The Evanston Health and Human Services Department will be holding a second H1N1 Public Vaccination Clinic at Evanston Township High School (Bacon Cafeteria entrance, 1600 Dodge Ave. ) for only those who fit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC priority groups this Saturday, November 21, 2009 from 9 a.m. until the limited supply of vaccine runs out.

The vaccination clinic will follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and include the following Priority Groups:

• Pregnant women;
• People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age;
• Health care and emergency medical services personnel (EMTs/paramedics);
• All people ages six (6) months through 24 years of age; and
• Persons aged 25 through 64 years who have health conditions associated with higher risk of medical complications from influenza.

Please alert the clinic staff if you have received seasonal flu mist in the last 30 days. Please be prepared to show proof of residency and verification of the priority group to which you belong.

“The Evanston Health Department wants to reiterate to residents that the clinic is ONLY for those who meet the CDC priority groups,” explained Evonda Thomas, Director of Evanston’s Health and Human Services Department. “Additionally, the department is stressing the high importance of the need for pregnant women and pre-school children to get vaccinated against H1N1.”

Parents/guardians must have a signed consent form completed for children 18 and under in order for them to receive the H1N1 vaccination.  Children under ten (10) years of age will need to have two doses of the vaccine, separated by 28 days.

Additional clinics will be announced as vaccine is received from the Illinois Department of Public Health and dates are confirmed. Further information on H1N1 and updates on vaccine availability will be posted on the Health and Human Services Department’s website at www.cityofevanston.org/health.

The department encourages anyone with questions about receiving the H1N1 vaccine to contact their healthcare provider. For more information about the H1N1 influenza clinics, call 847/866-2948 or 847/866-2962.    

1.  Received report on Climate Action Plan and directed staff to continue implementation of the plan with particular emphasis on distributing grant funds received for residential weatherization programs and to continue close partnership with Citizens for a Greener Evanston and other community and business groups to implement the plan.

2.  Directed staff to continue implementation of the City’s Lakefront Plan.  While there was much discussion on this, the Council ultimately agreed they were not interested in exploring uses beyond what was in the Plan.  However, I was directed to bring to the Council’s attention opportunities that are presented that are in keeping with the plan, but perhaps not specifically articulated in the plan.  For example, there was interest in hearing about unique events that might be proposed for the lakefront.  The event may or may not work there, but may fit elsewhere in the City, so the Council wants to be kept aprised of these opportunities as appropriate.

4.  Directed staff to develop a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to potential firms interested in constructing a new multi-use facility to replace the Robert Crown Center at its current location.  The  RFQ would challenge interested firms to consider up to complete design, construction, operation and financing of the facility.  Once firms are identified, the City would then issue a Request for Proposal from these firms for a new center.  This approach can provide the City with maximum flexibility in leveraging private resources to construct and operate the center.  I believe that it can also dramatically reduce the City’s obligation to finance the construction of the center.  While it is unrealistic to expect a new center to be built and operated free of City costs, it is certainly possible that the upfront design and construction costs could be borne by a private entity.  There are many operating/financing models that could work and the Council’s direction tonight was to explore them to the fullest extent possible.  Next step would be to bring RFQ back to Council for review in January/February 2010.

The City Council will have a special meeting Monday evening to talk about three of its 2010 goals:  the climate action plan, lakefront development and Robert Crown Center improvements. 

The meeting starts at 7 PM in the City Council Chambers, will be televised live on Channel 16 and rebroadcast later.  Agenda and materials for meeting (PDF).

The City’s series of four budget workshops continued Thursday evening.  See the budget website for notes and video from the meeting.

The workshop will also be replayed on Channel 16 on Saturday at approximately 2:40 PM;  Sunday at approximately 4:40 PM; and Tuesday at approximately 2:40 PM.

The next workshop is Tuesday at 7 PM at Fleetwood Jourdain Center.

Alderman Don Wilson asked that I pass this along to the community:

“What’s on your mind when it comes to juggling work and family? ParentsWork – a local nonprofit organization advocating for changes that will better enable parents to care for their children – wants to hear. The group is conducting a survey of Evanston parents (and grandparents!) to find out more about their needs and ideas for how we can create a more family-friendly community. The five-minute survey can be completed online at http://bit.ly/evfamilies with responses accepted through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4, 2009. For more information about ParentsWork and to sign up for their e-mail list, visit www.parentswork.org.”

Lots of discussion at community meetings and through emails about the Evanston property tax levy.  Assistant City Manager Marty Lyons did a good overview for the Council Monday night on subject.  Here is a memo (PDF) from Marty to the Council with information.

It will be replayed on Channel 16 at 12 Noon today and 7 PM Thursday.  We are working on full schedule of playbacks, including a “marathon weekend” in December.

See release here.