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Home My WebLink AboutCCMinutes10272018 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER JAMES C. LYTLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS Saturday, October 27th, 2018 Present: Alderman Fiske Alderman Rue Simmons Alderman Braithwaite Alderman Revelle Alderman Wynne Alderman Rainey Alderman Wilson Alderman Suffredin (8) Absent: Alderman Fleming (1) 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 Wally Bobkiewicz had no announcements. Watch City Clerk’s Communications City Clerk informed the public about Early Voting happening at the Civic Center in room G300. Invited residents to volunteer in the office for phone banking to inform residents about the Election. Watch Public Hearing: FY2019 Proposed Budget for the City of Evanston Hearing Public Comment Susan Davis Friedman Spoke about the proposed budget cuts to the arts funds in the City of Evanston. Watch Beth Adler Stated that public art in all Wards is a top priority by the Arts Council. Asked for $25,000 in funding in order to meet current budget obligation. Would like to see $30,000 for Cultural Art Fund Grant, $10,000 for Community Support Fund Grant, $10,000 in Administrative cost and $25,000 for the Neighborhood Public Art Fund. Asked to reconsider the reinstatement of the Arts Coordinator position at a later date. Watch Kimkea Harris Attorney who represents the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council who spoke about the need for an effective police force in Evanston. Said that vacant positions could lead to longer response times and overworked officers are prone to burnouts and on the job injuries. Asked City Council to consider the long terms effects. Watch Junad Rizki Talked about the lack of responsibility in the city. Stated there has Watch been misrepresentation of city problems by staff and others. Asked City Council to take more action to fix the issues. Don Zeigler Proposed to cut 2 staff members instead of 5 from the Health Department. Asked to keep the Assistant Director and Health Educator position in order for Evanston to keep the certification from the State. This will ensure Evanston continues to receive Federal and State funding. Watch Marqueis Weatherspoon Shared results from surveys conducted by Cradle to Career and found that residents weren’t participating in the budget discussions due to the belief that their voice were not being considered. Watch Sandra Burnes Wanted the city to remain safe by ensuring our Fire and Police departments are fully staffed. Watch Pat Burns Stated that he didn’t understand how the city accrued the current 7.2 million in debt in a matter of months. Said it’s important that there is a list of goals for the future in the budget. Watch Elissa Bassler Spoke about the importance of having a certified Health Department. Also talked about properly funding the Health Department. Watch Charetta Williams Talked about residents being underserved by the city government. Watch Dolores Holmes Spoke about the Health Department. Spoke about keeping Vital Records as part of the services. Watch Bill Lynch President of Evanston Firefighters Local 742 who voiced his opposition to the proposed cuts to the fire department. Watch Doreen Price Talked about the budget and hidden costs. Watch Josh Hall Spoke about the importance of ensuring the residents of Evanston have proper response times from our first responders to ensure that those who are committed to living independently can continue to do so because of the quality care we provide to residents. Watch Jerome Summers Stated that the poor, sick, old and other minority groups are in trouble with the proposed city budget. Watch Clare Kelly Read a statement on behalf of Peggy Tar Watch Betty Ester Spoke about projects being developed without the funds to support them. Talked about levies issued by the city. Watch Ray Friedman Spoke about the budget and staff cuts. Doesn't believe there is a need to cut staff, reduce programs or increase taxes. Believes there Watch is no control of the spending within the city. Asked City Council to cut spending on projects that are not priority. Michelle Hays Questioned why the city is cutting programs that are necessary and funding projects are not essential Shared her concerns about the budget making process. Watch Pat Brunger Stated that if broken down, it would take a donation of $20 by each resident in Evanston to keep fire station 4 open. Asked City Council to keep Station 4 open. Watch Alderman Braithwaite made a motion to adjourn the hearing and received a second from Ald. Rue Simmons. Clerk Reid called a roll-call vote and on a vote of 8-0 the hearing was adjourned. Public Hearing: Truth and Taxation Hearing for the 2018 Property Tax Levy for the City of Evanston Hearing Public Comment Junad Rizki Stated that although City Council doesn’t raise property taxes, they in turn raise the levys. Said taxes are being raised. Wanted a truthful budget to be created. Said there was excessive spending that has cost the city millions of dollars. Believes that the budget crisis is because of the mismanagement. Watch Alderman Braithwaite made a motion to adjourn the hearing and received a second from Ald. Wynne. Clerk Reid called a roll-call vote and on a vote of 8-0 the hearing was adjourned. Public Comment Junad Rizki Spoke about the city budget, along with the Water Department budget. Said residents have been filing voluminous FOIA request in the past year because they are losing trust in local government. Watch Clare Kelly Read another statement on behalf of Peggy Tar Watch Ray Friedman Didn’t understand why City Council would approve the Robert Crown Center if it would be operating at a loss when it is reopened. Asked that we operate with the revenue we are receiving. Watch Special Order of Business (SP1) Ordinance 123-O-18: City of Evanston 2018 Tax Levy City Council approved introduction of Tax Levy Ordinance 123-O-18, which levies the annual property tax for General Fund Operations, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, Police and Fire Pension Funds, and the General Assistance Fund totaling $30,703,260. The corresponding total for 2017 Levy was $30,101,219. For Introduction Passed 8-0 Motion: Ald. Rainey Watch (SP2) Ordinance 124-O-18: Evanston Library Fund 2018 Tax Levy City Council approved introduction of Tax Levy Ordinance 124-O-18, per Library Board action on October 17, 2018, which levies the annual property tax for the Evanston Public Library in the amount of $6,887,755. For Introduction Passed 8-0 Motion: Ald. Rainey Watch (SP3) Ordinance 125-O-18: Solid Waste Fund 2018 Tax Levy City Council approved introduction of Tax Levy Ordinance 125-O-18, which levies the annual property tax for the Solid Waste Fund in the amount of $836,735. For Introduction Passed 8-0 Motion: Ald. Rainey Watch (SP4) Ordinance 126-O-18: Special Service Area #4 2018 Tax Levy City Council approved introduction of Tax Levy Ordinance 126-O-18, which levies the annual property tax for Special Service Area #4 in the amount of $535,714. For Introduction Passed 8-0 Watch (SP5) Ordinance 127-O-18: Special Service Area #6 2018 Tax Levy City Council approved introduction of Tax Levy Ordinance 127-O-18, which levies the annual property tax for Special Service Area #6 in the amount of $225,510. For Introduction Passed 8-0 Motion: Ald. Rainey Watch (SP6) Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Workshop No formal action will be taken regarding the FY 2019 Budget. Budget documents are available here: www.cityofevanston.org/city-budget/. For Discussion Watch Call of the Wards Ward 1: Thanked residents for attending the City Council meeting Watch Ward 2: Made a referral to staff to examine the Star Community rating system. Watch Ward 3: Office hours on November 1, from 7-10 a.m. at Brothers K Watch Ward 4: Thanked residents for attending the City Council meeting 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.