Lake County Gazette

City of Highland Park Committee of the Whole met April 10

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

Call to Order

At 5:33 PM, Mayor Rotering called the meeting to order and asked for a roll call:

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

ABSENT: Councilmember Hoobler

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Neukirch, Director of Public Works Bannon, Community Development Director Fontane, Assistant City Manager Jason, Fire Chief Schrage, Commander Cameron, Assistant to the City Manager Palbitska

ALSO PRESENT: Corporation Counsel Elrod, Deputy Corporation Counsel Passman, Assistant Corporation Counsel Martinez

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

1. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Committee of the Whole Held on March 11, 2024

Councilmember Stone moved to approve the minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Committee of the Whole Held on March 11, 2024. Councilmember Blumberg seconded the motion. Upon a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed unanimously.

RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Kim Stone, Councilmember

SECONDER: Anthony Blumberg, Councilmember

AYES: Mayor Rotering, Councilmember Ross, Councilmember Hoobler, Councilmember Tapia, Councilmember Lidawer, Councilmember Stone, Councilmember Blumberg

SCHEDULED BUSINESS

1. Ethics Guidelines Review

Mayor Rotering provided opening comments regarding tonight's Ethics Guidelines Review discussion.

City Manager Neukirch highlighted the staff report that is available in the meeting packet. She referenced the ethics guidelines which includes the initial date of adoption and dates of when it was amended. She noted that it is a regular practice to review these guidelines. She explained that there is a Statement of Economic Interest and a copy of the City's Code of Conduct. She noted that Corporation Counsel prepared a legal document to review this information.

Corporation Counsel Elrod and Deputy Corporation Counsel Passman presented information pertaining to the Ethics discussion.

The Committee, Corporation Counsel, and City Manager Neukirch discussed:

• Statutory Conflict and how this affects elected officials

• Consulting with Corporation Counsel for advice about recusal

• Importance and parameters of disclosure and recusal

• Consequences for not disclosing or recusing

• Risks and benefits of having an Ethics Officer or Commission

• Ethics Officer v. Ombudsperson v. Ethics Commission

• Administrative Hearing Office acting as Ethics Officer

• Proactive approach

• Importance of not expressing our own views if someone is ethical or not

• City of Evanston model

• In depth understanding as to what recusal means and the process for recusal

A majority of the Committee was in consensus to implement an individual that would review ethics items that were brought forward. They were in agreement that the individual should not be on the Council, Corporation Counsel or a staff member.

They were in agreement that more information would be needed in order to create the role. They agreed that this item should be brought back for another discussion during a Committee of the Whole meeting to establish the position of an Ethics

Officer and continue the discussion on the guidelines.

ADJOURNMENT

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

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

The Committee of the Whole adjourned its meeting at 7:04 PM.

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