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Politics & Government

City's Environmental Plan Progresses

Consultant hired to help implement long-term strategy.

Highland Park came a step closer to implementing its when the City Council approved a contract with consultant Delta Institute of Chicago at Monday's regularly scheduled meeting.

The long-term strategy will implement an ecological mindset for the city and its residents, helping Highland Park to continue its leadership in that area, officials said. 

“This will provide 6,000 hours of education within our city,” said , who has been instrumental in leading environmental efforts during his 16 years on the governing board. “We will continue to lead with greenways, bikeways and storm water management.” 

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Delta’s consultants will provide daily assistance to the city in regards to the implementation of wind energy, solar power and the electricity grid. The agency will help further develop and implement Highland Park's ecological plan. 

“This program will provide the application for a sustainability plan,” said Kindy Kruller of Delta Institute. “We will identify the things that can be done to get the city up to speed.” 

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Delta Institute will analyze existing strategies, looking at best practices on a regional and national level, and prioritize steps of implementation. Its proposal will help the city's sustainability program achieve measurable results. 

In other action, the Council unanimously gave final approval to a long-term care facility for people with Alzheimer’s and other conditions. The center will be located at 1651 Richfield Ave. near the main police station. 

The City Council also unanimously directed Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod to prepare the documents necessary to allow the development of a gasoline station, convenience store and medical office building at 55 Skokie Valley Rd.

also appointed Thomas Shafer to the Design Review Commission, Nancy Becker to the Historic Preservation Commission, Adam Hecht to the Zoning Board of Appeals and Hania Fuschetto to the Healthy Highland Park Task Force.

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