Lincoln Park council endorses community coalition, updates utility fees and contracts; several unanimous votes

The Lincoln Park City Council voted unanimously to endorse the Lincoln Park Social Coalition, approve engineering and technology purchases and update the city’s water-service fee schedule, among other actions, at its regular meeting.

Council members also approved a contract to update the city’s pavement condition data and transportation asset management plan, authorized purchases of two in‑car Panasonic “Toughbook” computers for patrol vehicles, and adopted an updated Department of Public Services fee schedule that raises several residential water-service installation charges. The council voted to rename the council chambers for Edward M. Zelnick, the city’s longtime attorney.

City staff presented a resolution endorsing the Lincoln Park Social Coalition, describing it in the resolution text as “a civic, not for profit, non governmental organization” whose primary goal is “to improve the quality of life for the residents of Lincoln Park.” Several council members discussed whether the resolution kept the group outside the formal city structure; staff confirmed the resolution as written does not make the coalition a city commission or place it under city administration. During public comment Paula Miller, a member of the Social Development Coalition, asked for clarification about what “endorse and support” means in practice and whether the coalition will have a council liaison or be expected to regularly submit reports; the mayor said the question would be directed to legal counsel when they return.

The council authorized Hennessy Engineers (listed in the packet variously as HESI/Hennessey/Hennessy Engineers) to perform the city’s 2025 PASER (pavement surface evaluation and rating) data collection and prepare an updated Transportation Asset Management Plan (TAMP). City staff said the one‑time cost for the PASER/TAMP work will not exceed $12,000 and will be paid from the…