City of Highland Park Committee of the Whole met Sept. 23.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
CALL TO ORDER
At 4:34 PM, Mayor Rotering called the meeting to order and asked for a roll call.
ROLL CALL
Members Present: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stone, Kaufman, Knobel, Holleman
Members Absent: Councilmen Stolberg, Blumberg
Mayor Rotering declared a quorum was present.
Staff Present: Ghida Neukirch, Emily Taub, Ashley Palbitska
Also Present: Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A. Regular Meeting of the Committee of the Whole – September 9, 2019
Councilwoman Stone moved to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of the Committee of the Whole held on September 9, 2019, as amended. Councilman Kaufman seconded the motion.
On a voice vote:
Voting Yea: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stone, Kaufman, Knobel, Holleman
Voting Nay: None
Absent: Councilmen Stolberg, Blumberg
Mayor Rotering declared the motion passed.
CLOSED SESSION
Councilwoman Stone moved the Committee close its meeting to the public, pursuant to the following cited sections of the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)), for the purposes of approval of closed session minutes (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(21)) and personnel 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)). Councilman Kaufman seconded the motion
On a roll call vote:
Voting Yea: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stone, Kaufman, Knobel, Holleman
Voting Nay: None
Absent: Councilmen Stolberg, Blumberg
Mayor Rotering declared the motion passed unanimously.
At 4:35 PM, the Committee recessed the public portion of the meeting to meet in Closed Session.
At 4:50 PM, Mayor Rotering reconvened the open session of the Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Members Present: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg (via telephone), Stone, Kaufman, Knobel, Holleman
Members Absent: Councilmen Blumberg
City Staff Present: Ghida Neukirch, Larry Amidei, Joel Fontane, Ramesh Kanapareddy, Lou Jogmen, Julie Logan, Rob Sabo, Stanley Olson, Ashley Palbitska
Also Present: Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod, Deputy Corporation Counsel Hart Passman; Park District of Highland Park Executive Director Brian Romes
SCHEDULED BUSINESS
Ravinia Fire Station Redevelopment Plan
City Manager Neukirch presented a report and recommendation pertaining to the redevelopment of the Ravinia Fire Station.
City Manager Neukirch and Fire Chief Amidei provided information as to how the planning will be conducted regarding the use of a temporary facility during construction.
The Committee, City Manager Neukirch and Fire Chief Amidei discussed information pertaining to site considerations and proposed timeline for this project.
Mayor Rotering and Park District Executive Director Romes discussed using Brown Park, adjacent to the current Ravinia Fire Station building, as a temporary location for the Fire Department to operate out of while the new station is being constructed.
A majority of the Committee was in consensus to keep the Ravinia Fire Station in its current location.
Ethics Guidelines Continued Discussion
The Committee, Corporation Counsel Elrod and City Manager Neukirch discussed the implementation of a Code of Conduct and continued the discussion regarding the City’s Ethics Guidelines for Boards and Commissions. They discussed expanding all regulations pertaining to Land Use Commissions to all commissions and advisory groups; whether or not disclosure requirements should be modified to include recusal; the incorporation of potential consequences for violations of the Ethics Guidelines; and the review of the definition of “Member” as it is set forth in Section 6.B2.
The Committee was in consensus to expand all regulations pertaining to Land Use Commissions to all commissions and advisory groups.
The Committee and City Manager Neukirch discussed transparency of past employment with the City when contractors are hired for projects proposed by the City.
At 6:23 PM, Mayor Rotering recessed the Committee of the Whole Meeting.
At 6:30 PM, Mayor Rotering reconvened the Committee of the Whole Meeting.
Members Present: Mayor Rotering, Councilmen Stolberg, Stone, Kaufman, Knobel, Holleman
Members Absent: Councilmen Blumberg
City Staff Present: Ghida Neukirch, Larry Amidei, Joel Fontane, Lou Jogmen, Ramesh Kanapareddy, Julie Logan, Rob Sabo, Ashley Palbitska
Also Present: Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod, Deputy Corporation Counsel Hart Passman
Budget 2020 Workshop – Overview
Finance Director Logan provided an overview of the proposed FY2020 Budget.
Mayor Rotering and Public Works Director Kanapareddy discussed Capital Improvement Projects that carry over in to the following year and discussed funds related to that carry over.
Councilman Kaufman, City Manager Neukirch and Public Works Director Kanapareddy discussed resident’s concerns as to if the City is investing enough in its infrastructure.
Mayor Rotering and Finance Director Logan discussed the Employee Insurance Fund and the Sustainability Fund.
OTHERS MATTERS
There was none.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilwoman Stone moved to adjourn. Councilman Kaufman seconded the motion.
On a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed unanimously.
The Committee of the Whole adjourned its meeting at 6:49 PM.
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