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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01_26_04_ccCITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL - PRESENT: January 26, 2004 Alderman Jean -Baptiste Alderman Tisdahl Alderman Wynne Alderman Rainey Alderman Moran Alderman Feldman A Quorum was present. Alderman Newman NOT PRESENT AT ROLL CALL: Aldermen Bernstein, Kent ABSENT: None PRESIDING: Mayor Lorraine H. Morton The OFFICIAL REGULAR MEETING of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Morton Monday, January 26, 2004, at 6:10 p.m. in the Aldermanic Library. Alderman Rainey moved that Council convene into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing matters related to real estate, litigation and closed session minutes pursuant to 5ILCS Section 120/2 (c) (5), (6), (11) and (21). Seconded by Alderman Feldman. (5) The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. (6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. (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. (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 Section 2.06. Roll call. Voting aye — Jean -Baptiste, Wynne, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (7-0). At 6:48 p.m. Alderman Moran moved to reconvene into Open Session and recess. Seconded by Alderman Wynne. Motion carried. No nays. Mayor Morton reconvened the City Council at 8:47 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. ANNOUNCEMENTS: Public Works Director David Jennings reported the City is plowing and salting streets around the clock. There was lake effect snow on Saturday; the City has not declared a snow emergency. To do so they consider how much snow has fallen, what is expected to fall and the difficulty people have getting out of parking places. The City tries to minimize inconvenience and expense; has used sand on the streets, as they have been unable to keep up with the demand for salt. City Manager Roger Crum announced his intention to retire as City Manager in mid -summer. Alderman Feldman said the announcement was of great significance to the Council and community. He moved that Council instruct staff to prepare a request for proposal for a search firm. Seconded by Alderman Bernstein. Alderman Rainey preferred the Rules Committee meet before the RFP is sent out so they can discuss the kind of search they want. She asked that the motion be held. Alderman Newman thought they could go forward to have staff develop the information and have that at the next Rules Committee meeting. He did not think an RFP should go out, but staff could 2 January 26, 2004 prepare a list of search firms. Alderman Newman suggested the motion be amended that information be gathered and forwarded to the Rules Committee so they could begin to set up a process to engage a search firm. Alderman Feldman accepted the amendment. He said the reason for this was the difficulty in finding a replacement for Mr. Crum and time was of the essence. Mayor Morton repeated the motion: to ask staff to prepare information for the next Rules Committee meeting concerning a process for selecting a new City Manager. Motion carried. No nays. Mayor Lorraine Morton announced that, preceding the Public Hearing on the Proposed Budget for FY 04-05, there would be a Special City Council meeting from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for the purpose of considering litigation. COMMUNICATIONS: City Clerk Morris reminded people who want to vote in the March 16 Primary Election that voter registration closes Tuesday, February 17. People who have changed their name, moved or never registered can register at the City Clerk's office 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays and the next three Saturdays (January 31 and February 7 and 14) from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. People who are not sure they are registered can call the Clerk's office at 866-2925 or check on the web. Cook County's Internet address is www.voterinfomet.com. CITIZEN COMMENT Sue Carlson. 2679 Stewart Ave., represented Evanston's Affordable Housing Future, was concerned about the creation of the Howard Street TIF district because she saw no reference to the necessity of including affordable housing in residential developments. She noted the Housing Commission created an Inclusionary Zoning Task Force, which has worked for a year and its proposal for inclusionary zoning is about to come before Council. She hoped a date would have been set for a special meeting the P&D Committee had offered on this ordinance. If timing were different, the inclusionary zoning proposal would have been passed before the Howard Street TIF came before them. She proposed that there be some sense that residential properties have a proportion of affordable housing. Bettv Ester, 1806 Grey Ave., spoke about the vacant/boarded up building ordinance; was concerned that they were rushing to give hardship to people who are not staying in their building. She referred to the definition of unoccupied building on page 4 of the ordinance, "A building or portion thereof which lacks the habitual presence of human beings." She did not know what that meant or for how long. When these property owners have property that they maintain and are present in the neighborhood they stay there sometimes. She did not know if that fit the City's definition. But if they choose to use their property as a tax write-off, then does the City want to add another hardship to them by requiring $500 for an inspector or $200 to get on the register to say they don't live in the building all the time. She recommended that they look at this ordinance again and clear up the language that was abstract. Regarding the Howard Street TIF, she reported a staff person had told the Affordable Housing Future's group that the Economic Development Committee met in October and that was when amendments should have been added. When the TIF came to Council she spoke up for set -asides. While she is one person, many feel affordable housing is important. She asked whether they are giving lip service to affordable housing or do they mean it. They have an item they are going to approve with 5% for set -asides and nothing for the Howard TIF. She did not think that was what residents wanted. CONSENT AGENDA (Any item marked with an Asterisk*) Alderman Feldman moved Council approval of the Consent Agenda with these exceptions: approval of contract revision for towing services with North Shore Towing, Ordinance 13-0-04 — Easement Agreement with 900 Chicago LLC; Ordinance 15-0-04 — Extending the Moratorium Provided for by Ordinance 56-0-03; Ordinance 14-0-04 - Extending the Moratorium Provided for by Ordinance 61-0-03; Ordinance 7-0-04 — Zoning Map Amendment: Rezoning of Kendall College; Ordinance 1-0-04 — Tax Increment Redevelopment Plan & Project/Howard & Ridge; Ordinance 2-0-04 — Designation Howard & Ridge Redevelopment Project Area and Ordinance 3-0-04 — Adopting Tax Increment Financing Allocation. Seconded by Alderman Kent. Roll call. Voting aye —Jean- Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Kent, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (9-0). January 26, 2004 * ITEMS APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA MINUTES: * Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of January 12, 2004 and the Special City Council Meeting of January 10, 2004. * 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 January 15, 2004 and the City of Evanston bills for the period ending January 27, 2004 that those be authorized and charged to the proper accounts, summarized as follows: City of Evanston payroll (through 01/15/04) $2,041,048.89 City of Evanston bills (through 1/27/04) $2,847,840.67 * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Approval of Professional Services Contract Revision #1 with pre -qualified landscape architects SmithGroup JJR, for the Leahy Park Redevelopment Project, increasing the contract cost by $5,011, from $27,900 to $32,911. (Funded through GO Bonds.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 9-0-04 — Two-Wav Stop: Ashland/Crain — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 9-0-04, which amends Section 10-11-5, Schedule V(B) of the City Code to establish a two-way stop at Ashland Ave. and Crain St. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 10-0-04 — Loading Zone: 2122 Dobson St. — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 10-0- 04, which amends Section 10-11-7, Schedule VII (B) of the City Code to establish a loading zone at 2122 Dobson St. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 8-0-04 — Vacation of Portion of Isabella St. — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 8-0- 04, which vacates a portion of Isabella St., east of Sheridan Rd. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 6-0-04 — Sublease for Peter Jans Golf Course — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 6-0-04, introduced January 12, 2004, which authorizes the City Manager to execute a sublease with the Evanston -Wilmette Golf Course Assn., Inc. for Peter Jans Golf Course. * ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: * Ordinance 4-0-04 — Special Use — 824 Emerson Drive -Through — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 4-0-04, introduced January 12, 2004, which approves a recommendation to grant a special use and major variation for a drive -through facility at 824 Emerson (First Bank of Evanston). ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 5-0-04 — Planned Development — 1100 Clark/1719 Ridge — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 5-0-04, introduced January 12, 2004, which approves the recommendation of the Plan Commission to adopt the planned development for the property at Clark/Ridge/Oak and an alley into a multi -family residential complex. * ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 110-0-03 — Vacant and Boarded Building Ordinance — Consideration of proposed 4 January 26, 2004 Ordinance 110-0-03, introduced November 24, 2003, regarding vacant and boarded buildings. ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (9-0) APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Morton asked that the following reappointment be introduced: Judith S. Hurwich 2114 Madison Pl. Housing Commission Mayor Morton asked that the following appointments be confirmed: William Siegfriedt 2415 Colfax St. For term ending January 30, 2008 James G. Woods 2436 Central Park Ave. For term ending January 30, 2007 Alexander H. Perry 1461 Ashland Ave. For term ending January 30, 2007 Energy Commission Plan Commission Sign Review & Appeals Board Mayor Morton asked that the following reappointment be confirmed: Lawrence Widmayer Plan Commission 2525 Wellington Ct. For term ending January 30, 2007 * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA ADENDA ADDENDUM * Ordinance 16-0-04 — Extending the Moratorium Provided for by Ordinance 90-0-03 — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 16-0-04, which extends the moratorium provided for by Ordinance 90-0-03 on the issuance of building permits on portions of Main St. and Chicago Ave. in the B3 Zoning District. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS: Alderman Rainey reported the committee voted to hold the Contract Revision for towing services with North Shore Towing, approving a one-year contract extension at a higher rate and an increased revenue share for the City, plus revisions including additional space for seized vehicles, a security monitoring system and improved communications. Ordinance 13-0-04 — Easement Agreement with 900 Chicago LLC — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 13-0-04, which authorizes the City Manager to sign an easement agreement with 900 Chicago LLC for below -grade encroachment of foundation footings and permanent sheeting in r-o-w adjacent to 900 Chicago/603 Main St. Alderman Rainey asked that this item be marked introduced. January 26, 2004 Alderman Rainey asked on page two that Section 3 be added: "This Ordinance or parts of the ordinance in conflict herewith are hereby repealed." One item was left out. Paragraph 9 on page 5, there was confusion about what the original document had which should read: "This easement shall not be assigned to any party other than the condominium association to be formed for the condominium constructed and pursuant to the planned development approved by Ordinance 43-0-03 without the express or prior written consent of the Grantor authorized by its City Council." Alderman Rainey moved to Suspend the Rules to adopt an ordinance at the meeting in which it was introduced. Seconded by Alderman Feldman. Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Rainey moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Wynne. Roll call. Voting aye — Jean- Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Kent, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (9-0). PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: Ordinance 15-0-04 — Extending the Moratorium Provided for by Ordinance 56-0-03 — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 15-0-04, which extends the building moratorium in the Sixth Ward for an additional sixty days. Alderman Newman asked that this item be marked introduced and referred back to the committee. Ordinance 14-0-04 — Extending the Moratorium Provided for by Ordinance 61-0-03 — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 14-0-04, which extends the building moratorium in the Fifth Ward for an additional ninety days. Alderman Newman asked that this item be marked introduced. Alderman Newman moved to Suspend the Rules to adopt an ordinance at the meeting in which it was introduced. Seconded by Alderman Feldman. Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Newman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Feldman. Roll call. Voting aye — Jean- Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Kent, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (9-0). Ordinance 7-0-04 — Zoning Man Amendment: Rezoning of Kendall College — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 7-0-04, which approves a recommendation of the Plan Commission to rezone the area bounded by Sherman, Lincoln, Orrington and Colfax from U1 to RI. Alderman Newman reported that this item was discussed. Neighbors have formed groups consisting of two representatives on each street involved to meet with the developer to find common areas of problem solving. He asked that this be referred back to the committee for the February 23 meeting. OTHER COMMITTEES: Ordinance 1-0-04 — Tax Increment Redevelo_ment Plan & Proiect/Howard & Ridize — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 1-0-04, introduced January 12, 2004, which approves a Tax Increment Redevelopment Plan & Redevelopment Project for the Howard & Ridge redevelopment area. Alderman Feldman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. January 26, 2004 Alderman Rainey stated this proposal has been before the Council for over a year; thought this was meant to be the renaissance of Howard Street from the train tracks to Ridge. This small TIF district area boundary runs down the alley between Howard and Dobson and does not include anything other than the Evanston side of Howard Street from Ridge to the tracks. She noted this neighborhood contains the poorest census track in Evanston. It is bounded by Oakton east of Ridge to the tracks and has more than 60% of Section 8 vouchers of the 900 plus vouchers in Evanston. The 81h Ward has more poor people, more affordable housing, more Section 8 vouchers and this would be the only TIF district, if Council listened to the Housing Futures group that required the inclusion of affordable housing in any housing development. She asked why only Howard street and answered because Howard Street is used for housing "the have- nots." That is not going to happen anymore. This TIF district is needed so they can add diversity to the 8th Ward, not add more poor people. In talking about fair share, did they want to put a TIF district in the I't, 4th and 3rd wards requiring them to provide affordable housing? That was fine. She tried to get an ordinance passed that would not allow landlords to reject tenants because a Section 8 certificate was their source of income. She asked where the affordable housing people have been. That would have allowed for the dispersement of those requiring affordable housing throughout the community. She thought this comes from the same people that oppose the new ordinance on boarded up buildings where neighbors have to put up with drug addicts, criminals setting fires, etc. Howard Street has to improve. If it does not improve the 9th, 8th and 3rd wards are going down. Howard Street is the entrance to the City and the time has come for this Council to support this TIF district, which would be greatly appreciated by people in the 81h Ward. To require affordable housing is wrong headed and she asked them not to do it. Alderman Bernstein intended to vote for the TIF district. In defense of the Task Force, of which he has been a member and the Housing Futures group, he said they have worked tirelessly on behalf of the poorest here. He thought the intent of the Task Force was not to be neighborhood specific but across the board. When an ordinance comes to Council, it will be that every development includes some portion for affordable housing. They have heard about tools to accomplish this so it is not personal. It will hopefully be a policy of this Council. Since the ordinance has not come to Council he thought they were being asked to modify this to the extent that they could. He wants this to go forward. Alderman Rainey has done wonderful things on Howard Street with Council's help and that help will continue. He asked her not to speak in derogation of this committee because of the importance of affordable housing. He supported this and in the near future hoped to support an affordable housing ordinance for the City. Alderman Kent had no problem with the TIF district but had one with the town and the reality of where they are today. He applauded citizens for speaking out. He thought they talked about the same thing as the Kendall College property. He said the bottom line is if they are not going to think about poor people, then they need to tell them to leave Evanston. If they are not going to be concerned with people who are just barely hanging on, then tell them to look somewhere else to live. It won't be Rogers Park or up north, so he did not know where that would be. Does it have anything to do with the TIF district? No. What is ahead is a loss of hope for many people who have lived here for many years. As he commented in the P&D Committee meeting, what is the point of creating a development with homes costing over $1 million when it does not speak to the majority of Evanstonians who would like to continue to live here such as teachers, paramedics, police officers, nurses, etc. All are concerned about keeping the fabric of the community somewhat intact. Speaking for the 5th Ward, they have had few developments that have helped the ward. He knows something significant is supposed to happen at Church/Dodge. He tells developers if they are not speaking to the people of Evanston who need affordable housing, why they are coming here when they know there are problems with affordability. He was sorry that the affordability ordinance was not there already because all have an interest. If they are not going to create elite communities, then they had better start thinking about it because it goes back to the same thing: where are people going to go? In the next few years this will become critical. He thought the work done by the committees and out in the community would have some effect because Evanston has become something that is not good for everybody. Alderman Jean -Baptiste said it may be premature to talk about insisting on affordable housing in the Howard Street TIF because there is no specific proposal they are considering. He was willing to support the ordinance as presented. He has a philosophical difference with Alderman Rainey and agreed with Aldermen Bernstein's and Kent's statements. He did not think that rejuvenation of Howard Street was to bring in the gentry, because ultimately they will displace people. When people are displaced they have to be open to providing alternatives. Whoever comes in and proposes to build residential housing there, it is in the best interest of the City and their diverse constituents to advocate for affordable housing. Such housing addresses working-class families that may not be able to afford the high end moderate prices that January 26, 2004 the City is able to yield. So they would ask for some kind of concession from developers so they can move in that direction. He hoped that the City could adopt a housing ordinance from the Task Force that can guide all developments in the future. He did not agree with the statement that "there are already poor people on Howard St.," so was unwilling to give an inch because the issue of affordable housing is perceived as a diminution of the quality of the community. If they have a problem with quality in terms of behavior, people needing jobs, they need to focus on training and development and other opportunities so that people can have an improved quality of life. He did not want to equate people who cannot afford high -end prices with a minimal value if they are part of this community. When the proposal comes forward he would advocate that developers have a set aside percentage for affordable housing. He wanted to be sure that people understand that not all members of the Council share the view articulated by Alderman Rainey. Alderman Newman said in the I't Ward they have housing for people of low income at 319 Dempster St., Noyes Court and 1900 Sherman Ave. All this talk about affordable housing is really about housing in the $150-160,000 range, which is not easy to afford for people of low income. The point that Alderman Rainey was making, even though he may have not made it the same way, was essentially correct. What people need to understand about the Howard Street TIF district is that it is different than any other TIF district the City has done. There are many financial challenges. They are dealing with businesses and are not displacing people. There is the challenge of acquiring property, relocating businesses and the lots are small. To make this work will be a real challenge. They are making it work within the rules and taxes here. The City has significant parking requirements for developers to meet for new housing. Evanston has high taxes and there is the additional cost of assembling property. He applauded Alderman Rainey's leadership over the past four -five years for improving that area. This TIF is further evidence of that and it helps everybody. He thought Alderman Rainey was saying they need flexibility to allow this to succeed. The more requirements they place before they see the economics of acquisition and relocation could be the death knell. If there are opportunities and it works, he was sure Alderman Rainey would be leading the way. He thought it was a question of saying to a developer if they did not do it this way that developer would not be in the project. That evening the project at 1100 Clark had been cut by more than 100 units and, as a result, because they were interested in aesthetics and density, the amount of affordable housing was reduced to the chagrin of the people who advocated for that. He said affordable housing advocates are advocating in exchange for affordable housing the City give allowances in zoning. That is the opposite of all the public force that Council has been hearing in terms of development here. Council is being asked to lower heights and densities and on Central Street they want two story buildings, not three story buildings. On Chicago Avenue people complain that building heights are too high. There was a tremendous battle on the height of the project where Fresh Fields was. Affordable housing advocates want to give additional zoning allowances to achieve more affordable units. Those are controversial positions for the Council and to proceed on a case -by -case basis is probably the safest thing to do. Wonderful things are being done in the 8th Ward. All want excellence there and will support an initiative that benefits the entire community. He congratulated Alderman Rainey and colleagues and urged them to move forward. Alderman Feldman reminded Council that they are establishing a unique TIF district because all the other TIFs have been propelled by a plan and development. This has not. They don't have numerous developers knocking on the door to let them in. There would be no problems if that were the case. Where there is a great demand, the City can make great demands. With this TIF district they hope to create some kind of incentive to get people to invest. Alderman Rainey articulated problems associated with that area. Because something is built does not mean people will come. All hope they will. The first thing they cannot do is to ask for concessions before the developers are here, which is another reason why holding that in abeyance and using it as a value is appropriate for specific developments. He agreed with Alderman Newman that they have two competing values. One is aesthetics and height restriction and two is concessions that allow developers to include affordable housing. He said the affordable housing he knows about is not available to poor people. They are talking about people making $40-60,000 annually who cannot buy in Evanston. He does not consider those poor people. He wanted to see the three ordinances voted on their merits and, knowing that they have to address the question of affordability of housing, must be done on a case -by -case basis. Alderman Rainey said to be lectured about what is affordable housing was insulting to her if they knew her background. She has served as housing director of a low-income housing program; as project manager for a low-income housing developer; was a founding member of the Tenants Organization of Evanston whose whole focus was on people who could not afford the high rents in Evanston. She has given up time and money to serve poor people in her community and counted herself among them for many years. In Evanston, when they talk about affordable housing, it was through January 26, 2004 her leadership that the 8 h Ward has the most affordable condominium project. A condominium was developed there with four bedrooms -two baths for $55-65,000, which is affordable. They have lots of housing vouchers and landlords who are keeping their rents down. A majority of her constituents are poor. She asked that they not tell her she does not want the poor in the 8"' Ward. Responding to displacement of people, she stated the one developer who is interested in the TIF district on Howard is only interested in developing a vacant lot so nobody will be displaced. It will not be luxury housing. She urged them to get their facts in order. She said there had not been rental housing built in the 8"' Ward for 30-50 years. One of the housing policies is the trickle down theory of housing. She posed, that her fantasy comes true and this developer builds 200 units of rental housing on a vacant lot. Those 200 rental units will have an effect on other properties because they will have increased the available housing stock. Housing becomes affordable by adding units. She understands affordable housing and has no problem with it. She has a problem when an organization comes here and says they have worked hard but so has she. She has a phone number; heard Betty Ester recommend affordable housing one time. Not one member ever called her to sit down and work out something. But to come here and grandstand and make it look bad that the 8 h Ward TIF will not have affordable housing was unacceptable. If they want to pass a citywide ordinance on affordable housing was fine but this Council needs to take another step first. Make it against the law for a landlord to discriminate against a tenant who has a certificate or Section 8 voucher as a source of his/her income. It has to do with being poor and is a legal form of discrimination. This Council has not taken this step. There are vouchers going unused. The 8 h Ward is doing its fair share and all are struggling and united in community groups. She asked that this not be forced on this TIF district. Roll call. Voting aye — Jean- Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Kent, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (9-0). Ordinance 2-0-04 — Designation Howard & Ridge Redevelopment Proiect Area a Redevelopment Proiect Area — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 2-0-04, introduced January 12, 2004, which designates the Howard & Ridge redevelopment project area of Evanston as a Redevelopment Project Area pursuant to the Tax Increment Allocation Redevelopment Act. Alderman Feldman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Roll call. Voting aye — Jean- Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Kent, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (9-0). Ordinance 3-0-04 — Adoatine Tax Increment Financing Allocation — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 3-0-04, introduced January 12, 2004, which adopts tax increment allocation financing for the Howard & Ridge redevelopment project area. Alderman Feldman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Roll call. Voting aye — Jean- Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Kent, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (9-0). CALL OF THE WARDS: 2"d Ward. No report. 3'd Ward. Alderman Wynne reminded P and 4"' ward residents of an 8:00 a.m. meeting of the Zoning Committee of the Plan Commission the next day to discuss plans for Main/Chicago. 4th Ward. Alderman Bernstein reminded people to register to vote. As the Council discussed capital improvements on Saturday, specifically, regarding the Civic Center and the Robert Crown Center, they need to see the property that is owned by the City. He asked for a map containing all property owned by the City that is potentially buildable. He welcomed Professor Forrester's journalism class. He encouraged students to offer ideas on the budget. January 26, 2004 He reported that recently, some members of Council served as celebrity waiters to raise money for project SOAR. SthWard. Alderman Kent reported he went sledding in James Park with his son recently; complimented Doug Gaynor and the Recreation Division for doing a good job there. He thanked Council for extending the moratorium in the 51h Ward. He thought the committee would come back within the 90 days with a recommendation. He said there was conversation with the developers and some of the things they want in a conservation district have been agreed to by the Plan Commission. Progress is being made. 61h Ward. Alderman Moran said the affordable housing issue has been discussed in relation to the 6th Ward generated proposals for changes to bulk regulations for single family housing. Should there be changes made to those regulations, he suggested there be a demolition permit fee attached. He recommended a starting point of $5,000 for a demolition permit. He suggested fees generated as the result of that be committed to a fund to explore and implement affordable housing throughout Evanston. He noted that evening they had passed a proposal to start work on another large residential development at 1100 Clark. He described it as one more in long line of residential developments in and around the downtown area that are causing problems of what Evanston has been about, historically, from a design standpoint. There are those who would argue the City needs to evolve and he agreed. He sees a consolidation in terms of the developments within a few companies who return over and over to build large developments that he had great difficulty in recognizing as being consistent with the design legacy Evanston previously has been known for. The Roszak Company, which received approval that evening, advertises itself as "Roszak, Evanston's hometown developer." He guessed that was becoming more accurate as time goes on because they keep putting up more large projects. He does not recognize his hometown in these developments. He did not wish to single out Roszak and could say the same for Optima and Focus. He hoped that as they go forward that those developers and others will have a welcome return to the design heritage of Evanston so that when they come to the City with plans for development, that he could recognize what he considers to be his hometown. 7th Ward. No report. 8th Ward. Alderman Rainey made a reference to the Human Services Committee to examine in great detail the condition of the Lew Center Sign. It has reached a point where it is no longer satisfactory to be told that somebody is working on it. The sign recently was blinking, had strange shapes and jumping letters. She said a decision needs to be made to replace, change or move the sign. Neighbors are in an uproar. She noted receipt of a packet of letters from Levy Center members saying how much they love the sign. She said the sign is embarrassing for the City. 9th Ward. No report. lst Ward. Alderman Newman appreciated Alderman Moran's comments and wished he had been as thoughtful when he voted for the 262 foot building in the 1st Ward, which he referred to as one of his proudest achievements. He said the reality is downtown has flourished in recent years and one of the reasons is due to additional housing. They cannot have it both ways. In 1995-96 they had a dying downtown; nothing had happened in the Research Park for six years and there were many vacancies. Now they have a downtown everybody wants to be in. He said the development at 1100 Clark, which was initially rejected, will bring $1.4 million in new real estate taxes. It was rejected initially because people did not like the architecture. They had the chairman of University of Illinois Department of Architecture castigate the initial proposal. It went back to the drawing board and the same professor came back and complimented the design. The initial height of 20 stories was reduced to 8 stories. Substantial work was done on landscaping to change it. He thought this development, which is not in a TIF district, is an offshoot of the movie theaters. The movie theaters, which are the best, were done by the Hill Company that Alderman Moran did not favor, will continue to create a vital downtown. People can say they should have done nothing in downtown, and then they would have a different set of problems. They would have had a dying City rather than a vital one. Property values would've been stagnant rather than rising to record rates. He said there has been more increase in the value of property here in the last four -five years than in the preceding 10 years. He said the City is succeeding every day. This project is one that was brought down, unlike the Buck project of 262 feet and it will be a success for the City. Evanston cannot continue to provide quality services and schools without expansion of the tax base. 10 January 26, 2004 He congratulated the City Manager on Fire Station #3; said it is a state-of-the-art fire station and gives the people who work and live there day and night the dignity they deserve. The people who live there were included in meetings and because they did, they succeeded. Alderman Newman made a reference to the Rules Committee to expand the iurisdiction of the Parking Committee to the Parkine and Traffic Committee. He thought they needed to spend more time on traffic issues. He made a budget memo request that the City hire another housing inspector at a cost of $55,000. Alderman Newman wished Mr. Crum a well deserved retirement. He noted a speaker on Saturday told Council they should not be looking at what they are at Robert Crown Center and questioned the judgment of Council members. He said it is not the judgment of Council. The City hired A. Epstein & Son, a local Evanston architect who found to keep the center operational for the next 15 years, the City would have to spend between $5.8- 6.9 million. People can argue about whether they should have day care programs there but day care programs have to be somewhere. They are running one that the State of Illinois tells them the facilities don't work despite the fact that the Crown Center brings in $1 million annually in revenues from skaters, there is no place in that building other than the public washroom for women/girls to change clothes when they come to participate in activities. Wilmette, one-third the size of Evanston, in the last three years has authorized $35 million in additional spending. Skokie has authorized in the last seven -eight years $70-80 million in spending. The City of Chicago is spending all kinds of money on their parks. When a community has parks they must be maintained. If not maintained the community has crumbling buildings. He said it will be tough to fund it but it is important to go forward. Mayor Morton noted that Evanston is getting many young people moving into the new downtown condominiums. She thought it wonderful that bright, young people are coming here and someday some of them will be sitting where they are. There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Morton asked for a motion to adjourn. The Council so moved at 10:03 p.m. Mary P. Morris, City Clerk A videotape recording of this meetine has been made Dart of the permanent record and is available in the Citv Clerk's office.