Here’s a recap of our live coverage of this evening’s Evanston City Council meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m.
A packet with information on tonight’s agenda items is available online.
Meeting called to order at 7:08 p.m.
Mayor’s announcements
Mayor Steve Hagerty notes that snow’s falling. Six to eight inches expected. Help out neighbors with shoveling.
Vaccinations. More info. Says have a lot more people eligble for vaccinations than have vaccines available. Says gave out 700+ shots today. But had over 4K people seek the shots.
Says now appears some vaccines are being released to some pharmacies and health providers, like NorthShore University HealthSystem. But says NorthShore doesn’t have any vaccine right now.
Says OK to sign up on multiple lists — as long as its a reputable, trusted partner. Not aware of any instances of fraud or scams here (so far).
Will have another vaccine event for people 80+ later this week.
Says health department is working on a mobile vaccine solution for home-bound seniors.
Public Comment
Seven speakers tonight. Public comment ends at 7:50 p.m.
SP1 – Committing to funding of general fund reserves by 2025
Alderman Judy Fiske, 1st Ward, asks city manager to explain why the measure is important.
City Manager Erika Storlie says Council has adopted 16.6% reserves target — says that’s a government accounting board standard.
Says were moving toward it before the pandemic hit.
Hagerty says its prudent to have a rainy day fund.
Says it’s not a commitment to raise taxes. Will need to match revenues to expenses.
Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, says the Council doesn’t have the ability to fill the promise — hasn’t happened in the past.
Says can only make “best effort” to do it — but won’t raise taxes to do it — or cut important services to do it.
Proposes amendment to that effect — that won’t raise taxes to increase the fund balance.
Fails for lack of a second.
(And just as the vote on the main motion was about to be taken, the video feed of the meeting was lost at about 8:03 p.m.)
(Luke Stowe, the city’s interim administrative services manager, says the outage was caused by a momentary power failure at the Civic Center. Staff is working to bring the feed back up as of 8:08 p.m.)
(Meeting was paused during the outage and is back in session at 8:13 p.m.)
Mayor says the SP1 resolution passed on a 5-4 vote during the power outage.
Consent agenda
Item removed from consent agenda: A6.
Consent agenda approved 9-0.
A6 – Two-year contract extension with Phoenix Security
Alderman Tom Suffredin, 6th Ward, says city needs a more unified and cohesive plan for dealing with homeless people in the parking garage overnight.
Alderman Peter Braithwaite, 2nd Ward, says city does partner with outside agencies regarding homeless issues. Also says proposed security at Civic Center is needed.
Alderman Judy Fiske, 1st Ward, says a task force has been working on the homeless issue for months. It’s a team effort and the contract, she says, is the right way to move ahead.
Approved 8-1. Suffredin votes no.
Call of the wards
Suffedin — join 6th and 7th Ward meeting on Thursday… 7 p.m.
Revelle — says meeting will hear from Dino Robinson of Shorefront regarding black history in Evanston and Alderman Rue Simmons regarding reparations program.
Braithwaite — Feb. 11 2nd Ward meeting … to discuss 2030 Greenwood development
Wynne — town hall meeting 7 p.m. Thursday.
Meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m.