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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05_02_05_smCITY COUNCIL May 2, 2005 PRESENT: ELECTED OFFICIALS:Mayor Morton, Aldermen Jean-Baptiste, Bernstein, Rainey, Tisdahl, Moran Aldermen-elect Holmes and Wollin A Quorum was present. STAFF:Assistant City Manager Judith Aiello, City Manager Julia Carroll, Fire Chief Alan Berkowsky, 1st Assistant Corporation Counsel Herb Hill, Assistant to the City Manager Vincent Jones, Assistant to the City Manager Gavin Morgan, and Finance Director Bill Stafford CORPORATION COUNSEL:Jack Siegel OTHERS:Hollis Settles Jr. A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council was held on Monday, May 2, 2005, starting at 6:13 p.m. in the Aldermanic Library for the purpose of conducting an orientation for the 77th City Council. Corporation Counsel Jack Siegel spoke about the roles and responsibilities under the Council/Manager form of government outlined in Article 5, 65 Illinois Compiled Statutes. With this form of government the role the powers of the Council are purely legislative - to set policy and goals of the City. The day-to-day operation of the City is under a City Manager who is the administrative head of the government. The City Manager prepares the budget, attends all meetings of the Council but does not vote. The Manager is authorized to sign all contracts and is custodian of the records of the City. Evanston has been a Home Rule community since adoption of the Illinois Constitution in 1970. Under Home Rule the City has the power to license, tax, and incur debt with the provision that the City cannot incur debt for more than 40 years. Normally the City bonds for 10, 15 or 20 years. Under Home Rule the City cannot define or punish felonies or go into the criminal code. The City cannot impose an income tax. The power of Home Rule can be pre- empted. The Illinois legislature has whittled away at Home Rule and can remove it by a 3/5 vote. Mr. Siegel explained that Council adopts legislation by ordinances and resolutions. An ordinance is a permanent application and resolutions are for a special purpose. All ordinances must be adopted by a roll call vote. Resolutions may be adopted orally except when expenditures are involved, a roll call is required. The Mayor has the statutory authority to veto. A veto must be a written communication and can be over ridden by a 2/3 vote of the Council. Aldermen are required to vote and can abstain only when there is a specific conflict of interest. 1st Assistant Corporation Counsel Herb Hill explained that township government is not under Home Rule and derives its power from the Illinois statutes. Aldermen are trustees of the Township because the City and Township of Evanston are coterminous. The Township Supervisor oversees General Assistance and the Township Assessor has to meet specific statutory requirements to hold office. The Human Services Committee provides oversight of the Township. Mr. Hill explained the Ethics Ordinance applies to elected officials and employees of the City and noted the City operates under the Open Meetings Act; noted that when a majority of a quorum of Council members meets it is considered a Council meeting. City Manager Julia Carroll spoke about the need for strategic planning and a recommendation to the City Council to hire a facilitator at the May 9 Council meeting. Council will meet and try to build consensus around a common vision and strategy to achieve that vision with annual goals. She explained frequency of communication and quarterly meetings with aldermen. The City has an aldermanic request system and she prefers that all aldermanic requests come through the City Managers office. Council packets go out on Thursdays. The timing deadline has changed internally to Monday with duplication on Wednesdays. On Fridays additional information is sent out. 2 May 2, 2005 Mr. Hill explained the role of boards, commissions and committees, noting that Evanston has more commissions and boards than most communities. The Council and Mayor can create boards. City Manager Carroll said on legislative and inter-governmental issues, the City interacts with county, state and federal officials. Council members are encouraged to interact more frequently with county, state and federal officials. The City is a member of the Northwest Municipal Conference. Mayor Morton is the City representative and the City Manager is the alternate. Evanston is a member of Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County. Alderman Moran is the City representative and the alternate is the City Manager. Finance Director Bill Stafford explained the City’s budget is $160 million with a $2 million bi-weekly payroll for 1100- 1500 employees. He reported that the City had 2,000 purchase orders, over 250 bid items and 1,900 payment vouchers last year. He noted that items costing $15,000 or more require Council approval, which he thought was too low and that $50,000 would be more reasonable. He explained three kinds of procurements: bids, request for proposals and request for qualifications. He noted municipal prices run higher than the consumer price index. Bids are required for all construction projects on anything $15,000 or more for streets, alleys, parks and City buildings. Requests for qualifications are used for professional services. He explained M/W/EBE’s goals of 25% for purchasing and 15% for voluntary employment. Development agreements have penalties on not meeting the 25% purchasing requirement. Ms. Carroll announced a second orientation session would be held on Saturday May 21 from 9-12:00 noon about the Capital Improvement Program plus a bus tour of City facilities. The Orientation Session ended at 8:50 p.m. Mary P. Morris, City Clerk