HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 6.20.23 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL
Appearance
In accordance with Appearance Review Committee recommendations, the City Council voted to approve new business signage and a new outdoor seating area for Tapas Del Lago (329 Waukegan Ave.). The subject property was most recently occupied by Marco’s Northside Grill.
Development
Developer Simon Berger presented a concept plan to develop vacant land at the southeast corner of Prairie Ave. and Burtis Ave. The plan includes 4 two-story townhomes and 1 one-story single-family residence. The developer will now decide whether or not to submit required plans and studies to the City’s Planning & Zoning Commission for review, public hearing(s) and ultimately a recommendation to the City Council.
Finance
The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $964k.
City staff presented a draft operating budget for the current fiscal year (i.e., May 1, 2023 – April 30, 2024). The City Council continued related discussion and voted to approve the budget. The budget includes:
no year-over-year increase to City property taxes
no new debt
maintenance of cash reserves above the recommended funding level
police body cameras and new vehicle cameras
various infrastructure improvements, studies and plans (e.g., roadway resurfacing/reconstruction; sidewalk replacements; water treatment facility condition assessment, filter study and intake maintenance; etc.)
initial phase of lead service line replacements
park improvements
Rec Center improvements
new street and wayfinding signage
continuance of grant programs (e.g., business district building facades, residential district non-conforming use conversions)
City staff gave a presentation re the Library’s current personnel structure and the potential pension funding implications for the City. Mayor Pecaro assigned Alderman Hospodarsky and me to work with 2 members of the Library Board of Trustees to evaluate the potential pension funding impacts of the current and alternative personnel structures.
Licensing
The owners of Tapas Del Lago (329 Waukegan Ave.) applied for a class C liquor license (i.e., sale of beer and wine on premises) and passed the required background check. The City Council voted to approve issuing the license. The subject property was most recently occupied by Marco’s Northside Grill.
Parks and Public Spaces
The Beautification Committee has met 3 times since its May appointment. The Committee has discussed various improvements that were either named in the adopting resolution or that have been put forward by Committee members. Below are the improvements the Committee has classified as priorities as well as a summary of the actions taken to prepare for recommendations to the full City Council.
Everts Park extension at 340 Green Bay Rd. (i.e., the former site of Javier’s Garage)
Contracted Mariani Landscape to develop visualizations (e.g., schematic designs, landscape base plans, perspective sketches) as well as to produce a preliminary budget; work is expected to begin soon.
Pocket park at 341 Waukegan Ave. (i.e., the vacant lot just north of the Bent Fork Bakery)
Contracted Mariani Landscape to develop visualizations (e.g., schematic designs, landscape base plans, perspective sketches) as well as to produce a preliminary budget; work is expected to begin soon.
Lighting and landscaping on Green Bay Rd. (west side from Prairie Ave. to North Ave.).
Contracted Mariani Landscape to develop visualizations (e.g., schematic designs, landscape base plans, perspective sketches) as well as to produce a preliminary budget; work is expected to begin soon.
Street signs and posts in the residential district (excluding Fort Sheridan)
Identified target equipment from manufacturer Capital StreetScapes and working to obtain cost estimates for purchase, assembly and installation.
Wayfinding signs and posts in the downtown business district
Identified target equipment from manufacturer Capital StreetScapes and working to obtain cost estimates for purchase, assembly and installation.
Mosaic mural in Everts Park
Engaged the Chicago Public Art Group to assist with artist identification and expecting to receive a proposal soon.
Other
The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from June 6, 2023.
The Police Department would like to remind residents that dogs are required to be leashed when off the owner's property. If you observe an off-leash dog, please notify the Police Department by calling (847) 780-8478.
On June 14, 2023, the Lake County Forest Preserves Board of Commissioners approved acquiring the property known as the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve from Openlands.
In April 2021, visitors found one grenade and two flares at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve and the property was subsequently closed to the public (items were found at the bottom of the bluff and along the beach). The Navy then commissioned Tetra Tech to complete a historic document review and field investigation report. Based on the results of the study, Tetra Tech concluded that “it is unlikely that an unacceptable risk to land users exists from MEC/MPPEH on the ground surface in the accessible portions of the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve. An unacceptable risk due to subsurface MEC/MPPEH does not exist unless it would become exposed or disturbed.” (MEC = Munitions and Explosives of Concern; MPPEH = Material Potentially Presenting an Explosive Hazard).
Meeting Records