Council approves $15,000 contract for second engineering opinion on dog‑beach ADA access

The Evanston City Council on Jan. 27 authorized the city manager to award up to $15,000 to GEI Consultants to provide a second engineering opinion about proposed designs to provide Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access to the dog beach at the north end of Evanston’s lakefront.

City engineer Laura Biggs and SmithGroup consultants presented three options: rebid the original, longer dune‑contour boardwalk design; value‑engineer specific components (remove boardwalk, reduce seating/lighting, shorten revetment); or build a shorter, steeper ramp that would require more dune regrading but lower near‑term cost. Staff said earlier bids were higher than budgeted and that council direction was needed on scope to allow a bid package to be prepared and advertised.

Biggs told council, “Our goal at this point really is to try to complete the ADA access this year. Right now we’re at two and a half years that this facility has been open without ADA access.” She reviewed tradeoffs, including impacts to dune plantings and long‑term shoreline durability for shorter ramp options.

Council Member Kelly pressed for a local, independent coastal engineering review. Council Member Reid moved to authorize the contract with GEI not to exceed $15,000; Council Member Kelly seconded. The clerk recorded five votes in favor and four against; the motion carried.

Supporters of getting a second opinion said the local firm GEI — and related local engineers — could save money and produce a shorter, quicker pathway better aligned with the mobility‑impaired community’s needs. Opponents warned that a new review will delay construction and put the city at greater risk of federal ADA complaints because the dog beach has been open without ADA access for more than two years.

The staff presentation noted several cost‑reduction options: replacing a raised boardwalk with a concrete path ($50,000–$100,000 savings), eliminating lighting/electrification ($25,000–$50,000), eliminating secondary stair access ($10,000–$25,000), and shortening the rock revetment and ramp ($25,000–$75,000). Staff also proposed separate parking‑lot pavement work to add ADA stalls; that work would be bid separately.

Council members who voted for the GEI contract said a prompt second opinion could identify further cost savings and an alternate design that still meets ADA standards. Council members who voted against the contract said staff had already done value‑engineering and that an extra review would likely delay construction past the 2025 season and risk enforcement action.

Staff told council that if the GEI review or other delays pushed design beyond the compressed timeline, constructing the ramp in 2025 could become unlikely. The council’s vote directs the city manager to negotiate the GEI contract and return the signed agreement to council through the usual administrative process.