8 | March 22, 2018 | The lake forest leader NEWS LakeForestLeader.com Village of Lake Bluff Committee of the Whole Divided board moves short-term rentals to plan commission Alyssa Groh, Editor There is no doubt that the Lake Bluff Village Board of Trustees and community members have been divided on the issue of short-term rentals for months. The trustees remained torn at the Village of Lake Bluff Committee of the Whole meeting on Monday, March 12, where they voted on sending either a draft proposal prohibiting short-term rentals or allowing short-term rentals during a two-year trial period, to the Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for consideration. In a split vote, Trustees Aaron Towle, William Meyer and Barbara Ankenman all voted to send the draft proposal to prohibit short-term rentals, while Trustees Paul Lemieux, Mark Dewart and Eric Grenier voted to send the proposal to for a trial run of short-term rentals. The vote came down to Village President Kathleen O’Hara who voted to send the draft proposal to allow short-term rentals and opt out of offering a referendum. Trustee Towle raised the question of offering a referendum after the split vote on which proposal to send to the Plan Commission. “We have heard from the most passionate, and I would like to hear from those who are less passionate as well,” he said. O’Hara told the board it is their right, as well as residents right, to ask for a referendum. The Trustees each shared their thoughts on offering a referendum and again ended up split on the issue. Trustees Towle, Meyer and Ankenman were in favor of a referendum, while Trustees Lemieux, Dewart and Grenier were not. Trustee Lemieux did not feel a referendum would be beneficial at this time, instead it would just prolong the issue. “I would like to put [the issue] to bed and see what happens, knowing we can make changes to this any time we want,” he said. Dewart agreed with Lemieux. Grenier also felt the referendum would not help reach a decision, rather it would continue to hurt the character of the community. He also raised the point of getting past the emotional aspect of the issue and looking at the facts to reach a decision. “It is really easy to get emotional at first and takes time to get into the factual aspects,” he said. “I think a referendum is going to muddy the waters. What are we actually going to learn? “We are also up against property rights. These are tangible rights. We are looking at taking something away from people that ordinarily they should have the right to.” Ankenman was an advocate for listening to residents and offering a referendum to help reach a decision. “I feel that I agree it seems like in the short term it would feel more painful because it wouldn’t show us moving forward, but I do feel like in the long run it would give some sort of indication,” Ankenman said. “We have invested so much in this, we have invested countless hours, we have invested countless meetings, countless e-mails and phone calls. I feel like if there isn’t an issue we would be willing to do that for, this would be it.” Meyer also felt a referendum would be the best choice. The final vote came down to O’Hara who stated she did not want a referendum and wanted to pass a proposal to allow short-term rentals with restrictions. “I do not recommend the board advocating, at this point, for a referendum, because eventually it all comes back to us anyway,” she said. She reminded the Trustees the trial period has a number of restrictions and they can make changes whenever they want. The Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals reviewed the proposals on Monday, March 19, after press time. Lake Forest High School District 115 Board of Education School did not organize National School Walkout, ensured safety during walkout Miriam Finder Annenberg Freelance Reporter The tone at the Lake Forest High School District 115 Board of Education meeting on Monday, March 12, was more somber than usual. The meeting was dominated with discussions about a national school walkout March 14, and an updated school security report following last month’s shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. that left 17 dead. “There is a national school walkout at [10 a.m.] to celebrate and recognize the 17 people that were killed in Florida one month ago,” said Superintendent Michael Simeck. “We don’t really know what we’re going to be expecting on Wednesday.” He said administrators are not at liberty to ask students if they plan on participating, but the district received recommendations from legal counsel on how to manage the walkout. He noted the significant free speech rights of students, and, while a walkout has the potential for disruption in the school, he said administrators believe it would be more disruptive trying to regulate the students practicing their first amendment rights. Additionally, he said he wants to maintain the relationship students and staff enjoy without teachers feeling required to police free speech. “If there is one thing that. ... For us is the most cherished thing we have. ... Our kids have a very strong and trusting relationship with our faculty,” Simeck said. “We don’t want to place our staff in that position.” Without mentioning specifics or referencing certain events or issues, school board president Reese Marcusson noted what he called “the positive of our kids used to getting their way.” He said Lake Forest students don’t quit when faced with challenges or perceived wrongs. They want to know whom they need to speak with to make the changes they deem appropriate. “They don’t accept nonaction,” Marcusson said. Also during the meeting, district Head of Security Scott Krajniak provided an update on Lake Forest High School security measures and practices. “We’re constantly examining ways to ensure our practices are current,” said principal Chala Holland. “We’re engaging in a comprehensive safety assessment across our entire district.” Krajniak said the district has recently updated a number of security measures, including its visitor management system, which handles around 4,000 visitors each year. Also of note is the recent move of the security office to the front office and revised protocols for students checking in and out of school, making sure they are always accounted for. Krajniak said the school has added five new security cameras in the past year, two additional security personnel, and received a donated security vehicle. Additionally, the security team continues looking at ways to ensure the protection of the school. “We’ve got some changes in the works as we speak,” he said. Placards depicting simple, basic actions in emergency situations — such as lockdowns, lockouts, and evacuations — will soon be placed in each classroom. “I’ve always believed if you can keep it as simple as possible, it’s easier to remember what you’re responsible for,” he said. The placards come from the “I Love U Guys” Foundation, an organization promoting school safety started by a couple who lost their daughter when a gunman entered her school in 2006. Krajniak also discussed the potential of installing a BluePoint Alert system. Much like fire alarm pulls, these blue pull stations alert the police silently while also alerting those throughout the building of an intruder situation.
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