HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 11.18.25 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL
Finance
The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $119k.
The City Council voted to accept the City Treasurer’s financial report covering the period of May 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025.
The city’s General Fund accounts for its primary operating activities, except those required to be accounted for in another fund. About 25% of the General Fund’s revenue comes from property taxes. The City Council continued discussion of the 2025 property tax levy and voted to adopt an ordinance finalizing the 2025 levy in the amount of $1.9M (a 4.9% increase, or about $88.5k, from 2024).
In 2020 and 2021, the city borrowed money—by way of general obligation bonds—to help fund infrastructure improvements and economic development projects. These bonds were secured by the city’s ability to levy property taxes. The city has determined that its current fiscal year revenues are sufficient to make the bond payments without levying property taxes to do so. The City Council voted to approve ordinances abating the 2025 property tax levy from making payments related to these bonds.
Infrastructure
The city is mandated by federal law to fully replace all lead service lines and certain galvanized service lines by 2037 (service lines are the underground pipes that bring water from the city’s main supply directly into homes and businesses). Approximately 270 service lines across the city will need to be replaced. The City Council previously voted to approve a professional services agreement with Christopher B. Burke Engineering to help with planning, regulatory compliance, and applying for funding. To fund the mandated service line replacements, along with other recommended improvements to its water system (e.g., water main replacements, water treatment facility upgrades), the city will likely need to borrow money, given that the preliminary estimated project cost is over $20M. To qualify for loans and afford the connected payments, the city needs to raise additional revenues. To that end, the City Council previously voted to increase the local sales tax rate and add a temporary fee to water bills. The revenues generated from these actions are being earmarked and deposited into a newly created Water Infrastructure Fund to keep them separate from other city revenues. Before applying for loan funding through the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency’s Public Water Supply Loan Program, the city held a public hearing and asked questions of Jon Duddles, an engineer with Christopher B. Burke Engineering. If the city is ultimately approved for loan funding as expected, it will not be required to accept any or all of the offered funds should direct grants, for example, become available to cover some or all project costs.
Real Estate
City staff provided an overview of police responses at and around the city’s train stations and explained the rationale for closing them. The City Council discussed the potential reopening of the stations and continued discussion to a future meeting
Waste & Recycling
In 2017, the city became one of the first municipalities in the state to offer curbside organics recycling (i.e., composting). The goal of this service is to divert food waste from landfills, where it accounts for about 20% of the state’s waste—the largest single waste stream in the state. Residents can place food scraps and food-soiled paper or cardboard directly in their organics carts (i.e., the smallest of the three issued carts) or use BPI compostable liners or paper bags (additional guidelines here). The organics carts are collected curbside weekly, alongside trash and recycling carts. The city is offering free in-home compost bins at City Hall (17 Highwood Ave.) on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.
Zoning
The Berger Investment Group applied for zoning relief to build seven single-family homes on roughly two acres of vacant land made up of two lots at 118 S. Central Ave (click here to see the site and landscape plans and here to see the floor plans and elevations). The property is currently zoned R-2, which allows for single-family homes as well certain nonresidential uses (e.g., parks, schools, places of worship). The applicant requested rezoning from R-2 to a Planned Unit Development, as its proposed development would not be compliant with certain zoning and subdivision regulations (e.g., minimum lot area, minimum lot depth, minimum front yard setbacks, installation of a private street for a subdivision). In accordance with state law, the Planning & Zoning Commission held a public hearing, made findings of fact, and voted to recommend that the City Council approve the requested zoning relief with the following conditions:
engineering plans to appropriately address stormwater management and be reviewed and approved by the city
comply with any additional requirements imposed by the city or its consultants regarding construction and maintenance of the improvements
cover all city costs related to zoning proceedings, review, and enforcement of the proposal
The City Council voted to adopt an ordinance granting the requested zoning relief.
The city’s zoning administrator applied for zoning relief to rezone four vacant properties on the north end of Lockard Ln. from R-3A to R-2. Under R-3A zoning, the properties could be developed with single-family homes or multifamily homes of up to four units, as well as certain nonresidential uses (e.g., parks, schools, and places of worship). Under R-2 zoning, the properties could be developed with single-family homes only, as well as certain nonresidential uses (e.g., parks, schools, and places of worship). In accordance with state law, the Planning & Zoning Commission held a public hearing, made findings of fact, and voted to recommend that the City Council approve the requested zoning relief. The City Council voted to adopt an ordinance granting the requested zoning relief.
Other
The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from November 4, 2025.
Celebrate Highwood’s Elf Invasion Pub Crawl will be held on December 6th from 2:00 pm to bar close at various locations around downtown Highwood (starting point is The Toadstool Pub); additional information here.
The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County’s Garden Learning Series (Vermicomposting)—which is presented along with the University of Illinois Extension and Lake County Forest Preserves—will be held on December 10th from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm via Zoom; 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.