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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES-2010-01-09-20101 1 EV� O'Z► January 09, 2010 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING BUDGET WORKSHOP LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS JANUARY 09, 2010 8:45 A.M. Roll Call: Absent at Roll Call: Alderman Holmes Alderman Tendam Alderman Grover Alderman Burrus Alderman Fiske Alderman Wynne Alderman Wilson Aldermen Rainey & Jean -Baptiste Presiding Officer: Mayor Elizabeth M. Tisdahl u l Mayor Tisdahl thanked everyone for being in attendance and stated she would begin with the comments from the citizenry concerning the Library first. She also stated she had to leave the meeting at 10:00 A.M. to attend a Mayor's meeting to discuss the Police and Firemen Pensions. She also stated there was a large group of people who were willing to pay to support the initiative of keeping the Branch Libraries open. Before leaving the meeting at 9:55 A.M. Mayor Tisdahl appointed Alderman Rainey to sit in as the Mayor Pro-Tem for the remainder of the meeting. Public Comment: The following citizens spoke in support of keeping the Branch Libraries open, and the importance of the decision the Council will make in regards to the issue. Kit Elliot, 732 Michigan Maria Rosen, 2324 Central Lori Keenan, 2214 Colfax Marcia Mahoney, 1236 Forest Michael Tannen, 1010 Elmwood Karen Rosen, 2324 Central (daughter) Gladys Bryer, 550 Sheridan Ave. Jeff Smith, 2724 Harrison W January 09, 2010 Amy Wharten, 913 Michigan Jane Woolley, 425 Keeney Kevin O'Connor, 1227 1/2 Isabella Junad Rizki, 2767 Ridge Ave. Mary Alice Ball, 2545 Bennett Joan Ducayet, 2226 Noyes Larry Lundy, 933 Ashland Antony Van Zyl, 707 Michigan Ave. Elizabeth Gordon, 7756 W. Northshore Ave The following citizens spoke in support of the retention of the ECMC (Evanston Community Media Center), because of the important services the entity provides to the City of Evanston. Dickelle Fonda, 1220 Darrow Marcia Bernsten, 1213 Maple Ave. Stan Spillar, 8318 N. Kenneth, Skokie Cindy Cort, 925 Wesley Scott Sanders, 2101 W Lunt Ave. Jeannie Sanke, 140 Clyde John Szostek, 600 Main Street Steve Bartlebaugh, Jane Wooley, 425 Keeney Myron Martin, 6905 Kilmore Terry Beem, 3308 Grant Street Stel Valavanis, 1823 Grant Bohus Blahut, 6256 Newhart, Chi. Antony Van Zyl, 707 Michigan Patricia Simms, 104 W South Blvd Marcia Fincher, The following citizens spoke about their concerns with the Budget: Kevin O'Connor, 1227 1/2 Isabella Kevin Johnson, 14919 Troy Ave. Mike Vasilko, 2728 Reese Junad Rizki, 2767 Ridge Ave. The following citizens spoke their concerns on the issues of cuts in the Health & Human Services Department: Heather Joseph, 820 Davis (Mental Health) Karen Rosen, 2324 Central (Children's Dental Clinic)\ Cass Wolfe, 325 Dewey (Child Care) Susan Ruhl, 516 Church (Child Care) Marcia Fincher, 1400 Ashland (Child Care) Ted L. Loda, 1314 Washington (House Bill # 174, to obtain extra revenue) Martha Arrenson, 1023 Simpson (spoke on behalf of Socorro Clarke and Child Care from H.S) Terry Beem, 3308 Grant Street (Mental Health, Child Care) A five (5) minute break was announced by the Mayor Pro-Tem, Ann Rainey at the completion of the citizen comments. 1 1 2 January 09, 2010 City Manager, Wally Bobkiewicz then announced to the public that there would be presentations from the various departments, to address some of the revisions that had been suggested for the Council's approval of the proposed Budget. He also stated the Budget process was a very positive one with participation from all sides. He also stated the Budget that everyone had received was a budget that is out of balance of 9.5 million dollars. He also stated there would be new general taxes to make up the 9.5 million dollar gap. He also stated he had some specific budget goals he would be presenting to the Council as well as an additional 1.5 million dollars of reductions to balance the budget. The City Manager continued with his announcement of the changes in various departments and the renaming of departments that will be combined, along with the change in responsibilities of some of the Staff members existing assignments. Mr. Martin Lyons will hold only one responsibility as the Assistant City Manager, and the point person for relations with Northwestern University, Joel McRae will become the Chief Customer Service Officer, and Ms. Shanee Jackson will become the City -Wide Volunteer Coordinator. Mr. Bobkiewicz is also asking all employees to increase their input into the health insurance plan. City Manager stated he and the Department heads would take a 5% pay deduction, and there will be no cost of living increases or step increases for non -representative employees which represent large numbers. He stated some departments will be renamed after combining entities that share similar responsibilities. City Manager Bobkiewicz introduced Mr. Lyons, the Assistant City Manager to make the first presentation of the departments within the City. After Mr. Lyons made his presentation, he was then followed in order by these following Staff members: Grant Farrar, City Attorney, Law Department, Ms. Joellen Daley, Director Administrative Services, Mr. Lehman Walker, Director Community Development, Chief Eddington, Police Department, Michael Whalen, Management Analyst Fire Department, Ms. Evonda Thomas, Director Health and Human Services, Ms. Suzette Eggleston, Public Works Director, Ms. Mary M. Johns, Library Director, Mr. Doug Gaynor, Director of Parks/Recreation & Community Services. 3 January 09, 2010 The Aldermen then had a number of questions concerning all of the presentation from the various departments such as: 1) Clarification on all Budget cuts. 2) Budget follow-up reports. 3) Better understanding of what reductions will mean to Customer Services. 4) Specific positions that are affected in the reduction process. 5) The cost of closing facilities earlier compared to keeping established times, and the revenues that may be lost. 6) What is the impact on existing programs? 7) More information on franchise fees 8) Have we engaged Districts 65 & 202 to share in the fees? 9) More detail on all reports 10) Is there a sliding scale for the insurance increase for Employees? 11) Where will the volunteers help in the services? 12) Information on the eliminated Police beat 13) What benefits from Northwestern could we expect? 14) What effect will it be if we do not treat the trees every year? 15) What kind of private partnerships can we find to fund the Libraries and even open a West branch? 16) The total number of people who come through the Dental Care Department. 17) Need a sense of how the services will be compensated with the cuts. 18) What type of help now exists in the Law Department and if there is sufficient staff to meet the prospective goals? 19) How do we look for alternatives with the cuts? 20) Need the Staff for charge backs the City receives from the TIF's. 21) Can we re -arrange our negotiations for Public Access? 22) Why did the ECMC reorganize as a not -for -profit board? 23) What does ECMC do about fund raising 24) Need a history of the trend of the Franchise Fees 1 1 1 4 January 09, 2016 (a 5 To close out the Budget Workshop Mr. Joe McRae gave a presentation on the Franchise Fees with the City of Evanston. The existing Franchises the City has are: 1) Comcast: ($ 846,777.00) 2) AT & T Video (State Franchise): $6,786.00 3),NICOR Gas: $95,000.00 Franchise fees are general fund revenues and these fees are 5% of their gross revenue which comes back to the City. The Franchise agreement does not mandate that the City allocate any portion of the Franchise revenue for petty access. The Council decides where and how that money is allocated. Mr. McRae concluded by stating the services that ECMC provides for the City, which were summarized as the following example: 1) City Council, A&PW, P&D, HS 2) Special Meetings, and 3) Budget Workshops 4) Community Budget Call -in Show These services cost the City $200.00 per meeting other than City Council meetings. There was a comparison of other Municipalities and how they fund their Public Access. Mayor Pro-Tem Rainey asked for a motion for adjournment. It was moved and seconded, the meeting ended at 12:55 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Rodney Greene, City Clerk A CD RECORDING IS AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE ROOM 1200. 1 5 1 1