(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — After months of debate, the Evanston City Council is slated to vote Monday night on an $800 million proposal to renovate Northwestern’s Ryan Field, and Mayor Daniel Biss is expected to have the tie-breaking vote.
Biss had to break a tie at the end of October, when he sided with those who wanted to bring a measure allowing six concerts at the new Ryan Field up for a vote.
That decision came after the Evanston Land Use Commission did not recommend the concerts, which the university has said are needed to pay for maintenance of the privately funded renovations.
Neighbors have objected to the additional noise, traffic and crowds that the concerts would bring.
"This radical zoning change that Northwestern and its billionaire mega donor are pushing for are Evanston," Most Livable City Association President David DeCarlo said.
Some who opposed have formed a group called Better than Biss to find a candidate to run against the mayor in the next election.
Following the opposition from residents, Northwestern lowered its proposed concert schedule to six — down from 15 — and offered to pay the City $100 million.
Former Mayor Steve Hagerty sees lots of positives in the proposal that includes at least 100 million from Northwestern in the privately-funded deal.
"In an essence, [it's] increase in agreement from two weeks ago, that was $100 million, by 57%, to a now 15-year, $157 million package," Hagerty noted.
Opponents also object to 60 community events Northwestern would be able to host in addition to the concerts. The university said those will be movie nights or holiday festivals with smaller crowds
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