
Northwestern Works to Get Ryan Field Plans Past City Council
Clip: 11/14/2023 | 12m 6sVideo has Closed Captions
The university has proposed to pay $157 million over 15 years in "community benefits."
The plan to upgrade Ryan Field was set for a vote this week in Evanston City Council. But the council decided to table it for a week.
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Northwestern Works to Get Ryan Field Plans Past City Council
Clip: 11/14/2023 | 12m 6sVideo has Closed Captions
The plan to upgrade Ryan Field was set for a vote this week in Evanston City Council. But the council decided to table it for a week.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>> EVAN STONE IAN'S NORTHWESTERN FANS HAVE TO WAIT AT LEAST ANOTHER WEEK TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO THAT 800 MILLION DOLLAR REBUILD OF RYAN FIELD.
THE PLAN WAS TO HAVE BEEN VOTED ON BY THE EVANSTON CITY COUNCIL LAST NIGHT.
BUT MAYOR DANIEL BISS AND 6 OF 8 COUNCIL MEMBERS DECIDED TO TABLE IT FOR A WEEK.
OFFICIALS SAY IT'S TO GIVE THE COMMUNITY MORE TIME TO LOOK AT AGREEMENT IN WHICH NORTHWESTERN HAS PROPOSED TO PAY 157 MILLION DOLLARS OVER 15 YEARS IN, QUOTE, COMMUNITY BENEFITS.
SO LOOKS LIKE EVERYONE MAY HAVE THE ANSWER NEXT MONDAY.
WE THOUGHT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE OUR ANSWER LAST NIGHT.
SO WHAT'S ONE MORE WEEKEND?
JOINING US, OUR JEFF SMITH, PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL STREET NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION, LONGTIME EVANSTON RESIDENT ROBERT ORNSTEIN, WHO LIVES NEAR RYAN FIELD.
HARRY UHL DAVIS, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MOST LIVABLE CITY ASSOCIATION.
AND REVEREND DOCTOR MICHAEL NEIGHBORS, SENIOR PASTOR AT SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH EVANSTON.
WE ALSO INVITED NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY JOIN US, BUT THEY DECLINED.
WE ARE HAPPY.
YOU'RE HERE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION.
WE HAVE 2 THAT HAVE BEEN IN FAVOR IN OPPOSITION TO UP TO THIS POINT.
START WITH YOU, REVEREND NEIGHBORS.
WHAT IS THIS EXTRA WEEK GOING TO MEAN FOR THE DEAL?
>> WELL, I'M NOT SURE WHAT IT'S GOING TO MEAN FOR THOSE WHO ARE GOING TO BE PLACING THE VOTE, BUT IT WILL CREATE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RESIDENTS IN EVANS.
STAND TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUNITY AGREEMENT WHICH HAS MOVED FROM 100 MILLION TO 157 MILLION DOLLARS.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I LIKE TO SHARE, WHICH I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT IS THAT I THINK THAT THE AGREEMENT THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS MADE WITH THE CITY IS UNPRECEDENTED WITH REGARD TO AMERICAN CITIES AND COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
I'M NOT SURE THAT THERE IS ANOTHER UNIVERSITY THAT IS MADE THAT KIND OF PLEDGE OVER A 15 YEAR PERIOD TO TRY TO INCREASE THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE CITY THAT INCLUDES AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
THAT INCLUDES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUEUES INCLUDES COMMUNITY PARK IN MAINE AND ALL OF THOSE ISSUES THAT AFFECT ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE MOST VULNERABLE IN THE COMMUNITY THAT WOULD BE BLACK AND BROWN AND WOMEN AT THE MARGINAL GROUP.
SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT BEING ABLE TO SHARE THAT EXTRA WEEK AND TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE AGREEMENT, ARTERIAL DAVIS SAID THE BIG CONCERN HERE HAS NOT BEEN OVER THE STADIUM ITSELF, BUT NORTHWESTERN'S PLANS.
>> TO HAVE NOW AT LEAST 6 CONTRACTORS MUCH AS 6 CONCERTS NON-FOOTBALL DAYS AT THAT STADIUM.
IS THAT STILL YOUR MAIN CONCERN?
YEAH.
BELIEVE THAT'S A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY STILL MAIN CONCERN.
WE HAVE TAKEN THE STANCE OF BEING GOOD NEIGHBORS OURSELVES TO THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA.
>> IF MY NEIGHBOR WANTS TO BE BOTH THEIR HOUSE FOR A PERFECTLY OK WITH IT.
IF MY NEIGHBOR WANTS TO HOST 6 WILD PARTIES WITH RANDOM PEOPLE COMING IN AND OUT AT NIGHT, NO, I'M NOT OK WITH.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE FEEL THE SAME.
BUT IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE FROM OTHER WARDS DISREGARD THAT ASPECT AND HOW IT IMPACTS A COMMUNITY PARTICULAR.
FIND THAT PEOPLE WHO DO HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN ARE PARTICULARLY UNSYMPATHETIC TO ISSUE.
BUT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT AREA HAVE YOUNG FAMILIES AND WE'RE ALL VERY CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING A HUGE INFLUX OF JUST STRANGERS COMING IN AND OF THE NOISE AND HOW WILL EVERYONE TO SEE YOU DO LIVE NEAR RYAN FIELD.
YOU ARE COOL WITH THE CONCERTS.
ALTHOUGH THE CITY'S USE COMMISSION DID VOTE AGAINST THIS.
72 THE FINAL VOTE WILL WILL RESIDE WITH CITY COUNCIL.
>> IS THAT CAUSE FOR CONCERN THAT THE LESE USE COMMISSION SAID THIS REZONING TO ALLOW THE CONCERTS WASN'T THE RIGHT WAY TO GO.
WELL, FIRST OF TO GET SOME CLARIFICATION ON LAND USE COMMISSION THEIR RECOMMENDATION.
THAT'S WHAT THEY DO THAT MAKE THE DECISIONS.
>> THEY VOTED 9 TO NOTHING IN FAVOR OF THE NEW STADIUM.
AND TO BE CLEAR, I'VE BEEN IN FAVOR OF THE NEW STADIUM FROM A YEAR AGO WHEN IT WAS FIRST PROPOSED BECAUSE I SEE THE ECONOMIC ADVANTAGES OF THE NEW STADIUM IN TERMS OF CONCERTS, IF THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET THE NEW STADIUM.
I'M OKAY WITH THAT.
AND I THINK PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD CAN USE A CALENDAR AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO MANAGE THEIR TIME THE WAY THEY DO FOR FOOTBALL GAMES.
THEY DON'T LIKE HOW THE TRAFFIC IMPACTS THEM.
WHY WOULD YOU STICK AROUND IN THE MIDDLE OF ALL THAT?
AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF NICE PLACES YOU CAN GO TO VISIT DURING CONCERTS IN THE EVENING GOLD ORCHARD GO UP TO REVENUE AND ENJOY A CONCERT.
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO IMPACT YOU.
WE PEOPLE FEAR IT WILL IMPACT THEM.
I'D LIKE TO SEE A NEW STADIUM.
ALL RIGHT TO JEFF HAS THAT BEEN YOUR CONCERN?
CONCERTS?
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT.
>> SECURITY IS NORTHWEST OF THAN ANYTHING TO ASSUAGE THOSE CONCERNS.
>> THERE'S BEEN SOME MOVES AND, YOU KNOW, DON'T GET ME WRONG.
I LOVE ROCK AND ROLL AND I'M FUNDED BY ALMA MATER, ALSO A FAN OF DUE PROCESS AND WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS IN THE POSITION OF ACTING AS JUDGE ON A PETITION TO CHANGE THE LAW.
AND THERE'S ALWAYS A PROBLEM WHEN THE PERSON IS SITTING.
THE JUDGE IS MAKING A DEAL WITH ONE OF THE PARTIES.
THAT'S BEFORE ON THE ON THE CASE.
SO THE NEIGHBORS ASSOCIATION HAS CONCERNS RESIDENTS LISTEN TO OUR POSITION IS ONLY OUR PHILOSOPHY IS THAT THE FOLKS WHO ARE ON THE STREET CLOSEST TO THE ACTION HAVE THE MOST GRANULAR VIEW OF WHAT'S GOING ON.
AND IT'S JUST REALLY A PROBLEMATIC PLACE TO PUT A STADIUM, A SENSIBLY THIS EXTRA WEEK.
DOES THAT MORE TIME FOR RESIDENTS TO UNDERSTAND THIS AGREEMENT THAT THE NORTHWESTERN HAS PROPOSED THE CITY?
I THINK IT BOTH MORE TIME TO UNDERSTAND MORE TIME FOR INPUT, BUT TIME TO REFLECT AND WHETHER MAKING A DEAL IS THE WAY YOU WANT TO CHANGE LAW.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THE CITY COUNCIL GETS TO 6 WITH THE DEAL AS IT'S CURRENTLY STRUCTURED.
>> RIVER NEIGHBORS.
IS THERE A BETTER DEAL OUT THERE THAT COULD BE NEGOTIATED IN THE COMING WEEKS?
YOU MENTIONED THIS PRECEDENT IN YOUR MIND 57 MILLION DOLLARS.
MAYBE MAYBE THERE'S MORE ON THE TABLE.
WELL, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SAYING, WELL, THAT'S GOING TO NORTHWEST AND ASK FOR MORE MONEY.
SO WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN ADDITIONAL 208 MILLION DOLLARS HAS BEEN SET ASIDE.
SO THAT BLACK AND BROWN MINORITY CONTRACTORS AND WOMEN HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ALSO BE CONTRACTED IN THE BUILDING AND THE STRUCTURE.
>> OF THE ACTUAL STADIUM, SOMEONE IF YOU ADD 208 MILLION DOLLARS, 157 MILLION DOLLARS, I THINK THAT THE BENEFIT TO OVER OUR COMMUNITY IS ABSOLUTELY PRODIGIOUS.
AND AGAIN, TO ME, IT'S UNPRECEDENTED AND OUR JOB AND OUR RESPONSIBILITY.
THEN WITH THE COMMUNITY AGREEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO FOLLOW EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY THAT THERE IS AN ACTUAL COMMUNITY THAT IS ENSURING THAT THAT AGREEMENT IS GOING TO WORK FOR EVERYBODY, BUT PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO HAVE THE MOST VULNERABLE TERRELL DAVIS, DOES THIS AGREEMENT HELP BUT YOUR CONCERNS OR IS IT JUST ALL ABOUT THE CONCERTS?
I FIRST HAVE TO SAY THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE AGREEMENT.
THESE NUMBERS ARE COMPLETELY SKEWED.
PEOPLE KEEP THROWING AROUND 157 MILLION DOLLARS.
THERE ANY ANALYSIS THAT SUGGESTED THAT THERE'S ONLY 2 MILLION DOLLARS ON THE TABLE PER YEAR.
THAT'S GUARANTEED.
>> ALL OF THESE OTHER LIKE EXTRA THINGS.
HALF OF THE STUFF THAT THEY PUT IN THEIR MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING OR THE COMMUNITY BENEFITS ARE THINGS THAT THEY'RE ALREADY PROVIDING.
AND THEY'RE JUST BASICALLY TRYING TO GET DOUBLE CREDIT FOR THINGS THAT THEY'VE ALREADY DONE.
>> I WANT TO START THEIR.
THE SECOND IS THAT I ALSO WANT TO EMPHASIZE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING SOME PEOPLE AT THIS TABLE ARE WILLING TO TAKE THINK ABSOLUTELY EXCHANGE FOR THIS FOR MONTHS AGO.
SO THESE PEOPLE TO COME BACK AND SAY THAT THIS IS THE WE'RE GOING TO GET, THAT'S WHAT THEY THOUGHT 4 MONTHS AGO.
SO I CAN'T REALLY TRUST THE JUDGMENT OF CITY COUNCIL.
THE BEAR OR OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE SO IN AND SUPPORT THIS AGREEMENT.
AND AS IT APPLIES TO LIKE WHAT I THINK WILL HAPPEN THE NEXT WEEK, I HOPE MORE NEGOTIATIONS HAPPENED.
WE TALK ABOUT SOME PRECEDENT, THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT PUTTING 3 MILLION DOLLARS IN THE GOOD NEIGHBOR FUND.
THEY'RE ALREADY DOING A MILLION, BUT THEY STOPPED FOR 2 YEARS BECAUSE WE STOP WATCHING THEM.
AND BECAUSE THERE WAS NO LEGALLY BINDING CONTRACT, WHICH CURRENTLY IS NOT LEGAL EXPERTS HAVE SUGGESTED REPEATEDLY THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF LOOPHOLES IN THAT CONTRACT NORTHWESTERN CAN EASILY BACK OUT.
AND SO IF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LIKE 3 MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR, CORNELL UNIVERSITY IS THE CITY OF ITHACA.
4 MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR WITH 80% OF THAT NO STRINGS ATTACHED.
NORTHWESTERN IS OFFERING 3 MILLION DOLLARS AND THEY GET TO CONTROL WHERE IT GOES IS THAT THE CITY IS A PUPPET.
>> ROBERT ORENSTEIN, ARE THESE NUMBERS INFLATED?
IS IT NOT REALLY 157 MILLION DOLLARS A CAN WESTERN MANIPULATE THAT?
NO.
THE WAY IT'S WRITTEN NOW, THAT'S THE NUMBER.
BUT IN TERMS OF HOW THE DOCUMENT IS ACTUALLY STRUCTURED IN TERMS OF >> WHO HAS WHICH RIGHTS OVER WHICH THINGS THAT'S MOVING DAY TODAY HERE.
I MEAN, I SOMETHING CAME OUT TODAY WHERE, YOU KNOW, UNIVERSITY WAS GIVEN LESS CONTROL OVER 3 ITEMS.
NOW, DID I DO A DEEP DIVE INTO IT THAT SIT THERE IN THE ROOM TODAY WITH ALL THE DOCUMENTS KNOW.
SO DIDN'T PARTY STATE COUNCIL MADE MINUTE THAT LAST WEEK WAS THIS LATEST AGREEMENT CAME ABOUT 48 HOURS BEFORE EXACTLY.
AND HOW CAN IT'S A PART-TIME CITY COUNCIL.
THEY HAVE THINGS TO DO THE SO IDEALLY WOULD BE LIKE.
>> FINALS WEEK, WE CALL IN THE BASEMENT OF LIBRARY AND JUST DO A DEEP DIVE AND GET THIS THING TO WORK.
I'M IN FAVOR OF THE NEW STADIUM AND I HAVE FAITH IN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT THEY WILL DO THE RIGHT THING.
BUT THIS IS A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.
JUST MYTH LEGALLY BY NORTHWESTERN TO THESE COME IN IT SAYS LEGALLY BINDING.
IT'S VERY DOWN.
PARAGRAPH 15, IT'S A SHOULD BE CALLED A CONTRACT STRAIGHT UP.
>> SAYING IT'S A MEMORANDUM, MAKES IT SOUND LIKE IT'S LOVE NOTE BETWEEN 2 FOLKS AND IT'S IT'S IT'S IT'S NOT REALLY THAT'S A COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP THAT THERE'S A LOT OF THERE'S A LOT CREDIT BEING GIVEN FOR THE MONIES SOME THAT ARE ALREADY BEING SPENT ON PROGRAMS.
3 MILLION COULD BE CLEAN MONEY.
PROM ONE BIG PROBLEM IS THAT THE PEOPLE BEING THE MOST IMPACTED PEOPLE WITH SMALL KIDS WERE GOING TO BE WOKEN UP AND CAN'T GO TO OLD ORCHARD WITH THEM TO, YOU KNOW, FOR 3 HOURS TO CHILL.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT?
THERE'S NO SPECIFIC BENEFIT BEING GIVEN FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THE REALLY OUGHT TO BE IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A DEAL THAT ALL THERE OUGHT TO BE SOMETHING EARMARKED FOR PROJECTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAD THINGS LIKE THE LIBRARY TAKEN AWAY.
IF 56 CONCERTS REALLY CAUSE OF THE DISRUPTION THAT THAT PERIL, YOU'RE SAYING THERE'S A 6 AND THERE'S OTHER EVENTS IN NORTHWESTERN WANTS TO HOLD THEIR BY THE WAY THAT ARE.
>> NOT CAPACITY, BUT IT COULD BE 66 OUTSIDE AND UNLIMITED UP TO 10,000 INSIDE.
YOU COULD HAVE WON EVERY DAY WEEK.
IF YOU'RE CREATIVE AND THEY THE VOTE TO ADVANCE THIS A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WAS A DEADLOCKED.
44 ON CITY COUNCIL MAYOR DANIEL, THIS WAS THE TIE BREAKING SEND IT TO THE COUNCIL MEETING LAST NIGHT WHERE YOU THINK THE VOTES ARE GOING TO COME DOWN ON MONDAY.
I THINK THAT THE VOTES ARE GOING TO BE IN FAVOR OF MOVING FORWARD.
I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE AT LEAST A COUPLE OF COUNCIL PERSON, TOO.
>> VOTED AGAINST WHO ARE GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MINDS?
THAT'S MY FEELING.
AND THAT'S MY SENSE.
AND THAT IS MY HOPE BECAUSE, AGAIN, I BELIEVE THAT THE ADVANTAGES FOR THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS IN EVANSTON, I'M GOING TO FAR OUTWEIGH ALL OF THOSE CONCERNS HAVE BEEN RAISED.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE VALID CONCERNS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THAT'S WHY WE SIT AT THE TABLE AND NEGOTIATE AND BARGAIN AND WORK.
AND I THINK THAT WE DO THAT IN GOODWILL.
AND I THINK WE DO THAT WITH LEGAL COUNSEL AT THE SAME TIME.
CAROL DAVIS, WHAT'S YOUR READ WHERE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ARE SITTING?
IT'S AN 8 PERSON VOTE BECAUSE ONE OF THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HAS RECUSED THEMSELVES.
SO >> COULD THIS COME DOWN TO ANOTHER DEADLOCK WITH THE MAYOR IS GOING TO BE THE DECIDING VOTE.
>> I CAN'T REALLY PREDICT THE FUTURE, BUT I WHAT I DO HOPE IS THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DOES TAKE A CLEAR LOOK AND REALIZE THE LEVERAGE THEY HAVE.
I THINK THAT CURRENTLY THEY'VE BEEN ACTING AS IF THEY HAVE TO BEEN TO NORTHWESTERN SWELL.
BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, THEY CAN'T GO ANYWHERE UNIVERSITY.
IT'S NOT AUTO FACTORY THAT CAN GO OVERSEAS.
AND I HOPE THAT THEY PUT WISHES OF THE RESIDENTS WILL BE DIRECTLY IMPACTED UP FRONT BECAUSE ALL OF THE BENEFITS IT ALL VERSUS TALKING ABOUT THE WHOLE REBUILDING EVERYTHING WE CAN HAVE THE REBUILT AND THERE HAVE BEEN VERY FEW BENEFITS TIED TO THE ZONING.
I HOPE THEY MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE ABOUT 70.
ALL RIGHT.
SO WE'LL KNOW, AS WE SAID VERY, VERY QUICKLY WANT TO LIKE I JUST WANT TO SAY THE UNIVERSITY.
YOU'RE RIGHT, ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE.
>> BUT THEY HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ABOUT FOOTBALL FOR THE NEXT 2 YEARS.
THEY HAVE TO SIGN A LEASE TO PLAY SOMEWHERE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT WILL SOLD OR COULD BE.
>> PART WRIGLEY.
THEY THEY HAVE TO MAKE THAT DECISION AND WE DON'T WANT TO GIVE THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN THAT INTO A 10 YEAR AGREEMENT.
THE LEAD AS WE CAN DO NEXT MONTH.
I'M SURE THAT IF THEY ARE ACTUALLY CONSIDERING OTHER OPTIONS, IT WOULD HAVE END.
SEEMS LIKE MONDAY BE THE ANSWER.
CAN'T REALLY GET THE LEAD THAT MUCH LONGER THAN EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
JUST WANT TO
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