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CC_2026_04_06_MINUTESThe City of Lake Forest CITY COUNCIL MEETING Proceedings of Monday, April 6, 2026 5:00 pm 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 5:00 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. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL 5:00 PM 1. EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Tack asked for a motion to adjourn into EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1). The City Council will be discussing specific personnel. Alderman Novit made a motion to adjourn into EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c) (1). The City Council will be discussing specific personnel, seconded by Alderman Walther. 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. Adjournment into Executive Session 5:02 PM Reconvene into Open Session 6:30 PM The City Clerk noted that all members of the City Council were present PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited by all those present. REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS 1. COMMENTS BY MAYOR Mayor Tack announced the Ward 2 Meeting is on Thursday, April 9 at 6:30 pm at CROYA, 400 Hastings Rd. Ward 4 is on Monday, April 13 at 6:30 pm at Dickinson Hall, 100 E Old Mill Rd. Ward 3 is on Tuesday, April 14 at 6:30 pm at CROYA, 400 Hastings Rd. Ward 1 is on Tuesday, April 28, 6:30 pm at Gorton Center, 400 E Illinois Rd. 2. COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER A. Police Station Construction Update - John Burke, Chief of Police Chief of Police John Burke provided updates on the interior and exterior renovation work and shared milestones and photos of the progress. For further updates on the scope of the project, follow the videos on the City’s website at cityoflakeforest.com/departments/police. City Council had a discussion about surprises along the way, re-routing ductwork, and architectural plans. B. Onwentsia Poplar Storm Sewer Improvement Overview - Byron Kutz, Superintendent of Engineering Proceedings of the April 6, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting Byron Kutz, Superintendent of Engineering, provided an overview of item nine (#9) on the Omnibus agenda, approval of Design Engineering Services for the Onwentsia Poplar Storm Sewer Improvements Project. Mr. Kutz reviewed the history of Stormwater projects completed since 2017 that successfully alleviated flooding, noting that this remains a high priority of the City Council. Mr. Kutz stated the design phase is structured over two years and consists of three primary components: remodeling the area to refine City limits; providing data to IDOT to satisfy modeling requirements within the Intergovernmental Agreement; and completing the remaining design elements. City Council had a discussion on grant opportunities through the Ferguson Group and FEMA to potentially offset the total project outlay. City Manager, Jason Wicha, gave a public service announcement stating that the City or Community Development Department will never request payment of fees by wire, send invoices marked “urgent”, or threaten that approvals will be lost without prompt payments. Residents are advised to contact Community Development to verify any suspicious correspondence. 3. OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL 4. COMMITTEE REPORTS ITEMS FOR OMNIBUS VOTE CONSIDERATION 1. Approval of Monday, March 16, 2026, City Council Meeting Minutes 2. Approval of the Check Register for the Period of February 21st – March 27th, 2026. 3. Approval of a Resolution Authorizing Intervention in Property Tax Assessment Appeal 2025- 01333 Before the Illinois Property Tax Appeal Board 4. Approve a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Agreement pertaining to Settlement of the DuPont PFAS Class Action Lawsuit 5. Authorization of a Contractual Agreement for Recreation Department Pickleball Instruction with Jam Pickleball, LLC, not to exceed $95,000 for FY27. 6. Approval of a Grant Agreement between the City of Lake Forest and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for a Grant Award in the Amount of $600,000, through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) Program, for the South Park Improvement Project (Phase II) 7. Approval of a Recommendation from the Public Works Committee to Award a Design Services Agreement to RVi for the South Park Phase II Project in the Amount of $180,600, to Include a 10% Contingency in the Amount of $18,060 for a Grand Total Amount of $198,660 8. Approval of a 1-Year Professional Services Agreement Renewal for Plan Review and City Engineering Services with Gewalt Hamilton Associates, Inc. in an Amount Not to Exceed $45,000 9. Approval of Design Engineering Services for the Onwentsia Poplar Storm Sewer Improvements Project to Mackie Consultants, LLC., and Authorize the City Manager to Execute an Agreement Proceedings of the April 6, 2026 Regular City Council Meeting in the Amount of $146,400 Plus a 5% Contingency in the Amount of $7,320 for a Total Cost of $153,720 10. Consideration of Ordinances Approving Recommendations from the Building Review Board for 938 Walden Lane, 1241 Ash Lawn Drive and 1925 Field Court. (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 Weber made a motion to approve the ten (10) omnibus items as presented, seconded by Alderman Clemens. 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 7. NEW BUSINESS 8. ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION/COMMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Mayor Tack asked for a motion to adjourn. Alderman Clemens made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Weber. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote at 6:52 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.