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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-1993-01-16-1993rY COUNCH, January 16, 1993 A SPECIAL MEETING of the Evanston City Council was held on Saturday, January 16, 1993 at 9:20 A.M. in the City Council Chamber to consider the 19934994 City of Evanston Budget. ROLL CALL - PRESENT: Alderman .Wollin Alderman Engelman Alderman Rainey Alderman Feldman Alderman Warshaw Alderman Newman Alderman Paden A Quorum being present. ABSENT: Aldermen Lanyon and Washington TARDY: Aldermen Fiske and Drummer Alderman Davis Alderman Brady Alderman Esch Alderman Heydemann Alderman Kent Alderman Moran Alderman Nelson City Clerk Kirsten F. Davis announced that, in the absence of Mayor Barr, nominations for the election of a Mayor pro tem were in order and that, in accordance with Council Rule 15.7, Alderman Wollin was next on the list of aldermen by seniority who have not served as Mayor pro tem. Alderman Nelson nominated Alderman Wollin. Seconded by Alderman Engelman. Motion carried. No nays. PRESIDING: Mayor pro tem Cheryl M. Wollin Mayor pro tem Wollin announced that there would be a CLOSED SESSION at the end of the meeting to consider pending litigation and land acquisition. Docket 1-1A-93: Provosed 1993-94 Budget - Consideration of the proposed budget for the City of Evanston for the fiscal year 1993-94. A copy of th City Manager's recommended budget was distributed on December 31, 1992. Budget review sessions have been scheduled for January 9, 16, 23 and 30, 1993, and a Public Hearing on the budget is scheduled for February 1, 1993 at 7:30 P.M. Mayor Pro tem Wollin welcomed the Council to the second of the budget review sessions and announced that they were now sitting as a Committee of the Whole. She called Council's attention to the twenty-two budget memoranda that they had received in their packets and asked whether anyone had questions or comments on those memoranda. City Manager Anderson clarified that in Budget Memo #9, discussing building permits versus equalized value, it is the fee for the permit that is included, not the value of the construction. A corrected memo will be made available later detailing the value of construction. F1 Alderman Nelson requested that, at the appropriate time, Budget Memo #3 concerning cigarette taxes, be referred to the Administration and Public Works Committee to consider whether to raise the cigarette tax to the Chicago level or some o . figure. At this time Alderman Fiske was here. DISCUSSION OF PROPOSED EXPENDITURES City Manager Anderson reminded Council that it was the City of Evanston Budget Policy that drives the basic philosophical considerations both for revenues and expenditures. The proposed budget does not increase the property tax levy and with the increases the City has had in the equalized assessed valuation (EAV), he anticipated that the City's portion of the rate would drop. Also, there are no service reductions proposed in the budget, so none of the expenditure changes resulted in a reduction of service. There have been a number of changes in the current year and staff is continuing to evaluate their impact to make sure that they have not resulted in any service reductions. He said that it may. be six months to a year before staff is able to conclude those evaluations to make sure there are no service reductions. He also pointed out that the proposals now before the Council will have to undergo the same sorts of evaluations to assure everyone that there are no inadvertent service reductions. He reiterated that there are twenty-one positions slated for elimination, twelve of which are staffed and will involve lay-offs. The City will try to place those individuals in other jobs within the organization wherever possible. No final action will be taken on those positions until March 1. Since last February, there has been a reduction of sixty positions in the organization, which is a significant change. He did not expect that further reductions of positions could be made without affecting service to the community. Staff will continue to monitor vacancies as they occur to see whether a position is needed and should be filled again. In some cases a position will be left vacant for a while to see if the organization can do without it. The service delivery structure will be continuously tested to minimize costs. City Manager Anderson noted that he had not included a general obligation bond issue in this budget. Bonds will be issue for Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and other proposes, but he was not recommending the issue of general bonds to suppo capital improvements. That recommendation will reduce the demand on property tax and other revenues. There will other revenue available for that purpose and he is suggesting that the City refinance some previous bond issues in late spring or early summer and it is anticipated that those moneys will be used for capital improvements. Included in the proposed budget is a recommendation that there be no across the board increase in wages and salaries to city staff. This recognizes that there are still union contracts to be negotiated as well as discussions to be undertaken with other non -union employee groups. Negotiations are under way and reports on them will be coming back to the Council. Appropriate step increases will still continue. Also included in the budget is a recommendation that the City continue the summer youth employment program. Both Northwestern University and the Township have tentatively agreed to participate again next summer. He felt that it was an important program for the City. City Manager Anderson also recommended that $35,000 be set aside for the development of an intern program that would bring young Evanstonians into the police, fire, sanitation departments, and possibly clerical areas as well, so that they may - over a period of time - compete successfully for City jobs. He anticipated that the program would not be developed until some time later in the fiscal year. In response to questions from Alderman Davis, City Manager Anderson clarified that the total expenditure for the Summer Youth Employment Program was about $120,000 and he noted that evaluation of the program indicated that the program should start earlier in the summer; the ratio of supervisors to participants should be increased, to allow better control of the kids; and to improve training so if teams have to be pulled out of the alleys because of rain, the leaders are prepared to train at that time. A copy of the evaluation will be given to the Human Services Committee. Alderman Rainey requested a Budget Memo on the justification, in terms of dollars, for eliminating a half-time parking enforcement officer, which is a revenue generating position. REVIEW OF DEPARTMENT BUDGETS City Manager Anderson noted that the City Council budget was reduced by approximately $5,000, due to the upconlw l�' reduction in the size of the Council. In response to a question from Alderman Brady, City Manager Anderson clarified that the line item for copying costs in the City Council budget did not go down, even though there will be a reduction in Council, is bec me during budget review - some costs that should have been charged to the Council account had been carried in other departments. This is a more accurate distribution of the costs. City Manager Anderson clarified that the reduction in the City Manager's budget was due to reallocation of some expend Lures to the Economic Development Fund to more clearly reflect the purposes of the expenditures. In respanse to a question from Alderman Brady, the City Manager explained that the customer service effort would be City wide and no single department will have the responsibility for it. One piece of it will be in tracking the requests for service and thtvCity Manager's office will play a key role in that effort. That will increase the time required to record and follow up on hose requests. Alders Feldman and City Manager Anderson discussed the methods by which public information would get to citizens. Assistmt to the City Manager, Vince Adamus explained that to the extent that public information is centralized it is central zed in his office, where he deals with cable, Highlights, press releases to media and arranges press conferences, if needed. He explained that some other departments, such as the library and the Recreation Department do their own press releasaL He felt that the City had been using Highlights more effectively since the change in format and the City had eight pages, instead of four, to get information out. In response to a question from Alderman Esch, City Manager Anderson clarified that the amount allocated for Council under healthbenefits did not halve because not all of the aldermen took the health care option, but the proposed budget includes benefib for nine aldermen. In regonse to a question from Alderman Fiske, the changes to the printing budget for Highlights is due to a change in allocating costs between Highlights and Arts and Recreation magazine. Alderman Nelson suggested that the City might give restaurants at the train stations and those places popular for breakfast fiftyaapies of Highlights, for citizens eager to read in the morning. In ruse to questions from Aldermen Engelman, Newman, Nelson and Davis, City Manager Anderson clarified that the largemsts of settlement this year were due to an unusual number of cases settling for unusual sums and settlements from previags years that took effect this year. It is not anticipated that there will be a similar experience in this budget year. He promised a budget memo breaking down the expenses for outside counsel. He also will provide a budget memo on the amouis the City expected to settle cases for and what they were actually settled for. First Assistant Corporation Counsel Hill aplained that the #130 and #131 Accounts reflect the merger of the Law Department and the Safety and Risk Manaaement Department. Account #130 reflects work of outside counsel and settlements and #131 reflects the slip and fall and Aber liability cases against the City for 1992-93. Aldeman Rainey said that the Council had not received monthly accident reports for a long time and asked that they get themagain, as well as the annual safety report. City Manager Anderson promised recent monthly vehicle reports and the annurlsafety report as soon as it is completed. Citylganager Anderson noted that there were several changes in the Finance Department that are reflected in the budget. Both fte budget office (from the City Manager's office) and the monitoring function for Community Development Block OranAmds and the Capital Improvement Program (from the Planning Department) have been transferred to the Finance Depatmment. He also explained that the Finance Department was adding a computer person to oversee the operation of person,. computers. In rejonse to questions from Alderman Nelson, Human Resources Director Witt explained that under Workers Compensation activity measures, the days lost from work was skewed because of two individuals who were off from the PoliceDepartment for nearly a year. She explained that Evanston's experience compares favorably with other municipalities, exceffifor cases from previous years that have been due for settlement this year. The City has experienced a decrease in injuries both this year and last. The more serious and expensive claims are in the police and fire departments. Alderman Rain. noted that all of that information is usually contained in the annual safety report. In regense to questions from Alderman Esch, City Manager Anderson explained that the training for building inspectors is patfor out the contingency account and is managed by the Human Resources Department. Director of Housing and f Property Services Wolinski explained that all inspectors are going to the University of Wisconsin for updated technical training and will get additional code enforcement and other training elsewhere. In the next year all Evanston inspectors Mr. Wolinski will be B.O.C.A. certified. POLICE DEPARTMENT In response to questions from Alderman Newman, City Manager Anderson explained that the overexpenditures in the Police Department for expanded police service and the three additional officers last summer came from an appropriation of surplus funds to that account in the amount of $80,000 to $85,000 and the contingency fund. There are also some training expenses that will be charged to the contingency account. Chief Jacobi explained that much of the expenditure resulted from the fact that the Police Department was understaffed as a result of ten vacant positions. By the end of the summer the department was able to accommodate the enhanced needs without having to use so much overtime. While the Police Department is currently in an over -hire position, it won't have all those people on the street because five are still in training. They will be on the street in the spring. City Manger Anderson also pointed out that several individuals are slated to retire and their positions will be eliminated, so their salaries are included in contingency. At this time Alderman Drummer was here. In response to another question from Alderman Newman, Ms. Witt explained that the City began hiring to fill the existing vacancies in January of last year and by summer they were all filled. They City did not have the use of all of them because some were in school for twelve weeks if they were not lateral transfers, but they were all in place by August. In response to questions from Alderman Nelson, Chief Jacobi explained that the effectiveness of the D.A.R.E. Program had been evaluated by the University of Illinois last year. Evanston has expanded the program since then to include gang education instruction and other things not included in the traditional D.A.R.E. curriculum, using the same personnel. The expanded program will have to be evaluated by the City. The department has received a very enthusiastic response froi both parents and students to the program. National data shows a decrease in use of alcohol and drugs by students expose to this program. In response to further questions from Alderman Nelson, Chief Jacobi explained that the department uses mostly civilians for parking enforcement. When it becomes necessary, traffic officers are moved into beat cars and are used to provide services on calls. He agreed that it might be possible to use civilians to deal with abandoned cars, but could not use civilians to follow up on accidents because it might necessitate the exercise of arrest powers. He said that the department is doing an abandoned auto and towing study to determine what is going on in those categories and will report back to Council when it is ready. They will also determine what it is costing the City for removal of those automobiles. In response to questions from Alderman Warshaw, Chief Jacobi explained that the decrease of one position in the gang crimes bureau is reflected as an increase in another element. He also explained that training costs in this budget were spread throughout the department, rather than keeping them in one program element. In response to a question from Alderman Kent as to why identifying drug house was not an objective of the Vice/Narcotics Unit, Chief Jacobi explained that there were many in-house objectives that were not in the budget and he would be happy to share them with aldermen. In response to questions from Alderman Moran, Chief Jacobi clarified that there was no reduction in personnel costs and that in spite of the dramatic increase in arrests (over 500 gang members arrested) this year, the department feels its projected number of arrests in this budget is conservative. Alderman Feldman pointed out that the last sentence under the Description of Major Activities for Foot Patrol includes patrolling the lakefront in summer and he said the 4th, 8th and 9th Ward aldermen had been assured that their foot patr I officers would not be used for that. Chief Jacobi agreed and promised to eliminate that last sentence. He also pointed o� that slight fluctuations in salary indicated a pay increase for an officer or transfer in of new personnel. He promised a budg, memo on the substantial difference between the number of neighborhood meetings projected in the proposed budget and tho held last year. In response to Alderman Fiske, he explained that when the foot patrol officers are mobile they can handle more and different calls for service, but the thrust of the program is to keep them visible and on foot in the neighborhoods. 5 Aldermn Fiske observed that the more the foot patrol officers are seen in downtown Evanston, the more effective they are. Alderman Nelson complimented the Chief on the crime statistics that the alderman had received in their packets. He obserad that some were at 15-20 year lows. Aldeman Nelson suggested that the Crime Prevention Bureau was another area where civilians could be utilized. Chief Jacobi agreed to explore the suggestion. In response to Alderman Nelson's question about how to deal with the upsurge in robberies, Chief Jacobi said that it is difficult to explain why there are sometimes dramatic fluctuations in data and they will have loanalyze it on a case by case basis. In response to further questions from Alderman Nelson, he said that all animal control functions were carried out by civilians and they handle so many calls for service at all times of the day and night that it is important that they are in contact with a conmunications system at all times. Alderman Paden asked Chief Jacobi if he could provide the Council with the court disposition of the gang crimes cases. ChiefJacobi said he would be delighted to do so, but cautioned that sometimes it is difficult to track cases that have been contireed many times, some for as long as two years. Alderman Paden also asked that he indicate those cases where an offen&r had been repeatedly arrested. Chief Jacobi said that he would bring a gang report to Council in about two weeks. Chief Jacobi explained that it was difficult to structure beats by wards because the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, which provides the regional data base and does all the mapping, would be very reluctant to change what we have until tiee City restructures its beat plan. He will look into it again because they are reprogramming their functions in the next two years. In response to a question from Alderman Newman, Chief Jacobi said that the department had fewer than 60,000 calls for servim in the past year. Alderman Brady expressed the great concern of the Third Ward aldermen at the dramatic increase of robberies in the south end ofthe ward and hoped that those statistics would be considered in the assignment of foot patrol officers and beat cars. She aced for increased police visibility in these areas. Alderman Rainey asked whether the "calls for service" included 911 calls. Chief Jacobi said that they included police 911 calls. He further clarified that the number of officers on staff includes those in school and includes two over -hires, for a total d 156 sworn officers. There are seven or eight non -sworn personnel who wear uniforms (parking enforcement officers) and fifty-seven civilians in the police department. Alderman Rainey pointed out that one parking enforcement officer can generate approximately 40,000 parking tickets a year. Sworn officers who are called to a scene for a different reason can also *ve out parking tickets. If, for example, they see people without handicapped cards parked in handicapped spaces, they shoullbe instructed to give tickets to those people before leaving the scene. You could easily generate 2400 parking tickets by scorn officers if they had those instructions. ChiefJacobi explained that of the 48,000 911 calls, most are not legitimate emergencies and people are asked to call again usingthe administrative number. But that is the number of calls an operator has to be prepared to respond to. Aldeanan Drummer asked Chief Jacobi the status of the advisory committee that had been recommended to for the Youth Services Bureau. Chief Jacobi said that it had been referred to the Mayor's office to appoint the committee. Director of Heal&:and Human Services Terry said that the Human Services Committee had sent a communication to the Mayor. Aldeman Newman said that the crime statistics that aldermen receive each week had shown the south end of the Third Ward to hm a dramatic increase in incidents, but pointed out that the downtown area had also been hit a lot recently. Whilehe was concerned, he did not want to request the Chief to divert resources from other wards. He questioned whether the My had the resources to meet the needs and did not feel those questions had been placed before the aldermen in this buds Aldeaan Davis said this is not a matter of wards fighting among each other; but a question of deployment of resources and 6 budget questions. Specific areas have gotten special attention as need warranted it. The statistics are staggering and they are crimes against persons. At a recent neighborhood meeting with 70 people in attendance, many of them didn't know statistics, but knew people who had been victims of crime and were frightened. These are questions that should be des with at budget time and we should respond to the changing needs of the City. Alderman Nelson observed that the map of incidents and the statistics show that the "El" tracks are the key, in that most of the incidents are within three blocks of the "El" and a large percentage appear to have happened between 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. It just seems to jump out at you and seems to be a matter allocation of resources. Chief Jacobi said it is what is known as the "CTA corridor." He noted that just the day before, a police tactical group, had picked up a burglar who had been picked up many times before, doing precisely what the aldermen, had been suggesting in this discussion. Alderman Feldman said that he didn't feel that the issue of whether the community had adequate resources to meet the needs articulated in the discussion was being addressed by this budget discussion. He asked whether the City had the resources to deal with the problems in the Third Ward without jeopardizing the progress made in other areas of the City. Chief Jacobi said that this would continue to be a challenge for us and the department will have to continue to do more to become more responsive to the changing needs of the community. The robbery pattern shows that it is along a corridor, but things change in different locations and this year the department has a tactical unit (that it didn't have last year) that is deployed on the basis of need - at all hours of the day and night - so adjustments are made on that basis. Chief Jacobi clarified that under the Youth Services program, one of the objectives listed is a date objective in that a community service program for youthful offenders has been established. Alderman Rainey observed that the robbery overview for 1992 should not be a surprise since Council gets a weekly report on crimes. The Council is kept well-informed. Alderman Newman said that the extra resources allocated to the Burger King in downtown were allocated there because c need, by a professional judgment. He pointed out that last year he had asked whether it wasn't necessary to hire additional police officers. And while he was aware of the increase in robberies in the Third Ward, there has also been an alarming increase in robberies in the downtown area. He asked Alderman Davis whether she felt that additional police officers should be hired to create the necessary presence in the Third Ward. He felt that a number of areas had additional needs and he wanted to make sure that the entire safety needs of the community are being met. Alderman Brady said that it was a matter of professional judgment whether it is necessary to hire additional officers to meet the community's needs and if the Chief or City Manger feel that is the case, they will recommend that. She made reference to a study that showed that the number of police does not impact crime. It's an ability to allocate resources, to be mobile and to change priorities. She will leave it to the professionals to determine whether Evanston needs to hire more police. Alderman Engelman made reference to the excellent work of the tactical bureau and noted'that 20% of the overtime was expended by that bureau and asked why it was approximately $100,000 lower in the proposed budget. Chief Jacobi noted that the number before included three patrol officers, who are elsewhere, but were incorrectly charged to that program element. In response to a further question from Alderman Engelman, Chief Jacobi explained that the department's assumptions for the year included overtime budgeted at the levels they feel will be required to fund the same special services provided last summer. He noted that the overtime expended last summer was not budgeted. In response to a question from Alderman Esch, Chief Jacobi explained that patrols in visible areas such as a business district has an effect on break-ins, but patrols in neighborhoods, where break-ins are usually not visible, have very little effect unless the police are called to the scene of a break-in in progress. Alderman Heydemann made a plea to her colleagues to continue to discuss the budget and to not get off on other polio areas. She suggested that perhaps a special Council meeting or a Budget Policy meeting could be scheduled to discus allocation of resources in the Police Department, so this meeting could be used to clarify issues related to the budget. Alderman Newman asked that Council set a special meeting to discuss resources and police needs. The budget seems like 7 Alderman Kent noted that he had previously requested that the City sponsor an AIDS Awareness Month in September and that t%re is a national AIDS Awareness Month in December. He did not see anything in the budget relating to educating the conmunity as a whole about AIDS. Director of Health and Human Services Terry clarified that most of the activities relatelto Aids awareness are generally found in program elements #610 and 632. It is the responsibility of the Director of PublitHealth and the Public Health division. In the past year, in addition to testing, their primary focus has been to work with GB HIV Education Committee to develop a curriculum for both school districts that addresses HIV and AIDS awaraess. The work with BE -HIV is the major community focus. He also explained that the Unified Budgeting Panel has askedEE-HIV to get involved in street outreach which use an outreach worker who operates one on one with at -risk people on thdr own turf. He said that staff training is also taking place on the agency level for those agencies, such as PEER Servims, that deal with at risk populations. In relonse to questions on ambulance fees from Alderman Brady, Chief Hunt clarified that the increased ambulance fee was budgdbd at $220,000. Alderman Brady commented that she felt that the percentage of collections seemed quite low. Chief Huntatplained that now the City is billing everyone it transports, where that had not always been the case in the past. Aldemmn Brady felt that the issue merited further discussion in Administration and Public Works Committee. Alderman Rained said the A & PW Committee had suggested that the hospitals be approached to see if they would agree to an arranpment where they would bill the insurance companies in behalf of the City (for a fee) for the service. City Manager Andemn said that the hospitals had not been very receptive to that suggestion. Chief Hunt said that they were exploring othera&ernatives and would discuss them with the A & PW Committee at the next meeting. Aldemn Feldman asked when Council could expect a full evaluation of the impact of eliminating the positions of Executive Direor of Mental Health and Executive Director of the Commission on Aging and whether those cuts had any impact on delivery of services. City Manager Anderson replied that due to the nature of the adjustments that had to be made, the evalution was ongoing and it is expected that a full report would be made in the middle of July at the end of a full twelve monf.period. That evaluation will include the reaction of the board or commission, staff assessment, and will include obseaations of Council members as well. Mr. Terry commented that at their last meetings, both the Mental Health Board and.* Commission on Aging had established their 1993 goals and objectives. They also identified areas of priority and gavea%rection to staff as to those activities they want staff to be working on. He suggested that those were measures upon whi&staff activities could be evaluated. Aldm an Warshaw said that she hoped that the evaluations would include those made in the Department of Housing and Property Services and what impact the severe cuts made in July had in the areas of housing and building. She asked that the &ctiveness of remaining in the Housing Commission also be included. Mayor pro tem Wollin noted that our FEMA funds were going to go to a not -for -profit organization and wondered if the Citywould be making up those funds. City Manager Anderson said it would. Mr. Terry said he would be making contact withleighbors at Work (NAW) to try to determine whether the gross amount they will be receiving will be the same amount as tht-City was decreased. He was not sure the money they will be receiving are in the categories as the money the City receiad. The City used FEMA dollars primarily for utility assistance and emergency shelter placement related to fires and codemforcement activity that displaced people. Those activities will continue to be a City responsibility and the involvement of aldvate agency might make it difficult to assure that City clients in those situations would receive priority. Alderman Brady pointed out that Neighbors at Work -receives City funding and she did not believe that their getting the FOK funds in any way lessened the City's responsibility in these areas. She suggested that the City consider a purchase of swice agreement for Neighbors at Work to provide the services that the City formerly provided with this money or that the fdy will get an equal amount of money from NAW for providing these services. She felt that the City should convey theirllosition strongly to NAW on this issue. Mr. Terry pointed out that one of the reasons that the board which made this decii in found it so attractive to give this money to NAW was that NAW's service area went beyond Evanston. He pointed out tit NAW now will be under some pressure from the funder to show that it services areas beyond Evanston. He also point out that the City did not create new and distinct programs for this money, but used it to supplement what it was alre* doing in the emergency services area. The City does not count FEMA clients as a separate category and haven't for see time. Aldearan Newman requested a budget memo detailing the City's Community Purchased Services going back ten years and shoi&g the agencies and the amounts, so he could use them as a comparison to this year's recommendations. Alderman Feldman moved that Council recess into CLOSED SESSION to consider pending litigation and land acquisitiot Seconded by Alderman Warshaw. Roll call. Voting aye - Aldermen Wollin, Engelman, Rainey, Feldman, Warshaw, Fisk Newman, Paden, Drummer, Davis, Brady, Esch, Heydemann, Kent, Moran and Nelson. Motion carried. (16-01 The Council so recessed at 11:30 A.M. and reconvened in OPEN SESSION at 12:24 P.M. Alderman Heydemann moved suspension of the Rules to Consider something not on the Council's agenda. Seconded by Alderman Warshaw. Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Nelson introduced proposed Ordinance 2-0-93, authorizing the City Manager to execute the revised redevelopment agreement for Howard/Hartrey. Marked introduced. Alderman Nelson moved that the following new dockets be made a Special Order of Business at the next meeting. Seconded by Alderman Moran. Docket 23-1A-93: Pr000sed Ordinance 2-0-93: Authorizing the City Manager to Execute the Revised Howard/Hartrey Redevelopment Agreement Docket 24-1A-93: Proposed Resolution 11-R-93: Howard/Hartrey Litigation Fund Docket 24-1A-93: Proposed Resolution 12-R-93: Partial Reimbursement of Bell & Howell regarding Howard Street Barrier Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Newman requested a budget memo comparing the cost of providing all municipal services, including librar) recreation, and sanitation in Skokie, Oak Park, Winnetka, Niles, Arlington Heights, and Wilmette. There being no further business, Mayor pro tem Wollin asked for a motion to adjourn. The Council so moved and adjourned at 12:28 P.M. KIRSTEN F. DAVIS CITY CLERK I