Here’s a recap of our live coverage of Monday’s Evanston City Council meeting.
The meeting was scheduled to start at 6 p.m., but because the A&PW Committee meeting ran long, the Council meeting is now scheduled to start at 6:35 p.m.
(There was no Planning and Development Committee meeting this week.)
A packet with information on tonight’s agenda items is available online.
Meeting called to order at 6:42 p.m.
Mayor’s announcements
Evanston Own It group makes $8,000 contribution to Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program and $1,000 to the police department’s Officer and a Gentleman Program.
Proclamation honoring 100th anniversary of the Evanston League of Women Voters.
HS1 – Honorary street name sign for William “Bill” Logan Jr.
Logan is a former Evanston Police chief and community activist, now nearing his 90th birthday.
Logan’s son Gilo announces plans for a fundraiser to create a $1 million scholarship fund in his name.
Chief Logan says, “My heart is filled with joy to be honored like this by my community.”
Following public comment, the Council goes into executive session at 7:30 p.m. to discuss personnel and the purchase or sale or real property.
Rest of tonight’s agenda to be taken up following the executive session.
Council emerges from executive session at 9:50 p.m.
SP1 – TIF agreement among city, D65 and D202
Approved 8-0. Related story.
SP2 – ARPA funds for Living Room for persons in mental health crisis
Ald. Peter Braithwaite (2nd) asks whether will be priority for Evanston residents and how will behavior be managed outside the facility.
Ann Raney of Turning Point says have not had issues with facility in Skokie. Says it’s a drop in center and not a residential facility. Doesn’t anticipate problems.
Says program will be designed with community input so people know where to come.
Says more Evanston residents have used the Skokie living room than Skokie residents.
Braithwaite says Evanston tends to attract people from Chicago who like to use Evanston resources.
Ald. Devon Reid (8th) says he strongly supports the program, which will be located in the 8th Ward (in a house on the edge of the St. Francis Hospital campus).
Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) asks about long-term funding?
Raney says hopes to be able to get funding from other providers. May be able to get state funding starting in 2023. State now provides funding for the facility in Skokie.
Interim City Manager Kelley Gandurski says she believes that this will be a major cost saving for area hospitals and hopes they will contribute to funding.
Mayor Daniel Biss says there may also be potential for funding from Cook County.
Approved 8-0. (Ald. Eleanor Revelle is absent tonight.)
Consent agenda
Off consent: A11, A18, A21, P2.
Except for those items, consent agenda is approved.
A11 – Purchase of 28 parking pay stations
Mike Rivera, parking division manager, says 13 are new along the lakefront. The rest will replace single-space meters along Chicago Avenue and Main Street.
Ald. Devon Reid (8th) suggests the city should start charging Evanston residents for parking along the lakefront to make up for the revenue lost from making beach access free for residents. (Currently city residents can park along the beach for free if they pay the wheel tax.)
Purchase approved.
A18 – Special assessment for alley paving
On the block where Ald. Tom Suffredin (6th) lives. He abstains. Approved 7-0-1
A21 – Lobbyist services with Drexwood Partners LLC
Braithwaite says its not clear what the city is getting from this contract.
Mayor Biss says at this point the city is leaving money on the table in terms of possible state aid — says need this position.
Approved 5-3. Kelly, Braithwaite and Reid vote no.
P2 – Parking variance for Varsity Theater development
Kelly requests that the measure be tabled until April 25 meeting to address issues around loading zone and parking requirements.
Motion to table approved 8-0.
Call of the wards
Burns … 5th Ward meeting Thursday 7 p.m. virtual.
Reid … 8th Ward meeting Thursday 6 p.m. on Google Meet. Says city should create a fund to help folks from Ukraine and other trouble spots relocate to Evanston, perhaps funded at a level of $75K. Moves that as a special order of business on April 25 agenda. Geracaris seconds. Motion fails on 3-4 vote. (Kelly, Braithwaite, Wynne and Nieuwsma vote no.
Nieuwsma … 4th Ward meeting tentatively Wednesday, April 13.
Meeting adjourned at 10:58 p.m.