HIGHWOOD CITY COUNCIL’S 9.15.26 MEETING IN A NUTSHELL

Appearance

  • The owner of Radhey Liqours (109 Washington Ave.) applied for approval of new business signage. The City Council voted to authorize the proposed signage.

  • The owner of Luna Hair Salon (818 Sheridan Rd.) applied for approval of new business signage. The City Council voted to authorize the proposed signage.

  • The owner of Beauty Engine Salon (11 Highwood Ave.) applied for approval of new business signage. The City Council voted to authorize the proposed signage.

  • The owner of avec (250 Waukegan Ave.) applied for approval of new business signage. The City Council voted to authorize the proposed signage.

Finance

  • The City Council voted to approve the payment of various bills totaling $433k.

  • The city received its annual actuarial report from Lauterbach & Amen on the financial condition and funding of the city’s Police Pension Fund. The fund’s actuarial funded ratio increased from 94.8% to 98.3%, while the recommended city contribution for the coming year decreased from approximately $329k to $303k. The fund earned an approximately 21.4% investment return for the year, compared with its expected rate of return of 6.5%.

Parks & Public Spaces

  • The city’s current fiscal year budget includes $300k earmarked to improve the playground area at Memorial Park (the “ball park” on Western Ave.). The City Council previously directed city staff to develop and present for Council review a plan to solicit community preferences for the playground improvements. City staff presented a draft survey and distribution plan, and the Council provided feedback.

Public Comment

  • A resident and Highland Park High School student expressed interest in forming a committee to explore ways for young people in the community to participate in city government policy discussions and decision-making.

Public Safety

  • The city’s Building and Construction Codes include locally established regulations and incorporate several model codes, including the International Building Code and International Property Maintenance Code. Taken together, these codes establish many of the requirements applied to new construction, renovations and the maintenance of existing properties. The City Council voted to adopt numerous amendments to the Building and Construction Codes addressing construction, fire and life safety, building systems, elevators, accessibility and code administration and enforcement, along with the following updates to the incorporated model codes:

    • International Building Code: 2012 edition → 2024 edition

    • International Fire Code: 2012 edition → 2024 edition

    • International Mechanical Code: 2012 edition → 2024 edition

    • International Fuel Gas Code: 2012 edition → 2024 edition

    • International Property Maintenance Code: 2012 edition → 2024 edition

    • International Energy Conservation Code: 2012 edition → Illinois Energy Conservation Code most current edition

    • International Residential Code: 2012 edition → 2024 edition

    • National Electrical Code (NFPA 70): 2014 edition → 2023 edition

    • Illinois Accessibility Code: 1997 edition → most current edition

  • The city’s Police Department includes 14 full-time employees: eight patrol officers, four sergeants, one police chief and one police records clerk. The patrol officers and sergeants are represented by the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council (FOP), which collectively bargains with the city over wages, hours and other conditions of employment. The collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the city and the FOP expired on June 30, 2026, and city staff and legal counsel, working within parameters established by the City Council, have been negotiating a new agreement with FOP representatives. City staff presented a draft CBA that has been approved by the FOP for Council consideration, with the following key terms and changes from the prior agreement:

    • Term: Five years, covering July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2031.

    • Wages: Salary increases of:

      • 2026: 6.6%, including a step advancement

      • 2027: 6.6%, including a step advancement

      • 2028: 3.5%

      • 2029: 3.5%

      • 2030: 3.5%

    • Health insurance: Officers with other qualifying health insurance may opt out of the city’s plan and receive the same opt-out incentive available to other city employees.

    • Other terms: No material changes to management rights, hours and overtime, vacation, holidays and other paid leave, seniority, discipline, or grievance procedures.

    The Council voted to approve the new CBA.

  • The city’s police officers currently use Axon body-worn cameras. City staff reported that Axon offers various additional software capabilities available as upgrades, including automated transcription and real-time language translation, among others. The City Council directed city staff to arrange for Axon to provide the Council with an overview and demonstration of these additional capabilities.

Waste & Recyclables

  • The city's residential and commercial waste and recycling collection agreements with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) expire on March 31, 2027. The City Council directed city staff to engage LRS to explore and negotiate potential contract extensions of varying terms and report back before the Council decides whether to solicit proposals from other service providers.

  • 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 August 18, 2026.

  • The Library & Community Center’s September newsletter is here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s September newsletter is here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s Design Week will be held from September 15th thru September 18th at various times and locations in and around Highwood; additional information here.

  • Celebrate Highwood’s Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival will be held from October 1st thru October 4th at various times and locations in downtown Highwood; additional information here.

  • The Chamber of Commerce’s Spill Sessions (Museum Legacies: Contesting Artifacts and Ownership in the 21st Century 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.

Next

August 18, 2026