Summer Dialogue 2017 Summer | Page 3

Family Education Tradition Philanthropy Meetings Adopt New Format Beginning June 1, 2017, the Building Review Board, Historic Preserva- tion Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals and the Parks & Recreation Board meetings will adopt a new format. In an effort to conduct more productive meetings with residents, ensuring more community engagement, the format of these meetings will be modified to adopt a “workshop” atmosphere. As always, the public is invited to attend the meetings, but the meet- ings of these particular boards will no longer be televised and will be held at the Municipal Service Building, 800 N. Field Drive or City Hall, 220 E. Deerpath. Meeting locations will continue to be listed on agen- das and on the City’s website. At Dialogue press time, the Marketing Campaign is preparing for a launch with a series of website and social media promotions, films and videos, print advertising, events and campaign visibility planned over the next three years. The City is working with local realtors, schools and cor- porations by providing posters and other printed materi- als they can distribute to clients, families and employees. Local retailers and restaurants are also collaborating with the marketing team to promote shopping and dining with specials, discounts and printed materials. The “Welcome Home” campaign will: • increase interest in the community • surprise and delight • build awareness • reach targeted audiences (current and prospective residents, visitors, students, businesses, investors, younger families) • jump start retail, restaurant and real estate interest • create a movement of pride • create a cohesive, consistent message • encourage all to have a fresh look at Lake Forest Keep an eye out for more welcoming words, gestures and promotions throughout the community. The City’s Municipal Services Building lobby is pictured above. According to the City’s 2016 Community-Wide Survey, only 5% of the respondents listed the cable television channel as a major source of where residents get public information. The decision to reduce these live broadcasts will also realize substantial operational financial ef- ficiencies for the City, estimated at $200,000 per year. “Based on a recent study conducted by Teska Associates, a workshop setting in a public meeting room is more desirable for residents than the formal setting of the City Council Chamber. A workshop invites engaging conversation on the topics at hand,” states City Manager Bob Kiely. He added that “The City has been studying this for several years with other municipalities searching for the benefits of creating a con- sortium, which has not provided a solution. Surrounding communities are taking or have already taken similar steps to improve transparency and reduce costs.” Meetings of the City Council and the Plan Commission will continue to be televised and remain at City Hall. Please note that special meet- ings requiring a broader range of public perspective will continue to be broadcast live in the City Hall Council Chamber, and will be publicized with proper notification. Archived meetings of the all boards will con- tinue to be available for viewing on the City’s website. Please contact Mike Strong at 847.810.3680 or [email protected] for more information. PAGE 3