CITY COUNCIL 04/04/2022THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Monday, April 4, 2022 at 6:30pm.
220 E. Deerpath, Lake Forest, IL 60045
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 6:30 p.m.
Honorable Mayor, George Pandaleon
James E. Morris, Alderman First Ward Jim Preschlack, Alderman Third Ward
Jennifer Karras, Alderman First Ward Ara Goshgarian, Alderman Third Ward
Melanie Rummel, Alderman Second Ward Raymond Buschmann, Alderman Fourth Ward
Edward U. Notz, Jr., Alderman Second Ward Eileen Looby Weber, Alderman Fourth Ward
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS
1. COMMENTS BY MAYOR
A. Approval of a Resolution of Appreciation for Retiring Deputy Fire Chief, Kevin
Cronin
A copy of the resolution can be found beginning on page 29
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of a Resolution of Appreciation for Retiring Deputy Fire Chief,
Kevin Cronin
2. COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER
3. OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL .
4. COMMITTEE REPORTS
PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE
1. Report on the 2022 Patching & Resurfacing Project (Omnibus Item overview)
- Byron Kutz, Superintendent of Engineering
2. Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement for Construction of the Burr
Oak Area Storm Sewer Project to DiMeo Brothers, Inc. in the Base Amount of
$3,896,876 Plus a 10% Contingency of $389,688. Contingent Upon Final Legal
Counsel Approval of the Lake Forest / Lake County Stormwater Management
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Commission Inter-Governmental Agreement (SMC IGA hereafter), Approve a
Change Order in the Amount of $655,150 Plus a 10% Contingency of $65,515 for a
Total Not-to-Exceed Project Amount of $5,007,229
PRESENTED BY: Michael Thomas, Director of Public Works (810-3540)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: The Public Works Committee and staff recommend City
Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement for construction of the Burr Oak
Area Storm Sewer Project to DiMeo Brothers, Inc. in the base amount of $3,896,876 plus a 10%
contingency of $389,688. Contingent upon final City legal counsel approval of the Lake
Forest / Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Inter-Governmental Agreement
(SMC IGA hereafter), approve a change order in the amount of $655,150 plus a 10%
contingency of $65,515. This will result in a total not-to-exceed project amount of $5,007,229.
The $655,150 amount represents narrowing the roadway curve on Western Avenue north of
Franklin Place, additional streetscape items in this area, paving northbound Western Avenue,
and the installation of a storm sewer on Alden Lane from Tara Lane to Western Avenue.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: In 2014, Baxter & Woodman performed a comprehensive storm
drainage study for The City of Lake Forest. The study was updated in October, 2019.
Computer models of the City’s drainage system were used to identify problem areas and
deficient storm sewers. The updated study identified eleven locations to address needed
storm sewer improvements.
Two projects were completed within the past four years: The West Fork / Hackberry area and
the Forest Hill / Old Elm area. The 2019 updated study identified the next highest priority
project being the Burr Oak area. This area is adjacent to and part of the North Western
Avenue business district. It encompasses a drainage area east of Green Bay Road, Alden
Lane and N. Western Avenue to the north, and Franklin Avenue to the south. Stormwater in
this area flows through a single 36” line under the METRA tracks, heads east under Lake Forest
High School’s property, and outflows into a ravine behind the homes on the east side of Willow
Street. From there, the stormwater flows north into Lake Bluff and eventually into Lake
Michigan via Lake Bluff’s Moffet Road ravine.
On July 17, 2020, staff submitted a grant application to SMC for the State of Illinois Department
of Commerce & Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO hereafter) “Stormwater Capital Improvement
Program”. On August 6, 2020, SMC approved a list of fourteen projects for a $30 million grant
award from DCEO; Lake Forest was awarded $2.75 million. Included in the award amount is a
$314,036 administrative expense Lake Forest is expected to pay SMC to offset SMC’s oversight
of the grant and reimbursement process. The administrative expense is to be paid to SMC by
November, 2022. Based on this, the net amount of $2,435,964 will be used to offset the total
project cost.
PROJECT REVIEW/RECOMMENDATIONS:
Reviewed Date Comments
Public Works Committee 3/3/22
Reviewed and recommended City
Council approve the low bid plus a 10%
contingency to DiMeo Brothers, Inc., for
the entire project cost. Proceeding with
the change order amount and it's project
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contingency will be contingent upon final
City Attorney review of the Lake Forest /
SMC IGA.
City Council 12/6/21
Authorized the City Manager to execute
an IGA between the City and SMC for the
Burr Oak Storm Sewer Project, based upon
final City Attorney review, and approval of
a SMC project expense match in the
amount of $314,036 contingent upon the
receipt of grant funding
Public Works Committee 11/22/21
Reviewed & recommended approval of
draft IGA contingent upon City Attorney
final review & approval
Finance Committee 11/8/21 Project update memo provided
Finance Committee 11/9/20 Project update memo provided
Finance Committee 11/12/19 Included in the 5-Year Capital Plan
City Council Workshop 9/16/19 Review of updated storm sewer study
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: Bids for the Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Project were received and
opened on April 9, 2020. The City received a total of five bids.
The following is a summary of the bids received:
BIDDER BID AMOUNT
DiMeo Brothers, Inc. $4,552,026
A-Lamp Concrete Contractors, Inc. $4,566,527
Berger Excavating Contractors, Inc. $4,582,979
Bolder Contractors $4,803,575
DK Contractors $4,980,917
Staff is recommending the contract be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, Di Meo
Brothers, Inc. Di Meo Brothers has performed similar underground work for the City in the past
in a satisfactory manner. In addition, Di Meo Brothers has installed multiple Storm Traps
throughout the Chicagoland area and has provided favorable references for these projects.
It is staff’s opinion that solid experience installing Storm Traps and having a good working
relationship with the Storm Trap company, is crucial for the success of this project.
Once the City learned about the SMC grant opportunity, staff began having regular
conversations with DiMeo Brothers about extending their bid price. DiMeo Brothers is eager to
construct this project and has therefore extended their bid five different times since April, 2020.
Their current letter dated March 25, 2022 (attached on page 30 of this agenda packet),
extends their pricing through April 4, 2022. Staff continues to be in contact with DiMeo Brothers
and has explained that the City will execute the additional work once the final IGA between
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Lake Forest and SMC has been reviewed and approved by the City’s legal counsel. Staff
spoke with SMC staff on March 24 and were notified that SMC received a “Notice of State
Award” on March 23, approving the $30 million grant and authorizing reimbursement of all
project expenses dating back to October 1, 2021. SMC told City staff that they would like the
City to proceed with the project and that they expect to provide a draft IGA to the City by
mid-late April. This will be SMC’s first project with this grant and they anticipate having a
ground breaking ceremony in early May.
If approved by City Council this evening, the project is anticipated to begin in early May. An
update letter was sent to the Burr Oak residents and businesses on February 25, 2022 noting
that the City intends on proceeding with the project in spring, 2022. Understanding the current
status of the grant funding, staff began developing a comprehensive communication plan in
mid-December. The plan includes a project specific website with an option to allow for
immediate notification of any project updates, electronic sign boards, multiple letters, and
meetings with surrounding residents and businesses that will occur this month.
Has City staff obtained competitive pricing for proposed goods/services? YES
Below is an estimated summary of project budget:
FY2022 Funding Source Amount
Budgeted
Amount
Requested
Budgeted?
Y/N
Capital Fund
311-3703-478.78-21
(Base Amount)
$4,300,000
$4,286,564 Y
Capital Fund
311-3703-478.78-21
(Change Order)
$720,665 N*
* The construction overage (as well as a portion of the base amount), and the $314,036 SMC
administrative expense, will be funded from the SMC grant proceeds. If necessary, a
supplemental appropriation ordinance would be submitted for City Council approval at the
close of the fiscal year.
COUNCIL ACTION: Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement for Construction of
the Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Project to DiMeo Brothers, Inc. in the Base Amount of $3,896,876
Plus a 10% Contingency of $389,688. Contingent Upon Final Legal Counsel Approval of the
Lake Forest / Lake County Stormwater Management Commission Inter-Governmental
Agreement (SMC IGA hereafter), Approve a Change Order in the Amount of $655,150 Plus a
10% Contingency of $65,515 for a Total Not-to-Exceed Project Amount of $5,007,229
3. Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement for Construction Assistance
Services for the Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Project to GeWalt Hamilton Associates,
Inc. in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $40,250
PRESENTED BY: Michael Thomas, Director of Public Works (810-3540)
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PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: The Public Works Committee and City staff are requesting
City Council authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with GeWalt Hamilton
Associates, Inc. (GHA hereafter) to provide construction engineering assistance for the Burr
Oak area storm sewer project in an amount not-to-exceed $40,250.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: On November 3, 2021, City staff solicited proposals from
engineering firms to provide construction engineering services for the Burr Oak area storm
sewer project. Specifically, the engineering firm will review and approve all shop drawing
submittals, respond to contractor requests for plan and specification information, provide site
visits during construction, review and recommend change order requests, provide final
inspections of both the storm trap and pump station, and assist with placing the pump station
into service. These services are required regardless of the final scope of the Burr Oak Storm
Sewer project.
PROJECT REVIEW/RECOMMENDATIONS:
Reviewed Date Comments
Public Works Committee 3/3/22
Reviewed and recommended City
Council approval of construction
assistance services to GeWalt Hamilton
City Council 12/6/21
Authorized the City Manager to execute
an IGA between the City and SMC for the
Burr Oak Storm Sewer Project, based upon
final City Attorney review, and approval of
a SMC project expense match in the
amount of $314,036 contingent upon the
receipt of grant funding
Public Works Committee 11/22/21
Reviewed & recommended approval of
draft IGA contingent upon City Attorney
final review & approval
Finance Committee 11/8/21 Project update memo provided
Finance Committee 11/9/20 Project update memo provided
Finance Committee 11/12/19 Included in the 5-Year Capital Plan
City Council Workshop 9/16/19 Review of updated storm sewer study
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: Three engineering firms acquired the RFP package and all three
submitted proposals. The proposals were reviewed by a committee of staff members. The
following table summarizes the proposal amounts provided:
Company Name Proposal Amount
GeWalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. $40,250
Bleck Engineering Company, Inc. $49,795
Baxter & Woodman $64,960
In addition to being the least cost, GHA’s proposal best fulfills the construction assistance
needed for this project. GHA has designed Storm Trap projects and has a clear understanding
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of the correct installation and start-up requirements of the Storm Trap and pump station. As
GHA currently provides City Engineer services, they have reviewed the plans and
specifications multiple times during its design phase. They have also worked with the
proposed contractor on many projects throughout Lake County. Finally, the Project Manager
assigned to this project, recently retired as SMC’s Executive Director and has first-hand
knowledge of the project and SMC’s grant administrative expectations.
Has City staff obtained competitive pricing for proposed goods/services? Yes
Below is an estimated summary of project budget:
FY 2022 Funding Source Amount
Budgeted
Amount
Requested
Budgeted
Y/N
Capital Fund
311-3703-478.78-21
$4,300,000 $40,250 Y
COUNCIL ACTION: Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement for Construction
Assistance Services for the Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Project to GeWalt Hamilton Associates,
Inc. in an Amount Not-to-Exceed $40,250
5. ITEMS FOR OMNIBUS VOTE CONSIDERATION
1. Approval of March 7, 2022, City Council Meeting Minutes
A copy of the minutes can be found beginning on page 31
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of March 7 ,2022, City Council Meeting Minutes
2. Approval of the Check Register for the Period of February 26 – March 25, 2022
STAFF CONTACT: Elizabeth Holleb, Finance Director (847-810-3612)
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: City Code Section 38.02 sets forth payment procedures of the
City. The Director of Finance is to prepare a monthly summary of all warrants to be drawn on
the City treasury for the payment of all sums due from the City (including all warrants relating
to payroll and invoice payments) by fund and shall prepare a detailed list of invoice payments
which denotes the person to whom the warrant is payable. The warrant list detail of invoice
payments shall be presented for review to the Chairperson of the City Council Finance
Committee for review and recommendation. All items on the warrant list detail
recommended for payment by the Finance Committee Chairperson shall be presented in
summary form to the City Council for approval or ratification. Any member of the City Council
shall, upon request to the City Manager or Director of Finance, receive a copy of the warrant
list detail as recommended by the Finance Committee Chairperson. The City Council may
approve the warrant list as so recommended by the Finance Committee Chairperson by a
concurrence of the majority of the City Council as recorded through a roll call vote.
The Council action requested is to ratify the payments as summarized below. The associated
payroll and invoice payments have been released during the check register period noted.
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Following is the summary of warrants as recommended by the Finance Committee
Chairperson:
The sub-total labeled “All other Funds” includes $491,872 in Medical/Dental claim payments.
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of the Check Register for the Period of February 26 – March 25,
2022
3. Approval of a Resolution Reallocating 2022 Volume Cap to the Village of Buffalo
Grove, Illinois
STAFF CONTACT: Elizabeth Holleb, Finance Director (847-810-3612)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: Staff requests approval of a resolution reallocating the
City’s 2022 private activity bond volume cap to the Village of Buffalo Grove, Illinois for the
private activity bond clearinghouse (PABC) pool.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: The Federal Tax Reform Act of 1986 imposes a limit on the
aggregate amount of “tax exempt private activity” bonds (also known as volume cap) that
can be issued by a State. Pursuant to these federal regulations, the State of Illinois has
developed a formula by which the State ceiling is allocated among governmental units in the
State having authority to issue such bonds.
The Illinois Private Activity Bond Allocation Act provides that a home rule unit of government is
allocated an amount equal to $110 multiplied by its estimated population, which for Lake
Forest in calendar year 2022 is $2,131,690 (19,379 x $110). By May 1, 2022, the City must take
action to grant, reserve or transfer its allocation, or the amount is reserved by the Governor’s
Office for a pool. The City may transfer its allocation to any other home rule unit of
government, the State of Illinois or any agency of the State.
This year, the City has received one request (page 34) to transfer its volume cap, as follows:
Fund Invoice Payroll Total
101 General 805,548 1,678,999 2,484,547
501 Water & Sewer 70,692 195,193 265,885
220 Parks & Recreation 108,012 386,402 494,414
311 Capital Improvements 45,767 45,767
202 Motor Fuel Tax 4,282 4,282
230 Cemetery 23,913 29,714 53,627
210 Senior Resources 6,224 29,154 35,378
510 Deerpath Golf Course 10,467 2,973 13,439
601 Fleet 57,723 60,468 118,191
416 - 433 Debt Funds 312 312
248 Housing Trust 0
201 Park & Public Land 0
All other Funds 664,969 176,463 841,432
$1,797,908 $2,559,366 $4,357,273
Check Register for February 26 - March 25, 2022
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Organization Proposed Use Amount of Transfer Fee
Village of Buffalo Grove
(Lake County Partners)
Private Activity Bond
Clearinghouse
0.5% or $10,658.45*
* Paid upon issuance of bonds utilizing the allocated volume cap
Home rule units are not prohibited from charging a fee for transferring their cap. In prior years
when economic conditions were more favorable, home rule units were able to induce
developers to pay a higher transfer fee than that offered by Lake County Partners. In recent
years, however, fewer developers have sought the volume cap due to low interest rates and
declines in development activity.
Because the volume cap amount for most municipalities is too small to assist with eligible
projects, Lake County Partners created the Clearinghouse in 2000 as a way for Lake County
communities to pool their cap and make best use of the allocation locally. Lake County
Partners reports that in the past several years, they have seen little activity in the private
activity bond market. Since its inception, the clearinghouse has funded nearly $200 million in
local projects, including the construction of 360,000 square feet of new manufacturing space,
creation of 648 new manufacturing jobs, renovation of 1,600 multi-family dwelling units,
purchase of an estimated 251 homes by “first-time homebuyers”, expansion of a Montessori
School, and construction of a new solid waste disposal “cell”.
This is the 17th year under home rule status that the City has been allocated volume cap. The
City has transferred its volume cap to Buffalo Grove for the past fifteen (15) years. To date, fee
income of $8,574.78 has been received.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: Upon issuance of bonds utilizing the City’s volume cap, a transfer fee
payment of .5% would be due to the City. Should the entire 2022 allocation be utilized by the
pool, the City would receive $10,658.45.
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of a Resolution (page 35) Reallocating 2022 Volume Cap to the
Village of Buffalo Grove, Illinois.
4. Consideration of a Request to Waive the Fidelity Bond Requirement in Connection
with the School of St. Mary Holding a Raffle in The City of Lake Forest. (Approval by
Motion)
STAFF CONTACT: Margaret Boyer, City Clerk (847.810.3674)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: Staff requests City Council consideration of waiving the
fidelity bond requirement in connection with a proposed raffle from the School of St. Mary.
BACKGROUND: In January 2020 the City Council approved an Ordinance Amending Chapter
110, titled “Licenses and Miscellaneous” related to Raffles, to align these sections with recent
State of Illinois Legislation. Section 110.0149, J, allows the raffle manager designated by the
organization to seek a waiver of the bond requirement from the City Council.
At this time the School of St. Mary is requesting a waiver of the bond requirement and has
submitted a request. A copy of the request can be found beginning on page 37.
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BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: N/A
COUNCIL ACTION: Consideration of a Request to Waive the Fidelity Bond Requirement in
Connection with the School of St. Mary Holding a Raffle in The City of Lake Forest. (Approval
by Motion)
5. Consideration of an Ordinance Amending the City of Lake Forest City Code
Regarding the Class C-1 and C-3 Liquor Licenses (First reading and if appropriate
final approval)
STAFF CONTACT: Margaret Boyer, City Clerk, 847-810-3674
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: At the direction of the City’s Liquor Commissioner, Staff is
requesting consideration of an Ordinance amending the City’s Liquor Code to increase the
number of liquor licenses in the C-1 and C-3 license categories.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION: The Liquor Commissioner has received a request from the
current owners of the Peanut Gallery to operate in a new location located at 588 N. Western
Ave. The owners have requested a C-1 liquor license (general restaurant liquor license) and an
add-on C-3 liquor license that will allow outdoor service. The restaurant was previously located
at 950 N. Western Avenue.
As the Council is aware, the issuance of liquor licenses is under the purview of the City’s Liquor
Commissioner and the Mayor serves in that role. However, the City Code only authorizes a
specific number of liquor licenses and, historically, this number coincides with the current
number of licenses issued.
When new requests for liquor licenses are submitted, and after review by the Liquor
Commissioner and a determination that the Issuance of a license is appropriate, the City
Council is asked to consider an amendment to the Liquor Code to increase the number of
available licenses. In this case, the number of C-1 and C-3 liquor licenses will be increased by
one each to accommodate The Peanut Gallery. The proposed ordinance increasing the
number of Class C-1 and C-3 liquor licenses can be found beginning on page 38.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact of adding additional licenses in the C-1 and C-3
categories would have a positive impact on liquor license revenues.
COUNCIL ACTION: Consideration of an Ordinance Amending the City of Lake Forest City Code
to increase the number of Licenses available in the Class C-1 and C-3 liquor license categories
(First reading and if appropriate final approval).
6. Award of the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Proposal for Dialogue Newsletter
Printing Services to Lake County Press, Inc., in the Amount of $40,180 and a
contingency in the amount of $1,800, for a total of $41,980
STAFF CONTACT: Dana Olson, Communications Manager, (847-810-3672)
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PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: City staff request awarding the lowest responsive and
responsible proposal for professional services related to the printing and mailing of the City’s
Dialogue newsletter to Lake County Press, Inc., in the Amount of $40,180 and a roughly 4.5%
contingency in the amount of $1,800, for a grand total of $41,980.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: The City of Lake Forest regularly contracts with outside service
providers to perform professional printing services for various projects including the quarterly
Dialogue Newsletter, Recreation Seasonal Brochure, and the Dickinson Hall News Brief, which
are produced and delivered throughout the community.
The Dialogue Newsletter is print publication that is produced quarterly and includes a winter,
spring, summer and fall edition. The newsletter is printed and delivered to every home, office,
business, and post office box within the corporate limits of Lake Forest. Approximately 8,900
newsletters are distributed each quarter and available to view online.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: This past winter, the City issued a request for proposal (“RFP”) for
professional printing and mailing services for the City Dialogue Community-Wide Newsletter,
which was released to more than a dozen professional printers in the area, posted on the
City’s website, and published in the Lake County News Sun. The intent of the solicitation was to
identify a printing partner to engage in a three-year professional services agreement for
printing services, beginning with FY2023. The City received three responses and a selection
committee, comprised of City staff, was formed to review them for responsiveness and
compliance.
Has competitive pricing been obtained for proposed goods/services? Yes
The following is a summary of the three proposals received:
Company Name Base Proposal
Amount (4 issues)
Burke Printing $26,580
James W. Smith $33,688
Lake County Press, Inc. $40,180
Per the specifications listed in the RFP, the City requested respondents to submit pricing
proposals on a per issue basis. The proposal amounts above reflect the total base costs for
printing and delivery of four issues of the Dialogue for FY2023. They do not include any
additional work, including edits or amendments that may be required prior to printing. In
addition to pricing, the City requested proposers submit company information and related
experience, technical expertise, and qualifications regarding printing services the company
provides. Additionally, sample printing work done to the same specifications in the solicitation
was requested from each proposer. Reviewing samples of similar work is important in this
process specifically, as a redesign of the community-wide newsletter was recently completed,
and City staff wanted assurance that the firm demonstrated the technical capacity to deliver
a product of equal quality.
After careful review of the responses, the City did not find Burke Printing or James W. Smith to
be responsive or compliant to the solicitation’s specifications. Neither of these companies
provided the requested background company information or samples of work that were
requested by the solicitation deadline. It should be noted that due to uncertainties in printing
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supply commodities, and current supply chain challenges, some companies opted not to
participate in the solicitation. Even those who responded indicated they could only provide
one year of pricing for the project. While City staff considered rejecting all proposals for this
project, a new contract is needed to stay on track with the newsletter’s current printing
schedule for the summer publication.
It is for these reasons that City staff is recommending that Lake County Press, Inc. be
recommended for a one-year contract to provide professional printing services for Dialogue
Newsletter in FY2023. Lake County Press, Inc. has been providing these services for the past
several years, and recently completed a three-year agreement with the City for Dialogue
Printing services. This vendor has been reliable and transparent with the City and has
maintained the quality and consistency in Dialogue printing throughout the City’s recent
redesign process.
As stated, the base proposal does not include additional fees or expenses that may be
related to proof changes or edits needed prior to printing and delivery. Staff is requesting $450
of contingency funding per issue to cover unanticipated expenses which equates to roughly
4.5% of the contract price per issue.
Below is an estimated summary of Project budget:
FY2023 Funding Source Amount
Budgeted
Amount
Requested
Budgeted?
Y/N
City Council – Printing/Stationary
101-1101-460.60-13 $36,500 $36,500 Yes
City Council –
Communication/Marketing
101-1101-454.54-21
$106,230 $5,480 Yes
Due to the limited proposal responses the City received, staff will be reissuing the RFP next
spring. Since the proposal exceeds $25,000 for the year, City Council approval is required for
the contract.
COUNCIL ACTION: Award of the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Proposal for Dialogue
Newsletter Printing Services to Lake County Press, Inc., in the Amount of $40,180 and a
contingency in the amount of $1,800, for a total of $41,980
7. Approve the Purchase of Mobile Radios for the Fire Department from state bid
vendor Motorola Solutions in the Amount of $100,793.86, of which $86,137.30 is Grant
Funded
STAFF CONTACT: Fire Chief Pete Siebert, 847.810.3864
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: Staff requests City Council grant authorization to purchase
19 Motorola Mobile radios, installation and necessary accessories. The digital Motorola radios
will replace current radio’s that have diminishing replacement parts availability, are past
standard end-of-life usage capabilities and provide little-to-no interoperable communications.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: The Lake Forest Fire Department is currently a member of the Lake
Shore Radio Network (LSRN), an intergovernmental consortium operating and maintaining a
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30+ year old VHF radio communications and tower system. The system transmission quality has
degraded over the years, necessitating many electronic patches and work-a-rounds, and has
now reached the point where several member communities have experienced multiple issues
regarding the quality of the radio system operation. A multitude of LSRN tests, checks, studies,
and equipment adjustments have been attempted system-wide to improve transmission and
reception quality without success.
Most post-incident debriefings and critiques note that radio communications are cited by the
Incident Commander and other responders as the major issue affecting the safety and
effectiveness of personnel at the incident. This statement is supported by the following reports
and standards: USFA-TR099 – Recommendations for Improving Firefighter Communications;
NIOSH 2009-100 – NIOSH Communications Report; NIOSH Firefighter Radio Communications
Final Report 2003; NFPA 1500 – Section 8.2.1; NFPA 1561 – Section 6.1.6; NFPA 1221 – Section
9.3.6. In addition, the current radios do not comply with the recommendations of the Illinois
State Communications Plan regarding available operational channels. The lack of available
frequencies has led to ineffective on-scene communication as operations have had to be
adjusted to allow for reassignment of frequencies. The Illinois Statewide Interoperability
Executive Committee has recognized the P25 digital interoperability standard as the digital
radio standard for public safety within the State. The current LFFD radios are analog and do
not meet the SIEC standard. With funding from this grant, we can eliminate that weak link in
our functional effectiveness and interoperability.
Improved Coverage: Currently, there are radio signal coverage gaps in buildings that
are frequently visited in the community by public safety as well as areas along the
bluffs, beaches and ravines. With the assistance of Glenview Dispatch, radios were
tested by Lake Forest Fire Department staff with a noticeable improvement.
Interoperability:
The compromised ability of Lake Forest FD in communicating directly with Lake Forest
PD in the future, if we stay with our current radio system, would be ineffective, inefficient
and constitute serious officer and public safety issues. The two departments routinely
work together on incidents. The new mobile radios will also enhance communications
on calls for mutual aid.
Replace Aging Units: Some of our current VHF Mobile radios have reached end-of-life
operating parameters, been discontinued, do not meet new NFPA standards, have
diminishing access to spare parts inventory, and require maintenance that is no longer
provided by Motorola. Replacing the obsolete units with a new radio allows for more
flexibility and future programming options.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT:
Has City staff obtained competitive pricing for the proposed goods/services? NO
If no, indicate the specific exception or waiver requested:
Administrative Directive 3-5, Section 6.1D – Government Joint Purchase
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Below is an estimated summary of Project budget:
FY2023 Funding Source Account Number Amount
Budgeted
Amount
Requested
Budgeted?
Y/N
Emergency Telephone
Fund
205-7552-475.75-18 $101,000 $100,793.86 Y
* In addition to the purchase of the radios, installation costs are estimated at $16,091.25,
resulting in a total cost of $116,885.11, compared to a total budget in FY23 of $117,000. The
Fire Department was successful in obtaining an Assistance to Firefighters Grant that will fund
$86,137.30 of the radio purchase, resulting in a net City expense of $30,747.81.
COUNCIL ACTION: Approve the Purchase of Mobile Radios for the Fire Department from state
bid vendor Motorola Solutions in the amount of $100,793.86, of which $86,137.30 is Grant
Funded
8. Approval to Award a Three-Year Contract to First Student for Recreation Department
Program and CROYA Bussing Services.
STAFF CONTACT: Anthony Anaszewicz, Athletics Program Manager (847-810-3945)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: The Parks & Recreation Board and staff recommends
approval to award a three-year contract for Recreation Department program and CROYA
bussing service to First Student.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: The City of Lake Forest currently has two departments, Parks &
Recreation and CROYA that utilize various bussing services for programming needs. Under the
City’s financial policies and to lower operational costs for these various City Departments, the
bus transportation needs were put through the formal bid process in February 2022 for a three-
year bussing contract.
The City of Lake Forest’s bussing needs includes the usage of school busses throughout the
year by the Parks & Recreation Department for summer camps and various other programs
and events. All Stars & Beyond Day Camp, McCormick Day Camp, and TWIGS Day Camp
feature daily and/or weekly shuttles to and from Forest Park Beach and Lake Forest High
School for swimming as well as weekly field trips to various locations around the north shore.
Other programs including Dance and Squash also utilize bussing for transportation to meets,
competitions and performances. CROYA uses school busses for monthly field trips and retreats
throughout the year for middle school and high school students as part of their program
curriculum.
Public notice to solicit bids was provided on February 8, 2022, with a bid opening date of
February 18, 2022. The chosen timetable was driven by the summer camp schedule to
prepare for the upcoming camp programs. Staff only received two bids with the pricing in the
table below.
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RECREATION 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
First Student $ 24,087 $ 82,208 $ 87,777
Positive Connection $ 59,955 $157,950 $165,746
The larger increase shown between year one and two is due to the inclusion of route bussing
for our camps. At this time, it isn’t determined if that service will be provided, however staff
wanted to include it for pricing for year’s two and three.
CROYA 2022-2023 2023-2024 2024-2025
First Student $ 5,890 $ 6,080 $ 6,270
Positive Connection $ 9,988.50 $ 10,500 $ 11,025
Staff recommends awarding the contract to First Student based on low bid price. First Student
was our bus service provider prior to 2008 and provided professional service to our families.
Their performance met City standards in the past and staff is confident they will do so over the
term of the contract.
PROJECT REVIEW/RECOMMENDATIONS:
Reviewed Date Comments
Park & Recreation Board 3/15/2022 Approval of staff recommendation
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for camp bussing is a Parks & Recreation Department
program expense and is budgeted in the programs annual operating budget. This cost of
bussing is covered by program fees associated with the various programs. Funding for CROYA
also comes out of their annual operating budget. Pricing received is based on estimated
usage and could fluctuate based on actual program enrollment.
Staff received two (2) bids for the annual program bus service. For year 2 and 3 of proposed
pricing, budgets will be built around bid quotes during the budget process for each remaining
fiscal year.
Has City staff obtained competitive pricing for proposed goods/services? Yes
Below is an estimated summary of Project budget:
FY2023 Funding Source Amount
Budgeted
Amount
Requested
Budgeted?
Y/N
Recreation Operating Budget $ 25,890 $ 24,087 Y
CROYA Operating Budget $ 10,000 $ 5,890 Y
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval to Award a Three-Year Contract to First Student for Recreation
Department Program and CROYA Bussing Services
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9. Approval to Award the Forest Park Boardwalk Project Design to Hey and Associates,
Inc. in the Amount of $60,000.-
STAFF CONTACT: Chuck Myers, Superintendent of Parks & Forestry, 810-3565
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: Staff requests City Council award of the Forest Park
Boardwalk Project Design proposal to Hey and Associates, Inc. in the amount of $60,000.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: The 2019 Parks and Recreation Department 10-Year Strategic
Master Plan identified “Improved Vehicular and Pedestrian Access to Forest Park Beach” as a
priority for the department. The original boardwalk built in 1987 provided walking access down
to the beach from Forest Park and was a popular feature in the park. The boardwalk provided
beautiful scenic views and access to the beach for many years.
The boardwalk was closed in the summer of 2018 due to structural concerns to the boardwalk
caused by erosion and shifting of the bluff. Further evaluation concluded that the boardwalk
was no longer structurally safe and as a result it was removed later that year. Since the
removal of the boardwalk, staff has received numerous comments and concerns about the
need for a safe walking path to the beach. Staff has continued to observe pedestrians using
the north and south beach access roads, which is prohibited and is a major safety concern.
The project was added to the City’s CIP as a project designated as a priority 5, projects for
which outside funding would be needed to proceed. Staff has been seeking a funding
opportunity for the boardwalk project and at this time there are donors that are interested in
contributing to the project. The new boardwalk will provide a safer pedestrian walkway to the
beach and will be ADA compliant. To move forward with this project, construction documents
are needed so that funding can be secured, and the boardwalk can be bid out.
On April 19, 2021, City Council approved Hey and Associates for a bluff stabilization design
and they are now in the final stages of that design work. Staff anticipates the design work and
construction documents will be complete in May of 2022 and the bluff stabilization project will
be released for bid for construction early in the summer of 2022. This will allow for construction
to begin in the fall of 2022 and staff would like to see the boardwalk built in conjunction with
the bluff stabilization project. This will provide better pricing for the project and limit the
disturbance time for park users.
Hey and Associates performed preliminary design work for the addition of a boardwalk
(included on page 42) and determined that it could be built at the south end of the park
once the bluff has been stabilized. The boardwalk entrance would start near the upper south
parking lot in the same location as the original boardwalk, however it would not follow the
same descent pattern down to the beach. The new boardwalk would crisscross down the bluff
in a much shorter span from north to south and would bring pedestrians further north on the
beach, to the area near the playground. Based on staff input for the boardwalk design, Hey
and Associates also provided a preliminary opinion of cost of approximately $950,000 to
construct the boardwalk.
Bidding the two related projects together will provide cost efficiencies by allowing for
preparation of only one bid packet for the overall bluff project. If bid independently, a
separate set of full drawings will need to be created and additional coordination will likely be
necessary because of how the two projects will interface. Additionally, bidding the projects
separately will not guarantee the same contractor, which could present logistical issues, and
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would most likely result in a measurably higher cost for construction then if the work is done
with the stabilization work.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: The cost of design and construction documents that will enable the
project to be bid with the bluff stabilization project is $60,000. Due to Hey and Associates
extensive knowledge of the bluff and their work on the bluff stabilization design, staff
recommends that the City award Hey & Associates a contract for boardwalk construction
design that will enable the City to include it with the larger bluff stabilization project bid in the
summer of 2022.
Has competitive pricing been obtained for proposed goods/services? No
If no, indicate the specific exception requested:
Administrative Directive 3-5, Section 9.0K – Existing Relationship
Below is an estimated summary of Project budget:
FY2022 Funding Source Amount
Budgeted
Amount
Requested
Budgeted?
Y/N
224-8026-476.76-56
Special Recreation Fund $60,000 $60,000 Y
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval to Award the Forest Park Boardwalk Project Design to Hey and
Associates, Inc. in the Amount of $60,000
10. Award of Bid for the Public Safety Fire Garage Roof Replacement Project to the
Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder Riddiford Roofing and Authorize the City
Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount of $378,636 to Include a 10%
Contingency in the Amount of $38,864 for a Total of $416,500
STAFF CONTACT: Jim Lockefeer, Assistant to the Director of Public Works (810-3542)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: The Public Works Committee and City staff requests City
Council award of bid for the Public Safety Fire Garage Roof Replacement Project to the
lowest responsive and responsible bidder Riddiford Roofing and authorize the City Manager to
execute an agreement in the amount of $378,636 to include a 10% contingency in the
amount of $38,864 for a total of $416,500.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: The Public Safety Building Roof is comprised of three major areas;
the Fire apparatus bay, the south Police garage, and the administrative roof. This project is
specifically replacing the Fire apparatus bay and south Police garage portions of roof. These
areas total to approximately $13,500 square feet which is approximately 50% of the total
facility roof area. Originally installed in 1999, the Fire apparatus bay and south Police garage
roof areas are at the end of their twenty-year estimated useful life and need to be replaced.
This replacement project was identified as a recommended priority replacement by recently
completed Public Safety Building facility condition assessment and by the City’s roof
consulting firm, Illinois Roofing Consulting Associates (IRCA). In addition, Building Maintenance
staff has had to complete numerous leak repairs over the past three years. At this time, the
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remaining administrative roof does not need to be replaced. Originally installed in 2005, the
administrative roof is in fair condition with approximately four to five years of remaining
estimated useful life.
The replacement roof will feature a membrane modified bitumen system. This highly durable
system tends to be an industry standard for flat rooftops. Modified bitumen systems have a
proven roofing industry track record of low maintenance and high performance. Many current
City building flat roofs are a membrane modified bitumen system. This replacement project will
be specifically supported by a twenty-year manufacturer’s product warranty.
PROJECT REVIEW/RECOMMENDATIONS:
Reviewed Date Comments
Finance Committee 3/14/2022 Reviewed Budget Increase Request
Memo
Public Works Committee 3/3/2022 Reviewed and Recommended
Approval
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: On January 27, 2022, City staff and IRCA initiated a public bid process
for the Public Safety Fire Garage Roof Replacement. On February 2, 2022, a mandatory pre-
bid meeting was held at the project site with four firms in attendance. On February 15, 2022,
the public bid closed and in total, three bids were received as outlined below.
Has City staff obtained competitive pricing for proposed goods/services? Yes
Firm Name Dollar Amount Bid
YAD Construction $249,050
Riddiford Roofing $378,636
L. Marshall, Inc. $383,000
Similar to all bid processes, City staff, supported by IRCA, vetted all bids received to ensure
bids were both responsive and responsible. YAD Construction’s bid was found to be
unresponsive. YAD Construction’s bid was deemed unresponsive due to failing to properly
submit the required manufacturer’s affidavit of applicator approval form. This important form
attests that the roofing contractor is approved and qualified to install manufacturer’s modified
bitumen product. It also confirms that the manufacturer will honor the twenty-year product
warranty. IRCA did contact the manufacturer directly and confirmed that YAD Construction
had executed the form without the manufacturer’s consent. Riddiford Roofing’s bid was
deemed by both responsive and responsible. Riddiford Roofing properly submitted all the
required bid materials and has significant positive project experiences and references in
completing modified bitumen roof projects.
Below is an estimated summary of Project budget:
FY2023 Funding Source Amount Budgeted Amount
Requested
Budgeted?
Y/N
Capital Improvement
Fund
311-1503-467.67-10
$420,000 $416,500 Y
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COUNCIL ACTION: Award of Bid for the Public Safety Fire Garage Roof Replacement Project
to the Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bidder Riddiford Roofing and Authorize the City
Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount of $378,636 to Include a 10% Contingency
in the Amount of $38,864 for a Total of $416,500
11. Award of the Low Bid for the 2022 Patching & Resurfacing Project to Peter Baker &
Son Co. and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount
Not to Exceed $850,000
STAFF CONTACT: Byron Kutz, P.E., Superintendent of Engineering (810-3555)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: The Public Works Committee and staff request City Council
approval of the Lake Forest share of the Joint 2022 Annual Patching & Resurfacing to Peter
Baker & Son in the not to exceed amount of $850,000.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: Each year engineering staff develops the resurfacing program
based on visual inspections, pavement testing, and input from Staff and Council. The results
culminate into a 3-yr annual pavement rehabilitation program identifying the streets to be
resurfaced each year.
City staff has previously briefed the City Council on Municipal Partnership Initiative (MPI), a
program that takes advantage of economies of scale by securing low bid prices among
neighboring municipalities who bid similar projects each year. This year, the City joined forces
with Lake Bluff to have a joint bid for the Annual Street Resurfacing & Asphalt Patching
Program.
In 2022, the City plans to resurface approximately 1.2 center-lane miles of streets and 3,000
square-yard of patches. The streets to be resurfaced are:
Street From To
MILLBURNE RD OLD MILL RD SHAWFORD WY
RIDGE RD MELLODY RD RT 60
CONWAY RD TELEGRAPH RD STABLEWOOD LN
ALDEN LN GREEN BAY RD TARA LN
Upon approval of the contract, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff will meet with the contractor
separately to obtain tentative schedules for each community. The schedule is anticipated
from early May to late July. Upon confirming the start date of the project, a letter will be sent
to residents and businesses within the limits of the project two weeks prior to start of
construction. The City’s website, under “Construction Updates”, will also provide details on the
construction schedule.
PROJECT REVIEW/RECOMMENDATIONS:
Reviewed Date Comments
Public Works Committee 3/3/2022 Reviewed & Recommended City
Council Approval
Finance Committee 11/8/2021 Included with FY ’23 Capital Plan
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BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: The project was placed out to bid in early-February with a
subsequent bid opening on February 24, 2022. Six contractors picked up plans, with a total of
three bids received. The bid prices consist of bid quantities that are to be completed by both
municipalities, Lake Forest, and Lake Bluff as part of their respective resurfacing and patching
programs. Both municipalities are scheduled to award their respective contracts in Spring
2022. City engineering staff will oversee the contractor in Lake Forest, and work with the
Communications Manager to ensure progress updates are provided weekly to the public.
Has City staff obtained competitive pricing for proposed goods/services? Yes
The following is a summary of the three bids received:
Company Name Bid Amount
Peter Baker & Son Co. $854,668.59
Schroeder Asphalt Services, Inc. $938,966.32
Chicagoland Paving Contractors, Inc $982,813.09
The low bidder, Peter Baker & Son Co., has worked for the City in the past and the work was
deemed satisfactory to City staff. The Lake Forest share of the bid from Peter Baker in the
amount of $854,668.59 covers all the resurfacing, and patching quantities included in the bid
documents. Staff recommends reducing the scope of pothole patching by $4,668.59 to fit
within the $850,000 budget. This is a unit-price contract in which the contractor is only paid for
the actual quantity of work performed.
Below is an estimated summary of the project budget:
FY 2023 Funding
Source
Total Amount
Budgeted Amount Requested Budgeted
Y/N
Capital Fund
311-3703-467.67-11 $750,000 $750,000 Y
Capital Fund
311-3703-467.67-32 $100,000 $100,000 Y
COUNCIL ACTION: Award of the Low Bid for the 2022 Patching & Resurfacing Project to Peter
Baker & Son Co. and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount
Not to Exceed $850,000
12. Consideration of an Ordinance Approving a Recommendation from the Historic
Preservation Commission. (First Reading and if Desired by the City Council, Final
Approval)
STAFF CONTACT: Catherine Czerniak,
Director of Community Development (810-3504)
The following recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission is presented to the City
Council for consideration as part of the Omnibus Agenda.
550 Hathaway Circle – The Commission recommended approval of a building scale variance
to allow construction of an additional garage bay and expanded second floor space. Two
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neighboring property owners submitted letters in support of the petition. This petition was also
considered by the Zoning Board of Appeals as detailed in the following agenda item.
(Approved 4 – 0)
The Ordinance approving the petition, with key exhibits attached, is included in the Council’s
packet beginning on page 43. The Ordinance with complete exhibits is available for review in the
Community Development Department.
COUNCIL ACTION: If determined to be appropriate by the City Council, waive first reading
and grant final approval of the Ordinance approving the building scale variance as
recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission
13. Consideration of Ordinances Approving Recommendations from the Zoning Board of
Appeals. (First Reading, and if Desired by the City Council, Final Approval)
STAFF CONTACT: Catherine Czerniak,
Director of Community Development (810-3504)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: The following recommendations from the Zoning Board of
Appeals are presented to the City Council for consideration as part of the Omnibus Agenda.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
550 Hathaway Circle – The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval of a rear yard
variance to allow construction of a garage addition with a partial second floor and a side yard
variance to allow installation of an air conditioning unit in the setback areas. Two letters in support
of the petition were submitted by neighboring property owners. Approval of a building scale
variance was recommended by the Historic Preservation Commission as detailed in the previous
agenda item. (Board vote: 7-0, approved)
471 Illinois Road – The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval of a lot-in-depth setback
variance to allow construction of two single story additions and installation of air conditioning units in
the setback areas. Four letters in support of the petition were submitted by neighboring property
owners. (Board vote: 7-0, approved)
983 Maplewood Road – The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval of a variance to
allow a replacement residence to be located within the lot-in-depth setback in a similar footprint to
the existing house which will be demolished. The Historic Preservation Commission issued a
Certificate of Appropriateness approving the demolition of the existing house and approving the
design aspects of the new residence. No public testimony was presented to the Board on this
petition. (Board vote: 7-0, approved)
50 June Terrace – The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval of variances to allow a
replacement residence and attached garage to be located within the front and rear yard setback
areas and recognized the nonconforming condition of a portion of the existing driveway which will
remain partially within the side yard setback. Correspondence was received from two neighboring
property owners stating support for the project and expressing concern about construction traffic.
The Board required that a construction vehicle and materials staging plan be submitted to staff for
review with direction to minimize congestion from construction traffic to the extent possible. This
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petition was also considered by the Building Review Board as detailed in the following agenda item.
(Board vote: 7-0, approved)
612 Woodland Road – The Zoning Board of Appeals recommended approval of a variance to allow
dormer additions and a single story addition to encroach slightly into the steep slope setback
generally consistent with the siting of the existing house. The Board acknowledged that the City
Engineer reviewed the plans and recommended support of the variance. The Historic Preservation
Commission issued a Certificate of Appropriateness approving the design aspects of this project. No
public testimony was submitted on this petition. (Board vote: 7-0, approved)
The Ordinances approving the petitions as recommended by the Zoning Board of Appeals, with key
exhibits attached, are included in the Council packet beginning on page 55. The Ordinances,
complete with all exhibits, are available for review in the Community Development Department.
COUNCIL ACTION: If determined to be appropriate by the City Council, waive first reading
and grant final approval of the Ordinances approving the petitions in accordance with the
Zoning Board of Appeals’ recommendations.
14. Consideration of Ordinances Approving Recommendations from the Building Review
Board. (First Reading, and if Desired by the City Council, Final Approval)
STAFF CONTACT: Catherine Czerniak,
Director of Community Development (810-3504)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: The following recommendations from the Building Review Board
are presented to the City Council for consideration as part of the Omnibus Agenda.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
383 Illinois Road – The Building Review Board recommended approval of a new front porch and
other alterations on the front elevation. No public testimony was presented to the Board on this
petition. (Board vote: 6-0, approved)
242 Ahwahnee Lane – The Building Review Board recommended approval of building scale
variance to allow the addition of a rear screen porch. No public testimony was presented to the
Board on this petition. (Board vote: 6-0, approved)
50 June Terrace – The Building Review Board recommended approval of demolition of the existing
house and approval of a replacement duplex residence. Correspondence was received from two
neighboring property owners stating support for the petition. The Zoning Board of Appeals also
recommended approval of this petition as detailed in the previous agenda item. (Board vote: 6-0,
approved)
405 Oak Knoll Drive – The Building Review Board recommended approval of a new residence on a
vacant lot in the Oak Knoll Woodlands subdivision. No public testimony was presented to the Board
on this petition. (Board vote 6-0, approved)
455 Oak Knoll Drive – The Building Review Board recommended approval of a new residence on a
vacant lot in the Oak Knoll Woodlands subdivision. No public testimony was presented to the Board
on this petition. (Board vote 7-0, approved)
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The Ordinances approving the petitions as recommended by the Building Review Board, with key
exhibits attached, are included in the Council packet beginning on page 93. The Ordinances,
complete with all exhibits, are available for review in the Community Development Department.
COUNCIL ACTION: If determined to be appropriate by the City Council, waive first reading
and grant final approval of the Ordinances approving the petitions in accordance with the
Building Review Board’s recommendations.
15. Consideration of Recommendations from the Plan Commission and Building Review
Board in Support of Adaptive Reuse and Expansion of an Existing Office Building at
1401 N. Western Avenue for Multi-Family Residential Use (Waive First Reading and
Grant Final Approval of Ordinances)
STAFF CONTACT : Catherine Czerniak, Director of Community Development
(810-3504)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: The Council is asked to consider recommendations from
the Plan Commission and Building Review Board in support of changes to an existing office
building to allow adaptive reuse of the building for multi-family residential units.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION: The 1401 N. Western Avenue building is located at the north
end of the City’s Central Business District. This area is characterized by a mix of multi-family
development and a limited amount of small scale office, retail, and service businesses. The
property in this petition is located on the east side of Western Avenue, immediately adjacent
to the railroad tracks to the east. The property is developed with a two story office building,
designed in a contemporary style, built in the late 1970’s. The area is a mix of one, two and
three story buildings.
The contract purchaser proposes to adaptively reuse and expand the existing office building
at 1401 N. Western Avenue for nine multi-family residential rental units. The footprint of the
building will remain the same except for the front façade which will be infilled to eliminate the
angle element, a third floor will be added, and the exterior materials will be updated.
A Special Use Permit is required for the project to authorize a Central Business District (CBD)
Planned Development. The CBD Planned Development provisions in the Zoning Code offer
incentives, increased square footage and flexibility around other requirements of the zoning
district, to encourage desired uses and appropriate development and redevelopment in the
business district.
The Plan Commission recommended approval of a Special Use Permit to allow a floor area
ratio of up to 1.0 as provided for in the B-2 zoning district and flexibility to landbank a small
portion of the site for future parking, if needed, rather than require build out the additional
parking spaces now. The Plan Commission report is included at the end of the Council packet
and provides more information on the proposed development. After conducting a public
hearing on February 9th and March 9th, the Commission voted 5 to 0 to recommend approval
of the Special Use Permit to the City Council. Several community members spoke in support of
the petition noting that it could encourage investment in other buildings in the area and will
add residents to support the nearby business district.
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The Building Review Board voted 6 to 0 to recommend approval of the design aspects of the
development including the addition of a third floor, a height variance to allow the third floor
to exceed the 35 foot height limitation by two feet two feet alterations to the front façade
and updating of exterior materials.
The Ordinances approving the Special Use Permit and the design aspects of the building are
included at the end of the Council packet.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: The proposed project is expected to increase the property value and
will generate building permit and impact fees. The adaptive reuse of the building for
residential units will further the goal of adding to the diversity of housing options close to the
City’s Central Business District.
COUNCIL ACTION: If determined to be appropriate by the City Council, waive first reading
and grant final approval of a Special Use Permit for a CBD Planned Development as provided
for in the B-2 zoning district and as recommended by the Plan Commission.
AND
If determined to be appropriate by the City Council, waive first reading and grant final
approval of an ordinance approving the design aspects of the addition and alterations to the
building at 1401 N. Western Avenue.
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of the Fifteen (15) omnibus items as presented.
6. OLD BUSINESS
7. NEW BUSINESS
1. Consideration of a Recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board in
Support of Improvement of the Athletic Fields at Deerpath Park with Artificial Turf
Fields and a Request for Authorization to Proceed with Next Steps to Implement the
Recommendation.
PRESENTED BY: Sally Swarthout, Director- Parks, Recreation, and Forestry (847-810-3942)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: On March 15, 2022, the Parks and Recreation Board voted
5 to 1 to support improvement of the athletic fields at Deerpath Park with artificial turf. City
Council consideration of the Board’s recommendation and authorization to proceed with the
necessary steps to implement the recommendation is requested.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: In 2019, the Friends of Lake Forest Parks and Recreation
Foundation provided funding to support a community-wide effort to the Comprehensive Parks
Master Plan (“the Master Plan”). Based on community input gathered through surveys,
stakeholder meetings, and individual interviews, the updated Plan which was endorsed by the
Parks and Recreation Board and accepted by the City Council, identified community priorities
related to parks and recreation facilities of all kinds. One of the top priorities identified was to
develop an athletic field complex with artificial turf to improve playability of the fields and
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increase opportunities for local youth, particularly given the increasing frequency of significant
rainfall events. The Parks and Recreation Board and City staff have taken various steps to
conduct thorough due diligence around this priority and have made significant efforts to seek
public input, respond to questions, conduct research and consider options.
ACTIVITY TO DATE: The table below summarizes activities and actions to date that have taken
place in furtherance of implementing one of the priorities identified in the Master Plan,
development of an athletic field complex with artificial turf fields.
Review Body or Activity Date Comments
Parks and Recreation Board
City Council 2019 Approval of updated Master Plan
Athletic Field Feasibility Study 2020 Assessed current usage and conditions
City Council Workshop July 2021 High level review of improvement options
for Deerpath Park
Community Survey Fall 2021 Completed by 730 residents
Results included in packet, page 137
Community Engagement
Session
December
2021 60 attendees
Summary included in packet, page 139
Community Engagement
Session and Online Comment
Form
February
2022 120 attendees and 88 comment forms
Summary included in packet, page 145
Parks and Recreation Board March
2022
Recommendation approved.
Staff memo to Parks and Recreation
Board included in packet, page 154
OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND EVALUATION CRITERIA: Throughout the study process, four overall
options were considered.
Maintain the status quo with respect to the conditions and maintenance of the athletic
fields.
Reconstruct the athletic fields with improved natural grass conditions.
Reconstruct the athletic fields with a synthetic turf playing surface.
Reconstruct the fields with a mix of natural and synthetic playing surfaces (a hybrid
approach).
During the public process, it was acknowledged that each of the options offers pros and cons.
The Parks and Recreation Board’s challenge was to evaluate, based on information and
feedback provided during the public process, which option best meets the long-term needs of
the community. Criteria for evaluating each option began to take shape based on the results
of the survey. These criteria were refined, expanded and ranked by residents during the
Community Engagement Sessions. As noted above, additional detail compiled from the
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survey and the Engagement Sessions is included in the Council’s packet. In summary, the ten
evaluation criteria identified through the public process and the ranking of those criteria is
provided below with the “number ones” being the highest community priorities based on the
input received from residents.
1. Maximize field playability
1. Player safety
1. Maximize field usage and condition
4. Player/user group expectations
5. Operational Efficiencies
6. Environmental Sustainability
7. Parking availability and traffic
7. Enhanced/improved on site amenities
9. Financial/operational cost
10. Economic development opportunity
AREAS OF FOCUS AND CONCLUSIONS: The community engagement process revealed that
there was almost unanimous agreement that improved athletic fields are needed in the
community. The primary users of the Deerpath Park athletic fields, which are conveniently
located near the Recreation Center and Deerpath Middle School, are Lake Forest Parks and
Recreation program participants, Deer Path Middle School students, and local athletic
organizations.
In response to questions about artificial turf, City staff contacted representatives of 13
communities including representatives of municipalities, park districts and schools, including
local representatives from Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest College and Lake Forest
Academy all of which have artificial turf fields. A detailed summary of the feedback received
is included in the Council packet beginning on page 161. In summary, those contacted
expressed satisfaction with the artificial turf fields from performance, playability, maintenance,
and safety perspectives. Of interest, two communities with strong environmental sustainability
programs, the Village of Oak Park and the City of Evanston, recently installed synthetic turf
fields to meet community needs. Opportunities to incorporate sustainable techniques and
approaches can be incorporated into the engineering and design of artificial turf fields.
Based on preliminary cost analysis completed by Gewalt Hamilton Associates, a professional
civil engineering firm with experience developing athletic sports complexes, the long-term cost
comparison of the various options, natural turf fields, artificial turf fields, and a mix of the two,
appears to be similar when factoring both upfront capital investments and recurring operating
and maintenance costs. A preliminary financial analysis is included in the Council packet on
page 170. Refined cost estimates will be developed as part of the design engineering
process.
Following the public review process, the Parks and Recreation Board concluded that
reconstruction of the athletic fields at Deerpath Park with a synthetic turf playing surface is the
approach that best responds to the priority identified in the Comprehensive Parks Master Plan
to provide improved athletic fields. It was also the option that best aligns with the aggregate
community priorities as identified by residents though the City’s robust public engagement
processes. Synthetic turf fields will maximize playability, significantly reduce cancellation of
practices, can be achieved over the long-term for a cost reasonably similar to other options
and, with careful thought, design and planning can incorporate environmentally sustainable
features.
25
CORRESPONDENCE: Written correspondence was received from various local interest groups,
both users and nonusers of athletic fields. Correspondence received from Lake Forest interest
groups is included in the Council packet beginning on page 171.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: Funding for an engineering and design study for athletic field
improvements is identified in the FY2023 Capital Improvement Plan. Once the Request for
Proposals process is completed, a recommendation for engaging the firm selected through
the process will be presented to the City Council for consideration. Completion of design
engineering work will allow the City Council to have an informed discussion on future
construction funding at the November, 2022 capital budget workshop.
COUNCIL ACTION: Options for Council consideration are offered below.
Approve the recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board and authorize and direct
the City Manager to conduct a Request for Proposals process to select a firm to complete an
engineering and design study for artificial turf athletic fields at Deerpath Park. After
completion of the Request for Proposals process, return to the City Council for consideration of
the award of the contract.
OR
Reject the recommendation from the Parks and Recreation Board and authorize and direct the
City Manager to conduct an RFP process for an engineering and design study for natural turf
athletic fields or a hybrid approach at Deerpath Park. After completion of the Request for
Proposals process, return to the City Council for consideration of the award of the contract.
OR
Table the discussion of athletic field improvements.
8. ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION/ COMMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
9. ADJOURNMENT
A copy of the Decision Making Parameters is included beginning on page 28 of this packet.
Office of the City Manager March 30, 2022
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 Jason Wicha, at (847) 234-2600 promptly to allow the City to make
reasonable accommodations for those persons.
26
27
^Qtu^^
C^'NA<WA£BT-<^
^.Scie^^t^wS^'X.
§.. ^..,,.e-..^
f-l&ff"^
THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
DECISION-MAKING PARAMETERS FOR CITY COUNCIL,
AND APPOINTED BOARDS & COMMISSIONS
Adopted June 18, 2018
The City of Lake Forest Mission Statement:
"Be the best-managed, fiscally-responsible and appealing community and promote a community
spirit of trust, respect and citizen involvement. "
The Lake Forest City Council, with the advice and recommendations of its appointed advisory
Boards and Commissions, Lake Forest Citizens, and City Staff, is responsible for policy
formulation and approval. Implementation of adopted strategy, policy, budgets, and other
directives of Council is the responsibility of City Staff, led by the City Manager and Senior
Staff. The Mayor and Aldermen, and appointed members of Boards and Commissions should
address matters in a timely, deliberate, objective and process-driven manner, making decisions
guided by the City of Lake Forest Strategic and Comprehensive Plans, the City's Codes,
policies and procedures, and the following parameters:
. Motions and votes should comprise what is in the best long-term interests of all Lake
Forest citizens, measured in decades, being mindful of proven precedents and new
precedents that may be created.
. All points of view should be listened to and considered in making decisions with the
long-term benefit to Lake Forest's general public welfare being the highest priority.
. Fundmg decisions should support effectiveness and economy in providing services
and programs, while mindful of the number ofcidzens benefittmg from such
expenditures.
. New initiatives should be quantified, qualified, and evaluated for their long-tenn merit
and overall fiscal unpact and other consequences to the community.
. Decision makers should be proactive and timely in addressing sto-ategic planning
initiatives, external forces not under control of the City, and other opportunities and
challenges to the community.
Community trust in, and support of, government is fostered by maintaining the integrity of these
decision-making parameters.
The City of Lake Forest 's Decision-Making Parameters shall be reviewed by the City Council on an
annual basis and shall be included on all agendas of the City Council and Boards and Commissions.
28
^s^(3yy NAtWAfi ET. "^,7-SClEll'tIAe AMO<1'^ff&^.s'fc^ \ . "iIgiUr JRESOLUTION OF APPRECIATIONWHEREAS, KEVIN J. CRONIN has been a dedicated employee of The City of Lake Forestsince July 29, 1998; andWHEREAS, KEVIN J. CRONIN will honorably retire from the City on April 1,2022; andWHEREAS, KEVIN J. CRONIN served in the following positions during his dedicated career:Firefighter, Firefighter/Paramedic, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Battalion Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, member ofthe Lake County HazMat Team, MABAS Divisions 4 SRT Operations Chief, Foreign Fire InsuranceBoard Member, Lake Forest Firefighters Association Board, Lake Forest Public Education, and LakeForest Fire Training Officer. In addition, KEVIN J. CRONIN obtained a Bachelor's Degree fromSouthern Illinois University, and received numerous accommodations and letters of gratitude foroutstanding service throughout his career.NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OFLAKE FOREST that the Council, on behalf of the administration and residents of the community,hereby expresses its appreciation and gratitude to KEVIN J. CRONIN for a public service faithfullyperformed; andBE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be appropriately inscribed and conveyedto KEVFN, with a copy to be included in the official minutes of the April, 4th 2022 meeting of the LakeForest City Council.George A. Pandaleon, Mayor29
30
The City of Lake Forest
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Proceedings of the Monday, March 7, 2022
City Council Meeting - City Council Chambers
220 E Deerpath
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: The Assistant City Manager asked for a motion to appoint Alderman
Morris as Mayor Pro Tem. Alderman Rummel made a motion to appoint Alderman Morris as Mayor Pro
Tem, seconded by Alderman Buschmann. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Mayor Pro Tem Morris
called the meeting to order at 6:30pm
Present: Alderman Morris, Alderman Rummel, Alderman Notz, Alderman Goshgarian, Alderman Buschmann
and Alderman Weber.
Absent: Honorable Mayor Pandaleon, Alderman Preschlack and Alderman Karras.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS
COMMENTS BY MAYOR
Mayor Pro Tem Morris provided a written statement provided by Mayor Pandaleon regarding returning to
in-person meetings.
The City Council discussed their excitement to move forward with in-person meetings.
A. Approval of a Resolution of Appreciation for Retiring Employee, Paul D. Petersen
Mayor Pro Tem Morris read the Resolution of Appreciation for retiring Code Enforcement Officer, Paul D.
Petersen
COUNCIL ACTION: Approve the Resolution of Appreciation for Retiring employee, Paul D. Petersen
Mr. Petersen thanked the City Council for their kind remarks and recognition. He expressed his gratitude for
all of those who he has worked with throughout his tenure with the City. Additionally, Mr. Petersen thanked
his family for supporting him throughout his career with the City of Lake Forest.
Alderman Weber made a motion to approve the Resolution of Appreciation for Retiring employee, Paul D.
Petersen seconded by Alderman Rummel. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER
A. Update on the ComEd Bridge Replacement and Deerpath Road
City Manager, Jason Wicha provided a brief update regarding the ComEd Bridge replacement project and
closure of Deerpath Road. He asked Director of Public Works, Michael Thomas, to provide a more in-depth
presentation regarding the project. Mr. Thomas displayed three projects begin completed along Deerpath
road which included the IDOT Pump Station project, The Deerpath Water Main replacement project, and
31
the ComEd bike path bridge replacement. He provided in-depth descriptions of each project timeline, and
the benefit of completing each project in the order stated to allow for minimal impacts to residents.
Additionally, Mr. Thomas provided background information regarding the contractor being utilized to
complete the bike path project, in addition to the meetings and coordination with all parties involved.
The City Council had lengthy discussion regarding notice to residents, traffic detours, bike route detours,
and the overall look of the new bridge.
Mr. Thomas explained the notice sent to the various stakeholders impacted by the construction and detour.
City Manager, Jason Wicha reminded the City Council of the Budget Workshop meeting taking place on
Monday, March 14, at Dickinson Hall beginning at 5:00 pm.
OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ITEMS FOR OMNIBUS VOTE CONSIDERATION
1. Approval of February 22, 2022, City Council Meeting Minutes
2. Approval of the Check Register for the Period of January 29 to February 25, 2022
3. Approval of Resolutions Required for Bank Purposes to Amend Authorized Signers on City
bank accounts.
4. Approval and Authorization for the Lake Forest Fire Department to Enter into an Agreement
with Andres Medical Billing, Ltd. for Ambulance Billing Services for a Period of 5 Years
5. Approval of a Request from the Cemetery Commission to Purchase Cremation Niche Fronts,
at the Cost of $190,500, as part of the Memorial Garden Phase II Project.
6. Approval of the Annual Tree Purchasing for FY2023.
7. Award of the Low Bid for the 2022 Crack Sealing Project to Patriot Pavement Maintenance
Inc., and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount Not to Exceed
$35,000
8. Approval of the 2022 Pavement Management Program to Infrastructure Management
Services and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount Not to
Exceed $125,000
9. Award of the Low Bid for the Waveland Park & Forest Avenue 2022 Parking Lot
Improvements to Maneval Construction and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an
Agreement in the Amount of $397,912.78 as well as Approving a 10% Contingency in the
Amount of $39,791.27 for a Total Cost of $437,704.05 and the approval of a purchase from
Carbon Day EV Charging in the amount of $24,426 for two EV stations
32
10. Approve Two Year Agreement with Midwest Power Industry, Inc. to the Replace Water
Treatment Plants Variable Frequency Drives included in the FY2023 & FY2024 C.I.P. Budget
for the Sum of $362,511 Plus a 5% Contingency of $18,125 for a Total of $380,636.
11. Consideration of Ordinances Approving Recommendations from the Building Review Board.
(First Reading, and if Desired by the City Council, Final Approval)
12. Consideration of a Recommendation from the Plan Commission in Support of Tentative and
Final Plat Approval of the James Shepard Resubdivision for Property addressed as 1361, 1371
and 1373 Edgewood Road. (Approval by Motion.)
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of the twelve (12) Omnibus items as presented
Mayor Pro Tem Morris asked members of the Council if they would like to remove any item or take it
separately.
The City Council had additional discussion regarding item #6. Mayor Pro Tem Morris asked members of the
Council if they would like to remove any item or take it separately.
Seeing none, he asked for a motion. Alderman Weber made a motion to approve the twelve (12) Omnibus
items as presented, seconded by Alderman Notz. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Morris, Rummel,
Notz, Goshgarian, Buschmann and Weber. The following voted “Nay”: None. 6-Ayes, 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
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION/COMMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business Mayor Pandaleon asked for a motion. Alderman Goshgarian made a motion
to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Rummel. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote at 7:06 pm.
Respectfully Submitted
Margaret Boyer, 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.
33
January 25, 2022
Mr. Jason Wicha, Village Manager
City of Lake Forest
Sent via email to: wichaj@cityoflakeforest.com
Dear Mr. Wicha:
I am writing to request your municipality’s participation in Lake County’s Private Activity Bond
Clearinghouse (PABC) in 2022. Each year, Lake County Partners contacts the home rule communities in
Lake County to request a pooling together of the volume cap to ensure the best use of our collective private
activity bond allocation. The PABC cap for each year is transferred to the Village of Buffalo Grove, the
Pool’s host home rule community. If your municipality is interested in participating, your governing body
must approve a resolution and submit it to the Governor’s Office before April 29, 2022. A sample resolution
is attached for your use.
Since its inception, the Lake County PABC has funded nearly $200,000,000 in local projects, which has
resulted in the construction of over 360,000 sq. ft. of new manufacturing space, the creation of 648 new
manufacturing jobs, the renovation of 1,600 multi-family dwelling units, the purchase of an estimated 251
homes by first-time homebuyers, the expansion of a Montessori School, and the construction of a new solid
waste disposal cell.
Please click on the following link to review the: “State of Illinois’ Guidelines and Procedures for the
Allocation of Private Activity Bonding Authority in Accordance with the Tax Reform Act of 1986 and 30
ILCS 345”. Per page 4 of this document, this year’s per capita amount is $110.00, and the population data
estimates outlined within these guidelines are based on Census information. The population estimate for
City of Lake Forest is 19,379, bringing your municipality’s 2022 allocation to $2,131,690.
Your municipality’s approval of a resolution to transfer its volume cap to the Village of Buffalo Grove will
preserve the volume cap in Lake County for a three-year period for the important reasons outlined above.
Lake County Partners therefore requests that you place a resolution similar to the attached example
on your Board’s schedule for approval and forward the approved resolution to the attention of the
Governor’s Office as soon as possible in the manner outlined within page 3 of the above hyperlinked
Guidelines and Procedures document; please note that all reporting submissions are to be submitted
in both hard copy and electronic format.
Please copy me at bprusila@lakecountypartners.com on your Board’s actions and subsequent
notification to the Governor’s Office, or notify me if your community chooses not to participate in
this year’s pool so that we may more effectively manage the process next year. If you have any specific
questions or concerns, please feel free to get in touch directly at 773-706-0057.
We appreciate your support and look forward to working with you.
Sincerely,
Barbara C. Prusila
Marketing & Communications Director
34
RESOLUTION NO. _______
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS
REALLOCATING 2022 VOLUME CAP
TO THE VILLAGE OF BUFFALO GROVE, ILLINOIS
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Forest, Lake County, Illinois the (“City”), is a municipality and
a home rule unit of government duly organized and validly existing under Section 6(a) of Article
VII of the 1970 Constitution and laws of the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, certain tax exempt private activity bonds may be issued only if sufficient
volume cap pursuant to Section 146 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
“Code”), is available for the bonds; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Code, the City has been allocated volume cap equal to
$110.00 per resident of the City in calendar year 2022, or $2,131,690 for the issuance of such tax
exempt private activity bonds; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 6 and Section 6.1 of the Illinois Private Activity Bond
Allocation Act, 30 ILCS 345/1 et seq. (the “Bond Allocation Act), and the Guidelines and
Procedures promulgated thereunder, the City may, prior to May 1, 2022, reallocate to other home
rule units of government the volume cap allocated to the City by the Code for their issuance of
such tax exempt private activity bonds or for subsequent transfer or reallocation; and
WHEREAS, the City has not used any of its 2022 volume cap and has no present intention
to use the same; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County Partnership for Economic Development, Inc. has offered
Lake County home rule communities the opportunity to participate in a program to combine their
respective volume cap allocations and create a Private Activity Bond Clearinghouse Pool (the
“Pool”) to facilitate the issuance of tax-exempt private activity bonds to finance, manufacturing
and multi-family housing commercial projects in Lake County, Illinois, for economic development
purposes (“Eligible Projects”); and
WHEREAS, the Village of Buffalo Grove, a home rule unit of government (“Buffalo
Grove”), pursuant to its Resolution No. 2001-51 adopted December 17, 2001, agreed to host the
Pool and to reserve its own volume cap, and accept volume cap reallocated to Buffalo Grove by
other home rule units of government, for the issuance of tax-exempt private activity bonds placed
through the Pool to finance Eligible Projects; and
WHEREAS, Buffalo Grove has requested that the City reallocate all of its 2022 volume
cap to Buffalo Grove to be used for the issuance of tax-exempt private activity bonds placed
through the Pool to finance Eligible Projects;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE
FOREST, LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS, as follows:
Section 1: Recitals. The foregoing recitals are incorporated in and made a part of this
Resolution by this reference as findings of the City Council.
Section 2: Transfer and Reallocation of 2022 Volume Cap. Pursuant to Section 6 and Section
6.1 of the Bond Allocation Act and the Guidelines and Procedures promulgated
thereunder, the City irrevocably agrees to, and does hereby, transfer and
reallocate all of its 2022 volume cap to Buffalo Grove to be used for the issuance
of tax-exempt private activity bonds placed through the Pool to finance Eligible
35
Projects as directed by the Advisory Committee created pursuant to Buffalo Grove
Resolution No. 2001-51.
Section 3: Agreement. This Resolution shall constitute the agreement of the City to a different
allocation under Section 146(e)(3) of the Code and the writing required under
Section 6 of the Bond Allocation Act.
Section 4: Warranty. The City covenants and warrants that it has taken no action or issued
bonds that would abrogate, diminish, or impair its ability to fulfill the written
agreement, covenants, and undertakings on its part under this Resolution.
Section 5: Authorization. As required by the Bond Allocation Act and the Guidelines and
Procedures promulgated thereunder, a certified copy of this Resolution shall be
transmitted to the Office of the Governor of the State of Illinois. Any and all
appropriate and proper officers, officials, agents, and employees of the City are
hereby authorized, empowered, and directed to take all necessary and advisable
actions, and to execute all such documents and certificates, as may be necessary
to further the purposes and intent of this Resolution.
Section 6: Maintain Record. The City shall maintain a written record of this Resolution in its
records for so long as the bonds to which the volume cap transferred by this
Resolution is reallocated remain outstanding.
Section 7: Effective Date. This Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its
passage and approval as required by law and is enacted by the City pursuant to
its powers under the laws of the State of Illinois and the Illinois Constitution of 1970
and its home rule powers.
PASSED this _____ day of __________________, 2022
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
APPROVED this _____ day of _______________, 2022
____________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________
City Clerk
36
37
THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
ORDINANCE NO. 2022-____
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAKE FOREST CITY CODE REGARDING
THE CLASS C-1 AND C-3 LIQUOR LICENSES
Adopted by the City Council
of the City of Lake Forest
this day of 2022
Published in pamphlet form by direction
and authority of The City of Lake Forest
Lake County, Illinois
this day of 2022
38
THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST
ORDINANCE NO. 2022 -_____
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LAKE FOREST CITY CODE REGARDING
THE CLASS C-1 AND C-3 LIQUOR LICENSES
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Forest is a home rule, special charter municipal corporation;
and
WHEREAS, the City has adopted certain alcoholic beverage regulations designed to
protect the health, safety and welfare, which regulations are codified in Chapter 111 of the City
Code of Lake Forest, 2013 (“Liquor Code”);
WHEREAS, The City of Lake Forest desires to amend its Liquor Code to increase the
number of liquor licenses in the C-1 and C-3 categories to accommodate applications filed by a
local entity for a new restaurant operation; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of The City of Lake Forest,
County of Lake, and State of Illinois, as follows:
SECTION ONE: Recitals. The foregoing recitals are incorporated as the findings of the
City Council and are hereby incorporated into and made a part of this Ordinance.
SECTION TWO: Amendment to Section 111.037. Section 111.037 of the City Code,
entitled “Number of Licenses,” is amended as follows (deletions in strikethrough and additions in
bold and underline):
Ҥ111.037 NUMBER OF LICENSES.
(A) The number of liquor licenses issued by the city shall be limited as follows:
Class Maximum Number of Licenses Authorized
A-1 8
A-2 6
A-3 No more than the total number of Class A-1 licenses issued by
the city
B-1 1
C-1 10 11
39
C-2 10
C-3 15 16
D-1 5
E-1 2
F-2 As many as determined reasonable by the Commissioner
F-3 As many as determined reasonable by the Commissioner
F-4 As many as determined reasonable by the Commissioner
F-5 1
F-6 3
G-1 3
G-2 2
I-1 No more than the total number of Class B-1, C-1, C-2, C-3, D-1,
E-1 and F-1 licenses issued by the city
I-3 As many as determined reasonable by the Commissioner
J 1
K 1
(B) Without further action of the City Council, the maximum number of licenses in
any class shall be automatically reduced by one upon the expiration, revocation
or non-renewal of an existing license in any such license class.”
SECTION FIVE: Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its
passage, approval, and publication in pamphlet form in the manner provided by law.
Passed this ____ day of _________________________, 2022.
AYES:
NAYS:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Approved this __ day of _________________________, 2022.
_____________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________________
City Clerk
40
41
OVERLOOK
OVERLOOK
FIRE RING
MEMORIAL TREE
Engineering, Ecology and Landscape ArchitectureScale in Feet040 80
Ramp Examples
Preliminary Ramp Layout Overlook Rendering
Forest Park Bluff Ramp
Design Alternatives and Enlargements
OVERLOOK
OVERLOOK
FIRE RING
MEMORIAL TREE
Engineering, Ecology and Landscape ArchitectureScale in Feet0 40 80
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136
Athletic Field Improvements
at Deerpath Community Park
Survey Results
The following report analyzes resident feedback collected in a CityAsks survey on athletic field improvements at
Deerpath Community Park. The survey was designed by Zencity and shared by the City of Lake Forest. It was
conducted from October 15-23, 2021 and received 761 unique responses, 730 from self-identified Lake Forest
residents. Responses from the 31 self-identified non-residents are not included in this summary.
What are your top three criteria for evaluating options for athletic field improvements at Deerpath
Community Park?
730 out of 730 answered
What is most important to you when considering improving athletic fields at Deerpath Community
Park?
688 out of 730 answered
In-depth analysis of responses to the open-ended question reveals the following themes:*
• Synthetic turf (191 responses): Most respondents within this group requested synthetic turf fields and
claimed it will allow using the fields even in rainy or wet conditions; some also mentioned that other
communities have them. Fewer respondents stated that they prefer natural grass.
• Availability and playability (156 responses): Most respondents requested to adapt the fields to be
available and playable year-round. Some also asked for multi-use fields that will serve different parts of
the community.
• Environmental impacts (97 responses): Respondents discussed the negative ecological impact of the
possible project, and some specifically mentioned the detrimental effects of artificial turf in this context.
• Health and safety (82 responses): Some respondents requested to prioritize players’ health and ensure
the fields are safe.
178
253
279
321
330
344
485
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Economic opportunity
Parking availability and traffic impacts
Environmental impacts
Financial cost
Amenities (concessions, restrooms, etc.)
Health and Safety
Maximize field playability
137
• Financial cost (57 responses): A few respondents raised concerns about the project’s cost and
requested that money be spent carefully so the project would not entail a tax increase.
• Drainage issues (32 responses): Some respondents specifically mentioned drainage problems at the
fields and requested improvement.
• Amenities (20 responses): A few respondents mentioned the need for good amenities, focusing on
restrooms and adequate parking.
Additionally, a few responses maintained that the fields should be competitive with neighboring communities.
*Note that respondents may have specified more than one issue in their response. Each issue named in a single response is accounted for
in Zencity’s analysis of the open-ended question.
Demographic Information
To what age group do you belong?
728 out of 730 answered
What is your gender?
709 out of 730 answered
How long have you lived in Lake Forest?
729 out of 730 answered
26
4%10
1%
11
2%
179
25%268
37%130
18%87
12%
17
2%
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
17 years or
younger
18–24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 years or
older
Prefer not to
answer
Female
382
54%
Male
295
42%
Other/
Prefer
not to
say
32
4%
50
7%
59
8%
115
16%
505
69%
0 200 400 600
0-2 years
3-5 years
6-10 years
more than 10 years
138
Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 1 Summary 1
The City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation Board hosted a community workshop on
December 15th, 2021 from 7 to 8:30 pm to discuss key topics related to potential
athletic field improvements at Deerpath Community Park. Approximately 60 community
members were in attendance, the majority of which engaged in round table discussions.
This workshop is the first of two on this topic and aims to better define the community’s
priorities moving forward. The workshop included exhibits and a scorecard exercise,
round table discussions, as well as a “report out” session for sharing table comments.
WORKSHOP RESULTS
PRIORITY LEVEL IMPROVEMENT KEY TOPIC COMMUNITY RANKING
1 PLAYER SAFETY 4.5
1 MAXIMIZE PLAYABILITY 4.5
1 MAXIMIZE FIELD USAGE & CONDITIONS 4.5
2 PLAYER/USER GROUP EXPECTATIONS 3.8
3 OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES 3.7
4 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY 3.6
5 PARKING AVAILABILITY & TRAFFIC 3.5
5 ENHANCED/IMPROVED ON-SITE AMENITIES 3.5
6 FINANCIAL/OPERATIONAL COST 3.3
7 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY 3.1
PRIORITY RANKING
Community members were asked to review and rank ten (10)
improvement priorities through a scorecard exercise. The table
below displays the topics in order of priority: The community
engagement process for
Deerpath Athletic Field
Improvements is prepared
and conducted by The
Lakota Group, a landscape
architecture and
community engagement
firm based in Chicago.
139
Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 1 Summary 2
PLAYER SAFETY
• The majority of community members were concerned about Deerpath
Community Park’s current field conditions for player safety. Participants
expressed concerns about divots and uneven surfaces, existing sprinkler
heads on the fields causing trip hazards for players, flooding and ponding
problems, and a lack of sufficient field maintenance as issues that lead to
player injuries.
• Player safety, to many respondents, was one of the highest priorities.
Enhancing site drainage, improving playing surfaces, providing better
lighting/visibility, and addressing field maintenance are critical to many.
• Participants wished to have more information about the best field conditions—synthetic turf or natural
grass—as it relates to player safety. Providing high quality field improvements for the kids and the
community was unanimously agreed upon by community members.
MAXIMIZE PLAYABILITY
• Year-round access to athletic fields was a very strong desire shared
by more than half of the community members in attendance. This can
provide local athletes the opportunity to compete at an elevated level.
A few community members mentioned that local leagues are going to
neighboring communities, including Libertyville, to access high quality
athletic fields, and argue that Lake Forest has an opportunity to host
locally as we move into the future.
Overall, community members agreed that the main priority is providing what is best for the younger
generations, and highly stressed player safety. The Lake Forest community also focused on the need to
develop a plan for Deerpath Community Park that would make residents proud and ahead of the curve.
Below is a summary of key topics based on a ranking exercise completed by participants and subsequent
conversations held during the workshop.
Comments provided below within each key topic area are listed in order of priority, based on how much
they were emphasized by community members.
ROUND TABLE DISCUSSIONS
1. What is the level of player safety on natural grass
versus synthetic turf?
QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP:
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 1 Summary 3
• High cancellation rates due to field conditions, among other reasons, was a major concern to community
members, specifically members with younger kids or those who have a direct affiliation with sports.
Maximizing playability, including during the winter and fall seasons, was deemed highly important to
residents.
• Some participants noted that synthetic turf, while increasing playability exponentially, does not
guarantee year-round access to fields, especially in the Midwest climate.
• A few community members mentioned that the Parks and Recreation Department needs specific
athletic field types to better accommodate current demands. This includes baseball fields, among
others.
1. What is the cost comparison for natural grass
versus synthetic turf as it relates to installation
and maintenance?
QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP:
MAXIMIZE FIELD USAGE & CONDITIONS
• The majority of community members were very concerned about
the current quality of athletic fields at Deerpath Community Park.
Respondents believe that field conditions go hand in hand with the safety
of users.
• Field maintenance was a common theme in community conversations.
Optimizing playability and properly maintaining heavily utilized fields to
ensure player safety and overall best practices was deemed necessary.
This includes uneven surfaces, loose dirt in the infields, and divots and
holes, among other issues.
• Developing a field resting schedule was also suggested to reduce wear and tear.
PLAYER/USER GROUP EXPECTATIONS
• Community members mentioned the need to engage local leagues and
affiliates to better understand their current usage needs (practice time,
play time, etc.)
• While the community acknowledges the demand for field usage, they
are looking for more factual data to support this argument.
Questions on the next page.
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 1 Summary 4
1. Is there a potential park site that can share the heavy
usage of the athletic fields at Deerpath Community Park?
Some participants mentioned Townline Community Park
as an alternative option.
2. Who are these field improvements for: the
middle school and gym class/recess, sports leagues,
surrounding neighborhoods, regional tournaments?
Who will have access to the playing fields?
QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP:
1. What is the cost comparison for natural
grass versus synthetic turf as it relates to
operations?
2. Is there a design alternative that incorporates
both synthetic and natural fields?
QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP:
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES
• Community members expressed interest in seeing a cost comparison to
operate natural grass versus synthetic turf.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
• Deerpath Community Park is partially located in a floodplain area and
drainage has impeded field usability in recent years. A large number
of community members suggest the use of synthetic turf to mitigate
drainage issues.
• A significant number of community members raised concerns towards
the use of synthetic turf for sustainability reasons, including:
• Synthetic turf may not be recyclable
• Synthetic turf may release micro-plastic elements
• However, others argued that synthetic turf has more “hidden sustainability,” including:
• Synthetic turf may have low carbon emissions with the absence of traditional maintenance
equipment, such as mowers.
• Synthetic turf may be less toxic due to the absence of weedkillers, pesticides, fertilizers, etc.
• Synthetic turf may help manage stormwater
• Some recommended that the City’s Strategic Plan and Sustainability Plan should act as a guide for any
future improvements to the athletic fields at Deerpath Community Park.
Questions on the next page.
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 1 Summary 5
1. What are the environmental impacts of drainage back
to the creek with natural grass and pesticides versus
synthetic turf and potential micro-plastics/rubber
pellets?
2. What is the lifespan of synthetic turf, based on the
projected level of use?
3. What is the level of recyclability for synthetic turf?
Are there micro-plastics in synthetic turf?
QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP:
1. Do turf fields or natural grass fields require the
property to be fenced in order to properly maintain
and monitor usage?
QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP:
ENHANCED/IMPROVED SITE AMENITIES
• While enhanced amenities were deemed beneficial by some residents,
the majority of community members ranked this lower on their list of
priorities for improvements. Bathrooms close to the fields were deemed
as an important amenity to improve current conditions.
• Fencing was one of the amenities heavily discussed during the community
workshop - a number of community members were not in favor of
fencing.
PARKING AVAILABILITY & TRAFFIC
• Some residents mentioned that improving Deerpath Community Park provides an opportunity to
enhance the overall site, including widening roadways to better accommodate traffic flow, including
better access to the fire department.
• A few community members suggested channeling heavy usage, including larger community events
and tournaments, to more adequate park sites, including Townline Community Park, due to its central
location within Lake Forest, and its proximity to a major street.
• A few participants mentioned that transportation infrastructure must be sufficient to support the use of
the fields. If there is an increase in usage, traffic should be studied to accommodate this projection.
1. How will increasing playability affect traffic?
QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP:
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 1 Summary 6
37IMPLEMENT: ACTION PLAN CITY OF LAKE FOREST PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN
1. What are the costs (operational, maintenance,
initial installation) of natural grass versus
synthetic turf?
QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW UP:
FINANCIAL/OPERATIONAL COST
• Cost was one of the main topics of conversation for community members,
arguing that synthetic turf, while more resilient than regular grass, will
require a higher installation cost. Others mentioned that maintaining
synthetic turf, on the long run, will reduce maintenance and operational
costs.
• A large number of community members expressed an interest in seeing a
cost comparison of natural grass to synthetic turf, including both short-
term and long-term costs.
• A hybrid system of providing some natural grass fields and some synthetic turf fields was brought up, by
one community member, as one of the alternatives that could address cost concerns.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
• Overall, community members see great value in improving Deerpath
Community Park’s athletic fields and see this as a prototype for other
park enhancements in Lake Forest.
• On more than one occasion, participants noted that multi-purpose fields
can host local events and drive economic development for Downtown
Lake Forest.
• Some community members see improvements to Deerpath Community
Park’s athletic fields as an opportunity to compete with other North
Shore sports fields and leagues, draw more users and potential new residents, and support existing and
new businesses.
• One community member was concerned about synthetic turf and its impacts on local events, such as
the July 4th event.
We look forward to seeing you at the second
community workshop on January 19th!
VISIT CityofLakeForest.com/AthleticFieldImprovements FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 2 Summary 1
The City of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation Board virtually hosted a second
community workshop on February 17, 2022 from 7 to 8:30 pm. The purpose was
to address questions from the first workshop held in December 2021 and provide
the community an opportunity to evaluate four different design approaches for
Deerpath Community Park. Approximately 120 community members were in
attendance, the majority of whom engaged through live commenting. To ensure
that other community members, who were not in attendance, had the opportunity
to engage, an online comment form was available through February 24. Eighty-
eight Lake Forest residents shared their thoughts through the online form.
The second workshop was divided into two segments. The first segment focused
on answering questions that were brought up during the first workshop, and the
second segment featured four potential design options for Deerpath Community
Park. Participants had opportunities throughout the presentation to share their
thoughts and feedback. The City of Lake Forest greatly values the community’s
continued interest in this planning process.
Below is a summary of key topics and subsequent themes mentioned during the
second workshop and submitted on the online comment forms.
WORKSHOP 2RESULTS
The community engagement process for Deerpath Athletic Field
Improvements is prepared and conducted by The Lakota Group, a landscape
architecture and community engagement firm based in Chicago.
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 2 Summary 2
PLAYER SAFETY
• Community members unanimously agreed that high quality improvements and high standard
maintenance practices, for either natural grass or synthetic turf are of utmost importance to
player safety.
• Some community members expressed concern of PFAS harmful effect on youth players,
increased injuries, and heat-generation issues as reasons to keep natural grass fields.
• Other community members found turf fields to be safe for players from
personal experience and proven effective across the nation.
• Some community members stated concern for game cancellations on
player happiness and suggested that improvements to the athletic fields
would support players’ mental health.
MAXIMIZE PLAYABILITY
• Participants wish to see the fields improved to ensure playability not only for youth sports but
also for residents to enjoy the fields.
• Multiple community members voiced their support for investment in synthetic
turf fields as the most promising improvement for ensuring playability.
• Other community members expressed that high quality improvements to the
natural grass fields would minimize cancellations and ensure playability.
THEME DISCUSSIONS
As a former athlete who played on turf and
with kids who play on turf, I do not have
major concerns with player safety. There is a
minor increase in risk for injuries but playing
on grass in poor conditions - or not playing
at all with cancellations - also increases
problems for athletes.”
- Community member
I view this as an important public good, my kids do
not play organized sports, but we use these fields
for fun, and we would love to use them more.
There have been countless times that I want to go
out with my kids, and we could not find a field in
the community in good condition, even though it
was one or more days after a rain.”
- Community member
“
“
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 2 Summary 3
MAXIMIZE FIELD USAGE & CONDITIONS
• Regardless of field surface options, participants agreed that grading and drainage issues at
Deerpath Community Park need to be addressed to maximize field usage and condition, avoid
game cancellations, and provide the best conditions for players and user groups.
• Many community members expressed interest in synthetic turf field improvements to increase
the quality of the fields and create a reliable and durable surface.
• Other community members felt the investment in natural grass athletic
fields and continued maintenance would be the best investment by the
community to ensure field usage and condition.
PLAYER/USER GROUP EXPECTATIONS
• Some community members voiced the need to consider the value playfield improvements will
have for families that do not play organized sports but use the athletic fields as a gathering
space.
• Participants wished to have more input from Lake Forest youth on their preference for natural
grass versus synthetic turf fields, as they will be using the athletic fields.
I would like to see our community
maximizing the usability of our fields and
unfortunately, we do not live in a climate
that allows us to do so with natural
grass and poor drainage issues.”
- Community member
A large price is potentially being spent
on a very visual project and many local
sports organizations are going to want
to ensure that they too have a fair
opportunity to practice and play on the
new fields.”
- Community member
“
“
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 2 Summary 4
OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCIES
• In regard to operational efficiencies, community members encourage the City to bring
sustainable maintenance practices into improvements regardless of chosen surface.
Community members encourage Lake Forest to look to comparable communities for
the best practices of sustainable maintenance for both natural grass and synthetic
turf fields.
• Multiple community members mentioned the importance of ensuring that the athletic
fields are well maintained to avoid long-term repairs and reinstallations whether that
be through policies or fencing.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY
• Some community members raised concerns about synthetic turf not being recyclable.
• They were also concerned about harmful microplastics and potential chemical maintenance
treatments leaching into the surrounding environment.
• Other community members raised concerns regarding standard practices for maintaining natural
grass. Some suggested organic natural grass management as an alternative worth investigating.
• Community members encourage Lake Forest to investigate the most environmentally friendly
synthetic turf that will benefit the community and have the least harmful impact on the
environment.
I trust Lake Forest will properly budget
for maintaining the fields to minimize the
environmental impacts.”
- Community member“
PARKING AVAILABILITY & TRAFFIC
• Parking availability and traffic were low concerns for community members, but participants were
interested in a traffic study for any proposed improvements moving forward.
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 2 Summary 5
ENHANCED/IMPROVED SITE AMENITIES
• Numerous community members expressed interest in preserving the walking
path with any improvements made to the athletic fields.
• Some community members believe fencing and controlling access will benefit
the improved fields long-term to avoid repairs and replacement.
• Community members wanted more information about the policies that the
City will have to put into place to protect the improvements including fencing,
rules about field usage, and fireworks on-site, to maintain the improvements
long-term.
• Fourth of July events were a high priority for Lake Forest members and
interest in continuing this tradition was expressed.
FINANCIAL COSTS
• Community members are interested in learning more about the estimated costs
presented for the various improvements to Deerpath Community Park.
• On more than one occasion participants showed concern for synthetic turf’s high
investment cost and its short lifespan of only ten years.
• Other community members felt this level of investment for the community would
be good for the City and home property values.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY
• On more than one occasion community members noted that improvements to the
athletic fields will make Lake Forest a competitive option for new families looking
to move to the suburbs.
• Numerous participants expressed that any improvements should prioritize Lake
Forest residents’ use and local teams as well as the lifespan of the fields over
revenue generation from non-Lake Forest sports leagues.
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 2 Summary 6
DESIGN OPTION 1 - business as usual
• Community members unanimously expressed that option 1 is not the right approach and that Lake
Forest can do better than leaving the fields as they are. It was noted that this option fails to address
usability, field condition, playability, game cancellations, and player safety to name a few issues.
DESIGN OPTIONS
Lake Forest needs modern
facilities to keep our city and
children on equal footing as
our neighboring towns. This
option does nothing to move
us forward.”
- Community member
“There is no question that the
current sports fields are not
sufficient as they have been
poorly designed and not been
appropriately cared for.”
- Community member
“
NATURAL
GRASS
FIELDS
OPTION BENEFITS:
• Low cost option
OPTION CHALLENGES:
• Requires on-going yearly effort
• Low playability and usability
• Natural grass maintenance
practices
NATURAL GRASS MAINTAINED AS A PARK
DEERPATH
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
LAKE
FOREST
RECREATION
CENTER
HASTI
N
G
S
R
O
A
D
PARKING
LAKE
FOREST
RECREATION
CENTER
From the workshop presentation.
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 2 Summary 7
DESIGN OPTION 2 - Natural Grass Improvements
• Community members expressed interest
in this design option for several reasons
including financial cost, player safety, and
environmental impact.
• Other community members believe this
option still does not address maximizing
usability and playability to reduce game
cancellations, and still has a high financial
cost to the community.
• Lake Forest investing in environmentally
sustainable maintenance practices came
up by multiple respondents for any
improvements to the fields.
• Multiple community members brought up the
recent drainage improvements to Townline
Park athletic fields and note they are still
experiencing unfavorable field conditions,
game cancellations, and poor usability.
I love this solution! Good
drainage technologies will
provide less cancellations, plus
it is the most sustainable, the
safest for the athletes, the safest
for our environment and with
good maintenance we should be
able to play on this field a lot,
even when there is some rain.”
- Community member
Our community wants
reliability and durability
in their fields. Grass
fields cannot support the
demands we have in that
area, plus the amount of
play we get.”
- Community member
“
“
NATURAL
GRASS
FIELDS
DEERPATH
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
LAKE
FOREST
RECREATION
CENTER
HASTI
N
G
S
R
O
A
D
PARKING
LAKE
FOREST
RECREATION
CENTER
NATURAL
BIOSWALE
ENVIRONMENT
OPTION BENEFITS:
• Implement best management
sustainable standards
• Regrade, reposition and improve
drainage conditions
OPTION CHALLENGES:
• Subject to weather-related
cancellations
• High cost with less revenue stream
potential
• Requires a higher level of
maintenance
• Natural grass maintenance
practices
REGRADE, REPOSITION FIELD, IMPROVE DRAINAGE, AND NATURAL LAWN
From the workshop presentation.
151
Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 2 Summary 8
DESIGN OPTION 3 - synthetic turf Improvements
• Community members who favored
this option were in support
of maximizing field use and
condition, relative level of low
maintenance, revenue generation,
competitive advantage to
surrounding communities, and
maximizing playability.
• Community members who were
against this option brought up
the financial costs, environmental
impact, heat generation, player
safety, and having to replace the
product in 10 years.
• Lake Forest community members
expressed an interest in gaining
children’s opinion on turf fields;
some expressed having children
that do not enjoy playing on turf
fields.
SYNTHETIC
TURF
FIELDS
DEERPATH
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
LAKE
FOREST
RECREATION
CENTER
HASTI
N
G
S
R
O
A
D
PARKING
LAKE
FOREST
RECREATION
CENTER
OPTION BENEFITS:
• Minimize weather-related
cancellations
• Implement best management
sustainable standards
• Low maintenance and operations
• High revenue stream potential
• High playability and usability
OPTION CHALLENGES:
• High initial investment costs
• Removal costs at 10-12 years
• More heat generated
NEW ROBUST ARTIFICIAL TURF FIELD SPORTS COMPLEX
NATURAL
BIOSWALE
ENVIRONMENT
From the workshop presentation.
Ideal solution to provide our children
with modern facilities while providing
revenue generating opportunities. This
is something our town can be proud of
and will allow us to become a premier
destination for sports activities and
tournaments. This option also positions
well to better manage bad weather events,
which feel more common today.”
- Community member
Synthetic fields are not the best option
regardless of their increased playability
because of the unintended consequences
that may result from impacts to our
environment as well as to user safety.
Although they have been around for a
number of years, there still remains a
number of questions regarding their
long-term impact on health and the
environment.”
- Community member
“
“
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Deerpath Athletic Fields | Community Workshop 2 Summary 9
OPTION BENEFITS:
• Provides a balanced approach to
meet playability, programming,
and environmental needs or
concerns.
• Allows for future expansion
of turf facilities with further
achievable benchmark metrics
• Implement best management
sustainable standards
OPTION CHALLENGES:
• Not maximizing playability and
usability
• Not maximizing revenue streams
• Fertilizer and infill concerns
HYBRID TURF/LAWN COMPLEX WITH IMPROVED DESIGN
DEERPATH
MIDDLE
SCHOOL
NATURAL
GRASS
FIELDS
SYNTHETIC
TURF
FIELDS
LAKE
FOREST
RECREATION
CENTER
HASTI
N
G
S
R
O
A
D
PARKING
LAKE
FOREST
RECREATION
CENTER
NATURAL
BIOSWALE
ENVIRONMENT
DESIGN OPTION 4 - hybrid natural/synthetic
improvements
• Some Lake Forest community members
felt that this approach would not fix all the
problems of the current field and would
like to see maximum improvements to the
facilities – maximum drainage improvements
or full synthetic turf fields.
• Some participants expressed interest in
exploring this hybrid option and looking
at 2/3 natural fields and 1/3 synthetic turf
and having the natural fields closer to the
Recreation Center.
To learn more about the deerpath athletic
field improvements, visit the website below.
CityofLakeForest.com/AthleticFieldImprovements
From the workshop presentation.
It is not clear why we would
go with this option. If we
are adding synthetic turf, it
seems best to make the facility
all synthetic turf and teams
can use the other grass fields
throughout Lake Forest if they
want that type of surface.”
- Community member
“
153
SUBJECT: Approval to proceed with requests for proposals for the design of synthetic turf
athletic fields at Deerpath Park.
PRESENTED BY: Sally Swarthout, Director- Parks, Recreation, and Forestry (847-810-3942)
PURPOSE AND ACTION REQUESTED: Staff requests the approval to proceed with requests
for proposals for the design of synthetic turf athletic fields at Deerpath Park.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION: In 2019 Staff partnered with the Friends of Lake Forest Parks
and Recreation Foundation to develop the Comprehensive Parks Master Plan utilizing
surveys, stakeholder meetings, and interviews. This effort clearly defined park and
recreation priorities in our community. Subsequently, the Comprehensive Parks Master
Plan was approved by the Parks and Recreation Board and the City Council. The
approved Comprehensive Parks Master Plan identified numerous initiatives that were
important to the community, including an athletic field complex and synthetic turf field.
As a follow up, in 2020 an Athletic Field Feasibility Study was completed to assess the
current usage and conditions of our athletic fields. Additionally, the record rainfall over
the past several years and frequent concerns about field conditions raised by
community stakeholders have elevated athletic fields to the forefront of the priorities
identified in the Comprehensive Parks Master Plan.
In July 2021, City Council held a workshop where they received information about what
improvements would be necessary to enhance the quality of the playing experience at
Deerpath Park. Following that workshop, staff identified the following four options for
further consideration:
1) Continue with existing maintenance and turf conditions.
2) Design and improve the quality of natural grass fields.
3) Design and build a synthetic turf playing surface.
4) A hybrid of options two and three, consisting of both natural and synthetic playing
fields.
Following the July Council workshop, Staff undertook a robust community engagement
process to better understand resident/user group priorities related to the Deerpath Park
athletic fields. As staff evaluated options for Park Board consideration, it was critical to
understand what was most important to the community and to acknowledge that the
various options have trade-offs. As a first step in this community engagement process,
a survey was sent to the community asking them to rank seven criteria for evaluating
field improvement options. Responses are included in the following table.
154
The survey was completed by 730 residents and the responses clearly identified
maximizing playability as the highest community priority, followed by health and safety,
and amenities. The full survey results are attached as Exhibit A on page 13.
To learn more about the community’s priorities and preferences for different design
options, community engagement sessions were then held on December 15, 2021 and
Thursday, February 17, 2022. These meetings further gauged the community priorities,
ensured public input in evaluating the identified criteria, and helped refine the options
being considered.
The first community workshop was held in-person on December 15, 2021. Attendees
were asked to review and rank 10 priorities through a scorecard exercise. Following the
scorecard exercise, attendees discussed their priority preferences in small groups. The
summary of the scorecard responses identifies the following top priorities: maximizing
playability, maximizing field usage and conditions, and player safety. A summary of the
scorecard exercise is included below and the full workshop summary is included as
Exhibit B on page 15.
155
Additionally, several questions were raised during this first workshop regarding the
environmental impact of both synthetic and natural grass playing surfaces. While
environmental sustainability was not identified as the highest priority in the scorecard
responses, given the particular focus on this issue by an engaged group of residents,
staff felt it was important to assess the issue at the second community workshop.
The second community workshop, which was held remotely on February 17, 2022,
addressed questions raised at the first workshop and provided a preliminary review of
the four options under consideration. Given the large interest in this project, the
workshop presentation was posted online and residents who were unable to attend
were invited to view the presentation and complete an online comment form through
February 24 to provide feedback on the design options. A summary of the workshop
and comment form responses is attached as Exhibit C on page 21 of this packet. As
indicated in the summary, a number of residents continued to question the
environmental impact and safety of synthetic turf fields. Additionally, many residents
were interested in information regarding playability, safety, maintenance, and
operations from our neighboring communities that have synthetic turf fields.
It should be noted that the main user groups at Deerpath Park are Lake Forest Parks
and Recreation program participants, Deer Path Middle School students, and local
athletic organizations. Many of those user groups participated in the community
engagement process and several user groups also submitted letters that are included
156
as Exhibit D on page 30 of this packet. Overall, the user groups indicated a preference
for synthetic turf. The Park Board and City Council also received correspondence from
non-user interest groups, including several outside the community, many indicating
opposition to synthetic turf. Correspondence from local non-user interest groups is
included as Exhibit E on page 36 of this packet.
Throughout the community engagement process, residents agreed that The City of
Lake Forest needs updated athletic fields. The top priorities heard throughout
engagement efforts were to maximize playability, maximize field usage and conditions,
and player health and safety. Although environmental sustainability has not scored as
a top priority throughout the community engagement process, a segment of the
community has expressed strong concerns about those issues. Consequently, Staff will
consider best sustainable practices during the design phase, balanced with other
priorities identified by the public.
Information gathered during the community engagement process prompted Staff to
conduct additional research into local experience from neighboring communities
(attached as Exhibit F on page 40 of this packet lists neighboring communities with
synthetic turf fields). Because of the prevalence of turf fields in the area, Staff solicited
feedback from neighboring communities to better understand their experience within
the context of the identified community priorities. Staff connected with 13
municipalities, parks districts and schools, including Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest
Academy, and Lake Forest College to understand their experiences related to the Lake
Forest community-identified priorities. This outreach included discussions with the
Village of Oak Park and the City of Evanston, which are known for their sustainability
commitments, to understand their experience with recently installed synthetic turf fields
in the context of their environmental sustainability efforts.
Staff gathered this additional information through surveys, individual interviews, and site
visits to other community’s fields. Consistent with topics prioritized during the community
engagement process, questions focused on playability, player safety, maintenance
obligations, and overall user satisfaction. Each group expressed support for synthetic
turf. Local experience is clear – the entities consulted that have installed synthetic turf
have been happy with the performance. Based on local responses, installation of
synthetic turf extends playing seasons, significantly reduces weather related
cancellations, increases demand from local user groups, while requiring less
maintenance. Survey respondents indicated that there was not a noted increase in
injuries due to the use of the synthetic turf compared with their previous use of natural
grass surfaces. A summary of these responses is attached as Exhibit G on page 41 of
this packet.
157
At the February 17, 2022, workshop four options for the rehabilitation to Deerpath Park
Athletic Fields were presented:
1. Improve in place,
2. Natural grass fields with improved drainage,
3. Synthetic turf fields,
4. A hybrid of synthetic turf and natural grass.
Staff evaluated the four options based on community feedback, user group
preferences, and neighboring community input. A brief overview of these options is
outlined below. In sum, Staff do not recommend Option 1- Improve in Place, as it is not
expected to adequately address community needs and priorities. The remaining three
options are discussed below in the context of community needs and priorities.
Based on preliminary design estimates provided by Gewalt Hamilton Associates, a
professional civil engineering firm with experience developing athletic sports
complexes, the long-term cost difference between options 2, 3, and 4 is negligible.
While City Council will consider funding issues, 10–20-year costs are substantially similar
such that finances should not be a determining factor in considering one option over
another.
Option 1: Improve in Place (Not Recommended) – Improve in place would not
provide the needed conditions for competitive play for recreation program
participants or for our stakeholder organizations.
Option 2: Natural Grass Fields with Improved Drainage – Natural grass with
improved drainage is a good option and would provide significant
improvements over today’s conditions. However, this option would not meet the
top-rated criteria identified during the community engagement process. Adding
improved drainage would reduce the time of field closures after rain events as
the grass would dry out quicker. With proper/additional maintenance resources
the fields could be kept in top playing conditions. However, the fields would still
be closed for maintenance and protection after rain or heavy use to avoid
tearing up the soft ground. Natural grass would also require additional
maintenance including man hours, synthetic fertilizer and other applications, and
use of gas emitting machinery to ensure a high quality and safe playing surface
for our participants. Based on conversations with local experts, organic
treatment options can be effective for fields with passive play but are not as
effective for fields like those at Deerpath Park that receive heavy use.
Option 3: Synthetic Turf Fields – The addition of synthetic turf fields would be the
best option, as it best addresses the top priorities identified by the community.
Synthetic turf would maximize playability, field usage and conditions. Based on
158
feedback from neighboring communities, increased injuries have not been
reported on synthetic turf and therefore this option would also prioritize player
safety. Converting Deerpath Park to synthetic fields would extend the playing
season, allowing for play and practice at least nine months of the year on a well-
drained, readily available playing surface. This option would also allow staff to
maximize field usage and extends the playing season annually.
Recognizing that there may be community members that prefer to utilize a
natural grass surface, it is important to note that even if the fields at Deerpath
Park become synthetic turf, there would still be 14 natural grass fields in other City
parks. On the other hand, if Deerpath Park remains natural grass, it denies
residents the choice to play on a synthetic turf playing surface. From an
operational perspective, the installation of synthetic turf at Deerpath Park would
allow for more targeted upkeep and maintenance for all athletic fields in The
City’s field inventory. Neighboring communities with synthetic turf fields have
begun hosting practices for the upcoming spring season. Deerpath Park likely
cannot do so until mid-April.
Similar to natural grass, the synthetic turf option would require significant upfront
costs. However, over the estimated life of the turf field these costs even out with
the natural grass option. There are also annual maintenance costs that would
be part of annual operating budgets moving forward.
It should be noted that while some have expressed a concern with synthetic turf
and heat exposure, play is minimal during the months of July and August and
summer camps already move indoors on particularly hot days. Project design
can also mitigate some of the concerns regarding heat.
Option 4: Hybrid Option - The hybrid solution would involve the use of natural
grass and synthetic turf fields and would be better option than natural grass
alone. While this option would improve playability (as compared to natural grass
alone) by adding a durable, well-drained turf section, it would not maximize
overall playability. The hybrid option would limit the flexibility of field placement
and available programming space. These limits would cause scheduling
challenges with other fields in our other parks, as programming would need to be
moved from Deerpath Park to accommodate field needs. While there would be
the options of natural grass and synthetic fields in the same place, a buffer
would be required between the two surfaces that would ultimately reduce the
field usage space. Moreover, additional staff would still be necessary to maintain
the grass fields to meet community expectations.
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Based on community feedback, research, interviews, and surveys of neighboring
communities, Staff believe that installing synthetic turf athletic fields is the best option for
improving field conditions at Deerpath Park. There are still some questions that won’t
be answered until we proceed with comprehensive engineering design. Nevertheless,
given the community’s stated priorities and available information, the best solution for
the Lake Forest community today and into the future is to proceed with design
engineering for synthetic turf fields. This option would maximize playability, field usage
and conditions without compromising player safety, and would allow for the
consideration of sustainability objectives during the design process. As noted above,
importantly this option allows user groups the opportunity for choice: Those that prefer
natural grass fields will still have access to them, while those that prefer synthetic turf will
have that option, as well.
Finally, while this has been a long process it is critical to note that community
engagement is a hallmark of Lake Forest and allows all residents the opportunity to be
heard. Soliciting feedback from a wide range of stakeholders with differing opinions
leads to a better, balanced final product. Staff are truly thankful for all those who
contributed to our resident engagement efforts.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: There is no budget impact at this time. Staff will return with the
results from a competitive pricing process.
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval to proceed with requests for proposals for the design of
synthetic turf athletic fields at Deerpath Park.
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EXHIBIT G
Synthetic Turf Field Operations Survey Results
3/10/2022
The following are the responses to a survey shared with representatives from neighboring municipalities, park
districts, and schools.
Organization
• Northbrook Park District
• Skokie Park District
• Park District of Oak Park
• Lake Forest HS
• Deerfield High School
• Lake Forest College
• City of Evanston Robert Crown Community Center
• Kenilworth Park District
• Glencoe Park District
• Winnetka Park District
Does your organization maintain a synthetic turf field?
10 responses
Have there been any unanticipated maintenance issues with synthetic turf? Please explain.
• Have had a few issues with the sewn in lines coming loose.
• There have been some seams that have popped, but past than nothing too unexpected.
• No, we follow the manufacturers guidelines and ensure we meet them.
• Nothing notable
• Very little issues, we have the field inspected annually and occasionally have to fill in low some spots
with more fill and occasionally some stitching needs to be done, but for the most part it's maintenance
free.
• None.
• Our turf fields are only two years old so we have not seen any damage as of yet
• NA
• No.
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Have you noticed an increase in injuries on synthetic turf compared to natural grass fields?
• No
• Not that I'm aware of.
• No
• No
• No
• No
• There has been no injuries reported to the facility due to the use of turf fields
• NA
• No.
When it comes to weather-related cancellations, have you noticed a difference between natural grass and
synthetic turf fields? Please explain.
• Yes, we rarely have to cancel on the turf compared to the grass.
• Yes-there has been more playability post-storm events.
• Of course. The turf fields are heavily used and sometimes the only place that is open. It is a massive
benefit of synthetic.
• Turf has reduced/almost eliminated cancellations for all the sports we play on that surface (Field
Hockey, Soccer, Football, and Lacrosse).
• Yes, very rarely have to cancel on synthetic turf, if we do it's lightning related and not a field issue.
• Yes, natural grass gets destroyed when used during rain or shortly after. Turf can be used without issue
during rain and after.
• No
• NA
• Yes. Fewer weather-related cancellations with the synthetic turf fields. We even have third party
organizations renting the fields in January and February.
Has there been a greater rental demand to play on natural grass or synthetic turf fields? Please explain.
• We have a lot of demand for use of the turf field.
• Yes-we're able to begin leagues sooner and run them later and as a result have had more requests.
• The synthetic turf fields are the most sought after fields we have.
• We do not offer our turf as a rentable space. Grass is rentable and on occasion we make the decision to
shift a grass rental to turf at our discretion when weather makes the grass unusable.
• We only allow our feeder groups to use our fields. They prefer the synthetic field over our grass fields.
• We rent on both surfaces. Both are in high demand during normal rental periods.
• There is a huge demand to play on turf fields and its hard to balance paid vs public use. Currently in the
winter people from the public are shoveling the fields in order to utilize prior to the spring and summer
when they are mostly permitted out during the prime hours
• Synthetic turf will increase demand. In the Northshore near Kenilworth, rental prices for synthetic turf
are at a premium.
• NA
• Synthetic turf fields. Cleaner, always consistent field of play.
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Our residents have asked about public access to the fields. Are your synthetic turf fields open to the public or
fenced off / reservations only?
• Open to the public
• The synthetic infield we have is open to the public. I've noticed parents out there with kids hitting balls
and practicing which has been nice.
• Both, we permit them and also allow the public to use the space when not in use.
• Fenced off.
• Our campus is open to the community when not in uses for a school related event such as
practices/games.
• We have fences around our property. They are not open to the public, but, the High School kids do come
out and and use them as their fields are locked. I recommend having them fenced to keep certain things
off, but, would promote "open turf" opportunities.
• Our fields are open to the public whenever they are not permitted.
• We are looking to build one in the near future. We have discussed specific hours for community use.
• NA
• Open to the public.
If you had to do it over again, would you choose synthetic turf? Why or why not?
• Yes. We are open 11 months a year
• I would in the right scenario. My suggestion is to have a large enough area so that you're able to move
things around on it if possible to avoid repetitive wear and tear. I don't believe the expense is saved vs.
labor due to the average life of synthetic turf but it certainly does increase playability and extend the
timeframe of usage on the field.
• Yes, we are land locked and absolutely need turf to give us some relief on the natural fields.
• Yes - usability factor is a game changer.
• Yes, low maintenance and can use field daily without damage to the playing surface.
• Yes. Durability, maintenance, flexibility of use, longer rental season, and programmatic expansion have
all been a benefit.
• I would chose synthetic turf anytime because it is less maintenance and you get more out of it in terms
of revenue, usage and durability
• Yes, we are considering adding it to the infield of our baseball fields for more playability.
• Yes. Huge win. Maintenance is easy. Fields always are available.
Anything else to add?
• Field turf is great. Provides a lot of options for soccer, field hockey, lacrosse and football.
• Good luck with whatever direction you decide!
• We would love to get more turf fields if/when the opportunity arises.
• We are happy with our synthetic turf field.
• I would turf as much possible space as possible. The amount of useable space it creates is incredible.
Have a plan to clear the turf of snow and leaf debris. Have a plan for turf replacement. If you are going
to use turf at night, understand the lifespan of the surface will decrease. Yearly maintenance should be
built in to your contract.
• Turf Fields are a huge asset for any community
• While we do not have a field, we are looking to add one in the near future. Ours will be smaller in size,
but will allow enough space for organization practices (no games). There is a large demand for turf fields
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in the north-shore. There is also a lack of playable space. We have seen an increase in squatters
(organizations using our fields without payment or permission) who are profiting off of the use of our
facilities. We have ramped up security and will continue to monitor.
• We use synthetic turf a lot in our playgrounds and love it. No problems and no complaints
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Synthetic Turf Fields Maintenance Survey
3/10/2022
The following are the responses to a survey shared with representatives from neighboring municipalities, park
districts, and schools.
Organization
• Lake Forest H.S.
• Waukegan Park District
• Wilmette Park District
• Lake Forest College/FacMan
• Lake Forest Academy
• Village of Vernon Hills
• Adlai E. Stevenson High School
Does your organization maintain a synthetic turf field?
How long have you had the turf field?
• 13 years on 1st field and 3 years on 2nd field
• 12 years
• 6 years
• 20 years or so
• 2019
• 2 years
• Stadium Turf was 12 year 2020
What's the size of the turf area?
• aprox 380X260
• 100,000 SF (2.3 acres)
• 3.3 acres
• Competitive soccer w/ a lovely football inlay
• 3.65A
• 3 full size soccer fields
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• Stadium is approximate 90.000 sq ft muilt purpose is167.000 sq ft
Are the synthetic turf fields...
• They get painted for sports that are not sewn in.
• The lines? Both...sewn (football/soccer); paint...youth soccer/Lax
• Sewn in
• They sew in most of the lines, different colors for soccer and football
• Sewn in
• Sewn in
• Sewn in
Are the synthetic turf fields fenced in?
• and Locked
• Yes
• No
• Yes
• Yes
• Yes
• stadium is, multi purpose is not
How many months is it in use? Please provide number and range (i.e., 9 months, February-October)
• March-Nov
• 9 months; March - November
• April 4-November 20 is the main season but we get calls once the snow melts in March and will go late
November/December until 1st snowfall.
• You should ask the Athletic folks, but it's as much as they are able...
• It's available for LFA sports usage and many outside rentals and summer camps February - December
(depending on weather). We are exploring options for snow removal for more rental opportunities as
well.
• March to November
• 8 to nine months depends on weather
How many days a week is the field used?
• 7
• 7
• 7 days a week. Both main organizations that rent turf, travel soccer & baseball, take Friday's off leaving
space available on Friday's for others
• I defer to my colleagues
• Minimum 5 days/week. 7 days/week June - August with summer camps.
• 7
• 6 days
What are your yearly, weekly, and monthly maintenance practices? Provide hours, if possible.
• 300 man hours a year. 2-3 weekly, changes per month
• Monthly grooming/sweeping; Once a year - deep clean w/ contractor; Total hours Maint = 36 hrs/year
(does not include basic maint (garbage/painting/etc)
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• 8 hours a month when in use. grooming. picking up trash
• same as above, I'm Facilities Management, I built it. Athletics maintains it. I can direct you to those
people.
• I use a FieldTurf Groomright for most cultural practices. It is a tow-behind implement that has the ability
to brush, aerate, and rake (BAR) the surface. I can operate each practice individually also. I run the brush,
aerate, and rake together 2x/year (right before spring sports and fall sports). I run the brush/rake
attachment 1x before summer camps, and then sweep the surface as needed throughout the warmer
months (more during the summer with camps running constantly for debris and fall with small debris).
• Minimal. Installer provides an annual cleaning. PW redistributes rubber pellets 4-6 weeks. Empty trash
daily.
• With the fields being new they are walked daily and and brushed every six weeks as needed
What equipment do you use for maintenance?
• Fieldturf Groomall, Sports Champ
• Greens Groomer/Turf Chief
• groomer and a sweeper that picks up trash. Airless spray painter.
• I will refer you to Brian Bruha, (847) 735-5293 for the remaining answers
• I used the FieldTurf Groomright, Fieldturf lightweight drag sweeper, and Kifco water cannon during the
stretches over 90 degrees.
• Field sweep/groomer attachment
• Fieldturf Sweepright pro and a fieldturf Greensgroomer we also have a pull behide sweeper
How often is the field painted?
• 2/year for painted fields; rest sewn in; or once for each special event (lax, frisbee, etc)
• once a month when in heavy use
• We have two fields (Bears and Warner). The bears side is already lined (sewn and glued in) for softball in
one corner and girls LAX across the entire field. The Warner side is lined for boys LAX. I only paint if we
need to put a soccer team on one of the fields due to a rain event making our one or two of our natural
fields unplayable. The soccer field on this surface is not regulation so it's not something we try to host but
at least gets a game in.
• Sew-in
• we a paint the stadium turf for mens and womens lacrosse and paint about 500 hundred 2 inch dot for
the band 2 times a year and on one of the muilt purpose fields we paint football in the fall
What procedure do you use to remove paint?
• 4 times yearly
• n/a
• spray it with a stripper and then we have brush that agitates the paint and we low pressure wash it off
• I use Pioneer chalk paint that is designed to be used on synthetic turf. It fades away with rain events over
a short period of time.
• NA
• None
Do you spray for MRSA?
• Yes
• No
• No
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• No
• No
• No
Do you have a GMAX testing preference?
• Clegg
• Clegg; Less than 135
• No
• Because it is a new field, and covid limited its use in 2020, we have been told that we do not need to test
for 4-5 years.
• nothing yet
What infill do you use? How often do you need to add it?
• Crumb Rubber from Fieldturf. 4000#'s yearly
• crumb rubber; Twice annually in high traffic areas only
• Mondo Ecofill Rebound. mondoturf.com filling it in for the 1st time in 6yrs. Our turf is in good shape.
• Black crumb rubber. I check high use areas such goal areas, softball pitching mound, batter's box, and all
bases each week during their season. I have not needed to add material across the entire field yet with
our BAR grooming piece.
• annual
• Crumb Rubber
What are your biggest maintenance concerns?
• Adding rubber, taking off temporary lines, grooming, leaf maintenance
• Seams coming up; Worn fiber in high traffic areas; Replacement costs
• taking all the organic matter of the turf. gum, food, leaves, debris, vandelism
• Being too aggressive with the rake attachment on the BAR system. The brush can move material too much
at times also. Aeration tines are pretty solid when using 2x/year. Less is more with this piece.
• leaves and rubbish collection
• Marching Band in the Stadium and on Muilt purpose is Baseball and Softball
Have there been any unanticipated maintenance issues with synthetic turf? Please explain.
• We have been lucky so far.
• No; Pretty simple as its primarily used for soccer and some youth football; All play is scheduled use
only...no off the street/pickup play. All heavy machinery/equipment is kept off; No snow removal; Gets a
little hot peak summer...but primarily heat is located below knee level.
• We have a pitching mound that can be flipped over for soccer. Cool idea at the time but baseball
organization doesn't like the mound drop off in back of mound. Unnatural. It is not a natural drop off for
pitchers at that level. (7th-8th grade). Also takes 2-4 guys to flip mound. very heavy. So to fix that we
make sure our soccer field end line stops short of the mound so we don't have to flip mound. I would
make sure your baseball people are all in agreement with the manufacturer's mound that you will use.
• We have had some glued pieces lift up. We are still within a warranty period but we can buy glue for a
caulk gun after for repairs.
• No. Very satisfied.
• none as of yet
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Anything else to add?
• I love having a synthetic turf. It gets used starting in March-November. No Rain Outs. No tearing up the
Natural Grass Fields.
• Ours is an AstroTurf (GameDay) System installed in 2010. Good luck - please reach out if i can help
• no lights on our fields. Lights in Wilmette are always a point of contention in Wilmette. We only have
lights at Howard Park for softball & football.
• Good luck! Remember, they can melt if you fire a model rocket off one! And Boise State did one in blue
and had a problem with ducks trying to land on the "water"...not funny because they were breaking their
legs! The guys that installed it told me!
• The synthetic turf field gets much hotter at the surface than natural grass. When we get into the the mid
90s+, the crumb rubber can technically emit a carcinogen. Because of this, we have a Kifco water cannon
with add on booster pump that was purchased with the field to quickly cool the surface. It can be a big
liability without using the piece. It 2018 or 2019 it was well over $20k. We purchased from Conserv.
• Our VHAC users were constantly impacted by rain-outs and worn areas by the goals. SportsTurf fields have
all but eliminated these issues.
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City of Lake Forest DRAFT 3/28/2022
Athletic Field Improvements
Project Cost Analysis
NATURAL SYNTHETIC
Turf Improvements $4,998,646 $7,900,209
Site Utilities (Water, Sanitary Sewer)$297,680 $297,680
Buildings
North Building - Storage, Patio, Restrooms, Maint $1,662,250 $1,662,250
South Building - Restrooms, Patio $655,750 $655,750
Underground Detention $257,725 $257,725
Rehabilitation (Street Resurfacing)$324,520 $324,520
$8,196,571 $11,098,134
10-year annual debt service, 2.75%$950,000 $1,285,742
Resulting addl increase in 2021 total levy 2.71%3.67%
Resulting addl increase to average household $105 $142
15-year annual debt service, 2.90%$682,683 $924,350
Resulting addl increase in 2021 total levy 1.95%2.64%
Resulting addl increase to average household $75 $102
Personnel Increase to 4 FTEs Current 2 FTEs
First Year additional cost - Personnel $256,000 N/A
First Year Maintenance - net budget impact $50,000 $15,000
Inflation Factor 3.0% annual
Resulting addl increase in 2021 total levy 0.87%N/A
Resulting addl increase to average household $34 N/A
Inflation Factor 3.0% annual N/A 2,500,000
Financing Option Natural Synthetic
Total 10-year costs 10-year financing $13,007,947 $16,291,311
Total 15-year costs 10-year financing $15,191,268 $16,398,337
Total 15-year costs 15-year financing $15,931,513 $17,406,167
Total 20-year costs 15-year financing $18,462,580 $21,914,004
Total 25-year costs 15-year financing $21,396,780 $22,057,837
TOTAL COSTS
One-Time Costs (Gewalt Hamilton Schematic Design October 2021):
Pre-Design Estimates. Includes 10% contingency and 12% FY21-23 Inflation
One-Time Costs funded by Bond Issue with annual debt service paid from property tax levy
Operating Budget Impact (Parks/Recreation):
Synthetic Turf Replacement (every 10 years):
Increased field rental fees placed in specific account to fund turf replacement
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Dear Honorable Mayor and Honorable City Council,
On behalf of the Deer Path Middle(DPM) School Wellness Department, this respectfully
recommends your consideration of installing a synthetic turf surface that would replace the
existing natural grass fields at Deerpath Community Park.
As DPM Wellness Department Leaders, we believe the synthetic surface would increase
daily use for our students, plus the entire Lake Forest community since it would lessen the
impact our climate has on the existing grass and dirt fields. As teachers responsible for 800+
students, we try to get all of them outdoors every day, weather permitting, but we’re often
compromised, even on good weather days due to damp, drenched grounds that haven’t
recovered from rain, snow, sleet, cold temperatures and other elements associated with our
climate. A synthetic surface could permit more immediate, regular access for our students. In
addition, a synthetic turf will provide a safe, level outdoor classroom for Wellness that is easily
accessible for all students.
In addition to weather challenges, our fields are further compromised by migrating
Canadian Geese and their waste. Installation of synthetic turf will not appeal to these geese,
and could relieve us of the attendant mess, bacteria, and clean-up we currently undergo.
Finally, please note that we have 15 years’ experience at Lake Forest High School West
Campus where a synthetic turf surface was installed in 2007. That Field has successfully served
our community for football, soccer, field hockey and other community events across a variety of
age groups without compromise due to weather conditions. Adding another all-purpose surface
at Deerpath Community Park could benefit the entire Lake Forest community for future
decades, and inspire the community to take advantage of a resource regardless of our climate
challenges.
Respectfully,
DPM Wellness Department
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March 4th, 2022
Michael Mangiaracina
549 N. Mayflower Rd
Lake Forest, IL 60045
Mayor George Pandaleon
City Manager Wicha
Alderman Jennifer Karras
Alderman James Morris
Alderman Melanie Rummel
Alderman Edward Notz
Alderman Jim Preschlack
Alderman Ara Goshgarian
Alderman Raymond Buschmann
Alderman Eileen Weber
Thank you for your dedication and all the hard work you do for our wonderful community. I am proud to
call myself a Lake Forest resident and am blessed to be raising a family in such a great town. I
understand and appreciate your commitment and know it contributes to the success of our community.
My name is Michael Mangiaracina and I am the current Commissioner of the Lake Forest Baseball
Association. Our growing organization currently consists of 110 Lake Forest families (ages 7-12) and
represents the City when we play against other communities. I personally played baseball from the age
of 5 into my 30’s and then switched roles from player to coach when my son Philip was old enough to
start playing. I’ve coached the last 8 years and most recently took on the role as Commissioner.
I’ve coached many practices and games at the Deerpath fields and am extremely familiar with them. I
have also grown very familiar with the surrounding communities’ fields. As a coach, father of a player,
and tax paying citizen of Lake Forest, it frustrates me when I compare the Deerpath fields to most other
communities’ fields. The Deerpath Fields pale in comparison and frankly are an embarrassing
representation of Lake Forest. I will highlight why I feel this way.
Baseball starts in April which we know is a wet time of year around here. The beginning of the baseball
season is an extremely important time when our young athletes learn how to play and practice the
game. A major hurdle we face at Deerpath is the constant rainouts. The fields barely drain, with spots on
the infield that actually retain water (home plate, pitchers mount, by every base). When we experience
a moderately rainy day, it can turn into MULTIPLE canceled days of practices and games due to field
conditions.
When the rain subsides, and the warm air moves in, the infields dry out. Part of prepping a field for a
game is to have a tractor drag a rake over the infield. When this is performed at Deerpath the very fine
sand of the infield turns it into a giant sandbox. The sand is so deep that sometimes when a ball is hit it
can’t even roll (think of hitting a ball on a sandy beach). This RUINS the game. It also creates an
environment where any gust of wind creates a sandstorm, blowing sand into the eyes of both young
172
athletes, and spectators watching. It is uncomfortable, dangerous, and embarrassing for Lake Forest. (I
can share pictures if you’d like)
Move to the outfield and you will not find a flat, even area. The spotty grass has many ruts and holes
from various other sports and activities. There are also ruts where sprinkler heads have eroded the dirt
around them. I personally have twisted my ankle during a practice on one of these recessed sprinkler
heads. This also creates a dangerous situation where a hard-hit ground ball can hit one of these holes,
bounce up and hit a player in the face causing injuries to the face.
This same outfield also becomes harder as we get into the very warm and dry months. If a player makes
a diving catch or falls, the hard ground increases the chance of injury.
I compare this to my experiences of playing and coaching on synthetic fields both here and in
Mississippi. The fields are flat, soft, and play true. The game can always be played, even shortly after
rain. Playing on these fields is a much better playing experience. Players don’t have to worry about their
next steps and can trust the ground is flat and true. Not to mention they look and feel great!
Converting to synthetic fields also eliminates the need to water grass, cut grass, and drag infields which
are performed by air polluting tractors. The need to chalk lines after every single game is also
eliminated. And most importantly it eliminates the need to spray pesticides on the grass our children
play on. I can only assume these same pesticides end up in the nearby river.
I would like you all to know the updating and conversion of our Deerpath field to synthetic turf is fully
supported by the Lake Forest Baseball Association Board of Directors and families and I urge you to
see this project through.
Thank you for your time and I look forward to synthetic fields our children and families deserve.
Regards,
Michael Mangiaracina
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From: Meredith Gauthier
Date: October 28, 2021 at 9:54:47 PM EDT
To: "Morris, James" <MorrisJ@cityoflakeforest.com>, "Karras, Jennifer" <karrasj@cityoflakeforest.com>,
"Pandaleon, George" <pandaleong@cityoflakeforest.com>, "Rummel, Melanie"
<RummelM@cityoflakeforest.com>, "Notz, Edward" <NotzE@cityoflakeforest.com>, "Preschlack, Jim"
<Preschlack@cityoflakeforest.com>, "Goshgarian, Ara" <GoshgarianA@cityoflakeforest.com>,
"Buschmann, Raymond" <BuschmannR@cityoflakeforest.com>, ebere@cityoflakeforest.com
Subject: LFSA supports the turf field complex
CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organization. Verify the legitimacy of the email with the sender
before clicking links or opening attachments from unexpected sources.
Dear Mayor & Aldermen,
I'm writing as not only a life-long Lake Forest resident but also as a community organization leader. I am
the board president of the Lake Forest Soccer Association. I've got 3 daughters that all play soccer so as
you can imagine, I've spent a great deal of time at sports facilities near & far. I've also spent a great deal
of time discussing field conditions, maintenance & resources with the Parks & Rec group. You must
know that our sports fields are not what they should be & not even close to what our community & our
children deserve.
A turf field complex at Deerpath park is one big step in the right direction & you have the unwavering
support of the LFSA organization & all of its families. If there is anything I can do to help move this
project along, I will volunteer to do it. My kids, all of our kids, have spent too many years with rained
out games & canceled practices.
Please put the funds towards this project and know that you have our support.
Best,
Meredith Gauthier
--
Meredith Gauthier
847-542-4970
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www.green-minds.org
Environmental thinking.
1
August 11th 2021
Dear Mayor, City Council and Parks & Board District Members,
It has come to our attention that the Parks & Recreation Board is investigating replacing the
grass with artificial turf on the athletic fields behind Deerpath Middle School/The Rec Center.
As you deliberate the financial and environmental pros and cons, Green Minds Lake Forest Lake
Bluff (Green Minds LFLB) ask that you consider the attached questions (pages 2-4) and sources
(pages 5-6). These questions reflect our serious concerns about the environmental, health, and
player injury problems artificial turf poses.
While we understand this is part of the Parks & Rec’s Masterplan none of our 200+ members
have been made aware of the community at large being asked for input. We struggle to
understand how a $10 million dollar project with such negative environmental and health
impact can be justified. Our community has many other urgent needs, including homeowners
increasingly struggling with flooding issues arising from more frequent and severe storms.
Several of our members with children playing soccer complain that the artificial turf fields are
unnecessarily harsh on their bodies; the goalies especially suffer. Last season, when the turf
was redone both LFHS varsity goalies had severe and painful turf burns on legs, arms and
torsos. This could have been avoided had they been able to play on properly drained grass
fields.
Kind Regards
Green Minds LFLB Board Members
David Bedrin
Marion Carthwright
Eva Heilman
Marcus Norman
Yuh M M Schabacker-Koppel
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February 17, 2022
Parks & Recreation Board, City of Lake Forest
Paul Best, Chair
Nancy Duffy, Kevin Carden, Patrick Marshall, Mark Silver, Kaci Spirito
Sally Swarthout, Director of Parks & Recreation
RE: Deerpath Community Park athletic field improvements
To the Board of the Parks & Recreation Department:
We understand that the Parks and Recreation Board will recommend a project design funding request
for athletic field improvements at Deerpath Community Park on March 15 to the City Council. Our
organizations appreciate the importance that the Parks and Recreation Board places on achieving high
quality recreational activities by addressing field conditions across all our parks.
We urge the Parks & Recreation Board to choose natural grass as a playing surface in its
recommendation for a preliminary design of Deerpath Community Park. We do not support the option
of synthetic turf, with or without natural infill options, as a playing surface.
We believe that well-used and enjoyable parks can uphold sustainability principles and co-exist with
natural ecosystems. The Deerpath Community Park site can serve as a showcase of community vitality,
floodplain management, and preservation of biodiversity of the Skokie River.
One of the hallmarks of Lake Forest is its reverence for adherence to community developed long term
planning goals and objectives. These plans, developed over many years, serve as a repository of
community values. They represent a through line that encompasses finances, aesthetics, and the unique
natural environment that attracts new residents and returning residents to our town.
The 2018-2022 Strategic Plan states that “we must strive for a balanced approach to policies, activities
and operations that are environmentally-responsible, sustainable, efficient and fiscally-minded for
future generations.” Improving the natural grass playing fields demonstrates our conservation ethic to
our children and models long-term best community practices in accordance with the values articulated
over the course of many years.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comment.
Sincerely,
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