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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMinutes012918 2 ​CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER JAMES C. LYTLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS Monday, January 29th, 2018 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 Mayor’s Public Announcements Mayor Hagerty proclaimed January 29, 2018 as Blake Peter’s Day in the City of Evanston in recognition of Blake Peter for his buzzer-beating game winning shot against Maine South High School Hawks basketball team and delivering a victory for ETHS basketball team. Watch City Manager’s Public Announcements City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz invited Tim Rose, Director of the Fleetwood-Jourdain Theater to talk about events happening in February for Black History month in the City of Evanston. Manager Bobkiewicz also announced the placement of “All People Are Welcome” signs across all City facilities in various languages. Watch City Clerk’s Communications City Clerk announced the availability of Mail Ballot Applications located in the City Clerk’s Office. Citizens can deliver the forms to the Clerk’s Office or mail them to the Cook County Clerk’s office before March 15th. Early voting starts March 5th-19th in the Civic Center in Room G300. The City Clerk encouraged residents to step into the office and volunteer on Monday, Wednesday and some Saturdays to encourage people to participate in the election. Watch Public Comment Len Larkin Asked City Council to consider a resolution to give the city control over rent control. Watch Doug Sharp Presented City Council with a proposal for affordable housing. Watch Michael Deneroff Northwestern Student Government member who spoke about the unaffordability of housing for students living in Evanston. Watch Jillian Gilburne Northwestern Student Government member who share scenarios of what is happening to students looking for a place to live. Watch Meilynn Shi Northwestern student who proposed the City of Evanston change the occupancy limit in rental units. Watch Peter Dalton Spoke about the inclusionary housing ordinance. Watch Bessie Simmons Shared her story about how affordable housing is important to her and others in the community. Watch Sue Loellbach Sue works for Connections for the Homeless and was at the City Council meeting representing Joining Forces for Affordable Housing. She encouraged that the City of Evanston put a plan that identifies what we can do but also strategies to obtaining resources for affordable housing Watch Tina Paden Wants the City to provide assistance to landlords who provide affordable housing to residents. Watch Carlis Sutton Addressed his concerns about Pilot Landlord Rehabilitation Assistance Program and Evanston Rental Program to Address Affordable Housing Needs Watch Sarah Vanderwicken Suggested that data collected on affordable housing be used to better distribute affordable housing units in the community Watch Betty Ester Invited City Council members, staff and the public to attend a presentation on civilian police oversight. It will be held on February 8th at 7 p.m. at Family Focus. Watch Doreen Price Asked City Council to appropriate funds to assist senior citizens in evanston to rebuild their homes so they can rent out the units Watch Prisila Giles Wanted the City to find better solutions to fit the housing needs of those in low and fix incomes. Watch Special Order of Business (SP1) ​Affordable Housing Work Plan Staff will update and present City Council with activities undertaken since January 1, 2018 related to affordable housing. Tasks were referred to committees during City Council’s discussion of the Affordable Housing White Paper on October 30, 2017. For Action: Accept and Place on File Approved Watch (SP2) ​Zoning Change to Allow Rental of Accessory Dwelling Units to Non-Family Members City Council made a referral to the Plan Commission to change zoning to allow rental of existing accessory dwelling units to individuals who are not members of the family living in the primary dwelling unit. For Action: Refer to Plan Commission Item referred to Plan Commission for zoning changes without affordability restrictions on ADUs Passed 9-0 Watch (SP3) ​Pilot Landlord Rehabilitation Assistance Program Staff requests consideration of the Pilot Landlord Rehabilitation Assistance Program to support improvements and repairs for rental units that are committed to be rented to households earning 60% of AMI. Staff recommends allocation of $200,000 for the 2018 fiscal year. At its meeting on January 8, 2018, the Administrative and Public Works Committee directed staff to develop a pilot rehabilitation assistance program for local landlords who currently provide rental units at affordable rates but need funds to improve their properties. Funding would be from the City’s Affordable Housing Fund, 250.21.5465.65535. The Affordable Housing Fund has a current uncommitted cash balance of approximately $800,000. For Action Direction provided to staff for revisions; item referred to February 26th Administration & Public Works committee Motion: Ald. Wilson Watch (SP4) ​Rooming Houses Research At its meeting on January 8, 2018, the Planning and Development Committee requested a white paper on rooming houses. Staff seeks direction on next steps. For Discussion Direction provided to staff Item referred to April 9th Planning and Development Committee Watch (SP5) ​Steps Toward Homeownership: First-Time Homebuyer Programs, Mortgage Products and Other Strategies to Expand Homeownership for Moderate and Middle Income Households Staff is providing information requested by the City Council at the October 30, 2017 City Council and January 8, 2018 Administration and Public Works meetings about homeownership assistance programs that are currently available. Staff has prepared a memorandum that reviews Watch mortgage products that combine acquisition and rehab of homes and first time homebuyers programs, and City of Evanston homeownership programs provided in past years. Staff also includes potential new strategies to expand homeownership for moderate and middle income households for consideration by City Council. For Discussion Item referred to February 26th Administration & Public Works Committee (SP6)​ Evanston Rental Program to Address Affordable Housing Needs At its meeting on October 30, 2017, City Council referred the Evanston Rental Program proposed by Alderman Rainey to the Administration and Public Works Committee. Staff provided a memo for discussion on January 17, 2018. Alderman Rainey stressed the importance of rental assistance as a strategy in the City’s Affordable Housing Plan, but that implementation of the program should be held until the City receives additional funding from developer contributions. At the January 22, 2018 Planning and Development Committee meeting, Alderman Revelle asked that work with McKinney-Vento families, who are homeless and have school age children, be included in the Affordable Housing Work Plan. Staff seeks direction on next steps for this program. Initial funding of $1,200,000 would be from developer contributions to the Affordable Housing Fund, 250.21.5465.65535. Subsequent funding could be from the AHF or other sources to be identified. For Discussion Item held until April 30th IHO subcommittee addresses issue of funding for AHF Call of the Wards Ward 1: Thanked the Police and Firefighters who responded to an incident at the Sherman Plaza parking garage. Made a reference to A&PW for security fence at Sherman Ave. parking garage. Reminded 1st Ward residents that there will be a possibility of funding the Northlight Farpoint project on Wednesday January 31st at the Economic Development meeting. Watch Ward 2: No Report Watch Ward 3: On February 1st Ald. Wynne will have her office hours from 7-10 a.m. at Brothers K Watch Ward 4: No Report Watch Ward 5: Made referral to the Economic Development department for a white paper on how code base helps or hinders development. Watch Ward 6: No Report Watch Ward 7: No Report Watch Ward 8: No Report Watch Ward 9: Sent her condolences to the family of a 9th Ward resident who lost his life in a fire, as well as the firefighters who assisted from Evanston as well as Niles, Wilmett and Morton Grove. 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 (9-0) City Council recessed into Executive Session.