Lake Forest City Council reduces length of Parks & Recreation Board terms

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Updated: November 21, 2011 9:34AM

The Lake Forest City Council voted 6-0 Monday night to approve a request to reduce the term length for Park Board members from five years to two years, the same as most boards and commissions in the city.

Residents can serve a maximum of three consecutive two-year terms and have the option of re-upping after a three-year hiatus, City Attorney Vic Filippini said.

“I appreciate the change in length of terms. It’s very difficult to find people to volunteer for a five-year span. People want to have input, they want to serve. This is an opportunity to have some input,” said Kent Novit, mayor pro tem at the meeting.

Mayor James Cowhey, Second Ward Alderman David Moore and Third Ward Aldermen Donald Schoenheider were absent Monday night.

In other business:

• The Council also voted 6-0 to approve an amendment to the city’s Inclusionary Housing Ordinance to add a definition of moderate housing.

The inclusion of the “moderate” definition was a response to comments from the community and the City Council to address the needs of those with moderate incomes, in addition to those at lower incomes, that may more directly address the needs of Lake Forest seniors, families and employees of local institutions, officials said.

The approved amendment provides an additional tool for achieving and retaining a diversity of housing in the community. No development project is initiated or contemplated with these changes and no expenditure of funds is involved, officials said.

• Applications for the new Deerpath Golf Course Golf Advisory Committee, open to all Lake Forest residents, are available, City Manager Bob Kiely announced.

“There clearly will be members of Deer Path who will be on this but also there are a number of residents who play at Deer Path who are not members,” Kiely said.

Anyone interested should pick up a profile sheet at the golf course or any municipal building or access the form online at cityoflakeforest.com. All applications must be submitted by 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 4 to be considered.

“We have a lot of very talented people in this community and we’re going to try to tap that talent to work with us to help keep Deerpath in the black as we go forward,” he said.

A recommendation on who should be named to the committee will be made to the Park Board on Nov. 8 with review and approval by City Council expected on Nov. 21.

What the duration of the committee will be is undetermined, Kiely said.