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CC_2026_03_16_MINUTESThe City of Lake Forest CITY COUNCIL MEETING Proceedings of Monday, March 16, 2026 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: Mayor Tack, Alderman Novit, Alderman Clemens, Alderman Notz, Alderman Powers, Alderman LeVert, Alderman Bothfeld, Alderman Weber, and Alderman Walther. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all those present. REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS 1.COMMENTS BY MAYOR A.Lake Forest Day Proclamation, The American Legion "Salutes the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America!" Mayor Tack read the Proclamation. Lake Forest Day celebration is declared to be a City Fair, and Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and Wednesday, August 5, 2026 shall be observed as a holiday in the City of Lake Forest. Mayor Tack asked for a motion to approve. Photos were taken. Adjutant Tom Marks expressed his gratitude. CITY COUNCIL ACTION Lake Forest Day Proclamation, The American Legion "Salutes the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America!" Alderman Novit made a motion to approve the Proclamation, seconded by Alderman Notz. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote. Mayor Tack reported that Ward Meetings will begin in a few weeks. The first Ward Meeting will be for Ward 2 on Thursday, April 9, at 6:30 pm at CROYA. Residents can hear directly from their Aldermen and ask questions. Additional details about future Ward Meetings can be found on the City’s website, cityoflakeforest.com/Ward Meetings 2.COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER 3.OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL Diane thanked the staff for their kindness at the Operating Budget Workshop Meeting. 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS PARKS & RECREATION SUBCOMMITTEE 1.Approval of (1) a Beach Concessions Management Agreement with the Cotton Duck LLC as the Recommended Vendor for the Forest Park Beach Concessions Operation; and (2) Approval of an Ordinance Amending the City Code Regarding the Class K Liquor License for Forest Park Beach. -Mike Wick, Director of Parks & Recreation Proceedings of the March 16, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Mike Wick, Director of Parks & Recreation, provided a timeline of discussions regarding a recommendation to award a beach concessions contract for the 2026 beach season. After six local businesses were interviewed, staff and the Parks & Recreation Committee recommend that vendor The Cotton Duck LLC., be selected. Dominic Zumpano and Cecilia Lanyon from The Cotton Duck LLC expressed their appreciation for awarding them the contract for the 2026 Forest Park Beach Concessions Operation. City Council had discussions about inclement weather operations, credit card processing fees, and serving alcoholic beverages. Alderman Walther requested the language in the contract be amended to include that the contract is renewable on an annual basis for a term not to exceed five years. After five years, the City would be required to conduct another RFP process. Mayor Tack asked if there was anyone from the public who would like to comment. Seeing none, he asked for a motion. COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of (1) a Beach Concessions Management Agreement with the Cotton Duck LLC as the Recommended Vendor for the Forest Park Beach Concessions Operation; and (2) Approval of an Ordinance Amending the City Code Regarding the Class K Liquor License for Forest Park Beach. Alderman Powers made a motion to (1) approve a Beach Concessions Management Agreement with the Cotton Duck LLC as the Recommended Vendor for the Forest Park Beach Concessions Operation; and (2) Approve of an Ordinance Amending the City Code Regarding the Class K Liquor License for Forest Park Beach with the modifications as discussed, seconded by Alderman Notz. Aldermen Novit, Clemens, Notz, Powers, LeVert, Bothfeld, Weber, and Walther. The following voted “Nay”: none. 8-Ayes, 0-Nays, motion carried. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE 2.Overview Map for Public Works Omnibus items # 4, #5, and #6 -Byron Kutz, Superintendent of Engineering Byron Kutz, Superintendent of Engineering, provided an overview of three items on the Omnibus agenda. The first item (#4) is the Green Bay Watermain replacement project. The one-hundred-year-old pipe is scheduled to be replaced from June 8 through August 10. The second item (#5) is the Concrete Streets, Curb, and Sidewalk replacement project. Repairs are scheduled to begin in early June and is estimated to last for one month. The third item (# 6) is the Patching and Resurfacing project scheduled to begin early May and continue until August 7. The project consists of resurfacing 2.7 miles of streets and 3,200 square yards of patches. Motor Fuel Tax funds will be utilized for resurfacing, while local capital funds will be utilized for street patching. City Council had a discussion regarding communication with residents as the projects proceed. ITEMS FOR OMNIBUS VOTE CONSIDERATION 1.Approval of Monday, March 2, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes 2.Consideration of an Ordinance Prohibiting the Use of Coal Tar Sealant Products in the City of Lake Forest (Final Reading) Proceedings of the March 16, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting 3.Annual Vendor Approval for FY2027 4.Consideration of a Request to Waive the Fidelity Bond Requirement in Connection with Holding the Raffles in the City of Lake Forest for McKinlock American Legion Post 264 (Approval by Motion) 5.Award the Low Bid for the Green Bay Watermain Replacement and Valve Repairs Project to DiMeo Brothers., Inc., and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount of $1,214,850 and a Contingency in the Amount of $55,150 for a Total Project Cost of $1,270,000 6.Approval of a Third-Year Renewal with Schroeder & Schroeder, Inc., for the 2026 Concrete Streets, Curb, and Sidewalk Replacement Project, and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount Not to Exceed $310,000 7.Award of the Low Bid for the 2026 Patching & Resurfacing Project to Peter Baker & Son Co., and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement in the Amount Not to Exceed $1,580,000 8.Consideration of Ordinances Approving Recommendations from the Building Review Board for 163 Washington Road and 290 Majestic Oak Court. (First Reading and if Desired by the City Council, Final Approval) 9.Consideration of an Ordinance Approving a Recommendation from the Historic Preservation Commission in Support of a Building Scale Variance for an Infill Addition at 161 N. Sheridan Road. (First Reading and if Desired by the City Council, Final Approval) 10.Consideration of an Ordinance Approving a Recommendation from the Zoning Board of Appeals for 284 Granby Road. (First Reading, and if Desired by the City Council, Final Approval) Mayor Tack asked if anyone would like an item removed or taken separately. Seeing none, he asked for a motion. CITY COUNCIL ACTION Approve the ten (10) omnibus items as presented. Alderman Clemens made a motion to approve the ten (10) omnibus items as presented, seconded by Alderman Powers. The following voted “Aye”: Aldermen Novit, Clemens, Notz, Powers, LeVert, Bothfeld, Weber, and Walther. The following voted “Nay”: none. 8-Ayes, 0-Nays, motion carried. 6.OLD BUSINESS 1.Consideration of an Ordinance Approving Construction of a Telecommunications Tower at the City’s Compost Center, 1381 Kennedy Road (Route 60), and the Associated Ground Lease with Tower North Development, LLC and Authorize the City Manager to Execute all related documents subject to final approval by the City Attorney. (Waive First Reading and Grant Final Approval) -Catherine Czerniak, Director of Community Development Catherine Czerniak, Director of Community Development, presented the next step in achieving the City Council’s goals of improving telecommunication service in the Fourth Ward and community-wide. Last year, the Plan Commission recommended City Council amend the code and allow a standalone tower at the City’s compost center. Staff was then directed to prepare a Request-for-Proposals to tower builders. Tower North was the successful bidder, and staff was directed to move forward with negotiating the lease. Ms. Czerniak Proceedings of the March 16, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting stated the request to City Council is an approval of the ground lease and authorize construction of the tower at the compost center. Currently, there are two providers, AT&T and T-Mobile, located on the north-west side of the water tower at the Compost Center. The proposed location for the new tower is south-east of the water tower. Ms. Czerniak spoke to key lease terms. She reported that by the end of 2027, the City would anticipate having all three major carriers on the tower: Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T. The goal of the project is to improve wireless service. There is a potential loss of revenue when the current leases come to an end with AT&T and T-Mobile. Ms. Czerniak spoke of the next steps, both short and long term. City Council had a discussion about the range for cell towers, and whether the height of the water tower is sufficient for telecommunication service. Mayor Tack asked if there was anyone from the public who would like to comment. Seeing none, he asked for a motion. CITY COUNCIL ACTION Consideration of an Ordinance Approving Construction of a Telecommunications Tower at the City’s Compost Center, 1381 Kennedy Road (Route 60), and the Associated Ground Lease with Tower North Development, LLC and Authorize the City Manager to Execute all related documents subject to final approval by the City Attorney. (Waive First Reading and Grant Final Approval) Alderman Weber made a motion to approve an Ordinance Approving Construction of a Telecommunications Tower at the City’s Compost Center, 1381 Kennedy Road (Route 60), and the Associated Ground Lease with Tower North Development, LLC and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute all related documents subject to final approval by the City Attorney. (Waive First Reading and Grant Final Approval), seconded by Alderman Clemens. The following voted “Aye”: Aldermen Novit, Clemens, Notz, Powers, Bothfeld, Weber, and Walther. The following voted “Nay”: none. Abstain: 1 Alderman LeVert. 7-Ayes, 1-Abstention, motion carried. 7.NEW BUSINESS 8.ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION/COMMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS City Council reminded the public that the Caucus Election is open until 8:00 pm, March 16, 2026, and stated that the Primary Election is on Tuesday, March 17. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Tack asked for a motion to adjourn. Alderman LeVert made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Powers. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote at 7:18 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.