By Bob Seidenberg Members of the city’s Economic Development Committee on Wednesday, Feb. 22 directed staff to issue requests for proposals (RFPs) for consultants to conduct an economic impact study and lead a community engagement process to gather input on Northwestern University’s proposed Ryan Field project. Committee members voted unanimously in favor of the independent…
By Bob Seidenberg rseiden914@gmail.com Beach tokens will be referred to as beach ‘passes’ under a change to the city’s “Beaches and Boat Ramps” code backed by the Parks & Recreation Board at their Feb. 16 meeting. Parks & Recreation Department staff requested the language to be updated, said Tim Carter, the city’s Recreation Manager, in…
By Bob Seidenberg A City Council committee pulled back Feb. 13 from approving staff’s choice of a firm to conduct an independent economic impact study of Northwestern University’s Ryan Field rebuild, with residents’ criticism playing into their decision. City staff had recommended that the city enter into a no-bid contract with Chicago-based Hunden Strategic Partners…
By Bob Seidenberg Residents, library staff and library volunteers, ranked relationship-building, an experienced public librarian, and transparent communicator as the qualities they would most like to see in the city’s next Executive Library Director, according to results of a survey released last week. Library Board of Trustees solicited feedback from residents, volunteers and staff in…
By Bob Seidenberg Members of a City Council committee held off Feb. 6 moving forward on an ordinance requiring employers to provide employees with predictable work schedules, including advance notice of changes. Human Services Committee members voted to table until their March 6 meeting action on what would be the city’s first Fair Workweek ordinance,…
By Bob Seidenberg Crime, economics, peace of mind — small business members offered different reasons Feb. 9 at a meeting with city officials on why they went cashless. Evanston economic development officials held the meeting over Zoom, inviting feedback from businesses owners on an ordinance that would require Evanston businesses to accept cash payments from…
By Bob Seidenberg As one of the city’s oldest and largest employers, Mather has as its mission, helping people age well. That takes a lot of work — and a lot of employees. Speaking at the city’s Economic Development Committee (EDC) meeting Jan. 26, Elizabeth Rose, the Vice President in charge of talent acquisition for…
By Bob Seidenberg The economic development climate in Evanston is expected to start warming up next month, when a report on Evanston business districts is due. At the city’s Economic Development Committee meeting Wednesday, Jan. 25, Paul Zalmezak, Evanston’s economic development manager, briefed members on Evanston’s downtown area as a kind of prelude to the report. In…
By Bob Seidenberg Some longtime residents living east of Ridge Avenue in Evanston’s Fifth Ward brought concerns about that area’s exclusion from the attendance boundaries of School District 65’s new school into a discussion of new political boundaries for the city. At the city’s Redistricting Committee meeting Jan. 26, longtime resident Jane Evans told…
By Bob Seidenberg After a tumultuous city Administration and Public Works Committee meeting earlier this month, the board members of the Artists Book House “looked at each other and said, ‘We need a board meeting,’ ” explained Audrey Niffenegger, the group’s founder and president in an interview last week. Two days later, the group told the…
