City of Evanston Blog
Council Actions on 11/16/09
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.
Wally - I was wondering if I am missing something? That is the city of Evanston's effect on the Carbon emission's is 2% and the City has reduced it recently by 3%.
If we look at this on the overall effect {2/100) X (3/100) = 6 / 10,000. that is city has reduced the overall effect by 6/10,000 of a percent? Hardly worth spending $80,000 years to keep a position filled. Last night one employee stated to me at the budget hearing the public should do more, it appears to me the citizens who are involved in Climate Action should run this with no expense from the city.
As for the Robert Crown - RFP - this was not thought out - I would like to know what staff is suppose to do - it appears to me to be wasting staff time - since the council has no clue how they want to operate Robert Crown or what changes they want. In my view wasting staff time cost money although some council members do not understand this!
November 18, 2009 7:50 AM