CC_2024_02_20_MINUTESThe City of Lake Forest
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Proceedings of the Tuesday, February 20, 2024
City Council Meeting – City Council Chambers
220 E Deerpath, Lake Forest, IL 60045
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Honorable Mayor Tack called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m., and City
Clerk Margaret Boyer called the roll of Council members.
Present: Honorable Mayor Tack, Alderman Novit, Alderman Waldeck, Alderman Notz, Alderman Powers,
Alderman Preschlack, Alderman Goshgarian, Alderman Weber, and Alderman Walther
Absent: None
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS
COMMENTS BY MAYOR
A. 2024-2025 Board and Commission Appointments and Reappointments
CROYA BOARD
NAME OF MEMBER APPOINT/REAPPOINT WARD
Megan Carney APPOINT Deer Path Middle School Rep
Mayor Tack read the appointment and asked for a motion.
COUNCIL ACTION: Approve the Mayor’s Appointments and Reappointments
Alderman Powers made a motion to Approve the Mayor’s Appointments, seconded by Alderman Walther.
Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER
A. Elawa Parking Lot Improvements
- Byron Kutz, P.E., Superintendent of Engineering
City Manager Jason Wicha introduced Byron Kutz, Superintendent of Engineering who noted the importance of
the project to the community and the neighborhood. He gave an overview of the public process, and the project
improvements that included resurfacing the entrance drive and parking lot, expansion to the north, drainage
improvements with a bioswale, improved sidewalk accessibility, and bike racks to name a few. He reviewed
planned construction coordination and details about the Landscape screening. This item is on the omnibus.
OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL
Proceedings of the Tuesday, February 20, 2024
City Council Meeting
COMMITTEE REPORTS
ITEMS FOR OMNIBUS VOTE CONSIDERATION
1. Approval of February 5, 2024, City Council Meeting Minutes
2. Consideration of a Request to Waive the Fidelity Bond Requirement in Connection with
Holding a Raffle in the City of Lake Forest for Lake Forest Country Day School and Lake Forest
Baseball Association (Approval by Motion)
3. Approval of an Ordinance approving a Fee Schedule Adjusting Water Rates for FY2025 (Final
Approval)
4. Authorize the Police Department to purchase sixteen (16) Semi-Rugged Panasonic Toughbook
laptop computers, Havis docking stations, and accessories, from CDS Office Technologies for a
total amount of $63,838.00
5. Approval to waive bidding and authorize the purchase a new safety boat from Professional
Boats in the amount of $45,865.16.
6. Waive the Bidding Process and Authorize a contract for building repairs at Deerpath Golf
Course with Efraim Carlson & Son, Inc. for the amount of $108.801.81, to include a 10%
contingency in the amount of $11,000.00, For a Total Amount of $119,801.81.
7. Award of Bid for the Grove Campus Roof Replacements & Repair Project to Filotto Roofing, Inc.
in the Amount of $141,500, to Include a 10% Contingency in the Amount of $14,500, for a Total
Amount of $156,000
8. Award of the Low Bid for the Elawa Parking Lot Improvements to Maneval Construction and
Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount of $453,210 as well as
Approving a 10% Contingency in the Amount of $40,321 for a Total Cost of $493,531
Mayor Tack asked members of the City Council if there were any items that they would like removed or taken
separately. Seeing none, he asked for a motion.
Alderman Weber made a motion to approve the eight (8) Omnibus items as presented, seconded by Alderman
Goshgarian. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Novit, Waldeck, Notz, Powers, Preschlack, Goshgarian,
Weber, and Walther. The following voted “Nay”: none. 8-Ayes, 0-Nays, motion carried.
Information such as Purpose and Action Requested, Background/Discussion, Budget/Fiscal Impact, Council
Action and a Staff Contact as it relates to the Omnibus items can be found on the agenda.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
Proceedings of the Tuesday, February 20, 2024
City Council Meeting
1. Consideration of a Recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals in Support of an
Amendment to the Special Use Permit for Gorton Center Located at 400 Illinois Road. (Waive
First Reading and Grant Final Approval of an Ordinance)
Catherine Czerniak, Director of Community Development reported that this is a recommendation from the
Zoning Board of Appeals. She gave a brief history of the Gorton Center. She reviewed other Special Use
Permits throughout The City of Lake Forest and the current Special Use Permit that is in place for Gorton. She
stated that the impetus for this amendment is to understand the range of uses that occur at Gorton, establish
some parameters for use recognizing that Gorton is located adjacent to single family homes, and to provide
clarity for all stakeholders on what is and is not permitted on the site. The amendment will align the Special
Use Permit with current activities offered at Gorton and to establish some parameters for activities
recognizing the adjacency to residential properties.
The Board concluded in a 5 to 0 vote that the proposed amendments identify an appropriate range of uses
and activities for Gorton Center all of which in fact currently occur on the site. The Board also recommended
conditions of approval to establish reasonable limitations on the activities to balance the interests of the
various stakeholders including neighbors and the community at large.
Ms. Czerniak reviewed the Councils options related to this item; approve amendments to the Gorton Center
Special Use Permit (Waive First reading, grant final approval), Deny the petition or Remand the petition to the
Zoning Board of Appeals.
The City Council had discussions on amplified sound, internal sound system, event management, striking the
right balance, number of outdoor annual events,
Mayor Tack asked if there was anyone from the public who would like to comment.
Mary Sanders offered her opinion on sound/noise damage to persons in close proximity.
Mayor Tack again asked if there was anyone from the public who would like to comment.
Alderman Novit made a motion to waive first reading, seconded by Alderman Powers.
The City Council had additional discussion on the process of waiving first reading and the possibility of hearing
this item at the next City Council meeting. Following discussion Mayor Tack asked the City Council for a motion
to waive first reading and grant final approval including conditions.
COUNCIL ACTION: If desired by the Council, waive first reading and grant final approval of an Ordinance
amending the Special Use Permit for Gorton Center at 400 E. Illinois Road as recommended by the Zoning
Board of Appeals and as detailed in the Ordinance.
Alderman Weber made a motion to waive first reading and grant final approval of an Ordinance amending the
Special Use Permit for Gorton Center at 400 E. Illinois Road as recommended by the Zoning Board of Appeals
and as detailed in the Ordinance, seconded by Alderman Preschlack. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman
Novit, Waldeck, Notz, Powers, Preschlack, Goshgarian, Weber, and Walther. The following voted “Nay”: none.
8-Ayes, 0-Nays, motion carried.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION/COMMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mayor Tack noted there will be no further business following executive session, he then asked for a motion to
adjourn into EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(11), Pending litigation, and (5), Purchase or
Proceedings of the Tuesday, February 20, 2024
City Council Meeting
lease of real property for the use of the public body, and (6), Disposition of property and the consideration
for the sale or lease of property owned by the Public Body.
Alderman Notz made a motion to adjourn into executive session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(11), Pending
litigation, and (5), Purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, and (6), Disposition of
property and the consideration for the sale or lease of property owned by the Public Body, seconded by
Alderman Walther. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Novit, Waldeck, Notz, Powers, Preschlack,
Goshgarian, Weber, and Walther. The following voted “Nay”: none. 8-Ayes, 0-Nays, motion carried.
Adjournment into Executive Session at 7:18 pm.
Reconvened into Regular Session at 8:45 pm.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business Mayor Tack asked for a motion to adjourn. Alderman Preschlack made a
motion to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Notz. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote at 8:46 p.m.
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.