12/18/2023December 18, 2023
The regular meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Deerfield was called to order on
December 18, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. at Deerfield Village Hall. The clerk called the roll and
announced that the following were
Present: Dan Shapiro, Mayor
Robert Benton
Larry Berg
Elaine Jacoby
Rebekah Metts-Childers
Mary Oppenheim
Absent: William Seiden
and that a quorum was present and in attendance. Also present were Village Manager Kent Street
and Ben Schuster, Village Attorney.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Administration Services Coordinator Desiree Van
Thorne led those in attendance in reciting the
Pledge of Allegiance.
PRESENTATION Mayor Shapiro reported the presentation of the
Donald E. Gehrig award to Sergeant Steve Pettorelli
and Officer Lauren Maldonado will be delayed to the January 2, 2024, Board of Trustees
meeting.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Assistant Village Manager/Director of Community
DEPARTMENT REPORT Development Andrew Lichterman provided
highlights from the departmental report from
January 1, 2023, to November 30, 2023. He noted the Community Development Department is
comprised of a Building Division and Planning Division. Mr. Lichterman stated the
the Department administers and enforces the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Ordinance and
Building Codes. He reported the Department provides analysis and technical assistance on all
items that come before the Plan Commission, Board of Zoning Appeals, Appearance Review
Commission, and various task forces.
Mr. Lichterman noted the Building Department processed 2,470 online permits with construction
costs of $985,631, and performed 1,975 building inspections, and responded to 105 FOIA
requests. He reported the Department worked with consultant GovHR USA on 22
recommendations including work allocation of duties, cutting down process time, and code
enforcement training. Mr. Lichterman stated there were 48 stop work orders issued resulting in
$38,000 in fines and $57,000 in additional permit fees. The Department started looking at a local
administrative hearing court to be implemented in 2025 due to software upgrades.
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December 18, 2023
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Mr. Lichterman noted the Plan Commission reviewed seven Special Use applications, six PUDs,
five text amendments one petition for annexation, 10 public hearings and 10 workshop meetings.
He reported the Village is currently in the process of evaluating a TIF District for 44.5 acres of
property located on the south side of Lake Cook Road, which includes six office buildings
previously occupied by Walgreens and the Embassy Suites Hotel at 1445 Lake Cook Road. Mr.
Lichterman noted the planning Division Staff continues the assist in the review and evaluations
of the redevelopment project area and the TIF qualifying factors with TIF consultant Ryan, LLC.
Mr. Lichterman reported the Appearance Review Commission reviewed 17 petitions in the
C-1 and C-2 Commercial Zoning Districts. Some of the notable petitions include: signage and
architectural review for Floor & Decor, Shake Shack, Deerfield Square residential apartments,
Garfield's Beverage Warehouse, Phase 2 of the Jewett Park Renovations, the Office of State
Senator Julie Morrison, Doctors of Physical Therapy, and Lake Cook Crossing (former REVA
Development). He noted five additional sign packages were approved administratively under the
new procedures during this reporting period.
Mr. Street noted the "Do I need a permit" infographic has been very effective. He also noted it
took considerable effort, but was a nice innovation. Mayor Shapiro added the online building
permit roll -out is also a sizeable project. Mr. Lichterman indicated this has been a busy year and
that will continue next year.
APPOINTMENT On the recommendation of the Volunteer
Engagement Commission, Mayor Shapiro
recommended the appointment of Jillian Acuna to the Family Days Commission.
Trustee Metts-Childers moved to accept the recommendation of Jillian Acuna to the Family
Days Commission. Trustee Oppenheim seconded the motion. The motion passed by the
following vote:
AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers, Oppenheim (5)
NAYS: None (0)
DOCUMENT APPROVAL Trustee Oppenheim moved to approve the minutes
from the December 4, 2023, Board of Trustees
meeting. Trustee Metts-Childers seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously on a
voice vote.
BILLS AND PAYROLL Trustee Metts-Childers moved to approve the bills
and payroll dated December 18, 2023. Trustee
Oppenheim seconded the motion. The motion passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers, Oppenheim (5)
NAYS: None (0)
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December 18.2023
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PUBLIC COMMENT There was no Public Comment.
There were no Reports.
REPORTS
CONSENT AGENDA
There were no items on the Consent Agenda.
There was no Old Business.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
RESOLUTION R-23-60 AUTHORIZING Deputy Chief Brian Budny reported the Police
THE PURCHASE OF BODY CAMS Department is requesting the waiver of competitive
bidding for the purchase of 43 body cameras and
necessary equipment. He noted pursuant to the Illinois Safe-T Act, enacted in July of 2023 by
Illinois legislators, the Deerfield Police Department will be required to implement the use of
body -worn cameras for officers by January 1, 2025. Deputy Chief Budny noted the Department
is seeking authorization to purchase 43 AXON Body 3 cameras at a cost of $370,661.72. He
reported this cost would be distributed over a five-year period beginning with an initial payment
upon delivery of $250,000, followed by four additional annual payments of $30,165.43, ending
in 2028. Deputy Chief Budny stated the initial payment of $250,000 is a budgeted item in fiscal
year 2024 and will be reimbursed through a grant provided by the Illinois Department of
Commerce & Economic Opportunity. He noted the remaining payments are currently line items
within the VERF account. Deputy Chief Budny stated the goal is to have all of the information
gathered to be stored at Evidence.com. He noted the equipment will allow the information to be
integrated with the investigation interview cameras and fleet cameras and tagged as the same
case. He stated this will be purchased in 2024, and will result in saving 30% over next year's
price increase.
Trustee Benton noted the City of Chicago has had issues with the body cameras. He asked about
how to control the use of the cameras. Deputy Chief Budny reported the cameras will be synced
and there will be certain triggers (activate holster, call for assistance, etc.) that will activate the
body cameras. He noted once a camera is turned on, it records the previous 120 seconds. Mr.
Schuster noted activating the body camera is the law. He stated there are also some situations
where the camera needs to be turned off. These situations are called out in the Illinois Safe-T
Act.
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December 18, 2023
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Trustee Jacoby asked about the lifespan of the body cameras. Deputy Chief Budny reported if the
body cameras are upgraded during the five years of the program, the Department will receive the
upgraded models at no charge. Mr. Schuster noted only certain information is available to be
given out to the public, and that there is significant training required for the redaction and FOIA
processes.
Trustee Berg moved to waive the competitive bidding process and authorize the purchase of 43
body cameras and necessary equipment from AXON Enterprises, Inc., in an amount not to
exceed $370,661.72. Trustee Oppenheim seconded the motion. The motion passed by the
following vote:
AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers, Oppenheim (5)
NAYS: None (0)
RESOLUTION R-23-61 AUTHORIZING Deputy Chief Budny reported in 2001 the Police
THE PURCHASE OF INVESTIGATION Department installed cameras in the investigation
INTERVIEW CAMERAS rooms and are still using those cameras. He noted
they have reached their end of useful life. Deputy
Chief Budny stated investigation interview cameras are required, but unfunded.
Deputy Chief Budny reported the total cost for four cameras along with all required operational
equipment is $52,733.88. He noted this cost would be distributed over a five-year period
beginning with an initial payment upon delivery and installation of $9,736.11 followed by four
additional payments annually of $10,125.55, $10,530.75, $10,951.79, and $11,389.86
respectively. Deputy Chief Budny reported the initial payment of $9,736.11 is a budgeted item in
fiscal year 2024 and will be subsequently budgeted in the remaining four years. He stated the
Village saved over $5,500 plus a 9% increase by bundling the purchase and ordering this year.
Trustee Oppenheim moved to waive the competitive bidding process and authorize the purchase
of four investigative interview cameras and necessary equipment from AXON Enterprises, Inc.,
in an amount not to exceed $52,733.88. Trustee Benton seconded the motion. The motion
passed by the following vote:
AYES: Benton, Berg, Jacoby, Metts-Childers, Oppenheim (5)
NAYS: None (0)
DISCUSSION
MAYOR'S MESSAGE Mayor Shapiro read the following message:
"As we look back at 2023, we have had a year full of successes and challenges. Our Board of
Trustees approved several measures to foster economic growth within our community, resulting
in substantial private investments. For example, the redevelopment of the former Barnes &
Noble space will bring new residential apartment units and retail spaces in Deerfield Square. In
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December 18, 2023
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addition, we established a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District to incentivize new life
into our downtown area. There is ongoing deliberation on the creation of another TIF district
along Lake Cook Road which could bring mixed uses to the 35 acres that currently has several
empty buildings. This year we welcomed several new businesses to the Village including:
o Walgreens — 95 S Waukegan
o Briarwood Park Dental — 95 S Waukegan
o Athleta — 720 Waukegan
o The Coder School — 827 Waukegan
o lop Issue Sports — 829 Waukegan
o Kids Empire — 405 Lake Cook
o Garfield's Beverage — 57 Waukegan
o Brunch Caf6 — 250 Lake Cook
o Brick & Mortar- 807 Waukegan
o Julie Morrison State Senator Office — 400 Lake Cook
o Fixer — 405 Lake Cook Rd
o Doctors of Phvsical Therapy — 190 Waukegan
Our financial position remains very strong, and our Village taxes are relatively unchanged from
last year, with most residents seeing a minimal increase of only about $20. We approved a $59
million budget for 2024, with no new debt, that invests in our community's capital infrastructure
and ensures that we continue to provide the level of service that our residents and businesses
expect. Similar to past years, we have achieved a AAA bond rating and we pride ourselves on
being good financial stewards of taxpayer money.
Our kids are thriving at our excellent schools, and we remain one of the safest communities in
the State. We recognize the value great schools bring to attracting new residents and retaining
our current population. This has a direct impact on our strong housing demand. As a result, we
expect to see possible new residential projects in 2024 including a senior housing development,
an affordable housing development, and more new businesses.
Yet this year was not without its challenges. Our community's awareness has been sharpened by
the conflict in Israel and Gaza, along with the accompanying violence, affecting numerous
residents. We stand as a community in solidarity against evil and bigotry. We will always take
these and all of our challenges head on, and will continue to be resilient against the specter of
darker days. We are a welcoming community and in doing so, we call out hate and support each
other to make our community stronger.
I look forward to 2024 and what it will have in store for all of us. As we spend time with those
we love over this holiday season, embrace the spirit of giving. Pay it forward, give back,
recommit to doing your part to build a community and a world that is a little more generous,
tolerant and kind. It's my honor to represent the Village of Deerfield as Mayor. I wish all of you
a wonderful and safe holiday season."
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December 18, 2023
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NEXT MEETING
HAPPY NEW YEAR
ADJOURNMENT
motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:09 p.m.
Mr. Street noted the next meeting will be held on
Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
On behalf of Village staff and the Trustees, Mayor
Shapiro wished everyone a Happy New Year.
Trustee Berg moved to adjourn the meeting.
Trustee Metts-Childers seconded the motion. The
The next regular Board of Trustees meeting is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, January 2,
2024, at 7:30 p.m.
APPROVED: P
Q
Mayor
ATTEST: k' �; �
Village Cler