City Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting for the city of Highland Park, Illinois, January 12th, 2026. Happy New Year. Uh, will the clerk please call the role? Council member Center, present. Council member Buckman here. Council member Ross here. Council member Tapia present. Council member Little here. Council member Bloomberg. Mayor Roing

here. We have a quorum. Everyone, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the rescheduled regular meeting of the city council held December 12th, 2025 as amended and the minutes of the closed session of the rescheduled meeting of the city council on December [clears throat] 15, 2025. So moved. Second. All in favor say I. I. Those minutes are approved. May I have an a motion to approve the warrant list?

Uh so moved. Second. Any comments or questions on the warrant list? Hearing none. Will the clerk please call the vote? Council member center. Hi, Council Member Breman. Hi, Council Member Ross. Hi, Council Member Topia. Hi, Council Member Little. Hi, Council Member Bloomberg. Hi, Mayor Roing.

I seven eyes, no nays. The warrant list is approved. The next item is the report of the mayor. Um, I am delighted to say that the city of Highland Park has 17 commissions, boards, and advisory groups with resident volunteers who are appointed by me with the city council's consent. These organizations were formed to provide guidance to the city council and to adhere to existing municipal regulations. Through the student representative program, the city of Highland Park offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to gain hands-on government experience by serving on our advisory groups, boards, and commissions. During their service, students develop leadership skills while our community benefits from the unique perspective that each student provides. We'd like to congratulate and welcome the following high school students to the class of 2027. Student commissioners, I'm going to totally embarrass you if you're here, but I'm going to call your name. Please stand. Don't feel weird. Um, student commissioners for the business and economic development advisory group, Aiden Fineberg and Paige Wellen. Thank you. Thank you so much. Great job. [applause] Cultural Arts Advisory Group, Alexi de la Cruz Ramirez and Gabrielle Sullivan. [applause] Historic Preservation Commission, Cooper Bal and Gabby Goldstein. Thanks to them. Housing Commission, Sydney Jones and Riley Sullivan. [applause] Human Relations Advisory Group, Aluadara, Dara Babalola, and Zoe Warner. [applause] Library Board of Trustees, Claudia Fincher. Thank you, Claudia. [applause]

Plan and Design Commission, Khloe Pilot. [applause] Sister Cities Foundation, Sammy Gordon, [applause] Sustainability Advisory Group, Nate Goldberg, [applause] and the Zoning Board of Appeals, Zoe Heler. [applause] So, I want to thank you all for your participation. This past Saturday, we had student orientation and we greatly look forward to your perspective and insights on your respective commissions. You are free to go. I am sure you have homework. I'm sorry to say that word, but you are free to leave now. Go ahead. [laughter]

This is my favorite grandmother part. This is

like we can't do this to them. All right. Thanks everybody. Um I'm also seeking council consensus on the following additional appointments. Um to the board of fire and police commission appointment to chair Evan Wowski from January 1st 26 to December 31st 27. uh cultural arts advisory group reappoint of Amy Kirsten Bruno from January 1st 25 to December 31st 26 and the appointment of Amy Amber uh from January 1st of this year to December 31st of this year reappointing to the human relations advisory group Paul Canester given that you're the chair you should probably be reappointed as well so thank you for that plan and design commission reappointing Steve Kirch um he also is the chair and we appreciate appreciate his service. Sustainability advisory group reappointing Michael Cle and zoning board of appeals appointing Sam Harmile. I'm looking for your consensus. Do I have your consensus on these appointments? Thank you all and thanks again to those who have volunteered to serve. We appreciate your generosity of time, talent, and expertise. Paul, you don't have homework, and you're welcome to stick around. Thank you for joining [laughter] us. Uh we have one proclamation this evening and that is in honor of the 17th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service which is January 19th. Um it's presented by the City of Highland Park Human Relations Advisory Group and the Park District of Highland Park. This annual event is an opportunity for all of us to come together in celebration of Dr. King's legacy through service to others. I'm going to read the proclamation and then Paul Canester, chair of the human relations advisory group, will accept it. Whereas Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. devoted his life to advancing equality, social justice,

and opportunity for all. And Dr. King's teachings can continue to guide and inspire us. And whereas the King Holiday and Service Act, enacted in 1994, designated the King Holiday as a national day of volunteer service. And since 1994, millions of Americans have been inspired by the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to serve their neighbors and communities on the King holiday. Amarez, the city's human relations advisory group in the Park District of Highland Park, will sponsor its 17th annual Martin Luther King Day of Service on Monday, January 19th. Is Monday, January 19th or Yay? Yeah. Okay. Monday, January 19th at Park Fitness, 1207 Park Avenue West from 10:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. And whereas the Day of Service event honors the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and is a community collaboration for a day of action and features purposeful service projects and entertainment to engage all ages. And whereas Highland Park residents will join thousands of Illinois residents commemorating the significance of Martin Luther King Day by performing community service that benefits communities and neighborhoods and provides a fitting memorial to the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Now therefore, I, Nancy Rodri, mayor of the city of Highland Park, do hereby proclaim January 19th, 2026 as Martin Luther King Day of Service in the City of Highland Park and urge all community members to join in recognizing it as a day of service throughout Highland Park and further encourage each resident to take part in service that will benefit communities and neighborhoods and provide a fitting memorial to the life of Dr. King. Um, I will now welcome Paul Canester to accept this proclamation and to share more about the plans for the 2026 Martin Luther King Day of Service program activities and donation dropoff event. Welcome, Chair Canester.

Thank you, mayor and council, for your strong support of the day of service event each year. My name is Paul Canester. I'm chair of the human relations advisory group. On behalf of the advisory group, we are so appreciative of the coun city council's continued support of this initiative, which has grown over the past 16 years to incorporate a keynote, which one of them actually was one of our students that just left um performance uh and donation drive while retaining acts of service to benefit local organizations at his heart. Please join us on Monday, January 19th from 10:00 to 12:30 at Park Fitness uh to honor Dr. King's legacy through service. This year, we're delighted to welcome over 30 participating agencies. Attendees will be able to participate in a wide range of service projects from seed processing with the Park District of Highland Park, which was featured in the Highlander this month, to creating cards for seniors to preparing care packages for first responders. These all ages activities will directly benefit individuals in need throughout our region and are a great way to engage your family in this day on, not a day off. We are grateful to Dr. Shayla Holland, superintendent, superintendent of Township High School District 113, who will be giving a keynote address on on um educational equity, and to the Joel Hall Dancers, a worldclass Chicago based dance company that will present a very special performance. We encourage everyone to consider participating in the donation dropoff event, even if you can't stay for the whole program. Donation drop offs will be available in the parking lot of Park Fitness from 9:00 to 10:30. Needed items include personal care items, shoes in any condition, select shelf stable foods, bicycles in repable condition, acrylic yarn, and other items. Please seehpil.com/mlk for the list of participating

organizations and the items in need of donation. Again, thank you on behalf of the Human Relations Advisory Group for your support of the Day of Service event. We look forward to seeing everyone on January 19th. Great. Thank you. And I'm pleased to give you this proclamation.

Thank you so much, Chair Caner. We look forward to what promises to be a service focused fun celebration of Dr. Martin Luther [clears throat] King's legacy on Monday, January 19th. Under other business, every year the community comes together to support a deserving charity at a number of events coordinated by Highland Park High School students as part of the annual HPHS charity drive. Tonight, we're delighted to welcome Lucy Walman and Emerson Shamberg to the podium to share more about this year's schedule of events and designated charity. Welcome.

Hi. Um, thank you so much for having us. I'm Lucy Wman and I'm Chber and we're the co-presidents of Charity Drive this year.

Um, so we're going to start by playing a little video. This is just a recap from last year. Ladies, if you don't mind talking into the mic Okay.

Amazing. Amazing. And so this year, [laughter]

so what? Sorry. What is charity? Charity drive? Charity Drive is a large, passionate group of students. It's schoolwide and month-long participation. We raise significant funds for a chosen beneficiary. And the best part is that it's completely communitydriven. Next, we have a little recap of the past charities. So, you can see it's a different logo every year, and that's really cool because students design it every year in our graphic arts class. So, I thought we would showcase that. And finally, this year's beneficiary is Propel Prop Propella Cure, which is an all volunteer nonprofit dedicated to funding research into the root causes of Crohn's disease. The ultimate goal is finding a cure support and it supports innovative scientific research aimed at understanding why the disease develops. 100% of funds raised go directly to research, maximizing the impact of every donation, helping move closer to a future without Crohn's disease. how the community and anyone here can get involved. So, we have a com an adultonly comedy night, um a palms and jammers clinic and parent night out if any of you have children that dance or just want a night out. Um yeah, [laughter] and then we have our mighty cause page which is like our general donation page. Um and you can of course donate to that. In addition, you can also um order food on takeout Tuesday and that's all throughout the community and you can order food and they give us a little portion. And lastly, one of our most successful events is our silent auction which is when a bunch of businesses and things donate things. We have vacations, um little things like signed um tickets, Bears tickets, um Bulls tickets, and that's like our most successful thing that anyone can join. If you scan the QR

code, it'll take you to our website, which has all the events listed where you can sign up. Um I think the mighty cause is posted on there as well. And finally, if you have any questions or want to reach us, here's our emails and also you can scan the QR code to follow us on Instagram. Fantastic. Thank you so much for coming to talk about this. We wish you great great luck. I know how much work goes into this and it's just like a fullscale blowout month of unbelievable activity at the high school and throughout the community. and it you just make us proud because I know it's coming from your hearts and you're doing everything you can to help these charities. So, thank you for coming and talking to us tonight and hopefully you'll see some of us [clears throat] at the auction.

Absolutely. Uh mayor, definitely taking things out on Tuesday. Yes. I just wanted to ask is is there a virtual component to the silent auction? It's all online. It lasts I think it will release towards the end of um the month and then it lasts for I think a week until they announce. Thank you. That's great. And often I think maybe I'm remembering this. You get like a text like your thing the thing that you're interested in. People are bidding on it so you can participate even if you don't want to leave the comfort of your own home. Yes. Exactly. It's pretty great money long.

Right. So hpcharitydrive.org or is where people should be going to view the full schedule of events to learn more about the charity and good luck. Thank you. Thanks so much everybody. Wants a paper copy of the schedule. Oh, do you want to leave it on with um the city manager and we'll make sure we have it out on the counter so that people who come by city hall can take a look. Great. Thank you. Thank you. [applause]

Okay. Is there any business from the council? No. No. Okay. City Manager Newkerk, will you please provide the staff report? Hang on. Let me give my other admonition. You too can go home. You don't have to stay here. [laughter] Good to see you. Thanks for coming by. This is mom speaking. Go ahead.

Mayor, um just want to draw the public's attention that we have 10 items on the omnibus agenda. All are recommended for approval. Um, I just want to talk briefly about item number eight and then certainly can answer questions um when that item is called for the agenda. Item eight pertains to a one-year proposed agreement with PACE um to provide local bus service as well as service to Ravenia Festival. Um we've had a professional relationship with PACE um for more than um three decades. Um we have been for the la more than a year negotiating an agreement with PACE and so um this agreement is recommended for approval. We've identified the major changes in the agreement. Um PACE is is really looking for there's only three municipalities in our area that have even somewhat comparable agreements to this. Um, as as the council knows, um, the PACE last year um asked us to increase our uh insurance coverage and so we pay for insurance. Now there's increased liability as part of that agreement. Um, we have pushed them on that to try to get the same agreement that we've both benefited from for again decades, but they're really moving away from that model um, and all of their service offerings. So, at this time, again, a one-year agreement. Um, we have been communicating regular updates to Ravenia Festival. It is important to note that Ravenia Festival does pay for all the transit service that they benefit from. So, it's the drivers, they cover the insurance, they cover every aspect of service to their operation, but we facilitate um the service through our agreement than with Ravenia Festival. Um, so again, recommended for approval with that and I'm happy to answer any questions when the time comes. Thank you. Thank you so much. Any questions for the city manager? Nope. Okay. Um, assistant to the city manager,

Pelitzka, if you could please introduce the next item on our agenda, business from the public.

Thank you, mayor. [clears throat] The next item on the agenda is business from the public. This is an opportunity for members of the public to address the city council on a topic that is within the council's purview and jurisdiction, but is not listed in another location on the agenda. If you would like to speak about a matter that is listed on the agenda, we ask that you wait until that agenda item is called and we will give you an opportunity to speak then. If your matter is on the omnibus consent agenda, please let us know if you would like us to remove that matter from the consolidated list so that you can speak about it. Please be aware that business from the public is not intended to be a form for open dialogue or engagement with members of the city council. Rather, it is intended as an opportunity to make comments to the city council. Please do not expect a response from anyone tonight. If appropriate, questions may be directed to the city manager or other city staff. All comments should be directed to the city council. All speakers will be limited to three minutes. We request that speakers refrain from throwing objects or using noise makers and that the public not applaud or make other comments after any speaker. We ask that everyone be respectful, civil, and non-repetitive.

Great. Thank you. Are there any members of the public who wish to be heard this evening on an item not on tonight's agenda? Please come forward. Thank you. And please state your name for the record. A happy new year. Nope. Happy new year. Too late. I don't know what the cut off is. [laughter] I remember there's this um Huh. I don't want to trip on that. Hi. Hello. Hello. Um please state your name.

I'm sorry. What? Oh, Sandy Lurri. Um, respectfully, I'm here tonight not to debate the merits of the solo property, but I'd like to comment on the process that brought us to this point. And the point that we're at at is the city desperately wants the development to proceed, but to the total exclusion of what the neighborhood reasonably is asking for and what is good for the people who live in the southwest corner of Highland Park and the city as a whole. What we didn't know then back in April when this was first presented, but do know now is you have a process that is adversarial, the opposite of collaborative. We have a developer that wants Highland Park to change our existing rules for their benefit and a government that wants to fill a long empty space and is willing to ignore those rules. What we don't have is a process that involves the cities of the citizens of the city whose lives are most affected by this development. the last large parcel of land in Highland Park. Your role bending is to the detriment of the people in the community. We are allowed to send you as many letters as we want and to speak for three minutes, but that is not a give and take when there is no framework in the place in place for direct dialogue with the city. The Highland Highland Park does not require the developer to meet with the neighborhood which should be a requirement for development of this size and scope. You are allowing a generational and substantive change in the nature of an entire community. By the time it gets to the point where it's at now, you just want to get it done despite those pesky details. And let's not get too picky. This development does not meet any standards for sustainability, environmentally clean, senior friendly, ADA friendly, architecturally appropriate for fitting into the existing neighborhood. All items in the city's master plan. Not one question has come from the PDC nor this body regarding any of the above. Mayor

Roering and most on this council say all our input has made this a better development, but that's not true. This is pretty much the same oversized, crowded, too tall development that came before us back in April, less 13 units. It's still not properly zoned. And in a few years when it's sold, and it will be to another investor, they can pretty much do what they want. And even worse, you have dismissed out of hand city council members questioning as to why it's not zoned properly. We expected you to look out for us for our real concerns. And we expected you to play by the rules, not bend them for someone else's benefit, not let something that is merely palatable or okay enough be imposed. Your fear that this developer will walk away has taken precedence over what's good for the neighborhood, our lives, and property values. This huge development will be your legacy to this city. Is this good enough for you? And importantly, in these crazy, fearful times we are all living in, I see the clock. This neighborhood is feeling soured and unheard from the city government we once so cheered on and supported, but we do not feel supported in any way. We feel ignored.

Thank you, Mrs. Larry. Thank you. Appreciate your comments. Thank you for listening. Any other members of the public wishing to be heard this evening? Seeing none, we'll continue on with our scheduled business. Under our omnivous agenda, we have items one through 10 group together for omnivous consideration. I am seeking a motion to approve items 1 through 10. I'd like to pull item number five, please. Okay. And just make a brief comment about item number eight. Okay. That's all right. Do you want to share your comment on item eight? Sure. Um I think I want to pull I just don't know the number for the it is the um uh

number two the United Yeahord. Yeah. Okay.

Um with regard to item number eight which is the PACE bus contract. I'm not going to pull it because I really am very grateful to the city manager for her explanation. I have um severe problems with this agreement. I think it it was hard fought for and I commend staff and city manager for fighting for it and finally getting us a contract. I do not like the fact that we have the inability to terminate the contract. I do not like the fact that we are now picking up all the costs for the insurance. I'm sorry that Pace is not picking up any of them. But Ravenia is

But Ravenia Festival is and that explanation makes me feel better about it. I wanted it on the record that in fact Ravenia Festival is picking up those costs, not the city of Highland Park. So that's why I'm willing to go forward with this and keep it on the consent agenda. But I feel it's very important that um the city continue to negotiate very hard. This is a one-year agreement. Hopefully, PACE will be more settled in that interim or we will have an alternative that better fits the needs of our residents because this is um it's not a good contract. So, thank you for your efforts um because they really show and it's made a difference over the year both to corporation council and to staff.

How long did we not we did not have a contract like 18 months for a significant period of time, right? So, okay. Thank you. Um so with that I am seeking a motion to approve items 1 3 4 and 6 through 10. Yes. Who moved? Second. Any other comments on items 1 2 3 1 3 4 6 through 10. Any from the public hearing? None. Will the clerk please call the vote? Council member center. Hi. Council member Buckman. Hi. Council member Ross. Hi. Council member Tapia. Hi. Council member Lor. Hi. Council member Bloomberg. Hi. Mayor Roing.

I. Seven eyes. No. Items 1 3 4 6 through 10 have been approved. Item two is a resolution approving a professional services agreement with United Talent Coordinators. Council member Ross.

Uh thank you, Mayor. Uh my comment has to do with um process and I I know that um I mean I've written to the city manager and mayor. you're you're both aware um that that uh there were there were two applicants um for this uh uh that you were choosing between and uh I did you know share that I thought that uh that um human uh life rhythms right that's the name did a really wonderful job with with music uh last summer uh including being in Portland Square and I I don't you know know enough about the because I wasn't part of the the process of interviewing the two companies and with all fairness to uh United Talent uh they you know uh with made a good faith effort they they went through our process and and uh they they were chosen. I think um I I can't say whether uh one is better than than than the other. My comment has to do with with process and wanting to know you know whether whether it's an architecture firm we're choosing or or you know a a company choosing between companies like this. I would like to know that we're, you know, get updates on this to know that we we are at a point of of choosing between companies because it at at least it seems like we could perhaps share, you know, our own thoughts about about even if we're not on the interview and I

understand from your email that it isn't, you know, reasonable to have us in the interviews, not to have a council representative in the interviews. Uh but to at least be apprised of the fact that you are interviewing companies, you know, maybe we have a personal experience or or something some light to shed or some preference. It it would be nice to have a heads up that the interviews are are happening. That's that's my comments.

Um so so thank you for those comments. I think it's important to note that this was done through a process that we generally apply as a city when we're looking at vendors. Uh we're subject to state law in certain circumstances. We have a very clear process. Also, we are a council manager form of government. That's the format that we adopted in the late 1950s which says basically we are here to guide policy but we have hired a professional manager and a professional team to perform the operations of the city. And to that end, I appreciate um the work that our staff committee put into assessing those who had uh responded, I believe, to a request for proposals. Um my understanding is the organization that was chosen has 40 years of experience in this work and has worked with us in the past. Um so I'm eager to see how things turn out this year. We're always back at it again in the future and I appreciate you raising your concerns. Thank you. May I respond to that a little bit? Uh I I appreciate staff's work uh interviewing. I appreciate all the effort that went into it and I do put a lot of trust and and faith in in in staff and and I I I feel that, you know, since I first wrote to you, I've had some time to think about this and and learn a bit more. Um, I'm I am going to to to support it at this point, but I it I don't see how it is, you know, going against the the policy of having this manager run, you know, city to to update us.

Yeah, Mayor.

Sure. Go ahead, sir. Um, so I I did have communication with council member Ross earlier today and and um certainly understand um your request and I guess what I would suggest is this course of action. So of our total budget um more than 20% of our expenditures are on contractual services. So even right now, I just looked at our website, we've got 15 RFPs that we are soliciting competitive proposals for. And so we've got different teams consisting of our expert staff that make up all these um projects and then that are working on them. So, our um work plan for [snorts] the year includes major initiatives. And so, the council and the public has a general idea of what major projects that we're um initiating and the approximate time frame of when those are being done. So, for example, if you're interested in um if you're interested in structural plan review and inspection services and are like, "Hey, I know a firm that does this work." then you know you know approximately when we're doing that and then you can contact me at any time and just say hey can you just make sure that this firm gets a copy of our RFP. Um and so we can do that way. Um the other thing is the city council also gets preliminary agendas um one week before our meeting and so uh I've got a staff meeting tomorrow. I'm going to talk to our staff about moving that time frame up an additional week. So you'll get them. So tomorrow you'll get the preliminary agenda for the meeting um on the 26th uh or whenever our next meeting is. And so you'll have an idea of what is on the agenda. So if you are interested in something that's going to be on the agenda, you can call me and just say, "Hey, can you just give me a status report of where they're at?" I just I I want to accommodate your request, but um it's it would be

extremely challenging if I have to give a comprehensive report to the city council on every aspect of our operation. I mean, that's like really getting into the weeds of day-to-day management. Um so I think those options I would say um that's definitely seems reasonable a step a really big step in the right direction to get earlier notice um earlier uh draft agenda I think

well you wouldn't get the full agenda you're just going to get the title of what's on the agenda because the staff is still working through everything background I the earlier I mean I guess in general the earlier we can get information the the better to the extent that it is reasonable and appropriate. I the more information I I I've talked about this before and I don't want to take up too much time. we're going back into close session and um that that uh you know it it having to make decisions on on things you know three with only three days of of of uh awareness of of of of a topic is is often challenging and uh and yes and I I do feel that the these two companies went you know through a you know fair process in terms of you know putting their best foot forward, you know, to the city. Uh, and I I I think at this point I I want to honor that. Uh, but make you aware that that's how I feel that I I I certainly don't want to feel uh like I'm, you know, rubber stamping something that that that I'm not totally comfortable with. So, I guess I'll have to work through this. But, yeah,

thank you for your comments. I think it's important to note that under state law, it's required that these agendas be placed publicly and for our notice by 48 hours prior to the meeting occurring and we are receiving them on Thursday. So, we are already doubling the amount of time that's required by law. And I think it's also important to note that in these contracts, the significant amount of work that's going into them needs to be made as an objective assessment. And I feel that that's something that our staff is dedicated to. They are very ethical in their approach. Uh it's not favors for friends up here. We are looking absolutely at uh what is best for the community both from a fiduciary standpoint, from an ethics standpoint, from a state law standpoint. So I appreciate your comments. I appreciate the hard work of our team. With that, I'm seeking a motion to approve item two.

So moved. Second. Any other comments or questions on item two? Any from the public? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the vote? Council member center. Hi. Council member Bman. I. Council member Ross. I council member Tavia. I council member Little I. Council member Bloomberg. Hi. Mayor Roing. I. Seven eyes, nos. Item two is approved. [clears throat] Item five is an ordinance amending section 119.320 of the Highland Park Code of 1968 as amended, which is eliminating citizenship requirements for liquor licenses to conform with state law. Council member Leto.

Thank you. So, um I have a couple of questions that I would like to um publicly uh ask of both council and staff before this goes through on the consent agenda. I'd like to lead off by saying that I am in favor of this. It makes perfect sense. It's a law that should have been changed long ago. Clearly, we didn't know it was on there. It has to do with the citizenship requirement in order to have a liquor license in the city of Highland Park. And while we are a home rule state, uh I'm sorry, city and couldn't can do certain things um on its face, it seems almost unconstitutional because um origin is going to be at play under federal law. And um the state of Illinois changed this to ask those of us to not have this on our books in 2019. So my first question is why are we bringing this up now? My second question is have other cities moved to do this? This is the kind of research that we did when we studied a liquor license amendment for a year and this one on its face is almost as egregious. and this was going to go through on the consent agenda and so I want to make sure that we've done our due diligence in changing it before we simply um change it and I do believe it should be changed but I would like answers to my questions before we do that.

Thank you. First, um I did flag this um this issue um a while back. Um the we determined or the the staff determined when would be the appropriate time to bring it to the city council. Um the we we have made sure that no liquor licenses were issued pursuant to or denied pursuant to this section. In terms of other towns, it's it's quite common. Uh, Council Member Little, and I did look into this actually, um, as you gave me a little heads up, and I appreciate that. I I did do a little survey. Um, many towns still have this on their books. Many towns, as you know from when we last looked at liquor, the liquor code, simply adopted by reference the state statute and the state criteria. And most don't make changes simply because the state changes. they make their changes when they do um periodic reviews of their code as we do in many other sections as and as you know we are embarking on um and um but nevertheless we we flagged it um for the city and the city is bringing it to your attention now.

Okay. Okay. Um let me just see if I had any other ones on that. Um what I think this is a larger question and it's something that when we began our work plan at our May meeting as a council we talked about um having going through our entire code at this point once to make sure that old laws that are either out of date or no longer appropriate snowball fights the the speed limit for horseback horses in the town of Highland Park. I mean, there's certain laws that we just need to get off our books. And then obviously, we want to be in compliance, whether that's with First Amendment law or liquor laws under the state, under federal law. I don't it doesn't matter. But I know that um we as a city would like to be in compliance. And I know we've begun embarking on the process of correcting our code and updating our code. And I just want to make sure that it is done in a methodical and strategic way. And um this is the beginning of that process, but I don't think it's something that should be on a consent agenda. I think that um this council and this town should be more aware of what we're changing on our books and that we are in compliance with all the laws that are done downstate and federally that we are in the right place.

Mayor, I can sure if feel like um so thank you council member liter. Um, so I did email the city council late last month um just about this matter um and just uh made sure that everyone understood the context of the background. Um there was a um a business that this regulation on our books um pertain to. And again, as corporation council indicated, we were still moving forward consistent with our past practice, but we just felt it was warranted to bring forward the amendment um at the next available meeting. Um so that was kind of just the brief background on that as it pertains to just general municipal code amendments. I mean, that is something that we do regularly throughout the year when we find something. Um if uh you know,

item 10 on tonight's consent agenda.

Correct. Right. We do our due diligence, review it, coordinate with corporation council, communicate with the city council, and then bring forward those changes. As it pertains to your specific request and looking the totality of the code, um, as indicated, we we will be adding this to the 26 work plan. So, overall, our major project work plan is going to be presented for um for public review at the next city council meeting. So, you'll see it on there. Um, but please know this is a multi-year effort. Um and so right so we are going to be identifying every section of the code when it was last reviewed and putting together a plan for addressing those. And then of course even outside of that process there are things that as things come up we realize a change of the code is warranted and then we'll just move forward accordingly as schedules allow and based on other considerations.

So I'm thrilled that this will be on the 26 work plan to get us you know really rolling on all of this. But I also think that it's probably not a bad idea and I don't know if we do this currently, but I know when the state legislature, you know, recesses, then by by the time you have uh the governor either accept or not veto um a particular law that's been passed by August, they know what uh any additional requirements are for us as a city. And even though we're home rule, it would help maybe on an annual basis to have a report because that wouldn't be overwhelming as it would pertain to us. So just

actually I mean not to tout our corporation council, but we did get a great summary last week of laws that changed that were going to be impacting municipalities. You should have all received and we read it carefully and I I mean it I'm not kidding. [laughter] No, no, no. I'm just saying but I think on an annual basis it's a really and we have that is on an annual basis and and it's actually more frequent than that when things are changing we are getting some I we we will do those alerts but I I understand this additional point and um we can certainly do that at not a problem I think that's a wonderful thank you and thank you for all your work in bringing this to us because we are my pleasure council

I I just want to relate my own experience over the last 14 plus years. Um, actually longer than that. Um, the the process of reviewing the city code to find things that are either out of date, uh, poorly drafted or, uh, have changed in consequence is an ongoing regular process that that is not necessary in my opinion to be on a work plan. It's part of the fundamental efforts that the council, corporation council, and our staff engages in on an ongoing basis. And this goes back to my time on the plane commission when our corporation council who was here because we have discovered it's more effective to have private council uh contracted to the city of Highland Park discovered a problem in the way we described flood planes that affected the construction of the Highland Park Rec Center and the the addition to that that the park district wanted to make. it would be impossible to see that it involved a comma that essentially changed the meaning of how that was considered. Um, and sometimes it's hard to know that until it actually comes into play as in that instance. On the other hand, as the mayor pointed out tonight on our agenda, it was discovered that there was a certain part of our historic preservation and landmark designation process that referred to other parts of the code that don't exist anymore. So, that's being corrected and that is nothing that needs to be discussed in detail. That's sort of a a proform non-s substantive issue. Um, tonight's issue involves a change in state law. Um the issue that we dealt with before was a um permission by a state law that we had no reason to necessarily know about until it had an impact on the business of the city council. So I support what corporation council does. I support what your goal

is to to update our code to make sure that it's current. But it's an enormous code and devoting uh more than uh a reasonable amount of resource to it becomes an enormous expense and and burdensome to the extent that we avoid negative impacts from unintended parts of the code. That's certainly very important and we want to do that as much as possible. I think overall we've done a good job with that. And with that I'm seeking a motion to approve. So moved. Second. Any further comments or questions on item five? Any from the public? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the vote? Council member center. Hi. Council member Buckman. Hi. Council member Ross. Hi. Council member Tapia. Hi. Council member Little.

Hi. Council member Bloomberg. Hi. May. Mayor Roing. I. Seven eyes, no A's. Item five is approved. Um item A under other business is consideration of final plan development and final plat of consolidation for 734 Central Avenue. Community Development Director Joel Fontaine.

Thank you, Mayor. Thank you, Mayor. [clears throat] This item is coming back before you. Um, it's in final uh form this time. Um, as you recall, you may recall, it had been before the city council in May as a preliminary plan development with preliminary plat of subdivision. [clears throat]

Okay. Thank you. Sorry about that. All right. So the recommendation for this evening is for the council to consider the final uh the plan and design commission's recommendation to approve the final plan development the final plat of subdivision and design review related to um 7:34 central. Um if appropriate direct documents be drafted for final action by council and staff does recommend that. Um and staff recommends that the streetscape be planned be revised to depict brick pavers for the downtown streetscape program. Um as you may recall uh the project is a six-story 11 unit multif family residential development with one affordable uh unit included. The first floor consists of a parking garage and entryway into the building. Uh second to fifth floors are residential units. The fifth story is stepped back as as needed um per our code. Um the sixth floor consisting of two pen houses with roof access and a pergola structures are included on this building. And so the sixth floor is not a full footprint floor. It is a sixth floor. It does meet the definition of a story. Um and so therefore it does uh require relief. However, it does not uh consist of the entirety of that area of the building um below it. And as I mentioned, there is a uh one inclusionary affordable unit in the building. So, the preliminary plan back in May 2025 is shown on the left and the final uh plan on December 2025. And so, what's shown here in the differences here are the concrete uh unit papers proposed for the sidewalk. As I had mentioned just a moment ago, staff recommend that those be um um pavers per the city's downtown streetscape uh treatment. Um not the concrete unit pavers uh depicted in

these plans. The applicant is amendable is my understanding to that. Um and additional shrubs were included in the plans. So in terms of the commission and council consideration um the final plan development and final plat of subdivision [clears throat]

uh with design review uh came before the planning commission uh December 16th at a public hearing and the public hearing was triggered by the additional volume to that was added to the pen houses on the top floor there. The planet design commission recommended approval 5 to1 design review 6. Uh just by way of reference uh your the last consideration of this matter was uh May 27th 2025 when council voted 6 to1 to grant preliminary approval. Um in terms of changes um a significant change or a substantial change um by the code definition of substantial um is the additional volume proposed for the two pen houses that constitute the sixth story. This did trigger a new public hearing. Now, the height of that six-story hasn't changed, but the volume of the sixstory has. And so, the area has increased from 193 square ft to 697 square ft. And that's in total, both penthouse units. Um, various other minor changes were made. Um, the area of the pergllo decreased from 802 to 576 ft and there was a reduction of one parking space. However, they still does meet the code. Um, and as I had mentioned before, uh, the additional shrubs were added and the unit pavers, um, the concrete pavers were shown. However, we do want the downtown treatment. Um, this shows the rooftop or the sixth floor, if you will, and we do refer to it as a rooftop. It's mainly a rooftop, but it does constitute a story by our code. And so you can see here in May what the footprints were and now the uh December final plans and what's changed on the roof. Some things have been moved around a bit and the sizes have changed as I had indicated previously and as shown in the upper

right hand portion of this slide. Um the north elevation this is how the uh preliminary and now the uh final plans look um from central avenue. Um next uh west elevation from McGovern and the other changes I had mentioned the roof um information was provided on the roof about the rooftop mechanical equipment screening and acoustical mitigation that was in your packet. Um and they did include a bike storage system. Um and you can see here that it it does have enough capacity to accommodate 13 bikes. And so, as council had directed in previous council meetings last year about bike parking requirements and how they should be considered as part of plan unit developments, this is a reasonable uh accommodation for bike parking for a development of this size, 11 units. And so, we think that the 13 spaces make some sense and should be included as they are. Uh, in terms of modifications, the the update here, um, there's been very few is to there's no change in height as I mentioned. to the sixth story but it's a greater volume and uh therefore uh before you again to for consideration uh all other aspects are are the same um and if you look back at the 17 at the 15t stepback it's provided on the fifth floor okay and I mentioned that earlier but I did want to put a finer point on it the fifth floor um which meets the code however only 4.67 67 uh feet of the 15 additional feet of step back required for the sixth floor is provided. So the fifth floor is fully stepped back per code. It is the sixth floor that smaller footprint floor on the top that is not set back an additional 15 ft. That is not changed. I just wanted to clarify

what I was saying earlier. Next slide. Um here we're showing that there's a change in terms of the shade and ornamental trees. Uh, excuse me. Um, the uh that there are four more um than council previously approved. So, we have more shrubs and then other modifications stay the same. Um, if there's any questions about those, there no changes there from the pre uh the preliminary approval. Um, the parking um we did uh talk about at last time that the applicant's requesting the 15% uh off- streetet parking reduction based on the proximity to transit. um and that they reduce the uh number of spaces by one. Um but that still exceeds the 19 space requirement that would otherwise be with that 15% reduction in parking. In terms of public benefit, this project did uh trigger a public benefit um for the overall height and the periphery yard relief that is included. And um the applicant um is proposing a cash donation of $25,000 to the downtown streetscape improvement fund. That's increased of that's increased by $15,000 from the preliminary consideration. Um we have here the section 15515 standard uh related to uh public benefits and as I mentioned at the outset the height and periphery yard relief requires a public benefit. Terms of the subdivision, it's the same as was previously uh preliminarily approved and it does include a subdivision variation related to lot depth as shown here. The recommendation is that the council consider planning commission's um recommendations um and direct staff to draft uh final documents uh documents for final action by council. And of course, we do

recommend that the streetscape plan be revised to devict brick pavers for downtown streetscape program and that that be provided as part of that set of approval documents for final action by council. That's the end of my presentation. Mayor, thank you so much. Council member Tapia. Yeah. Can you go back to the illustration of the side by side pre and post? Sure. So, uh I which which one of the rooftop are you want? the the other one the side by side the the from the outside north to elevation north y okay

yeah so I mean I I saw your bullets about what's different I'm just trying to do justice to the illustration here trying to see what is different between left and right like can you just like point it out the big portion on the roof those parts so from this view this is these are larger than they were. Okay. So they they were smaller and then the the pergolas have changed in size but does not appear to be from this vantage point. As a matter of fact, this one looks a little further out over here but the overall area of the pergllos was reduced. Okay. So that's what this is just focus on that part of it. Right.

And then okay now go to the previous one. Yeah. So what can you just do the same thing specifically? What is different? So, what you're looking at here is the size. These these areas here, the pen houses are are larger than they were before. And the perlers have changed in size and are small. Okay. For the applicant to to describe further if you'd like, but um that's essentially what they're

proposing. And over here, you can see these are the AC units. They're going to have those screened. It's behind the parapit. They have screening as well going to be installed that will have acoustic uh reduction or mitigation as well so that folks on that that that roof area can enjoy that. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Any other questions? Council member L. So I have a couple of questions on the preliminary plan. Was there act were there actually pen houses on there? Very small. They're basically entries entryways to get onto the roof to be at the pergola area. Okay. Yeah.

And the pergola is an opensided stat, you know, um structure, but that's my understanding. Yes. Just a transparent. Yeah. Okay. So, that's one question. Can you go do you have the picture from the packet of the Central Avenue elevations? Not of the May to December, but of the um the neighboring building to the west. The twotory building to the west. No, not the twotory. I want the other sixtory govern. Thank you.

Uh west, not east. You know what I mean? So that I want to see what the street looks like. I have to pull up from me. While while miss while um that's being pulled up, I have a question for you. You said that the fifth floor will still have a 15 foot setback, which is Yes. which is what is required. Correct. Um, so my question is, is the sixth floor supposed to be 15 ft back from the fifth or it's from the regular structure?

Additional 15. Additional 15 from the fifth. Yes. Is that correct? I think it's Yeah, this is the uh were these the the There's another picture where you see them both uh flat. I just want to see if it looks like a greater density or the same height um in terms of volume. I I can give you the page if you want it. It certainly is a greater volume. Um, and I indicated from 193 to and I believe it was 600.

Defer the applicant to address. We're happy to have the applicant and his attorney come forward. Thank you.

Thank you, mayor. Uh, members of the council, my name is Cal Bernstein. I'm the attorney for the applicant. Happy New Year to to all. I'm here with Nate Kipnis who is the architect, a proud member of the class of 79 of Highlander High School. Um so um uh before I turn over to Nate with regard to the setbacks regarding the sixth floor, nothing's changed regarding that. That's what was approved back in May and the preliminary approval. What has changed and Nate's going to describe it in a second is that those those we're calling them doous expanded to make larger and make them larger so they could actually function properly as as the rooftop uh structures were designed. So Nate, why don't you explain what you did with the I don't love dog houses.

Um, so when we originally designed it there, they were dogouses, which is just to get up to the rooftop. And as we got into the ADA issues, how do you actually get up there if you're handicapped? So we what we did is we have a room, the pergolas got smaller, the rooms got bigger. There's a closet that runs from the fifth floor to the sixth floor if someone wants to put that in. Excuse me. The framing is all set for that. So, it's very easy to do. We reviewed this with the Illinois ADA, you know, the Illinois Capital Development Board. So, so it have a space elevator.

They can put in a a light use elevator that is it's a private elevator just for the fifth floor to get up to the to that area if they even need it. Okay. How large is the room now? And I I don't mean the like is it a penthouse? I mean it's it's a single room. And um one of them get up there. I'm going to give you a dimension. And this is actually kind of like [clears throat] bigger than what it really is because it overlaps with the stairs, but it's 184 by 219 to the outside and the stairs come inward. The other one is smaller. The other one is um by 19

171 by 228 uh square feet is 387 and the other one is about 400 399. So you're saying that the primary usage of them is really to get people to be get up there. It's it's a room certainly people will be using the room but it if we don't have it there's no way to get an elevator up there. Okay. So as long as we're doing that we're doing both. All right. So that's one question and I just want to clarify one more time because I'm I'm still not sure. You're saying that for the fifth story you have the adequate setback of 15 ft but then on the sixth story is it the 15 from there and 4 and a half. Yes.

Yes. Yes. And that has not changed since May. Okay. But I just want to double check that that's what it is because it Okay. Okay. And then I just want to see that one picture for the step back is provided fifth floor 4T of the additional 15 ft. Okay, that's great. There it is. That's so we're talking about the sixstory which is that smaller penthouse area. And just to be clear, those pen houses, those aren't units unto themselves. Those are associated with the units below. Right. Right. Just to be clear, it's not a dwelling unit. That's not a studio for instance, you know, in terms of a standalone unit. Yeah. Um, Council Member Ross.

Uh, thank you, Mayor. Um, the uh um I was supposed to be at the December 16th meeting, but I had to be uh out of town. Tried to get somebody to replace me. But um the the um I'm don't So you you first came to PDC in May of 2025, right? goes to council. We're in PC in the spring. In the spring, I think we have I think we have pre-lication meeting and then three public hearings. Okay. So, but I mean it's quite a few months and grown a beard since then.

Why [laughter] why not propose why wasn't that proposed to PDC to begin with? Well, things things evolve as we just had discussions with uh the Illinois Capital Development Board and you know

that's where that came from. I guess I mean it just seems like you know went through a whole process and it was a little you know there were there were issues about the height you know and and bulk but but anyway so many months later you you come forward with additional bulk um and I I understand that it probably won't be visible from the street. It will not be from the street.

It it's I guess my I I I my concern is that that that you know little by little uh Central Avenue is you know each project is justifying the next one. I mean McGovern was uh you're you were using McGovern as sort of a precedent for for this project. I mean, you you referenced it in one of the PDC meetings, and I I I guess this is more to council that just simply making you aware that my concern is that over time, um, you know, there's just a wall of of buildings on Central Avenue. Um, and I I I guess I wanted to, you know, to bring that up. I I do um respect the fact that PDC went through you know uh you and PD PDC went through a lengthy process they um you know moved it forward uh it's it's just that I am foreseeing that you know the next project is going to use uh 734 and McGovern to justify its height and so on and so on. So that that that's I guess what I'm I'm bringing up. I I didn't have an opportunity, you know, at the December 16th meeting, I wasn't there, but um that's that's what I wanted to bring up. I just to put that on the radars of my council colleagues that that inevitably, you know, Central Avenue was just going to go taller and taller as each one justifies the next project. Actually, I want to respond.

Okay. Okay. Um, wasn't the vote seven people on this project? Didn't we? 61. No. This would be direct draft documents. No, no, no, no, no. But when we move this at the May meeting, I have no It was six to one, but Council Member Bloomberg was the No, not Council Member Ross. Thank you. So, that's why I'm like I think you already approved this. I I we did. It's just that the the the the the bulk changed and and it it it it just becomes, you know, justification. I think it's a reasonable thing to to bring up that, you know, I I did support it then. I did I did vote for it.

Okay. I just wanted to be but the project also changed. I'm I'm at at this point because PDC did go through its process. I I am um you know supporting this too. I I feel that it it's you know we have a process and PDC and the applicant went through it. Uh but it did change. So may respond.

Um I would just note that um we understand that there was this change on the sixth floor which is actually just these these little um rooms on the top to be able to support the um the roof decks. But as as a result of those changes, um the staff required us to renotice this matter and the matter was renoticed and so I sent out another 150 certified letters to people so that they would be able to notify that of the December 16th. So, so we actually went through this process twice because we had the process in the spring and then we actually noticed up a new public hearing and that's what we conducted at the PDC. So, the public had the opportunity to come and make any comments. They received all the notices. I will note that we do have the support of all our neighbors of Sunset Foods, the people to the the people the owners up to the east. So, um and nothing's changed since then. So, and and the additional height again is just triggered by these these rooms on top be able to support basically create more outdoor space on rooftops. And I think that's something that I think the council liked back in in in the spring and the PDC obviously liked it because they supported the project.

Thank you, Council Member Bloomberg.

Thank you. Um uh one other thing that unfortunately has not changed since May is my vote. [laughter] Thanks to I I don't want to belabor the points that I made at that time. Um, I do appreciate you're coming back here. I think it was appropriate to do that. And I think the comments that you're getting this evening and along the way have have probably been helpful. Um, I do want to make one comment with respect to McGovern and the relationship of this building to McGovern House. um when McGovern House was approved um that was just after we allowed um buildings to be built to this height. So I don't have a specific problem with the height as I specifically identified last time. My issues have to do with other bulk and density issues. Um, but McGovern House sought a [snorts] variation or variance from the new height restrictions. This building isn't really seeking those variances. Um, the height requires setbacks. There is a setback at the top. I don't think the setback at the fifth floor is one that I'm comfortable with. Um, that's debatable, but that has a little bit to do with with my position regarding the development. Overall, I I understand the challenges of the property and so I don't want to belabor it. I made most of my comments at the May meeting.

Thank you. Any other council member? Just a quick point of clarification, and this might be for corporation council, but the comment from the city staff around the streetscape and the request for brick pavers, is that already incorporated into what we're voting or do we need to make an amendment to what is in front of us as council to include that? So tonight all that you're doing is directing the preparation of documents that will be included in the documentation that you see coming back. Thank you. Any comments? See that one picture again? Do you have a picture of the datim of the It's page 398 of the packet

and it's uh the north's view so that we can see McGovern and this building side by side. You should be able to download it. Just trying to think if it's anywhere else. There is that central elevation 398. That's not it. With Where's McGover? There. That's it. That's it.

Yeah, but it's hard to tell on a building on a picture like that where it cuts it off at the head. That's why I want to see it on a So, page 398, you're saying? Yeah, I believe so. Yeah, that's it's page 398 in the packet that we all went through.

The way it's cut, you can't see it. Oh, I see what you're saying. Well, it but it has the height. The height is the same. Well, that's the height is the same. 73T 11 incept. Yeah, there you go. Whatever doesn't have any mechanical. That's the picture. there was special care to to consider the the height of the adjacent building there in their development through this process. And so that that was specifically called out.

Okay. Thank you. Any comments or questions from the public? No. Thank you. Um so at this time I'm seeking a motion to request the drafting of documents for final action. Item A. So moved. We have a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Final action consistent with approval. Consistent with approval. Okay. Any further comments? Nope. All right. Well, the clerk, [laughter] please call the vote. Council member center. Hi. Council member Buckman. Hi. Council member Ross. Hi. Council member Tapio. Hi. [laughter] Council member Little. Council member. Did you vote? I know. All right. Council member Bloomberg. Council member Bloomberg.

No. Mayor Roing. I'm going to say no. No. All right. I'm an I. So, five I's, two nays. Uh, we will see these documents coming back for final. Approval at a date in the future. Yes. All right. Thank you. Uh, with that, I am seeking a motion to go into close session for purposes of discussing purchase or lease of property pursuant to 5CS120-2C5. You took all the fun out of it. I know. very much. Is there a motion? I I said so moved. Is there a second? Second. Will the clerk please [laughter] call the vote? Sorry. Council member Cer. Council member Buckman. Hi. Council member Ross. Hi. Council member Tapia. Hi. Council member Little. Hi.

Council member Bloomberg. Hi. Mayor Rotary. Hi. I just wanted to [laughter] No, I know. I know.