City Council members on Monday will discuss a six-month trial program for booting cars on private property in downtown Evanston.

Evanston police currently use a booting program on public streets, but the new program would experiment with private companies in providing the service on private property in the central business district.

“I’m willing to test it,” Ald. Gene Feldman (9th) said. “Without a test, we’d never support it. If it works, we’ll keep it. If it doesn’t, we won’t.”

Feldman said the program has the potential for major problems.

“There could be personal confrontations, the idea that somebody has to pay on the spot. It’s rife with the possibility of abuse, and we want to see how it could work out.”

Aldermen will vote on the program at a later meeting.

On Monday, aldermen also will consider a proposal to deny a developer’s application to build an eight-story apartment building at 1930 Ridge Ave., the former site of Whole Foods.

The project, which originally was planned to be an 11-story rental building with above-ground parking, met opposition from council members over the summer.

But the developer, Evanston Realty Partners LLC, proposed significant changes to the original plan at a special meeting Friday, said Ald. Joseph Kent (5th), whose ward contains the property.

“They came down from the eight- or nine- or 11-story building to a four-story, 192-unit building,” Kent said.

“Considering where we started, it shows that the developers are really trying to work with the community.”

Kent originally opposed the plan, saying it would cause traffic problems and wouldn’t fit in with the community’s character.

Students could occupy about 30 percent of the apartment building, which Kent said could also be a problem because of the shortage of affordable family housing in Evanston.

But many area businesses support the plan, including Hecky’s Barbeque, 1902 Green Bay Road, which is across the street from the site.

Shawn Ryan, owner of Hyde Park Computers of Evanston, 1133 Emerson St., said he is in favor of the development because it would bring in additional business.

“I think it would be good for the businesses and we don’t want to overlook them,” Kent said. “But when you start talking about 500 people in a spot that wasn’t there before, it’s a big issue.

“I was against the eight and 11 stories, but we’re past that now. My major concern is making sure that, no matter what is there, the character of the community remains.”

Kent said open meetings would be held in the coming months to get community members input on the issue before a final plan is approved.

Aldermen also will vote on Monday on whether to approve a request from Northwestern to close Sheridan Road and other city streets for NU’s annual homecoming parade.

There was some opposition to last year’s proposal to close city streets for the parade, but the council passed the resolution after some discussion.

Feldman said he thought this year’s resolution would pass without question.

“I think every year is different,” Kent said. “I don’t see it as being a problem. I think that it’s a situation where everybody can work for the common good.”