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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-2010-09-20-20101 Co. I CITY CITY COUNCIL - September 20, 2010 ROLL CALL — PRESENT: Alderman Wynne Alderman Rainey Alderman Wilson Alderman Burrus Alderman Holmes Alderman Fiske Alderman Tendam Alderman Jean -Baptiste Alderman Grover PRESIDING: Mayor Elizabeth B. Tisdahl A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council was held on Monday, September 20, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber for the purpose of considering the 2010-11 budget. At this time last year, City Council developed a list of 12 goals for 2010. City Manager Bobkiewicz reported on the progress of those goals and then asked Council to consider any changes to the list. A recap follows: • Affordable Housing: The reorganization of housing staff with the re -allocation of Sarah Flax to include affordable housing in her responsibilities; a new hire to focus on the NSP2 housing grant and the hiring of a new housing planner to fill a vacancy; • Budget Planning: Beginning the transition to a calendar year budget, with plans to present Council with a proposed budget on October 8th; a series of meetings scheduled to be finished by the end of November to allow Council time to make any adjustments to the property tax prior to the December 15 deadline. He also noted that the budget preparation process was consolidated into two public outreach meetings, the first was September 14th and the next one scheduled for September 29th Also, he reported that we have captured the attention of University of Illinois Chicago MPA students working on a "capstone budget project". They will be monitoring our process for calendar year 2011 and will come back to us at the end of calendar year to offer recommendations for a new budget document to be unveiled for 2012. With respect to budget transparency, we are using the web and Channel 16 and meetings to keep the community aware of what is happening. • Capital Improvement Plan: there is increased city council involvement with several meetings to see what and how money is being spent; we have improved our CIP reporting methods; various funding options; the city's debt policy and how to manage the needs of the community; the CIP planning and development process has been streamlined internally so it makes more sense and the first new version of a quarterly report will be viewed this evening. • Climate Action Plan: with the departure of our sustainability coordinator, we have received 84 applications from around the country for the position. Some highlights in this area include the approval of a multimodal transportation plan, a policy for the use of green fleet, car -sharing programs, traffic signal coordination, transit options, ComEd's community energy challenge, and adoption of the green building ordinance, (fire station #5 is the first LEED certified fire station in the State of Illinois). Additionally, the 2009 report on climate action plan has been released. Economic Development: As it is the #1 item on Council's goals, Mr. Bobkiewicz reported on various elements such as business retention and expansion in not just the retail arena but determining what other kinds of businesses can be developed in Evanston (we are working closely with Northwestern University faculty for their help); TIF districts and how best to leverage them; and areas of signage with an initiative regarding the West Evanston Master Plan. A sub -category is the issue of water sales: We should be more aggressive in marketing to other communities. We are talking to the Northwest Water Commission about the opportunity to run a second line from here to their facility in Des Plaines and about opportunities within their existing infrastructure to take on additional customers that they would serve and we would supply water to. In addition, we are working with communities surrounding Skokie for opportunities to sell water to those communities through the Village of Skokie. We are working with their engineering staff on how to best do that with their system. He expects to know something in the next six to nine months. • Efficiency and Effectiveness of Services: how we deliver municipal services — restructuring /consolidation of some departments; new website launched over the summer; improved phone system; and the largest initiative, the launch of the new 3-1-1 call center set to go live on March 1, 2011. Joe McRae will come before Council at the next meeting with a complete update. As for the issue of transparency, our website will have a new section devoted to transparency where citizens will be able to find information on contracts, detailed information on what we pay employees, executive sessions, and other information on how we spend our money and how we conduct our business. Also, we will be moving forward with a mass notification system to launch on November 1st. This will be grant funded for the foreseeable future. We will be able to reach out to citizens for such things as police activity, or water main disruptions, with a recorded message. Citizens will also be able to register other contact information such as cell phone numbers or email addresses. • Federal / State / Regional Government Relations: we lobbied successfully for the NSP2 grant, and participated in Evanston Day in Springfield. Regional activities include RTA, CTA, Metra, and Purple Line viaduct improvements and grant opportunities from the EPA. • Lakefront Development: continue to focus on Lakefront Master Plan as resources allow. • Northwestern University: fire engine will arrive this week; there is increased dialogue on student/neighbor issues; we are working with the Evanston Library, ETHS and the University for opportunities to come later this fall / early winter; and we are looking to increase opportunities for Evanston youths to participate in youth sports camp. • Police & Fire Pension Funding: active member of Fair Pension Coalition; Council has reduced the interest rate assumption to help increase funding to both funds and we continue to work to hold the line on current police and fire costs. • Robert Crown Center Improvements: An RFQ was issued and eight proposals were received. A Council Sub -Committee selected four for further consideration. The reviews will begin soon to bring back to Council in November for recommendation of next steps. • Safety: Considered to be a very large goal that Council set, it deals with safety in general including school safety, and pedestrian safety. So far, 752 cell phone ban tickets and 48 school zone fines have been issued. Furthermore, partnerships continue with neighborhood groups and School District 65. In conclusion, City Manager Bobkiewicz thanked Council and asked them to review the list and add, delete or make changes. An update would be presented in about six months. He then offered to take questions. After a lengthy discussion on some of the issues, a thirteenth goal, Youth Engagement, was added to the list. Alderman Rainey thanked everyone (staff, citizens and Council) on a job well done. City Manager Bobkiewicz then announced that we are in the midst of preparing a 10- month budget to be presented to Council on October 8. However, he said we are also currently working on a 12-month budget and that we are six months into that now. He stated that tonight's presentations would be on the first six months into the current FY and then a preview of where we think we are for 2011. He called on Joellen Earl, Administrative Services Director to present. Director Earl presented her reports for the mid -year financial review and FY2011 budget, then mentioned some due dates: the proposed budget would be presented to Council on October 8, two Saturday budget workshops have been scheduled — October 23 and November 6, the public hearing and the truth in taxation hearing is November 8 and two optional dates, November 15 & 17. The anticipated adoption of the budget is November 22. At the conclusion of her report, Aldermen asked several questions and made comments. City Manager Bobkiewicz was asked about the outcome of the last Mayor's Budget Task Force meeting. He replied that the Task Force met about two weeks ago to begin working on a report and plans are to come before the Council at their next meeting on the 27th. However, Mayor Tisdahl said there is a possibility that it may not happen on the 27th Mr. Bobkiewicz was also asked about the community budget workshop of September 14th. He reported that approximately 40 people were present. They asked questions and Mr. Bobkiewicz told them answers and other information would be posted on our website before the next scheduled workshop on the 29th Being no further business, Alderman Wilson motioned to adjourn to Executive Session at 8:35 p.m. Motion was seconded and passed 9-0 in roll call. l Respectfully submitted by Elaine Autwell, Deputy City Clerk A recording will be available in the City Clerk's office,after approval by Council.