Lake Forest approves contracts for new police station; city adds window film and parking resurfacing, advances bond plan

Lake Forest City Council on Oct. 6 approved construction contracts and related purchases to convert an office building at 1925 Field Court into a new police station and advanced the financing plan to issue general obligation bonds to pay for the work.

The council voted 6-0 to award the construction contracts and associated procurement for the project, using an adaptive-reuse approach the city says reduces cost compared with new construction. During subsequent separate votes the council approved the application of ballistic film on all first-floor windows (5-1) and included full resurfacing of the site parking lot as part of the approved project scope; two other optional add-ons — an outdoor deck adjacent to the lunchroom and a turnkey emergency operations center (EOC) build-out — failed to gain council approval.

City staff said the project adapts an existing office building, keeps many usable interior offices, adds secured employee parking and an underground evidence garage, installs a new 25-yard firearms range with updated ventilation, adds lockup and processing areas that meet current Illinois lockup standards, and provides a larger training room and social-services space. Chief John Burke, Lake Forest Police Department, reviewed floor plans and operational features, including an employee-only elevator between the garage and upper floors and dedicated evidence storage with vehicle access for examination.

Project budget and bidding

City staff and the construction manager reported a full project budget (including contingency, furniture and equipment, specialty lockers, IT infrastructure and the purchased generator) of roughly $25.59 million and said the building purchase had closed in 2024. Bids for multiple trade packages returned under the pre-construction estimate; the team reported a base construction cost (low-bid summary) plus construction management and coop-purchased furniture/equipment totaling the figures presented at council. City staff recommended and the council approved the project at the value presented in the action item.

Add-ons and council action

After the base contracts were approved, staff presented optional add-ons for council consideration. The council: - Approved installation of ballistic film that staff said is rated to stop many common handgun calibers and buckshot on designated first-floor windows (motion passed 5-1). - Approved full resurfacing of the parking lot (this was included when council approved the omnibus motion that combined the base construction award and the resurfacing; motion carried by voice earlier in the meeting and was reflected in the contract awards vote). - Defeated a motion to add an outdoor deck adjacent to the lunchroom (vote tied / failed after recount of council votes). - Defeated a motion to add a turnkey emergency operations center fit-out (motion failed 2-4). - Did not move forward at this meeting on replacing two additional rooftop HVAC units beyond those included in the base bid (no motion to approve replacement was passed).

Staff said the ballistic film warranty from the manufacturer is 15 years and that the base-bid window film (3M or equivalent) that is already in the contract will hold shattered glass in place; the ballistic upgrade adds rated laminate at additional cost. Staff also said two rooftop units not replaced in the base bid have an estimated five years of remaining service life but could be addressed later.

Financing: bond parameters and next steps

City Finance Director Katie Skibbe presented a parameters ordinance to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds to finance the police station and related capital needs. After discussion about whether to roll the cost of the approved add-ons into the bond issuance or pay from capital reserves, the council voted to increase the parameters cap to cover the project plus the add-ons approved at the meeting. The city passed first reading of the parameters ordinance setting the maximum par amount at $20,270,062 (the ordinance sets a ceiling; the precise sale amount and timing will be determined later). The vote on first reading passed 6-0.

Skibbe said the city plans a 15-year structure to reduce overall interest costs and that staff is timing market issuance to await Federal Reserve action in late 2025. The financing presentation included estimated homeowner impacts used for planning; staff said the phased levy increases and planned reserve use would keep annual tax impacts at the levels shown in the presentation.

What the council approved (actions at a glance)

- Award of construction contracts and related procurements for police station adaptive reuse (approved, 6-0). - Inclusion of parking lot resurfacing as part of the approved project (approved; included in omnibus vote and subsequent contract approval). - Ballistic film for first-floor windows (approved, 5-1). - Outdoor deck adjacent to the lunchroom (failed to pass). - Emergency operations center turnkey build-out (failed to pass). - First reading of a parameters ordinance authorizing up to $20,270,062 in general-obligation bonds for the project (approved, 6-0); second reading expected Oct. 20.

Why it matters

City leaders described the replacement of the current 1960s-era joint public safety building as necessary to meet modern operational, training and evidence-storage standards. Staff emphasized adaptive reuse to control costs and noted the potential to lease unused office space in the renovated building to offset operating costs in the future.

What’s next

Council is scheduled to consider final bond ordinance approval on Oct. 20. Staff said construction management and permitting work will continue and the target for moving into the new facility is early 2026 subject to the construction schedule and final financing.