CC_2024_07_01_MINUTESThe City of Lake Forest
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING
Proceedings of the Monday, July 1, 2024 6:00 pm.
City Council Workshop Meeting – Municipal Services
800 N. Field Drive, Lake Forest, IL 60045
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Honorable Mayor Tack called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and City
Clerk Margaret Boyer called the roll of Council members.
Present: Honorable Mayor Tack, Alderman Novit, Alderman Clemens, Alderman Notz, Alderman Powers,
Alderman Goshgarian, Alderman LeVert, and Alderman Weber.
Absent: Alderman Walther.
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 6:00 p.m.
1. Review of Due Diligence Reports Related to 1925 Field Court for Adaptive Reuse
Summary: City Manager Jason Wicha noted to the Council that there are no votes at this workshop meeting,
this meeting is in preparation for the Council’s meeting on July 15. The Council will hear information on time
sensitive items and can discuss the Council’s comfort level of the project that this meeting is meant to be
informational and conversational. He gave a high level overview of potential project milestones, reviewing the
last 90 days. The City Council had discussion on retro-fitting the current building and the design process.
o Concord Group Report for Whole Building and Site Assessment
Summary: Justin Johnson shared company history, their project approach, project outcomes and estimates
with build-out costs removed. Project approach full visual inspection, soft costs not included such as permits
and design. Project outcomes reviewed lifespan of assets noting that 10 year asset replacement capital
projection is not a scenario. The City Council had discussion on the price tag and how it fits in with the needs,
assets in the building and how they can replace fan motors and compressor to lengthen the life span of the
asset. Estimates with build-out costs removed a ten year asset replacement Capital projection was shared
along with a original costs compared to updated costs. The City Council had discussion on the annual capital
improvement budget, no amount is allocated to just one building, the assumption of 2029 replacement of
assets, Public Works in 2019 reviewed 27 buildings, percentage of impact to homeowner, not looking to City
Council to raise revenues.
o FGM Architects Report for a Space Needs Analysis
Summary: Mike Elliot and Louise Gruener Kowalczyk shared their other community based adaptive reuse
project history. Defining the need was shared, highlights of examples of need to have spaces was shared. The
City Council had discussion on challenges, the firing range, what items are able to be accommodated, previous
work of the firm. Examples of nice to have spaces was shared, the city council had discussion on how long until
the nice to have spaces become need to have spaces, staffing assumptions, and current number of sworn
officers, is there a National standard? Yes, approximately 700-1200 square feet per officer, is that including
the nice to haves? Should the Council choose to proceed, a menu of nice to haves would be shared and the
Council can decide what to add. The Council went on to have a high level summary discussion using existing
conditions, need to have and nice to have items. The City Council had discussion on biggest regrets of others
who have undergone this process? Total Cost Estimates slide was shared including absorbing other costs
Concord Group identified as infrastructure and mechanicals. The construction costs, contingency/escalations,
engineering and architecture design fees along with soft costs (furniture, fixtures, etc.) were presented in both
need to have and nice to have formats. The City Council had discussion on comfortability with the space, more
space than needed, future growth, challenge of finding a parcel. How long to build a new building, the building
giving the city significant flexibility, the lack of inventory of public property, build out of potential lessors,
Proceedings of the Monday, July 1, 2024
Special City Council Workshop
ongoing maintenance costs, asset replacement schedule, no sight acquisition costs, consideration of starting
over at the current location, building up two to three stories and the potential of flood plain area restrictions.
Current public safety building viability for the next 30 to 50 years, sustainability, using existing building, the
firing range and Sally port.
o Financing
Summary: Jim Lockefeer shared a breakdown of Operating Budget Estimates that compares Municipal Services
to the 1925 space with the assumption of full building use as is, with the addition of one fulltime maintenance
personnel to be added. The City Council had discussion on lease payments to cover costs. Conway Park
assessments, landscape maintenance. Municipal Services not a part of Conway Park Annual assessments.
Assessments based on square footage. Assessment cover pond maintenance. Forestry and landscape. The
option for reduction on CPOA Assessment for in kind services, i.e. snowplowing.
Summary: Elizabeth Holleb reviewed the self-limiting ordinance from 2013 and gave a history of the self
limiting ordinance and shared graphics on current levied debt capacity, she shared a model of bonds were
issued out today resulting in an additional increase to homeowners of approximately $272. The Council had
discussion about recent debt with Deerpath Park. A review of 10 year and 15 year $25 million bond funding
was shown along with the impact of overlapping debt levies of Lake forest property taxpayers. The Council had
discussion on the policy, The current five year fund balance forecast of the capital improvement fund was
shown with reserve funds available. Ms. Holleb reviewed the potential draw down of reserves in the General
Fund. The City Council had discussion on this as a policy question. Fund balance target is 70% of revenues and
this would take it to 60.17%, for Council consideration. The option to amend the self limiting Levy ordinance
to exclude the Police Facility was discussed, leaving the ability to keep the full ordinance in place for future
Councils. The City Council had discussion on taking on more debt, credit capacity, agency ratings, bond rates,
Debt capacity, District 67 levy and the Lake Forest levy, fund balance reserves, paying off debt early,
prepayment penalties, what it will mean for future Councils.
o Staff Reports
Summary: City Manager Wicha gave a high level overview of Potential Project Milestones, the City Council
offered feedback on identifying tenants, sharing space with other law enforcement agencies, what is going to
happen at the second meeting in July either execute or terminate the purchase sale agreement, worse case
scenario, resell building, communication to the public, feedback from the public, transparency, community
recognizing the need, opportunity to save millions, the value of getting the building for 3.5 million.
2. Deerpath Watermain Project Report
Summary: Mike Thomas and Jim Lockefeer gave an overview of the water main project at Deerpath and Green
Bay Roads. The City Council had discussion on the impact of the intersection being closed, communications to
impacted properties, a detour was discussed, full closure vs. one lane closure, additional comments on Bank
Lane one way- does it stay like that, is this part of the Bank Lane existing projects discussed recommendations
from study. The project scope was discussed that included a number of items such as new sidewalks,
landscape bump outs, improved street lighting, resurfacing Deerpath Rd., City Council had discussion on trees
for Deerpath, picking the correct trees, a water main project map was shared showing the upsizing the pipe
from 8”to 12”. The City Council had additional discussion of loss of control of the project when IDOT is in
charge, potential negative effects, logistics and streetscape was discussed. This item is planned for the July 15
City Council meeting.
3. Opportunity for Public Comment
Diane offered comments to the Council on the Deerpath Watermain project not using State dollars.
4. Adjournment
Proceedings of the Monday, July 1, 2024
Special City Council Workshop
There being no further business Mayor Tack asked for a motion to adjourn. Alderman Weber made a motion
to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Notz. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote at 8:15 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Margaret Boyer, City Clerk