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CITY COUNCIL * * January 8, 2007
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ROLL CALL — PRESENT:
Alderman Wollin Alderman Holmes
Alderman Jean -Baptiste Alderman Moran
Alderman Wynne Alderman Tisdahl
Alderman Bernstein Alderman Rainey
A Quorum was present. Alderman Hansen
PRESIDING: Mayor Lorraine H. Morton
The OFFICIAL REGULAR MEETING of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Morton on Monday, January 8,
2007, at 8:45 p.m. in the Council Chamber.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
City Manager Julia Carroll announced that there would be a Civic Center Committee meeting Wednesday, January 10,
2007, at 6:30 p.m.
She announced a community meeting on Saturday morning February 3 at ETHS about a Partnership for a Safer Evanston.
Continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and the meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.
Parks/Forestry & Recreation Director Doug Gaynor announced that Christmas tree recycling will continue through the
month of January. All trees should be placed on the parkways and will be picked up on the same day of the week as
refuse and recycling collection.
Mr. Gaynor invited all to a Lakefront Visioning Meeting the next evening at the Civic Center from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m
in the Parasol Room. Additional information is available on the City's website.
Public Works Director David Jennings announced that the refuse/recycling schedule for the week of January 15 would be
one day later due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
Mayor Morton announced that the Women's Club of Evanston, built in 1912, was added to the National Register of
Historic Places.
COMMUNICATIONS: None
Presentation: Evanston Environmental Association
Mr. Gaynor reported that several years ago a decision was made to expand the Ecology Center. The Evanston
Environmental Association (EEA) committed to raise $750,000 for that purpose. Elizabeth O'Connor, president,
presented a final payment for the Ecology Center expansion to the City. The cost was $850,000 with more than $480,000
raised by EEA. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources contributed $170,000 and $130,000 came from individual
contributions. The City supplied $13,000 from the Capital Improvement Program fund. They were pleased that a broad
spectrum of the community supported the project. Community members who served on the board were Marty Bjornson,
Jean Esch, Patricia Frank, Mathew Frazel, Irene Gregory, Gordon Guth, Myra Janus, Emerson Nagel, David Kaiser, H.
Zane Robbins, Jeff Singleton, Daniel Wegner, Elizabeth O'Connor, Charles Smith and Jan Weeks, They extended thanks
to Facilities Management staff Anil Khatkhate and Dave Cook for overseeing the project. The Ecology Center staff also
were invaluable in this undertaking.
CITIZEN COMMENT:
Mary Rosinski. 1729 Chancellor St., asked for help in creating better feelings between residents and City staff making a
checklist that puts residents on the same page as the developer and the City, so they don't have adversarial relationships.
They just started a new group called Friends of Central Street. She wants to work toward more positive relationships so
that long-term residents don't feel trampled on and developers are welcomed.
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Jeanne Lindwall. 625 Library Pl., expressed disappointment in Moody's decision to downgrade the City's Aaa bond
rating by issuing a warning letter. Evanston has had an Aaa bond rating for the past 30 years. She expected that the City
would take the action needed to fund the police/fire pensions and address any other concerns from Moody's. She doubted
the City Manager and Council want to be remembered as the group that oversaw the downgrading of Evanston's financial
rating and subsequent increases in the City's financing cost for the Civic Center that could bring. The City Manager has
indicated on many occasions that the issue is largely structural and includes increased costs for health insurance and
pensions. The proposed budget calls for eliminating staff to bring expenditures and revenues into alignment, an approach
Evanston has used with great regularity over the last three decades. For the past decade or so she has heard Council
members congratulate each other on approving another high rise or high -density development because it won't add any
children to the public schools. To the extent that empty nesters move out of large homes and are replaced by families with
children, the net impact may not be as great as has been claimed. It is clear there is substantially more property to protect
than 10 years ago. There are more classrooms, retail space and more property. According to recent news articles this has
led to increased numbers of police and fire service calls. Rather than focusing on the impact of a new development on
schools, she suggested they consider staffing implications for police and fire in addition to the rest of the City. If the City
is to deal with fire and police pensions, she suggested an analysis of what kinds of new development it encourages and
approves. Responding to comments at the P&D Committee meeting about the length of time it takes to get projects
through the Plan Commission and City, she thought one of the biggest problems has been the mandatory planned
development. She understood the reason that was approved was to have better design control over projects. The result is
the developer has to go through the planned development process. Once they have a process, by its nature, it takes
multiple months, so there is no reason not to ask for the moon. At least ask for what they think the developer will build.
One of the advantages of having developers build by right is that by building to the Zoning Code, they can avoid this
lengthy process and help the Building Division staff do their jobs more effectively.
Florin Lewis. 1832 Hartrey Ave., praised Alderman Holmes, who keeps residents informed about what is going on at the
City. She lives on a one-way street. When it snowed, plows did not come on either side of the street. The next day she got
a ticket on her car. There was no place to park. She asked where was she to park her car. There were no sirens or
bullhorns warning residents that the streets were going to be cleaned. She asked what will be done about this. She noted
in the RoundTable, an article said sirens would not be used in Evanston.
Ms. Carroll said it was the City's recommendation not to use sirens, because they are really for emergencies. She thought
they were better served by not using sirens.
Alderman Rainey said bullhorns were not used in any neighborhood. She thought sirens were the answer to snow plowing
because they alert residents that they must move cars parked on the street. She made a reference to the A&PW Committee
to investigate resumption of the use of sirens.
CONSENT AGENDA (Any item marked with an Asterisk*)
Alderman Moran moved Council approval of the Consent Agenda with these exceptions: Planned Development —1700-
1722 Central St.; Appeal Preservation Commission's Denial of COA for Demolition at 1722 Central St. and Ordinance
115-0-06 — Amends the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. Seconded by Alderman Rainey.
Roll call. Voting aye — Wollin, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Holmes, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Hansen. Voting nay —
none. Motion carried (9-0).
ITEMS APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA
MINUTES:
* Approval of Minutes of the Special City Council Meeting of December 4, 2006 and the Regular City Council Meeting
of December 11, 2006. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS:
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*Approval, as recommended, of City of Evanston payroll for the periods December 15 through December 28, 2006 and
City of Evanston bills for the period ending January 9, 2007, authorized and charged to the proper accounts:
City of Evanston payroll (through 12/28/06) $2,175,390.13
City of Evanston bills (through 01/09/07) $3,361,422.18
* APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
* Approval of the lowest responsive and responsible bid from W.B. Olson Inc., (3235 Arnold Lane, Northbrook) for the
general contract to renovate the interior of the Main Library at a cost of $1,213,619. Funded by the Library Endowment
Income ($6,369) and the Capital Improvement Program ($1,207,250). * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION
AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
* Approval of the lowest responsive and responsible bid from Hallett & Sons Expert Movers, Inc. (7535 W. 591h St.,
Summit, IL) for moving Library collections, furniture and shelving at a cost of $33,700. Funded by the Library's Book
Sales. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
* Approval of the proposal from Gewalt-Hamilton Associates (850 Forest Edge Dr., Vernon Hills) in an amount not -to -
exceed $199,949.77 for construction engineering services for the 2007 Street Improvement Program. Funded by the CIP
Street Resurfacing Fund. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
* Resolution 79-R-06 — Authorizes the Application for an Infrastructure Maintenance Grant —
Consideration of proposed Resolution 79-R-06, which authorizes the City Manager to apply for a grant
under the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee Litigation Cy Pres Committee's general authority.
* APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0).
* Resolution 80-R-06 — Joint Aereement with Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and
TranSvstems Comoration for an increase in Construction and Construction Engineerine Funding —
Consideration of proposed Resolution 80-R-06, which authorizes the City Manager to sign a
Supplemental Funding Agreement/Joint Agreement with IDOT and TranSystems Corporation for an
increase in construction and construction engineering funding for the McCormick Blvd. Project in the
amount of $371,400. Funding provided by state and local funds ($156,700) and federal funds
($214,700). * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
* Resolution 83-R-06 — Joint Aereement for Phase II Engineerin2 Service for the Evanston Bike Plan
— Consideration of proposed Resolution 83-R-06, which authorizes the City Manager to sign a Joint
Agreement for Phase II Engineering Services with IDOT and TY LIN International for the Evanston
Bike Plan in the amount of $36,118. Funded by federal funds ($28,894) and the CIP Fund ($7,224).
* APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
* Ordinance 119-0-06 — Authorizes the Citv Manaeer to Execute an Easement Aereement with
Evanston Prairie I, LLC (2607-2617 Prairie Ave.) — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 119-0-06,
introduced December 11, 2006, which authorizes the City Manager to execute an agreement with
Evanston Prairie I, LLC, for a subsurface easement for wall and column footings adjacent to 2607-
2617 Prairie Ave. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (8-0)
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT:
* Ordinance 117-0-06 — Amendment to Preservation Ordinance — Consideration of the
recommendation from the Preservation Commission to amend the City Code Title 2, Chapter 9,
Section 8, Subsection (G) to make the Planning & Development Committee the final decision -making
body on Applications to Appeal Denials of Certificates of Appropriateness by the Preservation
Commission. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA
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* Plat of Subdivision — 1408 Brown Ave. — Consideration of a request from Ira & Betty Pettius to
subdivide the property known as 1408 Brown Avenue into two lots. * APPROVED - CONSENT
AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
OTHER COMMITTEES:
* Resolution 81-R-06 — Reallocation of Unspent Communitv Development Block Grant (CDBG)
Funds — Consideration of proposed Resolution 81-R-06, which amends the 1994 CDBG Program and
authorize the reallocation of $8,600 in unexpended funds. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
* Resolution 82-R-06 — Adopts the Citv's FY 2007/08 CDBG. HOME and Emergencv Shelter Grants
(ESG) Program Budgets and ADDroves the Citv's One -Year Action Plan for FY 2007/08 —
Consideration of proposed Resolution 82-R-06, which adopts the City's 2007/08 CDBG, HOME
Investment Partnerships and ESG program budgets, and approves the City's One -Year Action Plan for
FY 2007/08. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)
APPOINTMENTS:
Mayor Morton asked that the following appointment be introduced:
Harland W. Oates Ladd Arboretum Committee
2 Arbor Lane
* APPROVED -CONSENT AGENDA
REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES
ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS:
Alderman Wollin reported that Council members received a report from the auditing firm of Miller Cooper & Co.
PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT:
Planned Development 1700-1722 Central St. — Recommended Denial from the Plan Commission —
Consideration of a recommendation from the Plan Commission to deny the planned development
proposal for 1700-1722 Central St. By a vote of 4-1, the commission voted to deny the mixed use
(residential/retail) project consisting of 48 dwelling units, 11,250 sq. ft. of first -floor retail, 100
parking spaces and a total building height of 48 feet.
Alderman Jean -Baptiste moved to reject the Plan Commission's recommendation to deny the planned development
proposed for 1700-1722 Central St.. The motion was seconded.
Roll call. Voting aye — Wollin, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Tisdahl, Rainey, Hansen. Voting nay— Holmes, Moran.
Motion carried (7-2).
Application Appealing the Preservation Commission's Denial of a Certificate of Appropriateness for
the Demolition of the Evanston Landmark at 1722 Central St. — Consideration of the application
appealing the Preservation Commission's denial of a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) for
demolition of the Evanston Landmark at 1722 Central St.
Alderman Jean -Baptiste reported that this item was held in committee.
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Ordinance 115-0-06 — Amends the Inclusionary Housine Ordinance — Consideration of proposed
Ordinance 115-0-06, introduced November 27, 2006, which amends Ordinance 27-0-06 to include a
provision that 30% of the required affordable dwelling units for a development must be built on -site.
Alderman Jean -Baptiste moved approval of Ordinance 115-0-06. Seconded by Alderman Moran.
Roll call. Voting aye — Wollin, Jean -Baptiste, Holmes, Moran, Hansen. Voting nay— Wynne, Bernstein, Tisdahl, Rainey.
Motion carried (5-4).
Alderman Rainey thanked Sarah Flax, new staff to the CDBG Committee, who came in at a difficult time as the proposals
were beginning to be discussed and did a fabulous job.
CALL OF THE WARDS:
V Ward. No report.
2"d Ward. Alderman Jean -Baptiste sent condolences to the family of Terry January who passed away during December
3rd Ward. Alderman Wynne expressed farewell and gratitude to Natalie White, manager at Starbucks on Dempster, who
has been a real asset to the community. Ms. White organized the merchant's group in that area.
4`h Ward. Alderman Bernstein stated that Natalie White has been a model as a member of the commercial and public
benefits team on Dempster. He also commended Dan Kelch, owner of Lulu's restaurant, who organized a fund-raising
raffle. He reported a special meeting about expanding Special Service Area # 4 would be held on January 22,
51h Ward. No report.
6ch Ward. Alderman Moran thanked the new citizens' groups who came that evening regarding issues on Central Street;
urged them not to become discouraged by what happened; to keep their determination to maintain what they like about
Central Street and even improve on it; and to participate in the visioning process.
He was happy that Council finally passed what is truly an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance and was proud of it. He thanked
BPI under Hoy McConnell's leadership, Kelli Harsch, Adam Gross, Nick Brunick and others who worked on this as well
as Robin Synderman-Pratt, who is a housing expert with the Metropolitan Planning Council during the day and chairs the
Evanston Housing Commission. They will continue their efforts to make Evanston a place that has affordable housing.
71h Ward. Alderman Tisdahl invited all to a 7`h Ward meeting about crime prevention on Tuesday January 16, 7:00 p.m.
at the Civic Center, Parasol Room.
8`h Ward. Alderman Rainev made a reference to the A&PW Committee for a full blown analvsis of a cable competitor
comine into Evanston. They have been told the reason there is no competition is that no cable company wants to come
here for the leftovers. She received a letter from AT&T but because the City requires them to wire the entire community
since that was the rule when they issued the first franchise and, because they refused to do that, they will not come here.
Given the rates that are charged currently, some competition is needed. She asked that this be put on the agenda ASAP.
Ms. Carroll has scheduled a meeting with AT&T to try to get an agreement.
91h Ward. Alderman Hansen was sad to see Natalie White leave the community; was pleased Council passed the
Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. She stated that First Night was great for families and urged others to attend next year.
She was pleasantly surprised to see that camps for young children are listed in the recreation magazine.
At 9:35 p.m., Alderman Bernstein moved that Council convene into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing matters
related to litigation and closed session minutes pursuant to 5 Illinois Compiled Statutes 120/2 (c ) (11) and (21).
Seconded by Alderman Jean -Baptiste.
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2. All meetings of public bodies shall be public meetings except for the following:
(11) Litigation, when an action against, affecting or on behalf of the particular public body has been filed and is pending before a
court or administrative tribunal, or when the public body finds that an action is probable or imminent, in which case the basis for
the finding shall be recorded and entered into the minutes of the closed meeting.
(21) Discussion of minutes of meetings lawfully closed under this Act, whether for purposes of approval by the body
of the minutes or semi-annual review of the minutes as mandated by Section2.06.
Roll call. Voting aye — Wollin, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne, Bernstein, Holmes, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Hansen. Voting nay —
none. Motion carried (9-0).
There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Morton asked for a motion to adjourn and the
Council so moved at 10:15 p.m.
Mary P. Morris,
City Clerk
A videotape recording of this meeting has been made part of the permanent record and is available in the City Clerk's office.
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