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Lake Forest council reviews FY26 accomplishments, approves first reading of FY27 appropriation ordinance
Summary
On June 15 the Lake Forest City Council heard department updates on FY26 accomplishments and FY27 initiatives, approved a resolution honoring retiring media specialist William A. Shellhouse, and approved the first reading of the FY27 appropriation ordinance by a 7–0 roll‑call vote; a July 20 public hearing is scheduled for the ordinance's second reading.
The Lake Forest City Council on June 15 heard a year‑end strategic plan update from staff across finance, public works, police, fire, parks and community development and approved the first reading of the city’s fiscal‑year 2027 appropriation ordinance by a 7–0 roll‑call vote. The council also adopted a resolution honoring media specialist William A. Shellhouse for more than 17 years of service.
Finance Director Mark Kgeras told the council the city issued $19 million in bonds to support the new police renovation while retaining a AAA bond rating, and outlined FY27 priorities including a cloud migration of the city’s finance software and a data‑driven water‑system study to inform future rate setting. "To help fund the new police renovation, the finance department issued $19 million in bonds while maintaining the city's AAA bond rating," Kgeras said.
Director Katie Skiibby explained that the appropriation ordinance is a legal spending ceiling that includes a standard 10% contingency and excludes debt service; the ordinance also treats School District 67 as a special charter district for legal formality. The council approved the ordinance's first reading and set a public hearing and second reading for July 20, 2026. "The appropriation ordinance is the legal spending limit for the city in the fiscal year," Skiibby said while outlining why the ordinance's figures differ from the operational budget.
Public‑works staff reviewed completed and ongoing infrastructure work (West Park, tennis courts, Deer Path streetscape, Forest Park playground and the Walkegan intersection construction), and noted upcoming storm‑sewer and water‑distribution design studies. Commander Christensen reported the police department launched a rolling 12‑month interactive crime map on the city website, secured several grants (recruitment and retention, traffic enforcement, retail‑theft camera funding) and said the department is fully staffed ("41 out of 41"). The fire department described staffing increases (moving from 10 to 11 per shift), a new frontline ambulance placed in service and plans to add a new engine by late summer.
The council approved an omnibus package of 11 consent items — including a two‑year contract extension with Lake Forest Bank & Trust, a one‑year OpenGov contract extension ($26,134), police vehicle purchases ($94,000), and a sanitation truck purchase with a total price of $526,594 (trade‑in $50,000) — on a single roll‑call vote (7–0).
The meeting ended with a motion to adjourn into executive session to discuss pending litigation (citation read as "5CS120/2C11"); that motion also passed 7–0. The council placed the full FY26 accomplishments summary in the online meeting packet and directed staff to prepare the detailed rollover schedule for the July meeting.
Votes at a glance
- Resolution honoring William A. Shellhouse (adopted; voice vote). - First reading, FY27 appropriation ordinance (approved by roll call, 7–0; public hearing and second reading scheduled for July 20, 2026). - Omnibus 11‑item package (approved by roll call, 7–0). - Motion to adjourn into executive session under "5CS120/2C11" (approved by roll call, 7–0).
What’s next: The appropriation ordinance returns for public hearing and second reading on July 20, 2026; staff will publish the full schedule of rollovers and supporting schedules in advance of that meeting.
