HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 3.19.24 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL 

Finance

  • The City Council discussed a draft operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year (May 1, 2024 – April 30, 2025) and continued further discussion to a future meeting. The draft budget includes:

    • no new debt

    • maintenance of cash reserves above the recommended funding level

    • police body and vehicle cameras

    • infrastructure improvements and assessments (e.g., installation of a new sanitary sewer system along Sheridan Rd.; repairs of an existing sanitary sewer system along Prairie Ave.; roadway reconstruction of Bank Ln; roadway preventative maintenance on various streets; sidewalk repairs on various streets; water treatment facility condition assessment; reduction of lead water service lines)

    • park improvements and public art installations (e.g., construction of a new pocket park on Waukegan Ave; construction of an extension to Everts Park on Green Bay Rd.; creation of murals on the exterior walls of several buildings)

Parks & Public Spaces

  • The City Council’s Beautification Committee finalized the design for a new pocket park at 341 Waukegan Ave. (i.e., the city-owned vacant lot just north of the Bent Fork Bakery); click here to see renderings. Construction of the new park is anticipated to begin this spring and be completed by the summer. The City Council voted to direct city staff to enter into contracts with construction service providers as detailed below:

    • Herky’s Trucking for excavation work in an amount not to exceed $50k (includes the removal and disposal of contaminated soil at an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency approved landfill as the property was previously used a gas station)

    • Hirsch Brick & Stone for masonry work in an amount to exceed $100k

    • Elliot Construction for concrete work in an amount not to exceed $200k

Planning

  • The City Council holds annual strategic planning discussions.  These discussions help identify and classify the City Council’s objectives for the upcoming fiscal year and prioritize city resources accordingly.  The City Council discussed the status of its objectives for the current fiscal year as well as set objectives for the upcoming fiscal year. The primary objectives for the upcoming fiscal year (May 1, 2024 - April 30, 2025) are detailed below:

    • installation of a new sanitary sewer system and reconstruction of Bank Ln. roadway

    • construction of a new pocket park as well as an extension of Everts Park

    • succession planning for the Police Department and Public Works

    • repurpose space at the Metra Station for a Police Department substation (additional information here)

    • evaluation and advancement of expected redevelopment proposals

Public Comment

  • A group of residents inquired re the status of an expected zoning relief application for the development of a concert hall on vacant land north of Westover Rd. Zoning relief would be required for the concert hall use as the property’s current zoning only allows for residential uses (e.g., single family residences, parks, schools, places of worship). City staff reported that a complete application has not yet been received. If/when a complete application is received, city staff will in turn conduct various reviews and – assuming the application satisfies the related requirements – subsequently refer the application to the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission for public hearing(s); once the application is deemed complete, it would become a public document and made available to the public for inspection. In addition to public hearing(s), the Planning & Zoning Commission would make findings of fact and a recommendation to approve or deny the requested use to the City Council, who would ultimately make the decision to approve or deny. Click here to subscribe to email and/or text message notifications of upcoming city meetings, including Planning & Zoning Commission public hearings.

Other

  • The Library & Community Center’s March newsletter is 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 for this event can be found 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

  • 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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April 2, 2024

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February 20, 2024