Lower Electric Costs May Be on Horizon

A first step toward reducing electricity costs for citizens of Highland Park was unanimously taken by the Monday at its regularly scheduled meeting. 

The Council tentatively set Dec. 12 for a vote to place a referendum on the March 20 primary ballot that will give the City the right to negotiate with independent electric providers to purchase power that it can resell to its citizens. 

Though the electricity could be purchased from a source other than Commonwealth Edison, the utility will continue to deliver the power through its infrastructure. Bills will still come from ComEd. 

“We can buy in bulk,” said. “We have the opportunity to work with other municipalities as well.” 

to its citizens. 

If the referendum passes, the City Council would then put together an ordinance with public hearings to give the public sufficient opportunity for education and input according to Rotering. If everything moves smoothly, the plan could be in place by summer. 

Deputy City Manager Patrick Brennan said an education campaign to fully acquaint the people of Highland Park with their options would be conducted before March 20. 

Each citizen would have the right to continue to purchase electricity from ComEd, buy from an independent source or acquire it from the city, according to Brennan. 

Theoretically the city can negotiate a better price because of the large amount it will buy, according to Rotering. 

POSO adjustments

In other action, the Council unanimously approved the inclusion of convenience stores and health clubs on the first floor of downtown storefronts. These types of businesses had been prohibited on the ground floor in the Pedestrian Oriented Shopping Overlay District (POSO). 

The includes most of the property bounded by Laurel Avenue on the south, Elm Place on the north, Green Bay Road on the west and the Highland Park Theater Building on the east. There are some exceptions, according to Community Development Director Michael Blue. 

During its Committee of the Whole meeting prior to the regularly scheduled gathering, the City Council continued to wrestle with its emerging social media policy and changes to its ethics regulations governing when commissioners may represent clients on city business. 

At issue with the ethics guidelines is the length of time a commissioner must refrain from representing a client on city business after leaving the commission. Commissioners are unpaid volunteers. 

Rotering explained the issue first came to the Council’s attention when attorneys advertised they could expedite business with the City because members of the city’s voluntary commissions were members of a certain law firm. 

Councilmen and will work with Corporation Counsel Steve Elrod to draft appropriate guidelines for the entire Council to review. Both Blumberg and Kaufman are attorneys. 

Social media policy

The City is also carefully expanding its use of social media. 

“The internet is the wild west,” said while starting the discussion of the existing policy. Currently, Highland Park’s Facebook page does not let people respond. 

Council members are discussing the appropriate restrictions on members of commissions who may want to advocate a position on Facebook or Twitter. The Council does not want to limit speech, but is concerned citizens could think a person’s personal opinion is that of the City. 

“Those who are involved are on boards, not employees,” said , who favors allowing commissioners to express their opinion on the Internet . “Any further restriction in this environment is harmful. Those who are not employees should not be restricted.” 

Both during the Council meeting and the Committee of the Whole discussion, Councilman made a number of proposals aimed at making meetings more efficient and transparent. This would involve making the agenda available sooner than its current release. No action was taken.