LAKE FOREST : Council Approves New City Hall Hours

Starting next month, City Hall will stay open an hour longer and close on alternate Fridays for a six-month trial period.

The City Council voted last week to extend closing time to give citizens after-hours access to City Hall and grant municipal employees an occasional three-day weekend.

Beginning Aug. 16, City Hall will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. On alternate Fridays, when municipal offices aren’t closed, hours also will be 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The first Friday that City Hall will be closed will be Aug. 27.

Dave Bass, director of administrative services, said several cities have enacted similar plans. Bass told the council that there is a “significant decrease in walk-in and telephone traffic on Friday.”

Councilwoman Marcia Rudolph said she feared that closing City Hall on alternate Fridays would confuse residents.

“I really feel we have a problem with accessibility to the public created by shutting down on alternate Fridays,” she said.

However, Councilman Tim Link said he thought staying open an extra hour would balance the Friday closure.

“I do think this is moving in a positive direction,” he said. “It’ll be nice for employees to have a third (weekend) day with their families.”

County offices close on alternative Fridays, which will coincide with Lake Forest City Hall’s day off.

Bass indicated that closing a full day during the week will also help reduce the city’s energy bill.