City of Lake Forest City Council met March 6
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL: Margaret Boyer, City Clerk asked the Council for a motion to appoint Alderman Morris as Mayor Pro-Tem for the evening. Alderman Goshgarian made a motion, seconded by Alderman Notz. All in favor. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Mayor Pro Tem Morris called the meeting to order at 6:34p.m, and City Clerk Margaret Boyer called the roll of Council members.
Present: Honorable Mayor Pro Tem Morris, Alderman Novit, Alderman Notz, Alderman Preschlack, Alderman Goshgarian, Alderman Buschmann, and Alderman Weber
Absent: Honorable Mayor Pandaleon, Alderman Rummel
CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was recited.
REPORTS OF CITY OFFICERS
COMMENTS BY MAYOR
Mayor Pro Tem Morris shared that the City Council will adjourn into executive session following the meeting.
COMMENTS BY CITY MANAGER
City Manager Jason Wicha reminded the community that next Monday, March 13 at 5:00 p.m., is the City Council Finance Committee Operating Budget Workshop at Dickinson Hall.
City Manager Wicha then introduced Reagan Walsh, Management Analyst, and Yates McLaughlin, Management Intern, to discuss the community-wide survey that will be undertaken in the coming months.
A. Introduction to the Community-Wide Survey
Reagan Walsh outlined a request for City Council to award a contract to conduct a community-wide survey, recommending the ETC Institute, He explained that the survey customization, benchmarking, cost, and reporting capabilities were the main reasons why the vendor is recommended. Mr. Walsh noted that the survey will be aimed at getting feedback on city services, as well as acting as a precursor to the strategic planning process. Yates McLaughlin then reported the schedule of events, noting the launch of the survey happening in spring or early summer, the collection period being one (1) month, and the presentation of results occurring later in the summer or early fall.
The City Council had discussion on overall customization of the questions, how many respondents allowed per household and incentives for taking the survey.
OPPORTUNITY FOR CITIZENS TO ADDRESS THE CITY COUNCIL
Dawn Marie Müller Introduced herself to the City Council noting her recent residency, and her background in physics and engineering.
ITEMS FOR OMNIBUS VOTE CONSIDERATION
1. Approval of February 21, 2023, City Council Meeting Minutes
2. Approval of the Check Register for the Period of January 28 – February 24, 2023
3. Approval of a Ten-Year Term for the 2023 General Obligation Bond Issue
4. Approval to Engage Matt Pawa of Seeger Weiss and Michael Layden of Prendergast Layden for Legal Services
5. Consideration of a Request to Waive the Fidelity Bond Requirement in Connection with Holding a Raffle in the City of Lake Forest for Lake Forest County Day School (Approval by Motion)
6. Consideration of Award of a Contract for Professional Services to Conduct a Community-Wide Survey by ETC Institute, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $26,500
COUNCIL ACTION: Approve the six (6) omnibus items as presented.
Mayor Pro Tem Morris asked members of the Council if they would like to remove any item or take it separately. Alderman Buschmann requested that Omnibus item #3 be taken separately. Mayor Pro Tem Morris asked if there were any additional items to be removed.
Alderman Buschmann asked Council members to consider a change to the minutes. Members of the City Council were in favor of the change. The amended portion is shown in italics below.
“Mayor Pandaleon stated that the turf field will require maintenance in 10-15 years, only on the rug and the infill. He also added that revenue gained will be allocated for maintenance and future replacement.”
Mayor Pro-Tem Morris asked for a motion to approve the now five (5) Omnibus items as presented and amended.
Alderman Goshgarian made a motion to approve the five (5) Omnibus items as presented and amended, seconded by Alderman Weber. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Morris, Novit, Notz, Preschlack, Goshgarian, Buschmann, and Weber. The following voted “Nay”: none. 7-Ayes, 0-Nays, motion carried.
Mayor Pro-Tem Morris asked Alderman Buschmann for comments on his request to remove the item.
Alderman Buschmann stated his opinions toward this item, noting environmental concerns, usability, and difference in turf field delegation to departments.
Mayor Pro Tem Morris then asked for a motion to approve item #3 that was removed. COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of a Ten-Year Term for the 2023 General Obligation Bond Issue
Alderman Preschlack made a motion to approve a ten-year term for the 2023 General Obligation Bond Issue, seconded by Alderman Notz. The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Morris, Notz,Preschlack, Goshgarian, and Weber. The following voted “Nay”: Alderman Buschmann, and Novit. 5-Ayes, 2-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.
OLD BUSINESS
1. Approval of a Request from the Cemetery Commission to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Semper Fi Land Services for Renovations to the Memorial Garden at the Lake Forest Cemetery, for an Amount not to Exceed $905,000, and Approval of an Inter-Fund Loan with the Cemetery to Borrow $905,000 from the City to be paid over a Ten-Year Period at 3.5% Interest Rate.
Mr. Chuck Myers provided the City Council with an overview of the Cemetery renovation, noting design areas and a recent decision to decrease the scope of the project. . Mr. Myers reported that the project should be completed by the end of September.
As recommended by the Cemetery Board, he noted that most of the garden will stay the same to honor the original design, however walkways and fountain renovations will be the main components of the project. He then outlined the project’s cost, reporting a total project cost of $1,095,500 and an ROI of $2,546,000 from four-hundred and fourteen (414) niches.
The City Council had discussion on who is the obligor on the loan, the decrease in the original scope of the project. Elizabeth Holleb, Finance Director explained that since the Cemetery Fund is part of the City, an interfund loan from the General Fund is proposed.
COUNCIL ACTION: Approval of a Request from the Cemetery Commission to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Semper Fi Land Services for Renovation to the Memorial Garden at the Lake Forest Cemetery, for an Amount not to Exceed $905,000, and Approval of an Inter-fund Loan with the Cemetery to Borrow $905,000 from the City to be paid over a Ten-Year Period at 3.5% Interest Rate.
Mayor Pro Tem Morris asked for a motion.
Alderman Preschlack made a motion to approve a request from the Cemetery Commission to authorize the City Manager to enter into a contract with Semper Fi Land Services for Renovation to the Memorial Garden at the Lake Forest Cemetery, for an Amount not to Exceed $905,000, and Approval of an Inter-fund Loan with the Cemetery to Borrow $905,000 from the City to be paid over a Ten-Year Period at 3.5% Interest Rate, seconded by Alderman Weber.
The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Morris, Alderman Novit, Notz, Preschlack, Goshgarian, Buschmann, and Weber. . The following voted “Nay”: none. 7-Ayes, 0-Nays, motion carried.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS FOR COUNCIL DISCUSSION/COMMENTS BY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Mayor Pro Tem Morris noted there will be no further business following Executive Session, and asked for a motion.
1. EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to 5ILCS120/2(c), 11 The City Council will be discussing pending litigation.
Alderman Preschlack made a motion to adjourn into Executive Session pursuant to 5ILCS120/2(c), 11 The City Council will be discussing pending and imminent litigation, seconded by Alderman Goshgarian.
The following voted “Aye”: Alderman Morris, Novit, Notz, Preschlack, Goshgarian, Buschmann and Weber. The following voted “Nay”: none. 7-Ayes, 0-Nays, motion carried.
Adjournment into Executive Session at 7:24p.m.
Reconvene into Regular Session at 7:51 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business Mayor Pro Tem Morris asked for a motion. Alderman Preschlack made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Alderman Notz. Motion carried unanimously by voice vote at 7:52p.m.
https://cms9files.revize.com/cityoflakeforestil/Document_center/Agendas%20and%20Minutes/City%20Council/2023/City-Council-Minutes-2023-3-6.pdf
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