HomeMy WebLinkAbout05_21_05_smCITY COUNCIL May 21, 2005
PRESENT:
ELECTED OFFICIALS:Aldermen Jean-Baptiste, Bernstein, Hansen, Holmes, Tisdahl, Moran, Wollin,
Wynne
A Quorum was present.
STAFF:Assistant City Manager Judith Aiello, Fire Chief Alan Berkowsky, City Manager
Julia Carroll, Management & Budget Director Pat Casey, Parks/Forestry &
Recreation Director Doug Gaynor, Assistants to the City Manager Vincent Jones
and Gavin Morgan, Public Works Director David Jennings, Police Chief Frank
Kaminski, Facilities Management Director Max Rubin, Finance Director Bill
Stafford, Health & Human Services Director Jay Terry, Executive Secretary Audrey
Trotsky, Human Resource Director Judith Witt, Community Development Director
James Wolinski
A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council was held on Saturday, May 21, 2005, starting at 8:30 a.m. in the clinic
waiting area of the Health Department for the purpose of second orientation meeting for the 77th Evanston City Council.
City Manager Julia Carroll announced they would briefly review the Capital Improvement Program and then tour some
city-owned facilities.
Health & Human Services Director Jay Terry gave a brief overview of the services and functions of this department
noting that they provide family health services such as immunizations, vision and hearing screening and family planning.
Beach water testing is done in this department; food sanitarians inspect restaurants and provide temporary testing where
foods are served at outdoor festivals. They track West Nile Virus and other disease-causing vectors. Vital statistics
provide birth and death certificates. There is a dental clinic with a pediatric dentist. Staff deals with infectious disease
control and conducts testing, monitoring and counseling for sexually transmitted disease and AIDS. The department
cooperates with other agencies such as the Cook County Suburban Sanitarium District for TB testing. Clinics and
seminars are held to help youth and adults stop smoking are offered. Some 500 home visits are paid annually to people
who need assistance.
Management & Budget Director Casey explained the City has a Geographic Information System in which information
is translated to maps to better view and analyze Evanston features. They map tree trimming cycles, building structures,
crime, water meters, etc. GIS can make a map of an area or citywide maps in many different sizes. He demonstrated a
large ward map which will be mounted on foam board for aldermen requesting it.
Mr. Casey also oversees administrative adjudication, where non-felony, non-misdemeanor offenses are heard before a
hearing officer. This program was started three-four years ago and gets people through the process quicker. Previously
the courts threw out many tickets issued here. The Council Chamber is used as the hearing room and the City contracts
out with five attorneys who provide adjudication services.
Assistant City Manager Judith Aiello explained that the Capital Improvement Program gets projects ready for
construction. A five-year plan identifies the City’s infrastructure needs. The first year capital budget is approved by City
Council and the remaining four years are part of a rolling five year plan that gives general policy direction and initiates
the planning process. The five year plan identifies all projects and potential funding sources. The majority of projects
are funded by General Obligation Bonds. Other sources include CDBG funds, Motor Fuel Tax Funds, Water and Sewer
funds, special assessments, TIF funds, state and federal grants and private sources. The Capital Improvement Program
looks at all areas of need: public buildings, recreation, parks & forestry, transportation, information systems and
economic development.
2 May 21, 2005
The City has increased five-year funding for capital needs and currently spends $6.5 million minimum annually but needs
to get to $10 million annually. $4 million alone is needed annually for streets; $15-20 million for the Civic Center. The
policy is to either rehab or rebuild all five fire stations. Fire Station #5 is the last station to be done. $6-9 million is
needed for viaducts, which are funded by the CTA, and a policy decision is needed on Robert Crown Center.
Finance Director Bill Stafford noted that historically the City has spent $3.5 million on capital needs and needs to
provide more CIP funding above $6.5 million. As of two years ago lawsuits created potential liabilities of $23 million,
so there is a need to fully fund Insurance Fund liabilities of over $21 plus million. They have swapped monies with funds
with cash balances to the Insurance Fund and need to avoid judgment bonds to keep rates low for the City and taxpayers.
He discussed financing strategies for the long term; noted they are holding off on bonds until they get the outcome of
the Parham case. Long term strategy is to borrow $12 million a year for five years, then $8 million a year thereafter with
a debt limit of $100 million. This assumes a 4% annual debt service levy increase and comprises one-third of the City’s
annual property tax levy. He explained that Evanston has an Aaa bond rating, the best credit rating a city can have. Only
seven communities in Illinois have it, which means when the City pays the lowest rate when they borrow.
Human Resources Director Judith Witt explained there is a workforce of almost 200 people at the Civic Center. Many
are under contract with AFSCME with the remainder managers, supervisors or exempt.
At this time Council and staff members boarded a bus and visited the following City-owned facilities: the Water Plant
at 555 Lincoln Street; new Fire Station #3 at 1105 Central Street and Fire Station #5 at 2830 Central Street; the Police
Station at 1454 Elmwood Avenue; Fire Headquarters at 909 Lake Street and the Levy Senior Center at 300 Dodge
Avenue. There was discussion of the condition of the streets and the parks.
The Orientation Session ended at 12:40 p.m.
Mary P. Morris,
City Clerk