[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,86,98],{"_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",6171116,"mediaKeyId","5394904-b0531393ea6f3b2c91063275001f277c","parentId",5394904,"title","APW renews GIS software for one year; council asks staff to evaluate regional consortium options","audioSeconds",159,"startMs",3706000,"endMs",3865000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394904-b0531393ea6f3b2c91063275001f277c&start=3706&end=3865","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394904-b0531393ea6f3b2c91063275001f277c/thumbnail_3706000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6171116/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/APW-renews-GIS-software-for-one-year-council-asks-staff-to-evaluate-regional-consortium-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171116-1a3adefe7c9047d1b1f34605430266b8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770715213&Signature=eo6Rlqs9VChCAU3a7CEXWxM4TiARHXtYQGifWqhxiZhzUfegZoX5x4HLzRvz4B-4R2IKNpgWAkN5u-w6KyKWK3FCtCG2caB7bFLpAMkM6KJFqhfEJ9iHVqYjyKM0JLMNSaHrjmfX4hxrUe1pKyzWICI5DZ3i1hysk9par2~lrl6EGCITSW-FCXqGV~qsCeD11Qy31H0mXI2Kx5M5QOxXdd9yMqDidGP-Ug140dCyIGHRUvjux9~gWvMqpEh63prpzPrenvkgxAI0jB8cUTHh4c-oJgyAOz04TuoNgxF9Nef8yQgE0VmD3ZN78gBz1wrFnmOYKNUhzM-uEGUPC7j6TA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Evanston, IL","date","2025-07-16T04:06:52.863Z","article","The Administration and Public Works Committee on July 14 approved a one-year renewal of the city's GIS software license and support, and asked staff to research whether joining a regional GIS consortium would be feasible and cost-effective.

Why it matters: Geographic information system (GIS) data supports many city services, including planning, inspections, parks and public works. Council members said a consortium model might lower costs and enable shared applications and data products.

Committee discussion: Council member Kelly asked staff to look into joining the GIS consortium used by nearby communities, noting examples of shared applications such as parks-inspection systems. Dimitri Shube, the city's chief information security officer and interim CIO, said pricing for software licensing and support available to consortium members is comparable to Evanston's current pricing under the Illinois master purchasing agreement. He added that the consortium's core mission is to serve smaller communities that lack in-house GIS capacity; Evanston currently has a full-time GIS analyst on staff.

Action taken: The committee approved the one-year software renewal by roll call, 5-0. Staff agreed to evaluate consortium participation and report back with details on technical implications, costs and interoperability with existing systems.

Ending: Staff will return with an analysis of the GIS consortium option and any required steps to join, including technical and staffing considerations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Administration and Public Works Committee Meeting 7-14-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee approved a one-year renewal of the city's GIS software. Council member Kelly asked staff to evaluate joining a regional GIS consortium; interim CIO provided background on pricing parity and the consortium's role serving smaller communities.","taxTitle","Evanston, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",2640,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6171121,"APW approves $328,000 equipment purchase for Twiggs Park playground; installation to be bid separately",0,246000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394904-b0531393ea6f3b2c91063275001f277c&start=246&end=246","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394904-b0531393ea6f3b2c91063275001f277c/thumbnail_246000.jpg","/articles/6171121/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/APW-approves-328000-equipment-purchase-for-Twiggs-Park-playground-installation-to-be-bid-separately","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171121-b4f8ce46fe1171317ce9eb2d0366762f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770715213&Signature=PuOActxKVfeMtcdjN4jFN8~NChcToWZNWAsjsF8VYsuS0jG9EiB8FGAx0hXGvtK-g5hUxS5nX6dkHNKwbFEtJWMuFdWyoZD08PJeZx8HpxUVrbvcelejVYddF6dQzYrATK0TyOSZyKQBczxLH4cAGChKg2gRZFZCp7C3As2Sd8nedrfmwoi96K-v~2jtGWlfitKXef6nGpanRo59O1~UaHW9wpOs6kPDR76EaDprfbcPmfKj79tjTzUPxpknRnjK0HwhK2eNqGk5nW520x~Hy-viL4g-~h6FlSSV8qGYS48HxmNdQfU8eHcu8AJgz8m9vIdrY1xxY4O-Y0HyfDNZrw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Administration and Public Works Committee approved a purchase on July 14 of playground equipment for Twiggs Park from Landscape Structures for approximately $328,000, with installation and construction to be awarded through a separate contract.

Why it matters: Residents said they want clearer public information on exactly what will be installed in public parks before equipment purchases are finalized. Committee members sought assurance that the standard parks review process is being followed.

Public comment and staff response: Resident Mary Rosinski told the committee she was \"a little bothered by the twigs proposal that it doesn't have the description,\" and asked that the public be able to see line-item descriptions and images for park equipment when the city proposes to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Parks staff explained the procurement approach: because playground equipment has long lead times, the city separated the equipment purchase (the contract approved by committee) from the installation and construction contract, which staff said is currently under review. The parks staff said the equipment quote with line items was attached to the procurement packet and that the Parks and Recreation Board does not review vendor bid packages for equipment purchases.

Action taken: The committee approved the equipment purchase by roll call, 5-0. Staff said if a contractor is later selected for installation, that contractor would accept the purchased equipment as part of the installation contract.

Next steps: Staff will complete evaluation of installation bids and bring a recommendation for construction/installation to committee for approval. Residents and committee members asked staff to ensure clearer public presentation of line items and visuals when future park equipment purchases are proposed.

Ending: The committee approved the purchase but left the installation procurement to a separate competitive process and said staff will ensure public documentation of the package is available.","The committee approved purchasing playground equipment for Twiggs Park from Landscape Structures for about $328,000. Residents told the committee they wanted clearer line-item descriptions and photos; staff said the purchase covers equipment only and installation is under a separate bid.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6171126,"APW approves five-year residential refuse franchise with LRS; council asks for accountability and cost analysis",415,3031000,3446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394904-b0531393ea6f3b2c91063275001f277c&start=3031&end=3446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394904-b0531393ea6f3b2c91063275001f277c/thumbnail_3031000.jpg","/articles/6171126/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/APW-approves-five-year-residential-refuse-franchise-with-LRS-council-asks-for-accountability-and-cost-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171126-e8549614157bed96f5f3954aeffc2930/orig.mp4?Expires=1770715213&Signature=Ud67kR5GqIATxWsp6fC6eMnZAqanAI-BDwMnlweh6qKp4xOx9Fc9wfU73nC~rU0ow6vqyOCyMry3vNUwGvrZTTc61IdAhak1Wop2x7edE7LJvC4aIbi0IW9rtyuWKz4CDdIn34E5CG6WBf9IxLIma0ZQbxDUK-AGiYCYlZy~0n9lJkiHTU9B5p5SOleReilVAI7t95mqISTYEuMuS5o2S6K9wof41-2cTuvV4Vw-vcibIGH8oF32yX~BEDWJxpXlQogI25OS5gvJApp3COe-mewD0gxY7qarWZxL8LVROARX3soE552emb3D~FPhgNCEmh3xuXPe7KXldCyZKCELNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Administration and Public Works Committee voted unanimously on July 14 to approve a five-year residential refuse and yard-waste franchise contract with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), extending the vendor's role in both commercial and residential collection under terms staff said will include service-response expectations and incentives for missed collections.

Why it matters: Refuse collection is a day-to-day city service that affects businesses and residents. Committee members cited repeated missed commercial pickups and asked that the new contract and related ordinance changes allow stronger enforcement and accountability.

Contract details and enforcement: Public services leadership told the committee the contract sets response-time expectations for missed collections and service issues (initial response within 24 hours and resolution within 72 hours). Staff said they intend to amend an existing ordinance (Ordinance 8-27-4) that governs the commercial franchise to extend enforcement tools and penalties for residential service in order to hold the vendor more accountable.

Council concerns: Council member Kelly said she has seen repeated missed commercial collections and asked for significant financial penalties or other contract provisions to improve performance. \"We do have ordinance 8-27-4 that addresses the commercial franchise...we intend, staff intends to amend that ordinance to to be able to include the residential in there so that we can also assess penalties and hold a little bit more accountable,\" Public Services Chief Rodriguez said.

In-house option and contract length: Council member Davis asked whether the city had analyzed running refuse collection in house. Staff said no cost analysis had been completed and noted that startup for a municipal collection program (carts, vehicles, staffing) makes short-term contracts impractical. Deputy City Attorney Cynthia Granfield advised the committee that the RFP specified a five-year term and that changing the term now would require reissuing the RFP because contract length was a material term of the solicitation.

Action taken: The committee approved the LRS contract by roll call, 5-0. Staff noted the vendor has indicated it will dedicate additional staff to Evanston and that the commercial franchise already includes incentive language for miscollections that staff expects to apply under the amended ordinance.

Next steps: Staff said they will proceed with ordinance amendments to expand enforcement options and that council could refer a separate, more detailed cost analysis of in-house collection if members want to pursue that option during upcoming budget or operational planning discussions.

Ending: Committee members said they will monitor performance under the new contract and pursue a detailed cost analysis in a separate referral if they wish to evaluate bringing collection back in house.","The committee unanimously approved a five-year residential refuse and yard-waste franchise with Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS), while council members pressed staff for stronger enforcement on missed collections, discussed penalties and raised the possibility of future in-house provision and a cost analysis.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6171130,"APW approves $900,000 DOT grant contract to study three city assets after debate",537,93000,630000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5394904-b0531393ea6f3b2c91063275001f277c&start=93&end=630","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5394904-b0531393ea6f3b2c91063275001f277c/thumbnail_93000.jpg","/articles/6171130/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/APW-approves-900000-DOT-grant-contract-to-study-three-city-assets-after-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6171130-7feb5f62866010ade18ad41ab0a23c64/orig.mp4?Expires=1770715213&Signature=R0MtstwoEulNBrOsI-YOoN29nbqEsUxRD-RZ01PKcGP6FBYlVrwVooDfttTffwS~Apuliw4W3J0pHTnHMymOC7RGVZz30WTma3FJniH11M9SAkPDLjqhR0SLfG1h~ba9JAa~5ON1UpYmNNI1mUO8250~i-c9z77nkuIh4AzBd34ijhMnN4Xmz3nl9e0LUtCIHK~amlYEY~uJdI21nqD4lsC9qQP1-H6q2JFILRujX0Kw1rPM-oU0MwsJMi6RvmqXtlEs8OdYsCcjDcJAMaYc5bnoxYmFFF3hVcMFLu443aO0gwpyri9AcdOyWehRumP42StDeK3-PX0U3ZNO~XKrow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Administration and Public Works Committee voted 3-2 on July 14 to approve resuming a federally funded \"putting assets to work\" consulting contract to study three Evanston-owned properties, advancing a roughly six- to eight-month community engagement and development-feasibility process funded by a U.S. Department of Transportation grant of about $900,000.

The grant-funded contract will support community engagement, development finance modeling and concept options for three properties identified earlier by the previous council: the police and fire headquarters, the vacant Civic Center and the Noyes Cultural Arts Center. The consultant team will work through the community engagement and come back to council with recommended concepts and, at the end of the grant process, an RFQ (request for qualifications) package for private partners, staff said.

Committee members and residents said the project matters because it could affect long-lived public facilities, potential housing outcomes and whether the city chooses to keep, adapt or sell assets. \"I'm a bit stunned that somebody is getting a federal grant for $900,000 to guide us on what we need to do with our public land,\" public commenter Tricia Conley told the committee, urging the council to prioritize strategic housing planning over new consultant studies.

Why it matters: The process will shape options for three high-cost properties the city has identified as transit-oriented and subject to the grant's eligibility criteria. Committee members requested clearer links between the consultant work and the city's ongoing comprehensive plan and the pending strategic housing plan before the engagement begins in earnest.

Staff and consultant background: Paul Zalmazak, Evanston's economic development manager, told the committee the contract had been paused earlier after a procurement error left an RFP response out of the original evaluation. \"The error was, our procurement department, in their, downloading of the RFP responses from the demand star system. There was 1 lingering, RFP response that didn't make it into the final batch,\" Zalmazak said. The omitted proposer (Urban Resolve) asked to be considered, so staff reopened the evaluation.

Zalmazak detailed the project history: in 2023 the city joined a putting-assets-to-work incubator, spending $125,000 and receiving a $125,000 match from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) for a $250,000 incubator effort that led to a 2024 action plan. The current DOT grant is a separate, larger federal award to support a follow-up implementation process that staff said will include frequent council check-ins.

Scope and timeline: Staff described a community-engagement process of roughly six to eight months to generate concepts, financial models and recommendations; the DOT grant has a hard 36-month deadline, with contract work required to be completed by Jan. 31, 2028. Staff said the grant requires the properties considered be within a half mile of a transit station.

Council questions and concerns: Several council members pressed staff on sequencing. \"We are very much engaged in a comprehensive plan, and a comprehensive plan will give us more direction as to what we're looking at with regard to our public assets,\" Council member Kelly said, urging staff to show how the grant work would interface with Envision Evanston and the strategic housing plan. Council member Davis warned the process could amount to developing a sale plan without first analyzing the costs to repair or retain buildings. \"I would rather us have that conversation explicitly and make that decision and then do this route,\" Davis said.

Director Biggs (city staff) said the police and fire building is far out of code and roughly half the size recommended by best practices, and that the building's specialized needs mean there may be limited rental alternatives. Burns, who represents the Fifth Ward, urged staff to begin neighborhood conversations about the property at 2100 Ridge, saying that local residents were ready to engage.

Support and opposition: Council member Burns defended accepting grant-funded outside assistance: \"We secured a grant for 900,000 that doesn't have to come from our Evanston taxpayers. That's a good thing to bring in a partner to help support us in this important work.\" Council member Kelly and others said they would support the work only if staff returned with a clearer scaffolding showing how the grant engagement will work with the comprehensive and strategic housing plans.

Action taken: A motion to table the item to the next APW meeting failed. The committee then approved the contract award (RFP 25-02) by roll call, 3 in favor, 2 opposed. Staff said the consultant's scope will conclude at the RFQ stage; follow-on implementation and any additional funding would be subject to future council decisions.

Next steps: If the contract proceeds, staff said consultants would begin reestablishing the engagement schedule immediately and will return to council with a proposed engagement calendar and periodic check-ins. The final RFQ and selection of a development partner would require separate council approvals.

Ending: Committee members asked staff to return with a clearer explanation of how the DOT-funded engagement will be coordinated with the comprehensive plan and upcoming strategic housing plan and requested regular council updates during the engagement.","The Administration & Public Works Committee approved a contract to resume a federally funded \"putting assets to work\" study of three city-owned properties, advancing a community-engagement process but drawing questions from several council members about timing and overlap with the city's comprehensive and housing plans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

APW renews GIS software for one year; council asks staff to evaluate regional consortium options

APW approves $328,000 equipment purchase for Twiggs Park playground; installation to be bid separately

APW approves five-year residential refuse franchise with LRS; council asks for accountability and cost analysis

APW approves $900,000 DOT grant contract to study three city assets after debate