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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES-2009-02-23-2009February 23, 2009 OF EV� s� V Ox CQ IL'' CITY COUNCIL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 2" FLOOR CIVIC CENTER ROLL CALL — PRESENT: Alderman Bernstein Alderman Rainey Alderman Holmes Alderman Hansen Alderman Moran Alderman Wollin A Quorum was present. Alderman Tisdahl Alderman Jean -Baptiste Alderman Wynne PRESIDING: Mayor Lorraine H. Morton The OFFICIAL REGULAR MEETING of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Morton on Monday, February 23, 2009, at 8:35 p.m. in the Council Chamber. MAYORAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: NONE CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS: NONE COMMUNICATIONS - CITY CLERK: NONE CITIZEN COMMENT: AGENDA ITEMS Jeanne Lindwall, 625 Library Place: One of the Candidates for Mayor speaking on agenda items P3, P4, and P7, said the current economic recession has transformed the real estate market drastically in Evanston and because of this recession many of the developers will not be building any time soon. None of these projects will be economically viable for many years and it is in the City's best interest to keep the development and reuse options for these properties open. Demolition of the adjacent building will increase the carbon imprint with the demolition activity itself. She felt that the extensions asked for by these entities should not be approved. CITIZEN COMMENT: NON -AGENDA ITEMS Kevin O'Connor, 1227 112 Isabella Candidate for Alderman of the 7ffi Ward, stating the citizens in the media should assess the Council members actions or lack of actions as they assess his comments as a citizen who is running for office. He continued to talk about imposing a bond agreement on those developers equal to the taxes that would be reclaimed for not completing their projects at their original February 23, 2009 proposed contracts. He then pointed out the old Evanston Theater on Central Street and the south east corner of Main are still vacant and the property taxes are much lower and the City looses the higher property taxes that could be collected. His second concern was the use or misuse of the TIF's and he has asked for a public TIF's forum, for citizens to get a better understanding of how they are used. Interim City Manager Russell stated she had answered his request for a Special City Council meeting to discuss the TIF's, but not at this time because the City Manager's Office is quite lean and the City Council's schedule is very aggressive and maybe in the near future we could hold an orientation. Mr. O'Connor stated he did not ask for a Special Council meeting and that was never in his request, he wanted a Public meeting for himself and other citizens. Alderman Rainey stated she will be holding a TIF seminar with staff and the public and she will invite him to the meeting whenever they set a time and place. Mayor Morton said they could gather materials about the TIF's and will give them to him. CONSENT AGENDA: Moran Alderman Moran moved for approval of the Consent Agenda and was 2nd by Alderman Bernstein. Roll Call: Voting aye — Alderman Bernstein, Holmes, Moran Tisdahl, Rainey, Hansen, Wollin, Jean - Baptiste, Wynne, Voting nay — None. AL,enda approved (9 — 0). With the exception of (P2) Ordinance 17-0-09, (P3) 1890 Maple -Planned Development Extension Request, and (P4) 1881 Oak — Planned Development Extension Request. ALL ITEMS (WITH *) APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA MINUTES: * Approval of minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of February 2, 2009. * Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of February 9, 2009, 2009. ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS: * Approval, as recommended, City of Evanston payroll for the period January 18, 2009 and City of Evanston bills through January 27, 2009, as authorized and charged to the proper accounts: (Al) * *City of Evanston payroll (through 02/15/09) $2,226,715.45 (A2) * *City of Evanston bills (through 02/24/09) $2,112,553.44 (A3.1) * Approval of Lowest Responsive and Responsible Bids' (09-59) for 2009/10 Water Treatment Chemicals (A3.2) * Approval of Purchase of Insurance — Property. Excess Liability, Excess Workman's Compensation, Fine Art, Professional Liabilitv & Crime (A3.3)* Approval of Purchase of 50 Tallmadue Replacement Luminaries Page 2 of 5 U' February 23, 2009 (A3.4) * Approval to Renew the Annual Sole Source Maintenance and Support Agreement with the Oracle Corporation (A4) * Resolution 13-R-09 Authorizing the Interim Citv Manager to Sign Joint Agreements with the Illinois Department of Transportation for Participation in the Construction and Construction Engineering Cost with Christopher Burke Engineering, Ltd. For Chicago Avenue Traffic Signal Upgrade Proiect (A5) * Ordinance 2-0-09 Amending Title H, Section 2 of the Evanston Citv Code "Parking and Compliance Violations" (Introduction) (A6) * Ordinance 18-0-09 Amending Subsection 3-2-14-2 (A) Cigarette Tax: "Tax Imposed" (Introduction) (A7) * Ordinance 3-0-09 Adding a New Title 10, Chapter 12, "Vehicle Compliance" (Action) (A8) * Ordinance 13-0-09 Decrease in Number of Class D Linuor Licenses — Amending Section 3-5- 6 (D) of the Citv Code (For Action) PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: (Pl) * Ordinance 1-0-09 Amending the Zoning Map to Re -Zone the Properties at 912-946 Pitner Avenue from the I2 Industrial District to the MXE Mixed Use Employment District. (For Action) (P5) * Consideration of a Request for an Additional 1-Year Extension for the 959 Dobson Street Approved Planned Development (For Action) (P6) * Ordinance 134-0-08 Amending Section 5-2-5 of the Citv Code, Lodging Establishment "License Fees" TABLED AT COUNCIL ON JANUARY 26, 2009 PENDING LEGAL OPINION AND ADDITIONAL STAFF RESEARCH (P7) * Ordinance 32-0-08 Plan Commission Recommendation for a Map Amendment & Planned Development at 708 Church Street TABLED UNTIL COUNCIL ADOPTS THE DOWNTOWN PLAN. HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE (Hl) * Approval of January 2009 Township Monthly Bills (112) * Resolution 05-R-09 Authorizing the Interim Citv Manager to enter into Renewals of Resident Artist Leases for Spaces at the Noves Cultural Arts Center For Action Page 3 of 5 February 23, 2009 (113) * Ordinance 113-0-08 Amending Title 8, Chanter 18, Section 3 of the Evanston Citv Code, "Child Dav Care Homes" For Action OTHER COMMITTEES APPOINTMENTS For Appointment Introduction and confirmation: Citizens Police Advisory Committee Aleksandr Granchalek Administration & Public Works Alderman Wollin wanted Mr. Paul Schneider to give the status of the meeting they had with AT&T concerning the VRAD box installations. Mr. Schneider stated that AT&T had approached staff to restart their work of the 18 locations where they had last year already installed the infrastructure including the placement of the VRAD boxes, and on January 28`h the City did renew permits for 16 of those locations. On February 9"' a number of citizens came to the committee with concerns of noises coming from the boxes, and also to the City Council on the same night. On the 160' of February they had a meeting with AT&T staff and they listened to the concerns of the citizens and the safety concerns as well. They then divided the remaining work into 4 categories, and 8 of the locations to be completed where held up until the committee could talk to Council to get further directions. AT&T is looking into the complaints about noise coming from the boxes and are committed to replacing the fans. Once completed they will be going out to perform some more noise tests to see if indeed they replaced the fans as they said they would. Staff s recommendation is to go ahead with the remaining locations while they still review the process. (P2) * Ordinance 17-0-09 Amending the ZoninE Map and Granting a Special Use and Maior Variations for a Private Educational Institution Located at 1200 Davis Street in the R4 General Residential Zoning District ("Rovicemore") For Action Alderman Moran moved for approval, seconded by Alderman Rainey. He then stated that during the committee meeting there were amendments to the Ordinance and he asked Mr. Ken Cox to read those amendments into the record, which were section 7, and a new section 14 which was added. Mayor Morton then stated the Ordinance would be marked and accepted as introduced. (P3) * 1890 Maple — Planned Development Extension Request (For Action) Alderman Moran asked for approval on behalf of the committee, seconded by Alderman Rainey. Alderman Moran then spoke concerning his decision to vote against the request for the extension because he feels that Trader Joe's will not come to the area they proposed to in the beginning, and he also said he will vote no on P4 as well. Roll Call: Voting aye — Alderman Bernstein, Holmes, Tisdahl, Rainey, Wollin, Jean -Baptiste. Voting nay — Alderman Moran, Hansen, Wynne. Vote (6 — 3). Ordinance approved. Page 4 of 5 q6 � February 23, 2009 (P4) * 1881 Oak — Planned Develooment Extension Request (For Action) Alderman Moran moved for approval, seconded by Alderman Jean -Baptiste. Alderman Moran stated as he spoke earlier he would oppose the request. Mayor Morton asked for a voice vote and the vote was not unanimous so a roll call was made. Voting aye — Alderman Bernstein. Holmes, Tisdahl, Rainey, Wollin, Jean -Baptiste. Voting nay — Alderman Moran, Hansen, Wynne. Vote (6 — 3) Ordinance approved. CALL OF THE WARDS: 4th Ward. Alderman Bernstein talked about the Coach Houses and the selling off portions of housing for living conveniences and he suggested it would go to committee for immediate action. A voice vote was asked and it was unanimous. He then spoke of the debate for 4`" Ward that was to be held at Washington School on Wednesday the 25`" has been cancelled and a new date would be shared when it is set. Also Bill Demas died. 5th Ward. Alderman Holmes spoke on the SNAP program with a block club for Darrow Avenue and the first meeting will be Thursday and we are moving forward. 6►h Ward. Alderman Moran No Report 7th Ward. Alderman Tisdahl No Report 8thh Ward. Alderman Rainey She will be hosting a public TIF forum soon and everyone is invited to come. 9thh Ward. Alderman Hansen No Report lst Ward. Alderman Wollin No Report 2nd Ward. Alderman Jean -Baptiste No Report 3rd Ward. Alderman Wynne No Report There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Morton asked for a motion to adjourn and the Council so moved at 9:1 Op.m. Respectfully submitted, Rodney Greene, City Clerk A CD recording of this meeting has been made part of the Permanent Record and is available in the City Clerk's office room 1200. 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