Lake County Gazette

Lake County Committee of the Whole met Nov. 5.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. Call to Order

Chair Hart called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Chair Hart led the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. Roll Call of Members

Present 21 - Member Altenberg, Member Barr, Member Casbon, Member Clark, Vice-Chairman Cunningham, Member Danforth, Member Durkin, Member Frank, Chair Hart, Member Hewitt, Member Hunter, Member Kyle, Member Maine, Member Parekh, Member Pedersen, Member Roberts, Member Sbarra, Member Simpson, Member Vealitzek, Member Wasik and Member Wilke

*Electronic Attendance: All Members

Others Present:

Abby Scalf, Communications

Adam Zawislak, Press

Al Giertych, Division of Transportation

Anthony Rubino, Pace

Arnold Donato, Lake County Stormwater Management Commission

Bea Reyna-Hickey, RTA

Cassandra Hiller, County Administrator's Office

Chris Blanding, Enterprise IT

Daniel Eder, County Administrator's Office

Darcy Adcock, Human Resources

Eric Waggoner, Planning, Building and Development

Gary Gibson, County Administrator's Office

Irshad Khan, Financial and Administrative Services

Jamie Helton, State's Attorney's Office

Janna Philipp, County Administrator's Office

Jefferson McMillan-Wilhoit, Health Department

Jeremiah Varco, Facilities

Jim Hawkins, County Administrator's Office

John Light, Human Resources

Jon Nelson, Division of Transportation

Joy Gossman, Public Defender's Office

Katie Renteria, Metra

Kevin Carrier, Division of Transportation

Kristy Cechini, County Board Office

Kurt Woolford, Lake County Stormwater Management Commission

Lawrence Oliver, Sheriff's Office

Leanne Redden, RTA

Linda Soto, Pace

Mark Pfister, Healh Department

Mary Crain, Division of Transportation

Matt Meyers, County Administrator's Office

Melissa Gallagher, Financial and Administrative Services

Micah Thornton, Circuit Clerk's Office

Michelle Burns, 19th Judicial Circuit

Michael Klemens, Division of Transportation

Michael Wheeler, Financial and Administrative Services

Norm Carlson, Metra

Pam Riley, Health Department

Pat Carey, RTA

Patrice Sutton, Financial and Administrative Services

Rick Mack, Metra

Robert Springer, Planning, Building and Development

Rocky Donahue, Pace

Rosemary Heileman, Public

Shane Schneider, Division of Transportation

Sharmila Manak, State's Attorney's Office

Teri White, State's Attorney's Office

Theresa Glatzhofer, County Board Office

4. Addenda to the Agenda

There were no additions or amendments to the agenda.

5. Public Comment (Items not on the agenda)

There were no public comments.

6. Chair's Remarks

Chair Hart thanked the presenters from Metra, Pace, and the RTA for their time and dedication to their work.

(Member Frank entered the meeting at 8:33 a.m.)

7. Unfinished Business

There was no unfinished business to discuss.

8. New Business

CONSENT AGENDA (Item 8.1)

8.1 21-1766

Minutes from October 8, 2021.

A motion was made by Vice Chair Cunningham, seconded by Member Altenberg, that the minutes from October 8, 2021 be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 19 - Member Altenberg, Member Barr, Member Casbon, Member Clark, Vice-Chairman Cunningham, Member Danforth, Member Durkin, Member Frank, Chair Hart, Member Hewitt, Member Hunter, Member Kyle, Member Parekh, Member Pedersen, Member Roberts, Member Simpson, Member Vealitzek, Member Wasik and Member Wilke

Not Present: 2 - Member Maine and Member Sbarra

REGULAR AGENDA

8.2 21-1767

Metra 2022 Program & Budget Presentation.

Chair Hart introduced Norm Carlson, Vice Chair of the Metra Board of Directors. Vice Chair Carlson thanked Chair Hart and the Board for their time and gave a presentation regarding the Metra 2022 Program and Budget.

During his presentation, Vice Chair Carlson noted that the COVID-19 pandemic caused significantly low Metra ridership. Vice Chair Calson thanked the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) for the COVID-19 relief funding they provided to Metra. Vice Chair Carlson further noted that the proposed 2022 Metra Budget does not include any fare increases.

Vice Chair Carlson detailed a number of projects that Metra will undertake in the future and also highlighted Metra's Green Initiative.

(Member Sbarra entered the meeting at 9:01 a.m.)

(Member Maine entered the meeting at 9:04 a.m.)

Discussion ensued.

8.3 21-1769

PACE 2022 Budget Presentation.

Chair Hart thanked Linda Soto, Director of Pace, for her work on the County-wide paratransit system. Director Soto thanked Chair Hart for the opportunity to speak about the proposed 2022 Pace Budget and introduced Rocky Donahue, Executive Director of Pace.

During her presentation, Director Soto noted that Pace has experienced ridership challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and explained that there are no fare increases in the proposed 2022 Pace Budget. Director Soto also highlighted Pace's green initiatives. Executive Director Donahue summarized key points of Director Soto's presentation, due to the Zoom audio issues Director Soto experienced.

Discussion ensued.

8.4 21-1768

RTA 2022 Budget Presentation.

Chair Hart introduced Pat Carey, Director of the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA). Director Carey introduced Leanne Redden, Executive Director of the RTA. Executive Director Redden thanked the Board for their time and gave a brief presentation about the proposed 2022 RTA budget. Executive Director Redden noted that overall ridership is currently down 51 percent. Executive Director Redden also noted that the RTA is in the process of crafting a new strategic plan, which will be considered by the RTA Board in 2023.

Discussion ensued.

9. County Administrator's Report

Gary Gibson, County Administrator, noted that OSHA released guidelines regarding COVID-19 vaccinations and testing, which closely mirrors the policy adopted by the Lake County Board at the October Board meeting.

10. Executive Session

The Committee entered Executive Session at 10:08 a.m. to: discuss personnel matters pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1) and review closed session minutes pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21).

A motion was made by Member Durkin, seconded by Member Hunter, that the Committee move into Executive Session. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 16 - Member Altenberg, Member Barr, Member Casbon, Member Clark, Vice-Chairman Cunningham, Member Danforth, Member Durkin, Chair Hart, Member Hewitt, Member Hunter, Member Pedersen, Member Roberts, Member Sbarra, Member Simpson, Member Vealitzek and Member Wasik

Not Present: 5 - Member Frank, Member Kyle, Member Maine, Member Parekh and Member Wilke

10.1 21-1791

Executive Session to discuss personnel matters pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(1).

10.2 21-1799

Executive Session to review closed session minutes pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2 (c)(21).

10.2 21-1800

Executive Session Minutes from July 9, 2021.

The Committee returned to Open Session at 11:14 a.m.

A motion was made by Member Durkin, seconded by Member Roberts, that the

Executive Session minutes from July 9, 2021 be removed from the agenda and brought back on a future Committee of the Whole agenda for consideration. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 20 - Member Altenberg, Member Barr, Member Casbon, Member Clark, Vice-Chairman Cunningham, Member Danforth, Member Durkin, Member Frank, Chair Hart, Member Hewitt, Member Hunter, Member Kyle, Member Parekh, Member Pedersen, Member Roberts, Member Sbarra, Member Simpson, Member Vealitzek, Member Wasik and Member Wilke

Not Present: 1 - Member Maine

11. Members' Remarks

There were no Members' Remarks.

12. Adjournment

Chair Hart declared the meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.

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