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Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES-1990-02-19-1990LJ 1 I - ] CITY COUNCIL P�-k OF Ev9�sl �OOk Lti1�O~ v_CO.t February 19, 1990 A SPECIAL MEETING of the City Council was held on Monday evening, February 19, 1990, at 7:09 P.K. in accordance with the Mayor's call of January 12, 1990, for the purpose of discussing the proposed 1990-91 City Budget. ROLL CALL - PRESENT: Alderman Washington Alderman Rudy Alderman Wold Alderman Juliar Alderman Wollin Alderman Drummer Alderman Collens Alderman Davis Alderman Rainey Alderman Brady Alderman Lanyon Alderman Esch Alderman Feldman Alderman Korshak Alderman Warshaw A quorum being present. ABSENT: Alderman Nelson. TARDY: Aldermen Paden and Morton. PRESIDING: CITIZEN COMMENT: Mayor Joan W. Barr. Margareta Matlis, 625 Milburn Place, took issue with the open letter published in the Evanston Review which the Mayor and Council had written to citizens; questioned the City Manager's role in preparing the budget; questioned the Council/Manager form of government; accused the City Clerk of overriding the Freedom of Information Act; questioned whether Council members really want a dialogue with citizens; questioned the Council's spending priorities; claimed citizens have long been angry about high taxes and were not spurred into action by the Chamber; praised Alderman Korshak for inspiring her interest in leading a revolt against taxes. George Cyrus, 2929 Central, speaking in behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, thanked various Aldermen, including Aldermen Morton, Korshak and Esch, for their responsiveness to the Chamber's suggestions; said that the City Manager acted very professionally in discussions with the Chamber; agreed that if funds were not available to do a whole management study, then perhaps part of City operations could be looked at; encouraged the City to pursue discussions with the Chamber; urged the Council to try to reach a zero percent increase in tax levy; suggested that a consensus budget could be reached and then a brain storming session held after the end of February to revise the budget; suggested that in the future, the City look into getting outside evaluation and suggestions with respect to the operations of the government; offered the Chamber's help in facilitating that matter. James Kiefer, 2505 Orrington, said that Aldermen have occasionally done a decent job and can't satisfy everyone all the time; urged Council to be responsive to citizens concerns about taxes; suggested that elected officials could be removed from office if they are unresponsive to citizens demands for lower taxes; urged Council to eliminate the proposed tax assessment nightmare and eliminate the need to constantly tax and spend; urged citizens who feel that they are not properly represented to vote for someone else the next time. At this time Alderman Paden was here. 2 -2- February 19, 1990 Bennett Johnson, President of the Evanston branch of the NAACP, said he was not here this evening to do any Aldermanic bashing; discussed his work on behalf of minority economic development and minority business development; said development of minority businesses helped create jobs and tax revenue to the City, State and Federal government; (At this time Alderman Morton was here) talked about an understanding reached between the Mayor, the Shaw Company and certain minority representatives; asked Council for an ordinance or resolution concerning minority economic development and development of minority business; suggested implementation could come through ECDC, EMBA and the NAACP Commercial Division; urged coming together to develop more minority businesses through public/private partnership; requested seed money for the project, which would be matched by private business donations. Chris Preston said that she viewed the public hearing on the budget on February 5 as merely a formality; said that at that time it was too late to change the budget; complained that no Aldermen appeared willing to cut the budget; requested that public hearings be held before it is too late to change the budget; chastised the Aldermen for pointing out that the schools' budgets were a larger portion of the tax bills; suggested that the Aldermen get tough with the unions; said that soon the citizens would have no more money to give; pointed out that she had passed out the tax abatement reminder from Cook County Clerk Kusper. Alderman Korshak moved that Council resolve itself into the Committee of the Whole for further discussion of the budget docket. Seconded by Alderman Brady. Motion carried. No nays. Docket 1-1A-90: Proposed 1990-91 Budget - Consideration of the Proposed Budget for the City of Evanston for the fiscal year 1990-91. A copy of the City Manager's recommended Budget was distributed on December 29, 1989. Budget work sessions were held on January 13, 20, and 27, 1989 at 9:00 A.M., and a Public Hearing on the Budget was held February 5, 1990 at 7:30 P.M. City Manager Joel M. Asprooth reviewed Budget Memorandum #28 pertaining to the City of Evanston payroll cycle; Budget Memorandum #29 that included his suggestions to avoid a property tax increase in the coming year; and the final Budget Memorandum which was a revised balance sheet for revisions made by the Council to the Budget thus far. Mayor Barr announced that she had received a request from three Aldermen to go into Closed Session to discuss a personnel matter and asked for a motion to do so. Alderman Feldman moved that Council adjourn into a Closed Session to discuss personnel. Seconded by Alderman Warshaw. Roll call. Voting aye - Morton, Washington, Wold, Wollin, Collens, Rainey, Lanyon, Feldman, Warshaw, Rudy, Juliar, Drummer, Davis, Brady, Esch, Korshak. Voting nay - Paden. -Motion carried. (16-1) The Council so recessed at 7:28 pm and reconvened in Open Session at 8:40 pm. After a brief discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to meet in Standing Committees from 6:30; to hold a Closed Session at 7:30 pm and to begin the regular Council meeting at 8:00 pm Monday, February 26. Alderman Rainey proposed the following adjustments to the budget, using the $1,375,000 generated by the sale of 1800 Sherman: to reduce the property tax levy required by adding $775,000 to the General Fund to be used in the following way: for expenditures included in the proposed 1990-91 budget: 1.) $ 5,000 for the Safety Incentive Program 2.) $ 10,000 for an insurance consultant 3.) $ 60,000 for a zoning consultant 4.) $ 9,000 for a yard waste program start up 5.) $ 16,200 for recycling bins for condos 6.) ;100,000 for legal fees for Fair Housing Total $200,200. 1 -3- February 19, 1990 to fund additional proposed expenditures: 1.) $ 30,000 for a Commonwealth Edison study 2.) $ 10,500 for an art gallery guide and black artist exhibit grant 3..) $ 50,000 for the CD Rehab program 4.) $ 11,954 to fund outdoor ice rinks Total $102,454. Use the remaining $472,346 to offset the General Fund Levy. Add -an infusion of $600,000 to the Police Pension Fund. Totals: $ 200,200 items previously budgeted $ 102,454 proposed additions to the budget $ 472,346 to offset the General Fund Levy $ 775,000 Subtotal $ 600,000 addition to Police Pension Fund $1,375,000 Total Alderman Collens moved to hold the motion over until the next meeting. Seconded by Alderman Warshaw. At the request of two Aldermen this item will be held over until the next meeting. There being no further business, the special meeting of the Council adjourned at 8:46 pm. KIRSTEN F. DAVIS CITY CLERK 1 1 292 1 1