Here’s a recap of our live coverage of Monday evening’s meeting of the Evanston City Council 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.
@ 5:10 p.m. — No quorum for the meeting yet.
Committee gets a quorum at 5:12 p.m.
Chair Clare Kelly (1st) is leading the meeting remotely
Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd), Bobby Burns (5th) and Devon Reid are present. Ald. Jonathan Niewusma (4th) is absent.
Consent agenda
Consists of items A1 through A10. Item removed: A3.
Consent agenda, except A3, approved
A3 – Cradle to Career annual payment of $50K
Kelly says she wants an annual report on performance. Calls for holding it.
Audrey Thompson, parks and recreation director, says she’s OK with the hold. But says it’s a payment for 2022, might cause an accounting issue if held until January.
Harris says she’s comfortable with the report from Cradle to Career received a month ago.
Kelly says she’ll withdraw her request for a hold.
Thompson says hopes to have a report by Friday.
Approved 4-0.
A11 – Telecommunicator task force intergovernmental agreement
Chris Voss of city staff says its a good opportunity for telecommunicators to help other agencies out in time of need — and receive similar aid.
Approved on voice vote.
A12 – State highway construction authorization
Committee has lost quorum after Reid leaves the room. He then returns.
Approved on voice vote.
A13 – Moran center agreement for certificate of rehabilitation program
Patrick Keenan-Devlin says the organization doesn’t track recidivism rates — but says anecdotally has heard of four who were again involved with the court system. Says national studies indicate that those who seek rehabilitation are very unlikely to re-offend.
Approved on voice vote
A14 – MWRD agreement for green infrastructure program
Dave Stoneback, deputy city manager, says grant would help pay for paver blocks in parking lane on Main Street repaving project.
Approved on voice vote.
A15 – Agreement with U of I for racial equity committee
This is an internal city staff committee, Reid says. Says it’s done wonderful work.
Stoneback says it’s intended to be the final year of a three year contract — with staff continuing the project starting in 2024.
Approved on voice vote.
A16 – A20 – Vacating alley and selling it to adjoining property owners
This involves the north-south alley east of Central Park Avenue and south of Grant Street.
Approved on voice vote.
D1 – Discussion of crosswalk concerns
Edgar Cano, public works director, says public is increasingly asking for crosswalk upgrades. Says existing process for such upgrades was developed a decade ago. Suggests it needs revision. Plans to come back in March 2023 with updated proposal. (More detail in the meeting packet.)
City now has 12 crosswalks with blinking LEDs and in-street signs, seven with just the blinking LED signs, 6 with flags and in-street signs, 5 with just flags, and 26 with just pavement markings.
(That doesn’t include intersections with stop signs or stop lights.)
Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Planning and Development Committee to start at 6 p.m., Reid says.
But that can’t actually happen — because the posted agenda set the meeting start time for 6:15 p.m., and it would violate the open meetings act to start earlier.