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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES-2011-08-01-2011August 1, 2011 City of Evanston SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, August 1, 2011 6:00 p.m. CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS COUNCIL CHAMBERS LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER 2100 RIDGE AVENUE, EVANSTON 60201 Roll Call: Alderman Tendam Alderman Braithwaite Alderman Rainey Alderman Wilson Alderman Fiske Alderman Holmes Absent: Aldermen Burrus, Grover, and Wynne Presiding: Mayor Elizabeth B. Tisdahl The Mayor called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 6:11 p.m. after a Roll Call was completed. She then read an announcement of why the meeting was being held. She called for Public Comment and only two persons had signed up to speak. Public Comment: Padma Rao, 2246 Sheridan, spoke on the Kendall re -subdivision and stated "her comments were reviewed and approved by her Attorney. She stated she had written and spoken to the Council about her concerns sighting authorities in laws, science and logic and the Council's decision to kill over two dozen trees for no reason. She also stated the Council had excluded the matters of public concern through closed doors with the developer. She also stated the Council had failed their fiduciary responsibilities to the tax payers and voted without any justification and they deserve condemnation". She stated the Council had violated their Constitutional rights repeatedly just because we stated facts and law, and the relationship with Holand and Knight. She stated she condemns the Council's wrongs and will continue doing so. August 1, 2011 Mayor Tisdahl asked the City Manager if he would like to address Holland and Knight, and he responded in the positive. As he began to speak Ms. Rao interrupted and informed him he did not have the right to answer during citizen comment and it was unconstitutional for him to do so. The Mayor then asked the City Attorney if it was indeed unconstitutional for the City Manager to respond to the issue of Holland and Knight. Before Mr. Fararr responded to the Mayor's inquiry, Ms. Rao stated it is unconstitutional when you interfere with the right of a citizen to state their unhappiness with a governmental action. Mr. Grant Farrar, the City Corporate Counsel, stated he did not know where Ms. Rao was going but it's obvious nowhere. He also stated the City Manager and Mayor are in charge of these proceedings not you. Your citizen comment is up you are limited to three minutes, you're through. The City Manager may be permitted to speak the Mayor is the presiding officer has the ability to maintain order and decorum which extends to you. The Mayor then interrupted Ms. Rao's further comments by stating "if you want to know the facts about Holland and Knight why don't you listen to the City Manager and that could clear it up for you". City Manager Bobkiewicz stated the City was represented by Holland and Knight at one time for various legal issues, but is no longer representing the City and this ended somewhere in 2009, 2010 but he wasn't sure of the exact date, so the City Attorney stated it was on March 4th 2010 when the firm stopped representing the City in all legal matters and Mr. Siegel's services were terminated at that time. February 28th 2010 was when the end of the lobbying service fees to the firm was stopped, as stated by the City Manager. Ms. Rao then stated it was unethical for a law firm to represent against a former client. Mayor Tisdahl interrupted Ms. Rao's comments and stated it was now time for B.K. Rao to speak. B.K. Rao, 2246 Sherman, asked if the Mayor was going to try and impeach her also, and the Mayor answered "I would never try and impeach you". B.K. Rao stated she had consulted her Attorney and he had reviewed and approved her comments. She was speaking on the twenty-four trees that are sentenced to death by the passing of the Kendall property re -subdivision as well as the alley that will endanger the lives of the children. She wanted to know why she was interrupted seven times for speaking about this issue. If it is so painful to listen to these genuine concerns of the taxpayers, then reverse the decision you made. She stated she will be back to discuss this issue. FY2011 Financial Update At the July 18, 2011 City Council meeting, Council members agreed to continue discussion of the FY2011 Financial Report at a Special City Council meeting on August 1, 2011, in lieu of the Rules Committee meeting. Staff recommends that the City Council accept and place on file the June 30, 2011 Financial Report. For Action J 2 August 1, 2011 The City Manager stated at the last Council Session it was suggested to hold over these next three items due to the lateness of the hour and that we have an executive session and would like to complete everything to be able to go into the Human Services Committee meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber. He then called upon Mr. Marty Lyons, Assistant City Manager, to come forward and present his update for the City. Mr. Lyons reported the revenues were a little above budget and also sales tax are tracking right at budget. For a copy of the Fiscal Year 2011 update as well as the June 30, 2011 Financial Review, and the August 1, 2011 statements the City Clerk will have the report available for those who would like one. Resolution 39-R-11: Amendina the FY2011 Budaet Staff recommends City Council adoption of Resolution 39-R-11 authorizing the City Manager to increase the total FY2011 appropriation by $9,600,984 from $198,910,258 to $208,511,242. This Amendment is for the inclusion of carryover projects in the Capital Improvements Program, inclusion of the Ward Manufacturing development project, and an adjustment to cover the costs for repair of the three downtown parking decks (as approved by Council on July 25, 2011 — Resolution 38-R-11). No new tax revenues are required to fund this amendment and this amendment does not increase any General Operating Expenses. For Action The Resolution was accepted with a 6-0 vote after a motion to approve was moved by Alderman Holmes and seconded. FY2012 Proposed Budget Calendar Staff recommends City Council adoption of the proposed FY2012 budget calendar. For Action The City Manager stated they will come back on August 8th with a fairly comprehensive view of the ninety-six City Services evaluations with the backup documentation for each. The supporting documentation is over six hundred pages which is boiled down to two page spread sheets with six hundred pages of backup. The City Manager announced the following dates for the upcoming Budget discussions as follows: • September 8, 2011 during Regular Council Session • September 12, 2011 during Regular Council Session Annual Review of City Council goals • September 17, 2011 a Saturday morning Session for community feedback • September 22, 2011 a Thursday evening Session for community feedback • September 26, 2011 during Regular Council Session Mid -Year Budget Review • October 7, 2011 The Fiscal year proposed Budget available to Council • October 15, 2011 a Saturday morning Session discussion with Council August 1, 2011 • October 29, 2011 a Saturday morning Session discussion with Council • November 14, 2011 Public formal hearing of the Budget • November 16, 2011 a Wednesday evening Session • November 28, 2011 Hopefully the adoption of the Budget and Tax Levy The Council took a voice vote that was unanimous and the proposed Budget Calendar was approved 6-0 after Alderman Rainey motioned for approval and it was seconded. Alderman Wilson motioned for the Council to convene into an Executive Session and was seconded. Roll Call was accomplished and the result was 6-0. The meeting ended at 6:49 p.m. Submitted by: Rodney Greene, City Clerk 4 1 1