Here’s a recap of our live coverage of this evening’s Evanston City Council Administration and Public Works Committee meeting at which aldermen are scheduled to vote on the proposed sale of the former recycling center to developers planning to turn it into a climbing gym.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
A packet with information on tonight’s agenda items is available online.
Meeting called to order at 6:12 p.m.
Consent agenda approved (after removing A2, A11, A16.)
City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz makes public service recognition week awards to city employees.
A3 – Amazon credt card activity.
Approved (Suffredin abstains.)
A8 – Water main improvemtns contract with Joel Kennedy Constructing
Approved.
A10 – Bulley and Andrews concrete restoration contract for parking garages
Approved
A12 CAD software license agreement with CentralSquare Technologies
Approved.
A13 – 2019 First Quarter financial report
Finance Director Hitesh Desai does presentation.
Sez performance is in line with expectations.
Accepted and placed on file.
A15 – Police patrol union contract
Approved.
A 19 – Banning parking on Pitner from Washington south to the dead end.
Approved.
A21 – Sale of 2222 Oakton St. to Clark Street Real Estate LLC
This is the former recycling center.
Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, says she hasn’t supported the immediate sale of the property. Says planned user — rock-climbing wall — is OK by her. But says it will generate very little sales tax, mostly just real estate taxes. Says is not concerned about traffic — says doesn’t think there’ll be much.
Objects to selling it to a real estate developer. Offers various other objections
Approved 4-1. Rainey votes no.
Items taken off consent agenda
A2 – Bills list
Alderman Cicely Fleming, 9th Ward, says she objects to some of the legal expenses.
Approved 3-2. Fleming and Suffredin vote no.
A11 – Natural gas purchase agreement
Dave Stoneback, public works agency director, says will be getting “a fantastic price” on gas with this purchase through Northwestern University
Approved.
A16 – Master Pole Agreement with Cingular Wireless
Fleming says one of her constituents objects to “5G” networks.
(The New York Times on Sunday reported that the fears about 5G are being spread as part of a Russian disinformation campaign.)
Approved.
Meeting adjourned at 6:56 p.m.
