The Lake Forest City Council has approved a $475,000 contract for the next phase of the ongoing Deerpath Road renovation.
In January, the city launched a massive refurbishment of Deerpath, starting with water main replacement work from Green Bay Road on the west to close to Western Avenue. Following that first phase, the city is set to begin a streetscape enhancement over much of the same area in a project scheduled to run from May through October.
On Feb.18, the City Council unanimously approved the professional design contract (specifically for construction observation, inspection services and community outreach) with the Thomas Engineering Group (TEG), the main firm already working with the city on the project.
The city successfully applied for a $2 million state grant to offset some of the project costs. The services, set to be provided by TEG, must be documented and then submitted to the Illinois Department of Transportation as part of the grant application, according to the city.
“We are absolutely playing by their rules,” Assistant Public Works Director James Lockefeer said.
Lockefeer added the city received two proposals for the project, including a smaller bid of nearly $280,000. However, the city staff recommended the larger bid from TEG based in part on its familiarity with the city and the project.
Lockefeer noted staff believed TEG had a more appropriate understanding of the amount of time the project would take and that would eventually narrow down the financial differences between the two bids.
“They were the best fit based on their significant project understanding,” he said.
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At the same meeting, the City Council also passed a naming rights and recognition policy tied to honoring an individual or organization at a city-owned amenity or public space.
The policy will create three separate categories for gifts to the city with “extraordinary gifts” and “naming rights” approval requiring City Council approval.
(The naming rights category encompasses a new asset or significant improvement of an existing asset, the financial donation must be at least 51 percent of the total cost or is at least $500,000, whichever is greater, according to city documents).
The third type of “recognition” such as for naming plaques or trees requires administrative review by city officials.
Limitations suggested by staff and approved by the City Council include current city personnel may not be considered until the person is no longer in office or associated with the city, naming rights should not be considered advertisements, and naming rights for a building, facility, or park is prohibited. However, the honor may be allowed within certain spaces or assets.
Moreover, the City Council barred company emblems or logos on a property in the future.
“I don’t see a reason for that. Identifying who it is that was generous seems to be adequate and seems to fit with the culture and character of Lake Forest,” Mayor Stanford “Randy” Tack said.
Existing branding, such as what is now in place on the city’s rescue boat, may continue.
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The City Council amended the statutes regarding two types of liquor licenses related to corkage fees.
An establishment authorized to have a “bring your own beverage” license may have a corkage fee, but it now has to be displayed in public for customers to see such as on the menu or in a prominent place.
“It allows businesses to decide what liquor they are willing to allow on-site and set their own fees,” Tack said.
City Manager Jason Wicha said enforcement of the policy would be tied to whether the city receives complaints from customers about the situation.
Daniel I. Dorfman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
