HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 4.16.24 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL
Finance
The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $355k.
Infrastructure
The city pumps, treats and supplies water directly from Lake Michigan. The pipes that connect individual properties to the city’s main water distribution system are referred to as “service lines.” The state passed a law requiring community water suppliers to fully replace service lines composed of lead as well as certain service lines composed of galvanized iron/steel (the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that there are over 1 million lead service lines alone in Illinois). The city has identified 270 service lines that require replacement under the law. While the law was passed without specifically allocating or guaranteeing any available funding to water suppliers, some conditional funding has subsequently been made available, although the funding is insufficient relative to the estimated all-told costs across the state. City staff presented a summary of the city’s legal compliance activities to date and assured that they will continue developing a replacement plan, while at the same time monitoring legislative, regulatory and funding developments. The law’s timeline is summarized below:
submit a material inventory of services lines to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (final material inventory due no later than April 15, 2024)
submit a plan to replace lead and certain galvanized iron/steel service lines to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (final replacement plan due no later than April 15, 2027)
implement the replacement plan at a rate of no less than 7% completion per year (replacements must be completed by 2042)
Land Use & Zoning
140 Morgan Pl. is currently zoned to permit residential uses including single family residences, parks, schools and places of worship. The subject property is, however, currently being used a 3-unit apartment building. This multifamily use was legally nonconforming because it was established and lawful before the current zoning regulations were adopted. The property owners started work to remove and replace large portions of the property’s foundation, without applying for or receiving a permit from the city (exterior picture here). Upon discovering the unpermitted work, the city issued a stop work order and requested that a permit application be submitted. After receiving and reviewing the permit application, the city’s zoning administrator determined that the property had lost its legal nonconforming status due to the structural nature of the completed work and consequently must now comply with the current zoning regulations. The property owners subsequently filed an appeal of the zoning administrator’s determination. The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing to consider the property owner’s appeal and ultimately voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council uphold the zoning administrator’s determination. The City Council voted to accept the Planning & Zoning Commission’s recommendation to uphold the zoning administrator’s determination.
The city utilizes contractors to support the review of complex development proposals. City staff requested the City Council to consider authorizing the use of an additional contractor, the Lakota Group, which has relevant regional experience. The City Council voted to authorize an agreement with the Lakota Group to provide planning support services on an as needed basis.
Legal
For over a decade, the city has used the law firm of Klein, Thorpe & Jenkins as its city attorney. The firm notified the city of a $5 increase to the hourly rates for their legal services. The City Council voted to approve the revised fee schedule, which will go into effect on May 1, 2024.
Parks & Public Spaces
Construction of a new park at 341 Waukegan Ave. has begun and is expected to be substantially complete this summer (renderings here); certain improvements in and around the park are planned to be completed thereafter. Acquiring this property for park development has been a longstanding dream of mine. I am grateful to everyone who endured my persistent (and likely annoying) noises and contributed to making this dream a reality.
For the past 10 years, the city has contracted with Anthony Scopelliti Landscaping for certain landscaping services (following a merger last year, the company is now Guy Scopelliti Landscape). The City Council voted to approve an agreement with Guy Scopelliti Landscape to provide landscaping services in 2024 in an amount not to exceed $30k, which represents the same service rates from 2023.
Public Safety
Police officer Pete Sirotti recently notified the city of his retirement. Mayor Pecaro read a proclamation expressing the city’s appreciation for Pete’s service to the community, declared April 16, 2024 as “Pete Sirotti Day” and presented Pete with a framed copy of the proclamation (picture here). Pete has been an exemplary member of the police department for the past 20 years and will be sorely missed.
Police officers Brandon Taylor and Kyle Harvey were both recently promoted to acting sergeant.
Other
The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from April 2, 2024.
The city has openings on multiple volunteer boards (e.g., Appearance Review Committee, Board of Fire & Police Commissioners, Police Pension Board); please contact me if you are interested in learning more about these opportunities.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Women in Business event will be held on April 24th from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago (9599 Skokie Blvd, Skokie, IL 60077); additional information here.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Ribbon Cutting event for the grand opening of Billy Bricks Pizza & Ice Cream will be held on April 24th from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm at 428 Green Bay Rd.; additional information here.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Ladies Night Out event will be held on April 25th from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm at various locations in downtown Highwood; additional information here.
I had reprints made of the rare book, 28 Miles North: A Story of Highwood (Wittelle, 1953); if you would like a free copy, please reply to this email with your address and I will drop one off at your home before long.
Meeting Records