[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6059212,"mediaKeyId","3295410-e030caf91686ffca3b0893bad03e769c","parentId",3295410,"title","Council approves IEPA public water supply loan ordinance for city borrowing","audioSeconds",86,"startMs",4134000,"endMs",4220000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295410-e030caf91686ffca3b0893bad03e769c&start=4134&end=4220","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295410-e030caf91686ffca3b0893bad03e769c/thumbnail_4134000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6059212/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Council-approves-IEPA-public-water-supply-loan-ordinance-for-city-borrowing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059212-ce281b7f120a3a2d81310a92b40b456b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117059&Signature=Vz9NEX-DRx4HchoTyJu1xVpQzIc~VXdGaojqcpCO2m56pWMq2ZLI3SvN7NXkZDa57~NlzhlDOejhgybgB86lzNSmO0kTA~i6m3pEUdHX3Ee3-7shF61kV00JWXdRk3Z~IwyU7jYDJUHQnD3OaC23C-FGoRiqxJKhwS-fjMWy3BoQle4H1nY3Xasqz1~3athPPu1xnmKZAUWv4oUNN8pj99Y609sjmT5m1ipxZGYWem~D8PqHvbl8DihvAG03lYqLSaqj6fcRD3KLVB7emyC4JOZW~70yUbo1rX-xAf0p2zW-a6ifXIq3W2Y3DMaO5vWf16ezw53yXxxR6~DYT5lOlw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Evanston, IL","date","2025-05-14T12:04:21.207Z","article","The City Council on May 12 unanimously approved Ordinance 41-025, authorizing Evanston to borrow funds from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency's Public Water Supply Loan Program.

Council suspended the usual rule 20.1 to allow introduction and final action in a single meeting. Council member Suffredin moved introduction and action on the ordinance, and the roll call recorded unanimous aye votes. The ordinance was passed on the same evening and staff indicated the measure will authorize the city to proceed with borrowing under IEPA program terms specified in the ordinance.

The meeting record does not include loan principal, interest rate or project-level spending details; staff indicated further paperwork will be completed to formalize loan terms and that the ordinance authorizes pursuit of the IEPA program to finance qualifying water-system projects.

No public debate was recorded on the ordinance; the council's unanimous vote moves the authorization forward for staff to finalize loan documents.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Evanston City Council Meeting 5-12-2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council suspended rules to introduce and immediately adopt Ordinance 41-025 authorizing Evanston to borrow under the Illinois EPA Public Water Supply Loan Program; the measure passed unanimously.","taxTitle","Evanston, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",2640,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6059217,"Council approves Land Use Commission appointment after bipartisan public debate over qualifications and representation",6737,1231000,7968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295410-e030caf91686ffca3b0893bad03e769c&start=1231&end=7968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295410-e030caf91686ffca3b0893bad03e769c/thumbnail_1231000.jpg","/articles/6059217/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Council-approves-Land-Use-Commission-appointment-after-bipartisan-public-debate-over-qualifications-and-representation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059217-053e21dbd7c6e1692f77f2581e360aae/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117059&Signature=l-vaQMEDr0jr9VNNfiXJSwAGiuFNIEypWrYBcbisV8t1eWd7l9uAeOvJrJlyvJhrj1RUCsRth6Y-844Gmm-TLtzevtYDI1nMZDr2J3fq-C0qjBnqiZiV9akK5WtzW1LJfhN9nVoIsz48cyUKUtdG8fpt64fQIWV9jUMJZuTnyLSw0tWge3gHEfBf8oBV7KAD3tTFwummmLUylxXDmr5oaBdK6jZ73mmHUKULY5vpe9ICSm-6L5Kj2h01TEQc4ERCs739X0ahXPBJl-Y492MK81~GNu0fPWG4fINAYAAfF~EDrcYeNzLuffrgn-x8RN2Gw1B6xidfU-oByhPXCCljWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Evanston City Council on May 12 approved the mayor's appointment of Pastor Luke Harris Ferre to the Land Use Commission after extensive public comment and a divided council vote.

The nomination prompted about 30 public commentators, many of whom addressed the Land Use Commission (LUC) appointment during the public-comment period. Supporters, including clergy, renter-advocacy groups and housing advocates, said Ferre's experience as a renter and with affordable-housing projects brings a needed perspective to a commission that advises on the comprehensive plan and zoning. Marybeth Roth, Interfaith Action of Evanston and several faith leaders and community groups urged the council to approve Ferre, saying his negotiation skills and lived experience would broaden the commission's viewpoint.

Opponents and several commenters urged appointment of candidates with technical land-use experience. Public speakers cited George Halleck's background in architecture, affordable-housing projects and prior LUC service as an example of the technical expertise they said the commission needs. Multiple speakers expressed concern about the appearance of conflicts because of Ferre's affiliations with faith-based organizations and advocacy groups; commenters asked for disclosure or recusal where appropriate.

During council debate, several members described the tradeoffs between subject-matter expertise (architects, planners, developers) and representation of renters, younger residents and community advocates. Council member Davis and others emphasized that the city's ongoing Envision Evanston 2045 comprehensive-plan process has generated controversy around housing policy and that broad community representation on the LUC can be valuable in that context. Sarah Flax, community development director, provided an update on Envision Evanston 2045 earlier in the meeting and said the Land Use Commission had spent a multihour meeting reviewing housing policy language and planned to make a recommendation to the council on May 21.

When the council called the roll on the appointment, the vote was tied 4-4: Council member Ailes, Council member Nussbaum, Council member Burns and Council member Hetekaddis voted in favor; Council member Kelly, Council member Suffredin, Council member Davis and Council member Rogers voted against. Mayor Biss then broke the tie by voting yes, producing a 5-4 confirmation.

Council discussion also included ethics questions. Council member Ailes asked whether his professional connection to Interfaith Action (he is employed with that organization) created a conflict; the corporation counsel advised that the city's ethics code did not create a disqualifying conflict in that circumstance. Several council members urged clear recusal or disclosure practices where a commissioner has overlapping affiliations with advocacy groups that take positions on zoning.

The LUC appointment comes as staff and the Land Use Commission continue drafting a recommended version of Envision Evanston 2045. Flax told the council that the Land Use Commission had supported a range of housing-related edits, including ADU financing, streamlining development review, prioritizing housing near transit, creating a housing database and down-payment assistance; a specific policy asking commissioners to \"preserve and increase housing diversity\" was adjusted from earlier language because of disagreement on how to cast the action language. The commission planned further amendments at its May 21 meeting; staff will release an updated draft after the Historic Preservation Commission finalizes requested language.

The appointment is effective immediately; the Land Use Commission will continue review of the comprehensive plan and submit its recommendation to the council as outlined in the Envision Evanston schedule.","After nearly 30 public commenters and extended council discussion, the City Council confirmed Pastor Luke Harris Ferre to the Land Use Commission by a 5-4 vote (Mayor Biss breaking a 4-4 tie). Public comments split over expertise, lived experience and potential conflicts tied to advocacy groups.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6059222,"Council amends Responsible Bidder Ordinance after hours-long debate; apprenticeship, local preferences and waivers changed",2488,4032000,6520000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295410-e030caf91686ffca3b0893bad03e769c&start=4032&end=6520","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295410-e030caf91686ffca3b0893bad03e769c/thumbnail_4032000.jpg","/articles/6059222/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Council-amends-Responsible-Bidder-Ordinance-after-hours-long-debate-apprenticeship-local-preferences-and-waivers-changed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059222-0a1b13e48ff328173b0cb3787f08753f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117059&Signature=WWJnJR6CnaiOYs4uwN60AH4fM-9PG12qO3tZt7xjFaJOpPwquBMnRKVaNGa1vpNkPL6zcRTpMUiXRaCAtWuGQ8UoqX3s18r1ZiRjfeOxOfadVfs5QffeTdu9PEeFbnbrdUJ8aWj5x7IW~BTG-LjdjkG9zIuYGfc2Ins3e0asVEAUGkGlo09sJY00tQ4OQ87kNRq8rodLDRa~AW5GFsDb5Whc-vg5s~7tGEKzwBFQ2ZEjK82aOG1rUJFUlwwabZcKVH8Sx5p3D44-AxAFFIufp~UxTVyj9Fty81EeFREtuxnuarG7079aY~NlV-TvL-xwKxukk8owaBv3LpGYzawHhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Evanston city council members on May 12 voted to introduce Ordinance 23-025, the Responsible Bidder Ordinance (RBO), after more than an hour of committee-level and public discussion and several amendments to the draft ordinance.

Council member Suffredin moved introduction of the ordinance, which staff described as a package that creates local preference points, an apprenticeship training requirement for contractors on covered projects, and a process for waivers for local firms. City attorney and staff told the council that the ordinance was revised at committee to remove a provision on project labor agreements because of recent litigation and to add a general waiver process reserved for local businesses.

Key amendments adopted before introduction:

- Local radius narrowed to 5 miles: Council adopted a motion replacing a 15-mile radius option with a 5-mile radius for the expanded definition of \"local\" businesses. A roll call recorded 8 ayes and no votes against the amendment.

- Certification timing changed to a rolling 12-month period: The council amended the draft so that contractors who submit required certifications would not have to refile until 12 months after their certification date, replacing the original calendar-year approach. The amendment passed unanimously on roll call.

- Experience-exemption pathway (\"option 1\"): Council adopted language allowing a bidder to demonstrate prior on-the-job experience for workers (for example, documented payroll or tax records) as an alternative path to meet the apprenticeship requirement; staff called this the experience-exemption option and cautioned it could be administratively burdensome. The amendment passed (final tally recorded as 6 in favor, 2 opposed in the meeting record).

Amendment defeated:

- Threshold increase to $100,000: A proposal to raise the dollar threshold that would trigger the ordinance from $25,000 to $100,000 failed on a 3-5 roll call. Recorded yes votes were Council members Ailes, Nussbaum and Burns; no votes were Council members Kelly, Suffredin, Davis, Rogers and Hetekaddis.

Councilmember discussion repeatedly returned to balancing the ordinance's policy goals (worker training and quality standards) against administrative burden and the potential impact on small, local contractors. Council members also debated the use of an umbrella waiver (a council vote to waive a provision for a local business) versus a records-based exemption in which contractors would show on-the-job training records to qualify without seeking council action.

In procedural action, the council introduced Ordinance 23-025 as amended; the roll call at introduction recorded eight aye votes on the ordinance with the adopted amendments. Staff noted that the ordinance will return for final action at the May 27 meeting with the committee changes incorporated.

The council's debate included repeated references to prior research and to examples from other Illinois municipalities; staff told the council that a large majority of Illinois local governments that have similar ordinances set thresholds at $20,000 or $25,000 and that $100,000 would be at the high end of the range.

The RBO discussion drew several public speakers and councilmembers who emphasized support for local hiring, apprenticeship standards and the need to protect small local contractors from undue paperwork. The ordinance as amended creates the apprenticeship and certification framework, a local-business preference, and two pathways (waiver and experience-exemption) for local firms that cannot or choose not to meet the apprenticeship standard.","Council introduced Ordinance 23-025, the Responsible Bidder Ordinance, and adopted amendments narrowing local preference radius to 5 miles, changing certification timing to a 12-month rolling period, and creating an experience-exemption pathway while rejecting a proposal to raise the contract threshold to $100,000.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6059227,"Evanston presents citywide stormwater master plan, highlights model and targeted capital projects",170,545000,715000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3295410-e030caf91686ffca3b0893bad03e769c&start=545&end=715","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3295410-e030caf91686ffca3b0893bad03e769c/thumbnail_545000.jpg","/articles/6059227/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Evanston-presents-citywide-stormwater-master-plan-highlights-model-and-targeted-capital-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059227-1f3ce3f17dc7f05763843a18ecc353a4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117059&Signature=D6up16FelrWKnz5cDkRwAJGUGtYvd3sdZvFGx-MNyFlaB8dR1GIJCxKo6G1-VauMaEf1IY8QgJbFEw2ng8ZIOuLQFMAH7BAaCjJ1ma0NVS4YeiC5Pws8iHTRQStW1XyhK1VeiWVATKgnJN3l8HG-b-gtHoCZu9RhxTAbrDRS9B7KmqlJjSN9kFHetvtBkTxP2mYn4nqjTpbWw5-XBNeiMZ4074e5ciOTco22Bp34db6TBRuknCWCEDeXAz2fHTALAlIzZZuscVKf9zFjBYYaPrzhrT1t3ZLO-2UvhclVemR8wS8lTG~LAl5BdXYLLf6a7HxGvY-A3SCLSRmNTcL02g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City officials and consultants on May 12 described a newly completed stormwater master plan they say will guide investments to reduce street flooding and basement backups across Evanston.

Bridget Nash, senior project manager for the city, introduced the report and said the study uses a detailed hydrologic and hydraulic model of the city's combined and separate sewer networks to locate weaknesses and prioritize improvements. \"The model is now used as a valuable and powerful tool in evaluating system performance under current and future needs,\" Nash said.

Hay & Associates project manager Jeff Wickenkamp said the model represents the city at a neighborhood scale: about 9,500 catchments (roughly two-thirds to three-quarters of an acre each) and some 12,000 pipe segments, which the consultants estimate represent more than 200 miles of sewer conduits. The model was calibrated with flow-monitoring data gathered in summer 2021, including two rain gauges and 23 flow monitors, Wickenkamp said. That calibration, he said, allowed the team to assess three core questions: surcharge risk (water level in sewer relative to basement elevations), surface flooding extents, and the potential to reduce combined-sewer overflows as projects are built.

City staff and consultants grouped recommendations into three buckets. Regulatory suggestions include tightening detention requirements for smaller buildings and more robust private-property plumbing compliance at point of sale. Private-system recommendations focus on ways property owners can reduce flood risk. Public-system recommendations include capital improvements, improved system monitoring and pilot projects for surface-flooding and green-infrastructure concepts. The plan also identifies concept projects: an example green-infrastructure concept for Mason Park, permeable pavers installed last year on Main Street, permeable play surfaces at Independence and Larimer Parks, and a surface-flooding concept for the city's southwest where historic North Shore Channel grades limit overland flow.

Nash said the model already informed the 2024 and 2025 capital improvement program. She noted three alley-improvement locations and a storm-sewer extension of roughly 2,340 feet are in the 2025 CIP, and work linked to street resurfacing on McDaniel Avenue will include about 330 feet of new storm sewer, according to the presentation. Nash also outlined a plan to install level meters on Church Street this season to monitor water elevations and to use those sensor data to investigate reported flooding and to maintain the model's calibration. The city intends to update the model every two to three years as sewer construction or other changes occur.

Council members asked clarifying questions about how the model maps to capital projects and how regulatory changes would be enforced. The presentation concluded with staff offering to provide additional, project-level information as proposed projects move into design and permitting.

The stormwater master plan presentation was informational; no council vote or formal direction was recorded at the meeting. City staff indicated the plan will continue to guide CIP decisions and regulatory discussions going forward.","City staff and consultants described a hydrologic/hydraulic model of Evanston's sewer system, identified limited areas of concern, and recommended regulatory, public-system and green infrastructure steps to reduce flooding and combined-sewer overflows.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves IEPA public water supply loan ordinance for city borrowing

Council approves Land Use Commission appointment after bipartisan public debate over qualifications and representation

Council amends Responsible Bidder Ordinance after hours-long debate; apprenticeship, local preferences and waivers changed

Evanston presents citywide stormwater master plan, highlights model and targeted capital projects