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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04.15.19 ​REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER JAMES C. LYTLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS Monday, April 15th, 2019 Present: Alderman Fiske Alderman Revelle Alderman Wynne Alderman Rainey Alderman Wilson Alderman Fleming Alderman Rue Simmons Alderman Suffredin (8) Absent: Alderman Braithwaite (1) Presiding: Mayor Stephen Hagerty Devon Reid City Clerk Mayor’s Public Announcements Mayor Hagerty Announcements and 1 Proclamation: ●National Community Development Week, April 22-26 ●Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church 125th Anniversary Watch City Manager’s Public Announcements City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz had no announcements. Watch City Clerk’s Communications City Clerk had 1 Communications: April 15, 2019 was the last day for Mail-in Ballots and Provisional Ballots to be counted. Dan Coyne has been elected as the 3rd Commissioner for the Ridgeville Park District. Watch Public Comment Rose Johnson Continued her remarks for the previous City Council meeting. Foster Center Our Place is a group of 28 people representing building tenants of the 5th Ward and other communities. A significant part of the group includes young adults with knowledge and expertise in building maintenance, finance, and early childhood education. There is a verbal agreement with the Evanston Community Foundation to be the fiscal agent from Foster Center Our Place. They also received 501C3 status. The group has obtained pro bono services from a major law firm in Chicago. Watch James Engleman Agrees with pets being required to wear leashed and owners having to carry doggy bags with them. Watch Tina Paden Said residents should be respected by City Council members. During a meeting last week, an Alderman told a constituent they didn’t have permission to speak because the agenda item they were speaking about was not on the agenda for the night. Believes ward meeting agendas should focus on matters important to residents. Suggested City Council members are only listening to developers who provide presents to Aldermen. Watch Edmund Moran Spoke about the Harley Clarke mansion. Wanted the direction of the property to be shifted towards a proposal more amenable to the entire community. Believes the nine-months Request for Proposal period is a waste of time. Said the city should accept the offer to have the mansion deconstructed and open the site for constituents. Watch Meg Welch Doesn’t oppose a new Robert Crown Center, but the cost of the development is a concern she has. There is no financial imperative on issuing bonds during the upcoming City Council meeting. Said it wasn’t acceptable to fund the project on the backs of residents by raising fees, property taxes and city properties. Watch Jennifer Shadur Asked City Council to consider some issues regarding the RFP for the Harley Clarke mansion. Said that Landmarks Illinois has reiterated their offer at no cost to the city to bring a group of experts to bring updated numbers on the rehabilitation of the building. Additionally, they offer a knowledge of historic tax offerings that could be included in the RFP. Asked to add clarity to the acceptable community uses and extend the time period to 12 months. Wanted staff to define the land surrpindfin the building will remain an open space and create a matrix for the review process. Lastly, she asked the word “Sale” to be removed from the RFP. Watch Carlis B Sutton Shared his concern over the behavior of some elected officials to suppress and intimate citizen commentary. Believes elected officials are self-interested and are attempting to silence citizens. Thanked Ald. Rue Simmons for her vote on Robert Crown and allowing citizens to participate during her Ward meeting. Also thanked Chief Cook for his sensitivity to citizens are making emotional commentary during City Council. On the matter of Harley Clarke, he shared his adamant opposition at any attempt that does not reflect full citizen participation. Watch Doreen Price Thanked Ald. Rue Simmons, Fleming and Chief Cook for their inclusive behavior during ward meetings. Read an email she sent to City Council members regarding equity. Watch Misty Wittenberg Spoke about the proposed citizen comment guidelines and the increased restrictions being placed on public speech. Said the amount of speakers attending City Council meetings are not being addressed but rather, citizens are being penalized for being frustrated. City Council members are focused over the tone made and missing the measurable threats they pose when they refuse to address public concerns. Watch Allie Harned Supports the preservation of Foster school, City Council Goals and believes mutual respect that should be strived by from both sides. Watch Wants City Council to consider the shortcomings of the Harley Clarke RFP as it is currently written. The RFP does not specify how the Evaluation Committee will be selected and hopes the city considers goals of equity and inclusion. Bennett Johnson Believes it is important to define the terms of sale in the Harley Clarke RFP. The public components are very vague and wants to make sure every Evanstonian has access to the site. Said that many of the large project happening in the city have little to none minority contractors or workers. Wants the city to take Affirmative Action to ensure equal representation in the workforce. Watch Charles Smith Wanted City Council to approach the Harley Clarke mansion project with the best interest of residents of the city. Watch Bob Cruz Asked City Council to listen to the community on the Harley Clarke mansion. Watch Audrey Niffenegger Doesn't want the Harley Clarke mansion to be sold and hopes it is preserved for future generations. Inquired if a clause for use to benefit all wards could be included in the RFP. Watch Madeline Ducree Asked where the donations for the Foster school and Library on Simpson St. Asked City Council to hold agenda items (SP1), (SP4) (SP5) and (SP6) to allow residents to discuss the items. Thanked Chief Cook for his work and change in behavior in police officers. Watch John Kennedy Talked about some key items on how the Harley Clarke mansion RFP could work. Watch Darleen Cannon Opposed the proposal to sell the Harley Clarke mansion and wants City Council to vote against the RFP. Said the decision to raise taxes for Robert Crown bonds has an immediate impact on the cost of housing and rent. Watch Patrick Donnelly Believes it would benefit the community to not sale the Harley Clarke mansion and figure a plan for better use. Watch Pricilla Giles Believes it’s not acceptable for citizens to be told their questions are being perceived as arguments for asking questions to city staff. Watch Special Order of Business (SP1) ​Request for Proposal 19-29, Sale or Long-Term Lease of Harley Clarke Mansion and Coach House, 2603 Sheridan Road City Council authorized the City Manager to approve the Request for Proposal 19-29 for the Sale or Long-Term Lease of 2603 Sheridan Road, commonly known as the Harley Clarke Mansion and Coach House. The Request for Proposal will commence May 16, 2019, and will be open for nine months with a deadline for proposal submissions by 2:00 p.m. on February 28, 2020. For Action Motion to amend Section 11G to state the city is willing to sell the land under the mansion to a nonprofit or public body Failed 5-3​ Ald. Fiske, Suffredin and Rainey voted “Yes” Motion to amend the RFP to indicate additional tours to visit the property at the destruction of the city; there be a long-term lease and not a sale; and the RFP make the public use be a significant portion of the proposal. Passed 5-3​ Ald. Fiske, Rainey and Fleming voted “No” Motion: Ald. Suffredin Motion: Ald. Revelle Watch (SP2) ​Resolution 39-R-19, Temporary Traffic Signal at Central Street & Bryant Avenue During Central Street Bridge Construction City Council adopted Resolution 39-R-19 authorizing the installation and removal of a temporary traffic signal at Central Street & Bryant Avenue to accommodate safe pedestrian crossings at this intersection during the construction project to replace the Central Street Bridge. For Action Passed 7-0 Motion: Ald. Revelle Watch (SP3) ​City Council Goals Staff requests that at the April 15, 2019 meeting, City Council discuss implementation of 2019-2020 City Council goals, specifically the following topics: “Enhance Community Development and Job Creation Citywide” and “Ensure Equity in All Operations.” Staff will present information on both goals mentioned. In addition, staff will present an Open Data Report. The report will detail the City’s newly formed Data Governance team, how it is Watch aligning data development with the City’s goals and industry standards, and providing a “What Works Cities” Assessment. For Action Will return April 29, 2019 City Council for Action (SP4) ​Resolution 40-R-19, Amending City Council Rule 6, “Citizen Participation,” By Providing Guidelines for Public Comment at Standing Committees of the City Council City Council adopted Resolution 40- R-19, amending City Council Rule 6, “Citizen Participation,” by providing guidelines for Public Comment at Standing Committees of the City Council. Planning & Development Committee will allow 45 minutes for public comment, and all other standing committees will allow 20 minutes for public comment. For Action Passed 8-0 Motion: Ald. Wynne Watch (SP5) ​Resolution 41-R-19, Amending City Council Rule 9.6, “Committees” to Amend the Start Time for the Planning & Development Committee City Council adopted Resolution 41- R-19, amending City Council Rule 9.6, “Committees,” to amend the start time for the Planning & Development Committee from 7:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. For Action Passed 8-0 Motion: Ald. Wilson Watch (SP6) ​Resolution 43-R-19, Amending City Council Rule 6, “Citizen Participation,” By Providing Guidelines of Decorum During City Council and Standing Committee Meetings City Council adopted Resolution 43-R-19, amending City Council Rule 6, “Citizen Participation,” providing guidelines of decorum during City Council, standing committee and Ward meetings. It is important to consider these recommended revisions immediately, but the City Manager requests further discussion of additional, extensive revisions of the City Rules pertaining to decorum. For Action Passed 7-1 ​ Ald. Suffredin voted “No” Motion: Ald. Fiske Watch Call of the Wards Ward 1: No Report Watch Ward 2: Seeking to partner with another City Council member to conduct a meeting pertaining to taxation and Robert Crown. Watch Ward 3: No Report Watch Ward 4: No Report Watch Ward 5: No Report Watch Ward 6: No Report Watch Ward 7: No Report Watch Ward 8: Asked commercial property owners in the 8th Ward to view the 8th Ward message board. Ald. Rainey will conduct a meeting regarding the new assessment. Date TBD but will take place before April 29, 2019. Watch Ward 9: Ward meeting Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 9:00 a.m. at the Levy Senior Center. Sent well wishes to two staff members in the Parks & Rec Department who have taken ill. Watch Adjournment Mayor Hagerty called a voice vote to adjourn the City Council meeting, and by unanimous vote the meeting was adjourned. Ald. Wilson led City Council into Executive Session. A roll call vote was taken and by a unanimous vote (8-0) City Council recessed into Executive Session.