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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.30.19 (Special) ​SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER JAMES C. LYTLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS Monday, September 30th, 2019 Present: Alderman Fiske Alderman Revelle Alderman Braithwaite Alderman Rainey Alderman Wilson Alderman Fleming Alderman Rue Simmons (7) Absent: Alderman Wynne Alderman Suffredin (2) Presiding: Mayor Stephen Hagerty Devon Reid City Clerk Mayor’s Public Announcements Mayor Hagerty had no announcements Watch City Manager’s Public Announcements City Manager Erika Storlie had no announcements. Watch City Clerk’s Communications City Clerk had no announcements. Watch Public Comment Virginia Mann Said the strip on Howard St. has been drastically transformed in the years since shes lived in the area. It has become a destination for many residents both in Evanston and Chicago to visit. There is currently a vacant property on Howard St. that continues to deteriorate and encourages City Council to help revitalize the property. Watch Mike Vasilko Opposed the application for the vacant property located at 611-21 Howard Street. Said the tax breaks being given will only impact the residents of Evanston. He asked City Council to hold a discussion on the agenda item and set a future date for action. Watch Jackie Prince Thanked Connections for the Homeless and City staff for helping her with finding housing. Said there are still many people in Evanston who are homeless and are suffering from mental illness who need housing assistance. She asked City Council to play a proactive role in helping homeless people find housing. Watch Jeannie Sanke Voiced her support for the application to the vacant property located at 611-21 Howard Street. Watch Bennett Johnson Concerned that the development projects happening in Evanston are not hiring local contractors or residents. Wants changes to be made on how contracts are awarded to local residents and contractors. Watch Mary Rosinski Informed City Council to expect information to be sent to them regarding the NU text amendment. Hopes City Council will read the packet before deliberating the proposed NU text amendment. Believes there will be potential loss in property and sales taxes because of expected Northwestern University events. He would like to see job training opportunities given to residents of Evanston in order to better their lives. Watch Yvi Russell Read a verbatim record from the 1996 ZBA (Zoning Board of Appeals) meeting relating to Northwestern University basketball event traffic jam impact on the neighborhood. Watch Doreen Price Talked about Northwestern University, Robert Crown, reparations, Health Department and the city budget. Watch Ken Proskie Shared his experience of how traffic at the Welsh-Ryan arena affected him and the Hogeye Music business. He said his usual 3-minute drive to Hogeye Music would turn into 45 minutes during events being played at the Welsh-Ryan Arena. Eventually, he stopped visiting Hogeye Music for my guitar lessons because of the traffic inconvenience. This caused Hogeye Music to lose his business and says the owner is unhappy with the proposed text amendment. Watch Special Order of Business (SP1) ​Resolution 94-R-19, Endorsing the Application of 619 H, LLC to the Cook County Assessor for Class 7a Status Designation for Commercial Development of the Vacant Property Located at 611-21 Howard Street City Council adopted Resolution 94-R-19, “Endorsing the Application of 619 H, LLC) to the Cook County Assessor for Class 7a Status Designation for Commercial Development of the Vacant Property Located at 611-21 Howard Street, Evanston, Illinois.” For Action Passed 5-2 Ald. ​Fiske and Fleming voted “No” Watch Call of the Wards Ward 1: No Report Watch Ward 2: No Report 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: No Report Watch Ward 9: No Report 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 pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(a) to discuss an agenda item regarding self-evaluation, practices, and procedures or professional ethics. 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)(16). A roll call vote was taken and by a unanimous vote (7-0) City Council recessed into Executive Session.