Lake County Gazette

City of Lake Forest City Council met May 3.

Here is the minutes provided by the council:

At 6:30 pm. City Clerk Margaret Boyer called for the Organization of the 2021-2022 City Council

CITY CLERK MARGARET BOYER ADMINISTERS THE OATH OF OFFICE TO:

Mayor Elect—George A. Pandaleon

First Ward Alderman-Elect - - James E. Morris

Second Ward Alderman-Elect - - Melanie K. Rummel

Third Ward Alderman-Elect - - Ara C. Goshgarian

Fourth Ward Alderman-Elect - - Raymond P. Buschmann

CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Honorable Mayor Pandaleon called the meeting to order at 6:35 pm, and City Clerk Margaret Boyer called the roll of Council members.

Present: Honorable Mayor Pandaleon, Alderman Morris, Alderman Karras, Alderman Rummel, Alderman Preschlack, Alderman Goshgarian, Alderman Buschmann, and Alderman Weber.

Absent: Alderman Notz.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.

Mayor Pandaleon made the following statement as required by the Open Meetings Act. In accordance with state statute, Mayor Pandaleon has made a determination that it was not practical or prudent to schedule an in-person City Council meeting because of the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why this May 3, 2021, City Council meeting is being held remotely.

Honorable Mayor, George Pandaleon

James E. Morris, Alderman First Ward 

Jim Preschlack, Alderman Third Ward

Jennifer Karras, Alderman First Ward 

Ara Goshgarian, Alderman Third Ward

Melanie Rummel, Alderman Second Ward 

Raymond Buschmann, Alderman Fourth Ward

Edward U. Notz, Jr., Alderman Second Ward 

Eileen Looby Weber, Alderman Fourth Ward

ELECTION AND APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICERS

Mayor Pandaleon made the following appointments:

1. ELECTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL AND APPOINTMENTS BY THE MAYOR AS REQUIRED BY CHARTER AND CITY CODE

City Treasurer, Elizabeth Holleb

City Supervisor, Jason Wicha

City Marshal & Collector, Karl Walldorf

City Attorney, Julie Tappendorf

City Clerk, Margaret Boyer

City Surveyor and Engineer, Gewalt Hamilton Associates

COUNCIL ACTION: Approve the Mayor’s Appointments

Alderman Morris made a motion to approve the Mayor's appointments, seconded by Alderman Weber. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Morris, Karras, Rummel, Preschlack, Goshgarian, Buschmann and Weber. The following voted “Nay”: None. 7-Ayes, 0 Nays, motion carried.

REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS

COMMENTS BY MAYOR

A. Proclamation Declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month

Mayor Pandaleon read the Proclamation declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month.

COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of a Proclamation Declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month

Alderman Goshgarian made a motion to approve the proclamation Declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month, seconded by Alderman Karras. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Morris, Karras, Rummel, Preschlack, Goshgarian, Buschmann and Weber. The following voted “Nay”: None. 7-Ayes, 0 Nays, motion carried.

Molly Sarver, representing the non-profit Paws for Patrick, made a statement to the City Council.

The City Council thanked the group for the work they have done throughout the community to support mental health awareness.

B. 2021-2022 Board and Commission Appointments and Reappointments

BUILDING REVIEW BOARD

NAME OF MEMBER	APPOINT/REAPPOINT	WARD
Timothy Franzen	APPOINT	1
Scott Renken	APPOINT	1
James Diamond	REAPPOINT AS CHAIR	3

HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION

NAME OF MEMBER	APPOINT/REAPPOINT	WARD
Maureen Grinnell	APPOINT	3

PLAN COMMISSION

NAME OF MEMBER	APPOINT/REAPPOINT	WARD
John Dixon	APPOINT AS CHAIR	1
Louis Pickus	APPOINT	2
Mark Pasquesi	APPOINT	4
Barrett Davie	APPOINT	2

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

NAME OF MEMBER	APPOINT/REAPPOINT	WARD
Mike Sieman	APPOINT AS CHAIR	3
Ari Bass	APPOINT	2

COUNCIL ACTION: Approve the Mayors Appointments and Reappointments

Alderman Rummel made a motion to approve the Mayor's Appointments and Reappointments, seconded by Alderman Weber. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Morris, Karras, Rummel, Preschlack, Goshgarian, Buschmann and Weber. The following voted “Nay”: None. 7-Ayes, 0 Nays, motion carried.

C. Announcement of City Council Committee Appointments

Mayor Pandaleon gave a brief overview of Committee Appointments and that the list would be available on the City’s website, and the last page of these minutes.

Mayor Pandaleon made a brief statement recognizing the Lake Forest High School district 115, which was named the 7th best high school in the State of Illinois by US News and World Report. The high school previously ranked 18th in 2020.

COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER

City Manager, Jason Wicha, introduced Finance Director, Elizabeth Holleb to provide an update regarding the FY 2021 Real Estate Transfer Tax Data. Ms. Holleb gave an in depth presentation displaying the last four fiscal years in comparison to the current year. She stated that the City completed the fiscal year with 663 residential transfers, which far outpaced the last five year totals. Additionally, she noted the FY 2021 revenue totaled $2.735 million, which exceeded the budget estimate by $1.8 million, due to the adjusted estimates as the budget was passed during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the assumption concluded a negative impact on this fund.

The City Council had a discussion regarding the real estate market in surrounding communities.

Ms. Holleb explained they had conducted a survey and neighboring communities have not seen the same growth, however, some communities do not have a real estate transfer tax, which makes it difficult to collect this data.

OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL ON NON-AGENDA ITEMS

Members of the public can provide public comment by calling the following number during the meeting: 847-810-3643

COMMITTEE REPORTS

ITEMS FOR OMNIBUS VOTE CONSIDERATION

1. Approve the Extension of the Mayor’s Declaration of a Local State of Emergency until the next City Council Meeting

2. Approval of April 19, 2021, City Council Meeting Minutes

3. Approval of a Resolution of Appreciation for Retiring Members of Boards and Commissions as follows:

BOARD, COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE	NAME OF MEMBERS(S)
BUILDING REVIEW BOARD	James Sykora, Chris Bires
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION	Carol Gayle
PLAN COMMISSION	Chair Rosemary Kehr, Monica Artman-Ruggles, and Michael Freeman
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS	Mark Pasquesi

4. Approval of the Regularly Scheduled Meetings of the Lake Forest City Council for the year 2022

5. Approval of the Check Register for the Period of March 20 – April 23, 2021

6. Approval of a Recommendation from the Public Works Committee to Award the Lake Forest portion of the Municipal Partnership Initiative (MPI) 2021 Joint Sewer Lining Project contract Low Bid to Hoerr Construction in the Not-To-Exceed Budgeted Amount of $175,000.

7. Approval of a Recommendation from the Public Works Committee to Award the Lake Forest portion of the Municipal Partnership Initiative (MPI) 2021 Concrete Curb and Sidewalk Replacement Project to Schroeder and Schroeder, Inc. for a Not-to-Exceed Amount of $75,000.

8. Approval of a Recommendation from the Public Works Committee to Award the 2021 Valve Replacement Project Low Bid to Aqua Contractors in the amount of $300,000.

9. Approval to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Mariani Landscape for Cemetery Grounds Maintenance Services, for an Amount Not to Exceed $42,900.

10. Approval of a Recommendation from the Public Works Committee and the Parks & Recreation Board to Award South Park Parking Lot Design Services to Hitchcock Design Group in the Amount of $38,105, plus 10% Contingency in the Amount of $3,895, for a Total of $42,000.

11. Approval to Purchase an Intelligent One Field Marking Paint Robot for the Parks Section from Turf Tank in the Amount of $43,500.

COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of the eleven (11) Omnibus items as presented

Mayor Pandaleon asked members of the Council if they would like to remove any item or take it separately. The City Council had an additional discussion on item #3

Mayor Pandaleon again asked members of the Council if they would like to remove any item or take it separately. Seeing none, he asked for a motion.

Alderman Rummel made a motion to approve the eleven (11) Omnibus items as presented, seconded by Alderman Morris. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Morris, Karras, Rummel, Preschlack, Goshgarian, Buschmann and Weber. The following voted “Nay”: None. 7-Ayes, 0 Nays, motion carried.

Information such as Purpose and Action Requested, Background/Discussion, Budget/Fiscal Impact, Recommended Action and a Staff Contact as it relates to the Omnibus items can be found on the agenda.

ORDINANCES

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION/COMMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business Mayor Pandaleon asked for a motion. Alderman Morris made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Karras. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote at 7:15 pm.

https://cms9files.revize.com/cityoflakeforestil/Document_center/Agendas%20and%20Minutes/City%20Council/2021/Minutes/City-Council-Minutes-2021-05-03.pdf