HomeMy WebLinkAbout06_19_06_smCITY COUNCIL June 19, 2006
ROLL CALL - PRESENT:
Alderman Wollin
. Alderman Rainey Alderman Jean-Baptiste
A quorum was present Alderman Hansen Alderman Tisdahl
NOT PRESENT FOR Aldermen Wynne, Bernstein, Holmes and Moran
ROLL CALL:
PRESIDING: Mayor Lorraine H. Morton
A SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL meeting was called to order by Mayor Morton on Monday, June 19, 2006, at 6:15 p.m. in
the Council Chamber for the purpose of discussing the 2006-07 Capital Improvement Program (CIP). (Aldermen
Bernstein, Hansen and Moran were present at this time.)
Citizen Comment
Amina DiMarco, 1041 Ridge Ct., Playground & Recreation board member, wanted to get the parks on a 10-12 year
renewable cycle as opposed to present 18-year cycle. The proposed CIP has enough funds to redo three parks a year. To
get to an 11-12 year cycle, they need to redo five parks annually, an additional $400-500,000 per park. To do five parks
would cost an additional $800,000- $1 million annually. She asked that they take a second look at the CIP to fund parks.
Lyn Delli Quadri, 2321 Thayer St., co-chair of the Public Art Committee, thanked Council for considering their request
for a percentage of the annual capital budget for art in public places. She explained that the current ordinance sets aside
up to 1% in municipal building funds in excess of $1 million for art at projects such as a library, fire station or parking
garage, all located in highly visible areas. Their structure and visible appeal signify Evanston’s self-image and create a
wonderful opportunity to place art there. That program will permit them to find a piece of distinguished art for Sherman
Plaza. However, the annual allocation from the capital budget that they requested will spread art to the neighborhoods.
Funds for public art will be a catalyst for community involvement and pride of place, which fulfills a different need from
the ordinance. With this support they hope to extend the whole creative atmosphere of public art from the center of
Evanston to its borders as is asserted in strategic plan goals. These programs together will provide a central support for
Evanston’s goal to become the most livable and artistic city in America. (Alderman Holmes was present at this time.)
Lois Roewade, 933 Maple Ave., chair, Evanston Arts Council, stated the percent for art program currently in existence
and the new request do two different things and serve different people in different ways. She knew Council had a
substitute motion they would look at regarding this issue; hoped they would take seriously the Public Art Committee’s
recommendation to maintain both programs. These people have done a great deal of research, gone to conferences and
met other public art professionals from across the country, talked this through with them and gotten their best advice and
come back with a recommendation that the City maintain both of these programs. She hoped Council would give the
Public Art Committee’s recommendation its support.
Sue Gapstor, 1806 Seward St., is with Community Animal Rescue Effort(CARE), friends of the Evanston Animal Shelter
and serves as the Director of Development and Volunteer Initiatives. She spoke about the shelter expansion project and
distributed copies of the plan and cost. The expansion consists of two wings, one for a new kennel and the other for a
new cat area. The shelter, built in the 1980s as a holding facility for animals found in Evanston, was not built as an
animal shelter so it is not an ideal location for conducting humane activities, adoptions and education programs.
Currently, cat adoptions are done in a bathroom. They conduct about 15-20 Brownie/Girl Scout/Jewish community group
tours through the shelter annually. Often they have to turn people away because they cannot accommodate more than a
dozen smaller children. The proposal is to expand this facility with a new cat wing to provide better conditions.
Currently, cats are not exposed to any sunlight. There would be an isolation room, medical room, adoption rooms and
appropriate cleaning facilities. The current kennel would be renovated and made into a medical room, isolation room and
adoption rooms for dogs, plus a new kennel area. The existing common area would be renovated and used for education
so that larger groups could be brought in, volunteers trained and videotapes shown.
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Alderman Jean-Baptiste moved that Council convene as a Committee of the Whole. Seconded by Alderman Bernstein.
Motion carried unanimously.
City Manager Julia Carroll spoke on behalf of staff that was present to answer questions. Did Council members have any
specific questions on projects presented May 15? She noted the parks reconstruction schedule was brought up last time
and they needed to discuss how that fits into their overall financing plan; the policy on public art was questioned and a
recommendation was made based on what staff believes they can afford. She has new information on the animal shelter
and wanted to talk about the future debt structure.
PODSS Camera System. Alderman Rainey reported residents battle mobs of kids in south Evanston and do not know
who they are. She and Brummel Park Neighbors believe mobile cameras are needed. Recently they have had a violent
spate of graffiti in the James Park area, which happens repeatedly. There are horrible messes regularly behind the hill in
James Park and terrible graffiti on Clyde/Callan south of Brummel. She lives east of James Park and a week ago five
homes were hit. She knows this goes on in other neighborhoods and did not care if aldermen in other wards did not want
cameras. The 8th Ward needs cameras. She was excited about the pod cameras used by Chicago, which can be used
where a problem exists, then moved. She recommended that Council buy two cameras. The one at Custer/Howard is
obsolete, but Chicago put a camera right across the street. A camera is needed in the Clyde/Callan, and Brummel area;
occasionally on Custer and in James Park behind the hill. She moved to amend the Capital Improvement Plan to add one
more camera for $45,000. Seconded by Alderman Hansen. (Alderman Wynne was present at this time.).
City Manager Carroll explained that some preparation work has to be done by facilities people to get electrical service to
the locations in order to use mobile cameras.
Mayor Morton has noticed an upswing in graffiti, breaking into and defacing cars, graffiti at the Service Center and other
places in the daily police reports and asked the Chief to talk about some of these behaviors. She was alarmed about
people who walk up to others and hit them. Chief Frank Kaminski said they had arrested two more juveniles for robberies
in the peripheral area of downtown. The juveniles used a toy gun that had a laser on it. He understood that the toy gun
was sold at the Custer Street Fair and will check into that. He said the random behavior of hitting people occurred in
May, but had died down since arrests were made. The graffiti comes in cycles, with more seen toward the end of the
school year. There is more graffiti in the 8th Ward and some is gang related. Police have all the taggers identified; will
follow up and prosecute. Mayor Morton asked if the police need more resources now. Chief Kaminski said that staffing
levels are okay. Extra funds for the summer plan have helped with two units deployed to hot spots. Mayor Morton noted
there is crime in neighborhoods. Chief Kaminski explained that neighborhoods are patrolled and police look for patterns.
Alderman Rainey related about two years ago there was frequent graffiti on play equipment at the Brummel/Dobson
Park. She sent word to junior high kids that she would give a $100 award if somebody would squeal on who did it.
Within 24 hours, they found the culprit. Kids need money in the summer. She suggested they might want to consider an
award to somebody willing to turn in a graffiti vandal.
Alderman Jean-Baptiste said every year statistics show that crime is going down in Evanston. In parts of the 2nd Ward
people are on pins and needles about what is going on. There seems to be more activity than last year, which was not to
say that police had not stabilized certain areas. He suggested if they want to tackle crime aggressively, they need to get
aggressive about youth. Most of the recreation centers are pay for play. Robert Crown is almost all ice skating. There
aren’t friendly activities that invite youth in. He has heard there are large groups of kids going around without much to
do. He recalled that Alderman Rainey had proposed a recreation center. She said it was unanimously rejected except for
her. He suggested they think through how they address this issue long term. Alderman Rainey stated the Capital Plan is
for buildings and systems and they are talking about programs that are not in the Capital Plan. She noted $760,000 for
expansion of the Library Children’s area; next page Fleetwood-Jourdain gym roof replacement $15,000, etc. If they don’t
spend on the infrastructure, they cannot have programs to entertain and exercise children and youth. To imply that the
community is not investing in youth was misleading. Do they need another way to include the kids; evidently they do.
The City provides safe places for them to be, but how do they get them there? She did not know. That is something they
have to look at. She said last summer they tried to get people to sign up for any program in the park and it was free. Not
one person signed up. She wanted the cameras as a deterrent in south Evanston. This was a way to express that they care
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about their community and don’t want youth to vandalize it. More than $100,000 is spent annually to remove graffiti. It
was worth $45,000 to deter graffiti and this request was not instead of a youth program.
Alderman Moran would like input from the Police Department on the effectiveness of these cameras and what they
perceive as a need or perceived ability to make inroads on anti-social and criminal activity. If there is a benefit, he
wanted to discuss how many cameras they should buy and where to put them.
Alderman Wollin asked about the process? Ms. Carroll said they hoped to resolve as many issues as they could and
prioritize. When they started this process, there was $28 million in unfunded projects, which was reduced to $12 million.
The Police Department asked for three cameras the first year and could not put all that in the budget. If they want, they
can do that and get a report on the effectiveness of the program. She thought it would run similar to Chicago’s program.
Chief Kaminski said the first camera was put at Howard/Custer seven years ago. He knows by having two cameras at that
location that activities decreased or moved elsewhere. A camera in itself does not solve the problem but gives a sense of
security. They go in with other programs such as Neighborhood Watch, go after bad landlords and try to regain the
community’s trust. The camera is one key. At Simpson and Dewey they have done well with cameras that have helped
make the neighborhood safer. New technology permits mobile cameras and Chicago is supportive of those. Their efforts
have pushed crime to other places. Using different approaches helps change neighborhoods. Ms. Carroll noted that
lighting is important as a crime deterrent and that some areas of Evanston are quite dark at night. She has talked to Public
Works about beefing up lighting, noting that damaging a car is a crime of opportunity.
Mayor Morton asked if the police keep data on the number of graffiti incidents and those apprehended. Chief Kaminski
said they are behind because the crime analyst left recently. The last crime analyst was so successful that they could
predict where crime would occur. During the winter they had a rash of burglaries in residences of absent NU students and
caught the burglars because of data they collected.
Alderman Rainey called the question. By voice vote, Council voted to add a camera to the CIP program. Motion carried.
Children’s Library Expansion Project. Alderman Jean-Baptiste asked about the branch library renovation. Ms. Carroll
said that renovation of the two existing branch libraries is based upon the proceeds from the sale of half the north branch
library building on Central St. He asked if the figure was the balance of what is needed to complete the expansion of the
children’s library. No. Another $500,000 will be needed in 2008-09. He recalled the last discussion at the Human
Services Committee meeting. Ms. Carroll stated the total project cost is about $2.4 million. In 2006, the City funded
$450,000, got a $200,000 state grant; the library will raise money from donors and the balance will come from GO
bonds. For FY 2006-07 they need $760,000 for construction and $500,000 in FY2008-09. Alderman Jean-Baptiste said
when first considered, there was one cost projection. Council voted to make the allocation. Then that appeared to be not
enough to meet the next projection. When were the new proposal and additional funds discussed? Ms. Carroll said the
initial project came in estimated at $3.2 million and was cut back $800,000. When they came to Human Services
Committee for the architectural contract, they proposed the entire cost at $2.4 million. There was a report on all funding
sources. They were asked to move forward with architectural services for $240,000 and will get architectural drawings.
They need $760,000 to start construction and will make payments for two years. Alderman Tisdahl asked how much
money was raised privately? She thought if it went over projections, those funds would be raised privately. That is true.
Library Administrative Services Manager Paul Gottschalk responded that of the $760,000 this year, $500,000 is from GO
bonds, $200,000 from private library fundraising, $30,000 from endowment income and $30,000 from book sale
proceeds. Funding sources for this project are $280,000 from library endowment, $90,000 from library book sale
proceeds, $500,000 library fundraising, $1.2 million from the CIP, a state grant of $200,000 and the sale of 2022 Central
of $200,000 for a total of $2.4 million. Alderman Bernstein wanted a copy of the Human Services Committee report.
Alderman Rainey did not like the format and found it unhelpful because it shows the projects in isolation. It would be
helpful to get a packet with the numbers they got in September because that showed the five-year spread. Alderman
Rainey was looking at pages 9, 10 and 11. Ms. Carroll explained that this list is in relationship to the Comprehensive
General Plan. The packet on May 15 was complete and was redistributed that evening.
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Street Lighting Upgrades. Alderman Jean-Baptiste asked when they would start to see a difference with street lighting
upgrades. Public Works Director David Jennings explained a map was created that showed year-by-year progress. They
are in the third year and the improvements have been spread throughout the City but not in every neighborhood. About
half have been done. The program changes mercury vapor lights in the Tallmadge fixtures to induction lighting--a
brighter and lighter light. The $300,000 for the next phase is to have Davit arms that hang over the street and change
those to a different lighting source. They are looking at induction lighting in the Davit arm lighting but technology is not
there yet. Mr. Jennings will republish the map that shows the year-by-year progress. He explained that there is no
additional light, but changing the lighting that is there. It is to increase the point source. The mercury vapors are obsolete,
failing and where replaced, one can see the difference. Alderman Holmes said in two weeks they will have the new lights
in the 5th Ward. Alderman Bernstein asked if staff coordinated tree trimming with the lighting change. He was chagrined
to find lighting had been upgraded but the trees had not been trimmed. Mr. Jennings explained a minor amount of tree
trimming is done at the light head but there is no citywide coordination of tree trimming with targeting new lighting.
Ms. Carroll said they would look into better coordination of tree trimming and lighting upgrades. She explained that there
are seven more years of lighting upgrading through 2013-14. Alderman Wynne recalled they decided to do a third of the
lighting a year for three years. Mr. Jennings explained it was three years doing a third, then the last phase was to do
Tallmadge downtown and then start on the Davit lights.
Parks Reconstruction Cycle. Ms. Carroll explained the Recreation Board would like to move to an 11-12 year cycle for
park renovations. This would require an extra $800,000-$1 million. Borrowing $10 million a year is all the City could
afford to keep debt in check. She did not feel it could afford this policy. If they added one park a year that would be
$400,000-500,000 and even that would be difficult. She did not think they could dedicate 10% above what they now
dedicate to parks. If four parks were done a year, that would mean taking funds from someplace else.
Alderman Bernstein asked after renovating a park, how long would that last given regular maintenance. Parks, Forestry
& Recreation Director Doug Gaynor said about 12-13 years which is on four-five acre playgrounds.
After seeing the proposal to do four parks rather than three, Alderman Rainey would rather maintain the parks the City
has. She knows they do the best they can but has noticed that landscaping is not watered.
Ms. Carroll thought increasing the cycle was a great idea if they had the money. The City has the Civic Center, which
they are thinking of replacing, and the Robert Crown Center repairs, which were not factored into this.
Mayor Morton commented that each time there is a change in the head of Parks & Recreation, there is an upgrade in
parks. She asked what is wrong with these parks and recognized that some were not maintained. Why are they always
revamping the playgrounds? Mr. Gaynor said, in general, that play equipment rusts, wears out and becomes unsafe. As
equipment becomes unsafe, it is removed. Playground products are improving. Societal changes also affect who uses the
parks. Some are not ADA compliant and others don’t meet national playground safety standards. Mayor Morton is all for
parks, but recognized some parks are used heavily while others are used three months of the year. She wants all parks to
be safe; asked for a history of what has been spent since 1982 on parks; would like Council to hear what has been done
over the years in each park and get an in-depth look at spending in parks. Parks they have should be maintained.
Ms. Carroll said three parks were being renovated for $1.35 million. Bent, Mason, Lawson and Perry parks are scheduled
to have work done. Alderman Wynne said people can see change in parks that have been renovated, which is critical to
building community. She described the Synder Tot Lot and Dempster/Burnham Park as examples of renovated parks that
have resulted in much higher use year round and thought that renovating parks has changed the community for the better.
Alderman Bernstein compared Evanston’s parks to Skokie’s. He would like to have more parks like James Park. Mayor
Morton pointed out that they have 74 parks and 54 of them need to be refurbished regularly. Mayor Morton noted if
parks are to provide recreation for youth, they need parks to attract older kids. She asked what is a passive park. Mr.
Gaynor explained it would not have ball fields or an activity area; instead it would have benches and open green space.
Mayor Morton suggested if the City had the money, she would have a recreation worker at every park.
5 June 19, 2006
Ms. Carroll explained that staff has been successful in procuring grants. Mr. Gaynor said that larger grants usually come
from the state and they get a few small grants for program money.
Alderman Rainey said no park has been renovated in the 8th Ward for $400-500,000; suggested they commit to a certain
amount of funds each year and perhaps some years five small parks could be renovated. Ms. Carroll said they have
programmed park renovations between $1.5 and $1.7 million. Alderman Rainey suggested staying with that. This year
they committed $1.9 million to renovate parks. Alderman Rainey observed if they do five parks a year that means those
are put out of commission. Alderman Jean-Baptiste suggested they maximize the number they do. Ms. Carroll explained
that they try to do renovation in phases so parks are not disrupted.
Mayor Morton reported that former Mayor Jay Lytle gave $250 for a tennis program at Fleetwood-Jourdain.
Ms. Carroll stated the Recreation Board recommended they renovate four-five parks a year. The City currently renovates
an average of three a year and she felt that the City could not afford to renovate four-five parks yearly. Alderman Tisdahl
supported the recommendation of the city manager and current programs. Seconded by Alderman Rainey.
Public Art Funding Policy Ms. Carroll explained the policy has been to donate 1% of construction cost of new
municipal buildings over $1 million to public art. The Arts Council wants that continued and 1% of the CIP added. Staff
found that 1% of the CIP, with all funding sources, would be about $420,000 a year for this year. That would be way
more than they could afford. Staff recommends $100,000 a year for public art and that 5% or 10%be dedicated to
maintenance to keep up the art the City has (no funds are currently dedicated for this).
Alderman Wollin went to page 12 noting staff recommended that the Percent for Art ordinance be amended to replace
funding. She did not want to replace funding. She pointed out there are many opportunities for public art on viaducts or at
the lakefront. Make public art part of a project with developers. Sherman Plaza will need an expensive piece of public art.
They can have smaller projects such as sidewalks and barrels. She suggested they have $100,000 minimum in public art
and not replace 1% in municipal construction. Alderman Wollin moved $100,000 for public art project in the CIP for
neighborhood art projects. Seconded by Alderman Holmes.
Alderman Rainey agreed that 1% for public buildings should be preserved but they had no plan for the neighborhood art.
It did not make sense to pledge $100,000 a year (for public art) with no plan. If they develop a park for $600,000, why
could that not trigger some public art? Ms. Carroll said the plan is to borrow $10 million for the next five years and 1%
of that is $100,000 so those programs are included. Alderman Rainey suggested if staff could develop a program whereby
they would have some contribution for public benefit and some addition to the capital budget they could develop a
program. Ms. Carroll thought the Public Art Committee wanted to have a funding source before developing a program.
Alderman Rainey said that the public needs to be involved and thought public art was controlled by the Public Art
Committee. Selecting public art is tremendously time consuming. She praised Cultural Arts Director Jeff Corey and staff
for their work on the Sherman Plaza project. She wanted a plan and the non-artistic public to appreciate this.
Alderman Moran asked what was projected to meet the prior 1% for public buildings. For Fire Station #5, $47,000; if
they do a new Civic Center, $250,000 and Robert Crown Center could be $100-300,000. Ms. Carroll did not think they
could do the Civic Center and Crown at the same time; that Crown would be further down the road. Alderman Moran
thought the recommendation from the Public Art Committee accomplished a lot of what Alderman Rainey talked about.
It involved neighborhoods and engaging a lot of people in the process but he struggled with the numbers. Either they are
over-funded or seriously under-funded depending on what goes up in 2007-08. He thought they need some allocation
beyond the 1% for public buildings and to promote public art throughout the City. They need to think about things that
could become iconic within neighborhoods so people develop a sense of place. He did not have a good grasp of what that
should be. He assumed the $100,000 would be used within the present program and, if that is allocated, they haven’t
responded to the Public Art Committee’s request. He thought they should make a commitment beyond the 1% and
wanted a better discussion to get an extra allocation and to work on that above the $100,000 for public buildings.
Ms. Carroll said the policy calls for 1% on new public buildings, so for 2007-08 that would be $47,000 for Fire Station
#5. If they did the $100,000, there would be $53,000 to do neighborhood public art. She heard that some want to do
6 June 19, 2006
$47,000 plus the $100,000. She suggested they start with $100,000 the first year and let the Public Art Committee
develop a plan and work out what would be done then increase funding in the second year after some experience.
Alderman Moran moved to make the allocation $125,000 for Public Art with $47,000 committed to new public building
and $78,000 allocated to public art for neighborhoods for 2007-08. Seconded by Alderman Wollin.
Alderman Jean-Baptiste heard neighborhood art and asked what it meant. Alderman Wollin said when parks are
renovated, bike paths and the lakefront redone, they put in public art. It does not have to be sculpture, but could be
artistic benches or mosaics around the drinking fountains. She noted the beautiful mosaics around the garden in the Levy
Center. She emphasized it could be something that is incorporated into projects. Alderman Jean-Baptiste asked why this
was not done already. Lack of funding and not addressing this area were factors. Alderman Moran noted public art could
involve staff, the public arts community and neighborhood people and be a real community building activity that can be
done in many ways. Alderman Rainey wanted to know how they would determine what neighborhood gets what.
Alderman Holmes suggested that a neighborhood could come to the Public Art Committee. Alderman Rainey thought
this policy should go through the Human Services Committee. This is the CIP, which is funded by bonds. Ms. Carroll
said this is for FY 2007-08 and they won’t issue bonds until next spring. They would walk this through the Human
Services Committee to see how the program is put together.
Roll call. Voting aye – Wollin, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Holmes, Moran, Tisdahl. Voting nay – Rainey, Hansen.
Motion carried. (7-2).
Animal Shelter Renovation. Ms. Carroll explained that when the budget was drafted staff was aware that CARE
intended to expand the animal shelter and wanted help. When CARE presented their request, the City did not feel it had
the funds. Since then, several funding sources became available. One is $700,000, a payment in lieu of taxes from
Northwestern University for 1800 Sherman. The other is an excess of revenues over expenditures for FY 2005-06, so
there are adequate funds for this project. Ms. Carroll said the total cost to expand the animal shelter would be a little over
$900,000 and CARE has committed to raising half that and asked the City to fund the other half (about $470,000 each).
Since closing out the fiscal year, she was confident the City would have the money to do this on a one-time basis.
Alderman Wollin moved to fund one-half the cost of the expansion of the animal shelter $470,000 one-time only capital
expenditure. Seconded by Alderman Rainey.
Alderman Rainey said in addition to CARE raising money to improve a public building, the thousands of dollars of staff
time they relieve the City of seven days a week, year after year, makes her want to do something to please them because
they do so much to support the City. Alderman Bernstein shared the sentiment. Alderman Tisdahl agreed and asked if the
building would LEED certified. No.
Alderman Jean-Baptiste said this would come from one- time revenue. Ms. Carroll said that is the policy. Ms. Carroll did
not know the exact amount and did not have an audit on the excess of revenue over expenditures. The money will be
spent next year. Ms. Carroll said they could give an unaudited report before the CIP is passed. They know they have $2
million of revenues over expenditures and reserves are fully funded. Alderman Moran agreed that CARE is a good
organization and has a great program but was stunned Council was asked to commit a half million to this that evening.
The City has many needs and is constantly asked to balance those needs.
Alderman Rainey called the question. Voting aye – Rainey, Hansen, Wollin, Wynne, Bernstein, Holmes, Tisdahl. Voting
nay – Jean-Baptiste and Moran. Motion carried. (7-2)
At 8:30 p.m. the City Council meeting concluded. After a recess, the Budget Policy Committee met at 8:45 p.m. and that
meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Mary P. Morris,
City Clerk