Finance

The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $384k.
The City Council voted to accept the City Treasurer’s financial report covering the period of May 1, 2026, through August 31, 2026.
The city’s General Fund accounts for its primary operating activities, except those required to be accounted for in another fund. About 24% of the General Fund’s revenue comes from property taxes. In order for the city to levy property taxes each year, it must (1) first estimate the aggregate amount of taxes to be levied and (2) finalize that amount not less than 20 days later. City staff presented a draft tax levy of $2M for the 2026 tax year, which represents a 4.9% increase over last year (click here to see a chart comparing the actual 2025 levy with the draft 2026 levy). The City Council discussed the draft tax levy and continued further discussion to a future meeting.

Infrastructure

Since 2016, the city has contracted with SE Inc. to provide snow and ice removal services on city streets, alleys, and public parking lots. The city’s most recent three-year agreement with SE Inc. expired in April 2026. Under that agreement, the city paid $131k per year for services, covering up to 42 inches of snowfall per season, with snow removal beyond 42 inches available in 10-inch increments for $26k. SE Inc. proposed a new three-year agreement (November 2026 through April 2029) to provide the same services at a cost of $148k per year, covering up to 42 inches of snowfall per season, with snow removal beyond 42 inches available in 10-inch increments for $30k. The proposed agreement also allows the city to cancel with 30 days’ written notice. The City Council voted to approve the proposed agreement.

Library & Community Center

Highwood Library and Community Center (HLCC) Board of Trustees President Lucy Hospodarsky provided information about a recent HLCC reorganization and the rationale for the organization’s property tax levy request for the 2026 tax year.

Licensing

Following the Mayor’s denial, in his capacity as the city’s Local Liquor Control Commissioner, of a liquor license application related to 432 Sheridan Rd. (most recently used as Teddy O’Brian’s), city staff recommended amending the city code to reduce the number of available Class A liquor licenses by one to match the number currently issued. The City Council voted to adopt an ordinance reducing the number of available Class A liquor licenses by one.

Proclamation

The Mayor read a proclamation that acknowledged the significant impacts of domestic violence, expressed support for victims and the organizations that serve them, affirmed that domestic violence is not tolerated in the community, and declared October 2026 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.” A framed copy of the proclamation was presented to a representative of the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic.

Public Comment

Resident and Celebrate Highwood President Jess Ortega expressed gratitude to city staff, elected officials, and volunteers who supported this year’s Pumpkin Fest and shared examples of the event’s benefits to Highwood, including attracting new businesses, bringing visitors to existing businesses and broader exposure to the city, and building lasting connections with the community.
A resident expressed concern about traffic and parking impacts associated with special events and new development and asked about planning to address traffic safety and increased parking demand. He also suggested exploring ways to attract customers to local restaurants during February, when business is typically slower.

Waste & Recyclables

Reynolds Consumer Products has announced that it will phase out its Hefty ReNew program, which has provided residents with a way to recycle certain hard-to-recycle plastics. Reynolds cited the lack of recycling infrastructure needed to consistently manage the broad range of materials collected through the program. Hefty ReNew bags will no longer be distributed to retailers after the end of 2026, but collection of ReNew bags will continue through June 2027. Residents with unused bags after June 2027 can contact Reynolds for instructions on returning the bags and receiving a refund.

Other

The City Council voted to approve meeting minutes from September 15, 2026.
The Library & Community Center’s October newsletter is here.
The Chamber of Commerce’s October newsletter is here.
The Chamber of Commerce’s Spill Sessions (Who Owns History?) will be held on October 14th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Disotto (310 Green Bay Rd.); 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.

September 15, 2026