Evanston APW committee approves multiple public‑works contracts, tables Dutch Elm injection

The Evanston Administration & Public Works Committee on April 27 approved a series of service contracts and amendments and deferred a contract for Dutch Elm disease treatment to allow staff further review.

Claire Kelly, chair of the Administration & Public Works Committee, led the meeting that began at 5:02 p.m. and recorded no public commenters. The committee approved the consent agenda items not pulled for separate discussion and then considered six pulled items.

On Item A2, a resolution authorizing BMO Harris Amazon credit card activity, the committee approved the motion by roll call; the chair stated it passed "with 1 abstention." The roll-call responses were read into the record but the transcript does not identify which member abstained.

A motion to authorize the city manager to execute an agreement with Ampol Group International for the Fleetwood Jordan exterior renovations (Item A6) passed after members questioned cost changes. "The bid was approximately $30,000 more, and there's approximately $15,000 in engineering that needs to happen," a committee member said; the increase is about $45,000 compared with an earlier sole‑source estimate. Alex Ruggie, corporation counsel, said purchasing staff have been asked to provide Appendix A documentation to confirm whether the contractor's apprenticeship program meets RBO requirements. "If we don't get proper documentation, we would rescind approval," Ruggie said, adding that the council could decide to move forward or not depending on compliance.

On Item A7, the committee authorized a contract with Hard Rock Concrete Cutters for the 2026 sidewalk grinding program. Kevin Johnson, manager of field services, said city crews do not currently own the specialized grinding equipment and raised safety concerns including silica dust. "At this present time, we do not have the proper equipment," Johnson said. He said contractors bill by the work required (about $43 per cut), and that the roughly $50,000 contract will address some trip hazards but not all.

The committee approved an amendment with Schroeder & Schroeder (Item A11) to continue the city’s sidewalk improvement program. Assistant city engineer Chris Sues said a recent update to ProAg minimum standards tightened the allowable elevation difference from one‑half inch to one‑quarter inch, increasing the number of sidewalk panels that now meet replacement thresholds. Sues also cited a roughly 34–35% rise in construction costs for sidewalk work. Staff described the program estimates as a "living target" that will be refined as grinding and replacement strategies are coordinated.

On Item A13, members voted 6–0 to table a three‑year Dutch Elm injection contract so staff can explore doing more treatments in house and consult with union staff. Acting public works director Daryl King said the city currently handles about 300 injections per year in house while the proposed contract would cover 1,461 trees over three years, explaining the request for additional discussion.

Finally, the committee advanced Ordinance 39 O‑26 (Item A22) amending Evanston City Code Title 3, Chapter 3, to require nonprofit vendors selling baked goods at the farmers market to prepare those goods in certified kitchens. Matt Poole, deputy director of parks and recreation, said he has not observed home‑baked goods sold by nonprofits since he began overseeing the market in 2023 and that the change aligns nonprofit food handling with the standards applied to other vendors.

The meeting adjourned at 5:24 p.m. The transcript records committee direction to obtain procurement and compliance documentation on contracts and to return the Dutch Elm item at the next meeting after staff review.