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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMinutes073018 ​SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER JAMES C. LYTLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS Monday, July 30th, 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 read a letter from a resident commending the actions of Michael Rivera, Parking Supervisor, for taking the extra step in retrieving a coin from a parking meter which held value to the resident. Recognized everyone who participated in the concert at Canal Shores Golf Course. Watch City Manager’s Public Announcements City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz invited members from the Housing Authority of Cook County to talk about a new project in Evanston. Watch City Clerk’s Communications Deputy Clerk Eduardo Gomez informed the public of the great success of the 5th Ward Ice Cream Social event. Watch Public Comment Junad Rizki Talked about TIF money on Howard St, lawsuits in the city and other projects in regards to city funds. Watch James Engelman Asked City Council to accept a grant for 1623 Simpson Street. Talked about registered voters living in his apartment complex. Watch Rich Cahan Member of Interfaith Action of Evanston who would like the organization to partner with the City of Evanston to make sure the voices of the homeless, disabled and unemployed to be heard. Watch Carl Bova Asked City Council to negotiate a lease for the Lincoln Street Beach based on facts. Wanted to know if staff has solicited information from Public Works department for the reconstruction of the ressiovar since it will perhaps interrupt the use of the beach for the year 2018 and 2019. Watch Carlis B. Sutton Thanked Ald. Rue Simmons for her appearance in support for the renovation of Gilbert Park. Stated his opposition to ​Agenda Items SP3, SP7, SP8, SP9. Watch Alvin Paden Owner of Paden Properties said he was not being treated fairly as a landlord with his properties. Watch Renee Paden Said Connections for the Homeless does not have integrity. Stated that the Executive Director and Director of Housing Program have shown lack of trust. Said the organization does not intervene in the bad behavior by the tenants. Said the money from the organization is not worth the headaches for landlords working with Connections for the Homeless. Asked City Council to not give them money from the Tenant Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) program. Watch Tina Paden Owner of Paden Properties who stated that Connections for the Homeless owes them $6,950. Asked City Council to make sure the organization pays landlords if they were to receive grant money from the City of Evanston. Watch Jeff Smith In regards to the Lincoln Street Beach, he emphasized that everything East of Campus Drive and North of the conveyance line is public property. Everything south of the conveyance line is arguably public property. Watch Linda Damashek Spoke on behalf of Peter Demuth, President of the Southeast Evanston Association and its Board. Read the comments in regards to the Lincoln Street Beach. Watch Clare Kelly Expressed her disappointment of the lines of ownership for the Lincoln Street Beach in order for it to be accessible to the public. Watch Trisha Connolly Wanted City Council to support landlords who have affordable housing in place for low income residents. Wanted access to the Lincoln Street Beach for the public. Watch Carl Klein Wanted to know if Jennifer Billingsley worked for or with ZC Associates. Watch Barbara Janes Spoke on behalf of Evanston Parks and Lakefront Alliance in regards to the Lincoln Street Beach. Doesn’t believe the City of Evanston should be negotiating with Northwestern for a beach that is public property. Wants to limit the MOI until 2018. Watch Mary Rosinsky Talked about the Lincoln Street Beach. Said there shouldn't be a “MOU” because it is already an Evanston property Watch Doreen Price Wanted City Council to read the report on affordable housing and would want the Council to explore other possibilities to address the housing crisis in Evanston. Watch William Stack Would like City Council to consider other option on making affordable Watch housing possible for residents who fall short of the criteria to meet affordable housing assistance. Betty Ester Read a statement from the Affordable Housing Active group. Spoke about participatory based budgeting and expenses missing from certain lines items. Asked City Council to make conversation made public when discussing city business. Watch Ray Friedman Opposed the demolition of the Harley Clarke mansion. Shared his frustration over the bonds being used to renovate Robert Crown Center. Believes using taxpayer money to rebuild a recreational facility is a misuse of city money. Watch Erv Chocol Wanted to know how the city could approve the demolition of the Harley Clarke mansion without knowing the real cost of demolition. Said we cannot afford funding the Robert Crown Center. Said most residents will not benefit from the Robert Crown Center and it isn’t fair to split the cost for them. Watch Dough Sharp Member of Reclaim Evanston, a grassroots community organization, who said there is a crisis in the city regarding affordable housing and would like City Council to take strong action to tackle the issue. Watch Allie Harned Wanted to share with City Council an update for the Harley Clarke referendum question. Watch Jennifer Eason Storefront Modernization Program Applications for 1901-1903 Church Street and 1623 Simpson Street. Mentioned that her landlord provides affordable housing and affordable rent to run her business. Said it's not fair to herself, the community and the landlord to shine him in a negative light. Watch Priscilla Giles Wanted to know what is happening with the money taken from the high-rise building in Evanston and the help being offered to residents who cannot afford rent in Evanston. Watch Special Order of Business (SP1) 2019 Budget and Priority-Based Budgeting Process – Next Steps City Council accepted and placed on file the mid-year 2018 Financial Report and the update to the 2019 Priority Based Budgeting process. Staff requests direction on revenue sources to move forward in the 2019 Budget process. For Action Direction provided to Staff Approved 9-0 Watch (SP2) Resolution 54-R-18, Resolution Relating to Prevailing Wage for Public Works Projects City Council adopted Resolution 54-R-18, in order to comply with the provisions of the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act, 820 ILCS 130/0.01, et seq. (the “Act”). The Act requires that contractors and subcontractors pay workers covered under the Act, who are employed on public works construction projects, a wage no less than the general prevailing rate of wages (consisting of hourly cash wages plus fringe benefits) in the county where the work is performed. For Action Approved 9-0 Watch (SP3) Storefront Modernization Program Applications for 1901-1903 Church Street and 1623 Simpson Street City Council approved 100% financial assistance through the Storefront Modernization Program to the following Evanston commercial buildings, which would help a total of six small women and/or minority-owned businesses: 1) 1901 Church Street in an amount not to exceed $77,676.00 to install awnings, update windows and doors as needed, remove electric box signs, install lighting fixtures, and limited tuck-pointing; and 2) 1623 Simpson Street in an amount not to exceed $25,546.00 to install awnings, update windows and doors, remove electric box signs, and install lighting fixtures, and masonry work as needed. Funding for a total of $103,222 will be from the Economic Development Business District Improvement Fund (Account 100.21.5300.65522). The approved Fiscal Year 2018 Budget allocated a total of $250,000 for this account to fund both the Storefront Modernization and Great Merchant Grant programs. If approved, the Business District Improvement Fund will be expended for 2018. Watch For Action Approved 9-0 (SP4) Contract with Hillard Heintze for the Police Department Administrative/Community Services Review City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a contract for the Police Department Administrative/Community Services Review (RFP 18- 35) with Hillard Heintze (30 S. Wacker Dr., Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60606) in the amount of $24,997. Funding will be provided from Police Administration – Service Agreements and Contracts Fund (Account 100.22.2205.62509). This account has a budget of $35,000 and a YTD balance of $29,119.47. For Action Approved 9-0 Watch (SP5) Police Chief Recruitment Vendor and Process City Council received regular updates on the Police Chief recruitment process. For Action: Accept and Place on File Approved 9-0 Watch (SP6) Affordable Housing Work Plan Progress to Date Staff submitted a report to City Council with updates on the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance Subcommittee, other sources of revenue for the Affordable Housing Fund, the rental of accessory dwelling units, the three-unrelated occupancy rule, landlord-tenant services, the Landlord Rehabilitation Assistance Program and a housing plan scope of work. For Action: Accept and Place on File Staff directed to move forward with proposal of accessory dwelling units and volunteer recruitment Approved 9-0 Watch (SP7) Tenant-Based Rental Assistance Program Renewal Funding The Housing and Homelessness Commission and staff recommend approval of a funding renewal of $300,000 in HOME funds to continue the current TenantBased Rental Assistance (TBRA) program, administered by Connections for the Homeless. The funding will provide stable housing for two years to up to ten atrisk Evanston families with children under the age of 18 in Evanston that are underemployed, and break the cycle of poverty Watch and instability by developing the capacity to earn a living wage to support their families and afford market rate rental housing. The increase in funding from $250,000 to $300,000 is due to the increasing costs to rent in Evanston. Funding is from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, Account 240.21.5430.65535. Currently, the City has a total of $474,275.33 in available uncommitted HOME funds. For Action Item held until August 13, 2018 meeting (SP8) 2018 Emergency Solutions Grant Recommendation City Council approved the 2018 Emergency Solutions Grant allocations totaling $146,023: $135,072 to two social services agencies (Connections for the Homeless and the YWCA Evanston/North Shore) that provide housing and services for individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and $10,952 to the City of Evanston for grant administration. Funding source is the City’s 2018 Emergency Solutions Grant entitlement allocation in the amount of $146,023 from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development; account 100.21.2128.XXXXX with individual account numbers for external agencies funded and City administrative costs. For Action Approved 9-0 Watch (SP9) Lincoln Street Beach Ownership and Operations City Council accepted and placed this report on file. Staff also recommends City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate a memorandum of understanding (“MOU”) between the City of Evanston and Northwestern University specifying the operational details and maintenance responsibilities for the Lincoln St. Beach. For Action: Accept and Place on File Direction provided to Staff Approved 9-0 Watch (SP10) Appointment Board of Ethics – Lydia J. Ellul Lydia J. Ellul is a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) with professional expertise in compliance, due diligence, risk management, fraud investigations and fraud assessment. She is a 14-year resident of Evanston and holds an MBA with an emphasis in Management of Information Systems from DePaul University and a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from the Watch University of Florida. For Action Approved 9-0 (SP11) Appointment of Chair to Board of Ethics Jennifer Billingsley For Action Approved 9-0 Watch Call of the Wards Ward 1: No Report Watch Ward 2: On Tues., August 7, for National Night Out there will be a viewing of Star Wars movie at Penny Park. Watch Ward 3: The Out of Space 10TH Anniversary Celebration will be hosting a block party event at Chicago and Dempster on August 25 and 26. Office Hours will be from 7-10 a.m. on August 2nd. Watch Ward 4: No Report Watch Ward 5: Thanked 5th Ward resident Carlis Sutton, Priscilla Giles, Betty Ester and Mary Wilkinson on a fantastic presentation at Gilbert Park. Invited residents to visit the park and view a mural of Africa. Also thanked the contractor firm who donated their services for the restoration of the park and mural. Lastly thanked City Clerk Devon Reid and his staff for a successful 5th Ward Ice Cream Social event Watch Ward 6: No Report Watch Ward 7: Invited 5th and 7th Ward resident to the National Night Out celebration on Tues., August 7, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Twiggs Park, 1901 Simpson St. Watch Ward 8: No Report Watch Ward 9: For National Night Out, residents can meet at Kamen West Park Tues., August 7, 6:00 p.m. to 8 p.m for food and activities. Also recognized the Forestry Department for their great work in the city. 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