City of Highland Park City Council met Feb. 27
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER
At 7:13 PM, Mayor Rotering called the meeting to order and asked for a roll call:
ROLL CALL
PRESENT: Mayor Rotering, Councilmembers Tapia, Stolberg, Stone, Blumberg, Holleman, Lidawer
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Neukirch, Director of Public Works Bannon, Community Development Director Fontane, Police Chief Jogmen, Deputy Fire Chief Nardomarino, Communications Manager Bennett, Human Resources Manager Taub, Business Development Manager Hersch, Deputy City Clerk Palbitska
ALSO PRESENT: Deputy Corporation Counsel Passman
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting Held on February 13, 2023
Councilmember Stone moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting Held on February 13, 2023. Councilmember Stolberg seconded the motion. Upon a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed unanimously.
| RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Kim Stone, Councilmember SECONDER: Adam Stolberg, Councilmember AYES: Mayor Rotering, Councilmembers Tapia, Stolberg, Stone, Blumberg, Holleman, Lidawer |
APPROVAL OF WARRANT LIST
1. Warrant List and Wire Transfers from February 03, 2023 to February 16, 2023.
Councilmember Tapia moved to approve the Warrant List. Councilmember Blumberg seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed unanimously.
| RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Andrés Tapia, Councilmember SECONDER: Anthony Blumberg, Councilmember AYES: Mayor Rotering, Councilmembers Tapia, Stolberg, Stone, Blumberg, Holleman, Lidawer |
REPORT OF MAYOR
A. One Year of Solidarity with Ukraine
Mayor Rotering provided a statement in support of Ukraine.
BUSINESS FROM CITY STAFF
A. East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment
City Manager Neukirch addressed the recent train derailment that occurred in East Palestine, Ohio. She provided information on the City's emergency plans in place and outreach that has been conducted to the Union Pacific railway regarding their emergency plans and the types of cargo they are transporting through Highland Park.
B. Green Bay Road Improvement Project Update
City Manager Neukirch provided information on the question and answers that are available for the Green Bay Road project. She provided information on the upcoming public community meeting that is taking place on March 2, 2023.
C. March City Council meeting schedule
City Manager Neukirch noted that the next City Council meeting will take place on March 13, 2023 and will be the only meeting for the month.
Mayor Rotering asked when the Green Bay Road project will come before the Council.
City Manager Neukirch explained that the plan is to have a discussion during Committee of the Whole tentatively at the first meeting in April for a policy discussion.
BUSINESS FROM THE COUNCIL
There was none.
BUSINESS FROM THE PUBLIC (Citizens wishing to be heard regarding items not listed on this agenda)
Dan Wagner, Highland Park resident, discussed the recent train derailment in Ohio.
SCHEDULED BUSINESS
ITEMS FOR OMNIBUS VOTE CONSIDERATION
Councilmember Stone moved to approve items 1-11 by omnibus vote consideration. Councilmember Stolberg seconded the motion. Upon a roll call vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed unanimously.
| RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Kim Stone, Councilmember SECONDER: Adam Stolberg, Councilmember AYES: Mayor Rotering, Councilmembers Tapia, Stolberg, Stone, Blumberg, Holleman, Lidawer |
Administration
1. Adoption of a Resolution (R19-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “A Resolution Appointing Scott Levenfeld As Chief Administrative Hearing Officer And Approving An Agreement Between The City Of Highland Park And Scott Levenfeld”.
2. Adoption of an Ordinance (O12-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “An Ordinance Amending Chapters 93 of “The Highland Park Code of 1968,” As Amended, Regarding Outdoor Dining within City-Owned Rights-of-Way”.
Finance
3. Adoption of a Resolution (R20-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “A Resolution Authorizing Renewal No. 1 of a Professional Services Agreement with Microsystems, Inc. for the Provision of File Storage and Retrieval, Scanning, and Imaging Services for the Period Starting June 30, 2023 and Ending December 31, 2023”.
Public Works
4. Adoption of a Resolution (R21-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “A Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a Contract for the Purchase of Electricity through the Northern Illinois Municipal Electric Cooperative (NIMEC)”.
5. Adoption of a Resolution (R22-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “A Resolution Authorizing Award of the 2023 Street Sweeping Maintenance Contract to TKG Environmental Services Group, LLC of Waukegan, Illinois”.
6. Adoption of a Resolution (R23-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “A Resolution Authorizing Renewal of the 2021 Unit Price Flower Planting Contract with Guy Scopelliti Original Landscaping Co., Inc., of Highland Park, Illinois”.
7. Adoption of a Resolution (R24-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “A Resolution Authorizing Execution of an Agreement with Ayres Associates, Inc. of Madison, Wisconsin for 2023 Professional Services for Geospatial Services (Aerial Mapping) for the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS)”.
8. Adoption of an Ordinance (O13-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “An Ordinance Amending the Annual Budget of the City of Highland Park, County of Lake, State of Illinois, for the Fiscal Year Beginning January 1, 2023 and ending December 31, 2023 for Equipment and Maintenance Fund GIS and General Fund Resiliency Expenditures”.
9. Adoption of a Resolution (R25-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “A Resolution Authorizing the Renewal of the 2018 Fuel Purchase and Delivery Contract with Avalon Petroleum Company, Inc. of Kankakee, Illinois”.
Community Development
10. Adoption of a Resolution (R26-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “A Resolution Approving a Plat of Subdivision (720, 730, and 740 Ravinia Glen Place)”.
Public Safety
11. Adoption of a Resolution (R27-2023) by omnibus vote consideration titled, “A Resolution Approving the Purchase of a Marked and Equipped Police and Fire Utility Vehicle”.
OTHER BUSINESS (the City Council will consider and then either approve or disapprove the following items)
Administration
12. Business Incentives
City Manager Neukirch and Business Development Manager Hersch presented a high level overview of the City’s Business Development Strategic Plan noting that the plan is based significantly on business retention and business attraction efforts. The City works regularly with businesses, property owners, brokers, retailers, and others for the economic vitality of the community. As the City does not own property, the collaboration and partnership is imperative. The purpose of the presentation was to present information about the City’s incentives currently available, expired incentives and new considerations to attract new business to the community.
Mayor Rotering voiced her appreciation for always marketing Highland Park and her appreciation of the Weekender newsletter. She noted that the changes in zoning did take a while but the impact of that change has been positive. She provided information on when vacancies tend to peek and when they tend to come down. She requested another conversation regarding the business community in the summer to understand how the City's continuing efforts are impacting the community.
Mayor Rotering and Deputy Corporation Counsel Passman discussed the ability to limit the percentage of commercial space owned by one entity in a business district. They discussed the ability to penalize or tax for vacancies.
Mayor Rotering and City Manager Neukirch discussed how the budget for the any newly recommended incentives will depend on the incentives themselves and which ones the Council is interested in moving forward with.
Councilmember Blumberg and Manager Hersch discussed the brokers' incentive, how the Property Owners Association was not in favor of the incentive and what benefits would be available with this type of incentive.
Councilmember Blumberg and City Manager Neukirch discussed the Special Service Area and the fact that funds are directed to the Alliance for marketing and special events.
Councilmember Stone and Manager Hersch discussed how the City has spoken with current businesses as to what would assist to retain their business and why businesses may not coming to Highland Park as well as which incentives may help to get those businesses to locate in Highland Park.
Councilmember Stone requested staff contact business organizations that may be able to provide some feedback regarding incentives businesses are seeking. City Manager Neukirch noted that businesses would state any incentive that is available would be helpful. She provided examples of incentives businesses have requested in the past.
Councilmember Stolberg discussed the importance of working with the current businesses in town while working to bring in new businesses. He asked how the City is targeting businesses to come to Highland Park.
Mayor Rotering and Manager Hersch stated that they are calling businesses directly and continuously.
Councilmember Stolberg and Manager Hersch discussed the facade improvement grant that is offered to businesses. They discussed how information about the current incentives offered by the City is provided to the businesses through different modalities of communication.
Councilmember Stolberg discussed the sales tax rebate program and provided a recommendation on expanding the incentive to small businesses.
City Manager Neukirch provided information on sales tax and the possibility of how a tax holiday would work for businesses in Highland Park.
Councilmember Stolberg and Manager Hersch discussed the interest in businesses coming to Highland Park and the change in interest in the Central Business District based on the removal of the Pedestrian Oriented Shopping Overlay ("POSO"). They discussed vacancies and vibrancy within all business districts.
Councilmember Tapia noted that it is hard to discern as to which incentives would be best and stated that his Council colleagues have asked for more data that may be helpful in understanding which incentives may work better. He explained why the City should create a vision for the business districts and how that vision will help to decide which incentives may be beneficial.
Mayor Rotering noted that she understood what Councilmember Tapia was saying and that staff will need to understand if there are site specific or industry specific interests.
City Manager Neukirch discussed how the site specific information would assist with understanding what types of businesses the community is interested in having in the different business districts.
Councilmember Tapia stated that the City needs to have a bigger visioning session to fully understand how businesses fit in overall instead of just asking the Business and Economic Development Advisory Group ("BDAG"). He provided information as to what would assist with creating a better visioning session.
Manager Hersch noted that a lot of data was collected during the strategic planning focus group discussions. The City met with property owners, businesses and others to ascertain their feedback.
Councilmember Holleman stated that it is hard to choose an incentive that is being recommended; more data would need to be provided. She also discussed having a business permitting concierge service that would assist businesses through the permitting process.
Councilmember Lidawer voiced her appreciation of the information that has been provided to start the conversation. She agreed with her Council colleagues that data needs to be provided to give the best response possible as it relates to business incentives. She provided examples as to what staff can do on the softer end as it relates to outreach with current businesses. She noted she was one of the Council members that was interested in understanding what can be done about long term vacancies and how the City can provide incentives to the property owner to get businesses in the spaces. She stated that she is not interested in waiving all of the fees but she is interested in providing a faster process.
City Manager Neukirch provided a high level overview of the process businesses go through when they are opening in Highland Park. Over the years the City has improved the permit process and customer service experience.
Mayor Rotering, Councilmember Lidawer and Deputy Corporation Counsel Passman discussed the ability to tax long term vacancies and what is taking place in Danville, IL currently.
Mayor Rotering stated that for the next presentation, she would like to understand where vacancies are at, if the new businesses are up and running and if not, what can the City do to assist them in getting them open quickly. She discussed outdoor dining.
Councilmember Blumberg noted that it may be of interest to contact businesses that have been in Highland Park successfully for more than five years to understand what worked and didn't work for them. He discussed the change in zoning and wanted to understand if that has assisted in the diminishing of vacancies. He stated that he would like to stick to data and he was not interested in anecdotal discussions about how the downtown looks.
Councilmember Tapia noted that there is a disconnect between what was explained by City Manager Neukirch with the streamlined process and what is being communicated by the businesses. He recommended a six-sigma review of the current processes.
City Manager Neukirch explained how staff has modified procedures over the years. There is also follow-up conducted with businesses to ascertain their experience. If businesses or contractors have a concern, they are encouraged to contact the Building Division, Business Development or the City Manager. She also provided information on the focus groups that were previously conducted.
Councilmember Tapia noted that the City may benefit from an outside party where the current echo system may not be catching.
Councilmember Stolberg stated that the Vice Chair of BDAG opened his business in Highland Park and provided positive information as to the process. He explained why data from the brokers would be beneficial because it may provide better insight as to why a business may not have chosen the space. He discussed the opportunity to work with the new Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce.
Mayor Rotering noted that a lot of input has been provided and that more
information is needed before any conclusive feedback can be provided.
City Manager Neukirch noted that staff can come back to a future meeting.
Mayor Rotering stated that it can be discussed more than once or twice a year because it is on everyone's mind.
ADJOURNMENT
Councilmember Blumberg moved to adjourn. Councilmember Stone seconded the motion. On a voice vote, Mayor Rotering declared the motion passed unanimously.
The City Council adjourned its meeting at 8:22 PM.
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