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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.29.2014 Actions CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER COUNCIL CHAMBERS Monday, September 29, 2014 7:00 p.m. ORDER OF BUSINESS (I) City Council Roll Call – Begin with Alderman Grover (II) Mayor Public Announcements and Proclamations Williams Shoes - The Walking Spirit – 60th Anniversary National Community Planning Month – October 2014 National Fire Prevention Week – October 5-11, 2014 (III) City Manager Public Announcements Divvy Bike Share Expansion into Evanston (IV) Communications: City Clerk (V) Citizen Comment Members of the public are welcome to speak at City Council meetings. As part of the Council agenda, a period for citizen comments shall be offered at the commencement of each regular Council meeting. Those wishing to speak should sign their name, address and the agenda item or topic to be addressed on a designated participation sheet. If there are five or fewer speakers, fifteen minutes shall be provided for Citizen Comment. If there are more than five speakers, a period of forty-five minutes shall be provided for all comment, and no individual shall speak longer than three minutes. The Mayor will allocate time among the speakers to ensure that Citizen Comment does not exceed forty-five minutes. The business of the City Council shall commence forty-five minutes after the beginning of Citizen Comment. Aldermen do not respond during Citizen Comment. Citizen Comment is intended to foster dialogue in a respectful and civil manner. Citizen comments are requested to be made with these guidelines in mind. One resident spoke about pedestrian safety on sidewalks along Sheridan Road and the gap in bike lane infrastructure on Sheridan Road along the edge of Calvary Cemetery. Three residents spoke in favor of the Bike Plan. One resident spoke about the need for shared streets and public spaces. One resident spoke in support of protected bike lanes on Dodge Avenue. City Council Agenda September 29, 2014 Page 2 of 4 10/24/2013 6:42 PM One resident spoke about utility improvement projects along Sheridan Road. One resident spoke against putting bike lanes in Mason Park. One resident spoke about the need to improve road conditions and add bike routes to help commuters by connecting Evanston to surrounding communities One resident spoke on behalf of the Evanston Bicycle Club in support of the Bike Plan. A representative from the Active Transportation Alliance praised the City’s past accomplishments in expanding bike infrastructure and spoke in support of SP1 – Sheridan Road/Chicago Avenue Improvement project. One resident spoke about the need for improved North-South bike routes in Evanston to help make downtown more accessible. One resident spoke about the bike plan’s potential impact on motorists. A representative from the bike plan advisory board thanked the council for adopting the bike plan and spoke in support of the inclusion of protected bike lanes on Dodge Avenue and called for policy changes to require bike parking at new developments and better track usage data. One resident spoke about the need for both cyclists and drivers to share the road and follow traffic laws. One resident spoke against SP1 - Sheridan Road/Chicago Ave Improvement project. One resident asked if there was one single plan or document to address all transportation options in Evanston, and which of the existing plans governs in the event of conflict. One resident requested additional data on traffic and parking consequences of expanding bike infrastructure. One resident suggested designating Hinman and Orrington as bike routes instead of Chicago Avenue. A representative from Student Government at Northwestern University spoke in favor of including a 2-way bike lane as part of SP1 – Sheridan Road/Chicago Ave Improvement. One resident spoke about traffic problems along Dodge Avenue between Crain and Dempster and the need for protected bike lanes in the area. City Council Agenda September 29, 2014 Page 3 of 4 10/24/2013 6:42 PM One resident spoke about the Peckish Pig patio. Mayor Tisdahl announced the recent passing of former Corporation Counsel Jack Siegel. (VI) Special Orders of Business (VII) Call of the Wards (Aldermen shall be called upon by the Mayor to announce or provide information about any Ward or City matter which an Alderman desires to bring before the Council.) {Council Rule 2.1(10)} The 2nd Ward Alderman thanked City staff for their work on the Black Male Summit at ETHS last Friday. The 3rd Ward Alderman mentioned hearing about a Fair Trade purchasing ordinance recently adopted in Chicago and would like to investigate doing something similar in Evanston. (VIII) Executive Session (IX) Adjournment SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS (SP1) Sheridan Road/Chicago Avenue Improvement Project Staff requests approval to defer resurfacing, streetscape and bike improvements along Sheridan Road/Chicago Avenue Corridor from Grove Street to Isabella Street until 2017, and authorization to complete the required utility improvements along corridor in 2015. For Action Approved 9-0 (SP2) Dodge Avenue Biking Improvements (Howard Street to Church Street) Staff requests approval for submission of revised biking improvements on Dodge Avenue to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and Illinois Department of Transportation. For Action Amendment to change the proposal to buffered lanes fails 4-5 Protected bike lanes Passes 6-3 (SP3) Biking Improvements at Mason Park and Evanston Township High School Staff requests approval of proposed biking improvements at Mason Park and Evanston Township High School (ETHS) between Dodge Avenue and Pitner Avenue. For Action Held – will be back on October 13 City Council Agenda September 29, 2014 Page 4 of 4 10/24/2013 6:42 PM (SP4) Bike Policy Issues: Next Steps and 2015 Initiatives Staff requests City Council consider the presentation on Bike Policy next steps and 2015 initiatives. For Discussion MEETINGS SCHEDULED THROUGH OCTOBER 2014 Upcoming Aldermanic Committee Meetings Mon, Oct 6 6 pm Rules Committee Mon, Oct 6 7:30 pm Human Services Committee Wed, Oct 8 7 pm Northwestern University/City Committee Mon, Oct 13 6 pm A&PW, P&D, City Council meetings Wed, Oct 15 5:30 pm City-School Liaison Committee Wed, Oct 15 6:30 pm M/W/EBE Advisory Committee Mon, Oct 20 7 pm City Council meeting Tues, Oct 21 7:30 pm Housing & Community Dev Act Ctte Wed, Oct 22 6 pm Transportation/Parking Committee Wed, Oct 22 7:30 pm Economic Development Committee Thurs, Oct 23 5:30 pm Emergency Telephone System Board Fri, Oct 24 7 am Housing & Homelessness Commission Mon, Oct 27 6 pm A&PW, P&D, City Council meetings Order and agenda items are subject to change. Information is available about Evanston City Council meetings at: www.cityofevanston.org/citycouncil. Questions can be directed to the City Manager’s Office at 847-866-2936. The City is committed to ensuring accessibility for all citizens. If an accommodation is needed to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Manager’s Office 48 hours in advance so that arrangements can be made for the accommodation if possible.