Lake County Gazette

City of Highland Park Committee of the Whole met Feb. 26.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

CALL TO ORDER

At 5:30 PM, Mayor Nancy Rotering called the meeting to order and asked for a roll call:

PRESENT: Mayor Rotering, Councilmembers Ross, Hoobler, Tapia, Lidawer, Stone

ABSENT: Councilmember Blumberg

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Neukirch, Director of Public Works Bannon, Community Development Director Fontane, Assistant City Manager Jason, Police Chief Jogmen, Finance Director Logan, Assistant City Manager Taub, Deputy Fire Chief Nardomarino, Assistant to the City Manager Palbitska

ALSO PRESENT: Corporation Counsel Elrod

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Committee of the Whole Held on February 12, 2024

Councilmember Stone moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Committee of the Whole Held on February 12, 2024, as amended. Councilmember

Tapia seconded the motion. Upon a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed.

RESULT: ADOPTED AS AMENDED [4 TO 0]

MOVER: Kim Stone, Councilmember

SECONDER: Andrés Tapia, Councilmember

AYES: Mayor Rotering, Councilmembers Ross, Tapia, Stone

ABSTAIN: Councilmembers Hoobler, Lidawer

ABSENT: Councilmember Blumberg

2. Approval of the Minutes of the Closed Session of the Regular Committee of the Whole Meeting Held on February 12, 2024

Councilmember Stone moved to approve the Minutes of the Closed Session of the Regular Committee of the Whole Held on February 12, 2024. Councilmember Tapia seconded the motion. Upon a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed.

RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Kim Stone, Councilmember

SECONDER: Andrés Tapia, Councilmember

AYES: Mayor Rotering, Councilmembers Ross, Hoobler, Tapia, Lidawer, Stone

ABSENT: Councilmember Blumberg

SCHEDULED BUSINESS

1. Storage Containers Policy Discussion

Councilmember Hoobler made a statement noting that his participation in tonight's conversation would not be a conflict of interest based on his conversation with Corporation Counsel.

Community Development Director Fontane presented follow-up information from the last time this topic was discussed at a Committee of the Whole on November 13, 2023. He noted that staff is requesting feedback as to whether or not an exemption should be provided for public agencies or if the policy should be refined based on direction that was provided by the Committee at a previous meeting. He reviewed how public agencies are currently utilizing storage containers in locations without existing infrastructure including the City.

The Committee, Corporation Counsel Elrod, City Manager Neukirch and staff discussed the policy that was proposed at the November 13, 2023 meeting, gaining an understanding as to what other municipalities and government entities are using storage containers for, whether or not an exemption be provided for public agencies, policy discussion about using storage containers for building homes, and an understanding as to how the topic of storage containers came forward as a topic of conversation.

The Committee was in consensus that storage containers could be kept in places that were not visible, like the Public Works yard and under the bleachers at Wolters Field.

They were also in consensus that more information was needed for a future discussion that included municipal research that was conducted.

ADJOURNMENT

Councilmember Stone moved to adjourn the Committee of the Whole meeting.

Councilmember Lidawer seconded the motion. Upon a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed unanimously.

The Committee of the Whole adjourned its meeting at 6:12 PM.

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