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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-1993-07-12-1993CITY COUNCIL, 0 July 12, 1993 1 1 1 Standing committees meet prior to the official regular meeting. Current members are as follows: Administration and Public Works Alderman Newman Alderman Heydemann Alderman Engelman Alderman Drummer Alderman Kent Alderman Holsman Alderman Guthrie Alderman Moran Alderman Feldman Planning and Development Alderman Engelman Alderman Heydemann Alderman Kent Alderman New Human Services Alderman Feldman Alderman Drummer Alderman Moran Alderman Guthrie Alderman Holsman The OFFICIAL REGULAR MEETING of the City Council was held on Monday, July 12, at 8:35 P.M. in the City Council Chamber. ROLL CALL - PRESENT: Alderman Kent Alderman Moran Alderman Engelman Alderman Holsman Alderman Feldman Alderman Newman Alderman Guthrie A Quorum being present. ABSENT: Aldermen Drummer and Heydemann PRESIDING: Mayor Lorraine H. Morton An audio tape recording of this meeting has been made part of the permanent record and is available in the City Clerk's office. LEO 2 July 12, 1993 CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS: City Manager Eric A. Anderson called attention to paintings hung in the Council Chamber since the last meeting. He noted that they were painted by Walter Burt Adams, a local artist who was nationally recognized for his renditions of Evanston scenes. The paintings are on loan to the City from the Joseph Levy, Jr. collection. He thanked Mr. Levy for his generosity in making the paintings available to the City and said that a plaque will be installed in the Council Chamber to acknowledge that loan. Mr. Anderson announced that the next Starlight Concert was scheduled for the following evening, Tuesday, at 7:30 P.M. at the Dawes Park Lagoon and that Arranmore would be performing. He also announced that the annual Ethnic Arts Festival would take place in Dawes Park next Saturday and Sunday, July 17 and 18 from noon until 7:00 P.M. MAYOR ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Morton announced that there would be a Closed Session to discuss pending litigation following the Council meeting. Mayor Morton announced that there would be short Rules Committee meeting after the Council meeting to consider Alderman Feldman's request to attend a Leadership Seminar sponsored by the National League of Cities. CITIZEN COMMENT: Arthur Tedei, 2040 Brown Avenue, who travels by wheelchair, related difficulties he had experienced negotiating curbs in the six -block area near his residence and asked that the City fix them. He offered to take members of City staff around and show them the curbs that need attention. Mayor Morton thanked him for his remarks and promised that the City would look into the problem that he had presented to the Council. Diane Valletta, 1213 Michigan Avenue, said that she had applied to serve on the Library Board and had not received a call or letter in return. She questioned the appointment process and questioned the criteria that the Mayor had used to chose the Library Board members who were being introduced this evening. CONSENT AGENDA: (Any Docket Item marked with an Asterisk*) Alderman Feldman moved Council adoption of the Consent Agenda. Seconded by Alderman Engelman. Roll call. Voting aye - Kent, Moran, Engelman, Holsman, Feldman, Newman, Guthrie. Voting nay - none. Motion carried. (7-0) MINUTES: * The minutes of the Regular Meeting of June 28, 1993, as submitted in writing to the members of the City Council. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE: BILLS AND PAYROLL * Approval, as recommended, of City of Evanston bills for the period ending July 7, 1993; for City of Evanston payroll for the period ending June 26, 1993; for City Council payroll for June; and that their payment be authorized and charged to the proper accounts, summarized as follows: City of Evanston bills $ 1,779,046.52 City of Evanston payroll $ 1,308,585.57 City Council payroll $ 4,875.03 * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) 3 July 12, 1993 IgI PURCHASES: * Approval of the bid from Regal Business Machines, Chicago, IL, for Typewriter Maintenance service for the 1993-94 fiscal year at a cost of $6,640. *APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) * Approval of the proposal from G. F. E. for twenty-eight sets of Protective Clothing for the Fire Department at a total cost of $18,200. (Non -Bid Item, Requires a 2/3 Majority Vote) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) * Approval of the bid from Freeway Ford Truck Sales for a Dump Truck for the Street and Sanitation Division at a total cost of $61,799.54. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) * Approval of the proposal from Mid -America Truck & Equipment Co. for a Hi -Lift Bucket Truck for the Traffic and Parking Divisions at a total cost of $68,889. (Sole -Source Item, Requires a 2/3 Majority Vote) * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) A, Approval of the low bid from George Kennedy Construction for 1993 Sewer Maintenance and Catchbasin Replacement Program at a total cost of $98,389. BID SUMMARY: Bidder Total Cost George Kennedy Construction $ 98,389.00 Waukegan, IL Artley Paving 111,745.00 Wheeling, EL LoVerde Construction 119,990.00 Wheeling, IL * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) * Docket 160-7A-93: Emnlovee Parkine on Brown Avenue - Consideration of a proposal to allow the sale of Residential Parking District #4 permits to employees in the Church -Dodge area to park on Brown Avenue north of Church Street. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) * Docket 161-7A-93: Snecial Event - Soringfield Bantist Church Street Bazaar - Consideration of a recommendation that the City Council approve the request of Springfield Missionary Baptist Church to hold a Street Bazaar and Bake Sale on the public right -of --way from 8:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 17, 1993. The request includes the closure of Darrow Avenue from Emerson Street north to the alley at mid -block. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) * Docket 162-7A-93: Resolution 84-R-93 - Prevailine Wave Rates - Consideration of proposed Resolution 84-R-93, by which the City Council would establish prevailing wages rates for various categories of workers engaged in the work associated with public works construction projects within the City. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) * Docket 163-7A-93: Ordinance 80-0-93 - 3-Wav Ston - Florence/Madison - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 80-0-93, by which the City Council would amend Section 10-11-5, Schedule V(B) and (C), of the Code of the City of Evanston to establish a 3-Way Stop at the intersection of Florence Avenue and Madison Street. * MARKED INTRODUCED - CONSENT AGENDA / f 4 July 12, 1993 * Docket 164-7A-93: Ordinance 81-0-93 - 4-Wav Stop - Greenwood/Oak - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 81-0-93, by which the City Council would amend Section 10-11-5, Schedule V(D), of the Code of the City of Evanston to create a 4-Way Stop at the intersection of Oak Avenue and Greenwood Street. * MARKED INTRODUCED - CONSENT AGENDA * Docket 153-6C-93: Ordinance 54-0-93 - Regulating Use of Bicycles - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 54-0-93, introduced on June 28, 1993, by which the City Council would amend Title 10, Chapter 9, Section 10, of the Code of the City of Evanston pertaining to bicycle use regulation, to change the definition of adult to 17 years and allow officers to issue citations to adult violators. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) * Docket 154-6C-93 Ordinance 76-0-93 - Lakefront Parking Regulations - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 76-0-93, introduced on June 28, 1993, by which the City Council would amend Section 10-11-9, Schedules IX (H) and (Q), of the Code of the City of Evanston, to prohibit parking on either side of Lake Shore Boulevard between Greenwood and Dempster Streets from May 1 through September 30 between 9:00 P.M. and 6:00 A.M. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) HUMAN SERVICES CONEM TTEE: * Docket 165-7A-93: Township Monthly Bills - Consideration of a recommendation that the City Council approve Township bills, medical payments, and payroll for the month of June, 1993, in the amount of $127,623.80. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: * Docket 158-6C-93: Ordinance 77-0-93 - Zoning Fees - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 77-0-93, introduced on June 28, 1993, which would revise Ordinance 78-0-90 to establish fees for zoning requests and related matters. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL. (7-0) * Docket 166-7A-93: Ordinance 55-0-93 - Amendment to Sign Ordinance - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 55-0-93, by which the City Council would amend Section 4-12 of the Code of the City of Evanston to incorporate amendments proposed by auto dealers. * MARKED INTRODUCED - CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Morton announced that she would not be enforcing the five minute rule (on aldermen's speeches) this evening because it had been referred back to the Rules Committee. However, she would continue to time speakers and if there were no objections, she would allow the speaker to continue. Alderman Newman stated for the record that, as an elected official, he did not wish to be timed and said that he felt it was degrading. He noted that the rule had not been enforced by the previous mayor. July 12, 1993 l g-/ 1 REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES:, ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC WORKS:, Docket 80-3B-93: Ordinance 39-0-93 - Definition of Lowest Bidder - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 39-0-93, introduced on March 22, 1993, by which the City Council would amend Section 1-17-1 of the Code of the City of Evanston by defining lowest bidder for the purchase of goods and services. A copy of proposed Ordinance 39-0-93 and a descriptive memorandum were transmitted for the March 22, 1993 meeting. At the April 13, 1993 Council meeting, this matter was held over to the next meeting. At the April 26, 1993 meeting, this matter was tabled to the May 24, 1993 meeting. This matter remained tabled at the May 24, 1993 meeting. (Administration & Public Works Committee) (Committee Vote: 5 ayes - 1 nay) No Action Docket 138-6B-93 Ordinance 72-0-93 - Use of Personal Watercraft at Lakefront, - Consideration of proposed Ordinance 72-0-93, introduced on June 14, 1993, by which the City Council would amend Section 7-11-7 of the Code of the City of Evanston to permit launching and operation of personal watercraft on the Lakefront under the same rules and regulations required of power boats and power boat operators. Alderman Feldman moved to refer this docket item back to the Administration and Public Works Committee. Seconded by Alderman Guthrie. Motion carried. No nays. REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEES: - NO REPORT CITY MANAGER'S REPORT: - NO REPORT APPOINTMENTS: Mayor Morton asked for Council confirmation of the name of David Sallach, 802 South Boulevard, for appointment to the Cable Commission for term ending July, 1996. Alderman Engelman moved Council confirmation of this appointment. Seconded by Alderman Guthrie. Motion carried. No nays. Mayor Morton introduced the following names for reappointment: Commission on Aging - Marguerite Mose, 1900 Sherman Avenue E-911 Board - Charles Seiler, 2124 Maple Avenue Public Art Committee - Beth Hart, 2311 Lawndale Avenue - James Gamble, 1563 Sherman Avenue - Raymond J. Green, 828 Custer Avenue Mayor Morton introduced the following names for appointment to: Energy Commission Environment Board - Janet Goelz Hoffman, 733 Milburn - David Kraft, 2773 Garrison Street - Barry Cain, 3238 Colfax Street - Elliott M. Nesvig, 721 Custer Avenue - Melissa A. Wynne, 1130 Hinman Avenue - Sally Halderman, 3201 Hartzell Street - William M. Moss, 1103 Harvard Terrace 6 July 12, 1993 Ladd Arboretum Committee - Nani Boyce, 2204 Jenks Street - Robert Baker, 2020 Hawthorne Lane Library Board - Dr. Gloria Estell Bullock, 2024 Cleveland Street - Ellen Newcomer, 2749 Euclid Park Place - Cheryl Wollin, 2430 Simpson Street Mental Health Board - Susan Stroh, 2618 Simpson Street - Dale A. Dellutri, 2411 Cowper Avenue Property Services Board - Lester Blair, 1325 Fowler Avenue Sign Review & Appeals Board - Alan Spaeth, 1214 Lake Shore Drive Mayor Morton introduced the following names for appointment to the Flood and Pollution Control Commission: - Jonathan Fiske, 2319 Sherman Avenue - David Urban, 818 Washington Street - Margaret Wold, 2216 Forestview Road Alderman Engelman moved to Suspend the Rules in order to confirm the nominees to the Flood and Pollution Commission the same night they were introduced. Seconded by Alderman Moran. In response to a question from Alderman Newman, Mayor Morton clarified that there were no solicitations to Evanston engineering firms for this position, just the ad placed in the Evanston Review. Vote to Suspend the Rules. Roll Call - voting aye - Aldermen Kent, Moran, Engelman, Holsman, Feldman, Newman and Guthrie. Motion carried. (7-0) Alderman Engelman moved Council confirmation of Jonathan Fiske, David Urban and Margaret Wold for appointment to the Flood and Pollution Control Commission. Seconded by Alderman Moran. In response to a question from Alderman Newman, Director of Public Works Barber explained that there were presently no engineers on the Commission, but one member had been on the Commission since its inception in 1975 and had developed a great deal of expertise on the subject. Alderman Newman suggested that in the future the Mayor should solicit members of the community with the expertise needed for certain boards or commissions, so that they may provide input to the Council in those areas where they have special knowledge. Alderman Moran pointed out that one of the nominees, Mr. Urban, has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Northwestern University and a Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering. He said that Ms. Wold sat on the Commission as an alderman for many years, was one of the architects of the current sewer improvement plan and brings a tremendous amount of background and experience to this appointment. He noted that the City has a very qualified engineering firm, Hann Engineering, that consults with the Commission on this project, even though their advice is not always taken by all the members of Council. Vote on the nominees for the Flood and Pollution Control Commission - motion carried. No nays. CALL OF THE WARDS: Alderman Newman requested that all the applications for the Library Board and the Mental Health Board be made available to any interested alderman. He said he wished to look at them and evaluate who else was available for the positions. Mayor Morton reminded him that it is the prerogative of the mayor to appoint and the prerogative of the aldermen to approve or disapprove. She felt that the power invested in any office had to be exercised under the law. Alderman Newman said that in order to fully consent to any appointment, he felt that he had to see who else was available and what their qualifications were. He said he might want to exercise his prerogative to vote no on some rl July 12, 1993 1 of these appointments. He felt that the applications would be considered public documents and said that he wanted to make sure that the appointment process was "fair." He said that he was not sure that it had been fair and if the mayor refused his request to see the applications, he would make a reference to the Rules Committee. Mayor Morton explained that the process of soliciting people to be on boards and commissions was started by the present administration and was an attempt to open up city government, so that people who are interested in participating could apply to be on committees. The Evanston Review agreed to publish a listing of all the boards and commissions that citizens could apply for and included the special qualifications required for certain boards. The ad generated a tremendous response - over 100 applications. Unfortunately, no applications were received for some boards and commissions. So as positions on those boards and commissions become vacant, she will have to "beat the bushes" to find qualified members. Mayor Morton noted that she had reviewed all the applications and had made appointments to those boards where there were vacancies and had further reviewed the applications to see if some applicants could be appointed to other boards and commissions in which they also had expressed interest. She noted that letters are now going out to those not appointed to inform them that they were not chosen at this time, but would be considered for the next vacancy on the board or commission in which they were interested. She said that she was delighted with the process because it gave greater access to government to those who cared enough to fill out the application and make her aware of their desire to participate in government. Alderman Newman made a reference to the Rules Committee "to consider availabilitv of applications for Boards and Commissions that have (been) submitted. but not nominated by the Mavor." He reiterated his desire to look at the applications and asked that the Law Department look at the reference to see whether there would be any legal prohibition against aldermen seeing those documents. He discussed the appointment process and questioned the criteria he believed had been used to select appointees. He said that as long as he was on Council that he would take a keen interest in appointments and hoped that the Rules Committee would quickly consider his reference. Alderman Newman reported that he had conferred with the Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce and had been informed that under the new zoning ordinance, a special use approval for a bed and breakfast would take four months even if there were no objectors. He felt that the process should not take that long and made a reference to the Planning and Development Committee "to review the avvroval process for ZBA (Zoning Board of Anneals) cases involving special uses and variations where there are no obiectors (and) to shorten (the) amount of time (required) to receive apvroval." He questioned whether the approval for a special use, where there were no objectors, needs to be introduced at one meeting and approved at another and questioned whether it was necessary for the aldermen needed to have a transcript available before they could vote to approve a special use. He also suggested that in cases where there were no objectors, the ZBA could be divided into hearing panels and those panels could grant the special use in just one hearing. Alderman Newman made reference to a letter that he had received from a young woman who is a First Ward constituent regarding panhandling. He related several incidents detailed in the letter in which the writer had encountered aggressive panhandlers. The most recent incident occurred as she left a Cash Station and was followed by a panhandler. She felt that aggressive panhandling continues to be a problem in the downtown area of Evanston and said that she even felt uncomfortable going next door to a restaurant. She asked the City to take some action to deal with this problem. Alderman Newman noted that he had made a reference on this subject previously; that it had been widely discussed and had received a lot of press. He said that he felt the woman deserved a response and that this issue was a quality of life issue all over the City. He did not want residents hit up for money when they go to a Cash Station. He was aware that the Chamber was doing something and asked what the status of the voucher program is and wondered whether some of the other alternatives that had been proposed had been discussed. He said that he wanted to give the letter writer a complete response and not to have it appear that the Council was sweeping the matter under the rug. He noted that aggressive panhandling was a problem on Main Street and the Jewel on Chicago Avenue. He said that the ordinance he had proposed was on the Administration and Public Works Committee agenda under Items for Further Consideration, but would not bring it back to Council until he was sure of Council support. He did not want to tell the letter writer that there was nothing to be done because he was concerned for the safety of both young and elderly women. Mayor Morton said that the City Clerk would duplicate the letter and distribute it to the other members of the Council. July 12, 1993 Alderman Guthrie recognized two constituents from the Third Ward, Michael Goodkind, a member of the Flood and Pollution Commission, who is retiring from that Commission because he is moving out of the City. She said that he was one of the original members of the Commission and had given the City many years of dedicated service. She also recognized Ann Kepler, Chair of the Library Board, whom she said was very dedicated and influential in the process of developing plans for the new library. She was sure that the Library Board would miss her and hoped that she would consider serving on another board or commission in the future - especially if it involved developing another public building. Mayor Morton noted that Mr. Goodkind had served on the Flood and Pollution Commission since 1975, which was a long period of dedicated public service. Alderman Kent thanked the Over the Rainbow Association for informing the neighbors on Brown Avenue and himself that they would begin construction on a new building addition. He noted that there had been communication problems in the past and was pleased to see that the staff and the neighbors were working to overcome that. Alderman Kent announced that there was an International Conference of Sister Cities scheduled for July 14-17 in Houston, Texas. He would be happy to share the information with anyone interested. He complimented Interim Chief Kaminski for the wonderful job the Police Department was doing on the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Dodge. He noted that a number of different things in that area had been cited, including drug dealing and gang activity. What has made the difference in that area is that now the Department has the cooperation of the neighbors, who are forming a block club. He felt that this is a major step for that area because the activity on their block has made them afraid to go out after dark, or let their children go outside to play, and many are senior citizens. He said that he would let his colleagues know when the group would be meeting, so they could use the experience gained in this area to address similar problems in their own neighborhoods. He hoped that moving undesirable activity off one street would not just move it to another street. He felt that many people are interested in the quality of life all over the City. He made a reference to the Administration and Public Works Committee to "look into the Mobil Command Post for our Police Department. The storefront outnosts are outdated. We need to be able to move our Police Department to certain areas of our Citv (ouicklv). I believe San Diego has a similar ripe of program. " He felt that it was important method to deal with gang activity and felt that while visibility was important, it is important to follow the activity when it moves to another area. Alderman Kent reminded the aldermen that he was a kindergarten teacher and called attention to the proposal made to the District 65 School Board to eliminate all -day kindergarten and felt it was a terrible proposal. He wondered what they perceived for our children in the future. He said that District 65 is a good school system, and it could be a great one, but the proposal to eliminate all -day kindergarten is a move backwards. He felt that the Board had no feeling for what small children in this community face. He made a reference to the Citv-School Liaison Committee to address the issue of all-dav kindergarten and felt that it would be terrible for the community if the board adopted the proposal. Alderman Engelman seconded his reference. Motion carried. No nays. Alderman Moran thanked the Fourth of July Association for putting on the Independence Day celebration. He said that during the parade there were many different thoughts and ideas expressed about what it meant to be an American on the Fourth of July and felt that the crowd enjoyed each one. He congratulated the Association for their tremendous efforts. Alderman Engelman complimented and thanked the Central Street Merchants' Association and the Chamber of Commerce for their Central Street in Harmony celebration and the Ronnie Rice concert. He reported that Ronnie Rice had parents and children dancing in the aisles and singing along and a good time was had by all. Alderman Holsman recognized YOU (Youth Organization Umbrella), the Ridgeville Park District and the Foot Patrol Officer, Kim Grossman for their outstanding work with youth in the Eighth Ward. He noted that Officer Grossman worked out of the Howard Street Police Outpost and felt that the outpost provided a tremendous benefit to the area. He said that residents were pleased to see the outreach being made to the area youth. Mayor Morton suspended the Council meeting at 9:27 P.M., to allow for a brief Rules Committee meeting and reconvened the meeting at 9:38 P.M. 9 July 12, 1993 1�� Alderman Engelman moved that Council recess into a Closed Session to consider litigation. Seconded by Alderman Moran. Roll call. Voting aye - Aldermen Kent, Moran, Engelman, Holsman, Feldman, Newman and Guthrie. Motion carried. (7-0). The Council so recessed at 9:40 P.M. and reconvened into Open Session at 9:50 P.M. City Manager Anderson announced that the City would begin another search for a new Police Chief. He reported that the two candidates identified during the previous search who were offered the job had turned it down, citing high housing costs. He said that it will be 90 to 120 days before new candidates are identified and indicated that the same process of community interviews will be utilized as before. In response to questions from Alderman Newman, City ,Manager Anderson said that the only additional expense for this process would be the cost of bringing candidates to Evanston to be interviewed and reported that steps are being taken to make sure that candidates are briefed on the high cost of housing. However, he noted that no matter how hard they might try, there is still a certain amount of "sticker shock" related to housing costs in Evanston. He felt that this is not the first time the City has encountered this problem, but he did not feel that it would prevent Evanston from getting a good candidate who would be an excellent addition to the staff. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Morton asked for a motion to adjourn. The Council so moved and adjourned at 9:53 P.M. KIRSTEN F. DAVIS CITY CLERK 77 L