2012 Evanston Budget Fee Changes Effective Dates
In order to balance the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget, the Evanston City Council voted to reduce numerous expenses, reduced several positions and increased fees in five areas with varying effective dates of January 1, February 1 and April 1, 2012. The fee increases include false alarm calls, water rates, parking meters, sanitation service charge and parking tickets. The water rate (effective January 1, 2012) and sanitation service rate (effective February 1, 2012) have already been passed by City Council. The remaining fee increases have been introduced and are expected to be approved as is at the January 9, 2012 meeting of the Evanston City Council. Final details of the passage of the three remaining fee increase will be available following the meeting at www.cityofevanston.org or by calling 3-1-1.
Water Rate Increase Effective January 1, 2012
Ordinance 108-O-11 will increase water rates by 5%. The water rate is comprised of two components: a minimum use charge based on the size of the water meter and a quantity charge based on water used in excess of the minimum use charge during the two month billing period. The minimum use charge is as follows:
The quantity charge is $1.75 per 100 cubic feet of usage in excess of the quantity included in the minimum use charge. The fee changes are for water usage after January 1, 2012. See fee structure and ordinance here>>>
False Alarm Fee Increases Effective February 1, 2012
Ordinance 117-O-11 will increase the City of Evanston Police and Fire-related false alarm fees. This increase will take effect January 1, 2012. The ordinance would implement a 10% increase in police and fire-related false alarm fees. This was introduced at City Council on December 12, 2011 with expected approval on January 9, 2012. See fee structure and ordinance here>>>
This fee is applied when the City’s emergency communication center is notified of four or more police or fire-related false alarms by a single user within a calendar year. The false alarm fee structure is as follows:
Sanitation Service Charge Increases Effective February 1, 2012
Ordinance 109-O-11 will increase the sanitation service charge per unit fee structure to $7.95 for a 65 gallon cart, $14.95 for a 95 gallon cart, and $7.95 per unit for the City condo program and to increase the additional cart fee to $7.95 per cart. This ordinance was introduced at the November 28, 2011 City Council meeting and was approved on December 12, 2011. See fee structure and ordinance here>>>
The purpose of the increase is to encourage increased recycling and increase the self-sufficiency of the newly created Solid Waste Fund. All Sanitation fees are billed on the bi-monthly City of Evanston water bills. The fee structure is as follows:
Parking Meter Increases Effective February 1, 2012
Ordinance 114-O-11 will increase parking meter fees will increase by $.25/hour for meters with max time limits of 2, 3 & 4 hours as well as increasing the remaining meters by a commensurate amount. The fee change is proposed to take effect on February 1, 2012. This was introduced at City Council on December 12, 2011 with expected approval on January 9, 2012.
The city has very few 20 minute and 30 minute meters and the impact of these changes to the budget and the user is minimal. Longer term meters impact employee and commuter parking and the city also has considerably fewer meters in this category than in the two hour zones. See fee structure and ordinance here>>>
Parking Ticket Fine Increases Effective April 1, 2012
Ordinance 115-0-11 will increase fines on various parking violations. The FY2012 proposed budget recommended that the initial parking violation fines be increased by $5. This ordinance does not impact the $10 expired meter fine and late penalties. I
Additionally, there are no fine increases for State Registration violation fines of $25, and disabled violation fines of $250 and penalties of $100. The increases are set to take effect April 1, 2012. This was introduced at City Council on December 12, 2011 with expected approval on January 9, 2012. See the ordinance which provides a table which addresses the fine increases by violation here>>>