Here's a recap of live coverage of this evening's Evanston City Council Administration and Public Works Committee meeting.
Information on tonight's agenda items can be found online.
The meeting was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Meeting called to order at 6:07 p.m.
Alderman Burrus chairs. Aldermen Braithwaite, Holmes, Grover and Rainey also present.
Minutes approved.
Payroll approved.
Bills approved.
A 3.1 – $60K contract for tires with Wentworth Tire Service of Bensenville. Approved.
A 3.2 – $15,779 contract to purchase Nissan Altima for the youth engagement division. Approved.
A 3.3 – $484K contracts for police and fire vehicles and a mower purchase. Approved.
A 3.4 – $65K contract with Ozinga Ready Mix for concrete. Approved.
A 3.5 – $3.5 million contract with A Lamp Cocrete for water main replacement and street resurfacing. Approved.
A 4 – $81K contract with Kenny Construction for cured-in-place pipe lining. Approved.
A 5 – 2015 Special Events Calendar. Approved.
A 6 – Collective bargaining agreement with FOP sergeants. Approved.
A 7 – Resolution distributing a $905K surplus form the Southwest TIF District. Approved.
A 8 – Licoln Street resurfacing project agreement with Northwestern University. City cost capped at $651K. Approved.
A 9 – Ordinance imposing 6 percent tax on cultivation of medical marijuana. Approved for introduction.
Alderman Peter Braithwaite, 2nd Ward, asks whether funds could be designated for job development. City attorney, Grant Farrar, says that's unclear. Needs further research. City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz says could make that sort of adjustment later, recommends approving the ordinance tonight.
Approved.
A 10 – Authorizing city manager to negotiate sale of city-owned real property at 1821 Ridge Avenue. Approved.
A 11 – Public hearing proposing establishment of a special services area for Chicago/Main and Chicago/Dempster shopping districts. Approved. Related story,
A 12 – Concealed firearm regulations in multi-family residences in Evanston. (Staff recommends taking no action given the lack of specificity about the issue in state law.) Committee votes to accept and file the report.
A 13 – Amending firearm regulations to set 250 foot distance from residences and schools. Related stories.
Public comment
Four speakers urge increasing the buffer zone … closer to 500 feet.
— end of public comment
Corporation Counsel Grant Farrar says it's been 18 months since state statutes were changed. Says need to make city ordinances comply quickly, given continuing inquiries about it.
In response to a question from Alderman Grover, Farrar says building regulations and zoning code provisions would deal with construction requirements for such a facility.
Rainey says wants to amend building code to provide regulation of such structures.
Farrar says there are 20 gun ranges in Chicago area — including one in Des Plaines, two in Morton Grove. So there may not be the economic interest in establishing one here.
Farrar says Chicago has a whole lot more available land — to justify its 500 foot distance requirement. Says can't end up with what becomes a de facto prohibition.
Grover says she'd like a distance greater tha 250.
Rainey moves to amend the distance to 350 feet. Braithwaite seconds.
Approved at that 350 foot number.
APW1 – Baker Park Renovation project. Presentation here.
Alderman Melissa Wynne, 3rd Ward, says there were a lot of strong opinions about the plans. Praises staff for helping bring consensus on the project.
Meeting adjourned at 7:04 p.m.