HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-2011-03-22-2011City of
Evanston
CITY COUNCIL
ROLL CALL — PRESENT:
Alderman Holmes
Alderman Tendam
Alderman Grover
Alderman Rainey
Alderman Burrus
A quorum was present.
PRESIDING: Mayor Elizabeth B. Tisdahl
MARCH 22, 2011
Alderman Fiske
Alderman Braithwaite
Alderman Wynne
Alderman Wilson
The SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council convened at 7:15 P.M. after the Roll
Call and a quorum was present. Mayor Tisdahl welcomed the audience to the
special Council meeting and she also announced that the Litigation and minutes
were discussed in the first Executive Session and there will not be a need for the
second proposed session.
Citizen Comment
These persons spoke of their concerns for the proposed budaet:
Jim Hughs, 2518 Hartzell gave figures and programs in comparisons between
Evanston and Municipalities who were similar to Evanston.
Lonnie Wilson, 1039 Darrow spoke on priority setting and hope the Council think
of programs and people before placing things in front and the people who suffer
the most.
Lori Keenan, 2214 Colfax made an announcement of the opening of the Mighty
Twig on Saturday. She announced a warning to the residents to be aware of the
suggested proposals as already being implemented and they are not rumors, but
are in motion already.
Yard Waste
Irene Gregory, 1905 Sherman stated she has been a gardener for many years and
she suggested to bag the leaves in your yards, sprinkle a little water, leave in a
sunny spot, and when you go to retrieve later you will have enriched mulch for
your gardens.
Privatization
David Matusek, 2976 Liberty Lane, Lindenhurst spoke against the privatization
and the unnecessary outsourcing of when the City employees do a better and
more efficient job in performing the services.
Kevin O'Connor 1227 '/2 Isabella asked for the Council to stop the privatization of
profit and the socialization of risk.
Noves Cultural Center
Richard Halstead, 3320 Culver spoke of the future of the Noyes Culture Center,
and the services that are provided to the residents and would be missed.
Laurie Allen -Simpson, 542 Michigan Ave stated that Evanston is a place where
many people come to live because of the community and the atmosphere.
Yvi Russell, 1724 Livingston St read a statement from the City speaking positively
about the Noyes Cultural Arts Center. She ask for the Council to reconsider the
proposal of not to close the building, and she has collected over three hundred
signatures in support of the Center.
Alderman Rainey asked if some clarification be giving to the rumors that were
going around concerning certain facilities being cut off.
City Manager Bobkiewicz replied those rumors started about a month ago from
an article in the ROUNDTABLE. At a meeting with the Evanston Environmental
Board Association, where he had discussed options not closings. He also stated
the presentation tonight will address some of those concerns.
Joanna Pinsky, 1223 Grant St is the Artistic Director of Art Encounter and have
been in the Art Center for more than 25 years. She stated the service that is
offered there is for people all over.
Linda Slavk, 1319 Greenwood gave her credentials and is looking for the City
Council to keep the Center open, and the legacy of the Center should be
continued.
SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS
The City Manager stated the reason for this meeting was to talk about the new
budget for the fiscal year of 2012. He then read a list of issues to be discussed
as well as looking into options for keeping the current mix of residents and
businesses in Evanston.
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Some of the suggestions he made were as follows:
• To shift some of the annual operational fees to Capital Projects as a
permanent change in spending
• Continue to invest in Economic Development
• The strengths of our Evanston Police and Fire Departments 39% of the
budget goes to support these two departments
• Affordable housing should) be available to all residents and not just the rich
• Our commitment to sustainability
He again stated no decisions have been made, there are no lists but a dialogue
must begin. He then gave a slide presentation of the proposed budget for 2012.
A question was asked concerning the big drop of $200,000. Ms. Earl stated it
was a slight mistake and it should have been on last year. The data with the
numbers after the correction were all correct as will be presented.
• A 10% reduction in staff since last year
• Projection of a 1.4 million dollar deficit
• A 3.2 million dollar deficit to maintain status quo for 2013
• To repair the many streets will be millions of dollars that we do not have
• One Hundred Million Dollars of Capital Budget Debt with no way to pay
back
• Fleet needs are 2 million/year
• A $58,000,000 need for 2012 that the City of Evanston does not have
• A $45,000,000 2013
• A $38,000,000 2014
City Manager suggested to the Council to shift funds from Operational to Capital
to have additional monies to invest that is not based on debt. He suggested
$2,000,000/year starting in 2012.
The City Manager then proposed a five step plan:
1. Community Services comparisons of similar Cities for data
collection
2. To look at efficiencies of services (even contracted out services)
• Forming Partnerships with other neighboring communities as
well as within the Evanston community
• To eliminate some services by objectively look at how we
supply services
• To evaluate every City service and its functionality
3. Better Capital Planning
4. Priority -Based Budgeting
5. Innovation in looking at ways to better provide the services the City
of Evanston provides as well as setting priorities
Concerns:
1) Discover more innovated ways to get many of the residents involved to
include those who do not have computers.
2) Approval of the steps presented to go ahead with the proposed budget for
2012.
3) There have been numerous conversations of how to keep the various
centers open
4) There have been no conversations about closing any Facilities in the City
Thouqhts for movinq ahead:
1) Will move forward with the plan presented
2) Ask Council to schedule a special meeting in April
3) An update with a community meeting will occur between now and then
4) Will make available information online,
Motion was made and seconded to adjourn. Motion passed 9-0. Meeting
adjourned at 8:30 pm.
Rodney Greene, City Clerk
City of Evanston
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