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A summary of the proposed process is below:
- The working group will serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council.
- This working group will be responsible for guiding the planning process. The working group will not vote; rather they will make recommendations based on research and public input concerning considerations pertinent to a memorial, including location, scale, scope, cost, and other factors.
- The City Council will be the final decision-making body. When the time comes, the established building and planning process will be followed.
- Standing members of the working group will include the Mayor, the City Manager, the Park District of Highland Park Executive Director, the City’s Resiliency Manager, a designated City Council member (to be determined). Other City or Park District staff members will be invited to discussions where they may provide pertinent feedback as required. The working group will also engage regularly with other government partners such as the school districts, and community partners such as the North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic and Josselyn.
- The working group will be tasked with identifying a process for community engagement. This process will be communicated with victims’ family members, individuals injured and those present at the shooting, and the general public, and opportunities for participation will be communicated by both the City and the Park District.
- The working group will establish a process that maximizes inclusion of different perspectives, utilizing different modalities to ensure that community members have multiple opportunities and formats through which to share their points of view.
- Victims’ family members, individuals who were injured and those who were present and directly impacted will be invited to participate at their own pace and time.
- Public input will be invited throughout the process, and updates will be provided to the community on a regular basis.
- Meetings of the working group will be open to the public. Meeting agendas and minutes will be posted to the City’s website at cityhpil.com/agendacenter.
- The City will ensure that community members remain informed via all communication modalities, including the City’s website (cityhpil.com), public meeting management website (cityhpil.com/agendacenter), social media (facebook.com/HighlandParkIL), and eNews (cityhpil.com/signup.)
The City will continue to maintain the temporary memorial as a public place for remembrance and reflection until a permanent Place of Remembrance is established. The temporary memorial is located at the Rose Garden (located adjacent to City Hall at 1707 St. Johns Avenue). This is a sacred space and the City asks that privacy be respected when visiting. More information about the temporary memorial is available at cityhpil.com/temporarymemorial.
The City recognizes that this is a complex, 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.