Aldermen will discuss an increase in alcohol-related and fake ID fines at tonight’s Evanston City Council meeting, but no decisions will be made until their next session.
City Council also will vote on the appointment of two residents to the fledgling Northwestern University/City Committee, which is designed to mend relations between both parties and tackle any conflicts in light of the recent Evanston-Northwestern lawsuit settlement.
The council will discuss the issues after it convenes as the Evanston Township Board of Trustees during its state-mandated annual town meeting. Evanston Township includes the same area as the City of Evanston and controls funding for community development and social services.
Aldermen on the Administration and Public Works Committee will consider a request from the Evanston Police Department to raise the minimum fine for using a fake ID more than 400 percent — from $35 to $200. The fine for public consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages could also be raised to a minimum of $200, up from $75.
Ald. Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th) said the aim of raising the fines was to deter people from drinking and using fake IDs. She said the council would probably pass the measure when it comes up for a vote in the next few weeks.
“The feeling was that the fines were not sufficient and they didn’t change anyone’s behavior,” Tisdahl said. “We are not fining people in order to make money. We are fining people in order to change their behavior.”
But Ald. Edmund Moran (6th) said he had not heard anything about raising alcohol fines.
“It kind of came out of the blue as far as I was concerned,” he said. “I’m not sure if it’s a good idea or not. I don’t really understand the motivation behind it.”
Moran questioned whether raising fines was the right way to fight illegal alcohol possession and consumption. He suggested that increased enforcement would yield better results than increased fines.
“It strikes me that enforcement as opposed to larger fines may make more sense,” he said. “If the notion is that you bump things up by X percent and it will disappear, that may be misguided.”
Moran added that he did not necessarily see increased fines as targeting NU students.
In other business the council also will consider the appointment of Evanston residents David Schoenfeld and Robert Atkins, president of Northwestern Neighbors, to the University/City Committee. The committee was part of the Evanston-Northwestern lawsuit settlement in mid-February.
Ald. Lionel Jean-Baptiste (2nd) said the committee would be composed of aldermen, students and residents who live near the university. He said the committee is designed to increase communication and camaraderie between neighbors.
“Most problems come up with neighbors of the university on a macro-level, like policy directives, initiatives and the whole issue of coexistence,” he said. “We need a standing committee to facilitate communication with Northwestern to see what they are doing in the community and what they need from us.”
In addition the council will vote on whether to grant Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Evanston the right to use industrial-zoned property at 2401 Brummel Place, which the church purchased earlier this year, for religious services. Both Moran and Tisdahl said the council would likely approve a permit for the church.
“It sounds as though Vineyard has found a place that it will be comfortable with,” Moran said. “The past controversial aspects and the tug-and-pull that came with all of that will be good to get in the rearview mirror.”
The Administration and Public Works Planning and Development Committees will meet at 7 p.m. and the Township Board of Trustees will convene at 8:30 p.m. The full council will meet afterward. All meetings are held at the Evanston Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Ave.
