[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:08] City Council of the City of Highland Park, Illinois, August 15, 2022, or the clerk, please call the roll.
[0:16] Councilmember Tapio.
[0:19] Councilmember Stobberg.
[0:21] Here. Councilmember Stown. Here. Councilmember Bloomberg.
[0:25] Councilmember Halvin. Here. Councilmember Lottoe.
[0:29] Mayor, Mayor Roaring. Here. Park is how you want us to confirm that our two who are joining us electronically are who they are.
[0:37] I apologize,
[0:40] have them stay the name spell the last name and if anyone has an objection
[0:49] to their participation, right, we should know that up front.
[0:53] Council member, Boomerite, can you stitch your name and then we'll follow with Council member
[1:08] Thank you.
[1:16] Are there any who wish to not allow these folks to participate electronically?
[1:22] Okay, now we'll continue on with the meeting.
[1:23] Thanks so much Corporation Council.
[1:26] Please rise for the pledge of allegiance.
[1:28] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God in the middle with liberty and justice for all.
[1:47] We have a motion to approve the minutes of the Special City Council meeting held July 25, 2022.
[1:53] Second, others in favor say aye, aye.
[1:56] I.
[1:57] The minutes are approved.
[1:59] Thank you.
[2:00] We have a motion to approve the warrant list.
[2:03] Second, any comments or questions in the want list?
[2:07] Here I know.
[2:07] For the clerk, please call the vote.
[2:09] Comments of the chat?
[2:11] Comments of the stolen.
[2:13] Comments of the stolen?
[2:14] Comments of the stolen?
[2:17] Comments of the stolen?
[2:17] Howlman?
[2:18] Hi.
[2:19] I'm going to come to my little one.
[2:20] Mayor O'Ring.
[2:21] Hi.
[2:22] Seven eyes, no nays.
[2:23] And the war at last is approved.
[2:26] We're continuing now to report out of the mayor.
[2:35] So I just want to share that there's no timeline for how long grief last nor a guideline,
[2:41] for how one should feel after a traumatic experience.
[2:44] But as we lean on each other and seek guidance and reassurance from community leaders, we are finding the
[2:50] to move forward as individuals and as a community. During the last few weeks, I've met with
[2:55] officials at every level of government representatives from our sister governments,
[2:59] home and park hospital, area clergy, survivors, and neighbors. If the violence we experience
[3:05] to July has left you feeling frightened, upset, or angry, you are not alone. Thank you to all
[3:11] who have participated in meetings, talked with me and prompted with Food Truck Thursday
[3:15] at National Light Out at the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce sidewalk sale while walking
[3:20] around town or reached out another way.
[3:23] Every voice is important as we remember those who were murdered and pray for those who are
[3:29] recovering and do our best to move forward.
[3:33] Public safety is a core priority of the City of Highland Park.
[3:36] The City's fire, police, public works, and community development departments are known
[3:41] the highest level of standards and exceptional service. The city's public safety team, professional
[3:48] staff, and elected officials are proud to our closely with Lake County, North Shore School
[3:54] District 112, Township High School District 113, the Park District of Highland Park Public Library,
[4:02] Marine Township, West Earfield Township, and the North Shore Water Reclamation District.
[4:07] Professional staff and elected leaders from each government have met to continue conversations about safety practices and resources, many of which have already been put into place or being considered.
[4:20] Our clergy have a unique calling to help others cope during times of conflict and loss and tragedy.
[4:27] Faith leaders have been briefed on the plethora of resources, services and public safety assistance available to their congregants and respective houses of worship.
[4:36] This is a compassionate and competent group.
[4:40] They collectively encourage all of us to lean on them as they are willing and ready to help us
[4:45] recognize and accept our emotions and they can guide us towards tangible, practical things
[4:51] that we can each do to ease the path ahead.
[4:54] We continue to be in contact with local, county, state and federal victim support specialists.
[5:00] Their expertise and guidance continue to provide us with clarity as we work to serve our
[5:05] community in the aftermath of this tragedy.
[5:08] Our businesses play a significant role in supporting
[5:10] a sustaining the fabric of our community.
[5:13] Many owners and employees have faced enormous challenges
[5:16] related to the Fourth of July tragedy and we stand with them
[5:20] as they continue to add vibrancy to our community.
[5:23] Thank you to the many business owners for meeting
[5:25] and for your dedication to our community, programs are available
[5:29] to help the businesses directly impacted by the shooting.
[5:33] So I promised you that we would not stop trying to save lives and we have many more steps
[5:39] to take together.
[5:41] I was invited to speak with the Lake County Board about what happened in Highland Park
[5:44] on the Fourth of July and how we must work together to stop gun violence in our state and
[5:49] in our country.
[5:51] I'm pleased to report that last week they officially passed a resolution supporting both state
[5:55] and federal laws that ban assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
[5:59] their action sends a message that by working together we can save human lives and keep other cities
[6:06] from enduring the pain and heartache we feel in our own park. Illinois State Representative Bob Morgan and I have been speaking regularly
[6:14] and I look forward to working with him as he chairs the firearm safety and reform working group.
[6:19] The group will work to create and pass common sense legislation to reduce the gun violence and trauma faced by so many communities across our state and our country.
[6:29] Working together, we will pursue legislative initiatives with other governing bodies because
[6:34] we know that a single city, county or state cannot protect its residents from this
[6:40] violence.
[6:41] They are not islands, and we are only as safe as what is permitted by the gun laws nearby.
[6:47] It's said that often with grief comes purpose.
[6:50] We will continue to step up and confront the challenges that lie ahead.
[6:54] Support resources, a reassurance are available, and I look forward to seeing you out in about.
[7:00] We are one. We are a high-run park. And now I'm going to ask our city manager to share some comments about resources that are available to help those who are needing them.
[7:11] Thank you, Mayor.
[7:12] So on a bi-weekly basis, we are continuing to meet with our resource partners to discuss ongoing services to the public following the tragic events that took place in our community on July 4th.
[7:23] shown on the screen here is a flyer that we developed in partnership with our resource partners,
[7:28] such as in English as well as Spanish, and so I'll just give a couple of highlights of what's on here,
[7:33] as well as some other information. First, we are promoting on a regular basis.
[7:38] 211, which is United Way of Lake County. 211 provides immediate resource navigation for community members who need to find any kind of resources.
[7:48] So counseling, housing assistance, food, shelter, assistance with pay utilities and other services.
[7:56] 211 is free, it's confidential, it's available 24 hours, seven days a week, it's multi-lingual with English and Spanish-speaking staff that are prepared to answer any questions that people may have.
[8:09] And there are also interpreters that can provide service and over 150 different languages.
[8:16] So people that need to contact Lake County can go to their website at 211 Lake County.org.
[8:21] They can call 211 for a live 211 specialist or they can text their zip code to the number on the fire here which is 898 211 to be connected to a specialist.
[8:32] Family services and the Highwood Library and Community Center are providing case management and also counseling services on site.
[8:38] There is limited drop-in service that's available, but they are recommending that people make appointments to ensure that they have immediate access to a case manager or counselor.
[8:50] The City of Ireland Park employs two full-time social workers on our staff, Dr. Cynthia Plazis,
[8:57] works in the police department, and she has been providing regular communication with victims and their families since the onset of the July 4th incident.
[9:06] We're also working very closely with the state's attorneys office, specifically the chief
[9:11] of victim services, as they're in regular communication as well with victims and their families,
[9:16] making sure that they have resources and information for them.
[9:19] So when people ask us who are your partner agencies, our immediate core partner agencies,
[9:24] all their locals are reflected on the flyer here, but briefly it's like County, the state's
[9:28] attorneys office, 211, the Highwood Library, the North Shorely, North Shorely, Northern
[9:34] family services of Lake County, Marine Township, and the Highland Park Library, but there
[9:40] are so many other agencies that are also providing support to Highland Park and Highwood,
[9:45] as well as other individuals throughout the entire region. But these are a core, Highland
[9:49] Park, Highwood-based organizations that we are meeting with regularly and want to certainly
[9:55] share the resources that they have available. On the business and businesses that were required
[10:00] to close within the July 4th and investigation area by the FBI. We're invited to a meeting with the
[10:07] city where we provided information about resources, services, and information. Those resources
[10:14] and services are available from the city as well as the state and the federal government.
[10:20] On the city side, we did introduce a business recovery grant program and applications for that grant
[10:26] program are available through August 19th. We're working one on one with businesses to help them
[10:32] through that application process. And the scope for that grant is specific to those businesses again
[10:37] that were forced to close from July 4th to the 10th. But what we're saying is that this is kind of the
[10:43] first phase of the evaluation period. We will come back to the city council with a number of applications.
[10:48] The number of grants that have been awarded and taking a look at expanding that scope area
[10:53] understanding that there are many other businesses that are in need of assistance.
[10:58] The Chamber, Helen Park, Bank and Trust and First Bank of Highland Park are working in
[11:02] partnership with the Rotary Club of Highland Park in Highwood and they're accepting applications
[11:07] now to support businesses that have endured losses from the July 4th tragedy.
[11:12] So, information is available on all of those three respective websites or people
[11:16] can go to the city's website for further information as well.
[11:19] And then just two more things, we have received a number of questions about a long-term memorial.
[11:25] So I just want to advise the public that the city is going to be taking steps towards having a long-term memorial.
[11:31] We are in the very preliminary stages right now of getting guidance from the Department of Justice, their office of victims of crime,
[11:39] in terms of whether that will be how that will look, how we will go about doing that.
[11:44] Very important is we will be talking to all the victims and their families and engaging with them as part of the process as well as certainly engaging with the public.
[11:53] So stay tuned for further information about that, but please know that that is something that the city is going to be undertaking with the community.
[12:01] And then finally we have received truly the outpouring of support and love from not only Highland Park, but the entire region has been absolutely wonderful.
[12:09] If people have ideas that they'd like us to explore, we ask that they email us at hpcares
[12:15] at cityhpil.com.
[12:18] We are reviewing all of those, anything that needs immediate answer, we are responding to,
[12:22] but otherwise we are just taking those in and reviewing them as appropriate.
[12:27] I think those were important here.
[12:29] Great.
[12:29] Thanks so much, Gita.
[12:30] I'll continue with the report of the mayor.
[12:33] This evening I have one appointment, the City of Highland Park has 18 commissions for its
[12:38] advisory groups with volunteers, citizen members who are appointed by the mayor with Council
[12:43] consent.
[12:44] These organizations were formed to provide guidance to the city council and to adhere to
[12:49] existing municipal regulations.
[12:52] Members of the city's appointed bodies serve term lengths that coincide with the calendar
[12:56] year.
[12:57] This evening I am recommending one commissioner appointment that is Alicia Delacruz to the
[13:03] Library Board of Trustees and I am seeking consent of this Council.
[13:07] I see notting hands on the round, Tony Andres, any comments, questions, concerns?
[13:14] No, they're important.
[13:15] Wonderful, okay, thank you.
[13:16] Very important.
[13:18] Terrific.
[13:18] So thank you to Alicia for your volunteerism, and she will be onboarded, I believe, as soon as possible.
[13:24] So I have no populations this evening.
[13:27] I do have other business.
[13:28] I see you in the back of the room, though, Ash.
[13:31] I'm going to give you Kudos.
[13:33] This evening marks the last City Council meeting for Assistant City Manager, Director of Public Works,
[13:39] Ramesh Kennedy, I'm not sure I'm accepting this.
[13:42] While we are considering sorry to see him leave Highland Park, we're thrilled to congratulate him
[13:47] on his appointment as Executive Director of the Northwest Suburban Municipal Joint Action Water Agency.
[13:53] In this new little Ramesh, well undoubtedly bring the unparalleled professionalism, dedication,
[13:58] and depth of knowledge that has served Highland Park so well over the last decade.
[14:02] Well, Mesh began his career in Highland Park in September 2012 following positions in Lake
[14:08] Forest in Glenview, and the time-sense for Mesh has distinguished himself as a leader
[14:12] deeply committed to his team and a constant colleague to city, senior staff.
[14:17] During his tenure as director, the Department of Public Works has continued to provide exceptional
[14:22] public service to proceed and complete a numerous long-range infrastructure projects and
[14:27] fiscal responsible manner attracted expanded infrastructure
[14:31] investments through state and federal grants and
[14:34] hence the state of bill of the efforts.
[14:36] There we go.
[14:37] Now you really got to be like, look in my view of paying attention.
[14:40] And hence the state of the bill of the efforts integrated
[14:43] throughout all department, divisions, and prioritized
[14:46] community engagement.
[14:47] We were so fortunate to have a professional
[14:50] like Ramash County for the overseeing the city's
[14:52] critical infrastructure during the COVID-19 pandemic.
[14:55] And I know we've all appreciated his strong and steadfast leadership over the past.
[15:00] 6 weeks since the 4th of July parade. Remesh, we wish you all the best in your new world and want to thank you for your service to our community. Thank you.
[15:25] Thank you, Mayor.
[15:27] Not this was not on the script.
[15:30] Didn't tell me, especially the camera right on your face.
[15:33] That was definitely not on the script.
[15:35] Anything I can say is like, you know, you're not one person does this job. You're going to have a great team.
[15:44] My team is here. Supportive counselor and our fitness leader.
[15:49] I know that each director has worked in the past 10 years.
[15:52] And all our team, it's just one team.
[15:55] And I'm thankful and really, you know, one of this, you know, it's 10 years is too long for somebody to say goodbye.
[16:03] but I had good memories, and I hope to keep those good memories with all of you.
[16:08] Thank you so much. Thank you.
[16:16] Peter, I believe you had an additional item you wanted to alert the public about. Yes, Mayor.
[16:22] A couple of other things, I'm behalf of staff. Last week, the city issued a public safety
[16:26] alert advising the public about a reported rules burglary that took place in Highland Park.
[16:31] Rules burglaries are property crimes where one of multiple suspects work together to
[16:35] direct homeowners to gain access to the home, steel cash, jewelry, electronics, or other
[16:40] valuables. This type of crime is not unique to Highland Park, so I will reiterate that again,
[16:46] this type of crime is not unique to Highland Park. We are seeing these burglaries reported through
[16:50] the entire Chicago land area. We produced a public service announcement video to inform the community
[16:56] about the nature of roots, burglaries, and how to prevent them. And we have this information as well
[17:02] other public safety information on the city's website. Specifically to go to that video,
[17:07] you can go to the city's website, backslash, backslash, rules, burglaries. In March, we introduce
[17:15] the launch of a new citizen connect portal, which is an interactive public safety map presented
[17:20] in partnership with the village of Glenview and other communities served by our Glenview public
[17:24] safety dispatch. So this interface allows users to see different types of crimes such as burglaries,
[17:31] criminal damage, motor vehicle, fast robberies, and others based on a date range, and then
[17:36] you can filter based on the type of incident.
[17:40] So again, all the communities in our media area that are served by a group of public safety
[17:43] dispatch has this information, and if you go to our website under the police department,
[17:49] you can connect to that citizen portal.
[17:51] So why is that important?
[17:52] So that's just important.
[17:53] It's informative, so the public can understand the different types of crimes that are taking
[17:57] place throughout our region, and the more informed people are, hopefully they will take steps
[18:03] to help protect their property, their families, as well as on the entire community.
[18:09] We have public safety recommendations, such as locking doors of homes and vehicles, making
[18:13] sure valuables are not in view and a vehicle.
[18:17] And again, can't stress enough, please do not keep your key fob in the vehicle, even if it's
[18:22] on your driveway or your garage.
[18:24] garage. Again, please make sure that all these valuables are locked up. We certainly don't want
[18:29] to make it easy for criminals. So again, public safety recommendations on our website or individuals
[18:35] can contact us at any time. And then we have a number of items under on of us this evening with
[18:41] very detailed staff reports and then we have two reports under the committee of the hall when we
[18:45] can take questions at that time. I feel like terrific. Thank you. One more item under report of the
[18:51] I mentioned that the outside of my statement, our appreciation for our deep and consistent partnership with our sister government.
[18:59] At this time, I'd like to ask Calvarnstein to come to the podium and share a statement.
[19:06] Thank you, Mayor, City Council.
[19:10] The Prime Minister, President, Terry Galsberg, who's not here today, was able to, to be here.
[19:15] To live in the following marks at the part where the Park Board meeting on July 27, 2022.
[19:21] Before we begin our meeting, I want to take a moment to comment on the tragic events of July 4 that shook our community to its core.
[19:30] First and foremost, our prayers and thoughts continue to be with the families of the seven victims and those who are injured and everyone who is impacted by this senseless act.
[19:41] I want to thank the brave first responders who worked towards the danger to render and aid
[19:47] during the active shooting situation, and the individuals who responded softly and put
[19:53] themselves at risk to care for others.
[19:57] I also want to thank Hyno Park, State and Federal and neighboring law enforcement agencies
[20:01] who assisted in the apprehension of the suspect, as well as the mayor, the scene council,
[20:07] and the city staff for keeping our residents updated and supported during the
[20:12] need after nap and over the last few weeks. We are also grateful for the support
[20:18] of countless government partners, agencies, and hundreds of volunteers who
[20:24] continue to provide ongoing victim resources and services to the survivors
[20:29] impacted by the tragedy I July 4th. It is a strong community like ours that work
[20:35] together for a collective well-being. As I sat there that night with my fellow commissioners,
[20:42] I would be missing not mentioning how proud we are about a partnership staff. For their
[20:49] emergency response efforts on July 4th and how they contributed to the healing of our community
[20:54] found this horrific tragedy. Along with many of you, the partnership was there. As co-sponsors
[21:02] of the parade, over 100 of our plays, including high school, college age, camp counselors,
[21:11] full-time staff, and fellow board members and commissioners, and many of our family members
[21:17] were lining the parade floats, lining up the parade floats, marching in the parade, and
[21:22] setting up for the fourth festival of nation, planned, and it sounds in what's burned.
[21:27] and we get over 100 employees on site.
[21:33] The short days have followed trauma counseling
[21:35] and other therapeutic resources provided to support our team members
[21:39] who are down with thick of things,
[21:42] allowing us to reopen our facilities
[21:43] and restart our program programs.
[21:47] Children would back to camp,
[21:49] making some new memories,
[21:50] and the families are finding much need to respite
[21:53] in our products, program, playgrounds and beaches.
[21:56] Over the last several weeks, the practitioners continued to persevere, and it's efforts to
[22:02] care for our staff, the community, and the community providing locations for community
[22:07] gatherings, volunteering for donation jobs, providing scholarships and services for victims
[22:13] families, and most importantly providing essential perk and recreation outlets to the community,
[22:20] to aid in the healing process and gain back the sense of normalcy.
[22:25] July was National Parks and Recreation Month,
[22:29] how fitting that this year's theme was we rise up.
[22:32] That is exactly what our participants are doing
[22:34] and has been doing.
[22:36] Why is he up to help our community heal
[22:38] and bring back joy and hope?
[22:41] On behalf of my fellow board members,
[22:43] I want to thank the participant staff for your compassion
[22:46] heart, for your passion for serving
[22:49] and for supporting our community.
[22:51] It's together. We are all up extra on. Thank you. Thank you. And we will echo and thank them as well for all that they did on that tragic day and continue to do as we work towards our recovery. Please share our appreciation. Thank you. Thank you.
[23:10] Our next item on our agenda is business from the public. This is for residents wishing to be heard regarding items not listed on tonight's agenda.
[23:18] I ask that if anybody has comments that they wish to share that they respect our three-minute
[23:24] time limit for speaking, and I will start by saying that it's my pleasure to introduce Dr.
[23:30] Mark Nolan Hill, who's joining us this evening, to provide an update from the Great Lakes
[23:35] and St. Lawrence City's Initiative. The Initiative is a Binational Coalition of Mayors
[23:40] from communities in the United States and Canada, who rely on water from the Great Lakes
[23:45] working together to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes Ecosystem through
[23:50] development and implementation of a comprehensive Great Lakes Protection and Restoration Plan.
[23:56] The initiative has numerous goals including strengthening coastal resiliency,
[24:00] given the impacts of climate change, advancing water equity, and leveraging economic benefits
[24:06] of freshwater resources.
[24:07] I invite Dr. Hill to come to the podium to share more about this important mission and
[24:11] If I even allow you to say a word, I also want to welcome my colleague and friend Mayer McKinney
[24:17] from Zion.
[24:17] Thank you so much for joining us this evening.
[24:20] Thank you.
[24:21] Dr. Hill.
[24:22] Thank you, Mayor Rotterny.
[24:24] And please excuse me if I speak fast as my time is limited.
[24:28] I am Dr. Mark Hill, 1617, Revene Terrace, and the ex of PCO Highland Park representative
[24:33] of the Grapex Saint Lawrence season initiative.
[24:36] The organization was founded in 2003 by Mayor Rich Staley, and his worship David Miller, former
[24:43] throughout all Mayer.
[24:44] As the mayor spoke, it's a binational consortium of 167 plus United States and Canadian
[24:50] mayors and representatives to advance the protection and restoration of the Great Lakes and
[24:55] St. Lawrence River Basin as it supplies 80% of the fresh water supply and provides drinking
[25:01] water to 40 million.
[25:02] I was appointed in 2003 by Mayor Belsky as I was on the Highland Park Lake Front Commission,
[25:08] now the Natural Resources Commission for over 30 years, and involved with the development
[25:13] of the steep slope ordinance and erosion issues of our ravines, plus and lake fronts.
[25:18] Of note, as I am not unlected or employed official, I received no remuneration or expense recompense
[25:25] for my volunteer involvement during these past 19 years. As understandably the mayors turns
[25:30] are finite, it is curious that I am the only person who has attended and has been involved
[25:35] in each annual meeting since 2003.
[25:38] And the Great Lakes St. Lawrence's initiative has allowed me to present three times in
[25:42] Charlie Verne, Montreal, and Thunder Bay.
[25:45] Several years ago, I went back one of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Studies Initiative Weggy Award
[25:49] for Sustainability, the only Illinois city to win this.
[25:53] I present annually to the mayor and council of the years events tonight.
[25:57] I will discuss 2021 as well as 2022 as the pandemic did not facilitate the former year's meeting.
[26:05] Just as the major focus changed during my 30-plus year term on the Lake Front Commission from steep slope and erosion issues,
[26:12] and there were multiple newspaper articles about this.
[26:15] So as the focus of the Great Lakes St. George C's initiative evolved,
[26:19] where I now call on part that was effective meetings climate change 101 and climate change 102.
[26:25] The speakers at the 2021 meeting included in part Administrator Michael Riegen, a United States
[26:32] EPA, Pawley Trottenberg, Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Transportation,
[26:38] Senator Dick Durvin, Congressman Debbie Dingle among others.
[26:42] The two key note speakers were Aaron Brockovich, who was introduced by Mayor Tom Barrett,
[26:48] former mayor of Milwaukee, now the U.S. Ambassador to Luxembourg, who has been a leader
[26:52] in the Great Lakes St. Lawrence season initiative, as well as the Highland Park Project Citizen
[26:57] Middle School Student Program.
[27:00] These block of which was outstanding and much more academic than was portrayed in the movie.
[27:05] However, at least to me, the Highlight was the presentation by the right Honorable Brian
[27:10] Moroni, a former Prime Minister of the 18th of Canada, who were closely with Reagan, Bush
[27:16] and Clinton, and was considered the Greenest Prime Minister and Canada's history.
[27:20] He compared the nasales of climate change to the anti-vaxxers and stated that mayors need to be involved in climate change, emphasizing what mayors daily, always told us that our meetings, if you want something done, ask a mayor, and as mayor Rotary has shown us,
[27:39] in not just our Highland Park community, but the entire country and her involvement.
[27:44] Thank you, Mayor.
[27:45] The speakers at the 2022 meeting, which was held in St. Catherine's Ontario, and for Rush
[27:51] fans, that's the home of their late drummer Neil Perch, where they actually ended up
[27:55] the duty after him, but included Michael Regan, Senator Tammy Duckworth, Mayor John Dickert,
[28:01] who was a former mayor of Racine in the former chair of our organization, and now director
[28:06] of state and local finance with the Governor of Wisconsin, who also presented on the High
[28:11] of the Park Project Citizen's Student Legislative Hearing Multiple Times.
[28:15] Blend them all the chair of the U.S. Council on Environmental Quality Office of the President
[28:20] and Cassie Flynn had of climate strategies and policies at the UN among others.
[28:27] The meeting began with the strong water singers, the First Nations Indigenous Seven Generations
[28:33] and you may recall the Pope recently visited Canada to apologize to them.
[28:38] One of the highlights at least to me, again, was the remarkable presentation by Fabian Costo,
[28:44] grandson of Jacques Eves Costo.
[28:47] But the clear engaging keynote presentation was by his worship David Miller,
[28:52] former Toronto mayor co-founder with mayor daily of the organization,
[28:57] and now the managing director of the C-40 Center for Urban Climate Policy and Economy.
[29:02] Perhaps, Mayor Rodering, you might be attending the C4D World Mayor's summit in Buenos Aires near the end of this year.
[29:10] He gave a riveting presentation on climate change, and he similarly stated as Prime Minister,
[29:16] I've already stated in 2021, while city's issued new automation stock, it's city's act.
[29:23] The past two years comprehensive meetings discussed climate change in the detail.
[29:28] And even in my surgical literature, the climate change is affecting climate emergency outcomes,
[29:34] heat-related mortality, racial and economic disparities in health care and sustainability
[29:39] in areas of supply chain management.
[29:42] Briefly, as mayor Miller emphasized, humans have been burning wood for a long time, but 250
[29:50] years ago invented engines, using coal, oil, and natural gas, carbon dioxide escapes
[29:56] and causes a greenhouse effect, trapping heat like in a...
[30:00] Close call with the windows up and the fellow infrared radiation cannot penetrate the glass.
[30:05] Dr. Hill? Yes. We have rocketed past three minutes. So are we wrapping up soon?
[30:10] I think so. Okay, thank you. Appreciate the report.
[30:14] We are now at 412 carbon dioxide part per million. And just to let you know, that is a marked increase.
[30:21] And what he stated was, we must contain the maximum rise in temperature to 1.5 Celsius,
[30:28] 2.7 Fahrenheit, and he talked about irreversible tippy points that where we can't control,
[30:36] as well as the way governments are action and inaction, and by the way the United States
[30:42] is currently insufficient, and finally the United States and China formed the world's first
[30:50] specific green shipping corridor between ports and L.A. and Shanghai. And I hope that this will still exist.
[31:00] Mayor Miller is recently written a great book on climate change called South.
[31:04] And I purchased a copy for you Mayor to enjoy.
[31:08] Thank you.
[31:09] Finally, next year, Mayor Miller and Mayor Daley will be acknowledged as a 20th anniversary
[31:17] of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence's Initiative, where Mayor Daley and Mayor Miller will be
[31:22] appropriately honored. And I'm very fortunate to call Mayor Miller a friend and I've invited him
[31:27] after the meeting in 2023 to visit Highland Park as he never has. John Altonberg is our president
[31:34] CEO, he's on holiday now on cruise, Bridget Brown, the director of a special program
[31:40] this year, and she may make an appointment with you, Mayor, to discuss the one water
[31:44] summit in Milwaukee and the Coastal Resilience program.
[31:48] Finally, I am honored to introduce our new chair of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence's Initiative
[31:57] and the Mayor of Zion, Billy McKinney, and I just want to tell you, in Highland Park,
[32:02] You know, we have a lot of athletes.
[32:05] And I grew up as all of us did with Michael Jordan
[32:09] and Scottie Pippin.
[32:10] And when I heard his name, I said,
[32:11] Jesus, I know this name.
[32:14] And indeed, he was on the basketball team
[32:16] with Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippin.
[32:18] And he has done management in basketball,
[32:21] and then became the chair of our organization.
[32:26] And the mayor of Zion.
[32:28] So with the mayor's permission,
[32:31] May I introduce the mayor?
[32:33] Certainly.
[32:35] Welcome, colleague.
[32:36] Appreciate seeing you.
[32:37] There you go.
[32:38] Thank you.
[32:41] Feel free to share thoughts.
[32:48] First of all, it's a pleasure and an honor to be here to take in another city city
[32:53] Council meeting and to be able to extract ideas to take away to improve hours.
[33:00] Also, I just want you to know on behalf of the city of Zion, our commissioners,
[33:07] our city council, our residents.
[33:08] we always keep you in prayer each and every silk city council and as we've talked about here today
[33:14] one of the things that is evident whatever happens in one of our communities impacts all of us
[33:21] so it is absolutely essential that we all band together as mayor's residents of this county
[33:29] in the United States to make sure that we are safe to share ideas and share resources to protect our
[33:35] So thank you for having me here at the pleasure being here.
[33:39] Appreciate you joining us.
[33:40] Thank you.
[33:47] Enjoy this.
[33:47] Me too.
[33:48] Thank you.
[33:49] Appreciate it.
[33:50] Thank you.
[33:51] And you may want to stick around for our budget conversation when we're talking about sustainability
[33:55] later this evening.
[33:56] Thank you.
[33:58] With that, is there any other business from the public?
[34:01] Any other members of the public who wish to be heard if you do?
[34:04] Please line up next to the podium and feel free to share your comments.
[34:07] and out of respect for agenda, we do hope that they will be kept to about three minutes
[34:12] maximum.
[34:13] Thank you.
[34:16] If others are speaking, just line up, and we will hear from each of you.
[34:20] Thank you, Dr. Good to see you.
[34:25] Please, thank you very much.
[34:26] My name is Judy Melon, and you need me to address, it's just Tina that you do not.
[34:34] I am a member of the Highland Park, I would like to put in the others leadership team.
[34:39] and along with many or three other members of the leadership team,
[34:43] Nancy Goldberg, we're at least the Nescue and Rose Fader.
[34:47] And we thank you for this opportunity to speak tonight.
[34:51] The way of people together in freedom is one of the self-evident truths
[34:56] upon which our country was established.
[34:59] And yet the courage and terror that repeatedly descends
[35:02] on our communities has become our country's truth.
[35:06] This is not acceptable. In the land of the free, every community must be free from the reality of gun violence.
[35:16] We call on power elected officials to do much more to stop the ongoing national right near of gun violence.
[35:26] preventing gun violence is not partisan.
[35:29] Voters need to be prepared for the November election.
[35:33] Line every candidate's position on gun violence
[35:37] and vote your values.
[35:40] The League of Holland Park of the League of the Mavoters of Highland Park
[35:45] conducted its first study on gun control in 1974.
[35:49] I was just a child, but I was also on that I'm the first study committee.
[35:56] In 1989, the League of Women voters of Illinois adopted the Helen Park League's position,
[36:03] recommending restricting or prohibiting the sale of the manufacture,
[36:08] importation, and transportation of semi-automatic weapons for private ownership.
[36:14] Also prohibiting and restricting the sale of the ammunition for such weapons, the League of
[36:21] High Court, the League of Women's Borders of the United States adopted this position shortly
[36:26] thereafter.
[36:28] The League of Women's Borders of Highland Park Highwood recommends that the resolution under consideration
[36:35] this evening by Council be approved.
[36:39] The value of freedom is essential to our democracy.
[36:42] We all have the right to be free of going violence.
[36:47] Thank you.
[36:47] Thank you, Judy.
[36:51] And I'm going to ask the audience to please refrain from applause.
[36:54] We appreciate that you're here in support, but we have a long agenda this evening.
[36:58] Many, many thanks for joining us.
[37:01] Please state your name for the record.
[37:03] Ash B.B.
[37:05] I was made aware earlier that you are going to be speaking about a resolution to support
[37:12] And it's not up in the end, is that right?
[37:13] Just one of what we in the city have in a salt weapons fan,
[37:16] but we are passing.
[37:17] That federal, like, federal, the federal, the federal,
[37:19] we are in third.
[37:20] I just want to make sure that I'm speaking to the right team here
[37:23] and not confused in the right way.
[37:26] Under my voice of this year, New Blocks from the Stillings,
[37:30] six-year-olds and I became survivors of a mass shooting.
[37:33] You can do it, but I start OK yet.
[37:34] On the outside, we may look fine,
[37:36] but on the inside, we are trying to heal
[37:38] and make sense of this senseless tragedy
[37:39] that all of us have lived through.
[37:41] I've personally poured myself into activism and traveled to DC multiple times to help pass a federal assault weapon down.
[37:49] And I'm going to share with all of you just in fact that I use talking points.
[37:53] And hopefully this will make it easier for you to pass a resolution here.
[37:59] The majority of Americans support a federal assault weapon down.
[38:02] 68% of Republicans support a federal assault weapon down.
[38:06] The majority of mass shootings are carried out by white meals 18 to 21 days legally purchased
[38:12] assault weapons either by purchasing assault weapons and from cells, I don't know if you think
[38:17] you need assault weapons.
[38:18] Sorry, assault weapons, yes, I'm sorry.
[38:21] Um, whereby using the assault weapon that was purchased legally by a parent, bullets from an
[38:25] assault weapon are so powerful they require five persons organs.
[38:29] This happened to send the victims behind the park on July 4th and while the Texas were
[38:34] 19 children were murdered, many parents had to rely on DNA to identify their children because of the damage done to their bodies by the assault weapon.
[38:43] So 1994, 2004, during the federal assault weapon ban, mass shootings decreased by 7% after those sunseted in 2004, mass shootings went up over 200%.
[38:55] 10,000 children have been exposed to gun violence in schools since Columbine, the majority
[39:01] of mass shootings, school mass shootings are carried out with a good purchase of salt
[39:05] weapon.
[39:06] Our incredible here, went all of the Supreme Court's passes out of the dead in Highland Park.
[39:12] It did not protect our town because the city lived in highwood where there is no ban.
[39:17] This is why we need to fast pass a federal assault weapon ban to protect everyone in the
[39:22] US.
[39:22] And lastly, the January 6th interaction would have looked completely different if Washington, D.C. didn't
[39:29] also have an assault weapon ban. Congressman Kensinger of English spoke out about militias in his
[39:35] closing comments during the January 6th year in hearings. Local militias and extremist groups,
[39:41] fetishizes assault weapons and encouraged the fellow followers to arm themselves. Our shooter had established
[39:46] who will work on more shabby's events, he's photographed attending in Branglet Law Occasions.
[39:52] Assault weapons do not belong in the hands, please join on there and vote to support
[39:57] a fellow assault weapon band today. Thank you. Thanks.
[40:12] Spiritual Jacobi and I'm a Helen Park resident and a student.
[40:18] As a young person in America, I've been training my entire life for the moment I would be affected by gun violence.
[40:25] From these years five years old, I remember running had a hide behind tables in case a bad guy came to school.
[40:32] A became instinctual to keep an eye on emergency exits in public places, like maybe theaters, gyms, restaurants, school.
[40:41] I knew that I was supposed to first run, then hide, then fight.
[40:46] So despite the hysteria and joy forth, I mean exactly what to do, because I've been preparing to fulfill a mass shooting my entire life.
[40:52] It wasn't a question of if I'd be affected by a mass shooting, but when.
[40:58] I'm Gen Z, who often called the mass shooting generation.
[41:01] And although young people in all Americans have come to expect mass shootings, we refuse to accept them.
[41:07] Because this isn't normal.
[41:10] Gen Z is a new world where mass shootings don't exist.
[41:12] But that hasn't stopped us from doing everything we can to create that world.
[41:18] My generation cannot be the sole source of hope and change in our country.
[41:24] Some of us cannot even vote yet.
[41:26] So we're relying on new, the adults are elected officials to pass laws to keep us safe.
[41:33] And then here this evening to remind us that it doesn't have to be this way.
[41:37] We all deserve to live in a country where guns aren't believing cause of death for children.
[41:41] We deserve to go to school and focus on learning without the fear of being hunted by
[41:46] weapons of war. We deserve a future free from good balance. So, I'll ask you to
[41:51] please vote yes to approve this resolution as a young person and a highland park
[41:55] resident and to vote like you're lies depend on it because art still. Thank you. Thank
[42:01] you.
[42:11] Thank you Rachel, especially speaking from our students point of view. Please
[42:15] stay tuned for the record. My name is John Halsh. Thank you. I've grown up in this
[42:19] community of my entire life.
[42:21] Starting September 6th, I will be sending my two and three year old son's to school
[42:26] for the first time other.
[42:28] We should be picking out backpacks together as a right of passage.
[42:32] I instead chose to purchase all the proof backpacks online from my toppers.
[42:37] I was told by our district's preschool director that my children were through an active
[42:43] shooter drill within the first couple of weeks of school.
[42:47] On the September one day when I picked them up and asked them how they would, they would tell me that they learned how to hide in my classroom, obviously from a math shooting.
[42:58] One of those parents tear up, tear up with emotions for their children's first day of school.
[43:04] And it would be in tears outside their school hoping they make sure they make it through each and every day.
[43:11] Any other urge you to please vote to support all of the children, all of the families and everyone of us, and save our country by voting to ban these assault weapons.
[43:29] Thank you.
[43:30] Thank you.
[43:32] Any other comments from the public?
[43:34] Anybody wishing to be heard?
[43:37] If that we will continue on with our scheduled business, items 1 through 10 have been grouped together for
[43:43] 100 of this consideration, do I have a motion to approve items 1 through 10?
[43:47] So much to do.
[43:49] Any discussion or comments on 1 through 10?
[43:51] Any from the public?
[43:54] I think that will be the quote, please call the vote.
[43:56] Come on in the top, yeah?
[43:58] All right.
[43:58] Come on in the store, all right.
[44:00] Come on in the store.
[44:01] Come on in the window.
[44:03] All right.
[44:04] Come on in the home in.
[44:05] Because when we're little one, I, they're learning.
[44:08] I, seven eyes, no nails, items, one through ten have been approved.
[44:14] I know what other than is a resolution calling for federal and state action,
[44:17] and a salt weapons, large capacity magazines, and gun violence.
[44:22] I'll share some comments, and then I'll read the resolution.
[44:26] In 2013, in the wake of Sandy Hook,
[44:29] current and former Helen Park City Council member sat on this diast,
[44:33] and banned a salt weapons and large capacity magazines.
[44:35] We knew that a federal ban would be the most effective but a local ban reflecting the values of this community was the only option available to us under the law.
[44:45] Nothing has changed.
[44:47] We need help from all levels of government or we need to pursue all options.
[44:51] I've been speaking to lawmakers near and far about what happened in Highland Park in the Fourth
[44:56] of July and how we must work together to stop gunfire.
[45:00] In our state and in our nation. As part of this effort tonight, numbers of this city council are once again urging a ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines on a wider scale.
[45:11] Mass shootings are uniquely American problem, and highland park is not an island. No community of safe into a broader action is taken. The resolution we are considering supports both state and federal laws that ban assault weapons and large capacity magazines.
[45:26] It reflects the values of our community and sounds of clear message that state and federal action is critical to reducing the likelihood of additional mass shootings.
[45:35] No city, town or village should have to endure the devastation and trauma of a mass shooting.
[45:41] Make no mistake. This is not where we end our fight to save lives. We ask others to join us and trade thoughts and prayers for action.
[45:50] And I will now read the resolution that we are considering.
[45:55] It is a declaration of solidarity and a call to action.
[46:04] It's titled City Hall and Park Resolution, a resolution calling for federal and state action,
[46:08] and a salt weapons, large capacity magazines and gun violence.
[46:12] Whereas on July 4, 2022, the Community of Highland Park was shocked and devastated by the
[46:18] mass shooting committed at the city's independent state parade, at which seven people
[46:22] were killed and dozens were injured by a sugar using an AR-15 style weapon and large capacity
[46:28] in their designs.
[46:30] And whereas in newable members of our community suffered and continued to suffer, emotional
[46:34] harm and anguish as a result of the July 4 mass shooting, and whereas the city's committed
[46:40] to provide a resident's victims and all of them as affected by the July 4 fast shooting
[46:44] with the support needed to heal as it continues to align with local county, state, and federal
[46:50] governments, as well as private entities in order to assist in the difficult process of providing
[46:55] counseling, support, and reportedly services to those traumatized by the fast shooting.
[47:00] And we're as the city desires to identify, respond to, and call for, reform, concerning health
[47:06] safety crises that adversely impact the physical, emotional, and social well-being of its
[47:11] residents.
[47:12] And whereas the city is deeply concerned, the gun-related violence is a dynamic in our society
[47:17] with more than 300 mass shooting events in the United States thus far in 2022.
[47:23] And whereas the American Public Health Association has found that gun violence is the leading
[47:28] cause of premature death in the United States, killing more than 38,000 people in injury
[47:34] the 85,000 every year, and we'll look at Sinkham, 38,000 people killed, and injured 85,000
[47:44] annually. Whereas gun violence is now the leading cause of death among children and teens
[47:48] in this country, age 19 and younger. And whereas the weapon used at the July 4th,
[47:54] best shooting wasn't a salt weapon that fired 83 rounds into a crowd in another minute.
[47:59] And whereas the salt weapons are military-grade weapons, designed and configured for combat
[48:03] use with the sole purpose of killing as many people as possible as quickly as possible.
[48:09] And whereas large capacity magazines are often used to match shootings, because they
[48:13] allow a shooter to keep firing for longer periods of time, and because they can fire at
[48:18] large numbers of people without taking time to remote, thereby dramatically increasing the
[48:23] number of lives shattered by gun violence, because those of the line of fire do not have
[48:29] to escape, and a law enforcement does not have a chance to intervene, and whereas assault weapons
[48:35] and large capacity magazines are combat weapons and do not belong in the hands of civilians,
[48:40] and whereas in 2013 the corporate authorities of the city passed an ordinance, then in
[48:45] assault weapons and large capacity magazines, and thereafter successfully defended the constitutionality
[48:51] of that ordinance, and whereas the corporate authorities of the city recognized in 2013 and recognized
[48:57] even walk clearly today that the effectiveness of a local assault weapon and large capacity magazine
[49:03] ban is severely inadequate without similar regulation at both the state and federal level and
[49:10] whereas eight states and the District of Columbia have constitutional assault weapons
[49:14] bands in effect. And whereas the United States Congress had a federal assault weapon
[49:19] in a fact between 1994 and 2004 during which time a thought weapon derived mass shootings
[49:25] diminished by 70 percent, and whereas in the majority of Americans support a federal
[49:30] ban on assault weapons, a large capacity magazines, and whereas our community is not alone
[49:36] and being forced to respond to you and undertake the difficult process of recovering from
[49:41] the loss in trauma resulting from aeronautic environments, and whereas the United States Congress
[49:47] and the Illinois General Assembly must stop this threat to our American freedom and take immediate
[49:54] action to ban assault weapons in large capacity magazines so they cannot be used by civilians
[50:00] on our streets in our markets, in our houses of worship, in our schools, and our parades are
[50:05] anywhere in our daily lives regardless of location. Now therefore, be it resolved by the city council
[50:11] I will park Lake County, Illinois, as follows.
[50:15] The following recitals are incorporated into and made a part of this resolution as findings
[50:20] of the city council section two, declaration of solidarity and call to action.
[50:26] We stand with our local county and state governmental bodies and public and civic service
[50:30] organizations and calling for the governing bodies of the United States and the state of Illinois
[50:35] to take effective and comprehensive action to protect our communities from gun violence.
[50:40] We call for the United States Congress and the State of Illinois, too.
[50:45] Then the manufacturer purchased sale possession and use of all semi-automatic weapons,
[50:50] high capacity ammunition cartridges and magazines, and body armor,
[50:54] except as needed by military and law enforcement bodies.
[50:58] An act legislation requiring strengthening universal background checks,
[51:02] waiting periods, and age requirements, and eliminating exceptions
[51:06] to any such requirements to acquire and possess any firearm.
[51:09] And that legislation strengthening red flag loss to federal law enforcement, family members, employers, co-markers, and school employees to seek restraining orders against an individual suspected of being a clear and pleasant danger to themselves or others.
[51:25] And that legislation providing for strict liability and higher penalties for straw buyers and for sellers who sell to straw buyers.
[51:33] And act legislation mandating the safe storage of firearms as a condition for firearm ownership.
[51:40] And act legislation mandating the completion of adequate training as a condition for selling or possessing firearms.
[51:47] We call for the United States Congress to repeal the protection of lawful commerce and arms act,
[51:53] and all other statutes providing immunity to liability for the manufacturers and sellers of firearms for their negligence,
[51:59] recklessness or failure to know their customers and their potential for harm to the public
[52:04] and the marketing and sale of firearms.
[52:08] We call for the state of Illinois to enact stricter rules for the issuance of firearms
[52:12] owners' identification cards, FOI cards, and we call for the state to more rigorously screen
[52:18] applicants for FOI cards and make more comprehensive use of clear and present-danger reporting
[52:24] data in connection with the review of FOI card applications.
[52:28] This resolution will be in full force and effect upon its passage in approval by a majority of the members of the City Council.
[52:36] And to that end, I am seeking a motion to approve.
[52:38] No.
[52:39] Second.
[52:40] And we've got approval.
[52:41] We have a second.
[52:42] All those in favor say aye.
[52:44] Any opposed?
[52:46] Aye.
[52:47] Hearing none opposed with unanimous approval.
[52:49] This resolution has been passed and I thank you all.
[52:52] Councilwoman Stone.
[52:54] I just want to thank everyone who's come today and who spoke up in favor.
[52:58] this resolution. I know many if not all of you were actually at the parade and have been
[53:03] traumatized by those events and I appreciate you coming and speaking out here and in other areas
[53:10] in the last month or so. So thank you. Thank you. Thank you. From all of us. Absolutely. Thank you.
[53:18] And with that we will continue on. Our next item is motion to adjourn this meeting.
[53:25] Thank you.
[53:27] See you in the motion to the room.
[53:30] The room.
[53:31] I was in favor of say aye.
[53:33] We will take a five minute break before commencing our community of the hall.
[53:36] Thank you all for joining us this evening.
[53:38] Thank you.
[53:38] Thank you.