The City Council meeting held on September 23 began with Mayor Daniel Biss’ acknowledgment of Evanston Hispanic Heritage Month, National Preparedness Month, Suicide Prevention Month and National Diaper Need Awareness Week.
Following Biss, City Manager Luke Stowe announced that the United States Department of Transportation has awarded the city $985,000 through the Innovative Finance and Asset Concession Grant Program. Stowe clarified that the grant will help implement recommendations made through the Putting Assets to Work (PAW) strategy, a process aimed at evaluating city assets and determining how they should be used.
Stowe also reported that the city had received a Strategic Plan Award from the Illinois Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-IL) for its One Howard Street Economic Recovery Plan. Geared towards reviving a 1.25-mile stretch of the Howard Street business corridor, the plan focuses on “anti-displacement recommendations, pedestrian focused design, placemaking and social equity and public engagement,” said Stowe.
Arrita Kelmendi, a sophomore at ETHS, has lived in the Howard Street area for as long as she can remember.
“It’s hard to imagine living anywhere else. I’ve lived here my whole life,” she said. Kelmendi admitted that her neighborhood is not necessarily safe, prohibiting her from getting around on foot. Instead, she has to rely on her car.
However, Kelmendi is excited to see how the One Howard Street Economic Recovery Plan will affect her community.
“I think this street has a lot of potential. Howard Street is the border between Evanston and Chicago, so it’s a meeting place,” reasoned Kelmendi.
After all announcements had been made, the council moved on to public comment. Olin Wilson-Thomas, a sophomore at ETHS, shared his opinions on a portion of Envision Evanston 2045, on the City of Evanston’s website “a new comprehensive plan and zoning code that aims to reflect the shared vision for the future of the Evanston community.”
During public comment, Wilson-Thomas also expressed his dissatisfaction with the proposed road diet for Ridge Avenue and instead proposed the idea of a two-way protected bike lane.
“This will lead to increased bike ridership in the city, which has been shown to have economic, social and health benefits for residents,” he explained. “This is a city for people, not cars. Let’s act like it.”
Many of the speakers following Wilson-Thomas brought up concerns about the future of the Harley Clarke Mansion, located on Evanston’s lakefront.
“Decisions regarding the future of Harley Clarke should not be made without clear and honest communication with the people of Evanston,” said Jane McCarthy, a community member who shared her thoughts on the building.
Although the council did not discuss the topic of Harley Clarke at its September 23 meeting, Stowe stated that it would be revisited at the next meeting.
A few members of the public also shared their opinions on the agenda item surrounding the establishment of a Health Initiative referred to as Evanston Pathway to Wellness. The council voted to allocate $400,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act to go towards, as stated in the councilmembers’ packets, “a one-year pilot program aimed at improving health outcomes for Evanston’s most vulnerable populations, specifically focusing on hypertension.”
Neticia Waldron played an essential role in the development of Evanston Pathway to Wellness. At the meeting, she described how health inequity had personally affected her.
“When we started designing this program, my mother and grandmother were here. [Now], they’re not,” acknowledged Waldron, adding that others involved in the program had endured similar experiences, such as their loved ones passing due to strokes, diabetes and heart attacks.
Other significant moments included the approval of funding for the new Foster School track and lighting, approval of the change order to increase the budget for the Independence and Larimer Park Renovations Project and approval of the resolution to allocate money towards tackling affordable housing. The council also voted against a change order to increase the budget for the Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code.
The next city council meeting is scheduled for October 14 at 6:00pm.
