CITY COUNCIL July 9, A Quorum was present. Alderman Tisdahl Alderman Wynne. Mayor Lorraine H. Morton

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1 CITY COUNCIL July 9, 2007 ROLL CALL PRESENT: Alderman Bernstein Alderman Rainey Alderman Holmes Alderman Wollin Alderman Moran Alderman Jean-Baptiste A Quorum was present. Alderman Tisdahl Alderman Wynne NOT PRESENT AT ROLL CALL: PRESIDING: Alderman Hansen Mayor Lorraine H. Morton The OFFICIAL REGULAR MEETING of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Morton on Monday, July 9, 2007, at 9:11 p.m. in the Council Chamber. MAYORAL ANNOUNCEMENTS: Mayor Morton reported on recommendations by the U.S. Conference of Mayors to the President at the meeting she attended recently. The ten point program included creation of an energy and environmental block grant program; create another form of partnership for hometown security; continue CDBG and double its funds; support affordable housing with Freddie Mac funding. She attended a workshop on foreclosures and found that most are due to predatory lending. A paper was given on post-employment benefits other than pensions and she passed it on to Human Resources. She thought the dollar-wise program for adults who are unprepared for the financial world could be incorporated into a program. She reported that, locally, Home Depot has a program that gives grants for doing unusual things with trees and suggested that be looked into. CITY MANAGER ANNOUNCEMENTS: Public Works Director David Jennings announced that the City has partnered with the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) to bring Evanston residents a free document destruction event on Saturday, July 14, from 9-11 a.m. at the Evanston Civic Center. SWANCC area residents can destroy bank statements, medical forms, personal files, retired tax forms, receipts, among other documents. No business waste will be accepted. Proof of residency is required. Recreation Superintendent Bob Dorneker announced that participants in the Lakefront Stakeholders Master Plan are invited to an open house by appointment July 23, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This is an opportunity for stakeholders to meet the consultants who are working on the next step and to discuss how the vision can be translated into a physical plan. In the fall the public can participate in workshops to be held at the Civic Center from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on September 19, 20 and October 4. Mr. Dorneker announced that the Evanston Ethnic Arts Festival will be Saturday and Sunday, July 21-22, from noon to 7:00 p.m. in Dawes Park (Sheridan Rd. at Church St.). He noted certain streets will be closed on Sunday due to the bike races. If coming from the west, he recommended taking Lincoln or Dempster to Sheridan Road to attend. He announced that the inaugural Evanston Northwestern Healthcare Grand Prix of Cycling will be held Sunday, July 22, 2007 and read a list of street closures for the event. The first race starts at 9:30 a.m. The final race of the day starts at 4:45 p.m. For more information visit: CITIZEN COMMENT: Joel Freeman, 2151 Hartrey Ave., Energy Commission Chair, on behalf of the commission and its Technical Review Group, recommended approval and adoption of the three-year franchise agreement between the City and ComEd, based on the letter and updated exhibits. Historically the Energy Commission has monitored the electrical distribution system reliability through ComEd Audit Reports, ComEd System Upgrade Projects and periodic meetings with ComEd to discuss issues and concerns. The Energy Commission will continue its monitoring under the franchise extension. He was pleased

2 pleased to work with Aldermen Rainey and Moran as part of the negotiating team. 2 July 9, 2007 Les Shindelman, 1572 Maple Ave., spoke for the Downtown Residents Association and recommended that Council amend the Special Service Area #4 Ordinance with EVMark to insure downtown residential representation on the board; measure EVMark s performance and track its operating effectiveness. They recommended EVMark make its operations more transparent to all Evanston residents by posting its board meeting agendas and minutes, annual budget, monthly financial statements and periodic performance reports. Stamata Blanas, 1720 Maple Ave., said Evanston is a world-class city that attracts talented people from around the world but can be at a high price. She heard that residential development is causing a loss of diversity, due mainly, to increased property taxes, which drives residents out. Evanston is becoming more affluent and homogenous. The City has a great need to generate revenue to pay its debts, which can be done either by attracting more residents or more businesses. Currently empty nesters and young professionals are coming here and adding to the tax base but nothing more. More local and international businesses need to be brought in that will add energy, character and vitality to Evanston. Businesses can provide jobs, demand for houses vacated by empty nesters, retail sales and help for social services through volunteering. She suggested marketing Evanston to bring in companies from countries around the world and the United States. Evanston s proximity to Chicago, Northwestern University, Lake Michigan and two major hospitals make it an ideal location. Currently the City has a minimal supply of modern, professional spaces to meet the needs of the global market. The City is not meeting the needs of children, elderly citizens and the disabled. They want to but cannot do it alone. It needs to bring in Evanston Northwestern Health Care, St. Francis Hospital, Northwestern University and the Evanston Community Foundation to look at the social and economic demands on these institutions. They are an integral part of the community and have as much to gain or lose by what is happening to the quality of life here. They need to be invited to play in the game. The City needs to step back and allow the current downtown planning process to be completed before any further buildings are built or taken down. Travis Marlatte, 1122 Maple Ave., owns The Things We Love (614 Davis) and chairs the Downtown Evanston Merchants Association, encouraged Council to approve renewal of Special Service Area #4. Because the newly defined Special Service Area #4 more than doubles funding available to EVMark, he urged careful direction and oversight by Council; recommended regular meetings open to the public, published minutes on the City s website, a monthly report by EVMark at the A&PW Committee and that the agreement be reviewed and renewed annually. He suggested that who serves on the board of EVMark be defined, length of term, and how people get appointed; urged EVMark to stop marketing themselves and recommended a more sophisticated website than its current one. He expected great things for downtown due to the significant spending increase. He asked to hold the implementation resolution and revise it. Jeff Smith, 2724 Harrison St., Central Street Neighbors Association President, spoke about adoption of the aesthetics and streetscape portion of a Master Plan for Central Street. The association has actively participated and fully supported the thrust of the plan, which is to sustain and enhance the area. They agree with Alderman Bernstein and wish to see no bifurcation of the aesthetics from the zoning changes. They support passage of the plan that evening with the understanding that it is a down payment by this Council as a commitment to give the plan real teeth when zoning changes come up later this summer and fall. The association is not opposed to new development or redevelopment that is consistent with the character of the neighborhood. They support responsible adaptive re-use and the down zoning they favor would buffer against the pressures to build to the maximum. It would help preserve the area as an example of oldfashioned vintage charm and offer some protection against economic pressures that force out independent retailers. They are not looking to drive down land values. They want to stop artificial inflation of land values fueled by speculation, which in turn, may be fueled by a perception that Evanston s planning and zoning sometimes doesn t mean what it seems to mean in print. They looked forward to working with Council when zoning comes up. Their moderate position reflects legitimate neighborhood concerns for overall economic needs of the City and does not seek to prevent redevelopment altogether. There are enough areas in Evanston already that have redevelopment without realistic planning. All agree that Central Street is a neighborhood that works. He urged extra care in setting the blueprint for the next 30 years. Daniel Kelch, 804 Davis St., owns Lulu s restaurant and chairs EVMark s board, responded to some statements made about EVMark. He stated that most of its budget goes for maintenance with little left over for marketing, which must cover a large number of issues. They must market office vacancies to business users. They constantly market downtown to larger retailers to help fill some of the larger vacancies. They just won a national award for promoting the downtown

3 3 July 9, 2007 parking garages. EVMark wants to do more and better advertising in the future and will attempt to do that by renewing the contract with the City. There will now be a full-time marketing position. EVMark currently has 23 board members which includes a broad spectrum of downtown stakeholders. The City is represented, small businesses, real estate management companies that rent to small businesses, Sherman Plaza and the Hill Company and their tenants, Hotel Orrington, Golub and Rotary International, Chamber of Commerce, Park Evanston and Optima and the new stakeholders, condominium owners. Whenever a merchant group has asked for assistance, they have always tried to help. s and flyers are sent to everybody. Meetings are set up inviting everyone to attend. Merchant groups are a positive experience. They look forward to the future. George P. Mitchell, 1229 Emerson St., president of the Evanston Branch of the NAACP spoke about a school that recently had its principal reassigned. An alleged government-sponsored website was used to communicate dissatisfaction through a message board that disparaged two citizens as meddlers, both advocates from his organization. He stated the messages were forwarded to the school board in an attempt to influence public policy. He asked if Council has any rules concerning this type of communication with the implication that it is government sponsored. Alderman Rainey said the 8 th Ward Message Board is not sponsored by the government and that she pays $79 a year for it. George Mitchell was mistaken. He was speaking about the Oakton School Message Board started by Richard Engling, who can be contacted. It is free and can be accessed by anyone. Mary Therese Staub, 2627 Broadway Ave., a Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for McCulloch Park Neighborhood, spoke about the master plan for Central Street. She became involved because of poor safety at Green Bay Rd. and Central St. There have been several accidents. A crossing guard was put in but there are still issues. She thought the visioning process was an opportunity to make a difference in their community. She takes Metra to work and about twice a month she narrowly misses being hit by a car at that intersection. Several neighbors have been hit at Poplar and Broadway. She was discouraged by a comment about the plan that it is a wish list and you don t always get what you wish for. She urged Council to tell developers to build as zoned. It is a chance to keep density down at Central and Green Bay and to do their jobs so children, visitors or residents will not be remembered with a memorial bench on one corner because crosswalks were not taken care of and it wasn t patrolled. They have a wonderful opportunity to make it safer. CONSENT AGENDA (Any item marked with an Asterisk*) Alderman Moran moved Council approval of the Consent Agenda with these exceptions: Resolution 37-R-07 Authorizes the City Manager to Execute an Implementation Agreement; Ordinance 45-O-07 Planned Development for 1890 Maple Ave. and Ordinance 68-O-07 Three Year Extension of the Electric Franchise with ComEd. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Holmes, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Hansen, Wollin, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (9-0). MINUTES: ITEMS APPROVED ON CONSENT AGENDA * Approval of Minutes of the Regular City Council Meeting of June 25, * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0) ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS: * Approval, as recommended, of City of Evanston payroll for the period June 28, 2007 and City of Evanston bills through July 10, 2007, authorized and charged to the proper accounts: City of Evanston payroll (through 06/28/07) $2,418, City of Evanston bills (through 07/10/07) $3,107, * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION AND ROLL CALL (9-0)

4 4 July 9, 2007 Approval of the lowest responsive and responsible bid from Clauss Brothers, Inc. (360 W. Schaumberg Rd., Streamwood) in the amount of $836,255 for the Noah s Playground for Everyone project. Funding provided by the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Funds, CIP Fund reallocations, CIP Fund transfers from completed projects with unspent balances ($449,623) and private donations ($386,623). * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Approval of extension of the professional services contract with Hi-Liter Graphics (700 Blackhawk Dr., Burlington, WI) into Year two of the contract for printing and mail preparation of four issues of Arts & Recreation magazine in the amount not-to-exceed $63,000. Funding provided by the Parks/Forestry & Recreation Department s Communications and Marketing Services fund. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Special Event FitzGibbons ALS Fun Run in Lovelace Park Consideration of approval for the Special Event Permit application submitted by Julie Stafford to hold a walk-a-thon in Lovelace Park on September 9, from 8:00 a.m. to noon. There are no additional City costs associated with this activity* APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Resolution 36-R-07 Lease Agreement with Bob and Marcy Brower for Noyes Studio #109 Consideration of Resolution 36-R-07, which authorizes the City Manager to execute a lease agreement for Studio #109 with Bob and Marcy Brower from August 1, 2007 through February 29, Mr. Brower works with stone sculpture and Mrs. Brower offers acrylic painting * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 64-O-07 Amend City Code to Establish a City of Evanston Solid Waste Franchise Consideration of Ordinance 64-O-07, which amends Section 8-5 and 8-5½ of the City Code to establish a City of Evanston Solid Waste Franchise. This franchise would require all businesses, commercial and larger residential properties to use the hauler selected and licensed by the City to remove and dispose of their solid waste. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA and referred back to the committee. * Ordinance 65-O-07 Storm Water Control Consideration of Ordinance 65-O-07, introduced June 25, 2007, which adds Chapter 24 to Title 4 of the City Code to establish regulations for the control of storm water. The current storm water control regulations have been enforced by policy in the Public Works Department and there is a need to place these regulations in the City Code. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 67-O-07 Extends for an Additional 12 Years, 4 Months and 18 Days, until December 31, 2019, Expanding the Territory and Providing Services for Special Service Area #4 Consideration of Ordinance 67-O-07, introduced June 25, 2007, which extends (years) and expands (area) Special Service Area #4 for an additional 12 years, 4 months and 18 days, until December 31, Funding Special Service Area #4 includes the Washington National TIF District Special Tax Allocation Fund (STAF), the Downtown II TIF District STAF, the Economic Development Fund and any other appropriate Council-approved funding source. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 69-O-07 Easement Agreement 1615 Hinman Ave. and 415/422 Davis St. Consideration of Ordinance 69-O-07, introduced June 25, 2007, by which the City Council would authorize the City Manager to execute an easement agreement with Mather LifeWays and The Georgian for construction of a tunnel and porte-cochere and for temporary construction easements within the public right-of-way off Davis St. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: * Ordinance 73-O Jackson Ave. - Parking Variation Request Consideration of Ordinance

5 5 July 9, O-07, which would grant a major variation request to establish six open parking spaces in the rear of the lot at 2526 Jackson Ave. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA Staff attorney Kenneth Cox read the following language in the new Section 4B: Without further action by the applicant, the City, its assignees and successors, shall be permitted to remove refuse from the east side of the subject property along Jackson Avenue by means of a private contractor. For collections said private contractor shall take the refuse containers from the rear of the building from the subject property and return them thereto, immediately after collection is complete. Alderman Tisdahl moved approval of the amendment. The motion was seconded. Voice vote, motion carried, no nays. Alderman Tisdahl moved to Suspend the Rules to adopt an ordinance at the same meeting at which it was introduced. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Motion carried unanimously. Alderman Tisdahl moved approval of Ordinance 73-O-07 as amended. Seconded by Alderman Moran. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Holmes, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Hansen, Wollin, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (9-0). * Ordinance 72-O-07 Grants Evanston Landmark Status to the Building at Dempster St. Consideration of a recommendation from the Preservation Commission to designate the building at Dempster as an Evanston Landmark. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 70-O-07 Text Amendment to the Substandard Lot Regulations Consideration of the findings and report of the Plan Commission and staff recommendation to amend the Zoning Ordinance to create new regulations for the development of substandard lots. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA * Ordinance 27-O-07 Text Amendment to Create a Mixed-Use Zoning District (MUE) Consideration of the findings and report of the Plan Commission to eliminate the existing transitional manufacturing districts and create one new mixed-use zoning district called MUE. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA and referred back to the committee. * Sidewalk Café for Type 1 Restaurant 1700 Orrington Ave. Consideration of the Site Plan & Appearance Review Committee recommendation to approve the request for a sidewalk café by Blu Coral, 1700 Orrington Ave. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 28-O-07 Plan Commission Recommendation for a Zoning Map Amendment - Consideration of the findings and report of the Plan Commission to rezone areas currently within the MU and MUE transitional manufacturing zoning districts into the MUE mixed-use zoning district. * MARKED INTRODUCED CONSENT AGENDA and referred back to the committee. * Central Street Master Plan Presentation by the Lakota Group and Consideration of the Recommendation by the Plan Commission Consideration of a recommendation by the Plan Commission and staff to consider approval by motion of the Master Plan, except for zoning recommendation, which will be considered separately by the Zoning Committee of the Plan Commission beginning July 11, The Plan Commission will make future recommendations to the Planning & Development Committee concerning proposed zoning changes. * APPROVED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE: * Approval of June 2007 Township Monthly Bills Consideration of a recommendation to approve the Township bills, payroll and medical payments for the month of June 2007 in the amount of $64,

6 OTHER COMMITTEES: 6 July 9, 2007 $64, * APPROVED-CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) * Ordinance 29-O-07 Amends Section (C )(3) of the City Code, Standards of Conduct: Conflict of Interest Consideration of Ordinance 29-O-07, introduced June 25, 2007, which amends the City Code, Section (C ) (3), Code of Ethics as it applies to Conflict of Interest. * ADOPTED - CONSENT AGENDA MOTION & ROLL CALL (9-0) ADMINISTRATION & PUBLIC WORKS: REPORT OF THE STANDING COMMITTEES Resolution 37-R-07 Authorizes the City Manager to Execute an Implementation Agreement Consideration of Resolution 37-R-07, which authorizes the City Manager to execute an Implementation Agreement with EVMark for consideration of renewing Special Service Area No. 4 (Ordinance 67-O- 07). Alderman Wollin moved approval. The motion was seconded by Alderman Moran Alderman Bernstein noted several speakers had raised questions about this agreement. He was pleased with EVMark s performance. This is an independent corporation and the prior agreement with EVMark gave them a one-year contract while this contract is for 12 years. He would not go with a 12-year contract because it is too long. There was only one statement that indicated the agreement could be terminated for cause. There are no standards or performance goals enumerated in the agreement to determine if EVMark is providing the services they are supposed to provide. Given that, how does one know if the City has cause to terminate the contract? He has never known who is on this board. He suggested all should know how the board is composed, selected and voting requirements. Before turning over $500,000 in public funds and increments that will increase over the years to any corporation, they need these questions answered. He was not casting aspersions on Diane Williams, who has done a good job. He does not know when they meet and how people are notified of meetings. As he reviewed the former and current agreement, he had questions and could not vote that evening. They must have parameters and expectations on the use of $500,000. EVMark in the ads is too prominent, they should be advertising downtown Evanston. The agreement has to have an addendum to take care of these concerns. More residents are needed on the board and he did not think that landlords could represent tenants. Alderman Bernstein moved to hold 37-R-07 over. Seconded by Alderman Wynne. At the request of two aldermen Resolution 37-R-07 was held over. PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT: Ordinance 45-O-07 Planned Development Request for 1890 Maple Ave. Consideration of a Plan Commission recommendation, introduced May 29, 2007, to approve a planned development request for the property at 1890 Maple Ave. as a mixed-use commercial and multi-family residential project. Alderman Tisdahl moved approval of Ordinance 45-O-07. Seconded by Alderman Rainey. Alderman Rainey supported this project that will provide market rate rental housing. The Plan Commission approved it. Based on new information, several grocers are interested in the first floor retail and the grocer of choice is Trader Joe s, which has indicated that they wish to lease 12,000 square feet. She asked Council to support this but they need six votes. She did not want to see it voted down. Alderman Hansen was concerned about the downtown planning process and Alderman Wollin was concerned about height. This property is part of the downtown planning process. Alderman Rainey moved that Ordinance 45-O-07 be tabled. The motion was seconded. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Holmes, Tisdahl, Rainey, Hansen, Jean-Baptiste. Voting nay Moran, Wollin, Wynne.

7 7 July 9, 2007 Motion carried (6-3). OTHER COMMITTEES: Ordinance 68-O-07 Extends the Electric Franchise with ComEd for Three Years Consideration of Ordinance 68-O-07, introduced June 25, 2007, and the recommendations of the Electric Franchise Negotiating Team and the Energy Commission to extend the electric franchise with ComEd for three years, from July 14, 2007 to July 14, 2010, subject to a Letter of Agreement with ComEd with specified obligations. Alderman Moran moved approval of Ordinance 68-O-07. Seconded by Alderman Bernstein. Alderman Moran recalled in the early 1990s the difficulties with reliability and delivery of electricity to homes and businesses in Evanston. At that time a citizen commission was created that led to the formation of a negotiating committee that negotiated an agreement with ComEd and resulted in improved reliability and delivery of electricity here. Eight years have passed. This proposal would extend the current franchise agreement with ComEd for three years. All have benefited greatly from the Technical Review group of the Energy Commission, which over the years has worked directly with ComEd to ensure high-level reliability. With this extension, there are 10 reliability projects ComEd will undertake; four reports each year from ComEd: two on reliability and two for outages; periodic meetings related to initiatives related to green power. ComEd will look at developing a portfolio of potential suppliers of green power. The City has indicated it wants 20% of the electrical power delivered here derived from green power sources. With the help of Alderman Rainey, ComEd will give the City a monthly report of service cut offs in multi-family buildings. As they go forward with West Side development plans, there is a ComEd substation just west of Dodge on Church Street where they seek needed parking for that area. ComEd has indicated they would consider leasing those spaces. A discussion was held on emergency repairs and that ComEd needs to come in within a specific time frame to get permits and that was agreed to. It is important to get the City s people out to make sure everything has been repaired correctly and there are no hazards. Alderman Moran thought they have a solid agreement with ComEd that will allow them to continue on a progressive arc for ongoing reliable delivery of electrical power in Evanston. He thanked Alderman Rainey for joining him in the negotiations, Joel Freeman, chair of Energy Commission; Bill Siegfriedt, vice chair, Energy Commission; and Assistant Planning Director Dennis Marino. Roll call. Voting aye Bernstein, Holmes, Moran, Tisdahl, Rainey, Hansen, Wollin, Jean-Baptiste, Wynne. Voting nay none. Motion carried (9-0). CALL OF THE WARDS: 4 th Ward. Alderman Bernstein announced a Civic Center Committee meeting the next evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Civic Center. He thanked the Evanston Fourth of July Association for another great 4 th of July. 5 th Ward. Alderman Holmes also congratulated the Association for a great parade. The West End Block Club entered the parade for the first time and won an honorable mention for its float. She spoke of the June 28 shooting that resulted in a young man s death and congratulated the community for coming to the family s aid and raising $8,000 for funeral expenses. The Police Department responded well; advised that they have to work on this as a community. On July 19 at the ETHS football field there will be a candlelight vigil at 7:30 p.m. sponsored by the Evanston Youth Initiative and Partnering for a Safer Evanston. There will also be a 5 th Ward meeting that night and attendees will go to the vigil. She invited all to visit Boocoo, a cultural center at 1813 Church Street, which had its grand opening that day. 8 th Ward. Alderman Rainey stated the point of the NAACP s appearance that evening was to embarrass her. She was proud of the 8 th Ward Message Board, which has more than 12,000 viewers. The City Manager knows the 8 th Ward Message Board is a means of getting information from the community and because of it, they get things done. Others who

8 8 July 9, 2007 who have seen these boards have signed up with the same provider and is how the Oakton School Message Board came about. Alderman Rainey said that the problem the NAACP should be addressing is that the majority of black students at Oakton School are failing reading or cannot read. Seventy percent of students at Oakton School are categorized as low income. It is a recipe for disaster. This community has to rise up and insist that every child, unless they are intellectually disabled, needs to be able to read. The teachers are paid well and taxpayers pay more than $12,000 per student for their education. She hears there are fabulous teachers. The black students at Oakton School are being under-educated and underserved. There is a problem in the community when a majority of students at a school cannot read. Oakton School is at the bottom of every list; has the lowest scores in reading, math and the scores continue to go down. The principal was removed because the numbers were not working. White parents whose children are succeeding are frustrated and some of them are moving their kids out. White children at Oakton School have lower scores than white children at other schools. The school board and superintendent need to do something about it. The parents who want to get something done are intimidated, the same behavior she experienced that evening. She announced the Custer Improvement Committee would meet the next evening at 7:30 p.m. at the Police Outpost on Howard St. Alderman Rainey sent best wishes to firefighter Dave Ellis, who is recovery from surgery. Alderman Rainey noted that in the 8 th Ward within two weeks there was a shooting of a 17 year old youth in the 600 block of Howard (in the alley), a rape in the 100 block of Callan and across the border (in Chicago) a death. She emphasized that they need to get on top of crime here. The environment is scary. They had illegal fireworks all over town on July 4 th. People make noise on the corners in the middle of the night. A plan for the future is needed in this town. 1 st Ward. Alderman Wollin reported the Sheil community is losing Chaplain Ken Simpson who has been chaplain to the Fire Department for a long time. He has been reassigned to St. Clemens in Chicago. His leadership and friendship will be missed. He will leave August 1 and a celebration is planned. She reported being in Philadelphia for a National Education Association meeting on July 4, where she heard eight of the presidential candidates speak. She said there was apprehension among all the candidates about going back to the Supreme Court decision on Brown. They want to keep the community integrated and diverse. 2 nd Ward. Alderman Jean-Baptiste learned that an Evanston blog stated that he said high-rise residents have nothing to say about 1890 Maple or other projects in that community. He asked the blogger to identify the date/time he said that. He organized two meetings on 1890 Maple that were attended mostly by high-rise residents and brought staff to explain that the infrastructure was adequate for the project. He took the lead to protect high-rise residents. Recently when they discussed safety downtown, he took the lead to address issues. He said they need to find a balance between what they invest in buildings and in people. They might all avoid downtown unless they manage the best interests for all. He said in 1863 when Evanston was founded whites and blacks were pioneers. African Americans came either as servants or slaves and for a significant time occupied the lowest rung economically, the worst housing and the worst care. The perception that under laid that thinking in the United States at the time was that African Americans were inferior, unproductive and lazy and could not learn at the capacity that white people could, so treatment was according to that. For a long time, black folks could not cross Ridge and go downtown. They had to create their own institutions to survive, hence Foster School and a community hospital. During the strategic planning process, he had stated that diversity was not a strength in Evanston from the standpoint of planning. He saw it as a weakness that needed investment to make it a strength. He recalled Father Oldershaw had said that many practice drive-by diversity. People are not engaged. Diversity costs. The inequities have remained in many areas. The fact that they declare schools to be equal and accessible, and that everybody has access to hospitals doesn t mean that they get equal education and equal care. In the school systems, there is a great disparity in the expectation about whether black kids can learn at the same rate as whites. He has fought to make sure his children learned at the highest level. His son was the state s top academic student in He believed that every healthy kid is gifted. It is a question of adults not failing those kids.

9 9 July 9, 2007 He agreed with Alderman Rainey that George Mitchell got it wrong as to whether her website is government sponsored; agreed some parents from Oakton School are dissatisfied so they started a message board to engage in discussion. He thought she missed the point of the communication. What motivated the NAACP to come that evening was the quote that Judy Treadway and Terri Shepard were meddling in the affairs of Oakton School. They are not meddlers. Terri Shepard is a former school board member. These people are active everyday and have looked for creative approaches. Judy Treadway is the education chair of the NAACP, attends most board meetings and raises issues. They were instrumental in introducing the African-Centered Curriculum (ACC) at Oakton School. These are people who believe if they can bring symbolism, and history, and talk about the African Americans who are doing things in society, maybe these kids can overcome their fears and move forward. These people fought for these things. He hoped that Alderman Rainey and the NAACP get together and mutually apologize. He hated to see George Mitchell castigated because he plays a significant role in the community and his wife is a principal at a school. He agreed that this is a crisis when she called for a strategy to win this battle. Partnering for a Safer Evanston is part of that strategy and so is Evanston Youth Engagement to stay the course. He wanted to come together on these issues. Alderman Rainey said she did not miss the point. The point is the comment about meddling was in a private letter and not any message. Her confidence was violated and when confronted with using the term, she apologized to Judy Treadway. She explained her deepest feelings to Ms. Treadway and Ms. Shepherd about how they could help with this. This is a terrible situation. She has never heard the NAACP, Judy Treadway or Terri Shepard express alarm over the fact that 55% of Oakton black students cannot read. This isn t a black/white issue. If these were white students there would be a revolution. If children cannot read, they will be in violent situations in the street and failures in life. Children must know how to read. She was fully supportive of the ACC but there are only 45 children in that program. What about the rest? Her concern is for the under-education and under-served black children at Oakton School. Alderman Jean-Baptiste stated that Judy Treadway and Terri Shepard spend many hours supporting black children. It is alarming that these children are failing and they must find a way to make the institutions do better. There being no further business to come before the Council, Mayor Morton asked for a motion to adjourn and the Council so moved at 11:04 p.m. Mary P. Morris, City Clerk A videotape recording of this meeting has been made part of the permanent record and is available in the City Clerk s office.