Here’s a recap of our live coverage of the Monday evening meeting of the Evanston City Council’s Administration and Public Works Committee.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
A packet with information on the agenda items is available online.
Meeting called to order at 5:07 p.m. Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) chairs.
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) and Ald. Devon Reid (8th) also present.
Minutes approved.
Consent agenda
Removed from consent: A5, A8, A9, A10.
Remainder of consent agenda approved.
A5 – Tennis court resurfacing contract
Kelly says she’s concerned that there was only one bid.
Interim Deputy City Manager Dave Stoneback says the project was bid once before and received no bids that time.
He says the work is relatively difficult compared to street repaving, so it doesn’t draw a lot of interest from contractors. Courts are not in good condition, Stoneback says, and need to be resurfaced.
Says half of the courts at each site will get markings for pickleball as part of the project.
Approved 4-0.
A8 – Contract for community engagement for programming
… at Gibbs Morrison and Fleetwood Jourdain. (Tabled until discussion of A15.)
A9 – Vehicle purchase for workforce development/lead service line replacement program, etc.
Sean Ciolek, fleet manager, says these are heavy-duty construction equipment — doesn’t believe the technology is quite ready for electric versions of these vehicles — risk would negatively impact operations.
Stoneback says the city also doesn’t have the charging stations and mechanics trained to service the vehicles. Those issues, he says are being worked on as part of a recently approved consulting study.
Approved 4-0.
A10 – Contract for electric vehicle charging station operation
Nieuwsma says the city doesn’t now charge for electric vehicle charging (although people have to pay for the parking space). Says as electric vehicles become increasingly popular city should stop giving away electricity — though its not the time to do that yet.
Reid asks whether staff has info on cost of providing
Acting Administrative Services Director Mike Rivera says the city is spending about $6K a year on electricity for the charging stations now.
Approved 4-0.
A14 – IDOT agreement for Ridge Avenue construction engineering services
Approved 4-0.
A8 – (back off the table)
Burns says this proposal (A8) may duplicate A15.
Interim Corporation Counsel Derke Price says the school district wants to run a million miles an hour on this — says the city contract needs to tie Cordogan Clark to be responsive to the city’s needs. Suggests approving both contracts as is.
Burns says he’s concerned about paying twice for the same work. After discussion concludes it’s OK to go forward as proposed.
Stoneback says should be able to reduce Cordogan’s involvement in the community meetings — and aren’t locked into the price in their proposal.
A15 – MOU with D65 re 5th Ward school and Fleetwood-Jourdain center
Niewusma says this is a great idea — collaboration between the city and the school districts benefits the whole community. Wants to make sure that Family Focus is also part of the discussion as well.
A8 & A15 approved unanimously.
A16 – Amendment to parking lease agreement with 1571 Maple Ave.
Approved 4-0.
A17 – Extended liquor service hours at early-start NU football games.
Would start at 9 a.m. rather than 10 a.m. Ald. Eleanor Revelle (7th) says this has been approved in prior years.
Approved 4-0.
A 18 – Private sewer repair costs
City would cover repairs in excess of $15K.
Reid proposes amendment to “equity lens” the program so only households making less than $200K would qualify. Says city should be able to take on the obligation.
Kelly says should apply to the person who raised the issue several months ago.
Price says city has reasonable discretion to decide when the program should be affected.
Stoneback suggests tying the income level to inflation. Says the concept could potentially cost the city $50 million over time — because all sewer lines will eventually fail.
Burns suggests program might involve a loan rather than a grant, at least in part.
Stoneback says program should be limited to emergency situations where a sewer line has totally failed and sewage is backing up into the house.
Stoneback says the large majority of communities checked do not offer this sort of coverage.
Nieuwsma says he’s very reluctant to open up financial exposure for the city when its unknown what the price tag could be. Says it’s not financially prudent to approve the proposal.
Kelly says she likes the proposal.
Proposal is tabled until next committee meeting on a 3-1 vote. Nieuwsma voted no.
A19 – Revisions to green building ordinance
Angel Schnur of city property standards staff says smaller buildings were not included in the ordinance because of the high cost of compliance for them.
Approved 4-0.
A20 – Adding bird friendly building design to city code
Approved 4-0.
D1 – Juneteenth as a paid city holiday
Stoneback says the State of Illinois doesn’t make it a paid holiday for state workers if the 19th falls on a Saturday or Sunday.
Nieuwsma says city should make the following Monday a day off in that case.
No formal vote, because its a discussion item, but direction to city manager is to prepare an ordinance to that effect.
Meeting adjourned at 6:40 p.m.
Planning and Development Committee meeting to start at 6:45 p.m.