HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 12.5.23 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL
Appearance
The City’s Appearance Code currently allows for business signs to project a maximum of 12 inches from the walls to which they are attached. However, businesses can request consideration of a special exception to exceed the maximum allowable projection (or vary from any other standard in the Code). The City Council discussed amending the Code to increase the maximum allowable projection, but ultimately decided to not make any changes at this time.
Finance
The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $565k.
The City Council voted to accept the City Treasurer’s financial report covering the period of May 1, 2023 through August 31, 2023.
The City’s Firefighters’ Pension Fund is over 100% funded. The Firefighters’ Pension Fund Board recently hired a new actuary who recommended a new cost - an “expense load” - to be added to the Pension Board’s annual tax levy request to the City. An expense load refers to the costs associated with managing and administering a public pension fund (e.g., fees paid to investment managers, administrative expenses etc.). To support careful targeting of tax levy dollars for the purposes most in need (e.g., general corporate, Firefighters’ Pension Fund, Police Pension Fund etc.), the City Council directed City staff to request that the Pension Board provide its annual tax levy requests with and without an expense load.
To levy property taxes, State law requires cities to – among other things - pass an annual tax levy ordinance that includes the amount(s) to be levied and the purpose(s) for the same. The City Council voted to approve an ordinance for the 2023 tax year levy. The approved 2023 levy amount is $1,720,803, which represents a 4.9% (or $80,381) increase from the 2022 levy; for a property valued at $320k, the 2023 levy would increase property taxes by approximately $54 when compared with last year. My initial preference was to keep the 2023 levy flat; however, after considering high inflation and consumer prices, the past several years of relatively low to no levy increases and - in light of significant mandatory or otherwise necessary expenditures on the horizon - the heedlessness of kicking the inevitable levy increase can to future City Councils, I concluded that a 4.9% increase is more reasonable and accordingly voted in favor of the ordinance.
The City has previously borrowed money - by way of general obligation bonds - to help fund infrastructure improvements and economic development projects. These bonds are backed by the City’s ability to levy and collect property taxes. However, the City expects its current fiscal year revenues will be sufficient to cover its debt service (i.e., bond payments) and therefore does not need to levy and collect property taxes for the same. The City Council voted to approve ordinances abating the 2023 tax levy from making its payments related to bonds issued in 2020 and 2021.
Insurance
The City is presently insured with the Illinois Municipal League Risk Management Association (IMLRMA). IMLRMA insures more than half of the State’s municipalities. The City’s insurance policy provides various types of coverage including, but not limited to, general liability, workers’ compensation, public officials liability, law enforcement liability, property, automobile liability and cyber liability. The City Council voted to accept an insurance renewal proposal from IMLRMA for 2024 at a cost of $162k (2023 cost = $157k).
Parks & Public Spaces
Earlier this year, the City contracted Mariani Landscape to assist with designing 1) a new pocket park at 341 Waukegan Ave. (i.e., the vacant lot just north of the Bent Fork Bakery) and 2) an extension to Everts Park at 340 Green Bay Rd. (i.e., the former site of Javier’s Garage). With the design work now complete (click here to see the (subject to change) designs), the City now needs to have construction documents completed before going out to bid for the projects. The City Council voted to accept a proposal from Mariani Landscape to complete the construction documents at a cost of $24k.
There is presently a Cradles to Crayons donation box located in the public parking lot on Highwood Ave. behind the Library and Community Center facility. To increase parking capacity in the lot, the City Council directed City staff to relocate the donation box to the City’s Public Works property at 552 Bank Ln.
Personnel
Earlier this year, the State passed a new law known as the Paid Leave for All Workers Act. The new law - which becomes effective on January 1, 2024 - requires the City (and most other employers in the State) to offer 40 hours of paid leave to employees on an annual basis. The City is already compliant with the new law as it relates to its full-time employees, but needs to revise its related policy for part-time employees. The City Council voted to modify the City’s personnel manual so its employee benefits sections is compliant with the new law.
Real Estate
A city contractor, Sciaretta Enterprises, informally expressed interest in purchasing the City’s Public Works property at 552 Bank Ln. The City Council discussed the interest and directed City staff to request additional details from Sciaretta Enterprises (e.g., intended use(s), purchase price, buyback option, storage of City property etc.).
Other
The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from November 7, 2023.
Highwood Library & Community Center’s December newsletter is here.
Highwood Library & Community Center’s Grand Opening Celebration event will be held on Saturday, December 9th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at the newly renovated facility (102 Highwood Ave.); information re this event can be found here.
Highland Park High School Orchestra’s Highwood Holiday Strolling Strings event will be held on Saturday, December 9th beginning at 6:20 pm at Buffo’s (431 Sheridan Rd.); information re this event can be found here.
Highland Park High School Madcap Acapella Choir’s Highwood Holiday Caroling event will be held on Saturday, December 16th beginning at 6:20 pm at Buffo’s (431 Sheridan Rd.); information re this event can be found here.
Meeting Records