Welcome to the second edition of What's Happening! |
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This message is designed to provide City employees with the information you need to stay connected with what's happening across the organization.
Scroll through for department news and updates. There's a lot of information here, so ideally you will save this email to reference throughout the month. If you have questions about something included here, feel free to reach out to the person listed.
The intention is for the email format (and the amount of detail) to change over time so that it works well for you. If you have suggestions for things to improve, please let us know.
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Communications
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Have a message, reminder, or topic for the Summer Dialogue Newsletter? The Summer Dialogue covers May, June and July. Send it to Dana by Thursday, March 24.
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If you know a colleague who has gone above and beyond in their job, go ahead and shout it out - nominate a City Star! Nominations will be used to create profiles to highlight City staff and services to the community. Nominees will be consulted before any information is shared.
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Another new restaurant approved and coming soon……Duff’s. A new venture between Jeff Urso (Donati’s) and Joe Knesley (Chief’s) in Westwood Square, the commercial development located just north of Jewel. (Donati’s and Chief’s are not going anywhere.) Duff’s will front on Western Avenue and will be a casual, family oriented, golf themed restaurant. Who says you can’t do it all! The concept is that the front windows on Western Avenue will open in good weather to offer an indoor/outdoor experience. Three golf simulators are planned in the restaurant.
- Reminder for those of you who plan community events, think local! Many of our local businesses are anxious to provide food and beverage on site at your events and already have the required permits.
- Last spring, the City acquired the property at 50 Maywood Road, the former Joytime Preschool property adjacent to South Park. The property was being marketed for development and there was concern about potential impact to a 20” water transmission main located immediately adjacent to the site if redevelopment of the site occurred so, the City negotiated with the owner and the City Council approved the purchase. Abatement of some environmental issues in the building is complete and Water/Sewer “volunteered” to disconnect the water and sanitary sewer (thank you Dan, Rich and the rest of the crew!). After the disconnects are completed, a contractor will be engaged to demolish the building, remove the debris, and grade the site level. Then we will hand it off to Parks.
- An update to the City’s Comprehensive Plan, the plan which guides land use decisions throughout the community, is starting up in the coming weeks. The focus will be first on the Central Business District. Many of you are in the Central Business District regularly. We want to know what you see, think and want to change.
- Where do you see redevelopment opportunities?
- What should be preserved, not changed?
- Where are the problem areas?
- If you could change the Central Business District in one way, what change would you make?
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Other ideas? Let us know. Stop by or email CathyCz.
- ComDev staffing update.
- In the last budget cycle, a new Administrative Assistant position was approved for the Community Development Department concurrent with the department taking over responsibility for Special Events and Landscape Licenses from City Hall and recognizing the new Saturday Market and Mobile Food and Beverage Vendor initiatives. Marija (pronounced Maria) Perisic will join our department on Monday, March 21. She is multi-lingual, speaks various Eastern European languages in case you ever need a translator. She will be up at the front counter learning the ropes from Jessica and Kim.
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As a follow up to Paul Petersen’s retirement, in the coming days, we will be internally posting two positions, but hiring only ONE. Confusing, we know. We believe that there may be interested and well qualified internal candidates for one or both positions both in our department and in the wider City organization. We want to seek candidates from inside the organization before we go outside. That approach has served the department well in the past. Depending on the applicants, we will decide which position to fill. Watch for the postings soon. If you are interested to learn more, talk with a member of the Community Development staff.
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Submitted By: Assistant Finance Director, Diane Hall
- Claudia Austin will be filling the front counter position. She comes to us from the Recreation Department. Please join us in congratulating Claudia on her new position!
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Vehicle Sticker, Pet License, and Parking Pass sales begin the week of Monday, March 21. Stickers must be purchased by April 30. If you are a full-time employee with a Lake Forest residence, you are entitled to one complimentary Vehicle Sticker. All non-resident full-time employees are entitled to one complimentary Beach Sticker. Learn more or contact Jamese Scott for details.
- The FY2023 budget process is in full swing. Capital Projects were presented in November and Operating budgets were presented to the Finance Committee on Monday, March 14. The full budget will be presented to the Finance Committee for approval on Monday, April 18.
- As we near the end of FY2022, now is the time to review purchase order balances to close or rollover and to begin entering FY2023 purchase orders.
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Congratulations to Deputy Chief Kevin Cronin on his retirement after 23+ years of service! Come help us celebrate DC Cronin’s retirement and the promotion of Division Chief Mike Gallo, FF Eric Farr, and FF Nick Savel on Friday, April 1 at 3:30 pm. View the invitation.
- A reminder that after changing the clocks, you should change your smoke detector batteries. Be sure to let your alarm company know beforehand. You can test them on a monthly basis.
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Chili Cook Off is coming up on Saturday, April 23 and we need employees who want to bring the heat! Check out our Chili Cook Off flyer for details.
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New job opportunities at Government Jobs. The Police Department is recruiting for a Lateral Police Officer. Reminder referring could get you up to $500!
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The IT Department will be conducting a Disaster Recovery Test on phone lines, internet, and other network devices on Tuesday March 29 from 6 pm to 9 pm. The City will experience intermittent downtime during this period which might affect the phone system, BS&A access, SharePoint, Email, etc. We are conducting this test off-hours in an effort to minimize impact to day-to-day operations. Feel free to direct any questions about this test to ITDepartment@cityoflakeforest.com.
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CROYA
- CROYA is open during Spring Break Monday, March 21 through Friday, March 25 from 1-3 pm each day. For more information, contact CROYA at 847.810.3980.
- Paws for Patrick therapy dogs visit CROYA 2 times per month. The next visit from the dogs is on Monday, March 28 from 3:45-4:45 pm.
- CROYA is bringing a Hypnotist to the High School youth meeting on Wednesday, March 30 from 7-8 pm.
- Activator Music Academy teaches music lessons at CROYA. Students of all ages can learn piano, guitar, bass, drums, vocals, strings and more.
- Follow CROYA on Social Media! CROYA has a Facebook page and Instagram @CROYALFLB.
Dickinson Hall
- Did you know that if you or a member of your family needs short-term medical equipment, Dickinson Hall has a lending closet that is available to City employees, as well as residents of Lake Forest & Lake Bluff? We have a collection of new and used medical equipment available for loan such as wheelchairs, bath transfer benches, commodes, toilet risers, walkers, canes, and other items. We have a limited inventory, based on the demands, frequency of usage and the available items in stock.
- We are gearing up for our best summer in years! It has been 2 years since we have had a full summer of fun and activities, so we are looking forward to it. If you know anyone in the community that you think would benefit from our programs, send them our way.
Parks
- Continued Spring cleanups as weather permits.
- Athletic field painting and ball diamond clean ups.
- Boat ramp repairs.
- Beach lawn restoration.
- Forest Park Beach dredging will start first week of April.
Forestry
- Snow plow/sidewalk plow parkway restoration
- Crews are concentrating on finishing up our oak and elm tree pruning while mixing in various tree removals throughout town.
- Tagging/Sourcing of plant material at multiple tree nurseries for our upcoming spring parkway tree planting program and for the Deerpath golf course corridor landscaping project
- Upcoming Spring parkway planting for May; contractor Guy Scopelliti will be installing 125 parkway trees.
- Upcoming Stump removal on City parkways.
Recreation
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Did you know the Wildlife Discovery Center is celebrating 25 years? We can’t think of a better place to spend your lunch hour this summer. Check out the animals, take a walk along the savannah, say hi to Rob, and have a picnic at Elawa Park!
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Our Summer Camp Marketing Campaign - “We Will REC You”! is a big success and several of our camps reached capacity on registration day! With that said, we are adding new camp sections and are looking for Camp Counselors. If you know anyone please direct them here to apply: https://bit.ly/LFParksandRecJobs.
- After a series of community workshops and a resident survey, staff presented the four design options for improvements to the athletic fields at Deerpath Community Park to the Parks & Recreation Board on Tuesday, March 15. A recommendation to City Council for synthetic turf fields was approved.
- Upcoming April events include: April 2: You got Egged, April 7: GO LF Walk at Lake Forest College, April 9: Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza, April 13: Bunny Baskets, April 16: Baseball Opening Day Ceremony, and April 22-29 is our first Annual Earth Day to Arbor Day Park Scavenger Hunt.
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Building Maintenance
- Currently in the middle of renovating the fire fighter training room at Fire Station 2.
- Crews are giving the lower level of the Police station a fresh look with a new paint job.
- All clocks and timers were set ahead this week due to Daylight Savings Time. This is also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke detectors!
Engineering
Submitted By: Superintendent of Engineering, Byron Kutz
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Check out the new Construction Project Map at cityoflakeforest.com/ConstructionProjects to see locations and additional details for the projects listed here as well as Parks projects.
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Staff is gearing up for construction this week with site preparation beginning for the City’s Deerpath Watermain replacement project between Ahwahnee Lane and Golf Lane. Just west of there on Deerpath, preparations are also underway this week for ComEd’s replacement of their bridge that carries the Skokie Valley Bike Path. Deerpath Road will be closed between Route 41 and Ahwahnee Lane starting Friday, March 18 at 6 pm through Sunday, March 27.
- Coordination is still underway for the Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Improvement Project which aims to reduce flooding on Western Ave and Burr Oak between Thomas Pl and Franklin Pl, as well as a small section of Alden Ln. Award of the contract is contingent on a grant between the City, SMC, and DCEO.
- Coordination continues for the replacement of the Illinois and Woodland pedestrian bridges with replacement currently anticipated in late summer for both bridges.
- Staff is performing permit plan-review and site inspections which is picking up a bit as the weather warms up.
Fleet
Submitted By: Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, Ron Gramer
- Evaluating the carbide plow blade performance and how we can utilize them in coming snow seasons.
- Preparing for the transition of vehicles and equipment from winter to spring operations.
- Refurbishment of Fire Squad #212, steelwork on Sanitation vehicles, and Preventative Maintenance on all city vehicles.
Sanitation
- Beginning this weekend, the Compost & Recycling Center summer hours will go into effect. Hours are Saturdays from 8 am to 5 pm and Sundays from 9 am to 5 pm. City employees can access the Compost & Recycling Center utilizing their employee ID!
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There is an open seasonal position! Please feel free to share this employment opportunity with any friends or family. For more info head to cityoflakeforest.com/careers.
- Sanitation crews will start cleaning up litter on roadsides.
Streets
- Preparing and planning for the next phase of gas light to LED street light conversions.
- Transitioning Section equipment from snow season to spring season.
- Reviewing end of snow season salt inventory tonnages to prepare for spring purchase.
Water & Sewer
Submitted By: Water & Sewer Supervisor, Rich Volpe
- Hydrant flushing to begin in two weeks.
- Warmer weather will allow us to get the Vactor out to begin catch basin cleaning.
- Beginning to work on the catch basin repair list that has accumulated over the winter.
- Performing water shut-downs for upcoming valve replacement projects.
Water Plant
- We are working on chemical feed lines and their air releases to keep those systems functioning properly.
- Moving forward with replacing three pumps at the Spruce and Sheridan lift station.
- Doing a second round of extended cleans on the trains because of the success of the first round.
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The Lake Forest Police Department is creating a lateral eligibility list for full-time, sworn police officers. For more information and a complete list of qualifications, visit cityoflakeforest.com/careers.
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