Here’s a recap of our live coverage of this evening’s meeting of the Evanston City Council Administration and Public Works Committee.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:45 p.m.
A packet with information on tonight’s agenda items is available online.
Meeting called to order at 5:51 p.m.
Minutes approved. Payroll approved. Bills approved with a few minor changes.
MWH Americas contract for Water Distribution Modeling $35K/yr for 3 years. Approved
Palatine Oil Company contract ($60K) for bulk oil, antifreeze and lubricants. Approved.
Vehicle purchases from Currie Motors ($121K) and Russo’s Power Equipment ($23K). Approved.
New finanical, human resources and payroll softward system from New World Systems for $1.04 million.
Vendor says it has about 60 customers in Illinois.
In response to question from Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, says has converted at least four communities from Evanston’s existing JD Edwards system.
Vendor says it’s completely focused on local governments, versus JD Edwards which mostly works with commercial businesses.
Vendor provides brief demonstration of the system, which it says it tightly integrated with Microsoft office programs.
Approved.
Insurance contracts. Approved.
Printing contract for recreation guides to Action Printing $121K.
Alderman Rainey says one vendor listed as not responding to the bid request said they never received it. Alderman Peter Braithwaite, 2nd Ward, says he contacted another vendor who says they did receive the bid packet and chose not to bid.
Action deferred to full City Council meeting — awaiting more info about who got bid packets.
Signal control box purchase. Approved.
Security cameras for ETHS area. Approved.
Water sales engineering services change order. Approved.
Contract agreement with police officers union. Approved.
Y.O.U. grant agreement. Approved.
Chlorine system upgrade purchasing procedure. Approved.
Chicago-Main TIF … three items. Approved 4-1. Burrus votes no.
Ordinance providing penalties for defacing or removing public art murals
Burrus asks why limited to murals. Corporation Counsel Grant Farrar says ordinance was in response to incident involving a mural. Says could be redrafted to expand to other types of public art.
Farrar says defacement, disorderly conduct and similar statutes might already apply to murals and other forms of public art.
Alderman Delores Holmes, 5th Ward, says should cover everything.
City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz says many of the murals are not on public property, whereas other pubic art tends to be on public property — giving the city additional grounds for taking legal action.
Committee decides to have the staff draft a broader ordinance. No action on existing draft ordinance tonight.
Ten general obligation bond property tax abatement ordinances. All approved.
Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Planning and Development Committee meeting to start at 7:15 p.m.