Here’s a recap of our live coverage of Monday evening’s meeting of the Evanston City Council Administration and Public Works Committee.
The meeting is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
A packet with information on the agenda items is available online.
Meeting called to order at 5:08 p.m.
Ald. Bobby Burns (5th) chairs. Alds. Kelly and Harris are present in the room. Ald. Nieuwsma is online. Ald. Reid is absent.
Minutes approved.
Consent agenda
Off consent: A 11 and A15 through A18
Rest of consent agenda approved.
A11 – Park renovation contracts
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) asks whether Parks and Rec Board has reviewed the bids.
City Engineer Lara Biggs says that’s not typical, generally bids are reviewed by staff.
Kelly wants to change the policy process on that.
Ald. Krissie Harris (2nd) asks whether that would be typical for the city.
Biggs says, “No.”
Harris says its important to have the Park Board involved in setting the initial scope of the project.
Nieuwsma says Parks and Rec did have an opportunity to weigh in on the scope of the project in general.
He asks about a decision on the funding options for the project. Biggs says details on the funding choice can be made later.
Nieuwsma moves amending the funding proposal to take the smaller of two proposed amounts from ARPA. That motion is approved 4-0.
Ald. Eleanor Revelle (7th) (not on the committee, so she’s speaking from the floor) says in response to Kelly’s earlier comments, there was a lot of public input into the design of the project.
Biggs says there was community interest in having a public restroom at Independence Park, but the staff concluded that was too expensive to fit within the project budget.
Related story about the park projects.
Item as amended is approved 4-0.
A15 – Beach chair and bike rentals at Clark Street Beach
Kelly says she’s heard negative reactions to the proposal from her constituents.
Parks staffer says the proposed location for the chairs would be behind the main lifeguard stand — designed not to interfere with the rest of beach operations.
Audrey Thompson, parks and rec director, says concerns raised by the Parks & Rec board were outlined in memo to council.
Has been scaled back to only be at Clark Street Beach, rather than there and at Lee Street Beach.
Kelly says her constituents were also unhappy with the e-bike rental proposal. Says she can’t support that.
Josh Squier, the vendor, says the e-bikes are relatively low-speed, peddle-assisted, capped at 15 miles per hour. Says could be removed if needed.
Harris says she’s in favor of it, brings a new excitement to Evanston, a new opportunity that we shouldn’t be afraid of. Says if it doesn’t work, it won’t come back next year.
Approved 3-1. Kelly votes no.
A16 – Environmental health technician
For rodent control and leaf blower ordinance enforcement. It’s a 100% grant-funded position from the state department of public health.
Approved 4-0.
A17 – CARE program for racially marginalized students
Funded through the participatory budgeting program.
Harris says programs like this can make a difference. Sooner talk to kids about going to college, the better, she says.
Approved 4-0.
A18 – Honorary street name sign for Oliver Ruff
Harris says he does a lot for the community. He’s a former principal at Chute Middle School.
Approved 4-0.
Meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.
Planning and Development Committee meeting to start at 6:15 p.m.