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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-2010-11-15-20101 ROLL CALL: ABSENT: PRESIDING: S� ox Co. CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING BUDGET DISCUSSION & CONSIDERATION Monday, November 15, 2010 7:00 P.M. City Council Chambers Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center 2100 Ridge Avenue Evanston, IL Alderman Tendam Alderman Fiske Alderman Grover Alderman Jean -Baptiste Alderman Rainey Alderman Wynne Alderman Burrus Alderman Holmes Alderman Wilson (death in the family) Mayor Elizabeth B. Tisdahl Mayor Tisdahl called the Special Budget Meeting to order at 7:07 P.M. after the roll call and read her proclamation for the reason the meeting was being held. Public Comment: Junad Rizki, 2288 Sheridan Road, spoke of his concerns of the Council's learning experiences from past issues and the spending policy habits. He stated his concerns for the proposed cuts in the Ecology Center as well as other areas that seem to provide needed service to the community. Kit Elliot, 732 Michigan, spoke of her concerns for the Library and stated 170 people signed up to use the computers at the South Branch Library in a four day week. She stressed the importance of keeping the branches open in these economic times, as she quoted some statistics she had researched. Kevin O'Connor, 1227 %z Isabella, spoke of his concerns of the comparison of the previous budgets and the present proposed budget. He asked for some clarification and transparency of the Council and the City Manager in budgetary cuts. He finally spoke in favor of the Library and the actions of the grass root group that was organized to do what they could to save the branches. Jeanne Lindwall, 625 Library Place, spoke of her concerns of the services that were cut to fund the 3-1-1 system. She suggested the Council put this project off until January 1, 2012 when it would be more economically feasible. She also gave support to the persons Special Council Meeting (Budget) November 15, 2010 who worked to keep the branches open. She urged the Council to not cut needed services and to find other ways to fund the 3-1-1 system. Virginia Mann, stated she presented last week a memo with some astounding numbers concerning the tree cuttings and the cost lost in cutting down the trees instead of saving them through injections. She urged the Council not to cut the injection program to save the trees in Evanston. Leigh Skinner, 1123 Noyes Street, spoke of her concern to keep the tree vaccination program to preserve them for the next generation. She also spoke of the concern for the two Park & Forestry workers, and how these eliminations will ultimately affect the Evanston community and their tree population. Paula Twilling, 2664 Sheridan Rd. she stated she approved the proposed tax increase because there has not been a property tax increases in several years, to keep up with the responsibilities we need to be concerned about. She stated the budget should reflect the community's values and this budget does not reflect what the community has done (she used the people of the Library community and their efforts to demonstrate what they want). Marcia Mahony, 1236 Forest, spoke concerning the Library Branches. She stated neighborhood libraries build communities, and all types of people, ages, color well - dressed and otherwise visit these branches. She spoke especially for the South Branch and the people who visit the branch to get help with school, job hunters, ADA residents and others. She urged the City to find creative ways to fund the Libraries as the City has done to fund the 3-1-1 system. Mayor Tisdahl asked the City Manager if he wanted to start with his Capital Improvement Plan. He responded by saying he first wanted Ms. Suzette Robinson, Director of Public Works, to give an update on the curb improvements and Ms. Earl would follow with the presentation on the CIP. Ms. Robinson stated the crosswalk painting project for twenty-four speed humps and crosswalks in various locations that was to have started on Thursday was delayed, and it will start on tomorrow (Tuesday, November 16, 2010). The contractor had additional work to be completed before starting the project in Evanston. Mr. Bobkiewicz stated the Capital Improvement Budget overview that would be presented to Council tonight with hopes that Council would consider the entire budget and he would then bring back to Council on the 22°a only be the ones that are funded outside of the General Obligation Bonds. There are also some general operational policy questions that will be answered as well. Ms. Earl stated the information being presented was received by Council of the five -year - plan which was broken up into three long spreadsheets which are (1) Current year Projects and the costs (2) Non-GEO Projects and the funding entities, and (3) GEO Proposed Projects and future obligations. She stated she wanted the Council to have the most accurate information for all of the projects that the City may face sometime in the future. The CIP projects would not be presented tonight as stated by Ms. Earl. Ms. Earl started her report by talking about the Current Year and the carryovers. All of the carryovers came to an amount of $9.5 million. Ms. Earl continued with her presentation of the overview of the proposed Budget for the City. She also listed the various projects 2 Special Council Meeting (Budget) November 15, 2010 under the CDBG Grants as well as the Illinois Department of Natural Resource Grant. Most of these projects she stated are Public Works projects. Some of the Projects are: a) Parking Garages (Parking Fund) b) Grandmother Park c) Special Assessments: 1) Alley pavement 2) Curb & sidewalks 3) Street light upgrades 4) Signaling Lanes d) Emergency Sewer Work: 1) Sewer lining 2) Sewer repair on street improvements e) TIFs 1) Neighborhood traffic calming 2) Downtown Replacement Programs f) Water 1) Security Improvements 2) Tuck -pointing 3) Zebra Muscle System Repair 4) Water Maintenance Installation 5) Asbestos Removal She stated in her summary she is looking for the Council's consideration of the budget, and will come back at a later meeting to present only the projects agreed on. The GEO projects will be presented at a future time. Ouestions and Concerns from Aldermen: 1) Alderman Burrus wanted clarification on the Grandmother Park's funding and other allocations. Mr. Gaynor, Dir. of Parks, Recreation & Community Services', stated they are waiting for the grant that hasn't come through yet. He stated he was aware of only the funding approved by the Council. Alderman Burrus also asked for the date of the grant notification. Mr. Gaynor stated it could come any day now, but could be up to three months. She asked if the property was purchased and the answer from Mr. Gaynor was yes it had been purchased. 2) Ald. Burrus wanted to know if the Council could get a full disclosure of the 1817 Church property and how much has been allotted for this CDBG Project. 3) Ald. Burrus questioned whether the City was replacing the Fleet vehicles with Hybrid ones. Mr. Bobkiewicz stated the City has a policy to acquire fuel efficient vehicles whenever possible. Ms. Suzette Robinson also stated she is exploring the idea of purchasing a hybrid garbage truck with the grant they have received. 4) Ald. Jean -Baptiste asked for the projects that have not been started and were approved, how do we view that money? Are they carryovers or savings for the next year? Ms. Earl stated for the carryovers which were not started but were approved are waiting for the CIP funds, but will be reauthorized for next year and will be completed. Mr. Bobkiewicz also stated because they had a slow start this year, they wanted to be prudent and transparent to the Council in not moving forward too fast. Ald. Jean -Baptiste stated he did not want to give a blanket approval for the projects that were not started, but wanted the Council to view those before moving forward. Special Council Meeting (Budget) November 15, 2010 5) Ald. Rainey wanted clarification on whether the projects were not started but approved with allocations or not started due to a slowdown to begin. Mr. Bobkiewicz stated his understanding was those projects that were approved for last years budget and not started Ald. Jean -Baptiste wanted to revisit that project. 6) Ald. Burrus asked if the $450,000.00 for the shelter repairs was it in hand. Ms. Earl answered she did not believe they had received it yet. Mr. Gaynor stated they do have a letter stating there is an escrow account with half the amount. Ald. Burrus also asked were the private donations also in hand for the Library or are they promises to give or what? Mr. Gaynor stated it is what they look at what funds they might use for the project. Mr. Bobkiewicz stated, staff makes decisions on what conversations they have made with the community and each project is different and it is not an exact science. 7) Ald. Rainey stated the shelter project has been codified and an agreement and contracted with the City of Evanston, and there will be shared expenses. 8) Ald. Burrus stated it was probably too late to look at other ways to do Parks & Forestry, but maybe look at ways to outsource next year. 9) Ald. Grover asked could staff look at the cost of cutting down the trees in comparison to the inoculation program. Mr. Bobkiewicz answered they would bring that back on Wednesday at the next meeting. 10) Ald. Tendam, stated we should inoculated all of the elms and not just the signature trees. 11) Ald. Fiske wanted clarification for straw votes. Mr. Bobkiewicz stated voting on the budget by the Council could occur in two ways: a) By casting straw votes that could be reopened by any member of the Council. b) Also by making formal motions, going through Council processes, and then a re -consideration would have to go through the same process. 12) Ald. Wynne asked will we need to continue with the use of the spotting truck and personnel, and the cost that might be saved. 13) Ald. Rainey wanted to know how were the tree cutouts determined. 14) Ald. Grover asked if the private owners of the elms been identified, and have they been willing to inoculate or take them down. Mr. Paul D'Agostino, Superintendent Parks & Forestry stated they have asked the private owners but it is a hard sell with today's economy. He stated they try to convince the owners to take the insurance in the amount of $60.00-$120.00/year and have the City remove the tree at their cost. 15) Ald. Burrus wanted some clarification on the revenue issues. These questions and concerns are not presented in any chronological order they are listed together as a group. Mr. Bobkiewicz stated (after the Mayor said there were no further lights), this concluded the presentation and he and staff were ready to answer any questions on the proposed 2011 Budget. Mr. Bobkiewicz spoke on the Parks & Forestry Department and proposed to put back in the budget the following items: 1) The Inoculation Program 2) To restore most of the positions if not all Each Alderman expressed their pros and cons for the installation of the 3-1-1 system. The most concern is the cost of the installation. Mr. Joe McRae, Assistant City Manager, M Special Council Meeting (Budget) November 15, 2010 spoke on the how and whys for the installation of the 3-1-1 system. He expressed the connection with the 3-1-1 system is that the supervisors will be actively involved. He stated from the six month data collection there is a better tracking system in place now, and they can now identify the number, time, response time and department to which the call is placed to and the staff member who will handle the call. Mr. Bobkiewicz stated he would come back on Wednesday with revised proposal to limit the hours of the 3-1-1 system to cut down the annual cost, since the Council seemed to be in opposition to implementing the proposed time and seven-day per week schedule. Final Questions & Concerns from Aldermen: 1) The $10,000.00/ year agreement has not been honored by the contractors of the 820 Dobson Building, can we retrieve those funds because it was an agreement? 2) Has a survey been conducted concerning revenue fees with our neighboring municipalities? 3) How much space is there in the Civic Center? 4) Where is that space located? 5) Can we have a last column on the year to date report for comparison? 6) When will the 2% deferred cost of living be given to the non -union employees? 7) Will there be space for the Township Offices? 8) We need to reconsider the employee cuts at the Noyes and Ecology Center Mr. Bobkiewicz stated there were other issues that have come up concerning other personnel cuts, and there were ten above the line with the items: 1) Dutch Elm Injections 2) Forestry Worker I 3) Parks Forestry Worker III (2) 4) 3-1-1 System 5) Inclusion Specialist 6) Recreation Maintenance Position 7) Zoning Administrator 8) Library 9) Noyes position is below the line He stated if the Council agrees with the list he will come back Wednesday with a solution proposal for everything except the Branch Libraries. Alderman Jean -Baptiste motioned to convene into Executive Session to discuss Litigation, and Alderman Holmes seconded the motion. The meeting convened at 9:51 pm after a roll call. Respectfully submitted, Rodney Greene, City Clerk 5 1 1 1