Here’s a recap of our live coverage of this evening’s Evanston City Council Administration and Public Works Committee meeting.
A packet with information on tonight’s agenda items is available online.
The committee is scheduled to consider a proposal for a city subsidy to a proposed development at Chicago Avenue and Howard Street, an increase in parking meter fines and a proposed sculpture at the Green Bay, Emerson, Ridge intersection.
Meeting called to order at 6:11 p.m.
Alderman Peter Braithwaite, 2nd Ward, is chairing the meeting.
Minutes approved.
Payroll and bills approved.
A 3.1 – Cisco SmartNet software support contract. Approved.
A 3.2 – Football parking at golf course amendment. Approved.
A 3.3 – Water plant reliabilty improvement project change order. Approved.
A 3.4 – Alley and street improvements contract. Approved.
A 3.5 – Parking garage concrete restoration contract. Approved.
A 3.6 – Sidewalk Cafe for Furious Spoon at 1700 Maple. Approved.
A 3.7 – Sculpture at Green Bay, Emerson, Ridge intersection.
A rendering of the sculpture.
Alderman Tom Suffredin, 6th Ward, asks if there would be any extra cost if the installation was postponed.
Jennifer Lasik, arts coordinator, says there’s no extra cost, but money has been set aside for this project this year.
Alderman Cicely Fleming, 9th Ward, asks about risk of getting graffiti on it.
Dino Robinson of the Arts Council, says haven’t seen any increase in graffiti on public art.
Alderman Peter Braithwaite,2nd Ward, says sculpture will look nice but the viaduct “looks like crap.” What to do about that.
Robinson says the railroad controls the viaduct.
Dave Stoneback, public works director, says city has been talking to the railroad and he thinks they’re close to working out an agreement that would let the city paint the viaduct — at the city’s cost. Hadn’t been able to get that permission in the past. Hope will be able to paint other viaducts in town as well.
Alderman Robin Rue Simmons, 5th Ward, says thinks the art will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.
Approved 4-1. Suffredin votes no.
A 4 – Creating Robert Crown Center maintenance fund. Approved.
Assistant City Manager Marty Lyons says the fund would be managed by the city. Says goal is to make sure the center will last. Major donors have been concerned about that. Says at some future point will need to issue bonds again, after the bonds to be issued for construction have been retired.
Approved.
A 5 – Agreement with Moran Center for Certificate of Rehabilitation Program. Approved.
A 6 – TIF forgivable construction loan and development agreement with Harrington Brown LLC for 100-128 Chicago Ave. development.
100-128 Chicago Ave. rendering.
Sue Calder complains that about one third of the project cost will come from city funds and says timing is being done for the convenience of the developer
Says project hasn’t been reviewed by the Housing and Homelessness Commission. Also says all the units would be at 80 percent of area median income, when the city’s inclusionary housing ordinance calls for having some at 50 percent and 60 percent of AMI.
Developer David Brown says changes include:
- Initial proposal was for the city to provide the parking lot for $1. Now is to be purchased at market value, minus the cost of environmental cleanup.
- Had proposed $800,000 from the Economic Development Fund. Now that’s off the table.
- But now proposing $1 million from affordable housing fund to add four additional affordable housing units, beyond the five required by the inclusionary housing ordinance.
- Says looked at doing a higher density project, but that turned out to not be economically feasible.
- Says now asking $500K less in municipal assistance than did
- Project cost is $7.9 million. Main source of municipal funding is $1.9 million through the TIF. Were asked to add four more affordable units for the additional $1 million in affordable housing funds. Says doesn’t think it’s accurate to view the $1 million as a subsidy to the project — but instead accommodate the goals of the affordable housing fund.
Fleming asks if would move forward with the project without the additional four affordable units?
Brown says could look at that. Says city seems to be having a challenge finding units for the residents and thinks it’s a good part of the proposal.
Rainey says has been controversy about developers NOT putting affordable units in their building. By accepting the city offer to put four additional units … has to do five on own. If only had 20 total units would only have needed four units.
Says would be silly for any future developer to put affordable units in your building — now have to go to housing and homelessness committee to get reviewed — think that’s interesting. Says any developer who’s not doing it on site should have to go to that committee.
Rainey says it’s really unfortunate — says hearing a tension between the affordable housing people who want to help the people who have no money. Says there are all sorts of people who need affordable housing. Says people of various family sizes and income levels need affordable housing.
Says 831 Emerson is required to pay $2.4 million into the affordable housing fund. This project will be drawing some money from that.
Says but for the TIF this building would never be built.
Says the TIF money can only be used within the TIF district — Ridge and Howard to Chicago and Howard. Says there’s no other area in the district that needs that money at this time.
Says a few weeks ago the city committed over $500,000 to a non-profit for just two units. Says not for profits all across the country are dependent on continuing subsidies from goverment to keep them operating.
Says site is a horrible mess now.
Braithwaite says he was concerned about the size of the subsidy when the project came before the EDC.
Brown says its important to show that mixed affordable and market rate housing project can really work.
Also says the Urban Grange project will be a great asset.
Assistant City Manager Marty Lyons says if they didn’t do the units on site, then they’d have to do a $400,000 contribution to the fund.
Says price tag is always somewhere around $250,000 per unit to actually get an affordable housing development built
Sufredin says he’s going to vote no.
Rue Simmons says he’s proposing what the city needs. Says it’s a brilliant plan, she’s excited, especially about the collaboration with the gardens. But it seems unfair to put your schedule in our laps for the urgency to make a decision.
Brown says has the 128-130 property under contract in January, have extended it one time, but can’t extend it any further.
Rue Simmons should have brought it to economic development committee sooner.
Says have other opportuntiies to support affordable housing initiatives. Suggest should look at other options for spending the money.
Rainey says that if the development is sold to anyone other than an affiliated entity the loan from the TIF would have to be immediately paid back.
Fleming says talked earlier in the year about what to do with the affordable housing fund. Says this would get us into action — but don’t have a lot of time to discuss it. Gives a lot to digest. A lot of money to give and only a short period of time. Think have to be more deliberate about how we’re utilizing taxpayer money.
Brown says we’re hopeful we can make the numbers work. Says project has a wonderful social enterprise that would be a tremendous asset to the city and also providing affordable housing. Have given it the best shot.
Rainey says will never see another project like this if you miss out on it.
Rue Simmons says doesn’t want to lose it either.
Vote to send to council is 4-1 with Suffredin voting no.
A 7 – Authorizing city manager to negotiate with Harrington Brown for sale of city-owned property at 100 Chicago Ave.
Approved 4-1. Suffredin votes no.
A 8 – Parking meter violation fine increase (from $10 to $20)
Fails for lack of a second. And removed from agenda.
A 9 – Increase fine for street cleaning parking violations.
Fails for lack of a second. And removed from agenda.
A 10 – Resident parking only districts (Lake Shore Boulevard.)
Approved for introduction.
A 11 – Resident parking only districts (Harrison and Prairie)
Approved for introduction.
A 12 – Resident parking only districts (Prairie and Central)
Approved for introduction.
A 13 – Change to parking book ordinance (reduce from 5 to 3 tickets to be boot-eligible)
Fails for lack of a second. And removed from agenda.
Rainey suggests “amnesty” program. Says got feedback from staff that did it once before and didn’t work very well. But says it wasn’t well designed. Asks to discuss at next meeting an amnesty program. Says have $2 million to $5 million owed in outstanding parking fines.
Braithwaite says he thinks that excellent.
Says don’t want to nickle and dime residents as are dealing with the budget problem.
APW 1 – Municipal soid waste franchise.
Groot representative says each truck now has four cameras.
At some point the garbage man can only do so much
more service means for cost for the customer
May need help from the city … to fine the customer ?
Post pictures on acocunt … techonolyg now even in the garbage buisness is getting really advance
Says are now sending photos of problem spots to city staff in monthly reports.
APW 3 – Ex-offender hiring policy
Dale Griffin, member of Unitarian Church prison ministry group, says U.s. has 5 percent of the world’s population and 20 percent of its prisoners.
Says group is working toward restorative justice.
Says increasing jobs reduces violence and recidivism
Ted Smuckler, manager of organizing for Open Communities, says people age out of crime. Says a 10-year look-back period is too long.
Erika Storlie, deputy city manager, says city doesn’t have a formalized re-entry program for ex-offenders reentering the community… that would provide training, etc.
Says could have hiring reviews by a special committee composed of the city manager and others.
Fleming don’t need to hire everyone, but do need to provide second chances. Says would like to see more detail about what the case-by-case review would be.
HR manager Jennifer Lin says before 2015 didn’t even have a fingerprinting policy, Since then only one or two people have been disqualified — because they’d just been released one or two weeks ago — didn’t have any background on them. Also one person who’d had a serious felony conviction.
Says often find people who had conviction from a long time ago who have been doing well since — those are pretty easy to decide to hire.
Rue Simmons says wants to applaud staff for commitment to second chances.
But says may have been too liberal in other cases.
City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz suggests could come back with update on fourth Monday of September.
APW 2 – Role of residency in city employment
Bobkiewicz says city has been in the 20 to 25 percent range of residents among city employees. Says he’s the only employee who’s required to live here.
Says some other commnities in area have had some trouble implementing that for all employees.
Fleming suggests she’s primarily interested in entry level posiitons for recent high school grads.
Bobkiewicz says the city has an apprentice program in public works department, says just signed off on 4 or 5 people who were Evanston residents.
City Attorney Grant Farrar says a requirement would require “further study” and would also have collective bargaining implications.
Braithwaite says have started doing recruiting for Fire and Police departments — could do that more broadly.
Fleming says Chicago is doing local hiring for almost all jobs.
Lin says preference points are given to police and fire entry-level residents but not others. Says other jobs aren’t filled on a point basis, but could be options for giving other incentives.
Meeting adjourned at 8:21 p.m.
No Planning and Development meeting tonight.
City Council meeting to begin at 8:30 p.m.