HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 7.16.24 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL 

Finance

  • The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $1M; the lion’s share of these expenditures are attributable to roadway and sanitary system improvements on Bank Ln. and Sheridan Rd. (contractor = Bolder Contractors).

  • The city annually adopts a budget for internal operations and planning purposes. Additionally, state law requires the city to annually adopt an appropriation ordinance and to hold a public hearing prior to its adoption. This ordinance sets the maximum amount that the city may legally spend during its fiscal year. The City Council held a public hearing and subsequently voted to approve adopting the appropriation ordinance for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

  • State law requires the city to annually adopt an ordinance that lists the salaries - or salary ranges - of city employees and elected officials. The City Council voted to adopt the salary ordinance for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

Land Use & Zoning

  • Representatives from the Midwest Young Artists Conservatory (878 Lyster Rd.) will be holding a public information meeting on August 15th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm at the Highwood Bocce Club (440 Bank Ln.). The representatives will present MYAC's concert hall plans for the vacant four acres west of its existing facility and discuss the related zoning relief application. Event RSVP here.

Licenses

  • The owners of ami. Jerusalem Street Food (148 Green Bay Rd.) applied for a class D liquor license and passed the required background check. This license permits the sale of beer and wine for consumption on premises as well as the sale of packaged beer and wine for consumption off premises. The City Council voted to approve issuing the license. 

  • The owners of Restaurante Chacahua (758 Sheridan Rd.) applied for a class B liquor license and passed the required background check. This license permits the sale of beer, wine and spirits for consumption on premises as well as packaged beer and wine for consumption off premises. The City Council voted to approve issuing the license. 

  • The owners of 28 Mile Distilling (454 Sheridan Rd.) presently have a class N liquor license. This license permits the onsite production and storage of liquor and beer as well as the sale of liquor and beer for consumption on and off premises. The owners asked the city to consider amending the city code to allow license holders to also produce, store and sell wine. The City Council voted to approve amending the city code.

Parks & Public Spaces

  • The city is presently constructing a new park at 341 Waukegan Ave. (click here to see renderings). The City Council voted to accept proposals from Mariani Landscape to complete work related to lighting, irrigation and plantings at a cost not to exceed $190k.

Real Estate

  • 400 Sheridan Rd. is a privately-owned property that is currently occupied by Nite N’ Gale and Astra Nails & Spa. A real estate developer is interested in purchasing and redeveloping the property. The developer asked the city to consider selling a vacant (1,200-square-foot) parcel west of the existing building so that it could be incorporated into the redevelopment plan. The City Council voted to authorize the sale of the property for $5k. I voted against this action.  My intention was not to hinder the property owner’s ability to sell to the developer. I hope the property is sold at or above the asking price at a time that works best for the owner.  My vote was only meant to express my opposition to the scale of the developer’s planned redevelopment. The developer’s stated intent is to redevelop the property without requesting any public funding or exceptions to zoning regulations, which should that be the case, will result in the project not requiring any decisive approvals from the City Council.

Other

  • The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from June 18, 2024.

  • The Library & Community Center’s July newsletter is here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s July newsletter is here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Margarita Night event will be held on July 17th from 4:30 pm to 9:30 pm at Everts Park (111 North Ave.); additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Highwood Days with Taco Fest event will be held from July 18th to July 21st at Everts Park (111 North Ave.) and the Metra station parking lot (317 Green Bay Rd.); additional information here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s Bingo at Buffo’s event will be held on July 28th from 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm at Buffo’s (431 Sheridan Rd.); additional information here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s Junk in the Trunk event will be held on August 4th from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Metra station parking lot (317 Green Bay Rd.); additional information here.

  • The city has openings on multiple volunteer boards (e.g., Appearance Review Committee, Board of Fire & Police Commissioners, Firefighters’ Pension Board, Library & Community Center Board of Trustees, Police Pension Board); please contact me if you are interested in learning more about these opportunities.

  • 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

  • A video recording of the Regular Meeting is here.

  • Minutes from the Committee of the Whole Meeting are here and minutes from the Regular Meeting are here.  

    These write-ups are purposefully brief. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you would like additional details or have questions.

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August 6, 2024

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June 18, 2024