City Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting for the city of Highland Park, Illinois, February 23rd, 2026. 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 uh here. Council member Bloomberg. Mayor Roering here. We have a quorum. Um before we continue, I need to approve uh Council Member Little's participation via electronic means. The question I asked you before is who is the most awesome person in the world? Baby Theo.

Baby Theo. And we don't have Is anybody opposing Council Member Lewward's participation? All good. All right. Thank you so much. Um everyone, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. Thank you. I pledge allegiance 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. Great job, young members of the audience. We appreciate you joining us this evening. May I have a motion to approve the minutes of the regular meeting of the city council held February 9th, 2026? So second. All in favor? Oh, as amended. As amended. You know what? You we need to as amended.

As amended. As amended. I'll I'll be the second to Okay. All in favor say I. I. Thank you. May I have a motion to approve the warrant list? So moved. Okay. We have a motion and a second. Any comments or questions on the warrant list? 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 Tapio. Hi. Council member Little I. Mayor Roing

I. Six eyes's, no nazs, and the warrant list is approved. The next item on our agenda is the report of the mayor. Uh this evening, I want to acknowledge reports of violence and instability in parts of Mexico that many in our community are closely watching. Highland Park is proud of its sister city's relationship with Puerto Viarda, and that connection makes moments like these feel especially close to home. We also know that many of our residents have family, friends, or deep personal ties to Mexico, and our thoughts are with them during this uncertain time. We encourage anyone traveling or with loved ones abroad to rely on guidance from official sources, and we extend our solidarity to all members of our community who may be feeling concerned or anxious. Highland Park values its global connections, and we stand with our sister city and with our neighbors here at home. I have no appointments this evening. I have no proclamations this evening. I do have great news though. So for the 41 first consecutive year, the Government Finance Officers Association, GFOA, has recognized the city of Highland Park with the GFOA certificate of achievement for excellence in financial reporting for the city's 2024 annual comprehensive financial report, which is our most recent report. The certificate of achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management. An impartial panel has determined that Highland Park's annual comprehensive financial report meets the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive spirit of full disclosure to clearly communicate its financial story and motivate potential users and user groups to read the report. It's a great read. We'd like to recognize city manager Gita Newkerk, finance director Christy Mccllu, the finance department staff, and all of the department directors for this outstanding achievement. We encourage everyone to visit cityhil.com/budget

to view the annual comprehensive financial report. Great job team. So, thank you. Continuing on, believe it or not, there is an election coming up in about a month. The next general primary election is Tuesday, March 17th, St. Patrick's Day. Go celebrate by voting. Detailed election information is available at lakevoterpower.info. And in the most recent edition of the Highlander, which came to your mailboxes recently, a few reminders ahead of the election, as our March meeting falls later than usual, first of all, check your voter registration status and your preferred polling sites at lake voterpower.info. Online voter registration will be available at ova, that's ova.elections.ill.gov, gov until 11:59 p.m. on March 1st. Early voting begins throughout the county on March 2nd and will run through March 16th. Visit lakeountil.gov for locations and hours. Our closest early voting site is the Highwood Library and Community Center. USPS is now postmarking mail on the processing date, not on the date on which it is deposited in a mailbox or dropped off at the post office. If you are voting by mail, please mail your ballot as early as possible or use one of the secure dropboxes located throughout Lake County. If you are returning your voted ballot on election day or right before, please request a manual postmark at the US Postal Service retail counter to ensure that your vote is counted. And that is it for the report of the mayor. Our next item on our agenda is business from the council. And as we have in the past, each council member serves as a council liaison to several of the city's advisory groups, boards, and commissions. This is a great way for the

council to hear firsthand from our outstanding volunteers who share their time and expertise on one of these groups. So, beginning with tonight's meeting, we're going to hear from our council liaison. They'll be sharing updates from their respective groups. Tonight we'll hear from council member Ross who serves as council liaison to the cultural arts advisory group and council member Tapia who serves as liaison to the housing commission. We're going to start with council member Ross and cultural arts. Thank you council member Ross.

Thank you mayor Rotary. Uh I serve as liaison to the cultural arts advisory group and I'm pleased to share an update on the work of the group. Uh the cultural arts advisory group is composed of nine community arts leaders and four outstanding student representatives who are passionate about the arts. In particular, I would like to recognize chair Sylvia Roa, vice chair Bob um Archampo, staff leaison Amanda Bennett and Megan Cherry for their leadership and passion for nurturing the arts in our community. The cultural arts advisory group's mission is to review and provide advisory recommendations regarding proposals for public art installation on the city's public rights of way. Uh provide advisory recommendations regard regarding maintenance frequency and methods for city-owned art in cooperation with the department of public works and city manager office. um to provide advisory recommendations regarding the development of arts and cultural programs and related commu uh communications directed at various aged, ethnic and religious groups that enhance city residents quality of life and review and recommend programming as set forth in the city's cultural arts master plan. Um KAG members meet quarterly and as needed throughout the year. Uh they are also tremendous volunteers who actively engage in planning and presenting programming as part of the city's poet la Laurate program, arts award and photography contest administration and promotion of public art throughout the city. These efforts and many others uh really enrich the quality of life for all Highland Parkers. Uh it's very important work. I would like to highlight just a few exciting arts related initiatives on KAG's work plan this year. Uh the photography contest is now accepting submissions through March 8th. New this year is a food photography category for adults and for the first time a student contest with student uh two student

categories, elementary, middle school, and high school. We are very excited to see the work of Highland Parks young photographers. This initiative is particularly close to my heart, having been involved in the Northshore School District 112 Student Film Festival in my former capacity as an NSSD12 board member. This year's food photography category also comes with a very special prize, the potential to have your work displayed at Port Clinton Square as part of the Taste of Highland Park. For information about the photography contest, uh, please visit cityhpil.comphotocontest. Uh, Highland Park's poet laurate Laura Joyce Hubard is working with KAG members and staff on a wonderful slate of programs this year. I would like to highlight highlight just a few upcoming programs, but please bookmark city hpil.com/poet laurate for more information throughout the year. KAG is partnering with Highland Park Poetry, East on Central and the Illinois State Poetry Society to welcome Illinois Poet laurate Mark Tur Cot for a free poetry reading and an open mic. Join us on March 14th from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Morraine, also known as the Highland Park Senior Center at 1201 Park Avenue West. Visit Highland Park Poetry.org to register. Uh, and last uh on this list, KAG is welcoming two visiting authors uh for National Poetry Month. Kathleen and Beth Rooney, authors of Leaf Town Forever, will be um visiting Highland Park with a family-friendly book talk and children's activity that brings their book in haiku to life. Uh I'm that particularly appeals to me being half Japanese. Uh we are proud to partner with um NSSD112 on this program which will be held on April 12th 1 to 2:00 p.m. at Ravenia

Elementary School Library. On behalf of the Cultural Arts Advisory Group, we hope to see you at these and other exciting events throughout the year. Please sign up for the city e-news to stay informed about other upcoming cultural arts programs. Thank you. Great. Thank you, Council Member Ross, and thank you to all the members of the Cultural Arts Advisory Group um for your outstanding contributions. We're looking forward to National Poetry Month in April and encourage everyone to submit their favorite photos of 2025 to the photography contest. Uh Council Member Tapia, please share an update regarding the housing commission.

Yeah, my pleasure to do so. Um the the housing commission really is the the commission that oversees uh something that Highland Park is especially proud about which is our inclusionary housing that's been going on for a few decades providing low-income and moderate income housing for people that really we want to stay in the community and uh and contribute to the economic diversity of our city. Uh the housing commission consists of seven uh commissioners. The chair is Isis Fernandez Sky Sykes, I'm sorry. And the staff leazison is Zuben Coleman who's a senior planner for community development. Uh you know the housing commission which actually got my start in uh city government as one of those commissioners. So it has a special place in my heart and um and now I get to be the leazison. You know does several things. One, it it o oversees um housing owned by the city uh the Pierce housing association with 68 units. the Virginia Housing Association with 17 units and the Sunset Woods Housing Association 14 units. So those have to be managed. So the housing commission makes sure that these these uh buildings are well managed by the management company as well as um approves budgets to make sure the maintenance and the repairs that have to happen take place. Uh the commission also ministers the city's housing fund which is a place where um you know developers who combine their contribution to affordable housing through physical units but also they can do within c certain limits a cash and loo and that cash and ll goes into the housing trust that and allows the city in partnership with organizations like sepa which is um the the community partners for affordable housing to be able to buy properties that might be foreclosed or that might be donated or for a very low cost and then they're reserved uh for permanently to be affordable housing. Um it's it's a great

mix of units. You have rental units, you have units for sale, we have multi- uh unit dwellings, we have homes, single family homes to accommodate all kinds of differentiz families. So, we're very proud of the vast diversity of housing stock that the housing trust the house um housing trust fund allows as well as the ordinance that really uh ask developers to contribute to um uh diversification of affordable housing in our in our city and uh and we have been able to do a lot along those lines. A few re uh recent highlights. Uh the housing commission reviewed and made recommendations regarding five inclusionary housing plans that together will create 44 new and I want to make that emphasis 44 new therefore additional affordable units. Uh the commission approved a half a million dollar grant uh with collaborative community housing initiative for down payment assistance related to four units of affordable housing for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. uh that will be going into the buildings that's across the police station that will have a total of 50 units for uh adults with uh developmental disabilities. But this grant allows for those that qualify because of income to have affordable housing. Uh the commission developed and submitted uh the council approved the city's affordable housing planning and agenda act for the Illinois Housing Development Agency as required for all non-exempt loy communities. In other words, we're doing our job from a protocol perspective and uh considering and evaluating and approving things that need to be approved bureaucratically. And the commission is close to closing out the 2025 scatter sites grant with SEPA that secured, repair, updated, and made permanent aartable two units. And uh so you can see that uh the housing commission is very active and uh in their very heart and missionoriented

approach to ensuring that affordable housing continues to be something that Highland Park remains proud of. Wonderful. Thank you so much, Council Member Tapia. Appreciate your report and thank you to all the dedicated volunteers who play such a critical role in the city's affordable housing program through their service on the housing commission. Um, now would like to ask um, Council Member Buckman to share information about multiple sclerosis awareness month.

Thank you. Thank you, Mayor, fellow council members, and members of the Highland Park community. Good evening. As we proceed with tonight's agenda, I want to take a moment to acknowledge that March is multiple sclerosis awareness month, a time dedicated to education, visibility, and support for those living with MS and the people who love them. And I'm wearing orange tonight, the color widely associated with MS awareness to help spark conversations and show solidarity with the MS community. For me, this is personal. In 2019, I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis after experiencing sudden numbness on the left side of my body. It was a scary and uncertain time, especially with a one-year-old at home and a future that suddenly felt unclear. I like to say MS picked the wrong person because I could be pretty stubborn. MS is a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system, the brain, and spinal cord. And it could look different for every person. It happens when the immune system attacks the protective covering around nerve fibers, which could disrupt how messages travel through the body. That's one reason MS could be so unpredictable and why symptoms can be visible one day and invisible the next. Thankfully, my MS was caught early and because of advances in treatment, I'm doing very well. I receive monthly infusions that have kept my symptoms at bay, which also means I have a standing hospital date on the calendar each month. Not exactly a spa day, but it gets the job done. And I want to emphasize this. People living with MS are strong, resilient, and capable of extraordinary things. MS does not get to define our limits. Nearly 1 million people in the United States are living with MS. That's not a statistic. It's neighbors, co-workers, parents at school pickup, and friends sitting right besides us, often managing a health challenge that others cannot see. The good news is that the progress in MS research and treatment over the last two

decades has been remarkable. Researchers have made major strides in understanding the disease and developing highly effective therapies that can dramatically reduce relapses and slow progression for many people. While there is not a cure yet, there is real momentum and real hope. On a personal level, I try every day to model that strength and a little humor for my two boys who are here tonight. I want them to grow up knowing that life could change in an instant, but you could still move forward with courage and purpose. I also want to thank my husband and my two boys for their constant love and support. They're undoubtedly what makes me the warrior I am in this fight. This experience has also shaped how I serve as a council member and as a mother raising a young family here. I am committed to being a voice not only for young families, but also for residents with accessibility needs, chronic conditions, and challenges that may not be immediately visible. Because inclusion isn't just a value we talk about. It's something we build into how our city functions, how we communicate, and how we design community life so that everyone could participate fully. If you'd like to learn more, the slides up here tonight include information about the National MS Society and the resources that they provide. support education and research efforts that continue to move this work forward. You could also reach out to me directly. I'm also looking forward to participating in the WalkMS MS in April, which brings communities together to raise funds and support the mission of a world free of MS. And I'd like to close with this. Highland Park has always been a community that shows up for one another. We believe in looking out for our neighbors in build in building a city where people belong and in making sure no one is left behind especially when a challenge is invisible and serving the city has been one of the greatest honors of my life. Living with MS has only deepened my commitment to ensuring Highland Park is a place where every resident regardless of ability can

participate fully in community life. Awareness leads to understanding. Understanding leads to better decisions, better design, and better outcomes. So tonight, by recognizing MS Awareness Month, we reaffirm who we are, a city that leads through compassion, invest in accessibility, and stand with our neighbors through empathy, through action, and through service. Thank you so much for your support, and thank you for helping shine a light on this important cause. Thanks.

Thank you so much, Council Member Buckman, for that incredible message and for the courage of sharing your personal story with all of us. um your advocacy is truly inspiring and we just want to thank you for sharing that with everybody as we move forward in your journey and welcome to your family as well for being your partners in all of that. So, thank you so much. Thank you. Uh any other business from the council? Nope. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. City Manager Newkerk, will you please provide the staff report?

Yes. Thank you, Mayor. Um for public information, we did have a committee of the whole meeting earlier this evening at 5:30. Um one topic on that agenda was discussion, continue discussion about the permanent place of remembrance. Um so we'll include highlights of that meeting in the e-news this week. Um individuals can watch the replay of that meeting and then certainly the minutes will be available uh at the next meeting as well. In terms of next steps, um we will be scheduling a joint meeting between the city council at a committee of the whole meeting and also with the historic preservation commission. So we'll conduct a polling of the elected and appointed officials and then uh post that public meeting accordingly in compliance with the open meetings act. Um our next regularly scheduled meeting is uh not until March 30th. Um and that meeting will be posted the preceding week. Um as well um in terms of our omnibus agenda, we have seven items that are all recommended for approval with associated staff reports. Um there are no modifications. Happy to answer any questions. Um I did receive a question earlier as it pertains to um just the bid waivers. Um and we do have detailed explanations in each staff report, but very briefly um a couple of the most common rationale for bid waivers may be either we are um recommending a bid waiver but pursuing that lowest and most responsible cost based on someone else conducting um like the state of Illinois conducting um a competitive request for proposal process or in some cases it may be most um financially responsible for us as well as most efficient. to s pursue a sole source contract and so those are outlined um in the staff reports and again all are recommended for approval.

Wonderful. Great. Thank you so much city manager Newkerk. Um assistant to the city manager Palitzka if you could please introduce the next item on our agenda business from the public.

Thank you mayor. 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 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 the 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 forum 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.

Wonderful. Thank you. Are there any members of the public who wish to be heard this evening on an item not on tonight's agenda? It looks like the League of Women Voters has something to say. Good evening. Uh good evening. I'm Nancy Goldberg. I am a member of the League of Women Voters. Um, I may be repeating a little bit of what you said, but I'm going to go with what I'm going to

U. My name is Nancy Goldberg and I serve as the chair of the leadership team for the League of Women Voters of Highland Park, Highwood. The League is a 106-year-old nonpartisan organization, proudly that, dedicated to a simple mission, empowering voters and defending democracy. We never support or oppose any candidate or political party. Next month marks our league's 98th anniversary. We uh are proud of our work in this community, encouraging participation in every election, hosting candidate forums, organizing uh registration, vote of for voters, and reminding everyone that your vote is your voice. Today I want to highlight the importance of the upcoming primary um and early voting in Lake County does begin as Mayor Roering said on March 2nd. Um I have left some uh schedules out on the uh table of the early voting sites and times. Um so if you want, please pick them up. Um we have a link on our website lwvhp.org or that has lots of election information, including a link to view a sample ballot for your address. Primary elections matter because they give voters the first and often most influential chance to shape the general election ballot. Competitive primaries push candidates to explain their positions and respond to community concerns. Early engagement can help determine which issues candidates prioritize. Voting in primaries builds the habit of voting and participating in every

election. But most importantly, when turnout is low, a small group makes decisions for everyone. Your vote truly matters. Two other pieces of information to share, and some of it, again, I apologize if it's repetitive. Um there is a lot of information about mail and ballots. Um and as the mayor said, if you are sending it late um and if you um either drop it off at an official ballot box, a dropbox, there are dropboxes at the early election sites. So if you go and there's a line you can ask to go forward and just drop it in the box. Um, also, uh, I think everybody is is now circulating, including who I pay my insurance to, uh, that you should make sure it's postmarked on time. Um, so that your vote does count. I'm sorry, I I have just a little bit more if I may. Second, I just wanted to say that 17 17 year olds who will be 18 by November 3rd are allowed to register to vote at early voting and election day voting. Uh they need two forms of ID. One has to be a physical photo ID with their address on it. The second one has to have their name on it. They cannot now be um images on a phone. they have to be the actual uh document. ID. Um so anyway, the league proudly carries signs that say your vote counts and democracy is not a spectator sport. Please vote.

Wonderful. Thank you so much. Any other members of the public who wish to be heard tonight on an item not on tonight's agenda? Seeing none, we'll continue with our omnibus agenda. Items one through seven have been grouped together for omnibus consideration. May I have a motion to approve items 1 through 7? Yes. So moved. Is there a second? Second. Any conversation on 1 through 7 from the council? Any from the public? Hearing none, will the clerk please call the vote? Council member center. I. Council member Buckman. I. Council member Ross. Hi. Council member Topia. I. Council member Little. Mayor Roing.

I uh we'll go with five eyes and zero nazs. Did Did Council member Law say I? Okay. the six eyes and and zero nays. Thank you. Um thank you. Thank you. Sorry I didn't hear you. Um under other business, we have items A, B, and C, which again I'm going to group together for omnibus consideration. Um I'm this is the opportunity for people to ask any follow-up questions. These are the final documents on a project which we had discussed previously. um didn't know if people needed more time to ask the applicant or community development any questions or if you're comfortable taking action on items A, B, and C tonight. Are people okay?

Okay. I'm then seeking a motion to approve items A, B, and C under seven. Other business second. Last chance for questions or comments? None. Any from the public? Mayor. Yes, ma'am. Mayor. Yes. I just wanted to say that while I had voted um against this previously, I wanted to thank the applicant for uh further in depth and staff for some explanations as to space and therefore I am now comfortable changing my vote voting in favor of it. Thank you so much. Thank you. With that, I'll ask the clerk to call the vote. Council member center. Hi. Council member Buckman. Hi. Council member Ross. Hi. Council member Tapia. Hi. Council member Little

I. Mayor Roing I. Six eyes's, no nays. Items seven sub A, B, and C are approved. I am now seeking a motion to go into close session for purposes of discussing purchase or lease of property under five subc5. We don't have Tony to memorize all that. Exactly. Can we read that out loud? Do you have the notes? I It's all good. You can just say so. You can say so move. Okay. So moved. Second. All right. Thank you. 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 I. Mayor Roering.

I. Six eyes. No. We'll go into close session now. Thank you all for joining us this evening.