.
Penalties for violations of the ordinance, such as clearing within a Conservation Easement or not complying with tree fencing requirements, are strengthened.
On October 18, 2001 a working draft of the update to the Tree Preservation and Landscape Ordinance was presented to the Council. Following that meeting, the working draft was distributed
for public comment. Copies of the working draft were mailed to members of various City Boards and Commissions, to architects, builders, landscape architects, landscape contractors,
tree removal contractors and attorneys who are involved in projects within Lake Forest. In addition, the working draft of the ordinance was mailed to residents who in the past have
expressed an interest in tree and landscape issues. The document is also accessible on the City’s Web Page.
City staff received several comments in support of the draft document and some suggestions for enhancements to the ordinance. The comments received have been incorporated into the draft
ordinance now presented to the Council. In addition, revisions have been made in response to further review by the City Attorney.
At the City Council meeting, staff will review the highlights of the ordinance and discuss its role as one of several tools that will better position the City to address infill development
issues and improve coordination of the development process from beginning to end.
Recommended Action: Grant first reading of the Tree Preservation and Landscape Ordinance.
Consideration of an Ordinance Amending Section 44-30 Of The City Code Regarding Water Connections (second reading).
PRESENTED BY CITY MANAGER ROBERT KIELY (615-4271)
This ordinance amending the City’s Municipal Code regarding water service was added to the November 5, 2001 Council agenda. The current Municipal Code allows the City to discontinue
water service to locations under certain circumstances, including the unauthorized use of water or the use of water in violation of applicable codes, laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations.
The amended ordinance before the Council seeks to clarify the conditions under which water service may be discontinued and the procedures relating to the discontinuance of water service.
The City Council discussed the ordinance and granted first reading while requesting clarification on several items including; 1) how and when the ordinance would be used as a measure
of last resort, 2) whether failure to comply with all city ordinances such as vehicle stickers could result in loss of water service and 3) how the ordinance impacts sprinkler systems.
At the City Council meeting staff will review the modifications to the ordinance a copy of which is provided starting on page ___.
Recommended Action: Grant Second Reading to the Ordinance Amending Section 44-30 Of The City Code Regarding Water Connections.
NEW BUSINESS
Preliminary Discussion on Landscape Contractor Licensing
PRESENTED BY MARCUS PECCIA, MANAGEMENT ANALYST (615-4287)
City staff and the First Ward Aldermen have met on several occasions to discuss the possibility of licensing landscape contractors in the City. City staff requests that the Council
discuss the various aspects involved in licensing landscapers for the purpose of drafting an ordinance and implementing a licensing program in the spring of 2002. A packet of information
containing discussion points on landscape contractor licensing will be sent out prior to the City Council Meeting.
Recommended Action: None at this time.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION
EXECUTIVE SESSION
ADJOURNMENT
Office of the City Manager
November 7, 2001
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 15, 2001 Agenda Page 2