Motion allows ‘time for settlement discussions’ By Bob Seidenberg In a major twist in the longstanding Fountain Square saga, the city on Friday afternoon filed a motion in Cook County Circuit Court requesting that its nearly $6 million lawsuit against a contractor for alleged faulty fountain work be voluntarily dismissed. The motion, filed at 1:46…
By Bob Seidenberg The Hilton Orrington/Evanston hotel’s grand ballroom, which sustained serious water damage at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been restored and is back in its place as the city’s premier meeting and event space. Leticia Phocas, the general manager of the hotel, 1710 Orrington Ave., confirmed in a Tuesday email that the ballroom, which has…
In an effort to reduce plastic waste, the Evanston City Council voted on May 22 to approve a complete ban on plastic bags in all city businesses and impose a $0.10 tax on remaining bag types at large retail stores. The “Retail Single Use Bag Tax”, also known as Ordinance 1-O-23, will go into effect…
By Bob Seidenberg Fleetwood-Jourdain, the Arrington Lagoon Picnic Shelter, James Park, the Clark Street Beach House, Robert Crown – most residents have used those facilities at one time or another in connection with recreation activities. Members of the city’s Economic Development Committee enthusiastically endorsed a staff plan July 26 to create more food opportunities for…
By Bob Seidenberg Evanston’s Public Safety pensions, at one time among the most underfunded in the state, will be placed on a 100% funding track to reach full funding by 2040. Evanston City Council members on July 24 unanimously passed the resolution, adopting the Pension Funding Policy for Public Safety Pensions. In the past, official…
By Bob Seidenberg A unanimous City Council voted July 24 to order a study of how to remove potentially harmful chemicals that have been found in the city’s water supply. The vote authorizes staff to move forward with an agreement with Chicago-based CDM Smith to provide treatment study services at a cost not to exceed…
Corporation Counsel’s filing of motion to remove parcel was done “behind our backs, undermines trust,’, charges Council memberBy Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com A Federal Court judge ruled Tuesday with an Evanston City Council member who charged at the July 24 City Council meeting the city’s Corporation Counsel circumvented a city committee that deals with delicate Northwestern-neighbor…
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Evanston Public Library trustees’ search for a new executive library director is fanning plenty of interest, based on the number of applicants who responded to a posting for the job. As of July 14, 161 applications had been received, EPL Board President Tracy Fulce reported at the board’s regular meeting on July 19. Of…
Counsel finds neither Reid nor Revelle had a conflict of interest in the matter By Bob Seidenberg Evanston’s Special Ethics Counsel has ruled that neither City Council members Eleanor Revelle (7th Ward) nor Devon Reid (8th Ward) violated the city’s ethics code when they voted May 22 to support a request by Connections for the…
By Bob Seidenberg Members of the city’s Rules Committee recommended an ordinance that would allow candidates running for mayor to use public funds to finance their campaigns. At their meeting July 17, committee members voted 6-1 in favor of the proposal, moving it to the full City Council for consideration. An earlier vote, to hold the ordinance in committee…
