Lake County Gazette

City of Highland Park Committee of the Whole met Oct. 15

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 Bruckman, Ross, Tapia, Lidawer, Stone, Blumberg

ABSENT: None

STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Neukirch, Director of Public Works Bannon, Community Development Director Fontane, Assistant City Manager Jason, Police Chief Jogmen, Finance Director McCaulou, Fire Chief Schrage, Assistant City Manager Taub, City Engineer Gomez, Administrative Program Specialist Cherry

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 September 23, 2024

Councilmember Stone moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Committee of the Whole held on September 23, 2024. Councilmember Lidawer seconded the motion. Upon a voice vote, the Mayor declared the motion passed unanimously.

RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]

MOVER: Kim Stone, Councilmember

SECONDER: Annette Lidawer, Councilmember

AYES: Mayor Rotering, Councilmembers Bruckman, Ross, Tapia, Lidawer, Stone, Blumberg

SCHEDULED BUSINESS

1. Central Avenue Bridge Presentation

City Manager Neukirch introduced the staff report and indicated that staff is seeking the Committee's feedback on an aesthetic liner to be placed on the inside/street side of the Central Avenue Bridge.

City Engineer Gomez presented information pertaining to the consideration of an aesthetic liner for the Central Avenue Bridge. He explained that the City received grant funding for the project, and through the grant process, the Illinois Department of Transportation found that the Central Avenue Bridge had historic characteristics.

The State's Historic Preservation Commission and the City's Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) reviewed the bridge's historic significance and as a result, the inside/street side of the bridge is smooth. After public feedback regarding the street  side of the bridge, staff is looking for feedback on aesthetic treatments for the bridge, particularly a form liner.

The Committee and City staff discussed:

1. If planter boxes or moss can be added to the bridge

2. The need for low cost mitigation options

3. Potential for a form liner to be added to the street side of the bridge that matches the outside of the bridge

4. Other City bridges that have form liners and if any have had a form liner added after completion of construction

5. Why other bridges were not reviewed by the HPC prior to construction

6. If a form liner can be added to the bridge now that the project has been completed

7. The reason for the removal of trees in the ravine

8. The City's ravine rehabilitation program in relation to this project

9. The review process of the ravine undertaken by Forestry after completion of the project

10. The state of the ravine prior to the project

11. If the bridge can undergo a texturing or speckling process

The Committee was in consensus that an aesthetic treatment for this bridge should not be considered at this time.

CLOSED SESSION

Councilmember Blumberg moved the Committee close its meeting to the public, pursuant to the following cited sections of the Illinois Open Meetings Act (5 ILCS 120/2(c)), for the purposes of i) pending litigation (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(11)) and ii) personnel (5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1)). Councilmember Lidawer seconded the motion. On a roll call vote, Mayor Rotering declared the motion passed unanimously.

At 6:19 PM, the Committee recessed the public portion of the meeting to meet in Closed Session.

At 6:36 PM, Mayor Rotering reconvened the open session of the Committee of the Whole Meeting.

Members Present: Mayor Rotering, Councilmembers Bruckman, Ross, Tapia, Lidawer, Stone, Blumberg

Members Absent: None

City Staff Present: City Manager Neukirch, Administrative Program Specialist Cherry

Also Present: Corporation Counsel Elrod

ADJOURNMENT

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

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

The Committee of the Whole adjourned its meeting at 6:36 PM.

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