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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-1991-11-25-1991-:�W6S CITY COUNCIL OF EYj Vr * ji � CO. IA' November 25, 1991 Standing committees meet prior to the official regular meeting. Current members are as follows: Administration Planning & & Public Works Human Services Development Alderman Esch Alderman Washington Alderman Engelman Alderman Wollin Alderman Moran Alderman Heydemann Alderman Newman Alderman Fiske Alderman -Kent Alderman Nelson Alderman Davis Alderman Brady Alderman Rainey Alderman Drummer Alderman Warshaw Alderman Paden Alderman Feldman Alderman Lanyon The OFFICIAL REGULAR MEETING of the City Council was held on Monday, November 25, 1991, at 9:19 P.M. ROLL CALL - PRESENT: Alderman Moran Alderman Newman Alderman Wollin Alderman Paden Alderman Engelman Alderman Davis Alderman Rainey Alderman Brady Alderman Lanyon Alderman Esch Alderman Feldman Alderman Heydemann Alderman Warshaw Alderman Washington Alderman Fiske Alderman Kent A quorum being present. ABSENT: Aldermen Drummer and Nelson TARDY: None PRESIDING: Mayor Barr MAYOR ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Joan W. Barr introduced Captain Randall Drott and Firefighter/Paramedic Jeffrey McDermott of the Evanston Fire Department to the City Council. She announced that Captain Drott and Firefighter McDermott were given the 100 Club Valor Award for their actions on September 7, 1990 at the South Boulevard Beach in a ceremony at the Palmer House on November 7, 1991. The 100 Club of Chicago is a civic organization formed to aid the families of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty in Cook County. Each year they give four valor awards - two suburban and two Chicago. The award was given to Captain Drott and Firefighter McDermott for risking their lives to save a swimmer off South Boulevard Beach on September 7, 1990. Because of their actions, a young man is alive today who otherwise might not be. The Council and the audience gave Captain Drott and Firefighter McDermott a standing ovation. Mayor Barr congratulated them on the award and expressed the City's pride in having such fine firefighters. J_6 -2- November 25, 1991 `CITY= MANAGER 'ANNOUNCEMENTS : City Manager Eric A. Anderson announced that Thomas Linkowski, Division Chief for Fire Prevention will leave the City of Evanston after 29.years of service and Chuck Engel, Superintendent of Fleet Services will leave the City after 31 years of service. He acknowledged the fine job both men had done for the City and wished them well in their retirement. City Manager Anderson also announced that Deputy Chief Phillip Burns will leave the City after 20 years service to take the position of Fire Chief in Rolling Meadows. He wished him well in his new endeavor. City Manager Anderson announced that those areas of the city scheduled for Thursday collection (Thanksgiving Day) will be collected on Wednesday, November 27. Those areas with Friday recyclable collection, will have their recyclables picked up that day, however, yard waste and refuse will be picked up on Saturday, November 30. CITIZEN COMMENT: Alderman Feldman moved that the time allotted for Citizen Comment be extended to a half hour, due to the number of people who had signed up to speak. Seconded by Alderman Brady. Motion carried. No nays. Chris Barry, spoke in behalf of the Next Theatre Company; said that the closing of the Noyes Street E1 station will have a devastating effect on audiences and employees of the Next Theatre Company. She stressed the necessity of having an accessible performance venue and said that the Noyes Street Station was one of the reasons the Next Theatre Company stays in Evanston. Should the station close, the theatre might have to find other space. She read a statement from Sioux Turnoy, Manager of Noyes Court Seniors Building, which stressed the importance of the Noyes Street Station to the older people'living in the building. The statement said that the "short extra blocks" to the Foster Street station will be hard on people who are in their seventies or eighties. Bianca Langorin, representing residents at 2300 Noyes Court, spoke about the need to have the Noyes Street E1 Station available to the occupants in her building and said that it was especially needed on Sunday when there is no bus transportation. She said that taxies are much too expensive. Mark Kraemar„ 2246 Ridge Avenue, said he was a regular user of Noyes Street E1 and part of a group that had been lobbying the aldermen and CTA board members intensively. He emphasized that keeping the station open was vital to the area businesses and that it is a vital resource to the community. He reminded the Council of the City's investment of dollars in the Noyes Street Cultural Arts Center and urged them not to turn its back on the public and private investment in that area. He suggested ways of reducing costs at the station such as having a ticket taker only at peak hours or automating the station. He urged Council to do its duty, aggressively change the course of history and use whatever means necessary, including financial, to keep the station open. June Wilhite, spoke from the audience in support of Ms. Barry's and Mr. Kraemar's remarks. A representative of Roycemore School, read a statement from Joseph A. Becker, Headmaster, which pointed out that a number of students rely on the Noyes Street Station to get to school and to other events. If the Noyes Street Station were to close, they will have to take the E1 to Central Street, which is much further and will require them to cross Ridge Avenue, which is a busier street. Janet Messenger, 1102 Grant Street, read a statement from John Kelly of Kendall College opposing the closing of the Noyes E1 Station that pointed out that closing it will reduce ridership which will reduce revenue. He also suggested that Noyes Street be made an exact fare station with tokens sold at nearby businesses. Bridget McDonough, of Light Opera Works, pointed out that most of their artists and volunteers depend on the E1 and urged the Council to do whatever it could to keep the station open. Sally Lupel,,representing the Figurative Art League at Noyes Cultural Arts Center, said that most of their models, are young women who depend on the E1 and who would not feel comfortable walking from Foster Street in the dark. She said closing Noyes Street Station will probably cause them to lose artists and models. 0 -3- November 25, 1991 Clarence Lipshitz, 1122 Seward Street, said he is a patron of the Evanston Cultural Arts Center where he makes jewelry and has taken figurative sculpture classes. Closing the E1 station will present a hardship for many patrons of Noyes Center, including his ten year old grandson who rides the E1 to go to acting class there. James Genden, said that closing of the Noyes Street Station will have a devatasting impact on property values and property taxes in the area. He said that it is an essential service that the City should be willing to negotiate for and explore other options. He said that he expected his representatives to do everything to save the station, including paying money to keep it open. He said that it is time for the City to put its money where its mouth is. It is not just an issue for 1st, 5th and 7th Ward aldermen, it is a citywide issue and voters will be watching what the Council does. Carl Schobv, 2213 Asbury Avenue, said the Noyes Street stop is an institution in the neighborhood and that a lot of people use it to get to Northwestern University; urged Council to do whatever it can to keep the station open. Marshall Poindexter, 1324 Central Street, said he represented several of his friends; urged that the Noyes Station not be closed and suggested that people at that stop be required to board certain cars and allow fares to be collected on the train. He reported his conversation with a CTA staff person who told him that if the station is not closed, then perhaps, the CTA will close Foster; urged Council to do whatever it can to keep the station open including subsidizing it.. Carl Marinacci, said that if the Noyes Street E1 closes, he can walk to Foster but senior citizens do not have that option. The closing of the Noyes Street Station will have an adverse effect on the business district; urged Council to spend City funds to keep the station open and said they had done well to keep two stations open, but he hoped they would be able to "bat a thousand." Bernadine WhitingL said that she had moved here many years ago to be near an E1 station and she depends on the E1 to visit friends on the south and west sides of Chicago. She urged the City to cover some of the expenses of keeping the E1 Station open. Vance Liebman, 2255 Orrington Avenue, said he remembered 20 years ago when the City lost the Evanston Bus Service because the Council didn't act quickly enough to prevent it's loss. He disputed the CTA's ridership figures and said he gets on before the ticket taker comes in the morning and thinks that they do not have an accurate count of who gets on at Noyes Street. He suggested that if the station closes, the City will lose the economic integration in the area and as more service is lost in future years, it will be more difficult to maintain that kind of economic integration all over Evanston. He pointed out that Northwestern University is well served by both the Noyes Street and Foster Street E1 stations and suggested perhaps that Northwestern might be persuaded to contribute the money to automate those stations. Melvin Landau, 2210 Ridge Avenue, said that he found it bizarre that the CTA believes that closing the Noyes Street Station will benefit them financially. He also suggested that the ridership figures were not accurate because many times he had seen the ticket taker on the train make no attempt to collect fares. He shared his calculation on the revenue generated by the ridership from Noyes Street Station and suggested that if that station closes, 25% of its ridership will be lost and so will the revenue it generates; pointed out that the Mayor of Chicago appoints four persons to the board and the Governor appoints three persons; also pointed out that 1% of sales tax revenue in suburban Cook County is paid to the RTA and suggested that is taxation without representation; urged the City to get after the suburban representatives on the CTA board and urged Council to pressure RTA representatives to give the CTA more funding; suggested that the City file an injunction against the closing of the Noyes Street Station based on a variety of items. Stella Applebaum, 1124 Oak Avenue, said she .is an Evanston resident and teaches ballet at Noyes Cultural Arts Center. She pointed out that Noyes Cultural Arts Center is an integral part of the cultural history and tradition of Evanston and that many people use public transportation to get there. Pointed out that closing the station will have an impact on the cultural life of Evanston and thus the quality of life in the community. in -a- November 25, 1991 Mayor Barr thanked all those who had shared their concerns with the Council and said that the City will negotiate with the CTA and hopes to change its decision on the Noyes Street Station. Alderman Feldman moved the Council resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole. Seconded by Alderman Warshaw. Motion carried. No nays. Docket 309-11B-91: Alternatives to Closing of Noyes Street E1 Station - Consideration of alternatives to avoid closing of the Noyes Street E1 Station. . City Manager Anderson called Council's attention to the memo which laid out all the information the City has at the present time concerning CTA decisions. He said that additional information had been faxed to the City late today concerning personnel schedules for each station which the City has not had an opportunity to analyze. Some of the information will require clarification. The City has been told that the decision to close the Noyes Street Station is still open to negotiation and that the CTA may reconsider its decision as long as the negotiated solution is revenue -neutral. In reference to suggestions made by citizens this evening and suggestions made in the memo, he requested that Council direct him to immediately enter into negotiations with the CTA and to report back on the results of those negotiations no later than December 16. That date is still two weeks before the deadline and will give Council time to react or to call a special meeting. Alderman Rainey requested that Mayor Barr call Chairman Burrus and instruct him of the Council's extreme displeasure that a CTA staff member is terrorizing this community by saying that if the Noyes Street Station is not closed, then perhaps some other station may be chosen to be closed. The station mentioned by the staff member was not even on the original list. She said that Chairman Burrus, or Director Savage may not be aware that someone is making these statements. Mayor Barr promised that such a phone call will be made to the CTA. Alderman Feldman said that he was impressed with the response of citizens and noted that the City Manager had asked for the Council's direction. He stated his strong belief that this was not single station issue, but a citywide issue. He also expressed concern that the City will have to revisit station closings again and again. He suggested that anything the City can do to affect the CTA's decision has to be done with a citywide perspective. He said that when Council adjourns out of the Committee of the Whole, he will move to direct the City Manager to actively pursue negotiations and return to Council with any results he might have or further alternatives for action on December 16. Alderman Brady expressed her strong support for Alderman Feldman's position that this is a citywide issue. She pointed out that public transportation is a basic necessity in an urban community. She stated that any solution negotiated should not be station -specific, but systemwide in Evanston - such as removing agents from all stations in off-peak hours. Alderman Fiske pointed out that when Council met with representatives of the CTA on October 23, Alderman Feldman described what the CTA planned to do to Evanston as doing violence to the community and pointed out that sense of violence is very great among the Noyes Street neighbors. He welcomed the position taken by the two previous speakers that this is a citywide issue and stressed that the City has a great need for hard information from the CTA. He called attention to the chart he had prepared and given to Council concerning ridership and revenue which he had drawn from available information. However, he said the City needs much better information. He pointed out that many suggestions have come from different quarters and stressed the need to communicate to the public what the City is doing. He said that it is essential that the City not allow the Noyes Street Station to close. Alderman Esch said she wondered when the United States was going to stop going backwards. She pointed out that the formula now being employed by the CTA, of service and personnel reductions, have not been successful as a strategy in other businesses and that there must be a better way to run a railroad. She observed that it seems like the CTA has no compunction about pulling the rug out from under the City's economic development. She questioned whether or how the CTA will maintain a closed station and questioned whether it will become a target of vandals and haven for thieves and drug dealers. M -5- November 25, 1991 i L Alderman Heydemann said that it is very important that so many people came out to speak tonight because what took place here this evening will become public. What Council has to do now is to provide the best possible position for the City Manager to negotiate with the CTA. She said that it was clear from the first CTA hearing that fares will be raised. Many people at the hearings said "raise fares" and that is what the CTA wanted to hear. She expressed her concern that the message the CTA might be taking back from this meeting is that, if they will not come up with the money to keep the Noyes Street Station open, then City of Evanston will. That is something they want to hear - that if the CTA scares Evanston citizens enough, the CTA will not have to live up to their obligations. The City Manager should take the message to them that Evanston expects the CTA to finance the running of their own railroad. Alderman Newman assured his neighbors that he will leave no stone unturned to keep the Noyes Street Station open. He said that Council understands from this evening's turnout how critical the station is to the community. He questioned the personnel figures provided by the CTA, saying that there is not an agent on duty at the Noyes Street Station from 6:20 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. and suggested that the City needs to demand more accurate information. He joined with fellow aldermen in saying the City must address this as a citywide issue. He said it is not acceptable to make the Noyes Street Station an exit -only station and not acceptable to close the Foster Street Station as an alternative. The CTA should not be allowed to pit one area of the City against another. Alderman Davis supported her seatmate's call to take a community -wide approach to this issue. She said Evanston is a community that takes care of each other, as well as being one of enlightened self-interest. She called Council's attention to a Chicago Tribune article, distributed this evening, which quoted RTA Chairman Gayle Franzen as forseeing more CTA cuts in future years. She suggested that unless the CTA obtains additional funding, there will be more service cuts coming in mid-1992. She said we have to protect the Noyes Street Station now to protect the rest of the stations later on. ' Alderman Washington promised her support to keep the Noyes Station open. Alderman Kent expressed his support for keeping'the station open and pointed out that many people in the community rely on the E1 to get to work and to school. It is also important to area businesses to,bring in employees and customers. He said that it is important to send the City Manager,down to negotiate with the CTA with a plan. He said he felt a sense of urgency to deal with this because it affects people's paychecks and their ability to function in the community. He related a story about a senior citizen who had moved to the area because of the E1 and said he had urged her to come and speak this evening - which she did. Alderman Kent said that citizens had communicated their concern to Council and it is now Council's turn to do something. He also expressed opposition to making the Noyes Street Station an exit -only station, but expressed his support for options three, four and six proposed by the City Manager. City Manager Anderson stated that it was his sense that Council wished him to express to the CTA that the City will not find any station closing acceptable and that he is to negotiate any posssible way to keep the station open, including but not limited to, automating these stations (option three),.a special surcharge (option four), and eliminating the agent and off-peak hours (option six). It is also his understanding that the goal of the negotiations is to keep this station open as a full service station. Alderman Engelman said that it is clearly the sense of the Council that we're in this together and the City will not put up with any station closings. The options presented in the City Manager's memo are excellent avenues to reach that goal. However, he said that the City is to make it clear to the CTA that the City will not be extorted to subsidize them, because next year they will be back for more money. He questioned the ridership and revenue figures provided by the CTA. He pointed out that closing of a station will cause a loss of ridership and will affect revenue and those facts do not appear to be reflected in the CTA figures. He raised questions about revenue required to maintain tracks and stations. He said the City needs to obtain the facts behind the numbers and ask whether, if the City can find a way to stop the CTA's waste and mismanagement, they would give Evanston more service. He supported every option to keep all stations open, but said that the City should not subsidize what the CTA is obligated to perform. -6- November 25, 1991 Mayor Barr supported Alderman EnOman's suggestions, saying that the City is not in the public transportation business and has enormous budget problems of its own, to find enough funding to support essential City services such as Police services, fire protection and garbage pickup. She said that if the City says it will provide funds to keep the stations open, the CTA will be back again and again for further subsidies. She pointed out that there are a number of creative suggestions.in the City Manager's memo which should be explored as ways to keep all stations open. However, she expressed her opposition to the surcharge suggested in the memo, because of her concern about the effect it may have on those least able to pay. Alderman Moran reminded Council that several speakers, both this evening and at the Loyola Hearing, had suggested that the City work with Northwestern University on this issue. He suggested that this is an opportunity to forge a partnership with them in terms of the negotiating team. He said that University Vice President Fisher made an eloquent statement at the Loyola Hearing which appeared to have a great effect upon the CTA Board members. He pointed out that the student government President also made an excellent statement. He suggested that the City build on that and urged the City Manager to contact Northwestern University to join the City in its negotiations with the CTA. City Manager Anderson said that it was an excellent suggestion and that Northwestern University President Weber had already written a letter opposing the closing of the station. He said he expects the University will work together with the City to keep the station open. In response to a question from Alderman Washington, City Manager Anderson said it is his understanding that if the stations are automated, the CTA will be expected to pay fo'r that automation, not the City of Evanston. Alderman Rainey expressed concern that the City may be presenting a too rigid stance about not giving any consideration to the City subsidizing CTA service. She said that she felt this is not the time to take that stance and that decision would be better left until after some negotiations had been undertaken. She reminded the aldermen that the City already does subsidize the CTA by providing landscaping services and some maintenance of their grounds and stations. She suggested that the City does not want to end the discussion before it starts. Alderman Newman said that the-CTA will not admit what the City does for the CTA currently and the City needs to go in there and show them. There is no question that the City has provided maintenance to the stations and in the Administration & Public Works Committee meeting this evening, the committee discussed how hard it is to get the CTA to maintain its viaducts. Alderman Warshaw moved that Council adjourn out of the Committee of the Whole. Seconded by Alderman Brady. Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Feldman moved that Council direct the City Manager to immediately begin negotiations with the CTA to keep the Noyes Street Station open and to do that, vigorously and aggressively and to report back to Council with the results, options and plans for the Council to consider to deal with that issue.. Seconded by Alderman Heydemann. Alderman Newman moved to amend the motion to make that report a special order of business on December 16. Alderman Feldman agreed to the amendment. Alderman Newman said that the neighbors are very much involved in this issue and he wanted them to know that the discussion will continue and that they are invited. Vote on the amended motion. Motion carried. No nays. At this time there was a five minute recess. MINUTES: Alderman Feldman moved that the minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 11, 1991, as submitted in writing to the members of the City Council, be approved without reading. Seconded by Alderman Engleman. Motion carried. No nays. -7- November 25, 1991 CONSENT AGENDA: (Any Docket Item Marked with an Asterisk*) Alderman Davis moved Council approval of the Consent Agenda with the following exceptions: Under Purchases, Train Station Landscaping and Maintenance, Library Construction Manager; and Docket 296-11A-91: Ordinance 109-0-91 the Special Service District #4 Tax Levy. Seconded by Alderman Brady. Roll call. Voting aye - Moran, Wollin, Engelman, Rainey, Lanyon, Feldman, Warshaw, Fiske, Newman, Paden, Davis, Brady, Esch, Heydemann, Washington, Kent. Voting nay - none. Motion carried. (16-0) PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE:, Docket 265-9B-91: Easement of Access - 715 Sheridan Road - Consideration of a request from William and Andrea Foote for approval of a proposed easement of access to serve two proposed rear lots at 715 Sheridan Road. Alderman Engelman reported that several meetings between the property owner of 715 Sheridan Road, neighbors and Aldermen Brady and Lanyon had occurred since the last Council meeting and agreement reached among all affected parties. It was proposed that in granting the Easement of Access, and approval of the Plat of Subdivision, that the property be impressed with the covenant. In the course of discussions among the parties, the covenant has been modified as follows: In paragraph three, line one, add the words "to provide screening" and in the same sentence add a comma after "south" and delete the words "where possible", so that the sentence now reads: "that the landscaping shall be installed with the access easement to provide screening adjacent to the existing resident to the south, consistent with the construction ...". In paragraph four, in the first line, after the words "the installation and maintenance of a system for" so that the sentence now reads "that any development of a, lot in the subdivision shall provide for the installation and maintenance of a system for the collection, storage, and disposition of water " In paragraph six, the last line, after the word "lot" should be the words "including shoreline control measures." So that the line will read: "... the owner thereof shall submit to the Building Department of the City of Evanston, for its review and approval, a drainage plan for such lot including shoreline control measures." Also added to the covenant is provision no. 7 which shall read as follows: "Landscaping and drainage plans, as approved, shall be installed and maintained by the owners of the properties." Alderman Engelman moved Council approval of the Easement of Access for 715 Sheridan Road. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Motion carried. No nays. Docket 264-9B-91: Plat of Subdivision - 715 Sheridan Road - Consideration of a request from William and Andrea Foote for approval of a Plat of Subdivision for the property at 715 Sheridan Road. The Plat of Subdivision is in proper form. Alderman Engelman moved Council approval of the Plat of Subidivison for 715 Sheridan Road. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. In response to questions from Alderman Newman, Alderman Engelman clarified that the lot size proposed in this Plat of Subdivision is in excess of those to be required as a part of the Overlay District in the new Zoning Ordinance. Vote on the Plat of Subdivision. Motion carried. No nays. Docket 292-1OB-91: Ordinance 103-0-91 - ZBA 91-13-V&SU(R) - 2650 Ridge - Consideration of the Zoning Board of Appeals' recommendation that the City Council grant the application of The Evanston Hospital Corporation, dba Evanston Hospital, for a variation from the off-street parking regulations of the Zoning Ordinance, and for a special hospital use to permit expansion and improvement of an existing thirty -space parking area to thirty-seven spaces, including the provision of two handicapped spaces on the.property at 2650 Ridge Avenue. The property is zoned R6 General Residence District. d-7 �__ -8- November 25, 1991 Alderman Engleman reported that after much discussion between the neighbors, the hospital and the aldermen, an agreement had been reached with regard to this proposed variation from the Zoning Ordinance, which will also be the subject of a covenant. That covenant was amended on page two, paragraph two, to impose the following requirement: adding in on page two paragraph two, the number of acres which is 0.264 acres and in the same paragraph in the fourth line down, after the word "requirement" and before the word "in" adding the words "relative to gross lot coverage and building lot coverage," so that the hospital will now be able to use the property that is being impressed with this covenant in any calculation necessary to determine the zoning requirements relative to gross lot coverage and building lot coverage in the central area, and they will continue to maintain this as open space. With these changes to the covenant, Alderman Engelman introduced proposed ordinance 103-0-91. Marked Introduced. Bills and Payroll * Approval, as recommended, of City of Evanston bills for the period ending November 20, 1991; for the City of Evanston payroll for the period ending November 17, 1991; and that their payment be authorized and charged to the proper accounts, summarized as follows: City of Evanston bills City of Evanston payroll $2,769,492.30 1,238,688.06 *APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) PURCHASES The Train Station Landscape Maintenance contract was held in committee. * Approval of the proposal from Insituform Midwest, Inc., for Lining of Various Sewe Mains at a total cost of $305,84.00. (Non -Bid Item, Requires a 2/3 Majority Vote) APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Approval of the low bid from Gibson Electric for Electrical Cable for the Water Plant at a total cost of $19,936.00 BID SUMMARY: Bidder Total Cost Gibson Electric Co. $ 19,936.00 Westchester, IL Driscoll Electric Co. 21,100.00 Chicago, IL Kelso -Burnett Co. 24,680.00 Rolling Meadows, IL Loyola Electric Construction 31,200.00 Chicago, IL * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Approval of the proposal from George Kennedy Construction for a Change Order to Sewer Spot Repair Contract at a total estimated cost of $23,000.00 (Non -Bid Item, Requires a 2/3 Majority Vote) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16- * Approval of the proposal from Friedman, Eisenstein, Raemer & Schwartz to perform the 1991/92 audit for the City at a cost of $38,200 and the 1992/93 audit at a cost of $41,100. (Non -Bid Item, Requires a 2/3 Majority Vote) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) Alderman Esch moved that the City of Evanston negotiate with U.S. Equities (USE) to provide construction management services (Library Construction Manager) for the City. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. -9- November 25, 1991 a /3 Alderman Rainey moved to amend the agreement between the owner and construction consultant on page four, article 2.1, last sentence which should be changed by deleting the words "provide up to 40 hours of services to evaluate the feasibility of constructing the project at alternative sites and the feasibility of a single phase project and shell," so that the sentence now reads: "at owner's request, USE shall advise owner in respect to the architect's agreement." Seconded by Alderman Fiske. In response to a question from Alderman Feldman, Alderman Rainey explained that that provision was being deleted because Council had already made the decision to build the library at its current site and to use phased construction. There was concern among the interview team that this language would open up further discussion of sites and design. Alderman Newman reported that he also had been concerned about the deleted wording because of the money the City had expended to take down the building on that site. In response to a question from Alderman Feldman, City Manager Anderson said that the wording was included during the negotiations at his suggestion in order that there be a contingency established in case there is any discussion of a new site or a different phase. Such discussion would clearly be additional services beyond the 40 hours and would require a separate contract. Alderman Brady expressed concern that Council did not get a full analysis comparing the firms that bid for this contract as is customary with Requests For Proposals. She said that she would accept the recommendation on this contract, but requested that comparative analyses be included in future recommendations. Alderman Rainey explained that, this proposal had been handled a little differently by the committee which was composed of staff, library board and a member of the Administration & Public Works Committee (herself). She said that the committee did have access to all the evaluative information, flow charts and such, indicating one company's advantage over another in a certain areas. She apologized for not sharing that information with the entire Council and said it wo�Jwuld of happen again. She said that, the committee interviewed, not three3 but-�� fv°��� In response to a question from Alderman Davis, City Manager Anderson said that it is his understanding that the firm selected to do the minority business development for this contract is a Chicago firm. Roll call on the motion. Voting aye - Moran, Wollin, Engelman, Rainey, Lanyon, Feldman, Warshaw, Fiske, Newman, Paden, Davis, Brady, Esch, Heydemann, Washington, Kent. Voting nay - none. Motion carried. (16-0) * Docket 310-11B-91: Resolution 90-R-91 - Office Lease Renewal - Congressman Yates - Consideration of proposed Resolution 90-R-91, by which the City Council would renew the lease of Congressman Sidney R. Yates for Civic Center office space for one year. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Docket 311-11B-91: Resolution 91-R-91 - Office Lease Renewal - Township. - Consideration of proposed Resolution 91-R-91, by which the City Council would renew the Township lease for Civic Center office space for one year. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Docket 312-11B-91: Resolution 92-R-91 - Office Lease Renewal - Representative Schakowskv_ - Consideration of proposed Resolution 92-R-91, by which the City Council would renew the lease of State Representative Jan Schakowsky for Civic Center office space for one year. trt * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Docket 313-11B-91: Resolution 94-R-91 - Parking for Wheelchair Bound - 1301 Mulford - Consideration of proposed Resolution 94-R-91, by which the City Council would establish a reserved parking space for the handicapped at 1301 Mulford Street. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Docket 314-11B-91: Ordinance 121-0-91 - Loading Zone - 940 Pitner Consideration of proposed Ordinance 121-0-91, by which the City Council would amend Section 10-11-7, Schedule VII(B), of the Code of the City of Evanston to establish a loading zone at 940 Pitner Avenue. * MARKED INTRODUCED - CONSENT AGENDA. -10- November 25, 1991 Docket 286-10B-91: Ordinance 20-0-91 - Licensing Pawnbrokers - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 20-0-91, by which the City Council . would amend Section 3-12-2 of the Code of the City of Evanston to establish a category of Pawnbroker Licenses. No Action. Docket 296-11A-91: Ordinance 109-0-91 - SSD #4 Tax Levy - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 109-0-91, introduced on November 11, 1991, the Supplemental Tax Levy for Special District #4 which serves the Downtown Area, by which the City Council would approve the recommended budget for EVMARK and authorize the 1992 Tax Levy. Alderman Esch moved Council adoption of proposed Ordinance 109-0-91. Seconded by Alderman Brady. Roll call. Voting aye - Moran, Wollin, Engelman, Rainey, Lanyon, Feldman, Warshaw, Newman, Paden, Davis, Brady, Esch, Heydemann, Washington, Kent. Voting nay - none. Motion carried. (15-0). (Alderman Fiske abstained due to a possible conflict of interest.) i * Docket 297-11A-91: Ordinance 110-0-91 - Green Bay Road Agreement Amendment - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 110-0-91, introduced on November 11, 1991, by which the City Council would amend the City/State Joint Agreement for the current project on Green Bay Road, and provide for jurisdictional transfer on December 4, 1991. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Docket 298-11A-91: Ordinance 111-0-91 - Green Bay Road Project - Addition to Local Street System - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 111-0-91, introduced on November 11, 1991, by which the City Council would include,Green Bay Road from Emerson Street 'to Livingston Street as part of the local street system for the City. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Docket 299-11A-91: Ordinance 113-0-91 - No Parking on Gross Point Road - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 113-0-91, introduced on November 11, 1991, by which the City Council would amend Section 10-11-8 Schedule VIII (A), to prohibit parking on Gross Point Road north of Crawford Avenue. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Docket 300-11A-91: Ordinance 114-0-91 - One -Way Stop - Walnut & Prairie - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 114-0-91, introduced on November 11, 1991, by which the City Council would amend Section 10-11-5, Schedule V(A), to change the Yield sign on northbound Walnut Avenue at Prairie to a Stop sign. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) Docket 301-11A-91: Ordinance 115-0-91 - Changing R.E.P.D. to R.O.P.D. - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 115-0-91, by which the City Council would amend Sections 10-11-10 and 10-11-18 of the Code of the City of Evanston to change East Railroad Avenue between Emerson Street and the first alley south from a Resident Exempt Parking District to a Resident Only Parking District. Alderman Esch introduced Ordinance 115-0-91. Marked Introduced. * Docket 303-11A-91: Ordinance 117-0-91 - Boundary Change for R.E.P.D. "A" - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 117-0-91, introduced on November 11, 1991, by which the City Council would amend Section 10-11-10 of the Code of the City of Evanston to add portions of Central Street and Orrington Avenue to Resident Exempt Parking District "A". * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) OTHER COMMITTEES: 5' Docket 31ir-11B-91: Resolution 93-R-91 - Requests to Hold Over City Council Agenda Items - Consideration of proposed Resolution 93-R-91, by which the City Council would amend City Council Rule 19.12 to allow an item, which had previously been held over and then tabled, to be held over a second time after it is removed from the table. In accordance with City Council Rule 3.1, which requires that any change in City Council Rules be distributed at least one week in advance of the vote on the change, this matter is scheduled for consideration at the December 16, 1991 meeting. No Action. E -11- November 25, 1991 i Docket 307-11A-91: Resolution 76-R-91 - Proposed City Council Rules Amendment - Consideration of a recommendation that the City Council amend Council Rule 2.1(3) to eliminate the requirement that all written communications to the Council be summarized orally by the City Clerk, and to allow the Clerk to notify the Council of such communications, either orally or in writing. In accordance with Council Rule 3.1, this change is being distributed one week in advance of the vote on.the change and was transmitted to City Council at the November 11, 1991 meeting. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) * Docket 308-11A-91: Ordinance 112-0-91 - Annual Township Tax Levy - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 112-0-91, introduced on November 11, 1991, whereby the City Council, acting as Township Trustees, would levy the annual tax for the Town of the City of Evanston. ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (16-0) MAYOR'S REPORT: Mayor Barr reported to Council that she had held an Administrative Hearing that morning on the liquor license held by the Northwestern University Gathering Place Bar. She entered an order that it close from January 6 through January 19, 1992, a 14-day suspension. She said it was the longest suspension that she had given for a first offense. She reported that the settlement had been negotiated between First Assistant Corporation Counsel Hill and Counsel for Northwestern University, James Perry. She said that the agreement they had come to, and the order entered, as in the context of the case law, which governs what kind of sanctions may be applied for this type of offense. She reported that she had used outside counsel for advice, because . she is Liquor Commissioner for the City of Evanston, and the City of Evanston was the complainant. It was her understanding that the normal punishment for a first offense was three days, but Mr. Hill was able to negotiate a stiffer settlement. The date that the 14-day suspension is to take effect, January 6, is the date classes resume at Northwestern University after the holiday vacation. APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Barr asked Council for confirmation of Jim Currie, 557 Barton Avenue, and of Stephen Prout, 2623 Central Street, for reappointment to the Plan Commission, for term ending December 30, 1994. Alderman Feldman moved Council confirmation of these reappointments. Seconded by Alderman Lanyon. Motion carried. No nays. Mayor Barr asked Council for confirmation of Robert Hudson, 1916 Main Street, for reappointment to the Electrical Commission, for term ending October 24, 1995. Alderman Feldman moved Council confirmation of this reappointment. Seconded by Alderman Lanyon. Motion carried. No nays. Mayor Barr asked Council for confirmation of Douglas A. Mohnke, 711 Madison Street, for reappointment to the Preservation Commission, for term ending December 30, 1994. Alderman Feldman moved Council confirmation of this reappointment. Seconded by Alderman Lanyon. Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Fiske observed that Council had talked a lot about the CTA this evening. He recalled that someone this evening had wished the City Manager luck in getting information from the CTA and said that luck should not govern our attempts to get information. -12- November 25, 1991 Alderman Newman said that the actions taken at the liquor hearing this morning should make it clear that the City will treat the bar on the Northwestern University campus the same as the City would treat any vendor of alcohol in this City who has violated City ordinances. There was no attempt to be harsher or more lenient. He thanked the Mayor for making it clear that future conduct of this sort will not be tolerated. Alderman Newman referred to a communication from Commonwealth Edison, saying that he did not know if it was a veiled threat that the City will be drowned in legal fees by Commonwealth Edison because it dares consider an alternative to a monoply in terms of the City's power sources and electricity. He would have liked to have been a part a the board room debate when they decided to make this a nuclear state and thus drove the cost of electricity in Illinois. He expressed concern that Commonwealth Edison going on the offensive and wondered when the City is going to get the Task Force Report out to the community. He said he hadn't heard anything from the Task Force, and felt that two and one half months was enough time to report back to Council. He said that the City cannot allow Commonwealth Edison, with its propaganda machine, to close the ears of our constituents on a potential alternative that we are only considering and haven't had a fair chance to discuss as a City. He said he hoped staff could come up with an idea to respond to this propaganda before the City has its first negotiating session. Mayor Barr pointed out that the Energy Alternatives Task Force was meeting the next evening to discuss the public information aspect of its mission. Alderman Paden said she wished the City had gotten the amount that Commonwealth Edison spent for postage for all the letters sent to the community, because she had received five letters today. Alderman Paden thanked the Wild Bunch for the excellent Thanksgiving dinner they gave to senior citizens. She commented that she didn't think some of those seniors had been out to eat since Thanksgiving a year ago. She thanked Mayor Barr and Alderman Esch for attending. • Alderman Paden wished everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, told them to have a good time and also to stop in their busy days to make a contribution to someone who does not have as much. Alderman Brady observed that we have a active, organized community. That has caused her some embarrassment at her place of work when people call and ask for "Alderman Brady." She said that she thought that many of her constituents believe that the I business cumbers printed on the city directory are the telephone numbers of their aldermanic office. She requested that when the directory is printed in the future, that there 90 be an asterisk with a note that these are places of employment, not aldermanic offices. Alderman Esch joined with Alderman Paden in congratulating the Wild Bunch for their annual Thanksgiving dinner and also thanked the Christ Temple Choir and other singers for providing marvelous entertainment. She noted that a number of people from her ward from Albany House also attended and very much appreciated the dinner out. She commended the volunteers for doing a wonderful job. Alderman Heydemann.apologized to Council for forgetting copies of the Reader she had set aside to bring tonight. The lead story was about negotiations between the City of Chicago and Commonwealth Edison. She said that the points made in the story would make interesting reading for Council and promised to provide copies to Council in the next packet. Alderman Heydemann said that she shared Alderman Newman's outrage at the Commonwealth Edison letter. If all 29,000 households in Evanston received one letter, the postage would have cost Commonwealth Edison $8,410. She said that she hoped citizens would remember that figure because she expected that they would be receiving many more similar letters - all at first class postage, paid for by citizens. She also pointed out that Commonwealth Edison District Director had told a City/Chamber meeting that Com Ed had a budget of $3 million dollars for publicity. Alderman Kent wondered why New Hope CME Church, which is tax exempt, was assessed for the newly paved alley behind it. The congregation is small and many members live in the area and are already being assessed for the alley. So to pay for the alley through their dues to the church is like being assessed twice. Alderman Kent reported that those who had contributed to the Spirit of Thanksgiving food drive, contributed enough to enable the organizers to be able to give out 150 care packages. 7xJ7 .-13- November 25, 1991 Alderman Wollin invited everyone to attend the December 5 Police Awards ceremony, where both officers and citizens will be honored for going above and beyond what us usually expected to deter crime, help a victim or apprehend a criminal. She said that it is always a heartwarming ceremony and a number of officers and citizens will be honored. Alderman Rainey said that not long ago, the City made a series of rules for collection of yard wastes because the City was mandated to separate yard waste from refuse. Those rules have resulted in confused and frustrated constituents in all wards. There are bags of rotting leaves with another community's logo or a K-Mart logo on them; bags with holes in them spewing out leaves all over alleys and bundles of twigs in alleys that may be 4 1/2 to 5-feet long and bundled with twine instead of cotton. The City imposes rules, our Sanitation Department adheres to rules and our alleys are filling up with yard waste to the extent that our unpaved alleys aren't going to need to be paved because this stuff will grind down and provide an organic surface. Alderman Rainey made a reference to the Administration and Public Works Committee to take a look at the rules and to work to make them more flexible so people in the community can adhere to them. She told the story of a constituent who, even though her twigs were bundled correctly, did not have them picked up for a month and there is no more room in the alley for her yard waste bags. She also asked that the City reconsider its ban on sweeping leaves into the street. She said that whole neighborhoods band together, don't buy yard waste bags and simply sweep leaves into the street, and the City picked them up. Alderman Rainey discussed the alternative side street sweeping program and pointed out that, due to budget constraints, streets have only been swept twice a month for the last several years. However, people have to move their cars four times a month. People are being ticketed for parking on the wrong side of the street even on those days when no sweeping is being done. People have no idea when their streets will be swept and the signs tell them to move their cars even when sweeping is not scheduled. Alderman Rainey made a reference to the Administration and Public Works Committee to consider changing the street sweeping signs or to alter the policy so the streets will be swept once a week during the season. Alderman Warshaw commented that she thought that we all have a lot to be thankful for in the City of Evanston. We have the lake, still have public transportation, still have water supplied by the City and that supply is more dependable than Commonwealth Edison electric service. Alderman Warshaw wished everyone a happy Thanksgiving. Mayor Barr joined her in wishing everyone happy Thanksgiving, and, there being no further business to come before the Council, she asked for a motion to adjourn. The Council so moved and the meeting adjourned at 11:43 P.M. KIRSTEN F. DAVIS CITY CLERK