LF4T
Dedicated to Educating Residents of Lake Forest About How Our Government Works and Advocating for Good Governance.
LF4T
Dedicated to Educating Residents of Lake Forest About How Our Government Works and Advocating for Good Governance.
THE PROPOSED NEW POLICE STATION: QUESTIONS & MORE QUESTIONS
July 15
The following questions are compiled from various submissions to LF4T. Some were selected for relevancy, some as a reflection of what people understand about the project, and some for how often the question was asked. We encourage you to attend or Livestream the meeting tonight.
FINANCIALS
- The 1925 W. Field Court building was appraised in 2022 for $12.5 million. The 2023 tax assessment is $8 million. On its face, the $3.5 million purchase price seems like a deal, but is it ultimately cost effective when loss of tax revenue, retrofitting costs and future maintenance fees are factored in?
- What are the yearly maintenance costs?
- The building has over 98,000 sq. ft, twice as big as needed (projected need = approx.. 49,000 sq ft.), and more than a third larger when all “nice to haves” are included (approx. 59,000 sq. ft.). What other buildings were considered and rejected? Although another building’s purchase price might be higher, would a smaller building, even one with all “nice to have” options, cost less to retrofit and maintain?
- How do newer police stations in peer communities compare to this plan in terms of size, needs, nice to haves, etc.? How does the City intend to pay for this project? Is a tax increase needed to support this initiative?
- If the Capital Improvements levy is increased to pay for the new Police Station, will that increase exceed the Property Tax Cap as it stands today? If the cap can’t be exceeded, will other Capital Improvements need to be delayed to pay for this specific project? If so, which ones?
- How would increased debt affect the City’s AAA bond rating?
- How does the City’s Home Rule status figure into this decision?
- Will City Council hold an advisory referendum to gauge public support?
- City Manager Jason Wicha said the City may be able to lease the unused part of the building to other public safety agencies. Which agencies?
- It’s going to cost us $24-28 million to retrofit roughly half the space for our police force’s needs. Are these other agencies going to pay for their own retrofit to meet their needs?
- Will the current police station need to be remodeled or retrofitted to accommodate the expansion of the fire department into the vacated space? If so, what is that cost?
- How are personnel and staffing needs changing over the next 10-30 years? How much will it cost the City for the added personnel?
- The artificial turf athletic fields were originally estimated at $8-10 million. The final total cost was $16 million. How reliable is the $32 million total cost estimate for the new building?
- Is the new building satisfactorily hardened, especially on the exterior, for a public safety building versus office space? If not, what are the costs associated with that? Are those costs incorporated into the $24-28 million dollar retrofit costs?
- In the July 1 Minutes to the Special Council Meeting, Wicha said the worst-case scenario would be that the City buys the building for $3.5 million and re-sells it. The office space market is slow right now. How much money yearly would the City lose on maintenance costs plus lost tax revenue?
CITY PRIORITIES
- Why was the needs assessment commissioned after the City found a building to purchase?
- Why was constructing artificial turf athletic fields prioritized over a new police station, if the need for the station is so critical?
- November 13, 2023 Finance Committee Minutes indicate replacement of the Recreation Center was planned for Fiscal Year (FY) 2029, and a new police station for 2031-2032. Why was the Rec Center prioritized over a new police station?
PUBLIC SAFETY AND GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
- Has there been an increase in crime in Lake Forest that justifies the need for an expanded police force and larger facility?
- The proposed purchase moves the station nearly three miles west and close to the City’s western limit. Are there public safety standards that establish how to evaluate locations for police stations geographically, population-wise, response times, visibility, with respect to traffic patterns, etc.? How does the West Field Court location compare to these standards?
- In an intensive emergency, where all personnel are needed, what would be the changed response times for area schools, churches, and shopping districts?
- Where in the strategic plan or community survey has the idea of a police station relocation been proposed to residents?
- Were other locations considered?
- Has the City considered other alternatives, such as a police sub-station, that would minimize costs, increase police presence across the City, and address space considerations?
OLD/NEW BUILDING AND RETROFIT
- Was refurbishing the existing building considered, at least for a shorter term of ten to twenty years? If so, what are the estimated costs associated with that project?
- Are there examples of other suburban communities that have successfully converted office buildings into police stations?
MISCELLANEOUS
- Who owns the building currently? What is the history of ownership?
- Have we done enough due diligence to move forward with this purchase?
- This building has been vacant for some years. Why has the City given itself just 90 days for due diligence? Why not provide more time to consider such a large, expensive undertaking?
- The Council and residents attending the meeting have only had 15 days to consider the information presented on July 1. The minutes were posted on Saturday, July 13. The vote is on July 15. Would more time for public comment be helpful before going forward with this project?
- Why wasn’t the Concord Group assessment made public? What were their results?
-LF4T
City Council to Vote on Another Capital Improvement
July 13
Up for final vote this Monday night at the City Council Meeting is the purchase of a $3.5 million dollar commercial office building and property at 1925 West Field Court to be retrofitted into a new police station.
City Council approved entering into a Sale and Purchase Agreement, with a 90-day due diligence period, at their April 15th meeting. The 90-day deadline is closing in, so City Council needs to make a decision on Monday as to whether to proceed with the contract, reject it, or negotiate an extension of the due diligence period. Total estimated costs to purchase and renovate West Field Court are $27.5-32.5 million. These figures are not an active bid, but the results from a Space Needs Analysis prepared by an outside consultant. You can review the complete timeline at the end of this document if you want to know more. This whole process took place during 2024 which is a tribute to Lake Forest City Council's and Staff's goal oriented drive after a priority is identified.
However, questions still remain. How will the City pay for this project? We don't know for sure, but possibly through a combination of increased taxes, another bond issue, current funds on hand and federal or state grant funding. We also want to highlight that due to the City’s Home Rule status, City Council is not obligated to put a referendum on the ballot if a tax increase is needed for Capital Improvements, although they may ask for an advisory referendum if taxes are needed for other expenditures.
The key issue here is whether City Council is being profligate with Lake Forest's taxing and borrowing resources. Good leadership involves making choices among projects subject to constraints. Was the artificial turf field behind Deerpath Middle School (and the $16MM allocated to it) more important than safety and security in Lake Forest? If the City knew of this need, why wasn’t the artificial turf project delayed? At the April 15th City Council meeting Mayor Tack said this new Public Safety building had been on Lake Forest's Long Range Capital Improvements list for 8-10 years. Jim Preschlack said he was happy that City Council was (finally) addressing this need. So the question remains: why wasn't the new Police Station prioritized?
This tax and bond issue is very important. Tax increases make living in Lake Forest less affordable and often price longtime residents out of the community.
Bond issuance removes financial flexibility. And due to its Home Rule status, Lake Forest residents don't get a say in prioritizing competing capital improvements. Monday’s meeting is the best opportunity for taxpayers to let Council members know what they think of the project.
Yesterday the City posted a project summary and addressed some of the common questions residents have been asking. Additionally, the following timeline, pulled from various Council and Committee meeting minutes, may help in understanding how a new police station became the City’s top priority.
There is a lot to consider about this project. Aldermen, Mayor Tack, and/or City Manager Jason Wicha are available to answer questions. Residents who wish to weigh in on this matter need to send their comments to City Council by Monday afternoon or attend the meeting Click to Comment. Later this weekend, LF4T will also post questions submitted, heard, or overheard from residents about the project. Click for Emails
The City Council meeting is on Monday, July 15, 2024 immediately following the 6:30 pm Finance Committee Meeting at Council Chambers, City Hall, 220 E Deerpath.
Out of town? Livestream it from the “Agendas, Meetings and Minutes” page. Click for Livestream
Here is the Timeline:
• November 13, 2023
Finance Committee Minutes state that “Over the next five year[s] $71 million in projects are not funded. Included in FY29 is the replacement of the Recreation Center.” The following paragraph notes “The replacement of the Public Safety Building is not listed as a current project and would fall in years 7 or 8.” That is, the Public Safety Building was initially planned for the early 2030s.
(p. 5, “Priority 1 NF – Priority 1 FY25 Projects That Cannot Currently be Funded). Click to view
• March 4, 2024
During his Comments, Mayor Tack noted that the Community Survey presented to the City Council on 10/6/23 indicated that public safety was cited by 95% of respondents as “a very important factor when choosing to live in Lake Forest.” He declared the City needed to make the plan for a new police station a priority and to begin to explore opportunities to create one. He said that due to “unique market conditions” the project would be better done "now instead of in the future.” (CC Video, 8:18-11:08 Click to view. Agenda Click to view. Community Survey results Click to view)
• March 11, 2024
Finance Committee Executive Meeting for FY 25 included the addition of a Police Facility Needs Assessment, “a noted change from the November [2023] Capital Workshop.”
(Finance Committee Minutes, 3/11/24 p.2, V. Operating Department Summaries, B. FY25 Budget Presentations, i. Capital Improvement Plan and Five-Year Forecast Update) Click to view
• April 15, 2024
Approval is requested for a purchase contract of $3.5 million for an office building at 1925 West Field Court, with a 90-day due diligence period to better assess the building’s suitability for retrofitting it into a new police station and to understand the police force’s long-term, 30 year space needs. City staff presented the reasons for needing to move urgently on the project. Highlights include:
Cost: The market for office space is not competitive right now. 1925 West Field Court was appraised at $12.5 million in 2022. Comparatively, the $3.5 million purchase cost saves the City millions.
Location: Moving the current police station away from the City’s geographic center was addressed. It was noted that the police do not need to be centrally located because there are cars constantly on patrol. City staff said it is favorable that 1925 West Field Court is near the municipal building where patrol cars are refueled and maintained. Another plus is that current zoning allows for this type of use. It was also stated that “The presence of the Police Facility [in the office park] will be low key but could be significant in attracting new tenants to the park due to an increased sense of security.”
Council approved entering the purchase agreement with a 90-day due diligence period. They also immediately approved contracts with FGM Architects for a police station space-needs analysis and with the Concord Group for a building and site assessment. Council members then discussed various aspects of the project before the meeting was adjourned. Viewing the video of the meeting provides the most comprehensive overview of what was discussed. (CC 4/15/24 Minutes, New Business. Read the Minutes or view the Video of this meeting on the City website.) Click to view minutes, Click to view video
• July 1, 2024
City Council held a workshop to discuss the costs and look at possible plans to move forward with this expansive undertaking. FGM Architects presented its Space Needs Analysis and assessed the long-term thirty-year “must have” space needs at 49,394 sq ft. Adding in “nice to have” items boosted the space required to 59,692 sq ft. West Field Court offers 98,304 sq ft. The estimated remodeling costs are $24-28 million (in addition to the $3.5 million purchase price.) A building and site assessment from the Concord Group also was presented. The businesses cross-referenced each other on cost estimates to avoid duplication. Slides of the needs analysis from FGM and the Concord Group can be viewed here Click to view. The minutes for this meeting can be found attached to the July 15 City Council agenda, starting on page 50. Click to view
-LF4T
A Win for Everyone
June 3
Last Thursday the Lake Forest Caucus General Membership (all registered voters residing in Lake Forest) collected several wins. First, a majority of voters approved the Officer slate of 2024/2025 prior to their installation, as required by the bylaws. A second win occurred when Joe Oriti, the now-incoming Caucus President, acknowledged “the frustrations and anger of community members” and committed the Committee to addressing all members’ concerns. Third and most importantly, the Membership won a community victory, as civil discourse proved more effective than open vitriol.
Prior to Thursday’s vote, Oriti sent an email to the entire community stating that the bylaws need to be addressed and codified. This is something that concerned Caucus members have been asking for since late 2022. Additionally, Oriti stated that he’d quickly assemble a committee of former Caucus Members and residents to work toward legal bylaws (or rules) and clearer direction to address a “no” vote from the General Membership.
This is a positive sign for our community. It is reassuring that our Caucus Committee recognizes the importance of the bylaws to the general membership they represent. It’s what LF4T has advocated for since its inception, through our website and emails and community meetings. Voters who are aware of how our Caucus system should work are voters best prepared to make informed decisions on the Committee’s recommendations and actions.
This is what led a handful of members to step forward to challenge the planned installation of the Officer slate that was not approved by majority vote at the Spring Meeting. The Committee pivoted at that point, announcing a second interim election for the slate. Oriti’s email went further, informing members that the Committee will move towards addressing their concerns. Accountability needs to start somewhere, and this is a hopeful beginning.
Now the work begins. New candidates for aldermen and School Board Districts 67 and 115 will be the focus of the Committee’s work this summer. A Bylaw Committee will be formed. Caucus members are encouraged to follow these activities and attend the Fall Meeting in early November.
Your voice and your vote matter.
-LF4T
Click Image to Read Joe Oriti Letter
Decision Day
May 30
It’s Decision Day for members of the Lake Forest Caucus. The day to decide whether to vote for or against the recommended Executive Officer Slate. By now, many have received emails from the Caucus Committee, friends, neighbors and acquaintances urging a “yes” or “no” vote.
It is now up to you. What do you think? Given the information out there, what is most important to you? Do you want the Committee to work on our behalf without any further delays, trusting that underlying issues will eventually be addressed? Are you waiting for acknowledgement from the Executive Officer slate that yes, there are issues, here is a timeline for addressing them, and we value your input? Are you conflicted and waiting for clarity?
Some people have suggested that a resident review committee be formed to address the issues. Others have asked for a Town Hall meeting where everyone would have the chance to speak. Still others ask for the Committee to submit a proposal for reform and review. There are a lot of ideas out there.
This afternoon Joe Oriti, the Committee’s recommended candidate for President, sent an email out pledging his commitment to restoring trust in our Caucus system. His response to residents’ concerns and his commitment to restoring our Caucus as a legally binding organization with clear, enforceable bylaws is encouraging. The whole slate did not sign the email, but it would be reasonable to expect the rest of the Officers will fall in line with Oriti’s lead. While the details are still unknown regarding the exact process and associated timelines, this is a good first step towards openness and community trust. Putting words into actions will be the next best step.
Whichever way this election turns out, there is hope that the best ideas to restore trust are acted upon.
The past is known. The future is not. Your vote matters.
__________________________
Vote Today, Thursday May 30th
2-8 pm
Gorton Center
Click Image to Read Joe Oriti Letter
Simple Things
May 29
It’s a straightforward process…
1) Recommend a candidate. 2) Have members vote. 3) Honor the results.
That is the process. It’s something most Caucus Committees have done since 1956 when the Caucus legally adopted its bylaws. Until they didn’t ...
- In 2022, the Caucus General Membership (Lake Forest registered voters) did not affirm the Caucus Committee’s recommended mayoral candidate, so the Committee threw out the result and endorsed their candidate anyway, claiming they had the right to do so. Many Lake Forest residents voiced their concerns over the disregard of our historic Caucus’s bylaws—bylaws that have been in place long before the current Caucus Leadership was elected.
- In 2024, the General Membership voted down the proposed slate of Executive Committee Officers, but Caucus Leadership ignored that vote and attempted to install them anyway, until residents threatened legal action.
Current Caucus leaders now claim that our Caucus is in peril. They say those who ask the Caucus to preserve its rules and operate in accordance with those rules are the problem.
Nothing could be further from the truth. Residents fighting to have their votes honored are not the problem.
The current Caucus Leadership has not always adhered to the very bylaws they are charged with upholding. Many members are looking for leaders who commit to abiding by their institutional rules and accept the will of the general membership. Leaders who promise to earn back the membership’s trust and respect the importance of the members’ votes.
The General Membership vote on May 30th will seat Caucus Leadership moving forward. Choosing our Executive Leadership is important. Your vote matters!
Vote: May 30, 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. at Gorton Community Center.
Save? Or Restore?
May 25
“Save Lake Forest”. A pretty stark statement from the current leadership of our Caucus. “Save Lake Forest” from what? Or whom? The Facts? Or could it be us, the general members of the Caucus (all registered voters in Lake Forest)?
This is the second time in seven months the Committee has asked to be “saved” from their own members. First it was with the Caucus Preservation Act (CPA), which would have taken our general membership vote away entirely, and now there’s an appeal to vote for the Executive Committee slate, nearly the same slate (with one exception) that was narrowly rejected last month. In fact, it took the possibility of being taken to court to prevent the Executive Committee from going ahead and installing the rejected slate of Officers. That’s why there’s a new vote for the Officer slate on May 30.
Generally, no one likes to hear the word “no”, and certainly not the Committees of the last two years. Without going into the whys, let’s look at the facts. In reaction to the word “no” the Committees have:
- Gone ahead with the Caucus’s endorsement of the majority membership unapproved mayoral candidate Randy Tack.
- Brought forward the CPA and tried to take away our vote.
- Nearly installed their recommended but majority membership unapproved Officer slate.
The current Officer candidates served on one or both Committees. These Committees made clear choices and efforts to exclude general members’ votes. The Officer candidates have given no assurances that general members’ votes will be valued and the majority vote will be honored going forward. No discussion of clarifying or modernizing bylaws to address what to do if the general membership rejects the Committee’s recommended candidate(s). No pledge to uphold the bylaws and work to ensure future Committees follow them.
Those asking for adherence to the bylaws are being called leftist. Partisan. Anti-Caucus. Hell-bent on destroying Lake Forest. None of it is true.
They say many things, but they can’t say the facts aren’t there.
Please Vote at the Caucus Interim Election on May 30th
_________________________
Caucus Interim Election
May 30th
2:00 – 8:00 PM
Gorton Community Center
Sunshine is the Best Disinfectant
May 22
My wife Laura and I joined LF4T at the beginning of this year after living through the political divisiveness that began in our town in Nov 2022 when current Mayor Randy Tack was NOT endorsed by the registered voters of Lake Forest. Since then, LF4T has tried to bring transparency back to LF politics in general and our Caucus system in particular. As LF4T developed a voice, and gratefully a following, accusations began flying from establishment partisans.
Some of those attacks specifically label LF4T as a left-wing politically oriented organization. Moreover, and let me be clear, in our opinion national politics and party should not be brought into Lake Forest. But to set the record straight, although we don't think it's relevant, Laura and I are life-long Republicans.
We are as conservative as they come. We believe in Individual Freedom, Limited Government, The Rule of Law, Human Dignity, Free Markets, Fiscal Responsibility. Those are our values. We don't accuse anyone of being against these things, and we respect your choice to hold whatever values you choose.
Further, we do not think national partisan politics has a role to play in local issues. Lake Forest politics should not have any Red or Blue jerseys. In fact, this is the genie that the founders of the Caucus championed against. They didn't want partisan politics to infest Lake Forest so they created ONE party, The LF Caucus.
The Caucus has done a very good job in LF for decades. They veered from the narrow path in the 1990s and have had some sloppy driving of late when the Committee ignored two votes against their recommended candidates. Then they tried to eliminate the ability for general members of the Caucus (LF registered voters) to have a vote AT ALL with their so-called "Caucus Preservation Act” to change their bylaws, which they lost.
We appreciate the tireless volunteer hours that the Caucus Committee puts in to vet and staff the Commissions and Committees that do the work to run our town. But there needs to be oversight by the voters. Votes should be binding.
Finally, in the past, the Committee wanted and welcomed public input but it doesn’t seem so in recent years. Their dismissal of community input and constructive public opinion is of major concern. All residents bear the consequences of Caucus recommendations and decisions. The Committee should want our objective help.
In an environment of growing mistrust, sunshine is the best disinfectant. That is the mission of LF4T and Laura and I will fight for it and for you with everything we have.
Thank you for reading about what is motivating us.
Geoffrey Luce
-LF4T
Lake Forest On Topic Podcast
A Perspective From Author, Susan L. Kelsey
Nostalgic for a place I never knew
I wish I could have met Louis F. Swift. A hundred years ago, he owned the Green Tree Inn on the west-side at Waukegan and Everett Roads. I can only imagine it would have been a lively community meeting place where people would go and share family stories and news. I would have liked to listen to those conversations about early Lake Forest. When our family moved from Chicago to Lake Forest 20 years ago, we knew when we entered Lake Forest city limits that we entered a very special place. We just didn’t know how special. I was nostalgic for a place I never knew.
It's no mistake that people feel that specialness in Lake Forest. The historic tree canopy, ancient land formations, human-scale business district buildings, planned roads and an open forest park beach. City founders were deliberate right from the start in their selection of land and the planning of the east and west sides roads of Lake Forest. But it's more than just roads that make Lake Forest special. It's the details. From the ornate weather vanes on the top of Market Square, to the pitched roofs on business buildings, to the forged metal fence at Gorton Community Center, each of these details have a history attached to them. The totality of these details evoke the essence of Lake Forest that one feels. It's a gift that keeps on giving. Just when you think you know everything about Lake Forest, you find a swinging bridge at the end of Laurel Avenue, or perhaps you find a hidden wood-carved bench at the very north end of the Forest Park Beach bluff, or maybe you found the dog fountain at Triangle Park. The city's Dr. Seuss-like staff keep our streets and park immaculate, making life just easy. It was planned that way.
Although Louis F. Swift's meat-packing business was in Chicago, his home was in Lake Forest. A tranquil, genteel solace to find peace with friends and family. Forefathers ensured that the community was well-planned for families. A hundred years ago, buildings were moved or recycled to make way for a new Market Square. Bank Lane was named appropriately to demonstrate stability and security for investors in the new business district. Lake Forest was powerful enough to have the President of the United States place the Army on the south and the Navy on the north of this new Lake Michigan community. Lake Forest College (1857) was actually here before the City was even founded (1861). In fact, the east Lake Forest train station parking lot has four different historic property owners, including Lake Forest College.
Generations of Lake Forest families have ensured the stewardship of historical sites, homes and buildings. But, without historical knowledge, will future generations continue to steward the details? The foundation of our planned community was/is built on shared values from generation to generation. There are historical reasons why buildings are not higher than three stories. Our city is now on the fifth generation of founding families, many who have moved away. It will be a challenge to rely on historic family philanthropy, many who contributed to public projects because they believed in a beautiful community. With the loss of our generational and institutional knowledge, are we at risk of drifting from our foundational values and plans? Sophisticated design buildings like City Hall, the old Fire Station (now Le Colonial) and the east-side train station are local gems, why would we accept mediocrity in the future?
Oh, to be nostalgic for a place I never knew. Subtleness, historic, iconic, quiet nights, the Green Tree Inn, brilliant planning, a time that harkened to a purposeful life with stewardship and community. Our family's children have moved on, bolstered by a fine Lake Forest education. When they come home, we walk on the beach, eat fish and chips at The Pub and talk about their“good old days”.
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Susan L. Kelsey,
Author | Filmmaker
