The Lake Bluff Village Board voted on Nov. 24 to give first reading to an ordinance that would limit how village property and staff may be used for civil immigration enforcement and extend Trust Act–style restrictions beyond police officers to other municipal staff. Trustees also approved an amendment clarifying that the village will provide signage language in electronic/PDF form to private property owners who request it.

Village attorney Peter told trustees the draft attempts to balance federal and state law. “The village is prohibited from, under federal law, from interfering with the, the federal government enforcing federal law,” he said, and at the same time Illinois law “prohibits the village from doing anything that would assist in civil immigration activities of the federal government.” Peter said the ordinance is intended to prevent the village from assisting federal civil immigration enforcement while complying with constitutional limits on commandeering local assets.

The ordinance as described by the presiding officer would do three things: extend the Illinois restrictions that apply to police officers to other municipal staff; restrict use of village property, resources and signage for civil immigration enforcement purposes; and allow the village to provide vetted sign language to private property owners who choose to post it, at no cost in electronic form and at the owners’ risk.

An unidentified trustee objected to the board taking on what he called social and political issues but said he would vote for the ordinance’s first reading. “I’m adamantly against turning our village into a social issues community,” the trustee said, while also voting to advance the item.

During public comment, Peter White of 400 East Sheridan Place urged simplicity and greater public notice. He said the ordinance’s direct impact on residents would likely be small and asked how much the work had cost taxpayers. “I’m firmly in favor of an ordinance, but keeping it simple to something to the extent that… the village of Lake Bluff supports its residents and adheres to state and federal laws,” White said.

Trustees debated whether offering standardized sign language is an appropriate public service that prevents inconsistent or illegal private signs, with supporters describing the PDF language as a convenience and a way to ensure legal compliance.

The board took a voice vote and recorded the item as a first reading; the ordinance will return for a second reading and further public notice at the board’s Dec. 8 meeting.

What’s next: The next public meeting is scheduled for Dec. 8, when the board will hold second readings on the ordinance and related levy items.