Adopted 2025-29 City Council Goals

Mission Statement

The City of Evanston is committed to promoting the highest quality of life for all residents by providing fiscally sound, responsive municipal services and delivering those services equitably, professionally, and with the highest degree of integrity. 

Vision Statement

Creating the Most Livable City in America

Organizational Values

• Excellent customer service
• Continuous improvement 
• Integrity 
• Accountability

Housing Affordability

Provide opportunities to increase access to safe, high-quality, and affordable housing by expanding housing, preserving existing affordable units, and implementing policies that reduce housing cost burdens for residents.

Key Initiatives Include:

• Council approval of market-rate developments with 150 inclusionary affordable units by 2029.

• Attract at least 50 new subsidized housing units by 2029. 

• Increase support for maintaining Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH) through the rehabilitation of 25+ units by 2029.

• Preserve at least 50 rental housing units with affordability restrictions that end between 2026 and 2031.

• Create a Landlord Mitigation Fund to support housing providers who rent to households with perceived risk factors by 2028.

• Support the expansion of shelter capacity for people experiencing homelessness by 30 beds by 2028.

Climate Action and Resiliency 

Offer pathways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen community resiliency through sustainable policies, resilient infrastructure, and proactive climate action with guidance from our Climate Action & Resilience Plan.

Key Initiatives Include:

• Procure 100% renewable electricity for municipal operations annually.

• Implement at least one recommendation from each action plan area of the Environmental Equity Investigation by the end of 2027.

• Council approval of funding for at least 100 fossil fuel pollution reduction and climate resilience projects through the Sustain Evanston and Evanston Green Homes programs by 2029.

• Create decarbonization plans for all municipal buildings by 2030.

• Electrify 25% of the municipal vehicle fleet by 2030.

• Develop and implement a plan to modernize lighting to LED across all City infrastructure (parks, facilities, and right-of-way) by 2035.

Economic Development

Propose initiatives to strengthen economic vitality and fiscal sustainability by promoting responsible development of commercial and business districts through recruiting, supporting, and retaining local businesses.

Key Initiatives Include:

• Create a “Pop-Up Leasing” program to reduce storefront vacancies by June, 2026.

• Create a "Signature Events Series" in 2027 to draw visiting artists to Evanston.

• Publish a "Business Start-up Guide" and implement a satisfaction survey system to create a baseline with a 70% or higher satisfaction rate by December, 2026.

Finance & Operational Performance

Implement sound financial management policies and strengthen operational performance through data-driven decisions, modernized systems, improved efficiency, and greater accountability to ensure responsible stewardship of public resources. 

Key Initiatives Include:

• Reduce the structural deficit by 2028 through a balanced mix of new and expanded revenue sources and targeted expenditure reductions, resulting in an adopted budget in which recurring revenues meet or exceed recurring expenditures. 

• Deploy zero-based, priority-based, or outcome-based budgeting for one department annually, resulting in measurable operational efficiencies and improved resource allocation. 

• Implement Denver Peak Academy to identify process improvements, reduce redundancies, and enhance customer experience.

• Identify major areas of required capital spending; develop a 10-year forecast for the Enterprise Funds and Capital Improvement Funds; and use them to produce a range of projected debt issuance needs, including timing, amounts, and funding strategies.

• Consolidate major technology platforms to improve interoperability, reduce expenses, and significantly enhance payment integration and offerings.

• Elevate our What Works Cities certification from Silver to Gold by 2027 and Platinum by 2029.

• Conduct the National Community Survey (NCS) and utilize results to assist in making better data-driven decisions regarding budget, service delivery, and resource allocations.

• Reduce the Average Time to Close 311 Service Requests 25% by 2027 and 50% by 2029.

Public Health and Safety

Protect and enhance public health and safety by ensuring effective emergency response, promoting community well-being, and delivering equitable, proactive public health services.

Key Initiatives Include:

• Achieve a 10% reduction in Crimes Against Persons in Evanston by December 2029, compared to 2024 levels, using data-driven strategies, enhanced intelligence sharing, and community policing efforts. (We average about 880 crimes against persons per year, most of which are assaults, batteries, and intimidation. A ten percent reduction is about 80 fewer incidents.)

• Fill 95% of sworn officer positions at the Evanston Police Department by December 31, 2029, through targeted recruitment campaigns, streamlined onboarding processes, and increased engagement.

• Fully implement a coordinated plan between mental health providers, the Evanston Police Department, and the CARE Team to comply with the Community Emergency Services and Supports Act (CESSA).

• Renew our Insurance Office Standards (ISO) Class 1 rating for Evanston Fire Department by 2029.

Parks and Infrastructure 

Propose investing in and maintaining high-quality parks and resilient infrastructure to enhance quality of life, support community connectivity, and ensure long-term sustainability.

Key Initiatives Include:

• Develop a 10-year capital improvement plan to update playgrounds and other park amenities, aligned with safety, equity, and park utilization data.

• Compare current park updates with those with little to no investment to ensure parks in high-need, high-usage areas are prioritized for updates.

• Identify locations of public restrooms and identify where current restrooms can be updated and new facilities added.

• Construct a new police station that complies with industry best management practices and that supports both existing City police department operations as well as other public health and safety initiatives developed in compliance with City Council goals.  Identify the target location by the end of 2026 and complete construction by the end of 2029.

• Prioritize inclusivity and accessibility in City infrastructure improvements.

• Continue implementing the ADA transition plan for City infrastructure projects.

• Ensure all City amenities and services are fully accessible to all members of the public.

• Develop and implement a long-term, phased plan to systematically rehabilitate existing sidewalk infrastructure, with measurable milestones and sustained annual funding, prioritizing sidewalks as a critical component of the public transportation network for all community members, including people with disabilities.

• Develop a long-term plan to accelerate alley improvement timelines, including streamlining both the grant-eligible and Special Assessment processes.

• Review and update asphalt and concrete design standards by 2027 to support a holistic, sustainable resurfacing program, while maintaining industry standards for performance and serviceability.

• Develop an enhanced capital plan for a comprehensive and detailed 5-year program with additional key capital needs forecasted for Years 6-10.

• Present final plans for 2100 Ridge, Police/Fire Headquarters site, and Noyes Cultural Arts Center, as part of the Putting Assets to Work Initiative.

• Present final options for the long-term City Hall location.

• Replace lead service lines throughout Evanston. Beginning in 2027, the City will be required to replace 500/year until all lead and galvanized services have been completed (2047). This amount could increase to 1,000/year if the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) are enacted.

• Begin replacing 3.2 miles (previously 1.5 miles) of water mains each year beginning in 2026.

City Plans and Initiatives

Any goals, priorities, or decisions should be acted upon in accordance with existing City plans adopted by the City Council. Plans have undergone community engagement processes with residents, boards, committees, and commissions (BCCs), stakeholders, and elected officials to finalize documents that reflect the community's needs, values, and priorities.

Such Current and Future Plans Include:

• • Evanston Process for Local Assessment of Need (EPLAN)

  • Envision Evanston

  • Climate Action Resilience Plan (CARP)

  • Evanston Thrives

  • Parks and Green Space Strategic Plan

  • Bike Plan

  • Environmental Equity Investigation

  • Preserve 2040

  • Shoreline Repair Plan

  • Stormwater Master Plan

  • Housing4All