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Home My WebLink About05.11.20 REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER JAMES C. LYTLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS Monday, May 11th, 2020 Present: Alderman Fiske Alderman Revelle Alderman Braithwaite Alderman Rainey Alderman Wynne Alderman Fleming Alderman Wilson Alderman Suffredin Alderman Rue Simmons (9) Absent: Presiding: Mayor Stephen Hagerty Devon Reid City Clerk Motion to suspend the rules and allow the meeting to be held virtually Passed 9-0 Motion: Ald. Wilson Second: Ald. Braithwaite Mayor’s Public Announcements Mayor Hagerty Announcements and Proclamations: ●Proclamation: Older Americans Month - May 2020 ●Proclamation: Preservation Month - May 2020 ●COVID-19 Update Watch City Manager’s Public Announcements City Manager Erika Storlie announcements: ●Budget discussion on May 26, 2020 ●Furlough days have been implemented for non-union staff. Is asking union staff to agree to furlough days which would translate to $2.2 million in savings for the city. ●Lakefront Update. Watch City Clerk’s Communications City Clerk had no announcements. Watch Public Comment Tina Paden Wanted clarification on the amount of funds that will be allocated towards non-congregate housing for people exposed to COVID-19. Would also like to know the exit plan for the families places in hotels. Wants to know who the point of contact would be for families looking for housing assistance. Watch Doreen Price Asked the City Council to reconsider the health fines in response to COVID-19. Watch Virginia Mann Voiced her support for the Dutch Elm Tree Injection Program. Watch Mike Vasilko Asked the purchase of a vehicle lift be postponed and have the emergency generators be spread over a 3-year period. He doesn’t believe the virtual City Council meetings are fair opportunities for participation by the residents. Watch Special Order of Business SP1. Affordable Housing Fund Expenses Report City Council accepted and placed on file this status report regarding the Affordable Housing Fund. For Action: Accept and Place on File Passed 9-0 Motion: Ald. Rainey Second: Ald. Wilson Watch SP2. Approval of Authorization to Use up to $1,000,000 from the Affordable Housing Fund to Pay for Non-Congregate Housing and Other Services Incurred by the City to Provide for the Health and Safety of Residents Who Are Unable to Comply With Governor Pritzker's Stay At Home Order City Council authorized to use up to $1,000,000 from the City's Affordable Housing Fund to pay for non-congregate housing (hotel rooms) and other needs including (but not limited to) food and transportation for homeless residents who are vulnerable to the COVID-19 infection, unable to observe Governor Pritzker's order to shelter-in-place, as well as residents and first responders who have been exposed to COVID-19, or have tested positive for the virus, do not require hospitalization, but are unable to isolate or quarantine in their residences. The funding source is the Affordable Housing Fund, which currently has an uncommitted cash balance of approximately $2,200,000. For Action Passed 9-0 Motion: Ald. Rainey Second: Ald. Fleming Watch Consent Agenda CM1. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of April 27, 2020 City Council approved the minutes of the Regular City Council meeting of April 27, 2020. For Action Approved on Consent Agenda Motion: Ald. Fleming Second: Ald. Braithwaite Watch A1. Approval of the City of Evanston Payroll and Bills City Council approved the City of Evanston Payroll for the period of April 13, 2020, through April 26, 2020, in the amount of $2,780,281.75 and Bills List for May 12, 2020, in the amount of $3,142,461.05. For Action Approved on Consent Agenda A2. Approval of Purchase of a Vehicle Lift from Mohawk Resources, Ltd City Council approved the purchase of a vehicle lift from Mohawk Resources, Ltd (65 Vrooman Ave, PO Box 110, Amsterdam, NY 12010) through a Sourcewell contract in the amount of $95,000.00. The lift is used by the Administrative Services Department/Facilities & Fleet Management Division at the Service Center for repairs and maintenance to the City’s fleet. Funding for the purchase will come from Capital Improvement Fund 2020 General Obligation Bonds (Account 415.40.4120.65515 - 620020) for Facilities Contingency, which has an FY 2020 budget of $600,000, and a YTD balance of $492,195. For Action Passed 6-3 Ald. Suffredin, Braithwaite and Fleming voted “No” Motion: Ald. Fleming Second: Ald. Rue Simmons Watch A3. Approval of Contract Award with Robert Kinnucan Tree Experts & Landscaping Company, Inc. for the Dutch Elm Tree Injection Program (Bid 20-14) City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a contract for the Dutch Elm Tree Injection Program contract to the low bidder, Robert Kinnucan Tree Experts & Landscaping Company, Inc. (28877 Nagel Court, Lake Bluff, IL, 60044) in the amount of $646,224.62. Funding is provided from the General Fund, Forestry Division Budget Account Motion: Ald. Fleming Second: Ald. Rainey Watch 100.40.4320.62497 which has a FY 2020 budget allocation of $800,000, all of which is remaining. Motion to amend the agenda item to pursue the alternate option as set forth in the memorandum Passed 7-2 Ald. Fiske and Fleming voted “No” For Action Alternative option was approved Motion: Ald. Wilson Second: Ald. Braithwaite A4. Approval of an Amendment to the Agency Agreement for the Management of the Natural Gas Purchase and an Amendment to the Agreement for the Purchase of Natural Gas for 16 City Owned Buildings City Council authorized the City Manager to negotiate and execute Amendment 4 to the Agency Agreement with Northwestern University for the management of the natural gas purchase. Staff also recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to execute Amendment 8 to the agreement with Twin Eagle Resource Management, LLC (5120 Woodway, Suite 10010, Houston, TX 77056) for the purchase of natural gas for 16 City owned buildings. The cost for natural gas is billed to the various accounts that support the buildings that are purchasing natural gas through this contract. Northwestern University will administer the natural gas purchase for the City at no additional cost. For Action Approved on Consent Agenda A5. Approval of Contract Award with Courtesy Electric Inc. for Emergency Generator Replacement / Repairs at Police/Fire Headquarters, Fire Station 1 and Fire Station 2 (Bid 20-05) City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Courtesy Electric Inc. (6551 N. Olmsted Ave., Chicago, IL 60631) for the Emergency Generator Replacement / Repairs at Police/Fire Headquarters, Fire Station 1 and Fire Station 2 (Bid 20-05) in the amount of 249,900.00.Funding is provided from the Capital Improvement Fund 2019 and 2020 General Obligation Bonds, which has an approved FY 2020 budget of $334,000, all of which is remaining. A detailed summary is included in the memo below. For Action Passed 9-0 Motion: Ald. Fleming Second: Ald. Rainey Watch A6. Approval of Contract Award with Ideal Heating Company for Civic Center Burner Replacement (Bid 20-29) City Council authorized the City Manager to execute an agreement with Ideal Heating Company (9515 Southview Avenue, Brookfield, Illinois 60513) for the Civic Center Burner Replacement (Bid 20-29) in the amount of $117,777.00. Funding is provided from the Capital Improvement Fund, 2019 General Obligation Bonds (Account 415.40.4119.65515-620004), which as an approved FY 2020 budget of $500,000 and a YTD balance of $489,500. For Action Passed 7-2 Alds. Braithwaite and Suffredin voted “No” Motion: Ald. Fleming Second: Ald. Rue Simmons Watch A7. Approval of Contract Award with J.A. Johnson Paving Company for the 2020 Street Patching Program City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a one year contract for pavement patching with J. A. Johnson Paving Company (1025 E. Addison Ct., Arlington Heights, Illinois) in the amount of $500,000. Funding will be from the Capital Improvement Fund 2020 General Obligation Bonds (Account 415.40.4120.65515 – 420015), which has a budget of $500,000, all of which remains. For Action Approved on Consent Agenda A8. Approval of Emergency Assistance Guidelines for the Entrepreneurship Support Program City Council approved guidelines for the Entrepreneurship Support Program Grant due to the current pandemic and changing needs of the business community. This program is funded through the Entrepreneurship Program Line Item (Account 100.15.5300.62664). In FY 2020 this program was allocated $50,000. To date, $0 has been spent. For Action Passed 8-1 Ald. Suffredin voted “No” Motion: Ald. Fleming Second: Ald. Rue Simmons Watch A9. Resolution 40-R-20 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Intergovernmental Police Assistance Agreement with the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force (NORTAF) City Council adopted Resolution 40-R-20 Authorizing the City Manager to Execute an Intergovernmental Police Assistance Agreement with the North Regional Major Crimes Task Force (NORTAF). For Action Approved on Consent Agenda A10. Resolution 41-R-20, Extending the Declared State of Emergency to June 8, 2020 City Council adopted Resolution 41-R-20, Extending the Declared State of Emergency to June 8, 2020. For Action Passed 9-0 Motion: Ald. Fleming Second: Ald. Rainey Watch A11. Resolution 42-R-20, Terminating Limits on Third-Party Food Delivery Service Fees on June 8, 2020 City Council adopted Resolution 42-R-20, Terminating Limits on Third-Party Food Delivery Service Fees on June 8, 2020. For Action Approved on Consent Agenda A12. Ordinance 50-O-20, Amending City Code Section 10-11-7, Schedule VII(A), “Passenger Loading Zones, Public Carrier Stops and Stands,” to Add a Loading Zone at 1723 Simpson Street City Council approved Ordinance 50-O-20, amending parking near the entrance of 1723 Simpson Street (location of Meals on Wheels) to allow for loading zone spaces. This item was not approved by the Transportation & Parking Committee as there have been no meetings due to COVID-19; however, Alderman Rue Simmons is asking that this item be presented for approval as Meals on Wheels will be operating shortly. For Introduction Passed 9-0 Motion: Ald. Fleming Second: Ald. Rue Simmons Watch A13. Ordinance 51-O-20, Authorizing the Sale of Aging Surplus Fleet Vehicles and Equipment Owned by the City of Evanston City Council adopted Ordinance 51-O-20, directing the City Manager to offer the sale of vehicles and equipment owned by the City through public auction with GovDeals, an online auction system utilized by government agencies. These vehicles have been determined to be surplus as a result of new vehicle replacements being placed into service or vehicles that had to be taken out of service for safety reasons with the intention of eventual replacement. The equipment from the old Robert Crown Center and janitorial supplies from the Service Center were found to be obsolete or the City no longer utilizes those systems. For Introduction Approved on Consent Agenda Call of the Wards Ward 1: Requested there be mental health support for residents near the Sherman Plaza Parking Garage after a recent incident. Requested an update by the Mayor on the work being done by the mental health community to help residents of Evanston. Watch Ward 2: Thanked all city staff for their hard work during the current pandemic. Shared a message of appreciation for the Foster Senior Club for helping the community. Acknowledged the staff at ETHS for distributing signs congratulating Evanston seniors. Encouraged the City Council members to participate in the Evanston Cares Network training. Watch Ward 3: Thanked the city staff for their efforts and all the businesses for the work they are doing. She also thanked the public for following the recommended guidelines, and is thankful to live in Evanston where the public works towards helping each other. Watch Ward 4: Shared his appreciation for members of the public who have gone above and beyond to help each other. Watch Ward 5: Shared a message of appreciation for the Foster Senior Club for helping the community. There is work being done to create a cultural district which will scatter all throughout Evanston. There will be a virtual public meeting on May 21, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. to provide updates on the cultural district. Watch Ward 6: Would like an update by staff at the June 8, 2020 CityCouncil meeting on the City Manager search and what portions of the recruitment process can still be done. Watch Ward 7: Thanked staff for their great work. She also shared her appreciation for all the members of City Council who are vocal about how money is currently being spent. Watch Ward 8: Thanked the residents who shared messages of appreciation for healthcare workers here in Evanston. Those messages were displayed on banners and yard signs which were placed around Ridge Ave. and Austin St. Congratulated Firefighter Jason Hays on his recent promotion to Captain. Watch Ward 9: Thanked Stephen Walker and his team for their work at the Evanston beach. Thanked all the staff members who are helping distribute boxes of food at the Levy Senior Center. The Produce Mobile will take place at 9:00 a.m. on May 12, 2020 at the Levy Senior Center. The City of Evanston Emergency Pantry will operate on Wednesday May 13, 2020. The 9th Ward meeting will take place on the evening of May 20, 2020. Lastly, she shared her appreciation for the non-union staff who have to take 10 furlough days and who continue to work to serve the residents. Watch Adjournment Ald. Wilson led City Council into Executive Session pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(a) to discuss an agenda item regarding litigations. This agenda item is a permitted subject to be considered in Executive Session and is an enumerated exception under the Open Meetings Act with the exception being 5 ILCS 120/2(a)(c)(11). A roll call vote was taken and by a vote of 9-0 City Council recessed into Executive Session.