HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.19.18
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS
LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER
JAMES C. LYTLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Monday, February 19, 2018
7:00 PM
ORDER OF BUSINESS
(I) Roll Call – Begin with Alderman Rue Simmons
(II) Mayor Public Announcements
(III) City Manager Public Announcements
(IV) Communications: City Clerk
(V) Public Comment
Members of the public are welcome to speak at City Council meetings. As part of the Council
agenda, a period for public comments shall be offered at the commencement of each regular
Council meeting. Public comments will be noted in the City Council Minutes and become part of
the official record. Those wishing to speak should sign their name and the agenda item or non-
agenda topic to be addressed on a designated participation sheet. If there are five or fewer
speakers, fifteen minutes shall be provided for Public Comment. If there are more than five
speakers, a period of forty-five minutes shall be provided for all comment, and no individual shall
speak longer than three minutes. The Mayor will allocate time among the speakers to ensure that
Public Comment does not exceed forty-five minutes. The business of the City Council shall
commence forty-five minutes after the beginning of Public Comment. Aldermen do not respond
during Public Comment. Public Comment is intended to foster dialogue in a respectful and civil
manner. Public comments are requested to be made with these guidelines in mind.
1 of 5
City Council Agenda February 19, 2018 Page 2 of 2
(VI) Special Orders of Business
SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS
(SP1) Main Library Renovation Update
Staff will present City Council with an update on the Main Library Renovation.
For Action
(SP2) Robert Crown Community Center Project Update
Staff recommends City Council review the funding options presented and
provide direction on next steps for the Robert Crown Community Center
project.
For Discussion
APPOINTMENTS
(APP1)For Re-Appointment:
Environment Board Linda Young
Utilities Commission Mark White
For Action
(VII) Call of the Wards
(Aldermen shall be called upon by the Mayor to announce or provide information
about any Ward or City matter which an Alderman desires to bring before the
Council.) {Council Rule 2.1(10)}
(VIII) Executive Session
(IX) Adjournment
MEETINGS SCHEDULED THROUGH FEBRUARY 2018
Upcoming Aldermanic Committee Meetings
2/20/2018 7:00 PM Housing & Community Development Act Committee
2/21/2018 6:30 PM M/W/EBE Committee
2/26/2018 6:00 PM Administration & Public Works, Planning & Development, City Council
2/28/2018 7:00 PM Economic Development Committee
2/28/2018 7:00 PM Housing & Homelessness Commission
Information is available about Evanston City Council meetings at: www.cityofevanston.org/citycouncil.
Questions can be directed to the City Manager’s Office at 847-866-2936. The City is committed to
ensuring accessibility for all citizens. If an accommodation is needed to participate in this meeting, please
contact the City Manager’s Office 48 hours in advance so that arrangements can be made for the
accommodation if possible.
2 of 5
For City Council meeting of February 19, 2018 Item SP1
Main Library Renovation Update
For Discussion
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Karen Danczak Lyons, Library Director
Subject: Main Library Renovation Update
Date: February 15, 2018
Recommended Action:
Staff will present City Council with an update on the Main Library Renovation.
Memorandum
3 of 5
For City Council Meeting of February 19, 2018 Items SP2
Crown Center Funding Update
For Discussion
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Erika Storlie, Assistant City Manager
Kate Lewis-Lakin, Senior Management Analyst
Subject: Robert Crown Center Project Update
Date: February 16, 2018
Recommended action:
Staff recommends City Council review the funding options presented and provide
direction on next steps for the Robert Crown Community Center project.
Summary:
The Robert Crown Community Center project has progressed significantly over the last
few months. The next major action to be taken on the project is the approval of a
construction manager, scheduled for Council action on February 26. In advance of this
step, staff has further developed the project funding plan, which will be presented to City
Council on February 19.
Fundraising
As of February 16, 2018, Friends of the Robert Crown Center (FRCC) has raised a total
of $11.1 million in pledges towards a new Crown Community Center. A majority of these
gifts are 5-7 year pledge agreements, payable through 2023. FRCC has received $2.4
million in donations and pledge payments to date.
Project Costs
The current estimated project cost is $48.5 million dollars. This includes $1.4 million
already spent in 2016 and 2017 for fundraising and architectural/engineering services.
The bulk of these costs will be incurred during 2018 and 2019 during the construction of
the building, with sports fields and other site work to be completed by through 2020.
This cost has increased from staff’s last presentation to Council of $40-46 million on
September 25, 2017. The new estimate is based on final design documents that have
been completed by the architects and on estimates received through the construction
Memorandum
4 of 5
manager RFP process. Additionally, subsoil problems were discovered on the site,
increasing the cost of necessary infrastructure work.
Project Funding
In order to complete the project at this new level and have the necessary amount of
cash flow to fund the project during construction, staff has reexamined the structure and
timing of bonds to be issued for the project. The proposed financing mechanism is
having the City and Library issue bonds over two years - $23.75 million in 2018 and
$12.25 million in 2019. The 2018 issue will be on a 25-year repayment schedule. The
2019 issue will be a short-term bond, for which the City will pay interest-only for the first
5 years. The City will continue to receive money from FRCC through 2023 as donations
and pledge payments are redeemed and can be put towards paying off the principal of
this debt, and any remaining debt will be converted to longer-term bonds.
Impact of Funding Plan
Using this bond structure, the project will be able to carry a cash balance through
construction, managing the risk of cost overruns. The structure of the short-term notes
issued in 2019 allows for pledges to mature and protects the City’s ability to fund the
project in the case that not all pledges are received as expected.
The proposed funding structure creates a one-time increase of $1.5 million to the Debt
Service levy. If approved, this will be seen on the 2018 property tax bill, payable in
2019. Adding in expected increases to other portions of the City’s levy, including the
Pension and Solid Waste funds, staff anticipates a 4.9% increase to the City and
Library’s overall 2018 tax levy. This projection does not include an increase to the
Library levy for the renovation of the main library. The City and Library’s combined levy
is approximately 15% of the total property tax paid by an Evanston resident.
Per $100,000 of property value, the levy increase would equal about a $25 increase to
the 2018 tax levy bill (payable 2019) and a $16 increase on the 2019 bill (payable
2020). For example, on a property valued at $400,000 the levy increase would equal a
$100 increase in the 2018 levy, payable in 2019 and a $64 increase on the 2019 levy,
payable in 2020.
5 of 5