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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-2012-08-06-2012AUGUST 6, 2012 City of Evanston - CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, August 6, 2012 6 p.m. Council Chambers Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center 2100 Ridge Avenue Evanston, IL Roll Call: Alderman Burrus Alderman Wilson Alderman Fiske Alderman Grover Alderman Braithwaite Alderman Tendam Alderman Wynne Alderman Rainey Absent: Alderman Holmes Presiding: Mayor Elizabeth B. Tisdahl Mayor Tisdahl called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:06 pm. She then read a statement prepared concerning the Citizen Comments. Alderman Fiske arrived after the meeting had begu-i. Citizen Comment: Natalie Watson, 820 Oakton St. spoke of her total agreement of the Pedestrian Safety Report in creating Evanston as one of the most livable and walk able city in America. Cass Wolfe, 325 Dewey Ave. asked for the specific need as the Executive Direclor of the daycare center on Maine Street for the baby toddlers they care for. She asked for the staff to reconsider to not placing a walkway there for their safety crossing to the park. She also handed the City Clerk a petition signed by parents and employees of the certer. Shiraine Y. Taylor, 124 Clyde Ave-. she is one of the teachers of the daycare ce-Iter who also encourages the Council to place a crosswalk at the location for the safey of the children in their care. Betty Ester, 2031 Church Street spoke of her concern for the congestion that will occur with the bus stop extension at Dodge and Darrow due to the narrowing of the street as a result of the extension. AUGUST 6, 2012 Padma Rao, 2246 Sherman Avenue stated the Council's statement concerning pedestrian safety presents a contradiction of what is really happening with real pedestrians in her own community instead of fictitious ones the Council is approving. She called the Council's words and deeds as being hypocrisy. BK Rao, 2246 Sherman Avenue spoke of how the Mayor and Council always attack her and her daughter and constantly turn off the microphones when they speak concerning the trees. After the trees were mentioned and Mayor Tisdahl cautioned that the subject has been closed, both Padma Rao and B.K. Rao (her mother) stated she had the right to speak on pedestrian safety and trees. The Mayor then turned the microphones off and the two of them began to rail on the Mayor and also accused her and the Council of not fulfilling their fiduciary responsibility to the citizens. Bruce Enenbach, 733 Emerson he spoke of his frequent walking and that there should be education and abundant, strict enforcement of the law, because this is the only way to get drivers to obey the safety rules that are for everyone. Carl Bova, 1322 Roselle Street spoke of the amount of money the City is asking for ($56,000) when in the past the Transportation budget was only $10,000 for the whole year for the City. He stated he could not condone the spending for the items suggested, but the monies should be diverted to improve markings, sidewalks and signage around the City. Pedestrian Safetv: (A)Pedestrian Safetv Evaluation Committee Report Staff recommends that City Council accept the Pedestrian Safety Report and the recommendations developed by the Pedestrian Safety Evaluation Committee. For Action Director of Public Works, Suzette Robinson gave a presentation of one of the Council's goals that were expressed. During her presentation (which can be downloaded from the Council packet on the City's website) the Aldermen had numerous questions and concerns some of which were: 1) The placement of the signs and devices to deter speeding 2) Lack of concern for requests for safety measures on Oakton 3) Concerns of Davis and Forest crossings 4) Parent participation to volunteer for crossing guards 5) Making the speed limit of 25 mph throughout the City of Evanston 6) Reaching out to Northwestern to provide crossing guards Alderman Wynne motioned to approve the recommendation to accept the Pedestrian Safety Report and it was seconded by Alderman Wilson. A voice vote was received unanimously. (B) Aanroval of Participation in a Joint Contract for Pavement Marking Staff recommends City Council approval to participate in a contract through the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC) for Pavement marking services. Participation in this contract will allow the City of Evanston to apply Thermoplastic marking materials at various locations throughout the City in support of the pedestrian safety program. Participation in this contract would not exceed $75,000. For Action AUGUST 6, 2012 City Manager Bobkiewicz moved to have item (B) approved -arid it was seconded by Alderman Grover. Alderman Rainey stated she hoped this would be an exerted effort to have all of the City's markings to be more visible to the public. With a Roll Call vote of 8- 0 the item was approved. (C) Approval of Single Source Purchase of 10 LED Solar Powered School Crossinq Warninq Siqns Svstems Staff recommends City Council approval for the purchase of 10 LED solar powered School Crossing Warning Sign Systems from the TAPCO Traffic & Parking Control Company, Inc. (5100 W. Brown Deer Road, Brown Deer, WI 53223) in the amount of $56,950. - For Action Alderman Rainey motioned to approve the item (C) and was seconded by Alderman Burrus. There will be ten locations and twenty signs on each corner (this is a dual sign placement). A Roll Call vote was taken with a 8-0 result and the item (C) was approved. Motion to adjourn was made by Alderman Grover & seconded by Alderman Tendam. The Special City Council Meeting ended at 8:15pm. Submitted by: Hon. Rodney Greene, CMC City Clerk 1