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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-2010-04-13-20101 Roll Call: Quorum was met Presiding: U x Co. I CITY CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS Tuesday, April 13, 2010 Alderman Jean -Baptiste Alderman Wynne Alderman Wilson Alderman Holmes Alderman Tendam Mayor Elizabeth B. Tisdahl Alderman Grover Alderman Rainey Alderman Burrus Alderman Fiske Mayor Public Announcements . Mayor Tisdahl stated that she, Alderman Wynne and the City Manager, Mr. Bobkiewicz, met with Richard Rodriguez, President of CTA, and talked about repairing the Purple Line. Even though it was a productive meeting there was no promise that repairs would take place. Mayor Proclamations April 2010 was proclaimed as Shani Davis Month. Mayor Tisdahl stated the proclamation for Shani Davis was read at the celebration at Robert Crown. National Library Week 2010, National Fair Housing Month, and April is Youth Employment Month these were proclaimed earlier this month. The Mayor read the proclamation designating the last Friday of April of each year as Arbor Day. Healthy Kids Week April 11-17, 2010 was also proclaimed. City Manager Public Announcements and Presentations The City Manager introduced Ms. Suzette Robinson, newly appointed Director of Public Works. He stated her accomplishments before she came to the podium. He asked her to present an update of the changes to the Refuse & Street Cleaning Programs. She stated the Public Works Department has received 973 requests to downsize to the 65 gallon cart. The residents have purchased of 272 yard waste carts, and the Department has sold just under 2000 yard waste stickers. Residents could trade in their 95 gallon receptacle for a 65 gallon cart by Friday, April 16, 2010 and will not be charged the higher cost. The cost of $6.95 for the garbage collection has always been on the water bill at $6.95/month which is $13.90 every other week.. A charge for the 95 gallon receptacles would have a cost of $10.95 per month per unit. Residents are responsible for the fly dumps on their property. The recycling cost was included in the sanitation service charge which offsets the cost of both recycling and refuse. The red sticker on a recycling bin indicates garbage in bin, and one collection cycle is needed to correct the problem. If it has not been corrected the resident will then be charged for a special pickup fee of $25.00. She also stated there would be a yard waste sticker that must be placed on brown yard waste bags, and the cost would be $1.75/sticker/bag. City Council Agenda April 13, 2010 Page 2 of 8 Questions asked by Aldermen: 1) Can the purchase of the stickers be made available at the Levy Center? Answer: Yes. 2) Are we working towards having pre-printed bags? Answer: The department will be looking at that for next year. Right now it only costs $.15 for the production of the stickers. 3) If a resident places an extra bag beside their cart will they be charged $25.00 for that bag? Answer: Yes, and if done consistently they will be upgraded back to the larger container. 4) What would be the impact of setting aside a number of stickers for senior citizens at a discounted rate, and could you look into something like that? Answer: Yes, we can look into that. 5) If the street cleaning signs have not been changed yet, does that new schedule affect them? Answer: No, if the signs have not been changed yet, then they will not be held accountable. Tree City USA Award was presented by Paul D'Agostino, Superintendent Parks & Forestry, for the 26t" straight year. He presented the plaque to the Mayor. Communications: City Clerk Mr. Greene announced the online Real Estate Transfer Tax (RETT) form for all persons who handle real estate property in Evanston. Questions from Aldermen: 1) When do people believe they have made payment for their stamps? Is it at the time they send in their money or credit card information and their form? What is the formal announcement to them that their transaction has been completed? Answer: Once the form is received and documenting everything was paid, then the agent will be informed for the stamps can be purchased. 2) What form does that notice take? Answer: It will be an email, or letter from the Clerk's Office or phone call informing them the process was completed. 3) Don't a lot of stamps get purchased on the day of closing? How do you then check on it? If they use their credit card and the card is cancelled, how do you check on that? Answer: Before any stamps from the Clerk's Office everything is checked with Water and Property Standards. If all of the monies that are due the City have not been met they will not receive a stamp. Alderman Jean -Baptiste stated this new online process would facilitate a lot of business, and the Title Companies will soon get involved and will accept confirmation from the Clerk's Office. It will take time for people to get use to the new process. Mr. Greene, City Clerk, announced an update in the City's Codification process, and the new face lift to City codes and other documents online. Citizen Comment The following persons spoke on Agenda item SPI: 7/27/2011 2:44 PM City Council Agenda April 13, 2010 Page 3 of 8 Kevin Glynn, 2119 Sherman, member of City Environment Board and Citizens for a Greener Evanston, who stated he is in support of the wind farm off -shore. Nate Kipnis, 1642 Payne Street, stated the wind farm would be 7-9 miles off the shore. He is in support of the proposal. Nicolai Schousboe, 1139 Elmwood Ave. stated wind -farms are not a new idea and he is in support of the project. Lyle Harrison, 1007 Ashland Ave., a wind developer who represents Mercury Energy, LLC. Libby Hill, 2715 Woodlawn Road, representing the Evanston North Shore Bird Club, support of the wind farm, because she is in support of alternate energy sources. She also was concerned with the birds that live by the proposed site and their migration patterns. Jeff Smith, 2724 Harrison gave a brief historical commentary of events in support of the Wind Farm. Bill Schummer, 1319 Greenwood stated this proposal was a violation of a basic principle to not have any development on the Lakefront. It is an artificial intrusion to the last national environment we have. This individual spoke concerning the Library Ellen Newcomer, 2445 Ridgeway, membership chair of the Evanston Public Library Friends stated they have raised $70,000.00, with over 1,286 members. She also spoke of National Library Week. She promoted the usage of the branch libraries. I SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS (SP1)* Citv Council Goal: Climate Action Plan Staff recommends City Council approval to issue a RFI for the development of power from an offshore wind energy facility in Lake Michigan off the northern shore of Evanston. For Action Ms. Carolyn Collopy, Sustainability Coordinator, gave her update report. She stated the team has collected 2008 data and those data results should be completed within a month. She also stated the team had to readjust their 2012 target to raise it slightly higher. She said the team will have to set their emission gas goals beyond 2012. They have weatherized three units and are planning to weatherize up to sixty units by 2011. The team is continuing to work with CEDA and the residents to inform them of the Weatherization Program. She also promoted the COMED Turn -in Programs, and COMED continually offers their services to the community. A Green Ribbon Committee was formed to discuss environmental ideas and issues involving the City. She stated the team need to hear from the wind committee through the RFI, whether it will be economically viable to pursue. Questions from the Aldermen: 1) Will revenue in the amount of 2-4 million dollars becoming to the City? Answer: It would depend on what the developer would propose.Has staff determined if that amount is something that is possible? Answer: No, this is new territory for us, that is why the RFI is important to acquire. 2) Has there been discussion or analysis of the land infrastructure and what this project would look like? Answer: Those are questions for RFI to answer. 7/27/2011 2:44 PM City Council Agenda April 13, 2010 Page 4 of 8 3) What is the time line on getting the RFI and getting the responses we need so much? Answer: If Council would encourage us to go forward we could probably issue it in a week or so. Then the timeline would be a couple of months. 4) Does Evanston have legal jurisdiction over a wind farm in the Lake, who leases the land, is private development a good idea, who pays for it, how much will it cost 5) Evanston tax payers, how much will the City have to invest, who will benefit from the electricity? Answer: These are all questions we hope to obtain from the RFI. The Council took a voice vote on encouraging Ms. Collopy to go forward and gather information concerning the possibility of a wind -farm. The vote was unanimous. Items not approved on Consent Agenda. Items which have an (*) were approved on the Consent Agenda. CONSENT AGENDA (Ml)* Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of March 22, 2010 ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS (Al)* City of Evanston Payroll through 03/28/10 $2,308,594.48 (A2)* City of Evanston Bills through 04/13/10 (FY09/10) $1,105,597.62 04/14/10 (FY10/11) $2,585,326.88 (A3.1)*Approval of SinLyle Source Purchase of Library Automation Services from Cooperative Computer Services The Library and the Information Technology Division recommend approval of the single source purchase of library automation services from Cooperative Computer Services (3355J N. Arlington Heights Rd., Arlington Heights, IL) in the amount of $94,595.25. This is a 0.2% decrease over last year. Funding provided by the Library's Technical Services Computer Licenses and Support (2835.62340) account. The FY2010-11 budgeted amount for these services is $119,000. This savings is due- to the deferral of software purchases. Cooperative Computer Services (CCS) provides an integrated library automation system for the Evanston Public Library and 22 other public libraries of the North Suburban Library System. (A3.2)*Approval of Contract Award for Roof Replacement at Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center Gvmnasium Staff recommends City Council approval for a contract in response to Bid 10-67 for roof replacement at Fleetwood-Jourdain community center to G. E. Riddiford Company (2333 Hamilton Road, Arlington Heights, IL) in the amount of $186,899.00. Funding for this project is provided by Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. Budgeted amounts are as follows: I- L 1 7/27/2011 2:44 PM City Council Agenda April 13, 201 D Page 5 of 8 CIP Account #415692.65510 $193,093.00 CDBG Account #5170.62790 $ 50,000.00 (A3.3)*Estimated Annual User Charge for 2010 with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago for Disposal of Sludge Generated as Part of the Water Treatment Process Staff recommends City Council approval of the estimated annual user charge for 2010 with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRDGC) for disposal of sludge generated as part of the water treatment process in the amount of $374,508.79. Funding for this work will be from the Water Fund, Account 7110.62420. This account has a budget of $446,500 specifically allocated for MWRDGC sludge disposal fees. (A3.4)*Pace Suburban Bus Shelter Transfer Agreement Staff recommends authorizing the City Manager to execute the Bus Shelter Transfer Agreement with Pace Suburban Bus. Pace has notified the City of Evanston that the shelters at four locations are no longer served by their bus service, but are served by the Chicago Transit Authority. Staff has verified that these shelters are used by residents while waiting for CTA bus service and therefore recommends taking over the maintenance responsibility. (A3.5)*2010 Refuse and Yard Waste Disposal Fees Staff recommends approval of the 2010 refuse disposal fees to SWANCC (Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County) in the amount of $90,000 for capital costs, $950,000 for operations and maintenance and $120,000 in yard waste fees. Funding provided by Streets and Sanitation General Fund Accounts, 2685.68310 (capital cost), 2685. 62405 (operations and maintenance costs) and 2695.62415 (yard waste cost). These accounts have budgets of $100,000, $1,080,000, and $175,000 respectively. (A4)* Resolution 24-R-10 Authorizing the Citv Manager to Sign a Local Aeencv/State Agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the Resurfacing of Isabella Street from Ewing Avenue to Green Bav Road and Emerson Street from Leland Avenue to Asbury Avenue Staff recommends approval of Resolution 24-R-10 authorizing the City Manager to sign the construction funding agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for Emerson Street (from Leland Avenue to Asbury Avenue) & Isabella Street (from Ewing Avenue to Green Bay Road) emergency resurfacing project. Total project cost is estimated at $1,039,773, and the City of Evanston share is $45,589 to be paid from Water and Sewer funds. For Action (A5)*Ordinance 26-0-10 Approving and Authorizing Revenue Bonds and Related Matters Thereto Chiaravalle Conduit Financing Staff recommends approval of Ordinance 26-0-10 for purposes of final action on April 26, 2010. Chiaravalle has requested the City act as the conduit financing authority for their debt issuance. The major purpose of this borrowing is to pay the City the $2.1 million owed for the purchase of the Chiaravalle property, which will permit the City to receive all of its 7/27/2011 2:44 PM City Council Agenda April 13, 2010 Page 6 of 8 funds from the purchase immediately. The City will not incur a liability to repay this debt in the event of a default by Chiaravalle. For Introduction (A6)*Ordinance 19-0-10 Special Assessment for Allev Paving Proiect — North of Lincoln Street, East of Eastwood Avenue (North east -west leg) Staff recommends approval of the proposed Ordinance 19-0-10 by which City Council would authorize paving of the alley north of Lincoln Street, east of Eastwood Avenue (North E-W Leg) through the Special Assessment Process. Funding for this work will be 50% special assessment funds and 50% by home owners. The City's share is to be paid by the special assessment fund 6365.65515. For Action PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT (Pl)*Sidewalk Cafe for Jackv's on Prairie, 2545 Prairie Avenue Site Plan and Appearance Review Committee (SPAARC) recommends City Council approval of the issuance of a sidewalk cafe permit to Jacky's on Prairie, 2545 Prairie Avenue, a Type 1 Restaurant outside of the "core area" with liquor service under liquor license LL 201, within two hundred feet of a residentially -zoned district with no storage of furniture on the public way. For Action (P2)* Ordinance 25-0-10 Granting a Special Use for a Tvpe 2 Restaurant at 719 Church Street in the D2 Downtown Retail Core Zoning District ("Andv's Frozen Custard") Staff and the Zoning Board of Appeals recommend adoption of Ordinance 25-0-10 granting a special use permit to operate a type 2 restaurant "Andy's Frozen Custard" at 719 Church Street with conditions on litter collection and litter pick-up plans. For Introduction (P3)*Ordinance 18-0-10 Designating the Properties Located at 1724, 1728, 1730 and 1732 Chicago Avenue as the "Woman's Christian Temperance Union Evanston Historic District" Staff and Preservation Commission recommend the adoption of Ordinance 18-0-10 designating the properties located at 1724, 1728, 1730 and 1732 Chicago Avenue as the "Woman's Christian Temperance Union Evanston Historic District." For Action HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE (H1)*Township of Evanston Monthly Bills Township of Evanston Supervisor recommends approval of the Township of Evanston bills, payroll, and medical payments for the month of March 2010 in the amount of $107,533.81. For Action 7/27/2011 2:44 PM City Council Agenda April 13, 2010 Page 7 of 8 (H2)*Ordinance 20-0-10 Amending Citv Code Section 3-25-6-(B) Increasing the Number of Artists' Tents in the Farmers Market Staff recommends adoption of Ordinance 20-0-10 Amending City Code Section 3-25-6-(B), increasing the number of artists' tents in the farmers market from seven to ten. Increasing the number of artists tents will not add any more expense to the City, but will increase the Farmers Market overall revenue. Suspension of rules requested to adopt Ordinance 20-0- 10 at the April 10, 2010 City Council meeting. For Introduction and Action OTHER COMMITTEES APPOINTMENTS For Appointment to: Electric Franchise Negotiating Team Joel Freeman, Chair, Energy Commission William Bill Siegfriedt, Vice Chair, Energy Commission Ald. Ann Rainey Ald. Donald Wilson Alderman Rainey motioned for approval of the Consent Agenda, and it was seconded by Alderman Jean -Baptiste. Roll Call vote resulted in 9-0, the Consent Agenda was approved. Committee Reports: Administrative & Public Works Alderman Jean -Baptiste had no report. Planning and Development Report Alderman Rainey motioned to have the rules suspended with a seconded by Alderman Jean - Baptiste. A Roll Call vote resulted in 9-0 and the motion passed. Alderman Rainey motioned for adoption of the special use and it was seconded by Alderman Wynne. A Roll Call vote was taken and resulted in 9-0 and the motion passed. Human Services Committee Alderman Holmes motioned to suspend the rules with a second from Alderman Grover. A Roll Call was taken and the result was 9-0. The motion passed. Alderman Holmes motion to approve the Ordinance 20-0-10 with a second from Alderman Jean -Baptiste. A Roll Call vote was taken and the result was 9-0. The motion passed. Call of the Wards Ward 2 Alderman Jean -Baptiste was concerned about the nudity charge by an Evanston Police Officer against an individual whose pants dropped when asked to raise his hands. He wanted clarification of what we determine as being considered public nudity, and we need 7/27/2011 2:44 PM City Council Agenda April 13, 2010 Page 8 of 8 to know when we should speak out for behavior standards and the regulation of nudity. Ward 3 Alderman Wynne spoke of the death of Winnie Fardman who had a goal to have something bloom every month. She spun anything into yarn, including her golden retriever's hair into a sweater. She congratulated the varsity lacrosse team at ETHS and her parent's 60th wedding anniversary. Ward 4 Alderman Wilson acknowledged the work that Northwestern student's had done that was included in the report tonight. Remember the cell phone ban and be aware of the bicyclists. Ward 5 Alderman Holmes had no report. Ward 6 Alderman Tendam had attended the League of Women's dinner and had a great time, and the League are seeking members including men. Ward 7 Alderman Grover had no report. Ward 8 Alderman Rainey announced the 8th ward meeting tomorrow night, and the death of Tom Fuller who gave her her first job in Evanston. Ward 9 Alderman Burrus thanked Carolyn Collopy for her informative report, and congratulated Bonnie Wilson, Township Assessor for what she has done in her new Elected Office with the Township. She is asking for volunteers for neighborhood watch captains and groups. Ward 1 Alderman Fiske had no report. Motion for adjournment was moved by Alderman Jean -Baptiste and seconded by Alderman Wilson. A Roll Call vote was taken with a result of 9-0. The meeting ended at 10:05 pm. Respectfully submitted, Rodney Greene, City Clerk A CD COPY WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE AFTER APRIL 28, 2010. 1 7/27/2011 2:44 PM