Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout0224ccCITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL - PRESENT: A Quorum was present. NOT PRESENT AT ROLL CALL: ABSENT: PRESIDING: Alderman Bernstein Alderman Moran Alderman Engelman Aldermen Kent, Jean-Baptiste,Wynne None Mayor Morton February 24, 2003 Alderman Rainey Alderman Feldman Alderman Newman The OFFICIAL REGULAR MEETING of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Morton Monday, February 24, 2003, at 5:45 p.m. in the Aldermanic Library. Police Chief Kaminski gave a report on crime. Alderman Rainey moved that Council convene into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing matters related to litigation, insurance and closed session minutes pursuant to 5ILCS Section 120/2 (c) (11) (12) and (21). Seconded by Alderman Moran. (11) Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting. (12) The establishment of reserves or settlement of claims as provided in the Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, if otherwise the disposition of a claim or potential claim might be prejudiced, or the review or discussion of claims, loss or risk management information, records, data, advice or communications from or with respect to any insurer of the public body or any intergovernmental risk management association or self insurance pool of which the public body is a member. (21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section2.06. Roll call. Voting aye — Bernstein, Moran, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean -Baptiste. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (7-0). At 6:58 p.m. Alderman Rainey moved to reconvene into Open Session and recess. Seconded by Alderman Wynne. Motion carried. No nays. Mayor Morton reconvened the City Council at 8:45 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Public Works Director David Jennings announced the Chicago Transit Authority would hold a public meeting Wednesday, March 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chamber to obtain public input on service improvements throughout Evanston. The CTA will make a presentation with opportunity for public comment. He reported the CTA is exploring ways to improve service in Evanston and surrounding communities to coincide with growth and development for the past two decades. Improvements under consideration include additional access to downtown Evanston, Old Orchard shopping center, Cook County Courthouse, both hospitals and increased access for customers with disabilities and service across municipal borders. City Clerk Mary Morris announced that Tuesday, March 4 was the last day to register to vote for the April 1, 2003 Consolidated Election. The Clerk's office will be open 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon Saturday March 1 for voter registration. CITIZEN COMMENT: Jane Grover, 2703 Prairie Ave., chair, Mental Health Board, was there for the quietest, smallest voices of people with the greatest needs who receive services through human service agencies. She thought these largely invisible constituents February 24, 2003 won't appear and Council would not hear from the agencies that serve them because they are weary after getting reductions from all funding sources. She noted that last year, with consolidation of community purchased services, the Mental Health Board budget totaled a little more than $850,000 with funding to 20 agencies. This year, after an 8.5% reduction, the board approved allocations to 17 agencies. Last year the board dropped three agencies from any funding. Those agencies had programs not in jeopardy that provided unduplicated, valuable services to some of the neediest residents here. Mental Health Board funding helps some programs and makes other programs happen altogether. They fund programs that help more than 6,000 residents, which include giving preschoolers a head start on school through the Childcare Network and Metropolitan Human Services; ensuring that Evanston senior citizens live independently and safely through Evanston/Skokie Valley Senior Services; teaching pregnant teens and parents when to ask for help and that parenthood is not incompatible with a high school diploma, through the Infant Welfare Society and Teen Baby Nursery; enabling residents with developmental disabilities to reach their potential through Shore School and identifying and intervening with at -risk youth at Family Focus. She saw a troubling trend that Evanston's commitment to human services has dwindled and did not see how that funding could be recaptured. The proposed 3.5% reduction amounts to $30,000 and she implored them to find $30,000 of "wiggle room" in the budget they will approve. Ravmond Summers, 1920 Asbury Ave., stated that meetings were scheduled for January 9, 21 and February 17, 21 to renegotiate the contract between AFSCME Local 1891 and the City. The union expected bargaining for a new contract to reflect fair wages, affordable health care and several other issues. The union has been at the bargaining table everytime it was asked. He said at the 1 lth hour they were trying to negotiate a fair contract; noted it was unfortunate that Council was voting on a budget that allows a 2% wage increase. He said the union would continue to negotiate in good faith for a new contract before the existing one expires Friday, February 28, 2003, which is a challenge to do in a short amount of time. He asked that Council think about the services performed throughout Evanston every day by the AFSCME members. He recalled through the years workers have come to work and lost their lives on the job; have been injured on the job and suffered the rest of their lives; some will know aches and pains before reaching old age because their aches and pains have been accelerated due to the climatic conditions they work in. He noted when it is bitter cold refuse is collected, trees are trimmed, water mains and services are repaired, traffic signals and signage are maintained and repaired, parks are maintained and emergencies that may cause hazards to an individual's health or safety are handled. The same is true during hot summer months. Services are performed by AFSCME members 24/7. He pointed out they are not only employees of the City, but residents, neighbors, consumers and participants in community activities. As Council votes he asked that they reconsider and demonstrate to men/women that they are worth more than a 2% wage increase. Show that delivery of services to the community is appreciated and not taken for granted. Paul Wilson, 2319 Dempster St., lifelong resident and 21-year City employee stated he was someone the City could count on. He works in Facilities Management and has never missed a day's work and had a perfect attendance record at ETHS. He was proud to be an AFSCME member. Union members are people who stand together and perform their work together. He said members are out there 24/7 in all kinds of weather and he did not think there were any complaints. He asked Council to remember they are family people with children at home and must support them. Overtime is a thing of the past. He asked for a fair share. Rov Conlev, 1918 Asbury Ave., lifelong resident and long-time City employee, emphasized that many take their jobs seriously and it is not just about money but about performing a service for their community. He urged them to demonstrate their willingness to reward employees for their service. Chuck Bodkin, 2124 Forestview Rd., commended the Mayor for her past veto of the budget based on real estate tax increase and hoped if she vetoes this increase that Council does not override her veto. He said in these hard economic times all have to tighten their belts. He recalled his parents went through the Great Depression and they taught him a lot about it and how to tighten his belt. He urged Council not worry so much about pet projects; said there must be ways to cut back and save more money. He said the budget proposed closing the South Branch Library and after school programs, then because of citizen outcry and not wanting to lose pet projects, City Council gave in and those were taken off the table. Some retirees and middle -income families cannot handle annual property tax increases. Ted Loda, 1314 Washington St., noted members of AFSCME Local 1891 said it all because they do it all. He appeared before Council several years ago and remembered a comment, "we don't really know who AFSCME is." He thought now they do and AFSCME is made up of the people they saw there that night. AFSCME began in 1936 in Wisconsin February 24, 2003 as part of government reform because they thought government services could be provided in a better way. AFSCME is the largest union in the United States and viewed as one of the most powerful organizations in the nation. He said the services of AFSCME have been offered many times and it was in their interest to do so. He said it was also in the interest of the City to use their expertise and clout. Members of AFSCME Local 1891 (A) have earned what they get many times over. Respect is a powerful word. He recalled the late Mayor Harold Washington, talking about respect said, "respect, you don't ask for respect, just knock the damn door down." He said sometimes that is what they have to do. He learned his lessons well as have members of Local 1891. This isn't beanbag and members earned respect long ago. Sharon Feieon. 1125 Colfax St., invited all to attend the second Sustainable Evanston Forum Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Lake Street Church; thanked Mayor Morton for sending a letter to open the first forum about energy. This forum, sponsored by 31 local organizations, will focus on improving public transportation in Evanston and build on its strengths. Roads cannot be widened without tearing up the community, but they can build on the great transit infrastructure that exists. Organizers believe if they can bring together all the resources they already have among the CTA, PACE, Metra, the Levy Center bus and the Y, that these could be coordinated creatively into a more effective system. Innovative transportation programs from around the country will be reviewed; a car -sharing program will be discussed and they will look at regional issues such as fare coordination between CTA and Metra. Derek Supple, 912 Hamlin St., chair, Students for Ecological and Environmental Development at Northwestern University and Environment Board member also invited all to the Transportation Forum on Thursday. He felt it important to get as much community participation as they could at the planning stage. He noted that the transportation sector uses 60% of the nation's energy and 90% of the oil. Transportation planning has significant environmental and energy impacts. He said there are some exciting opportunities at this forum to make the transportation system here more efficient, clean and accessible to the public. He volunteered at Chute School that day, talked to 7th grade students who are part of a Youth Pilot Program and discussed how to make the community better. One of their ideas was to make it easier to get around town, which he thought deserved some attention. CONSENT AGENDA (Any item marked with an Asterisk*) Alderman Feldman moved Council approval of the Consent Agenda with the following exceptions: purchase of ambulance insurance; Ordinance 15-0-03 — Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan; Ordinance 9-0-03 — Special Assessment #1452; Ordinance 2-0-03 — Increase in Class B Liquor Licenses; Ordinance 16-0-03 — Increase in Rooming House Fees; and Ordinance 21-0-03 — Special Use for 1729 Sherman (Type 2 Restaurant). Seconded by Alderman Engelman. Roll call. Voting aye — Bernstein, Kent, Moran, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (9-0). * ITEMS APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA MINUTES: * Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of February 10, 2003 and the Special City Council Meetings of January 25, 2003 and February 3, 2003. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0) ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS: * Approval, as recommended, of the City of Evanston payroll for the period ending February 13, 2003 and the City of Evanston bills for the period ending February 25, 2003 and that they be authorized and charged to the proper accounts, summarized as follows: City of Evanston payroll (through 02/13/03) $1,813,044.12 City of Evanston bills (through 02/25/03) $2,849,001.31 * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Approval of the second lowest responsive and responsible bid of Champsystems Inc. for a Hewlett Packard HP UX server for the Water & Sewer Division, at a cost of $29,653. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND February 24, 2003 ROLL CALL (9-0) * Approval of the non -bid purchase of a hot patcher (for patching asphalt) for Streets & Sanitation Division from Central Parts Warehouse at a cost of $49,895. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Approval of the purchase of excess liability insurance ($10,000,000 coverage, in excess of $2,000,000), from Illinois National Insurance Co. (a part of AIG) at a cost of $215,300. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Approval of the purchase of property insurance at a total value of $300,000,000 including $100,000,000 coverage for terrorism from FM Global (Factory Mutual Company) at a cost of $318,333. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Approval of Change Order #1 with Chicagoland Construction Inc. for Municipal Service Center Parking Deck Repairs, for an increase of $8,057, for a new contract total of $25,987. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0) ■■■■■ * Resolution 12-R-03 — Contract Renewal with Evanston Athletic Club — Consideration of proposed Resolution 12-R-03, which authorizes the City Manager to enter into a contract renewal with the Evanston Athletic Club for a health, fitness and wellness program for the Levy Senior Center. APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 18-0-03 — Reveal of One-Wav Allev — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 18-0-03, which amends Section 10-11-4, Schedule IV(B) of the City Code to remove the one-way east -only restriction on alley north of Howard St. from Barton to Asbury. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 19-0-03 — Reveal of Loadine Zone — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 19-0-03, which amends Section 10-11-7, Schedule VII(B) of the City Code to remove the loading zone on the east side of Elmwood south of Dempster St. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 20-0-03 — Passenger Loading Zone — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 20-0-03, which amends Section 10-11-7, Schedule VII(B) of the City Code to establish a passenger loading zone on Noyes St. south side, Maple Ave. to first alley west, 7:30-9:00 a.m. and 4:30-6:00 p.m. on school days. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 13-0-03 — Revision to Sewer User Rates — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 13-0- 03, introduced February 10, 2003, which amends Section 7-13-3(A) of the City Code to adjust to sewer user charge and delay the currently planned rate increase. * ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 17-0-03 — Revision to Parkine Tax — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 17-0-03, introduced February 10, 2003, which amends Title 7, Section 3(A) of the City Code to increase the monthly parking tax rate. * ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 14-0-03 — "No Turn on Red When Pedestrians are Present" Desienation — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 14-0-03, introduced February 10, 2003, which amends Section 10-11-3, Schedule III(D) of the City Code to change designation at the northbound approach of Fowler Ave. at Dempster St. from "No Turn on Red" to "No Turn on Red When Pedestrians are Present." ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 6-0-03 — Special Assessment #1449 — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 6-0-03, introduced February 10, 2003, which approves Special Assessment #1449 for alley paving north of February 24, 2003 Linden Pl. and east of Custer Ave. (east -west leg). * ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 7-0-03 — Special Assessment #1450 — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 7-0-03, introduced February 10, 2003, which approves Special Assessment #1450 for alley paving north of Mulford St. east of Asbury Ave. * ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 8-0-03 — Special Assessment #1451 — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 8-0-03, introduced February 10, 2003, which approves Special Assessment #1451 for alley paving north of Payne St., east of Grey Ave. * ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 1-0-03 — Decrease in Class B Liquor Licenses — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 1-0-03, introduced January 13, 2003, which decreases the Class B Liquor Licenses from 9 to 8 with the sale of the Omni-Orrington Hotel, 1710 Orrington Ave. * ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS: Alderman Feldman reported that the purchase of ambulance insurance was removed from the Committee agenda. Ordinance 15-0-03 — Neighborhood Traffic Management Plan — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 15-0-03, which amends Sections 10-11-4 and 10-11-5 of the City Code to make permanent the trial neighborhood traffic management plan: to establish Ashland Ave. as one-way south between Lyons and Church streets; establish Ashland Ave. as one-way north between Lyons and Emerson streets; and establish a two-way stop east and west at Lyons St./Ashland Ave. Ordinance 9-0-03 — Special Assessment #1452 — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 9-0-03, which approves Special Assessment # 1452 for alley paving north of Lyons St. east of Ashland Ave. Alderman Feldman reported that the committee removed these two items from the agenda. Ordinance 2-0-03 — Increase in Class B Liquor Licenses — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 2-0- 03, introduced January 13, 2003, which increases the Class B Liquor Licenses from 8 to 9 with the sale of the Omni-Orrington Hotel, 1710 Orrington Ave. Alderman Feldman moved approval of Ordinance 2-0-03. Seconded by Alderman Wynne. Alderman Rainey said this item was held based on the fact that the Onington Hotel had not been sold; suggested it would have been respectful of the A&PW Committee to be told the sale occurred. They had no new information and were told an investigation was complete. The hotel was sold. City Manager Roger Crum explained the City was waiting for specific documents that guaranteed the owners would take care of all outstanding issues before the transfer went forward, which occurred this week. Management & Budget Director Pat Casey said there was an outstanding issue with the Illinois Department of Revenue and a state liquor license that required the City to hold until clarification was received from the state that everything was in order. Alderman Feldman said none of this information was given to the committee and it was not fair to the committee and Council, which depends upon scrutiny of these issues, not to have all available information. Mayor Morton said the Liquor Commission met and discussed this. Alderman Rainey said the Liquor Commissioner does not approve liquor licenses but recommends them to Council. Aldermen are entrusted with the responsibility of approving and issuing liquor licenses. Having a liquor license is a privilege, not a right. Some take that responsibility seriously and when casually handed out without appropriate information they are slipping. She suggested they should be diligent, admires the Orrington management, but they should be treated like everyone else. February 24, 2003 Mr. Casey explained that when this was brought to the committee for introduction, everything was in order. Between introduction and adoption, the state informed the City of a tax issue. The City wanted to be sure that issue did not interfere with the property closing. It was a matter of the state clearing up its paperwork and updating records, so it was held until the state gave clearance. Staff wanted to be sure that Council was not stuck in a business matter. Roll call. Voting aye — Bernstein, Kent, Moran, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (9-0). PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: Ordinance 16-0-03 — Increase in Roomine House Fees — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 16-0- 03, which increases the annual rooming house fees for rooming establishments from $166 to $332, and to increase the fee per roomer from $26 to $52. Alderman Wynne reported that this item was removed from the committee agenda at the request of an Alderman. * Ordinance 21-0-03 — Special Use for 1729 Sherman Ave. (Tvve 2 Restaurant) — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 21-0-03, which approves a recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals to grant a special use for a Type 2 restaurant (Subway's) at 1729 Sherman Ave., subject to conditions. Alderman Wynne reported that this item was held in committee in order to read the transcript of the ZBA. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: Resolution 6-R-03 — Proposed FY 2003-2004 Budget — Consideration of proposed Resolution 6-R-03, the proposed budget for the City of Evanston for the Fiscal Year 2003-2004. Alderman Engelman moved approval of the proposed FY 2003-2004 Budget. Seconded by Alderman Feldman. Alderman Newman pointed out the motion was for the City Manager's proposed budget, which has been amended and made a substitute motion to move approval of the proposed City Manager budget as amended by the green worksheet included in the packet. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Mr. Crum explained since his proposed budget was submitted January 1, the Council has met several times and the following were directions for discussion and final adoption, which were on the blue sheets. Increase parking fine projection by $400,000 based upon extended meter hours; proposal to increase rooming house fees by $188,000 is off because the P&D Committee felt it was not ready; increase parking tax of $300,000, (acted on that evening); recommended elimination of surcharge on Levy Center Bus for a revenue decrease of $3,500; proposal by consensus of Council to restore funding for the South Branch Library for expenditure increase of $133,000; Council proposed restoring funding for school liaison officers in the middle schools for an expenditure increase of $209,200; restore one of two Public Works maintenance workers in Streets for expenditure increase of $45,200; restore the vacant Levy Center program manager position for an expenditure increase of $42,900; restore Fire Department overtime funds to $50,000 additional; increase the cable franchise revenue estimate by $55,000 and restore $15,000 to public access television; increase real estate transfer tax projection by $500,000 was removed by Council action; restore the Fleetwood/Jourdain program manager for $33,400 expenditure; increase TIF fund transfers to the General Fund by $145,000; decrease revenues from Noyes Center leases, a $22,000 revenue decrease. Mr. Crum explained before the budget is adopted, staff goes back through every line item to see if anything has changed since December. Recommendations on the green sheets included: decrease in the SWANCC tipping fees of $65,000; decrease IMRF expense due to reduction in positions by $60,000; Recreation revenue was understated by $30,000; special garbage pick-up revenue of $40,000. The only item staff recommended increasing was tree planting expenditures by $5,100 to allow Forestry to purchase 21/2-inch trees. Alderman Engelman stated the total General Fund budget is $73,753,800 and Mr. Crum stated the associated property tax increase is 6.64%, aggregate of all parts of the budget of which the General Fund is 4.32%. February 24, 2003 Alderman Rainey noted after these weeks Council had achieved a 1% reduction in the proposed budget. She said that aldermen had received projected 2003 revenues/expenditures with a memo indicating there would be excess revenues over expenditures of about $1.8 million, which is the fund balance they would begin the year with. She thought it important that money be applied for taxpayer relief. She moved that $800,000 of the surplus to revenue of next year's budget be used to reduce the total General Fund tax levy to $28,417,511, which would reduce the tax increase from 6.64% to .037%. Given added fees in the budget, she thought it fair to address some taxpayers concerns with this relief. She also moved that $500,000 of the million dollar balance be put into miscellaneous operating revenue for the purpose of adding to the 2% salary increase, making it a 3% increase for employees and retaining $500,000 in the fund balance. Mayor Morton asked for clarification of the amount. Alderman Rainey said there is about $1,915,293 if revenue projections are correct in surplus funds. Alderman Newman appreciated the motion but hoped it would be defeated, as it was something already considered. He recalled that Alderman Rainey had wanted to increase the projection on the real estate transfer tax by $500,000 and that was rejected. Money that may be here in this year cannot be translated into projections for future budgets. He said she was taking what she perceived to be extra money from the real estate transfer tax and building permit revenues, which they already know are running higher than the $1.6 million than was budgeted. They learned at P&D the expectations of no building in TIF districts would mean that permits will run closer to $1 or $1.2 million. He said staff gave good advice and they would have to solve this problem, because in the long run they would have a $1 million hole in the budget because building permit fees will not continue at the current rate. He said if the numbers at the end of the year are added up and, they re -appropriate that money, what they are not looking at is what actually will come in. If someone thinks revenues will exceed expenditures by $1.8 million, there is a need to identify what greater revenue there will be for next year's budget. They cannot hope because of projections this year, that somehow the $1.8 million will be there. They would have to increase the projected transfer tax to $3 million, building permits to $3 million, and then there would be a balanced budget for the next year. If they look at where money came in last year and say it will go that way next year, they already know that did not happen and one example is the state income tax. He asked Mr. Stafford whether the $1.8 million could be translated into specific line items? He noted the City has an $11 million judgement and the Insurance Fund that does not have $11 million. That judgement against the City, which is public record, now earns 9% interest a year. The City has six other significant lawsuits related to major tort litigation and does not have a fully funded Insurance Fund. He thought what would happen to this money, if it came in, is that it would be put into reserves for the Insurance Fund. He respected the work done by all City employees and wished that they were not raising property taxes by 6.64% that evening. He wished it was zero and believed that property taxes are too high already. He pointed out Council has a budget based on the professional advice of the Finance Director and Management & Budget Director, who work with these problems 365 days a year and he thought they need to take their advice. He thought to be fair to Council, they did everything they could to keep salaries at an acceptable level. He noted salary increases across the board have been closer to 4% and did not include the City absorbing the entire increase in health insurance premiums, which has been done in the last few years. They must face serious financial problems and the motion does not help. He said the motion says, "forget about the $11 million judgement, don't plan for it, go out and borrow for it and let it affect the City's bond rating so that some short-term political hay can be made with some groups." Alderman Rainey said there was an attempt to humiliate and put her down and make "political hay" as opposed to being able to debate on an intellectual level when there are differing opinions — the childish, immature attacks are uncalled for. She was not talking about projecting revenues for next year. Speaking to Alderman Newman, she said if he was not deafened to other's ideas, he might absorb some interesting information. She said she had no love lost with AFSCME, but has a great deal of respect for labor. She was talking about excess revenue that will show up on the City's books on March 1, 2003. She gave up on increasing the projection on the transfer tax, despite the fact that she has been right on it the last six years. She was talking about the fund balance from this fiscal year. She pointed out if they had read the revenue/expenditure projections and calculated the month of February, they would see there is an excess of $1.9 million. She acknowledged that could be put toward an $11 million lawsuit or many other places. She suggested putting it in two places and disagreed with Alderman Newman that it should be put into the legal fund. She stated this Council should have had the guts to cut the South Branch Library and made Noyes tenants pay additional rent but there was not the political will to do those things. She pointed out the City has a workforce and a 2% wage increase is an embarrassment for a city that has three libraries. She said this has nothing to do with sucking up to AFSCME or making political hay, February 24, 2003 but has to do with how to relate respectfully to people who do the dirty work. It was for that reason she suggested that $500,000 be transferred into miscellaneous operating revenue to pass onto City employees. Mayor Morton pointed out the average actual expenditure for 11 months was 91.67% and saw a number of departments whose expenditures did not come up to that. Alderman Rainey said there is a revenue projection for 2003 based upon 11 months of $72,056,200. The actual expenditures for 11 months are $64,392,157 and the monthly average is $5,853,832. If that is added to the 11-month projection, there is a fund balance exceeding $1.8 million. Do they put it in the Insurance Fund, salaries or give it back to the taxpayers? She asked is it right to tax taxpayers for $1.8 million that they already have? Mr. Stafford agreed that revenues are projected at $72 million, but thought expenditures would be slightly higher due to yearend expenditures for equipment and purchased services. He had some policy and practical concerns, one is the insurance liability of $22 million. He agreed there would be about a $1 million surplus, is a conservative number, but had a concern about the use of the $1 million. Alderman Jean -Baptiste raised a point of order. Council needed to know the truth about the budget. Alderman Rainey says there is a $1.8 million surplus and Mr. Stafford said there is a $1 million surplus. Mr. Stafford stated that he and Alderman Rainey agree on revenues. On expenditures, what Alderman Rainey did was logical and took the $64 million through 11 months and projected that out, then subtracted from the revenue, which comes out to around $1.9 million. Mr. Stafford said some of the items, for example purchased services, which have expenditures at 89%, will receive 100% by the year's end thus 12-month expenditures would be greater than the average for 11 months. He said that is the difference between the numbers and the reality is the surplus will more likely be $1.3 million. He said a practical concern leads to an insurance liability of about $22 million with an $11 million judgement. The City will have to look somewhere for those dollars and this is one area. Secondly, they have a state budget that has not begun and will know better about that at mid -year. He noted the City has budget policy that says in the General Fund area, one-time revenues should not be used to fund current operations. The other issue raised by budget policy is that the City is to develop an 8.3% operating reserve, which can go up to 10% and after that, funds get appropriated to other funds that have no reserves and first on the list is the Insurance Fund. He recalled the City spent four years trying to build up a reserve precisely for times like this. He said next year they could be looking at a recession and urged Council to be careful. Alderman Engelman thought the question before them was a policy issue and they have reserves in most every fund except the Insurance Fund. He noted Council had worked hard to bring the reserves up to a level that was appropriate under good accounting principles and was one of the reasons the City has an excellent Aaa bond rating. He said the City has potentially a million dollars over expenditures anticipated for this year. It can be used or held in reserve. Alderman Rainey's suggestions were excellent and he, too, would have liked to have cut more expenditures. He agreed that they need to consider what will happen if negotiations with the union are not successful and/or if arbitration requires the City to pay more than 2% or if the City chooses to give more than 2% increase in salary. He suggested they need to seriously consider that the state has not balanced its budget and the last time Illinois had this kind of budget problem, tax revenues were taken away from municipalities. Evanston will not know about that until summer. The City will not know what happened with union negotiations until several months from now. He said there are a wide variety of possibilities including the existing tort litigation that may cause the City to reexamine this budget before the ink is even dry. He agreed that tax increases should be minimized but they should not forget that there are rainy days. He thought spending this money now, before they know that they have it and with questions out there, would not be the way to go. Alderman Bernstein said the City has the responsibility to negotiate in good faith will all unions. In the event they come to a wage increase greater than 2%, wasn't it the responsibility of Council to come up with those dollars from whatever source? Mr. Crum said that was correct. Mr. Crum clarified that the Council was not negotiating a wage increase that evening. He explained for budget purposes they had to put in a figure as a set -aside, which was a 2% average across the board set -aside while the City negotiates with all bargaining groups. They don't know what the final number will be, four unions are open and none are closed. He said Council must approve final contracts whatever they are, and, if the budget has to be adjusted at that time, that will be discussed. Mayor Morton clarified that Council could agree on a budget that evening but in the summer when they hear from the state, this budget could be amended. February 24, 2003 Alderman Newman said they were at the IIth hour and did not fully understand the proposal, which was not communicated to Council prior to the meeting. The proposal needed to be put in writing and circulated. He found it regrettable that the proposal was not a new fact, because at the end of the fiscal year sometimes revenues exceed expenses. He also found it regrettable that this proposal was put forward with a significant bargaining group present. The motion creates an impression, with the $11 million judgement out there and an Insurance Fund that cannot fully meet outstanding liabilities, that Council should just forget about that. He agreed with Alderman Engelman's comments. They received this information Thursday evening and if there was to be a motion of this magnitude, the telephone was available. He did not intend to humiliate anybody but thought an unnecessary motion had materially distorted the City's bargaining position. Although anyone could make whatever motion they want. The average taxpayer does not show up -- but when one group shows up and one Council member says there ought to be a greater increase in salaries because those are the people who do the dirty work. He said all on Council respect AFSCME, fire and police officers unions but saw it inappropriate and harmful to the City to suggest the City's bargaining position be made part of discussions that evening. He strongly thought any surplus funds belong in the Insurance Fund. If the $11 million judgement is settled for less, they will have more options in the future. A fact is if the City has no Insurance Fund and if the $11 million judgement is upheld, the taxpayers will be taxed at least $1.1 million per year to pay off that judgement. Excess revenues belong in the Insurance Fund. He did not think that groups who come here should be played to in that fashion. Alderman Feldman said the Council has a responsibility to consider and okay the results of negotiations with unions. All have a strong view about the value of people who work for the City. He said that is tempered by the constraints the City finds itself in relation to other obligations. Whether or not they passed this amendment, their responsibility would be to meet the needs of the unions as negotiated with the City, whether money is in one fund or another. He has never heard of a negotiation done at a City Council meeting. Since being on Council he had never seen an offer to a union, not publicly and not before negotiations were completed. That does not mean if each alderman has a position about what the outcome with negotiations should be that they could not communicate those to the City Manager and Council at the appropriate session. It does not mean one cannot work for what they believe, but this was not the venue. He was concerned about the concept that this money is out there and easy to decide what to do with it as though these are discretionary funds. He said it was no more discretionary than any fund including money that goes to pay various departments except that it has not been appropriated yet. Alderman Rainey made a legitimate suggestion. He thought the funds were needed in another way; said the City needs a reasonably well funded Insurance Fund. Mr. Stafford alluded to a potential liability of $22 million because of various litigation cases. He said it was prudent and responsible to see if the City can put money toward that and is what citizens expect them to do. If half of the liabilities come true, and they go to the citizens and say there is no money to pay for the judgements and have to borrow, that would not be a recommended position by the people they were appealing to that evening. He has heard for the past two -three months about the dangers of not being conservative about spending; about the state of the economy, the position of the state and requests by the federal government for additional security with more responsibilities falling on local governments. The economy is in dire straits and more people are losing their jobs. That was the kind of atmosphere where the City should put money here it is most needed and it is most needed toward obligations that have already been incurred. Alderman Rainey said those who have suggested there was negotiation going on because she suggested putting money into the miscellaneous operating fund (where money for salary increases and negotiated settlements go). She reminded them they have talked about the 2% set -aside for wage increases for two months; the negotiating has already been done and the standard has been set. She was suggesting that additional funds be set aside. She thought she was bickering with them about the price. She believed they should have money available to pay a 3% increase and the other money should be applied to the tax levy. She said when they have an opportunity to put money back they should do it. She acknowledged the $22 million in liabilities and that constituents ask, "how did they get us into this mess?" She said all are responsible in some way, the legal system and those filing the lawsuits but did not think citizens were in touch with that. She did not think this money would solve the lawsuit problem. She said they budget for fund balances and have done so on the transfer tax for the past five years. She said if they wanted to talk about catering to an audience, two to five people who want a South Branch Library are catered to year after year, an extra expense this community should not be financing. There are many people living here who do not use a branch library but all pay for those who have constituents who use them. She said they are all in this together and it depends on who comes and speaks the loudest. She thought it indecent in a town with a $170 million budget not to be able to give raises in excess of 2%. She was not 10 February 24, 2003 negotiating and if the City can have three libraries, the City can pay its employees. Alderman Jean -Baptiste had not expected $1.3 million in surplus revenue. He did not take responsibility for legal liabilities incurred as if Council were responsible, which was not true. Things happen, lawsuits are filed and verdicts are reached and they felt a major punch when a verdict came in for more than $11 million in a situation in which they thought should have come in at a much lower figure. All are wrestling with that issue. Alderman Rainey says the surplus is $1.8 million and Mr. Stafford says it is more like $1.3 million. It is good because they have more money than they thought they had. What do they do with it? He is learning about the need to keep funds in reserves; that the state budget is not yet adopted so they don't know the consequences. He thought they manage a certain perception when they budget a 2% salary increase. So when Alderman Rainey suggests they rethink that, they should try to see her point. Whether the money is put in operating funds or reserves, the question is whether the City will pay 3% if that is negotiated? The proposal that they allocate some of the surplus to reduce the proposed tax levy is not something to be negotiated down the line. Could they give taxpayers some relief from the 6.64% tax levy budgeted? He proposed a compromise. He understood the 6.64% levy would increase an individual tax bill by 1.2%. He moved that they drop the tax levy to 5%, which would mean the tax increase is below 1%. He made this suggestion because they must have money in reserves and if the City has to pay more money they will. He thought taxpayers who were unaware of this surplus would understand that the City must have reserves to pay for obligations and would want to share. It would be $450,000. Alderman Rainey accepted that as a substitute motion. Alderman Jean -Baptiste stated the substitute motion was that the 6.64% proposed tax levy be dropped to 5% ($450,000 from reserves). Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Alderman Newman said this motion uses part of what is perceived to be a $1.3 million surplus in revenue from this fiscal year to lower the property tax levy. Mr. Stafford said this proposal is re -appropriation of surplus. The City has 8.33% of the operating budget in surplus fund of around $5 million. They are saying that next Monday that surplus will be around $6.3 million. Alderman Newman asked if that creates a one-time revenue? Yes. Mr. Stafford explained that next year the City would have to have revenues of $450,000 to balance the budget with current revenues/expenditures. This action would dig a hole in next year's budget. Alderman Newman said if they were to take miscellaneous operating funds to pay salary increases, they would have to make up those dollars in next year's budget. So that coming in at 2% or 3% is not about whether the City wants to pay employees. He said all want to pay employees more. The reason they targeted 2% was that they wanted the budget to reflect what the City could afford to pay each year and then take some surplus to be at a 3% increase. That would be a one-time revenue in the miscellaneous operating fund, so they will start off $1 million short next year. He said it violates the City's budget policy because it uses one-time revenues. He would rather have no real estate property tax increase. If this motion is adopted, in terms of this found money, it is not recurring found money that can be budgeted for recurring expenditures. That is why putting a one-time revenue in the Insurance Fund to pay a one-time expenditure is the best way to go. Alderman Newman reminded Council that if they start a new year with holes, they would be hoping that building permit revenue comes in at $1.6 million and that there is not a 15-16% increase in health insurance premiums. He thought that Alderman Jean-Baptiste's compromise was well -intended. He suggested that the surplus be used for a one-time expenditure such as a capital project. This surplus is not recurring revenue that can pay for recurring expenditures. He noted that having two branch libraries had nothing to do with whether the City could meet pay raises. Alderman Wynne asked the amount on a tax bill for the 6.64% tax levy increase? Mr. Stafford said 1.22%, so on $8,000 tax bill it would be an increase of $97.54 and on a $10,000 tax bill it would be $121.93. Alderman Wynne asked with dropping the tax levy increase to 5%, the effect on an $8,000 bill? It would be a $73.42 increase. She vehemently disagreed with the motion. She said as a member of the Budget Policy Committee they have struggled for several years to come up with long range strategy to deal with structural deficits. A critical issue is that they don't use one-time revenues because of the problems that created for the next year's budget. She thought it a most shortsighted thing they could do in the budget as they look at the long view and could not support it. She noted there is not enough money in the Insurance Fund, which is bad policy, but Council has not been able to do anything about it. Council has watched judgements coming toward them and realized they have to deal with them, but had no ability to do that. If they had an ideal budget there would be reserves in place. Rainy days happen and the City had a horrible rainy day with this $11 million judgement against it. The City needs to be prepared for that. They cannot presume the unthinkable will not happen in the future and that is why they have reserves. She said Evanston has been fortunate that there have been no 11 February 24, 2003 large judgements in the past. It is Council's obligation to be stewards for the City and, because they have ended up with a million dollar surplus, that allows them to correct some problems they hope to live with another year. She commented if the state comes and takes back revenues, the City has no ability to raise the levy and would have to cut City services. Mr. Stafford said they could cut expenditures and Council has the option to increase the tax levy, which is not passed until December. Alderman Wynne supported sticking with budget policy; noted the reason to have a policy is important when there is a temptation, they stick with what is in the City's best interest to reach long-term goals. They don't yield to temptation and pay the price in the future. Alderman Moran gave some historical perspective; recalled four years ago Governor George Ryan initiated the Illinois First program. The state seemed to have lots of money and spent it like drunken sailors. Four years later, Illinois citizens are told there is a $6 billion deficit in the state and a new administration has promised not to raise taxes. This has several implications for Evanston. Several years ago Evanston was told they by the state that the City would receive a large grant to rehabilitate several viaducts. All understand what a discredit these viaducts are to the City because they look like they will fall down. It is not the City's fault, as other institutions are at fault. He predicted the City will never see that money and said they should look for other money for infrastructure needs that are all over: terrible streets, unpaved alleys, curbs falling out into the street, broken sidewalks, little of which is discussed in this budget. The discussion about the $11 million judgement is sufficient to resolve the question of what to do with this surplus. His question was where do they get the other $9.2 million if the City does not win? That dismisses everything else the City is facing. Over the next year the City will be impacted by the condition of the state's budget. Many people do not understand that the City's revenues are heavily dependent on revenues generated through the state and brought back here. As the state suffers, so will Evanston. Nobody knows what that situation will be over the next year and they cannot spend this money as if they just found it. He thought citizens would be encouraged that the City shepherds this money to help get through tough times. This budget has a 6.64% increase in the City levy. In April 2002, the Budget Policy Committee under Alderman Engelman's leadership convened meetings with the Council so that they could work on structural problems in the City budget. The City continues to operate on the supposition that costs exceed revenues and until that structural difficulty is faced, every year they will come back to citizens and raise taxes. Those meetings started in April and ended in June/July. Nobody had an appetite for discussing the structural deficit, so they did what they always do, fall back to January 1, when the City Manager delivers a 650 page book to their homes with how it will be fixed that year. All work done in the past two months fits on one page, which includes 15 items. Those were suggestions for increases in revenues or cutbacks in expenditures that the manager's office brought forward. Then the City Council did what it always does and said "we like this one, don't like this one, etc." Then they ask how far do they have to go to close the gap? This year it was an increase of 6.64% in the tax levy and last year it was 7.5%. He said this would happen over and over until Council faces up to the structural deficit and works analytically to try to eliminate or minimize these property tax increases. They have to rely somewhat on the City Manager and themselves for these discussions. He thought they have opportunities to work on this seriously so they don't get to the end like they are that evening with people making proposals, which are well intended, but don't get to what they have to do. This budget will pass with an increase in the tax bill. Senior citizens cannot afford it and young people cannot afford to buy homes here. Alderman Rainey called the question. Mayor Morton asked Alderman Jean -Baptiste to re -state the substitute motion. Alderman Jean -Baptiste replied that the motion was to reduce the tax levy by $450,000 thereby dropping the tax levy to 5%. Voice vote. motion failed. Alderman Engelman explained the main motion was to adopt the proposed budget amended by the green sheet. Alderman Newman stated Council restored the South Branch Library at a cost of $133,000 and the police liaison officers for middle schools at $209,000. If they did not have those two, the increase in the property tax levy would still have been $1.5 million and exceeded 5%. They added back a $45,000 person in streets due to bad condition of the streets. They proposed adoption of a $6 million Capital Improvement Program in recognition of obligations to repair streets, sidewalks and other infrastructure. He explained the property tax increase includes $600,000 for debt service to fund $6 million in spending on the capital improvements this year. He did not think anybody could accuse Council of overspending on the City's capital needs for streets and the park system; that Evanston spends about half of what Skokie spends on capital improvements. In the budget process, they learned that Evanston spends substantially less per capita on libraries than 12 February 24, 2003 surrounding municipalities. Another $267,000 goes to the police pension fund, mandated by the state. Another $322,000 of the property tax increase pays the fire pension, also mandated. If those three were eliminated, the increase would be $629,000 to the General Fund. Increased health insurance premium costs for City employees exceeded $500,000. He said to attack the structural deficit, they have to find a way to replace the funds that go to fire/police pensions and debt service with either expenditure cuts or other revenue increases. He noted there are no other taxes that can be raised other than the property tax. What Council must do is cut expenditures. He does not know where the consensus is to cut expenditures. Maybe some favor cutting the South Branch Library and the police liaison officers. The next question would be to look at the North Branch. He said it is hard to find consensus on expenditure cuts. They tried to have the manager go through the budgets and look for any possible cut he could find and came up with 14 positions. He also recommended reduced hours at South Boulevard Beach and elimination of the Skate Park. They worked to find a place for teenagers. The Mental Health Board absorbed a 3.5 % reduction in funds and an 8% cut last year. He said there was an effort by Council to find expenditure reductions and this budget is what they came up with. He suggested if anybody has a program they want to cut and has 5-6 votes he wanted to hear about it. He said this is a hard process and what they came up with was a consensus with nine different political minds and hundreds of needs. Some may think cuts should be made in the Police Department and, on the other hand, crime is down in Evanston from 1997. Even in a down economy, a report on their desks that night shows police continue to be successful in keeping the crime rate down. He said this budget was a lot of work; the green sheet was an adjustment on a lot of work done by the City. He noted a significant cut in the Economic Development Fund and that people's services will be affected. Alderman Feldman agreed that the summary of changes to the budget was on the green sheet. He thought it possible that somebody could get the impression that the City's effort to do anything about its budget was represented by that worksheet. Then he held up a summary of the budget situation recently sent to Council and shows cuts department by department at the urging of the City Manager and Council. He read some of the cuts and noted that some came at a cost. Some have a direct impact, such as eliminating a position in Fleet Services that will affect the ability to do preventive maintenance, which could end up costing the City more in the long run. He recalled the City has had this situation before, where unbeknownst to Council, cuts were made to services and vehicle maintenance. Council woke up one morning to find there were no trucks to pick up refuse or plow the streets. All the trucks were broken down. Council was told cuts would be made without any impact on service, which does not happen. They pay for every cut. He asserted the City is biting the bullet with all these cuts. It is not an easy matter; all have agonized over each cut and some asked cuts be restored when they thought the effect on the City was intolerable and effect on services unacceptable. He gave credit to the City Manager and staff. He asked them to imagine building an organization that best serves the community efficiently. Imagine the staff whose purpose is to have an organization that enhances the City and serves it well and efficient then is faced with its destruction in a way, knowing that every cut will be paid for by somebody. He said there is sacrifice here. People who are losing jobs. He said the green worksheet was a heavy dish, respected its outcome and urged passage of the budget. Roll call. Voting aye — Bernstein, Kent, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay — Moran. Motion carried (8-1). Resolution 11-R-03 — Proposed 2003-2007 Capital Improvement Program — Consideration of proposed Resolution 11-R-03, the 2003-2007 Capital Improvement Program. Alderman Engelman moved approval of the proposed 2003-2007 Capital Improvement Program. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Roll call. Voting aye — Bernstein, Kent, Moran, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (9-0). CALL OF THE WARDS: 41h Ward. Alderman Bernstein urged citizens to attend the Transportation Forum on February 27; the CTA meeting on March 12 in the Council Chamber and the Human Relations Commission and League of Women Voters discussion of the USA PATRIOT ACT on March 6 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber. He invited people to join the Citizens Police 13 February 24, 2003 Academy. He announced that the Brillianteen presentation would be at the YMCA on the coming weekend. He thanked Professor Boyle at Northwestern University for inviting him to speak. He sent get -well wishes to Jeff Schoenberg's son who broke his femur. He commented aldermen have discussed the City budget for the last 10 months which takes 170 of each property tax dollar. On April 1 school board representatives will be elected and the two districts take about 67¢ of every property tax dollar. He said these are difficult times and they have to have reserves. Unless the public can change the president's mind, the country will go to war. His daughter told him how frightened she is about the state of the world. He hoped that greater voices than his reach Washington, DC and talk sense to some people. He said there are those who believe a pre-emptive war is good and he was concerned about the pallor hanging over this country. He said to its credit this Council passed a resolution against the Iraq war and encouraged people to continue to raise their voices against it. He thanked employees for working hard for the City. 51h Ward. Alderman Kent said he received an email about Camille Cosby's speech given in East Lansing, MI. It started out saying the year 2007 will be an important one for black Americans. The reason is that the right to vote is due to expire in 2007. As he understood, in 1965 President Johnson signed the Voter's Right Act but it was not made into a law. During President's Reagan's administration this act was amended in 1982 so it would last for another 25 years. He said that black Americans are the only group that require permission to vote under the U.S. Constitution. (If he is wrong he will take this back at the next Council meeting.) In 2007, Congress will meet to decide if black Americans should retain their voting rights; 38 states will have to approve this to extend those rights. He noted Council had taken a stand on the Iraq war and on reparations. He hoped they would join to make this a law and it was ludicrous to be talking about the privilege to vote or the act to have it extended. This is an issue they should take up. On street cleaning he has asked that something be done about litter in the Church/Dodge area and along Emerson Street. He noted it is a high maintenance area with hundreds of cars and students at ETHS. When warm, it would be good to get a street sweeper down those streets. He asked the City Manager to find out if that could be done and if it cannot, he asked for 16 push brooms, trash bags and gloves and people will come out and pick up the trash. To continue to see litter and nobody doing anything about it was insulting. He said a different way of doing things is needed to help these areas. As he came in he was told of a murder on the 1700 block of Grey, around the corner from his house. He thought about the loss of life this week — 21 at a club in Chicago and 96 in Rhode Island and here Evanston has the same old, same old again. He said the Police Department has been on the job and life in the 5"' Ward has been tolerable in that nothing like this had happened. This was a senseless waste of life. For the past few months he has worked with the Teen Baby Nursery to develop a male involvement group with Wednesday the last literacy discussion. He said the youngest was a high school junior and the oldest around 50 years of age. These are men who are concerned, enjoy reading and want to get to the bottom of the bravado exhibited on the streets. They think they have a real clue as to how not to get into a lifestyle that leads to jail or death and a package to help them seek channels that will help if it is wanted. They started off with five men and now have 15 mostly from Evanston. Some have been in trouble. He thought they would see some Evanston men in the streets to see if anybody wants to rescue himself from a lifestyle that will end self-destruction. 6th Ward. Alderman Moran said proposed changes the CTA will make at the March 12 meeting will directly impact bus routes through the 6th Ward, which has been discussed and urged all to attend. 1't Ward. Alderman Newman made a reference to the Rules Committee to oronose a sign hosted at Citv Council meetines that no cell Dhones be in the chamber durins a meeting. He made a reference to the City Manager's office, saying he spent an extraordinarily large amount of time on the budget and was frustrated that on the night they were to approve it, some members of Council thought there was all kinds of money out there. When they started the budget process they were told they were $5 million short and that night were presented with an image that the City had an extra $1.5 or $2 million laying around. He was also frustrated by the way 14 February 24, 2003 the City handled sensitive union negotiations and how that is being debated publicly to the City's detriment. He said there has never been any other intent by Council than to pay the fairest wage the City can pay. He suggested they have to do better on how they strategize in advance. Great ideas for $1.8 million in surplus funds have to be circulated in advance and he knows the City has no extra money currently. He said the City has an $11 million judgement and he considers efforts in that case bordering on heroic. He significantly disagrees with the verdict reached by the jury and in some other pursuit cases, police work borders on heroic and something they should be proud of. He stated the crime that day in the 5d' Ward was unfortunate; noted over the course of the year, the Police Department has worked hard and done an excellent job of keeping crime down. That was the reason they were investing as much as they were in public safety to keep every part of Evanston safe. He thought the Police Department was doing just about everything right. Where there are significant liabilities, police officers have been doing their duty. 81h Ward. Alderman Rainey said the revenue/expenditure information is something she asks for regularly and it was received Friday. Over the weekend she had a fundraiser for a school board candidate and did not know there was a surplus until 3:30 p.m. that day; acknowledged that Evanston Police do a good job, but there are some bad people who live here. She thought the police need a few more colleagues to help them do their job. She reported they had received a report that crime is down in Evanston from 1997. Over the past year there was the same number of murders; rape was down by one; 19 more got robbed; 26 more aggravated assaults and battery and 38 more subjected to burglary. She said crime was not down in those categories, which were crimes against individuals. She did not know what the answer is because violence here is off the charts and the City must get control of it. Alderman Rainey expressed condolences to Alderman Kent for the crime that occurred that day in the 5d' Ward; said it could have happened in any ward. Students could have been hit as they walked across the street from the high school and the victim was wanted for armed robbery. 2°d Ward. Alderman Jean -Baptiste was concerned about the categories of crime Alderman Rainey enumerated, noting the total number of property crimes had decreased, but violent crimes against individuals had gone up. He thought they have to intervene in lives of youth more aggressively and that he needed to participate in his community on neighborhood activities. He said they needed to think about strategies to prevent violent crimes. He said the Budget Committee has engaged in refining policies for several years and is moving forward. He was not sure that Council receives all the information they need all of the time. The budget manager has to be conservative for rainy days, but it was important to receive all information so that Council can make policy decisions. He asked Alderman Kent to forward the 2007 article by Camille Cosby to as many as possible. In reference to getting respect by kicking down the door, he did not think it was an African -American issue. He said white America has to be pro -active and purge the Senator Lott's who stand in the way of progress. For blacks to face the renewal of the right to vote in 2007, hopefully that renewal will be for 25 more years. He thought in 2007, the trend he sees is the rise of fascism with scapegoats already identified. He said that kids are being taught to hate those identified as scapegoats. He said the country need some John Brown's to address some of the insulting policies that continue to exist in America. He reported attending a Black History Month program for evening students at ETHS. The daughter of Evanston's first black alderman, Alderman Jourdain, spoke about the difficulties her father had to overcome to stand up, be elected and participate on the City Council. Bill Logan, Evanston's first black police chief had about a dozen "firsts." While a great accomplishment for him because he overcame so much, to Alderman Jean -Baptiste it was an indictment of a country that prides itself as a champion of democracy. He said the burden should not be on black people, but on all people. He has raised the issue of litter at Emerson/Asbury, which builds up in that small business district. The response he gets is that sanitation workers clean there from time to time, but don't have enough help to clean consistently. He respects sanitation workers, but when he sees four -five workers to empty refuse in front of his office, he seriously questions the allocation of the work force. Perhaps it is not the fault of the workers but of management. He stated they must take care of the City, keep it clean and the black community is as entitled to sanitation services as the white community. He urged that articles and emails get out about the CTA meeting on March 12 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber because there may not be public transportation services in areas previously served. It was important that people participate and state their positions about changes and service. 15 February 24, 2003 Alderman Jean -Baptiste announced the March 3 Human Services Committee meeting, where the M/W/EBE policy of the City would be addressed. He urged those concerned to share their perspective and hear where they are in the process. They will also address events at the lakefront. 3`d Ward. Alderman Wynne reported a meeting at Lincoln School about the 603 Main building with the developer and hope to have another community meeting before the matter comes before the Plan Commission on March 12. 7th Ward. Alderman Engelman said as the Byrds sang in the early 1970s, "to everything there is a season and a time for every purpose," his time in City government was at an end and, as of next month, will be almost 20 years that he has served in public office, as Township Assessor for eight years and Alderman for 12, nearly two decades. His daughter Jane, a junior in high school, during her entire life, has not seen him at home the second and fourth Mondays of the month. He knows that they know it takes a commitment to perform public service. It requires a passion, not just a desire, but a burning fire deep down in the gut to see a problem and find a solution; a single-minded obsession to see a wrong and try to right it; a focused commitment to take a vision and turn it into a reality. But at the same time it requires an abiding patience, the serenity to listen not just hear, but listen to the venting about life's simple nuisances and know that they are, in fact, life's tragedies. A calmness to sit through repetition of the same perspective because the viewers are too busy thinking about what they are going to say to realize it has already been said. It takes the coolness to coax and cajole others into thinking that your vision, is in fact, their vision and how smart they were to think of it. But the hard part, the really tricky part, is to contain this burning passion and cool patience inside you, together, without them quenching each other or destroying the container in which they are kept. He said both literally and figuratively that he no longer had the heart to perform the duties of his office in a manner to which the citizens of Evanston deserve. He tendered his resignation as 7th Ward Alderman, effective March 1. He was proud of what had been accomplished by the two mayors, three city managers and the four City Councils with whom he has been privileged to serve. Where once sat an asbestos -laden concrete bunker now stands a 20-story plus apartment building, a grocery store, parking garage and other retail stores. Where once laid an environmental nightmare now sits Home Depot and PetsMart, generating not toxic smells but significant income for the City. He said they had transformed what was an rusting inner city, inner ring suburb from which retailers and corporate officers were rushing to move to a vibrant, appreciating, 24/7 community, encompassing places to live, work and play and had done so without abandoning their commitment to promote the diversity that many sought in moving here or the safety net necessary to create the patchwork quilt of community that keeps them in Evanston. He spoke collectively to colleagues, thanking them for all they had taught him, for the camaraderie of shared experiences, shared moments of worry and strife, shared vision of the future and a shared purpose of seeking to make life a little bit better and easier. To the City Clerk, he recalled working with the longest; sharing Monday evenings and an office, the experience of long lines of tax protestors in the 1980s. He thanked her for her friendship over ahnost two decades. To Roger Crum and staff, he said all citizens owe a tremendous debt from secretaries and sanitation workers to department heads and other senior staff. The creativity, dedication, loyalty and sacrifice they have exhibited, especially during the last two years of significant budget difficulties, were truly remarkable. He said it is a winning testament to Mr. Crum's management ability to give the staff a sense of self-worth and to bring out the best in the organization. He announced that he intended to come by the next day to personally thank senior staff for all they have done for the citizens and the friendship they have shown him. He said it had been a privilege to serve in Mayor Morton's administrations and, in his opinion, she is one of the greatest spokespersons for the City. Her September 9, 2002 speech brought a lump to his throat. When he listened to her State of the City address last month he was proud to be an Evanstonian. He said the transformation that they have experienced during the last decade was as much a testament to the Mayor's ability to encourage people, both those living here and those thinking about relocating as it is a reflection of Council's policies and efforts. He thanked 7th Ward citizens for the honor of being of service to them and for sharing his vision of what the Evanston community should be. He was not leaving the City, only the City Council. He will continue to be their neighbor and it was time for new leadership in the ward. But a change in leadership does not mean a change in the social contract, that government is an agreement under which the governed give up some measure of their personal liberties for the benefit of the common good and that this sacrifice should be done in the least intrusive and least extensive manner and only done with the consent of the governed. He challenged this Council and Mayor to continue to reach out to the community to invite them here, to provide a forum for them to advise Council, to listen to what they have to say and not just what Council wants to hear and challenged Council to put aside parochial penchants, ward politics and look at Evanston as a whole. Make no small plans, but by all means make plans and make them for the long term. Set policy and let the professionals carry out that policy. To Evanston, he hoped his service has brought some 16 February 24, 2003 measure of comfort because it was his pleasure and privilege to serve. Mayor Morton thanked Alderman Engelman for all of his service to the community and this Council. As she listened to his farewell statement, said so well, it was a pleasure to her, to see that he remained a statesman from beginning to end, a true professional, who had not allowed anything to get in his way of maintaining his reputation as an upright, honest and sincere citizen of Evanston. She was sorry to see him go but recognized the time had come and honored that even though they say good-bye with great regret. 91h Ward. Alderman Feldman was deeply touched by Alderman Engelman's statement and even more so by his record and his deep commitment, which is evident. He was sorry there were circumstances that caused him to leave. His participation in the City and on Council has been invaluable and he learned much from Alderman Engelman and could not imagine coming there and not seeing him. He thought they had been on the Council as long as anybody, agreed on some issues and disagreed on others, but he always knew that Alderman Engelman cared deeply, honestly and passionately for the City. That kind of deep intense feeling is rare and they can ill afford to lose. He thanked Alderman Engelman for all he has done. Alderman Moran was sorry to see Alderman Engelman go and thanked him for the thoughtfulness he brought to this work in his compassionate, calm and deliberate, but still passionate way. He said Alderman Engelman had sought to raise their vision from the square in front of them to the horizon and above. He said that Alderman Engelman has invited his colleagues to see the best part of Evanston, to pursue, expand and improve it and has succeeded on many levels. He did not have to discuss all the economic development projects that he played an instrumental role in and landed and his patience and perseverance made them happen. He honored, appreciated and highly valued the passionate but thoughtful and kind discourse and regard for all people here that he felt from Alderman Engelman. He noted they were children of the `60s and were going to make the world better and somehow ended up there in their attempt to make the world better. Sometimes they succeeded and sometimes he was not sure. He sees a person whose hair is now gray but who has the heart of someone who is young spiritually and took great sustenance from that. He hoped their children would be imbued with the kind of spirit that Alderman Engelman developed and carried forward to that day. He thanked him for all his work, for being his good friend and appreciated that friendship highly and expected it would continue. There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Morton asked for a motion to adjourn. Alderman Engelman so moved and the Council adjourned at 11:50 p.m. Mary P. Morris, City Clerk A videotape recording of this meeting has been made Dart of the permanent record and is available in the Citv Clerk's office.