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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02_28_05_ccCITY COUNCIL February 28, 2005 ROLL CALL - PRESENT: Alderman Bernstein Alderman Rainey Alderman Tisdahl Alderman Feldman A Quorum was present. Alderman Jean-Baptiste NOT PRESENT AT ROLL CALL:Aldermen Moran, Newman, Wynne ABSENT:Aldermen Kent PRESIDING:Mayor Lorraine H. Morton The OFFICIAL REGULAR MEETING of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Morton Monday, February 28, 2005, at 6:10 p.m. in the Aldermanic Library. Alderman Bernstein moved that Council convene into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing matters related to personnel, collective bargaining, litigation and closed session minutes pursuant to 5ILCS Section 120/2 (c) (1), (2), (11) and (21). Seconded by Alderman Rainey. (1)The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity. (2) Collective negotiating matters between the public body and its employees or their representatives, or deliberations concerning salary schedules for one or more classes of employees. (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 Bernstein, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feld man, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (6-0). At 7:13 p.m. Alderman Bernstein moved that the Council reconvene into open session and recess. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Morton reconvened the City Council meeting at 9:18 p.m. in the Council Chamber. ANNOUNCEMENTS: City Manager Julia Carroll announced that Illinois Severe Weather Preparedness Week is February 27 through March 5. The next day at 10:00 a.m. there would be a test tornado warning for all Illinois counties. She invited all to two-hour spotters training, taught by the National Weather Service, on Tuesday, March 15, at 2:00 p.m. or 6:00 p.m. in the Parasol Room of the Civic Center. Call (847) 866-2999 to sign up. Recreation Superintendent Bob Dorneker, on behalf of the Parks/Forestry and Recreation Department thanked the Lighthouse Rotary Club for their generous donation of fitness equipment at the lakefront parks. The Club will hire a private contractor to install the stations between Lee Street Beach and the southern border of Northwestern University. The value of this donation is between $25-50,000 and exemplifies Rotarys motto, service above self. Ms. Carroll announced that Radio Evanston, 1650 AM, would be tested and running by the end of the week. Mayor Morton Proclaimed March National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month 2 February 28, 2005 City Clerk Mary Morris announced that the last day to register to vote for the April 5 Consolidated Election is Tuesday, March 8. The City Clerks office will be op en Saturday, March 5, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, in addition to regular weekday hours for registration. Applications to vote absentee by mail are available in the Clerks office or on voterinfonet.com. In-person absentee voting will begin Monday, March 14. Please call the City Clerks office before coming that day to be sure that voting materials have arrived. CONSENT AGENDA (Any item marked with an Asterisk*) Alderman Feldman moved Council approval of the Consent Agenda with these exceptions: Ordinance 123-O-04 - Special Use/Major Variation at 702-708 Greenleaf; Ordinance 10-O-05 - Zoning Planned Development - 1228 Emerson St.; and Ordinance 9-O-05 - Zoning Map Amendment Rezone to B1 the current B2 area along Central St. (between Marcy & Bennett). Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. * ITEMS APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA MINUTES: * Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of February 14, 2005 and the Special City Council Meetings of February 7, 2005 and February 12, 2005. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) *Approval, as recommended, of the City of Evanston payroll for the period through February 24, 2005 and City of Evanston bills for the period ending March 1, 2005, authorized and charged to the proper accounts: City of Evanston payroll (through 02/24/05) $2,012,298.54 City of Evanston bills (through 03/01/05) $2,220,760.60 * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of lowest responsive and responsible bid from Mid American Water in the amount of $147,998.28; Foreman & Company in the amount of $56,606.06; National Waterworks Inc. in the amount of $105,482.90; Ziebell Water Service Products, Inc. in the amount of $58,854 and Vollmar Clay Products Company in the amount of $170,110 for water distribution materials for a two-year period. (Funded in the Distribution Materials and Sewer System account.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of lowest responsive and responsible bid from Polydyne in the amount of $20,000; Rowell Chemical in the amount of $45,320 and $708; Solvay in the amount of $41,700; Stiles-Kim in the amount of $109,650 and U.S. Aluminate in the amount of $50,701.30, for water treatment chemicals. (Funded in the Water Filtration Division account.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of lowest responsive and responsible bid from E. Norman Security Systems, Inc. for a Fire Alarm System for Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center at a cost of $35,596. (Funded by 2003-04 CDBG funds.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of lowest responsive and responsible bid from Stertil-Koni for the purchase of one platform lift for the Fleet Services Division at a cost of $37,741. (Funded in the Fleet Services account.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of the purchase of thirty (30) Defibrillators from Medtronic Emergency Response Systems at a cost of $56,167.81, using a General Services Administration contract. (Funded by FY 2004-05 contingency funds and Foreign Fire Tax.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of the purchase of property insurance from FM Global for the City of Evanston valued at $375,000,000 at a cost of $310,000 which includes terrorism coverage and excess general liability insurance coverage ($10,000,000 coverage in excess of $2,000,000) at a cost of $217,053; and second tier excess at a cost of $68,095; medical liability 3 February 28, 2005 coverage at a cost of $13,449; fine art coverage at a cost of $11,597 and crime and fidelity coverage at a cost of $12,842. The total premium cost if $633,286. (Funded in the Insurance Fund.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of contract with Call One for local and long-distance telephone service using the Northwest Municipal Conference contract. (Funded in the Information Systems budget.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of cooperative maintenance agreement with EVMARK for downtown maintenance, including funding a portion of a private contractor to provide enhanced maintenance and landscaping at a cost of $58,394.40 (Funding is available in Downtown TIF and refunding of Special Service Area #5 bonds.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of contract amendment number one (1) for Phase I of the Bike Plan implementation with an increased cost of $6,407 to the original contract amount of $34,216. (Funded by GO Bonds.) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) ■ ■ ■ ■ * Ordinance 24-O-05 - Easement Agreement - 1100 Clark St/1719 Ridge Ave - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 24-O-05, which authorizes the City Manager to execute an easement agreement with TR Sienna Partners for foundation and earth retention on the public right-of-way adjacent to 1100 Clark St. and 1719 Ridge Ave. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 25-O-05 - Easement Agreement - 819-823 Foster St. Consideration of proposed Ordinance 25-O-05, which authorizes the City Manager to execute an easement agreement for a water main installation on the public-right-of-way for 819-823 Foster St. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 14-O-05 - Special Assessment #1462 - Alley Paving - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 14-O-05, introduced February 14, 2005, which authorizes the paving of an alley located north of Noyes St. and east of Brown Ave. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Ordinance 16-O-05 - Special Assessment #1474 - Alley Paving - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 16-O-05, introduced February 14, 2005, which authorizes the paving of an alley located north of Emerson St. and east of Jackson Ave. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Ordinance 17-O-05 - Special Assessment #1477 - Alley Paving - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 17-O-05, introduced February 14, 2005, which authorizes the paving of an alley located north of Foster St. and east of Jackson Ave. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Ordinance 18-O-05 - Special Assessment #1479 - Alley Paving - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 18-O-05, introduced February 14, 2005, which authorizes the paving of an alley located north of Greenleaf St. and east of Darrow Ave. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Ordinance 20-O-05 - Decreasing Class H Liquor Licenses - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 20-O-05, introduced February 14, 2005, which amends Section 3-5-6(H) of the City Code to decrease the number of Class H liquor licenses by one from two to one due to the closing of Osco Drug Store #5627, 1630 Sherman Ave. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: 4 February 28, 2005 * Ordinance 19-O-05 - Zoning Planned Development - 1800 Ridge Ave. - Consideration of the findings and report of the Plan Commission, introduced February 14, 2005, to grant a requested planned development for 1800 Ridge Ave. (Alderman Bernstein abstained due to a conflict of interest. He represents the purchaser of the property.) * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (7-0-1) * Ordinance 13-O-05 - Zoning Text Amendment Build to Lot Line - Consideration of the findings and report of the Plan Commission regarding amending the Zoning Ordinance build-to-lot-line provisions for B1, B2, B3, D2, D3 and D4 Business and Downtown districts. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 11-O-05 - Special Use for a Type 2 Restaurant - 1612 Benson Ave. - Consideration of the recommendation of the ZBA, introduced February 14, 2005, to grant a Special Use for a Type 2 Restaurant (Dunkin Donuts) at 1612 Benson Ave. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE: * Approval of January 2005 Township Monthly Bills - Consideration of a recommendation to approve the Township bills, payroll and medical payments for the month of January 2005 in the amount of $77,358.13. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Resolution 8-R-05 - Noyes Cultural Arts Center Leases - FY 05-06 - Consideration of recommendation to authorize the City Manager to enter into one-year new and renewal resident artist leases for spaces at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) OTHER COMMITTEES: * Approval of Contract - Consideration of approval of the contract between the City of Evanston and the Evanston Firefighters Association Local 742, In ternational Association of Firefighters, effective March 1, 2005 through February 28, 2007. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Morton asked the following appointment be confirmed: Genevieve OToole Housing Commission 2600 Central St. For term ending March 15, 2008 Mayor Morton asked the following reappointment be confirmed: David Dankert Environment Board 1145 Sherman Ave. For term ending March 15, 2009 Leonard Sciarra Environment Board 3003 Park Pl. For term ending March 15, 2009 Sharon Y. Bowie Plan Commission 1907 Dodge Ave. For term ending March 15, 2008 5 February 28, 2005 * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: Ordinance 123-O-04 - Special Use and Major Variation request for a Multi-Family Residential Use at 702-708 Greenleaf St. - Consideration of Ordinance 123-O-04 and the findings and report of the ZBA to recommend approval of a three-unit residential project at 702-708 Greenleaf St. Alderman Tisdahl moved to overturn the ZBAs recommendation and deny the special use and major variation request. Seconded by Alderman Feldman. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (8-0). Ordinance 10-O-05 - Zoning Planned Development - 1228 Emerson St. - Consideration of the findings and report of the Plan Commission to rezone to R5 from O1 and grant a planned development for 50 condos with 87 parking spaces at a height limited to the R5 maximum of 50 feet or 5 stories. Alderman Tisdahl reported that this item was held in committee. Ordinance 9-O-05 - Zoning Map Amendment Rezone to B1 Current B2 Area Along Central St. between Marcy and Bennett (west most B2 area) - Consideration of the findings and report of the Plan Commission regarding amending the zoning map to rezone to B1 Business from the current B2 Business District area along Central St. roughly between Marcy and Bennett avenues (west most B2 area on Central). Alderman Tisdahl asked that Ordinance 9-O-05 be marked introduced and referred back to the committee. CITIZEN COMMENT: Junad Rizki, 2784 Sheridan Rd., asked the value of the elm trees. In other cities there are ordinances that require homeowners who take down an elm tree on their property to pay $150 per inch. That means the elm trees are valued at close to $5,000 a tree. These are assets of the City and if they lost 230 trees that is a loss of $1 million in assets. He said the City does not maintain its assets and people know that with the Civic Center, Robert Crown Center and everything that is going on. All elm trees need to be injected. He noted defibrillators were approved and asked if they would be maintained because if they dont, the city will be sued. Council needs to think about these things. Jim Schermerhorn, 3016 Hartzell St. and 2737 Central St., stated the City should not spend money on regional problems. If staff and Council saw problems that were largely in the County those should be taken to Cook County. Elm trees dying is a local problem and to prevent more trees from dying, he asked the City to vote resources to find ways to treat them and that Council spend some money. He formerly lived on the 400 block of Keeney Street and over the five years he lived there, two large elms were cut down. Now he lives on Hartzell and there are at least two large trees that may be lost soon. He asked them to save their large trees. Tina Seastrom, 800 Hinman Ave., said she is a tree hugger. She quoted Julia Butterfly Hill, when you see someone in a tree trying to protect it you know that every level of society has failed. She spoke with Carol Jacobs, pathologist at Morton Arboretum, who said Evanston should deal with Edith Macra who deals with community tree issues. Ms. Jacobs suggested signature elms be vaccinated first due to mutation; said they should not pump them full of chemicals. Ms. Jacobs believed their consideration should be weekly sanitation and monitoring of the elms. Ms. Seastrom believes that trees purify the air and are needed. Evanston was a Tree City. She hoped they continued to love and respect their trees. 6 February 28, 2005 Frank Byers, 2922 Payne St., said if somebody had a property with 100 elms on it and injected all at a cost of $300 each, it would cost $30,000. At the end of three years and a loss rate of 2%, they would lose two trees that would have to be taken down. That is another $6,000 and would total $36,000. If the City continued on its the current course, they would lose 4 trees in the first year, down to 92 trees at the end of year two and down to 88 trees in year three. Twelve trees would have to be removed at $3,000 a tree, which is $36,000, the same at the cost of injections. He asked why the cost should be any different for the City and a private individual. The reason for the dramatic numbers is the technology that allows a 2% death rate as opposed to a 12% death rate over three years. He passed out information about St. Louis Park, a Minneapolis suburb that shows its decade-long experience with a 1.6% loss rate and the second sheet showed one of the largest arbor companies in Milwaukee that guarantees their injections as 99% effective. The Citys data shows 4% effectiveness and the program could be more severe with the signature program. Nathan Silverman, 3233 Otto Lane, spoke in opposition to well-intentioned, sentimental, misty-eyed elm lovers that call themselves TREE. The group has become a real pain in the stump with a cutesy name, ribbon tying theatrics and a fanatical insistence that Evanston taxpayers rescue every elm tree on public land through a never-ending program of elm disease inoculations. From what he has read this group claims to represent a community-wide consensus. Where is the evidence for this beyond their say so? High visibility does not mean broad public support. Too many have remained silent while this group has lobbied loudly to put every single elm on perpetual life support. Tree injections every three years forever at the expense of all Evanstonians is their non-negotiable demand. Save every last elm tree! Why? Because they like them. It is time to speak up against this hysterical insistence on an expensive tax funded no tree left behind program. Maybe an ad hoc citizens group called STEM is needed and could stand for stop the elm mania. They need to face reality; tree injections may only delay the inevitable. Let nature take its course and choose a wiser path through the woods. If the issue was about protecting healthy trees from logging, irresponsible development or some other avoidable man-made threat, he would be out tying ribbons. Carol & (son) Kevin McCarthy, 2714 Lincoln St., said economic proposals were in front of Council; said they were blessed to have an exceptionally beautiful tree community and risked losing it. It is not only an economic decision but also quality of life. Kevin said when he grows up, he would not raise his kids anywhere else than Evanston. Why not go and live in Naperville if all the trees are gone. Evanston is known for its beautiful elm trees and if that is taken away, Evanston would be a plain old city. He likes Evanston for what it is. Lynn Lipman, 731 Michigan Ave., recognized the City has lots of constraints, that needs are great and money is slight. She said that Council was elected to think about effective solutions, think from vision and creativity. She found it hard to believe that the only solution to this is the current one (sanitation). Leigh MacIsaac, 1123 Noyes St., cut short her vacation to be here; urged that this be a priority and all elm trees be injected. She suggested the signature program would create chaos. When she tied ribbons on the elm trees on McCormick Blvd., she measured them and found most were 24 inches in diameter. Most people would agree that the elm trees on McCormick, between Golf and Green Bay, are extraordinary and those would not make the signature cut; also most elms on Ridge would not either. There are a number of 30-inch elms that are not healthy enough for the injections. She predicted the City would have residents calling to ask which trees made the cut and which did not. She thought neighborhood groups would call to ask which elms on their block would be injected and which not. She thought there would be a lot of confusion by the general public and many would give requests for individual trees. An easier solution would be to inject all of them. If they go with signature only they need to have citizens on a board that choose the signature trees and aldermen need the final say on variances to signature definition. Rich Borgwardt, 2417 Prospect Ave., grew up in St. Louis. He and his wife visited several dozen suburbs and the City of Chicago and chose Evanston because of the beautiful trees on the parkways. If they look at future tax dollars, it takes decades for trees to grow large. Looking ahead, what will make people want to move to Evanston versus going to western suburbs, where they build developments on former farms. He asked that all trees be injected. Amy Brown, 336 Ashland Ave., said she is a high school student and does not pay property taxes but will in the near future. The elms are important to the well being of this town and the people. Not only are trees a necessity for life, they also give everybody fresh air and are wonderful to have here. Mike Cafferata, 3001 Normandy Pl., spoke for his wife Pat and said they ought to inoculate these trees because it works. 7 February 28, 2005 Seventeen years ago they moved into a new house with a couple of elm trees. The City told them one had to be cut down and removed it at a cost of $1,000. He wanted to the save the other, so paid to have it inoculated. The tree is still there, so inoculation works and his home looks a lot better with a tree there. Laurel Crawford, 2321 Sheridan Rd., said she was the Lorax who speaks for the trees. She attends Northwestern University and spends a lot of time under fluorescent lights with not much time for social life. Trees are her friends. Trisha Hammer, 1907 Lincoln St., shared in a community effort during 10 days in September on two blocks of Lincoln St. from Green Bay Rd. to Hartrey and two blocks of Prairie from Colfax to Harrison St., which includes St. Matthews Church and Haven School. Residents raised $12,000 to have 30 trees injected. She said, without being self- congratulatory, that she lives in an area where citizens can afford to support the trees. Community funds are needed to help residents who cannot raise that kind of money. She stated that it is important for all in the community to use money to save all the trees and not leave it to the more affluent areas to take care of their parkway trees. Gary Dupuis, 3004 Normandy Pl., said he was not a tree hugger but a beauty hugger, logic hugger and a fiscal responsibility hugger. He suggested they take the chop-down-the-tree money and switch it over to inject the elms and save Evanstons trees. Then they will all have a fine city that they will continue to love and enjoy the beauty of Evanston for many years. It would be a travesty to see these trees comes down unnecessarily. Miriam Davidson, 1428 Noyes St., spoke before about how confusing the definition of signature trees could be. She is home during the day in the summer and on her side of the street there are two large, majestic American elm trees and on the other side is an elm tree. On hot summer days, workers pull up their trucks and stop in front of her house and eat their lunch under the tree. There is something wonderful about the American elm tree on a hot summer day. She never saw anybody sit under the other tree. She said the American elm is different than other trees and Evanston does not have a lot of large trees with canopies. She has seen youth from high school sit under the tree at night so it is a romantic tree. She hoped Council would vote to inject all the public elm trees. Kate Hoppel & Jori Zimmerman, 2345 Ashland Ave. and 729 Lincoln St., from ETHS, worked hard selling green rubber band bracelets at Dominicks and door to door. They passe d out over 1,000 brochures and raised more than $2,000, enough to inoculate eight elm trees. Ms. Zimmerman said the support they have received from classmates, neighbors and teachers was outstanding and to save the elms. Amanda Steele, 1833 Asbury Ave., senior at ETHS, said when she was a little girl and saw a freshly cut down tree, she would cry, but eventually learned to hold it in. She came to realize that was a concealment of her humanity. It is a visceral impulse that people conceal as they grow older. She believes all have a natural connection to the environment. She knows that all Evanston residents have profound regard for elm trees. Her sincerest hope was that they embrace themselves as human beings and do all they can to save their natural counterparts. It would be a shame if they were forced to change that dimension to a stump and was proud to be misty eyed that evening. Tom McSheehy, 131 Clyde Ave., encouraged Council to consider three aspects of the economic benefits of trees. He urged they look at energy savings, which reduces air pollution and increases the value of real estate. He said these are real values; did a conservative estimate and got $1,520 as the economic benefit. People, as evidenced by those present, know that $100,000 is not a big deal, which is the difference between injecting some trees and all trees. With businesses, schools and people who start an adopt-an-elm program, Earth Day is coming March 22 and Arbor Day is April 29. There is a great opportunity to have businesses and schools adopt trees with plaques on them. He encouraged Council to think big, innovatively and pro-actively and not within the narrow confines of the budget and consider the economic benefits of the elm trees. Betty Ester, 1806 Grey Ave., spoke about Ordinance 21-O-05; applauded the City government for taking a look at the sewer rate increase, which will be delayed from March 1 to September 1. She was sure many residents applauded this. This was done in order to do a study to determine what type of fair rate should be charged to businesses and residents. Tim Kazurinsky, 1037 Sheridan Rd., said there are 10 magnificent elm trees on his block and with one lost tree. He said it costs $87 to inoculate one tree for one year and costs $3,000 to chop that tree down and plant a sapling. Inoculate 10 8 February 28, 2005 trees at $87 costs $870 and chop down 10 trees costs $30,000. With a 98% effectiveness rate of inoculation, Dutch elm disease is even more highly preventable than colorectal cancer. He hoped City Council would declare March 2, 2005 as Dutch elm disease awareness day. There are so many ugly new condominiums and so few beautiful elms. Marcia Kazurinsky, 1037 Sheridan Rd., was against paying taxes to destroy trees; wanted to pay taxes to protect trees. The City spends a lot of money and effort to establish historic districts and people are concerned about old houses. She thought Evanstonians should be concerned about old trees and value them. She urged that all public elm trees be injected and then Evanston could truly be called a Tree City. Lina Sen, 928 Sheridan Rd., a physician, has lived here for 19 years; has cared for many of Evanstons children and loves this community, its ambiance and especially its elm-lined streets. The very emblem of Evanston has magnificent trees depicted. How sad it would be to find them missing. She has two large elm trees on the parkway in front of her home. They are like grandparents and she thinks of them as her children to love and nurture. She asked that they find a way to save them and allow them to share their grace and charm for years to come. The speaker who said their demise was inevitable was wrong. With immunizations the trees can live. Patsy Benveniste, 400 Ridge Ave., reminded those that the gentleman who delivered the withering critique of the elm protectors on the basis of economic rationality was impressive, but speculated that he probably would not counsel them to take a hard look at the Citys infrastructure such as roads, bricks and mortar, pipes and electric lines that depreciate over time. They take, as a given, that they will re-invest in the built environment. She asked for the same consideration for the trees that grow around them and enrich their lives. She encouraged Council to vote for full immunization. Virginia Mann, 3004 Normandy Pl., reminded Council that the City has made a tremendous investment in its public trees. Tonight they heard about Evanstons future. Some 20-30 years ago people on the Council thought about the future and adopted one of the most aggressive elm tree care programs anywhere, which is why today they will vote to spend $3,163,000 on the Parks/Forestry budgets. Of that they will vote to spend $574,100 to deal with Dutch elm disease control. It is not an option of either injecting the trees or letting them die. If that were the case, they would have saved tens of millions of dollars over the past 30 years. The City is spending millions every few years and losing elm trees at a record pace when they no longer need to do that. She hoped Council would not let the elm trees get chopped down for only one reason -- because they did not have the political will to do the fiscally and environmentally responsible thing, which is to inject all the elm trees. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Alderman Feldman asked that the following four items be treated as Consent Agenda items. Alderman Feldman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. * Resolution 10-R-05 - Acceptance of Donation - Consideration of proposed Resolution 10-R-05, which authorizes the City Manager to execute an agreement between the Lighthouse Rotary Foundation of Evanston and the City for acceptance of the donation of ten (10) fitness stations valued between $25,000-$50,000 and permission to install and construct them on the Citys lakefront path system. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Ordinance 21-O-05 - Revision to Sewer Rates - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 25-O-05, which amends Title 7, Chapter 13, Section 3(A) of the City Code to adjust the sewer user charge and delay the currently planned rate increase until September 1, 2005. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA Alderman Feldman moved that the Rules be Suspended in order to adopt an ordinance introduced that evening. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Feldman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Wynne. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (8-0). 9 February 28, 2005 * Ordinance 22-O-05 - Cigarette Tax Increase - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 22-O-05, which amends Section 3-2-14-2 of the City Code to increase the Cigarette Tax from $.16/pack to $.32/pack. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA Alderman Feldman moved that the Rules be Suspended in order to adopt an ordinance introduced that evening. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Feldman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Tisdahl. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (8-0). * Ordinance 23-O-05 - Vehicle Sticker Fine - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 23-O-05, which amends Section 10-8-10 of the City Code to increase the vehicle sticker fine. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA Alderman Feldman moved that the Rules be Suspended in order to adopt an ordinance introduced that evening. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Feldman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Bernstein. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (8-0). * Resolution 12-R-05 - Acceptance of Public Art Donation - Consideration of a recommendation from the Public Art Committee to accept the donation of the public art sculpture Silver Wings from Duke Realty Company and an appropriation of funds from the 2004-05 CIP contingency amount not to exceed $15,000 for the relocation, installation and refurbishing of the sculpture. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) Alderman Newman recalled that staff would return with a location. Alderman Jean-Baptiste said the committee accepted the donation and there were several places the sculpture could go. The committee wanted to know the process of identifying locations. He suggested they discuss location at committee. Alderman Newman confirmed that staff would return with the location for the sculpture. Resolution 6-R-05 - Proposed FY 2005-2006 Budget - Consideration of proposed Resolution 6-R-05, the proposed budget for the City of Evanston for the fiscal year 2005-2006. Alderman Feldman moved approval of Resolution 6-R-05, the FY 2005-06 proposed budget. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Alderman Jean-Baptiste reported conversations with Parks/Forestry Division staff about their intent regarding the trees, how money is spent, noting the proposal was conservative for the budget. He understood from staff, that if the City had the money, they would inject all public elm trees. During the last ten years, 20% of Evanstons elms have been lost and are being lost at a rate of 4% a year. When he looked at what is spent on the sanitation program, it seemed that based upon the success of an inoculation program, they could have significant savings. When they projected into the next ten years, if they lose another 20% of the elms, and impose on citizens who have diseased trees the major obligation of $3,000 to remove them, it makes sense to inject all public elm trees. The survey is number one and may reveal that if they start out with X as the total number, by the time th ey start to inject, there would be a loss of trees through sanitation because some trees would be too diseased to save, so the cost would be reduced. He thought they would also find that there are too many parkway elms too close to privately owned elm trees that could be infected through root grafting. He thought the best thing they can do is to inject all the public elms and do whatever they have to, based on the survey, in adjusting the numbers. 10 February 28, 2005 Alderman Newman agreed on injecting all parkway trees as opposed to only signature trees; said they are living in a Tree City and the elm trees provide something to Evanston that is part of the Citys character. When somebody goes to the top a tall building here and looks down they see a sea of green, which is what Evanston is about. The most majestic part of that urban forest is the elm trees. Looking back, Evanston has been ahead of the game on treating elm trees. He thought there would be savings in the long term if they choose to inoculate all the trees; agreed that they need a survey and to do all the parkway trees. He believed that homeowners who have an elm tree on the parkway in front of their home receive a benefit from that tree. It may be how the tree looks, the shade it provides and the utility cost savings. He did not think a person living in a condominium benefits in the same way as the homeowner. In looking at the St. Louis Park example provided by TREE, he saw that the city paid 60% of the cost of injection for public trees. He did not think it was unreasonable, considering 50/50 programs for sidewalks and alleys. Parkways are in front and, it was reasonable to have a 50/50 program to inoculate the public elms. Looking at Chart A, the signature program, which the City would fund, costs $86,000 a year. If they go to a 50/50 program the cost to the City is roughly $14,000 more a year. The startup cost for the signature program is $312,000. He assumed to inject all the trees at a cost of $858,000 and with the 50/50 program the cost would go to $427,000 as startup cost. He thought people wanted a policy designed to save the elm trees. He thought that people have a responsibility now to maintain the parkway and part of that is to maintain the trees. If it costs $100 a tree over three years, that would be $50 a year. Part of maintaining a home here is maintaining the landscaping. If they do a 50/50 program, every single homeowner, business and condominium owner contributes to the 50% because of their interest in maintaining the ambiance of the community. He suggested the City do as they did in St. Louis Park and look to homeowners to come up with the other 50% of the bill over a three-year period. If they do that, they have the program that inoculates all the trees, dont have to make distinctions about what is or is not a signature tree and have a program designed to do the best they can to maintain and preserve community assets. He believed over time, fewer trees would have to be cut down, so there would be savings. He agreed with the city manager that this be reviewed every three years to determine the effectiveness of the program. He hoped it would work and be done in perpetuity. There was no question that it is in the public interest to save the elm trees. If staff says that saving the signature trees works, then inoculation works. He believed inoculation should apply to all trees in a fair, equitable way to all taxpayers. Somebody living on Maple Ave. on the 25th floor has a different interest than somebody living in a house with an elm tree on the parkway. If this is accepted, the cost is little different than the signature program that is in the budget now. Alderman Newman moved that the City inject all the parkway elms in a 50/50 cost program, shared with homeowners; do the survey first, then do trees that are not connected to private elms. The second step will be how to figure out how to bring the private elms into the program. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Alderman Tisdahl agreed that elm trees are majestic and an important part of Evanston; said there were differing views on how to best save the elm trees. She read the University of Illinois views: Sanitation is a vital part of community-wide DED management. Pruning, when DED is detected early and less than 5% of the crown is infected, can be used to eradicate DED fungus. Root graft control is important to prevent the spread of DED. Although there are many fungicides in the market, a literature review by Stennes and Haugen (Plant Disease Quarterly, 2000) pointed to Arbortect 20S and Alamo as being the most effective. Keep in mind that the preventative injections move upward and are not effective against infections that come from the roots grafted to nearby infected trees. The drawback to using any of the current fungicides is cost and the fact that repeated injections may risk tree health. Fungicides are suggested only when high value trees are in danger and the community has an excellent sanitation and root graft control program. She said that many other universities have similar recommendations. Because of these differing views on the effectiveness of this, did Alderman Newmans motion have the homeowners contri bution as voluntary or mandatory. If it was voluntary, she could support the motion. Alderman Newman said homeowners participation would be mandatory and the City has an excellent sanitation program. He saw a voluntary program as no program. They have to be willing to say to the community that elm trees are part of the character and vital to preserving to what they know as Evanston. A difference between Skokie, where he grew up, and Evanston is four elms were cut down in front of his Skokie home, and Evanston stepped forward to save the elms. He thought they need to move forward again and this technology was moving forward. Mayor Morton asked Alderman Newman if a tree dies, does the City pay to have it removed? Alderman Newman said the sanitation program would not change. Alderman Feldman said his support would be contingent on senior citizens who might not be able to pay their share, being accommodated and assumed that the City would pay for the cost of injecting all elm trees in the parks. If those issues were settled, he would support the motion. He was confident that it would pass that evening and there was no 11 February 28, 2005 alternative to inoculating all the elm trees. He said that no one has come up with a viable alternative, even though staff has worked hard on this. He did not think there was a signature tree because it is a fiction established by universities and left to citizens to define. He thought it would be difficult to define a signature tree and beyond their ability. He said they can do many things, but only God can make a tree. The trees they are struggling hard to preserve are gifts for all to enjoy and they have to leave them to their children and generations to come. He thought the action that evening would do that. But more important, because they never know for sure, hence the three-year evaluation, they must know that Council did all there was to do in taking advantage of the technology. While not a critic of universities, for some years he was a consultant to the Kettering Corporation on public policy matters. For years they filled their think tank with academics, but someway the programs did not work so they started calling in people who make public policy. With that addition, they had a different group of solutions and things worked better. Signature trees are not the way to go. He suggested the concept was arbitrary and would create divisions within the community. He stated there is no difference between a 29- inch elm and a 38-inch elm. He supported Alderman Newmans motion and felt it did not place too much of a burden on people. If there is an elm tree anyplace, it graces his life. Alderman Wynne commended Alderman Newmans solution that reduces the cost and is equitable, but pointed out there is no 50/50 on tree trimming. Condo owners also pay for tree trimming. There are many blocks where tree trimming costs are minimal. As a city, they have committed to tree trimming. The City let nature take its course for awhile with tree trimming and would have even fewer parkway trees if the City let nature take its course as recommended by one speaker. She thought that, wherever people live, they should share in the cost because all benefit from a healthy urban forest. Alderman Newman said, with a former city manager, the tree trimming happened every 30 years. Council changed it to a six-year cycle. One of the ways they were able to take trees down this year was to take resources from tree trimming. He said trimming is ongoing and an injection program will be put in place to prevent loss of trees. He looked at the program in context of resources. It could well be, in the future, if there is savings, the City could pick up the entire cost. The X factor is when the savings will come in. TREE argues it will come now, while staff argues it comes over time. Alderman Wynne would have supported injecting all trees according to Alderman Jean-Baptiste and supported a 50/50- injection program as well. She had a personal experience losing a tree and wished she had known that the tree could have been injected. All benefit from the trees no matter where one lives. In the sanitation program, the City has spent to remove elms. Six years ago it cost over $3,000 to remove a neighbors tree. She thought injecting was worth doing and that Evanston no longer has a monoculture, but has a variety of trees. Since elm trees can live to 300 years why not try to get another 50-60 years of life. Alderman Rainey was prepared to change her vote to support a tree inoculation program of all public trees with citizen participation. On tree trimming, in addition to adding to the health and growth of a tree, trimming is a safety factor also. Her ward has streets where trees are so low that children riding bicycles and pedestrians can be injured by low hanging limbs. All trees get trees trimmed, not just elms. She thought they have a new issue with the survey, and that is, having adjacent homeowners identified and they should have some idea what this will cost. They cannot take the estimated cost to inject all public trees and cut that number in half. The City will inject all elms in parks and all elms on parkways. Not all elms on parkways have an adjacent homeowner. She appreciated Alderman Newmans motion and supported it. Alderman Bernstein also supported injecting all public trees; wished he had known some of this before he lost two elms on the parkway in the past. In terms of economic benefit, $50 a year would be a wonderful savings in lieu of what was lost in heating/air conditioning costs and restructuring a shade garden into a sun garden. He found it curious that this has been an adversarial relationship between the TREE people and Council because, historically, Evanston has fashioned itself a tree city. He thought they all tried to devise the best method to save the trees, as they did historically with sanitation. Staff is trying to save money, which is their job. Scholarships have to be made available when people cannot afford to pay the 50% share. His concern was putting in money when root grafts can occur in two weeks. If they find, while doing the survey, that a parkway tree is diseased, it should not be saved and sanitation should still be used. Alderman Moran said whatever inoculation program is adopted, the 50/50 program makes economic sense. He intended to support staffs recommendation of doing signature elms and advocate strongly for providers of this service to take the economic savings and extend those to private citizens who want to inject their trees. Set up a community fund where that benefit, due to economy of scale and large numbers of injections, would accrue. He noted that some homes might not 12 February 28, 2005 have any elm trees, while others could have several. He had talked to people who dont have a parkway tree who would contribute to a tree down the block to save it and all people on a block who want to save the elms. His concern about injecting all the trees, in reviewing information provided by staff, was that virtually every university that was consulted, warned against the possible harm to trees through the injection method and repeated injections . Cornell University advised, this method should be carefully considered. It mentioned the fungicide is expensive and in addition researchers question whether the creation of large wounds by drilling large holes into the tree for the injection of fungicide causes more damage. Kansas State University said, routine inj ections may cause permanent injury to the trunk and lead to discoloration and decay problems. Michigan State Univers ity said, in addition, presently registered methods of injection can cause severe physical injury to the tree. Systemic fungicides are not a cure-all and should never be used as a substitute for other control methods. North Carolina St ate University said, since the treatment must be continued every 2-3 years, and new injection wounds must be made each year, the advisability of this practice is questionable in North Carolina except for highly valued trees. Oklahoma Stat e University said, the injection process itself can cause irreversible damage to trees. Sanitation is the key to DED control. Purdue University said, repeated injections are discouraged due to physical damage that results from the injection process. The University of Illinois said, the drawback to using any of the current fungicides is cost and the fact that repeated injections may risk tree health. Alderman Moran did not know whether all these assertions were true, but suggested this was current thinking from leading universities on the potential for severe damage. One unanswered question is whether injections could lead to significant tree damage. In the first year if they start by injecting all of the elms and find that the trees can be significantly damaged, they will be in a position of learning that after injecting all the trees. His sense is they know the injections can help, but what is the long-term effect. If they do a representative sampling, using the signature trees, because these are the larger trees and can better withstand the trauma due to their size, see where that takes the City. If they can see over the next three years that these injections wont hurt the tree s, maybe then they could think about being more aggressive and doing more trees. Aside from economics, the information they have indicates that some caution should be exercised. The question is what caution is that? Under the signature program they would inject about one-third of the elms. He could support that. He loves the trees, but would not want that love to override prudence in how they perform the task of saving them. He cautioned Council to look at launching a program on a selective basis, so they can assure themselves that, if the results are not as beneficial as they hoped for, that they could observe that and make adjustments. If all trees are injected at one time and the outcome is not as well as they like, they may have taken a step they cannot reverse or adjust. He urged Council to think about doing this selectively and the overall health of the tree population. Alderman Jean-Baptiste accepted the proposal for the 50/50 participation with the understanding that assistance would be available for those who cannot afford to pay to inject a tree in front of their home. He offered a friendly amendment to Alderman Newmans motion for 50/50 participation for all parkway elms. They are talking about injecting all public elms. He reiterated that they would do the survey, not inoculate diseased trees, do an evaluation in year three, not inoculate trees that could be infected by private elms so an agreement can be entered into with the private homeowner and that agreement should extend savings to the homeowner, and continue the sanitation program. He asked Parks/Forestry Superintendent Paul DAg ostino to discuss his principal concern, which was cost and not the impact of destroying trees. Mr. DAgostino said about 10% of the trees were taken out be cause those were in parks or non-residential parkway trees. Alderman Newman said the CD committee comes up with assistance programs and would leave it to that committee. He had no problem with assistance for senior citizens who dont have the economic resources. Mr. DAgostino said funding for an injection program was a major consideration and was concerned about the long-term effect on the trees. That was part of why staff recommended only injecting signature trees. Alderman Newman said if there was a question about the technology, and staff suggested injecting the best trees, why would they recommend that? It would seem they either accept the technology or not. He thought with the inoculation of all elm trees they would begin to have numbers, learn, and gain experience. Without an inoculation program 10 years ago, they had 4,963 parkway elms and were down to 3401, which is approximately 33% loss in 10 years. Sanitation alone is not working because in another 10 years, they will be down to around 2,400. He thought they needed to step in. Mr. DAgostino said Alderman Moran said it best. The signature trees are the largest, strongest trees and most capable of surviving after a single injection. Alderman Tisdahl supported the signature program recommended by staff because those trees are most likely to benefit from injections and not be harmed by the injections. All the research indicated the signature trees are the ones to inject 13 February 28, 2005 because the other elms could be harmed, which they dont want to do. Alderman Rainey was concerned about money. They were talking about passing a $175 million budget, yet they dont know how much this will cost. She needed a ballpark number from Finance Director Bill Stafford, or an accurate number through the results of the survey. She wanted to hear Mr. DAgostino talk about a more enhanced survey. Ms. Carroll said the cost to inject all elms would be $858,000 for the first year, given a cost of $10/inch. Of that amount, about 10% of those trees are in parks where the City would pay 100% of the cost. Revenues from homeowners would be $384,800, so the net cost is about $470,000. There would be a minimal collection cost. Ongoing tree inoculation, less the 10% for park trees, would be $157,734 per year. Alderman Newman asked for an explanation. Mr. Stafford explained the City would spend $88,400 for the 10% of trees that the City pays for; that reduces the $858,800 down to $769,000, half of which is subsidized by homeowners. Then take the remaining amount and get $473,000, which is the difference, and divide that by three, which gives $157,734. The amount has to be amortized over three years. Ms. Carroll explained it was the difference between total cost, minus what is collected from homeowners in the first year divided by three. It is the net cost, then one third of the ongoing cost has to be funded for three years out which gives $473,000 divided by three. Alderman Newman asked why they have initial one-time funding on the memo, then have annual contribution of $610,000? Mr. Stafford said the reason was when they talked to the Forestry Division, they would have some personnel do all of it, therefore, it would cost less. Thus, the first time the cost is higher than the second three-year cycle. Mr. DAgostino explained the $610,000 would be the cost of mate rials because City employees would do the injections. Alderman Newman thought the same principle would apply if they did a homeowners program. He said what they are doing in the outgoing years is saving up for the second round of injections. Ms. Carroll explained that the City will front the cash in the first and second years of the injection program and wont get money from the homeowners until the third year. It is cash flow mechanism, but the principle was correct that they would recover the money they set aside for the third year. Mr. Stafford stated if they find the costs are lower, they can be revised. Alderman Feldman wanted to see the figures on the screen so they know exactly what they were talking about. Alderman Newman moved that they put $450,000 aside for initial funding for inoculation of all public trees and put in an annual cost $100,000. His rationale was they could make up for the second year, which he did not think was that substantial, then figure out the numbers. He thought some trees would be eliminated due to the survey. The City would put in $100,000 for the first year. Alderman Rainey asked for an explanation. Mr. Stafford stated the total cost of injections is $858,000 for the first time. They would receive $384,800 from homeowners for 90% of the trees. The amortization over the next three years Alderman Newman argues, should be $100,000, which they can live with and come up with a number again after a year. Alderman Rainey asked how they could get $100,000 out of $384,800 divided by three. Mr. Stafford said the Citys figure is $157,000 over three year s and Alderman Newman says they will have lower costs so the amortization could be lower ($100,000). Alderman Rainey described this as the most irresponsible debate she had seen on budget numbers. She liked the concept Alderman Newman presented, but thought they were doing voodoo economics. She wanted to see firm numbers and, if they can have solid numbers with the survey, she still supported a 50/50 program to inject all the public trees. She was not comfortable with this. Mr. Stafford explained staff was comfortable with the $157,000 but the number could be lower. They will pay $858,000 to inject all the public trees in the first year and put in the collection of $384,800 from private homeowners -- that money is the amortization. Staff thought $157,000 was valid, but Alderman Newman thought $100,000 was valid because staff would do the work. Ms. Carroll said if they take the $610,000, the cost for the next three-year cycle, with 90% of that number they are at $550,000 for three years. If that is divided in half and allocated over three years, they were close. Mr. DAgostino commented that the $610,000 estimate in 2008 was done after speaking with the product manufacturer and adding some for inflation. Alderman Newmans argument was based on staf fs projection that the first injection would cost $858,000. The second injection, in 2008, would cost $610,000. When staff came up with annual program costs, $858,000 was used for both the initial and second cycle of injections, which was inconsistent with staffs number for amortization. That was why the $100,000 works. Alderman Jean-Baptiste thought the ongoing costs would be less than $100,000. Alderman Rainey stated the CD Committee cannot fund tree injections for those who cannot afford to pay. Alderman Feldman called the question. Seconded by Alderman Wynne. Motion carried. No nays. City Clerk Morris asked to have the motion restated. Alderman Jean-Baptiste said the motion was to inoculate all public 14 February 28, 2005 elm trees, institute a 50/50 program for parkway elms, survey all elms, not inoculate diseased trees, do an evaluation in the third year, do not inoculate trees that can be infected by private trees (until an agreement can be entered into with the private elm tree owner, which includes extending savings to the homeowner), continue the sanitation program and provide assistance to citizens who cannot afford to participate. Alderman Rainey asked if they have a sanction for people who wont pay half. Upon the passage of the budget proposal, First Assistant Corporation Counsel Herb Hill stated within six weeks, the Council would need to have the specifics of the tree program and sanctions that set forth a rational basis for inoculation, scientific background for it, then they can proceed. What they were voting on was the money for the program, which will come back in a specific format with guidelines. They will set up fines and it will be in the administrative adjudication process to keep it streamlined. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Rainey, Feldman, Ne wman, Jean-Baptiste,Wynne. Voting nay Moran, Tisdahl. Motion carried (6-2). City Manager Carroll gave a revised number on the budget of $176,225,800. Alderman Feldman moved approval of the budget with the revised figure of $176,225,800. Seconded by Alderman Bernstein. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (8-0). Resolution 7-R-05 - Proposed FY 2005-2006 Capital Improvement Program - Consideration of proposed Resolution 7-R-05, the 2006-2010 Capital Improvement Program. Ms. Carroll stated the numbers were revised. Based upon items, re-allocation of library funds and the James Park baseball field, etc., $99,820,266 was for the five-year plan and the first year number is $33,529,766. Alderman Feldman moved approval of 7-R-05, which includes the 2005-10 capital improvement plan of $99, 820, 266 and the FY 2005-06 capital improvement budget of $33,529,766. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Alderman Newman saw the February 24 memo on the James Park baseball fields and asked if the money is there to do the backstops without allocating new money? Ms. Carroll said that was correct due to completed projects that had a little money leftover. He confirmed the backstops would be built. He noted at the Human Services Committee they had a recommendation on funding the childrens library project. Of the $1.5 million cost of the project, $500,000 from private funds would be provided. Any costs over $1.5 million would be paid by the library. The $200,000 in this new fiscal year would not be from GO bonds, but paid from funds raised through the sale of the retail portion of the branch library building on Central St. That means they would no longer fund $200,000 for the project out of the $6.5 million they are bonding. He moved to apply those funds to Fire Station #5. Ms. Carroll suggested in her Friday memo those funds be applied to street maintenance. It was fine with her to apply it to the fire station. Alderman Jean-Baptiste has always been for libraries and related when his children were young they had great adventures going to the library. As he reviewed the proposal from the Library Board and how they needed to do a major renovation, he said was done arbitrarily. He suggested leadership was needed to look at serving all children. The analysis has been that the west side of town was like a hole in a doughnut to quote Mr. Ney, and use of the library there was very low. He thought that it would be a priority to extend library services to kids who are underserved on the west side. The City has three libraries and many kids who use the branch libraries live near them. Council has discussed the need for a west side branch library and after all the hearings and analysis, children who live on the west side could benefit from a library. With this money, they could begin to rectify the most important problem regarding library services and that is to serve underserved people. He was opposed to this initiative, although he is for expanding services to children. He thought the best option to serve the community would be to invest on the west side, as opposed to investing in the existing library that was completed 10 years ago and still has debt. Alderman Rainey wanted to know the process to sell the Central St. property. She asked was there a buyer already, which sounded like a done deal, and $200,000 sounded foreign to her. Ms. Carroll said they would bring to an executive session a process for sale of real estate that would include an appraisal to determine the property s worth. It would not be done 15 February 28, 2005 through a committee. Alderman Rainey did not think sale of public property could be done in an executive session. Ms. Carroll thought they would want to know the propertys worth before putting it on the auction block publicly. Alderman Bernstein also agreed that $200,000 seemed low. Alderman Tisdahl said if the $200,000 is not the final sale price, they have not discussed where any surplus money will go. She moved that any surplus be split between the two branch libraries. Seconded by Alderman Moran. Alderman Feldman said the issue brought up by Alderman Jean-Baptiste has been avoided by Council for many years. He did not know why. He assumed it had to do with the fact that there once was a library on the west side which was not used well so it was dissolved. From that time on, it seemed as if there was a cast over any mention or debate to deal with the fact there is no library on the west side. He stated this is an issue that must be addressed in an open way. If they say they want to deal with it and dont, they have to say w hy. He said what is going is a silent avoidance of the issue. He was not pleading innocent. He said there is a portion of the community that does not have access to library materials. He made a reference to the Human Services Committee to deal with this issue. Alderman Rainey noted the children who live on the 2100 block of Dobson have less access to a branch library than children at Church/Dodge and disagreed on adding another branch library. She said the City made a terrible mistake when it eliminated the bookmobile. She suggested closing the branch libraries and re-instituting a high quality bookmobile so quality books could be brought to all segments of the community. She recognized when they abandoned the bookmobile it did not provide a lot of service, but did serve all who wanted it. The community continues to fund branch libraries, which are uneconomical but coveted by those who live nearby, while bookmobiles are economical. Alderman Feldman said he talked about a west side library or a solution. He felt that five years from now there would still be a north and south branch library and there would still be kids on the west side who are underserved. That is the political reality. He does not think this Council or community has the will to shut down the two branches. He did not know whether a bookmobile could take their place, but attention has to be given to solve the problem. Alderman Newman said the Human Services Committee gave a commitment to the Library Board so they could raise private funds. The plan was to have $1 million in the five-year capital plan and they would stand behind that commitment so people who donate money privately know this will be built. Putting aside the arguments of Alderman Jean-Baptiste, the Library Board is striving for excellence in the most important location that provides library services to the community. The board has done extensive studies and found they are not up to snuff. The community wants excellence in its library, and bonded for $22 million over 26 years to pay for it. There is no proposal from the Library Board on a west side library. He has supported funding for the Robert Crown Center and a branch library there. His eight year old daughter goes to the library when they take her. It is up to parents to take their children to the libraries here. The best library in terms of public transportation is the main downtown library. Libraries dont come to the children and that is what they have to struggle with as a society. He was not opposed to the bookmobile and wanted to get this project moving. He explained they are adopting a five-year plan and in it they have $1 million for the childrens library. The library is expected to put in $500,000 raised privately and expected to pay any overages beyond $1.5 million. If the building on Central St. is sold, $200,000 will go towards the childrens library and any funds over $200,000 are to be split between the two branch libraries. Alderman Jean-Baptiste said he accepted the reference to the Human Services Committee and hoped they did it with some will. The last time this was thrown into the public arena, it was to counter pose two options, yet the Library Board has taken no initiative toward a west side branch. He was called and told this proposal would benefit minority children. He asked how? At the Human Services Committee there was no response to this question. He suggested that this is a good thing for the community and they should be aware of those children who are not getting the service. They had consensus at the CDBG Committee to allocate $300,000 to the Library Board to begin to do some work to bring a library to the west side. Mr. Ney was asked if he could use the money and he said no, so the money was re-allocated. He suggested Council have the will to do something and not ignore issues the community faces. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Moran, Tisdahl, Rain ey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay Alderman Jean-Baptiste. Motion carried (7-1). Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (8-0). 16 February 28, 2005 CALL OF THE WARDS: 4th Ward. Alderman Bernstein thanked the Rotary Club for their contribution to Evanstons health and congratulated them on their 100th anniversary. He congratulated the ETHS Wildkits Swim Team, the recent state champions. He reported that Michael Phillips, a life-long resident, who had an African-American art shop on Greenleaf St., had passed away. He expressed condolences and said he would be missed. 5thWard. No report. 6th Ward. No report. 7th Ward. No report. 8th Ward. Alderman Rainey spoke on the issue of St. Francis Hospitals non-profit status, which is on the ballot as a referendum. She asked people to judge St. Francis Hospital in its care of charity patients and those who cannot afford to pay. She is totally opposed to the referendum and encouraged those aldermen who signed the petition to get the referendum on the ballot to re-think their position. St. Francis is a major employer and taxpayer that treats all the trauma victims. In the last few weeks St. Francis has treated all victims of gunshot wounds from the north side of Chicago. She urged them to think long and hard as they approach the April 5 election. People who signed the petition have said they dont necessarily support the referendum. She asked them to come out and vote against it. 9th Ward. No report. 1st Ward. No report. 2nd Ward. Alderman Jean-Baptiste extended condolences to the family and friends of Michael Phillips. He noted that they needed to be sensitive to cultural terms. When they spoke of voodoo economics, he thought Reagan economics did more harm. 3rd Ward. No report. There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Morton adjourned the meeting at 12:25 a.m. Mary P. Morris, City Clerk A videotape recording of this meeting has been made part of the permanent record and is available in the City Clerks office.