Lake Forest officials say they will address two large issues facing the city’s police department over the next few months.
The city is examining whether to move its police headquarters from its longtime home at 255 Deerpath Road to a building in the Conway Park office complex on Lake Forest’s west side.
In April, the City Council unanimously approved a purchase and sale agreement for a three-story building at 1925 Field Court, providing the city the option to eventually move the police into the building if that is deemed as the best option.
City Manager Jason Wicha said at the June 3 council meeting, several contracts have been awarded with private firms to investigate a possible move including facility conditions, space needs and environmental assessments.
Wicha said all of the reports are expected to be completed soon and he expects the information will be analyzed at a July 1 council workshop. At that meeting, the elected officials and staff will also engage in preliminary construction financing options.
Wicha added that a decision whether to move forward on the sale of the property could be made at the July 15 council meeting.
The examination whether to move the department comes as Lake Forest is looking for a new police chief.
City spokeswoman Dana Olson wrote in an e-mail that candidate interviews are set to occur in July leading to a selection likely to be announced in early August.
The city is looking for a new leader of its police department after the retirement of Karl Walldorf earlier this year. Michael Lange has been serving as interim chief.
In a separate issue, the city is also working on an update of its strategic plan, and has held four community engagement sessions since April as part of the process.
Wicha believed a draft strategic plan will be formally presented to the council in August, and he anticipates the final draft of the plan will be up for approval at the September meeting.
Lake Forest Hospital update
At the June 3 meeting, Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital President Seamus Collins and Chief Medical Officer Jeffrey Kopin offered a snapshot of the progress of its latest expansion effort.
This project is scheduled to include construction of two incremental inpatient pavilions with the goal of greatly expanding capacity, a relocation and expansion of the emergency room and increasing licensed critical care beds from 12 to 24.
“It will provide incremental capacity for growth on our procedural platform that will allow us to bring higher complexity and acuity services to the community,” Collins said.
Collins added a four-story parking garage with a 900-vehicle capacity opened in February.
Collins said 65% of the campus will remain green space, and the project is scheduled to be completed in 2026.
Northwestern Medicine opened the $399 million building in March 2018. Collins was named LFH president in April following the retirement of his predecessor, Marsha Oberrieder.
Preservation awards
Lake Forest Preservation Foundation Executive Director Marcy Kerr announced 10 city properties have received the organization’s annual preservation awards tied into categories of preservation, rehabilitation, heritage and infill.
Kerr made the announcement as she is scheduled to retire at the end of June after 17 years.
“It’s been a wonderful job, it’s a wonderful community,” she said. “I feel so lucky to be involved in all the things we have preserved, and the education we have helped in the community.”
Kerr said after the meeting the LFPF board has hired Jennifer McGregor as her successor. McGregor is a Lake Forest High School graduate and executive in the architectural world. She is an officer with the Lake Forest Caucus.
