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Evanston council OKs first reading to streamline building-code adoption, approves lease amendment and Tree City recertification
Summary
The council gave first reading to an ordinance letting the city adopt future model building codes by resolution, approved a lease amendment with the golf club and authorized the city's Tree City USA recertification after staff reported the city exceeded the program's $2 per‑capita forestry budget requirement.
At the Dec. 31 meeting, the Evanston City Council handled several largely procedural items intended to streamline municipal functions and recognize community forestry work.
Ordinance 21‑06: The council considered Ordinance 21‑06 to amend section 7‑7 of the city code to allow the governing body to adopt updated regulatory building codes by resolution rather than by ordinance on each update cycle. Staff described the change as a housekeeping measure to align the city's process with periodic state updates; council members said it would streamline future adoptions. Councilmember Perks sponsored the ordinance and the council approved it on first reading by voice vote; staff indicated a resolution adopting the new code set (the 2021 codes) would follow.
Resolution 21‑80: The council approved Resolution 21‑80, which authorizes the city to execute a fourth amendment to a real‑estate lease with option to purchase between the golf club and the city and to submit a related application to the Wyoming State Forester. Council members who had reviewed the amendment said it looked acceptable and moved to pass the resolution; it was approved by voice vote.
Resolution 21‑81 (Tree City USA): A staff presenter, Jacobson, summarized the city’s Tree City USA application. He said the program requires a community‑forestry budget of at least $2 per capita (which the materials calculate as just under $24,000 for Evanston’s population); Jacobson said the city’s combined spending for staff time, equipment and materials totals a little over $60,000. He reported 29 trees planted by parks and rec plus an additional 44 trees as part of the community planting program for a total of 73 planted this year; staff also reported 140 trees pruned and 36 removed. Council approved the Tree City USA recertification resolution.
Why it matters: the ordinance simplifies how the city updates building codes in response to state changes; the resolutions formalize a lease amendment with the golf club and recognize ongoing forestry work in the community.
What’s next: Ordinance 21‑06 moves forward after first reading and a resolution adopting the 2021 building codes is expected at a subsequent meeting. The lease amendment and Tree City USA application were approved during the meeting.
