HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 5.19.26 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL

Appearance

  • The owner of Tacos el Norte (118 Washington Ave.) applied for approval of new business signage. The City Council voted to authorize the proposed signage.

  • The owner of Pastificio (122 Highwood Ave.) applied for approval of new business signage. The City Council voted to authorize the proposed signage.

Appointments

  • Former Alderman Brad Slavin was elected in 2023 to a four-year term (May 2023–May 2027) and resigned from the City Council earlier this year. Mayor Pecaro appointed Joseph Nebolsky de Ochoa to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term, and the City Council voted to consent to the appointment.

Finance

  • The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $262k.

  • State law requires municipalities to use one of two systems to plan and authorize spending: the appropriation ordinance system or the budget officer system. The city uses the appropriation ordinance system, requiring it to adopt an annual appropriation ordinance within the first quarter of each fiscal year. The ordinance must itemize the specific purposes for spending and the amounts allocated to each; it also sets the maximum a municipality may spend during the fiscal year, provided sufficient funds are available. While not legally required, the city also adopts an annual budget for internal operations and planning, which includes not only planned expenditures but also expected revenues. City staff presented a draft budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year. The draft budget includes, among other items:

    • no new debt

    • cash reserves exceeding three months of General Fund operating expenditures

    • roadway resurfacing of First St., High St. (between Prairie Ave. and Highwood Ave.), and Highwood Ave. (between Waukegan Ave. and Green Bay Rd.)

    • engineering design plans for roadway resurfacing Waukegan Ave./Sheridan Rd., replacing the water main on Prairie Ave., and reconstructing the public parking lot on Walker Ave.

    • reduction of lead service lines (the underground pipes that bring water from the city’s main supply directly into homes and businesses)

    • police staff and command training at Northwestern University for a police sergeant

    • replacement of playground equipment at Memorial Park (the “ballpark” on Western Ave.)

The City Council reviewed the draft budget and continued discussion to a future meeting.

Legal

  • For over 15 years, the law firm of Klein, Thorpe and Jenkins has served as City Attorney. The firm recently notified the city of a forthcoming $5-per-hour (approximately 2%) increase across all service categories, including general legal, litigation and appeals, and collective bargaining. The City Council voted to accept the revised fee schedule, effective July 1, 2026.

Parks & Public Spaces

  • City staff reported that the field lighting fixtures at Memorial Park (the “ballpark” on Western Ave.) have reached the end of their useful life. Staff also presented preliminary cost estimates for two options: replacing only the fixtures, and removing and replacing the poles and fixtures, which would result in a reduced number of poles. Preliminary cost estimates ranged from $66k to $280k. The City Council discussed the options and directed staff not to proceed with the project at this time and to revisit it next year.

Proclamation

  • Mayor Pecaro read a proclamation that affirmed the city’s dedication to recognizing the equal rights of all residents and preventing discrimination of individuals based on sexual orientation or gender identity, declared June 2026 as “LGBTQ Pride Month” and presented members of Highwood Pride with a framed copy of the proclamation. 

Public Comment

  • A resident asked about plans for city-owned property on Palmer Ave., watering of the grass at Everts Park, and the status of the redevelopment proposal for the city-owned properties between Maria’s Bakery (410 Sheridan Rd.) and Teddy O’Brian’s (432 Sheridan Rd.).

  • A resident asked about the number of units, tenure type (renter- or owner-occupied), and cost per unit for the in-progress redevelopment on the former Nite N' Gale site (400 Sheridan Rd.) and the proposed redevelopment of the city-owned properties between Maria’s Bakery (410 Sheridan Rd.) and Teddy O’Brian’s (432 Sheridan Rd.).

  • Resident and Celebrate Highwood President Jess Ortega announced several upcoming Celebrate Highwood events, which are listed below with other events.

  • The former longtime operator of Teddy O’Brian’s (432 Sheridan Rd.) expressed his desire to reopen the business and asked that related discussion be added to the next City Council meeting agenda.

  • Ten individuals expressed their support for the former longtime operator of Teddy O’Brian’s (432 Sheridan Rd.) to reopen the business.

Other

  • The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from May 5, 2026.

  • Highwood American Legion Post 501’s Memorial Day ceremony will be held on May 24th at 10:30 am in front of City Hall (17 Highwood Ave.); immediately following the ceremony, the Highwood Historical Society will display its veterans photo collection in the City Council chambers (2nd floor).

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Volunteer Social will be held on May 31st from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Everts Park (111 North Ave.); additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Evening Gourmet Market will be held on Wednesdays from June 3rd through August 26th from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Everts Park (111 North Ave.); additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Kick-Off to Summer Carnival will be held on June 5th to June 7th at the Metra station parking lot (317 Green Bay Rd.); additional information here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s Breakfast Before Business will be held on June 9th from 7:30 am to 9:00 am at City Hall (17 Highwood Ave.); additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Pride in the Park will be held on June 17th from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Everts Park (111 North Ave.); additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Inferno Fest will be held on June 24th from 4:30 pm to 9:00 pm at Everts Park (111 North Ave.); additional information here.

Meeting Records

  • A video recording of the Regular Meeting is here.

  • Once approved, minutes from the Committee of the Whole Meeting and Regular Meeting will be linked here.

    These write-ups are purposefully brief. Please do not hesitate to call or email me if you would like additional details or have questions.

*unless otherwise noted, City Council directives and votes were unanimous.

Next

May 5, 2026