HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 4.18.23 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL
Appearance
In accordance with an Appearance Review Committee recommendation, the City Council approved new business signage for Himalayan Curry Hut (410 Sheridan Rd.).
Finance
The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $1.4M.
Infrastructure
Improvements on Holabird Cir., Holabird Loop, Janes Loop, Jeffreys Pl., Oakridge Ave., Stables Ct., Stables Ct. East and Stables Ct. West are progressing. With the asphalt plant opening last weekend, weather permitting, roadway grinding is expected to be completed by no later than next week, with asphalt paving completed shortly thereafter.
The City annually budgets to replace cracked and displaced sidewalks. The City Council voted to accept a proposal from Chicago Concrete & Excavations Services to replace various sidewalks at a cost of $23k. Please notify me of any locations with cracked or displaced sidewalks, and I will determine if they are already on the improvement list.
The surface condition of S. Central Ave. (south of Prairie Ave.) is rapidly deteriorating. This street has relatively high traffic volume primarily from the Aperion assisted care facility (i.e., vehicle traffic from deliveries, emergencies, employees, and visitors). Roadway improvements were not originally planned to be completed for several years. To capitalize on a contractor already mobilized for ongoing improvements, the City Council voted to accept a proposal from A Lamp Concrete Contractors to resurface S. Central Ave. (both south and north of Prairie Ave.) and Michigan Ave. (between Western Ave. and Pleasant Ave.) at a cost of $191k. This work is expected to begin next week as it will be folded into ongoing improvements.
The City – along with more than 50 other government agencies (e.g., Deerfield, Highland Park, Lake County, Lake Forest, Libertyville, Lincolnshire) – participated in a bid to purchase deicing salt for the ’23-24 season. The City Council voted to accept a bid from Morton Salt for up to 1.2k tons of salt at a cost of $82 per ton.
The City’s water treatment facility is located down a steep ravine. The condition of the access road to the facility – which gets significant water runoff from a neighboring property – is rapidly deteriorating. The City Council voted to accept a proposal from Chicago Concrete & Excavations Services to improve the access road at a cost of $20k.
Parks and Public Spaces
The City Council has recently discussed a variety of beautification ideas (e.g., new entrance to Everts Park at Green Bay Rd./North Ave., new pocket park at Waukegan Ave./Walker Ave., new City-wide street signage, new lighting on Green Bay Rd., hanging streetlight planters on Waukegan Ave./Sheridan Rd.). To help further investigate, plan and prioritize the various beautification ideas, Mayor Pecaro proposed appointing a Beautification Committee comprised of Aldermen Falberg, Alderman Levi, and me. No action taken, discussion only.
In ’22 the City purchased 3 contiguous properties at 341 Waukegan Ave., 7 Walker Ave., and 11 Walker Ave. (i.e., the vacant lot next to the Bent Fork and the 2 adjacent properties to its east). The short-term plan is to develop the vacant lot into a pocket park, to maintain the multiunit building to its east (a few units are occupied, but most are unoccupied), and to tear down the vacant building on the easternmost property so that it can be used for surface level parking. The City Council voted to accept a proposal from Chicago Concrete & Excavations Services to tear down the building on the easternmost property at a cost of $52k.
The City presently leases part of the Metra Station to Hydra Electric Tattoo. The City Council discussed extending the lease for a final year and evaluating alternative commercial and non-commercial tenant concepts during that time. No action taken, discussion only.
Public Safety
In ’21 the City entered into a 5-year collective bargaining agreement with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council (i.e., the collective bargaining representative for our police officers). To clarify the administration of holiday pay, the City Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the FOP. The agreement will not have any cost impact to the City.
In light of a recent rash of unlocked vehicles being burglarized in neighboring communities, the Police Department is asking residents to 1) lock their parked vehicles, 2) not leave valuables visible, and 3) leave an outdoor light on if possible (PD non-emergency phone number is (847) 780-8478).
Other
The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from March 21, 2023.
Please notify me of anyone that you think would find these summaries informative, and I will add them to the distribution group accordingly.
I am developing a website to help improve my communication with residents and plan to have it launched in May. The website will include a consolidated calendar of various meetings and events, a repository of important documents and other information, archives of City Council meeting summaries, and archives of policy investigations.
Meeting Records