Committee of the Whole Permanent Memorial Discussion
Questions & Answers
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Reunión del Junta del Comité Entero acerca del Memorial Permanente (01/23/23)
January 20, 2023 – At the Monday, January 23, 2023 meeting of the Committee of the Whole, the City Council will discuss the framework for moving forward with the permanent memorial following the Highland Park shooting, which will be a place for remembrance, reflection, and respite. City Council will consider staff recommendations pertaining to the commission structure for the permanent memorial and the public communication and engagement process. City Council will not discuss any other details of the future permanent memorial at this time, such as potential location, design, or form.
The Committee of the Whole will immediately follow the City Council meeting, which begins at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers at City Hall (1707 St. Johns Avenue.) Contemporaneous Spanish interpretation will be available to attendees of the meeting.
The City’s intent is to approach this important topic with sensitivity to the needs of various stakeholder groups, especially the families of the victims and those who were injured in the shooting. To that end, the City will discuss the planning for a permanent memorial in an open, public meeting so that the community is aware of how the process will unfold. A clear framework will allow the City to set expectations for public engagement, scope, communication and timeline.
Members of the public will have the opportunity to provide feedback consistent with City policy.
Following the discussion, the City will provide a summary of the discussion and plans to move forward with the process. This information will be shared with the community via the City’s website (cityhpil.com), eNews (cityhpil.com/signup), and social media. City staff will continue to maintain direct communication with victims’ families and injured individuals.
The City will also continue to maintain the temporary memorial as a place for remembrance until a permanent memorial is established. The temporary memorial at the Rose Garden (located adjacent to City Hall at 1707 St. Johns Avenue) offers a quiet space for reflection and privacy for grieving families. More information about the temporary memorial is available at cityhpil.com/temporarymemorial.
The City recognizes that this is a weighty, emotional topic, and urges anyone in need to seek support. Free and confidential multilingual assistance from trained mental health counselors is available 24/7 via 211 Lake County. Visit 211LakeCounty.org, call 211, or text 898211.
Further details and information are available below in the Q&A.
- What is the purpose of this meeting?
The purpose of this meeting is to obtain feedback and direction from the City Council regarding the permanent memorial framework, including a commission structure and public communication/engagement process. - Will the Council discuss what the permanent memorial will look like or where it will be located?
No, this meeting only concerns the framework for the permanent memorial planning process. - Why is the Council beginning with a discussion of the permanent memorial framework?
Working under the guidance of the Department of Justice Office of Victims of Crime, the City understands that the development of a permanent memorial is an important task that must be undertaken with great care. It is a best practice to foster public engagement throughout the process, particularly for victims’ families and individuals who were injured. Identifying how the planning process will unfold is a critical first step in a thoughtful, trauma-informed approach that is transparent and reflective of our community’s unique needs. Cognizant that involvement in this process has the potential to trigger individuals’ trauma, making the process clear from the outset will provide structure that fosters safety, trustworthiness and transparency, which contribute to preventing inadvertent re-traumatization. - Is this meeting open to the public?
Yes, this discussion will be held during open session, and members of the public may attend. The Committee of the Whole will immediately follow the City Council meeting, which begins at 5:30 PM at City Hall (1707 St. Johns Avenue.) - Will members of the public have the opportunity to share feedback as part of the discussion?
In line with the Open Meetings Act and City practice, members of the public will have the opportunity to speak during the Committee of the Whole. Individuals interested in sharing feedback should endeavor to keep their comments pertinent to the specific discussion of the Council. Comments are limited to three minutes; written comments of any length may be emailed to the City to be shared with the City Council at cityhp@cityhpil.com. - What action will the Council take at this meeting?
No action will be taken at this meeting. The Committee of the Whole is an opportunity for Councilmembers to have a public discussion on policy matters. - Will this meeting be livestreamed or broadcast?
The Committee of the Whole will be broadcast to HP TV Channel 10 and livestreamed on the City’s website (cityhpil.com/agendacenter), Facebook page (facebook.com/HighlandParkIL) and YouTube (com/@CityHPIL). - Is the agenda available to view?
Access the meeting agenda at cityhpil.com/agendacenter and choose “Committee of the Whole” from the “Meeting Group” drop-down menu on the left-hand sidebar. - How will this or future meetings be promoted to the public?
City Council and Committee of the Whole meetings are listed at cityhpil.com/agendacenter and are promoted on social media and in eNews. To sign up for the eNews, visit cityhpil.com/signup.
- How can community members share ideas related to the permanent memorial?
Ideas for the permanent memorial or other memorial activities may be submitted to the City via email to hpcares@cityhpil.com. Every submission will be retained review and consideration at the appropriate time.