Lake Forest may give preference to local businesses

The Mayor of Lake Forest finally got his wish to help businesses in the city economically.

The City Council has agreed to ask city staff to come back with a “Lake Forest First” preference ordinance for local businesses relating to purchases and contracts.

Mayor Jim Gardner says his idea was rejected in the past. He’d like staff to layout possible perimeters of the ordinance such as giving local businesses a range of percentages when it comes to the preference like five percent, or placing limits on the dollar amount of contracts.

He’s in favor of having local businesses having an edge on winning contracts because the sales taxes and jobs remain in the city.

Gardner says the Council did agree that “local” business is defined as physically being in Lake Forest, rather than just a mail box.

He’s hoping the proposed ordinance will go before the Council for a vote before the year is over.