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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-2001-10-22-2001M CITY COUNCIL October 22, 2001 Of E V.1 CO. ROLL CALL - PRESENT: Alderman Kent Alderman Feldman Alderman Moran Alderman Newman Alderman Rainey Alderman Jean -Baptiste Alderman Wynne A Quorum was present. NOT PRESENT AT ROLL CALL: Alderman Engelman ABSENT: Alderman Bernstein PRESIDING: Mayor Lorraine H. Morton The OFFICIAL REGULAR MEETING of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Morton Monday, October 22, 2001 at 6:13 p.m. in the Aldermanic Library. Alderman Rainey moved that Council convene into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing matters related to litigation, real estate and personnel pursuant to 5ILCS Section 120/2 (c) (1), (5), (6) and (11). (1) The appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the public body, including hearing testimony on a complaint lodged against an employee to determine its validity. (5) The purchase or lease of real property for the use of the public body, including meetings held for the purpose of discussing whether a particular parcel should be acquired. (6) The setting of a price for sale or lease of property owned by the public body. (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. Seconded by Alderman Jean -Baptiste. Roll call. Voting aye — Kent, Moran, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (7-0). At 7:25 p.m. Alderman Wynne moved to reconvene into Open Session. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Motion carried. No nays. Council then recessed so that aldermen could attend the standing committee meeting. Mayor Morton reconvened the City Council at 9:25 p.m. in the City Council Chamber. City Manager Announcements: Human Relations Commission Executive Director Paula Haynes invited all to the Annual Pancake Breakfast to benefit the commission's Christmas/Holiday Fund on Saturday, November 3, from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the American Legion Hall, 1030 Central Street. Zd 2 October 22, 2001 Ms. Haynes announced that the Human Relations Commission, Representative Julie Hamos and various community organizations are hosting a Evanston Community Job Fair 2001 Thursday, October 25, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., and Friday, October 26, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., at the Evanston Township High School field house. Public Works Director David Jennings announced that leaf collection from streets would continue through November 30. Raking or blowing leaves into the street is illegal. Collection of leaves in bags or yard waste carts continues through December 6. Leaves can also be brought to the drop-off site at 2222 Oakton St. (former recycling center) through December 9. Due to efforts to reduce exposure to the Asian Longhorn beetle, the City does not accept landscapers waste because landscapers who service this area also service infested areas. Mr. Jennings announced flyers were put out that evening for the Bike Planning Workshop, which is an effort to create a better bike plan for the City. They are looking at destination identification and facility improvement. The community is invited to attend the workshop on Wednesday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m. Those wishing to attend are asked to call Stephanie Levine, Parks/Forestry & Recreation. Mr. Jennings invited residents to a public presentation on Thursday, November 8 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber by the Smith Group, design consultant, who will present the design concept plan for the Streetscape project (Chicago Ave. between South Blvd. and Lake St.). Facilities Management Director Max Rubin reported that Cath Associates had donated a $5,000 stipend from the City to the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Assistant City Manager Judith Aiello announced the last Farmers' Market on Saturday, October 27, citing many activities and pumpkins for children to decorate. Mayoral Announcements: Mayor Morton announced official Trick or Treat hours are 4:00 to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 31; urged residents who wish to receive children to turn on their porch lights during that time. Mayor Morton proclaimed RED RIBBON WEEK — October 23-31, 2001 Mayor Morton presented the Red Ribbon Week 2001 award from Peer Services to Clyde Partner. Police Citizen Awards: City Manager Crum announced that due to Police Chief Frank Kaminski's absence awards would be made at a later date. Communications: None CITIZEN COMMENT: None CONSENT AGENDA (Any item marked with an Asterisk*) Alderman Feldman moved Council approval of the Consent Agenda with these exceptions: J.D. Edwards as provider of financial/human resources/payroll software; Proposal of O'Donnell, Wicklund, Pigozzi and Peterson Architects - feasibility study for Robert Crown Center; Special Use for 519 Main St. (Starbucks) and Ordinance 95-0-01 — Authorization for Sale of Property at 1816 Darrow. Seconded by Alderman Kent. Roll call. Voting aye —Kent, Moran, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste,Wynne. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (8-0). * ITEMS APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA 12J 3 October 22, 2001 MINUTES: * Approval of Minutes of Regular City Council Meeting of October 8, 2001. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS: * Approval, as recommended, of the City of Evanston payroll for the period ending October 11, 2001, and the City of Evanston bills for the period ending October 23, 2001 and that they be authorized and charged to the proper accounts, summarized as follows: City of Evanston payroll (through 10/11/01) $1,763,256.55 City of Evanston bills (through 10/23/01) $3,200,193.31 * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of the proposal of Bradford & Dunlavey Associates for a needs assessment location analysis for a Southeast Evanston Recreation building for Parks/Forestry & Recreation at a cost of $87,307 (with funding through a dedicated state grant). * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of the proposal of Smith Group JJR to provide professional consulting services for Phase II of the Beck Park Renovation Project at a cost of $22,355. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of the sole -source purchase of 10 mobile data terminals from Motorola for the Evanston Police Department at a cost of $65,800. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Approval of the purchase of four police package sedans off the State of Illinois contract to the low bidder, Landmark Ford, at a cost of $92,461. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) ■■■M■ * 2002 Motor Fuel Tax Program Approval — Consideration of a recommendation to approve the 2002 MFT Program of proposed streets for resurfacing. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Resolution 75-R-01 — Accepting three State Grants from DCCA- Consideration of proposed Resolution 75-R-01, which authorizes the City Manager to accept three State Grants from IL Dept. of Commerce & Community Affairs totaling $700,000 for renovations to Police/Fire Headquarters. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Resolution 78-R-01 — Accepting CDB Grant — Consideration of proposed Resolution 78-R-01, which authorizes the City Manager to accept a grant from the Capital Development Board for $250,000 for the Police/Fire Headquarters building. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (8-0) * Ordinance 108-0-01 — Interest Rate Swap/Series 2000 Bonds — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 108-0-01, authorizing the City Manager to conduct an interest rate swap of the interest on a portion of its Series 2000 bonds (TIF). * MARKED INTRODUCED - CONSENT AGENDA Alderman Moran moved to Suspend the Rules for the purpose of adopting an ordinance at the same meeting at which it is introduced. Seconded by Alderman Feldman. Motion carried. No nays. 1zz 4 October 22, 2001 Alderman Moran moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Feldman. Alderman Engelman confirmed that the interest rate was being swapped. Finance Director Bill Stafford explained they are swapping on about $19 million of bonds due prior to the 2008 TIF date. They can do the swap but the variable rate stays, so they can continue to refund the bonds as opposed to a fixed rate construction of bonds. In that case they would be locked into a specific retirement schedule, which they do not want. They want as much flexibility as possible to pay off the bonds. Alderman Engelman saw the maximum fixed rate on the variable rate bonds was 5.5%. He noted they will swap the interest rate on current variable rate bonds that they are paying about 2% for fixed rate bonds that pay 5%. Mr. Stafford stated they would not do this unless the maximum rate is 4%. Mr. Stafford noted in the pro forma sent to Council that the rate was about 3.86%. Had they done the deal today it would be about 3.75%. Alderman Engelman asked why 5.5% was in the ordinance? Mr. Stafford stated a maximum by law has to be put in the ordinance and the ordinance could be amended to 4%. Alderman Engelman asked if they had calculated how much the variable rate bond had saved in the 15 months since its inception and if what they are doing is locking in the savings? John Peterson of Legg Mason explained by locking in the rate for a seven-year period, they would pay under 4%. A year ago they were looking at pro formas that were suggesting 5.01 %, which was the way the financing was set up. If they lock in at below 4%, in seven years they will save over $2.4 million against what they thought the City might have to pay a year ago. They are banking on a reduction in cost of approximately $2.5 million. To date, in the year the bonds have been outstanding, they have saved approximately 2.5 percentage points against the fixed rate that would have obtained at that time. That would be about $1 million. The current interest rate is 2% this week. Alderman Engelman wanted to get this information out; noted this is an interesting concept that will save the City almost $4 million. Roll call. Voting aye — Kent, Moran, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean-Baptiste,Wynne. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (8-0). * Ordinance 101-0-01 — Amending Title 11, Chapter 1 of City Code — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 101-0-01, which amends Title 11, Chapter 1 of the City Code regarding payment of a final judgment prior to issuance and renewal of selected licenses and permits. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 107-0-01 — Cable Franchise Agreement — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 107-0- 01, which authorizes the City Manager to enter into a 10-year franchise agreement with AT&T Broadband to provide cable services for the City and its citizens. * MARKED INTRODUCED — CONSENT AGENDA PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: * Ordinance 106-0-01 — Amending the Comprehensive Plan Creating the Church Street Plaza Special Sign District — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 106-0-01, introduced October 8, 2001, which amends the Comprehensive Plan creating the Church Street Plaza Special Sign District. * ADOPTED CONSENT AGENDA AND ROLL CALL (8-0) APPOINTMENTS Mayor Morton asked for introduction of the following appointments: Peter Charles Godwin 2400 Lincolnwood Dr. Andrew Paine 530 Hinman Ave. Board of Ethics Civil Service Commission I I ,12 5 October 22, 2001 Timothy J. Flannery Energy Commission 2514 Grant St. Kevin Boes Housing Commission 3043 Hartzell St. Anthony A. Agee Human Relations Commission 313 Custer St. H. Zane Robbins Ladd Arboretum Committee 2759 Broadway Ave. Margaret Russo Ladd Arboretum Committee 126 Main St. Gilbert K. Krulee Mental Health Board 1305 Grant St. Randy J. Walker Mental Health Board 829 Foster St. Albert Hunter Plan Commission 1040 Elmwood Ave. Christopher F. Carey Preservation Commission 2739 Girard Ave. Mayor Morton asked for introduction of the following re -appointments: Tony Kelly Arts Council 1311 Main St. Richard Peach M/W/EBE Development Committee 1414 Greenleaf St. Lindsey Carol Berkun Sign Review & Appeals Board 626 Judson Ave. * APPROVED — CONSENT AGENDA SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS Resolution 76-R-01 — Public Improvement Agreement of the Sherman Plaza Development — Consideration of proposed Resolution 76-R-01, which authorizes the City Manager to execute the Public Improvement Construction Agreement as part of the Sherman Plaza Redevelopment Agreement. Alderman Feldman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Engelman. Roll call. Voting aye — Kent, Moran, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (8-0). 11� 6 October 22, 2001 Ordinance 105-0-01— First Amendment to Sherman Plaza Redevelopment Agreement —Consideration of proposed Ordinance 105-0-01, introduced October 8, 2001, which approves the First Amendment to the Sherman Plaza Redevelopment Agreement. Alderman Feldman moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Engelman. Alderman Newman asked the amount of increased property taxes annually by shifting from senior housing to condos? Assistant City Manager Judith Aiello stated ordinance 105-0-01 amends the redevelopment agreement for Sherman Plaza and Resolution 76-R-01 authorizes the City Manager to execute the public improvement. The Economic Development Committee reviewed and recommended approval of both. These are the last documents needed to move the project forward and, with approval, it is on schedule and will proceed after January 1, 2002. The Sherman Avenue garage will not be demolished until after the 2001 holiday season. She noted summaries were provided at this and prior Council meetings to answer questions and changes to the project were reviewed and approved by the Plan Commission as part of the planned development. She then introduced James Klutznick the developer. He introduced members of the development team: partners Jordan and Walter Kaiser; John Terrell of Kaiser Evanston LLC; Klutznick's partner, Maury Fisher; Dan Coffey, architect; Greg Williams, project architect and Steve Friedland, Schiff, Harden & Waite. A visual presentation was made of the site as it is now and of the proposed project. He noted a change in the tower, which will have 212 condominium units above retail on Davis and Sherman. The garage will have 1,591 parking spaces. He commented that the streetscape will be quite an improvement from what is there now. He stated they plan to demolish the garage during the first quarter of 2002 so the new garage can be in service by mid-2003 prior to the holiday season. Alderman Rainey confirmed that 256 parking spaces will be bought back by the developer and that ground floor retail of the garage will be leased back to the developer. She asked if the driveways and loading docks are part of the garage parcel? Ms. Aiello explained they would be part of the garage and confirmed that the garage/retail, 256 parking spaces and loading dock would be taxable property. Ms. Aiello explained that PIN numbers would be created for the private areas. They are in the process of creating a vertical subdivision. The plat of subdivision will come to the P&D Committee through the regular process within the next 30 days. Ms. Aiello reported they anticipate $7,000 annually per unit in real estate taxes on the condominium development and on senior housing it would have been $2,000 per unit, a net gain of $5,000 per unit. There are 212 condominium units versus 196 senior housing units. That difference is $1 million annually. Alderman Newman stated that the City has not been getting out information on the increased taxes coming to taxing bodies due to developing condominiums in the downtown, which will add significantly to the tax base. Roll call. Voting aye — Kent, Moran, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (8-0). REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS: Approval of J.D. Edwards as provider of financial/human resources/payroll software and implementation of an integrated enterprise resource planning system for the City of Evanston at a cost not to exceed $3,569,675.00. Alderman Moran reported the proposal was discussed at length in committee, many questions were asked and the committee was not ready to vote. They were told in the meeting that the potential provider offered a discount of around $500,000 and, to obtain it, a decision would have to be made by October 31, the end of the vendor's fiscal year. The committee voted to recommend a Special City Council meeting on Wednesday, October 31 at 8:30 p.m. to consider this. Alderman Wynne asked if there were questions asked at the committee that they expect to be answered by Halloween night? Alderman Moran said there were. He asked Council members who have questions to submit them promptly to 125 7 October 22, 2001 the City Manager's office. Alderman Wynne indicated she would not be able to attend on that night. Alderman Moran said many questions were answered, but committee members were not comfortable with the amount of information. Alderman Moran reported the proposal of O'Donnell, Wicklund, Pigozzi and Peterson Architects for a feasibility study for Robert Crown Center for the Parks/Forestry & Recreation Department at a cost of $70,500 was held in committee. Alderman Bernstein wished to be present when this is considered. PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: Special Use for 519 Main St. (Starbucks) — Consideration of a recommendation of the Zoning Board of Appeals to deny a Special Use application for a Type 2 restaurant (Starbucks) at 519 Main St. Alderman Kent reported that this item was held at the request of the applicant's attorney. Ordinance 95-0-01— Authorization to Enter into a Real Estate Contract for Sale of Property at 1816 Darrow Ave. — Consideration of proposed Ordinance 95-0-01, introduced October 8, 2001, which approves a recommendation of the Housing Commission to authorize the City Manager to enter into a real estate contract for the sale of property at 1816 Darrow Ave. Alderman Kent moved approval. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Alderman Rainey said this is an area in which the City has little experience. She thought the response could serve as a model for future transactions and wished Mr. Leineweber and Mr. Davidson the best of luck. Roll call. Voting aye — Kent, Moran, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Newman, Jean -Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay — none. Motion carried (8-0). CALL OF THE WARDS: 4" Ward. No report. 5" Ward. Alderman Kent made a reference to the P&D Committee to review the way inspectors issue code violations and how they keep checks/balances in place. He has received concerns from upstanding residents who have been cited. 6`6 Ward. Alderman Moran commented that with the vote on Sherman Plaza that they could be confident of investment interest in Evanston. He recalled discussion five years ago about what could be done to generate interest in investment and redevelopment of the Sherman/Davis/Benson and Church block, noting they were looking at a dilapidated garage and under utilization of a key area in downtown Evanston. At that time a Request for Proposal was issued and the City did not get much back. Even though the City did not own the land, they indicated they were anxious to redevelop the block. He was heartened that they approved a project that will lead to a tremendous redevelopment of downtown Evanston. He saw the mixed -use concept as exciting and confidence by the investment community in Evanston. He said this development would solve a multitude of problems and they will have something all can be proud of. 71h Ward. Alderman Engelman thanked all for their kind words during his illness. He announced the November budget meeting will be moved to November 28 and asked each aldermen to recommend names of three people from their ward to attend that meeting by October 31. He hoped to kick off a dialogue with a cross section of the community and to prioritize or balance the various competing proposals for revenue enhancement and service reduction. 81h Ward. Alderman Rainey thanked Roger Crum, Judith Aiello and other staff for their hard work on the Sherman Plaza project. She asked that staff prepare a response to citizens who are expressing their concerns about the City's fiscal condition in light of the Hill project and other projects as well as to comments that the City is subsidizing new condominium projects. She emphasized the importance of getting accurate information to citizens. l z-b 8 October 22, 2001 9" Ward. Alderman Feldman reported that Economic Development Committee staff is preparing a matrix of economic development over the last ten years, the effect on the fiscal health of the community and the number of new residents. He appreciated Alderman Moran's recollection of the initial interest in redeveloping the Sherman Avenue garage cuhninating in action that evening. He noted that Jim Klutznick saw a new outlook by the administration and Council as evidenced by acceptance of the Hill development that brought the community a new theater, retail, hotel and garage. Alderman Feldman reported that a resident of a townhouse put up a six-foot fence in the center court and this person had a permit for it from the Zoning Division. Other owners are up in arms. According to the zoning administrators that is a permitted use. He made a reference to the P&D Committee to examine this issue to see if that was a correct ruling and, if correct, he thought it had slipped through the cracks. 1" Ward. Alderman Newman believed that the townhouse fence was not a City issue but a private one and based upon how rules of the association were set up, noting that the City does not regulate how common areas are set up. Alderman Newman stated that without the Hill project there would be no Klutznick project. The reason was that nobody was interested in the garage five years ago because the City was not committed to build 1,200 new parking spaces on the Sherman Avenue site until the Hill project was built. He thought it was a good decision that had brought other developers out. He reported a Daily Northwestern editorial on the need for additional lighting in the City. At a budget meeting four years ago, he recalled City Council directed the City Manager and staff to increase the quality of every Tallmadge light in Evanston by putting aside funds. Since that time, in his opinion, nobody has been interested in pushing that forward. Four years later, they have an unfunded lighting program with roughly $280,000 put aside and $1.5 million is needed to get the job done. For these years the City has remained darker than it should and lighting should be a high priority. At the October 17 Special Council meeting, he stated that not once was the $3.5 million figure mentioned or the $500,00 discount for the projected software purchase. He found the cost when he read the packet and no explanation of where th money would come from. He explained that staff is taking $800,000 from the Sewer Fund to pay for this. When Council raise sewer fees last year, they were told rates had to be raised for three years: 5%, 10% and 15%, and were not told they were rolling in cash. On top of this $800,000, they were told October 17 that the Sewer Fund has over $1.2 million in additional legal expenses that have to be paid. In his view, staff is spending this money and there has never been a policy discussion by Council to allocate $1.8 million from Water/Sewer Funds to pay for City software. He thought they should have been informed earlier. He wants the best for every City department. On the same night, they were told the City is running a $2 million deficit in this year's budget that cannot be fixed and will require major adjustments. The first action of the Finance Department is a $3.5 million expenditure that they did not tell them about the week before. When told that evening they would lose $500,000 unless they acted by October 31, put Council in a terrible position. He said perhaps the City needs this level of service. Alderman Newman said that Council has been told about amazing things GIS would do with the $1 million spent on that and the position to operate it was not filled for several years. While there have been some great pictures, he does not know how life has improved materially for residents because of that purchase. Perhaps others on Council with more knowledge of computers can explain it to him. He cannot explain it to those he represents because he has not really seen it. The question for him was, is there a level of software service available that costs $2 million? The only consideration by Council of $3.5 million was between Thursday and Sunday. He had no idea at the October 17 meeting that this purchase was for $3.5 million. Had he known, he would have spent more time asking questions then. For those who want parking improvements, $400,000 has been taken away and this information would not be supplied unless it was requested. He did not think it was right to go to the sewer/water payers and ask them to pay higher rates. Citizens were not told the City was going to buy software for the entire City. He acknowledged that water/sewer would benefit. He noted the sewer project won't work unless they spend $140 million and cannot be stopped. He stated software is discretionary. While he has confidence in the staff, $3.5 million is what has been spent for many years for the Capital Improvement budget for the entire City. He suggested more investigatiot is needed. He recalled the $400,000 was promised for improvement to the parking meters in downtown and no discussion o that. He stated they would hear the City does not have $1.5 million for lighting and saw this as a question of priorities. Wh are they spending $3.5 million on software? It was because staff found money in various accounts that nobody on Council 197 9 October 22, 2001 knew about. He said thai nobody is looking for street lighting. He has men in the V Ward who walk down the middle of Davis Street because they don't think it is safe at night because it is so dark. He thought there were many places in the City where others believe it is too dark. Northwestern students feel it and recently had an assault there. They want more lighting and they are right. He noted that overspending of department budgets has not been identified as a problem. That would be a capability gained through this software. He was disappointed that any Council member has to be inconvenienced by this meeting. He would rather be with his family on Halloween night. 2"" Ward. Alderman Jean -Baptiste reminded all that the Library Board would hold a second public hearing on the possibility of opening a branch library at Dempster/Dodge Plaza shopping center and urged people to participate. He was glad the City/School Liaison Committee was scheduled to meet. As the downtown is rebuilt, he suggested the ability to enjoy it would depend on paying attention to how youth are developing. The question is whether youth will become assets or liabilities in the future. He thought they need to begin to attack the problem of youth going astray and staying in school. He asked Alderman Engelman and the Budget Committee to continue to seek greater reciprocity from the non-profit institutions. He suggested they need to find a way out of the budget crises. They were told there is not enough money to fund branch libraries and he thought various institutions may help the City overcome that problem. Alderman Jean -Baptiste recalled one objective of the goal -setting session was improved communications with residents. He reminded the City Manager that they discussed Radio Evanston and had not heard any updates. He suggested it would be an excellent collaboration with Northwestern University, whose station operates 24/7 and could be a vehicle to get out more information about how the City operates, interviews with the Mayor and various boards/committees and commissions. After his election, he asked that the City extend services to other ethnic groups who, through language or cultural reasons, have not mainstreamed themselves and could benefit from City services. He noted there is a Hispanic office and a large population of other minorities in need of intervention by the City so they can live a quality life. 3`d Ward. Alderman Wynne noted a November 5 meeting at the main library on moving the south branch to Dempster/Dodge. She announced a meeting November 8, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Chicago Avenue Streetscape. Alderman Wynne wished Alderman Bernstein a speedy recovery from recent surgery. Mayor Morton asked Council to address the proposed Special Council meeting. Alderman Moran explained the Finance Department has engaged in a lengthy process to find potential software contractors. They started with 41 companies and weeded down to two. As late as last week they negotiated with the two finalists with the intent to obtain approval of the intended contractor. During that negotiation, the particulars were still being hammered out. Part of that negotiation was a discounted rate on the entire software package that could come up to $1 million, but the contract would have to be let by October 31, the end of the company's fiscal year. During the committee meeting it was suggested the company give Council another 30 days. They have a situation in which if they contract with this vendor, it must be done by the end of October. In response to Mayor Morton, Mr. Stafford stated the company had told the City about the discount. Staff will ask if the discount can be extended to the November Council meeting and Council notified. Council members were polled as to who could be present on October 31 and October 29. Mayor Morton confirmed that they would have a Special City Council Meeting on October 29 at 7:00 p.m. to consider the software proposal. There being no further business to come before Council, Mayor Morton asked for a motion to adjourn. The Council so moved at 11:00 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 Citv Clerk's office. 0 LJ 1