Here’s a recap of our live coverage of Monday night’s Evanston City Council meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m.
A packet with information on the agenda items is available online.
Meeting called to order at 5:35 p.m.
Wynne absent. Burns to arrive about 6:15 p.m. Geracaris participating remotely.
Others present.
City Manager Luke Stowe comments on the 2014-2024 Wesley apartments situation — details a variety of forms of financial assistance being offered.
Ald. Devon Reid (8th) says the city’s offer is “extremely gracious.” Says city was on schedule with inspections and has done its job.
Says he’s concerned it may set a precedent that the city won’t be able to live up to in the future.
Says the housing provide failed at on their side to live up to their responsibilities.
Public Comment
30 people. 90 seconds each to fit in 45 minutes. Starts at 5:45 p.m.
Public comment ends at 6:19 p.m.
Special orders of business
(Meeting is disrupted for a few minutes by speakers demanding a cease fire in Palestine.)
SP1 – Update on Evanston 2045
Community Development Director Sarah Flax does a presentation.
Says city is getting “great engagement” from the community. More at EnvisionEvanston2045.com.
Says city has gotten more than 740 survey responses, or not quite 1% of the population.
Ald. Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) says he’s concerned about low participation rate by minority groups, especially non-English speakers.
Flax says this plan — unlike earlier ones — will address more than just land use. Will look more at inequities, at transportation issues, parks, housing, every aspect of lives in Evanston.
Mayor says he had a good experience hosting a “meeting in a box” at his house last Friday. Recommends other people should do the same.
[Ald. Burns arrives.]
SP2- $900K of ARPA funding for 2nd round of guaranteed income
Reid says he has some concerns about the program but plans to vote forward. Suggests a guaranteed jobs program would be more useful, but would need to come from the federal level. But thinks guaranteed income “needs to be part of the plan.”
Reid asks why a census tract in his ward wasn’t included in the program. (It instead focuses on tract 8092 in the 5th Ward.)
City staffer says 8092 has the much lower median household income.
In response to a question from Nieuwsma, is told that there’s about $173K left of the original ARPA allocation, plus about $500K in interest on the original allocation.
Approved 8-0.
SP3 – Discussion regarding replacement of Fire Truck T-22
Fire Chief Paul Polep made a presentation.
Says trucks are “super, super important” to fire operations.
Chief says fire engines that go for about $800K, an electric version of that costs about $2.1M. Doesn’t know whether fire trucks are even available yet in an electric version.
Reid says he supports purchasing the truck, to protect the life and safety of residents. The $2.3M investment is well worth it for that alone, he says.
City manager says could use general fund reserves or bond out. Normally would take to Finance and Budget Committee, but due to the urgency of the situation, is bringing it to the council directly.
Hitesh Desai, CFO, says could take money from reserves, but those are drying up fast.
Says might want to delay bond sale a bit, if Federal Reserve lowers interest rates in June.
Says some funding could come from the Foreign Fire Insurance Board.
Desai says likely would use reserves now and then repay the reserves from a bond issue later in the year
Sales rep from the dealer says could get an $80K to $100K discount on the purchase price for payment immediately, or just do a purchase order now and pay the full amount on delivery.
A $100K discount would amount to a 4.3% discount. Desai says city is earning 5.5% on savings now.
Nieuwsma moves to refer discussion to the Finance and Budget Committee for further discussion.
Kelly says the F&B committee should review whether should pay now, or later for the new truck.
Biss says think should buy it, but doesn’t see any advantage to paying it now. Best to try to build it into the 2025 budget. Asks how do know are getting the best possible deal?
Truck has to be 11-foot-1 tall, less than 44-feet in length, Polep says.
Referral to Finance and Budget Committee is approved 8-0.
Consent agenda
Off consent: A7, A12-14, HS1, R1.
Rest of consent agenda items are approved 8-0.
A7 – Bulk purchase of up to $80K in leaf blowers, etc.
Geracaris proposes amendment.
Says registration has created a bottleneck for landscapers to get registered.
Says still has concerns that with first-come-first-serve grant process — may have some people lagging behind. Proposes transfer of $100K from reserves for future bulk purchases of the equipment so all local landscapers can be served.
Reid seconds.
Suffredin says residents just want it to be quiet. Contractors want help with the cost. Paying for enforcement doesn’t seem to make sense. Favors buying the the leaf blowers.
At Revelle’s request the funding source is shifted from reserves to the CARP implementation fund.
Approved 8-0.
It’s now 9:14 p.m.
Suffredin says he’s tired of having the Council always talking about leaf blowers. Need to resolve the issue, he says.
Ogbo says had fewer than 20 complaints this month, compared to 500 last November.
Reid moves to have a special order of business, with a new ordinance proposal, regarding the leaf blower issue at the second meeting in June.
Suffredin seconds.
Approved 7-0. (Burns has left the meeting.)
Vote on A7 as amended is 7-0.
Reconsideration of the consent agenda
(to allow intro and action of A16 and A17 tonight.)
Approved 7-0.
Reid moves suspension of the rules for A16 and A17 to intro and action tonight.
Approved 7-0
Consent agenda, as revised approved 8-0. (Burns has returned to the meeting.)
A12, A14 – Liquor items
A12 – Grocery store liquor license
Reid says the grocery store definition could include convenience stores — suggests may want to clarify that.
Corporation Counsel Alex Ruggie says there was a gap in the license definitions — grocery stores between 2,001 and 4,999 square feet were not mentioned.
Reid says thinks should have a percentage of sales requirement.
Biss says will draft a revision in time for next meeting
A14 – Allowing alcohol service to begin at 7 a.m.
(No discussion.)
A12 and A14 are approved 8-0.
A13 – Off-premises wine consumption
(For Bookends & Beginnings.)
Kelly says she doesn’t see any objection to the proposal.
Reid says he’s concerned that could be abused by other “event spaces.”
Reid says he fears there will be racial discrimination in future license requests in this license type.
Approved 7-2. Harris and Revelle votes no. (Suffredin has left the meeting.)
HS1 – Homeless encampment funding.
Reid moves to amend to remove funding for Connections, so that cuts the price tag from $1.75M to $500K. So recipients would be D65 for $200K and $300K for Health and Human Services Department.
Reid says the Howard encampment has not gone away. Says it’s not fair that city allows this to continue.
Claims the situation wouldn’t be considered acceptable any where else in Evanston.
Nieuwsma says Evanston has dealt with homelessness without dipping into city taxpayer funds. Says it will eventually demand a response with Evanston funds. But not yet. And wants to have a collaborative approach. Says there there are a variety of other approaches being taken.
Says not ready to approve the proposal that’s being made tonight.
(It’s not 10:15 p.m. and the meeting is paused to address an AV issue.)
Harris says that area, at the viaduct, is a drug area — not a homeless issue.
Says can’t be shifting money to D65.
Burns says his views are similar to those of Harris. Needs specific proposals for Howard — don’t have it yet.
Reid says he understands that it is a drug issue on Howard.
Says he wants to table the issue until the April 29 meeting.
Burns seconds.
Kelly says should get a more developed plan — its not in the proposal before the council tonight. (With right plan would be willing to look at the original $1.75M amount.)
Nieuwsma says this isn’t just a Howard Street issue — downtown, too, panhandling at Dempster and Ridge. They demand a citywide robust response, he says.
Suggests tabling until second meeting September to give staff time to develop a more robust response.
Motion fails 3-4.
City Manager Stowe says the situation is more severe on Howard. Is being visited twice a day by outreach team. Notes the care team will launch in June that can further address this issue.
Reid moves to table to May 28 meeting.
Burns seconds
Approved 6-0. (Geracaris doesn’t vote.)
R1 – Eliminate term limits for board, commission and committee members.
Kelly says it’s likely to be rare, but for volunteers with deep expertise and institutional knowledge it could be beneficial to the city.
Reid says need more space for resident engagement, new voices. Says current language would let more terms — if they took a break between them.
Says committees now lack all sorts of diversity.
Revelle says the mayor would still make decision to reapply people.
Says need to make some additional changes in the language to remove all references to term limits from all committees. Proposes those changes (relevant to Preservation Commission and the Land Use Commission).
Reid says would like to keep the term limits for those groups — especially for the Land Use Commission.
Reid moves to keep the Land Use Commission term limit.
Burns seconds.
Burns says folks on Land Use Commission are just from one side of town.
Approved 6-1. Revelle votes no.
(It’s now 10:52 p.m.)
Harris says she’s not in favor of the elimination of term limits.
Biss says the conversation is missing the boat rather badly. Getting the term limits issue right is not going to solve the problem of getting the boards filled with diverse, interested people.
Vote on motion as amended is 3-4…motion fails. Harris, Burns, Revelle and Reid voted no.
Call of the wards
Harris … 2nd 5th and 8th ward meeting 6:30 p.m. March 28 at Crown.
Nieuwsma … April 2nd ward meeting at Crown focused on public safety.
Burns … says chair of Equity and Empowerment Commission made statements that are false, “she’s lying.” Burns said, contrary to her claims, the city made commitments to residents of the Wesley apartment at first meeting, and have extended that offer since. “It is a lie,” he said, repeatedly.
Revelle … 6th and 7th Ward meeting April 2 and the Civic Center.
Reid … regarding cease fire requests — says need a process for an outlet for that. Says there are numerous genocides, civil wars, conflicts in Pakistan … a host of terrible things happening all across the world. City Council hasn’t passed a resolution on any of those items. Says if had such a sustained effort around affordable housing and a lot of other issues we could see changes locally. Suggests let resident create something, maybe an online vote that doesn’t disrupt our meetings so much.
Geracaris.. April 9, Envision Evanston 9th ward meeting at 7 p.m.
Meeting adjourned at 11:11 p.m.
Off-premises wine consumption:
“ Reid says he fears there will be racial discrimination in future license requests in this license type.”
Eliminate term limits on boards, commissions, and committee members:
Reid “ Says committees now lack all sorts of diversity.”
These statements tell us a lot of this Council member’s frame of mind and motivations with his role on the Council.
He has a chip on his shoulder and an axe to grind. He will not be happy until diversity and discrimination swings to his perceived favor.
It’s hard to believe that this takes place right in front of our eyes and the rest of the council and Mayor just sit there speechless and shake in their boots.
Many who go into politics have one issue that is their focus. It could be taxes, or schools, or the environment, or, as in Reid’s case, discrimination. I may not agree with him on most things, but I wouldn’t say he has a chip on his shoulder, any more than I’d say a Council member who always gripes about taxes, or the state of education, or any other specific issue has a chip on his shoulder.