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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-1994-02-06-1994CITY COUNCII. February 6, 1994 1�4 OF EV 1,1�r V 0� OOk Ilti1� CO. O A PUBLIC HEARING was held by the Evanston City Council on Monday, February 6, 1995, at 7:46 P.M. in the Council Chamber to receive public comment on the 19954996 City of Evanston Budget. ROLL CALL - PRESENT: Alderman Newman Alderman Kent Alderman Drummer Alderman Moran Alderman Guthrie Alderman Engelman Alderman Heydemann Alderman Holsman Alderman Feldman A Quorum being present. ABSENT: Mayor Morton City Clerk Kirsten F. Davis announced that, in the absence of Mayor Morton, nominations for the election of a Mayor pro tem were in order and that, in accordance with Council Rule 15.7, Alderman Feldman was next on the list of Aldermen by seniority, who have not served as Mayor pro tem. Alderman Holsman nominated Alderman Feldman. Seconded by Alderman Drummer. Motion carried. No nays. PRESIDING: Mayor pro tem Feldman Mayor pro tem Feldman announced that a long-time Evanston resident, and a resident of the Ninth Ward, Rosemary Zwick, had passed away the previous Friday. He said that she was a woman of great artistic ability, active in school and political activities and represented what was best about Evanston. He offered his condolences to her husband, Sidney, who was present, and her family. He noted that there will be a memorial service on Wednesday, at 7:00 P.M. in the Unitarian Church. Mayor pro tem Feldman announced that the Public Hearing on the 19954996 Budget was open. . William Parks, 1.626 Washington, said that the reduction in City funding from $47,000 to $30,000 would have a serious impact on the Community Defender. He realized that there was a great deal of competition for City money, but thought that their track record merited Council's ongoing support. He noted that 87 % of their budget is for staff and a reduction of $17,000 will result in a staff reduction. He noted that the two lawyers make less than entry level salaries at a law firm. He said that for this money, the City is getting services that can't be matched or duplicated anywhere. He reported that 42 % of the budget for the agency comes from CDBG funds and 25 % comes from fund raising. He noted that the agency was created in 1972, and it hired its first public defender for $25,000. Its current allocation for that position is $30,000. He understood the need for the agency to do fiord raising, but felt that if it did not get its core funding, it money would not prevent them from having to reduce staff. He discussed the services provided by the agency and said that the $17,000 was a very small part of the City budget, but a very large part of the Community Defender's Budget. 2 February 6, 1995 Roger Pascal, a long-time resident of Evanston and a Board Member of the Community Defender, said that approximately fifteen years ago he had been appointed to represent a woman who had brought a suit against the Cook County Defender's office because of the terrible job they had done representing her and she was a victim of crime. Cook County paid her substantial damages and things changed in the Cook County Defender's office after that. Mr. Pascal pointed out that even today the Cook County Defender does not provide vertical representation for clients - from beginning to end of their case. The Evanston Community Defender provides representation through every phase of a client's case and also provides a social worker. The program is unique, cheap, tiny and effective. He noted that fund raising is always a drain on the staff of an agency and said it is an enormous drain on this office because it has such a small staff. He described the efforts he and other board members were making to raise funds from fellow Evanston lawyers, most of whom work in the Loop. He reported that they are developing a good donor base, but noted that having to absorb this cut would be disastrous at this time. He pointed out that the attorneys, who were paid practically subsistence wages, worked almost exclusively with young offenders. More than half of their clients were under 17. He said that this is a one -of -a -kind agency that is trying to get its clients out of the criminal justice cycle. Dick Halleck. a juvenile probation officer for twenty-six years, said that he has worked closely with the Community Defenders office for many years. He said that most of his clients are indigent and need representation. He has recommended the Community Defender's office to students who need representation at a School Board Expulsion Hearing, the Department of Children and Family Services and the Governor's Youth Service Commission that places kids out of state. He said that both Mr. Roy and his former social worker would speak on behalf of the kids and even transport them to the hearings. He reported that he had referred thousands of clients to the Community Defender. He said if it were not for the staff of this office, there would be many more Evanston kids in detention centers around the state. He said that it was imperative for Council to consider the importance of this agency to Evanston youth. Janice Brown, 1911 Asbury Avenue, described problems she has had over the years with her very gifted and athletic son who was diagnosed as having Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder when he was eleven. She said that none of the treatment he received had any lasting effect. He eventually ended up becoming involved with the police and, through recommendation of his probation officer, the Community Defender. The Community Defender's office provided guidance for both the child and his parents. When a decision was made that he would be better of at a residential treatment center out of state, it represented him in front of the Governor's Youth Services Commission. She noted that Mr. Roy started a support group for mothers whose children had the same disorder as her son. She said that the staff saw her son as a boy not a delinquent, and saw the struggle, not the failure of his parents. She noted that they could not afford a private attorney, but she doubted that she would have received any more dedicated representation anywhere else. She hoped that it would be there for others who need it: Don Paull, 2940 W. Gregory, Chicago, said that he was a clinical psychologist, an attorney, and was employed by the Public Defender's office from 19744990, the last ten years as head of the Mental Health Law Unit. He reported that he had been an observer and admirer of the Robert Roy's work for many years. He said that the work done by the Community Defender's office does not duplicate the Cook County Defenders office. He explained that the Public Defender's office uses juvenile court as an entry level position and those attorneys who are more experienced go on to more "plum assignments" such as preliminary hearings and felony convictions. The people with the most trial experience are the most remote from juvenile court. An attorney is only assigned when a case is pending and then when the criminal part is over, their representation ceases. He said that the Community Defender does much more and provides a holistic approach to its clients. He said that for $17,000, Council is buying an enormous amount of service that *is not duplicated anywhere else. Robert Rov, Director of the Community Defender's office, thanked Council for their time and previous support. He said that it is because of Council's input that the program has the priorities that it has today. He said that at their direction the agency only serves clients under 21. He noted that it is community -based and available for those who want to come in for advice and information. He said that they had tried to develop a program that was responsive to the needs of the community and was within the priorities of the City. He distributed a folder to each member of Council containing an agency overview and statement of purpose, sample case histories (with no names), February 6, 1995 D a paper addressing the duplication of service issue, a letter from the Chief Judge of the Second Municipal District, a letter of understanding signed by Superintendent Alson regarding the provision of services to ETHS and a list of eligibility criteria He thanked the Council for their past support and expressed the hope that it would continue in the future. Mayor pro tern Feldman asked if there was anyone who wished to speak at the Public Hearing, but had not signed UP. Mayor pro tern Feldman said that Council had just heard six people address a $17,000 allocation out of a $50 million budget. Since there was no one else to address the rest of that budget, something told him that the City must be doing something right to get acquiescence from citizens such as we have in Evanston. Alderman Newman said that there will be a motion made to restore this funding. Mayor pro tern Feldman said that he had requested a budget memo on the impact on the budget of funding this allocation from an alternative source. City Manager Anderson said that he expected that memo would be ready for the meeting on this coming Saturday. Alderman Drummer pointed out that this allocation is still being considered in committee and people could still lobby on the committee level to overturn this budget cut. City Manager Anderson reminded Council that all final action on the budget would take place on February 27. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor pro tem Feldman asked for a motion to adjourn. The Council so moved and adjourned at 8:19 P.M. KIRSTEN F. DAVIS CITY CLERK 1