Family
Education
Mayor’s Message
On May 1st, I took the oath of office
as the 54th Mayor of Lake Forest,
succeeding the productive and suc-
cessful mayoralty of Don Schoen-
heider.
We all owe Don and retiring Alder-
men George Pandaleon, Catherine
Waldeck, and Michael Adelman
our gratitude for more than 70
years combined volunteer service leading the City over the
past two decades, when including their prior work on City
boards and commissions. This dedicated service extended
the never-ending chain of capable, committed, and fair-
minded citizens stepping forward since the chartering of
the City in 1861 to make Lake Forest one of the very best
residential communities in the United States. Don Schoen-
heider and his retiring Aldermen have been the very mod-
els of outstanding community leadership.
This culture of civic engagement and leadership, evident
not only in City government but also visible in the many
Lake Forest institutions that comprise our community, has
evolved from the best ideas, values, and proven principles
of our predecessors. Today, we are the fortunate, grateful
beneficiaries of this heritage.
This work to grow and sustain Lake Forest’s many qualities
is never done, nor will it ever be. For just saying, “...We are
the best...” won’t get the job done. And there are chal-
lenges for our community, including a low-functioning state
government and its spending/funding problems, evolving
rail transportation corridors, and other activities from out-
side Lake Forest to be monitored and managed. As done in
the past, Lake Forest’s challenges, and opportunities, will
be addressed and resolved in the best, long term interests
of Lake Forest and its citizens.
There are many initiatives of many types presently under-
way emanating from the updated Lake Forest Strategic Plan
for 2017-2021, which is available on the City website. The
product of many recent months of a large cross-section of
our community, it is intended to be a navigation tool for de-
ployment of the City’s resources and the work of our dedi-
cated volunteers and City Staff. Also on the City website
is the Fiscal 2017-2018 Budget of The City of Lake Forest
specifying our work and goals for the next 12 months.
Leading the priorities outlined in the Strategic Plan and the
Annual Budget are the “permanent priorities” of Lake For-
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Tradition
Philanthropy
est that are the foundation of our thriving community:
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Maintaining strong public safety and security
Sustaining the City’s excellent financial strength, evidenced
by its Aaa rating
Executing well on the provision of City services to citizens
Providing leadership for a culture of listening/communicat-
ing well with citizens, attracting quality volunteers to City
boards and commissions, and sustaining capable, motivat-
ed, innovative City Staff
Looking ahead in 2017 and 2018, there are several enhance-
ments to Lake Forest and its quality-of-life including, open-
ing of the state-of-the-art Northwestern-Lake Forest Hospital
with some 700 physicians, streetscape renovations for North
Western Avenue, new housing choices near to downtown Lake
Forest, the continuing rollout of renovations and improve-
ments to Market Square, commencement of the expansion of
Pfizer Pharmaceuticals presence in Conway Park to some 1,100
employees, and the return of golf’s semi-finals of the BMW
Championship to Conway Farms this September, attracting visi-
tors from around the world to our special community.
I hope you will take the opportunity to meet me, your Alder-
men, and the senior City Staff at the Ward Meetings or others.
There is no better way to learn more about what’s going on
in Lake Forest now and for the future than at these in-person
meetings.
Guided by the example and wisdom of our predecessors, and
inspired by the desire to leave Lake Forest in excellent health
for our children and grandchildren, I will do my best as your
Mayor.
Robert T. E. Lansing