The City of Evanston’s annual budget process is underway to craft a budget for the 2014 Fiscal Year, which begins on January 1, 2014. The city has launched an outreach effort to engage Evanston residents in soliciting their input on the budget process. This effort is part of the city’s “Engage Evanston” initiative, which is an ongoing initiative to encourage dialogue with residents on all issues facing the city.

The city will focus its efforts September 14-21, 2013 to get ideas from residents on the budget. During this week, the city is asking residents to submit ideas to:www.engageevanston.org; by mail: City Manager’s Office, 2100 Ridge Ave., Evanston, IL 60201; by email at budgetinquiries@cityofevanston.org; by calling 3-1-1; onFacebook; or on Twitter. Residents can also share their ideas at the events listed below.

City staff will be available to discuss residents’ budget ideas in-person at the following locations/dates/times:

'Kits and 'Cats Week is a new celebration at the start of our school year. Events include a Kick-Off Celebration, NU student-athletes visiting four Evanston elementary schools to "Read Across Evanston" and the Evanston MashUP, an evening of conversation and connections with local leaders in business, education and government. The week ends with two home football games. (The week's events were formerly known as Paint Evanston Purple.)

We're closing off a block of Sherman Avenue for the  'Kits and 'Cats Week Kick-off  from 5:00 to 8:30 pm on Thursday, September 19 in Downtown Evanston.   Come for free games, business promotions to those wearing purple, special guests, marching bands and entertainment by The Music Institute of Chicago. Special feature: The Fitz & Buzz Show (Head Coach Pat Fitzgerald and Head Coach Mike Burzawa). The Chicago area cover band ’Stache! takes the stage at 7 pm.

The City of Evanston Department of Utilities is announcing the availability for public tours of the Water Treatment Facility on a first-come, first-serve basis on Saturday October 12, 2013 from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. The Water Treatment Facility is located at 555 Lincoln Street, Evanston, IL 60201. 

These tours are limited to the first 30 people and all must be Evanston residents.   Residents must provide their name, address and phone number, as well as the names of all the individuals that will be attending in their party. The deadline to register for this tour is October 9, 2013 and walk up registrations are not available. To register, please contact us by email at water@cityofevanston.org or via phone at 847-448-8198.

The registered names will be placed on a guest list and only those on the list will be granted access to the facility.  Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. All adults will be required to provide photo identification upon arrival. 

Two tours will be provided to the public. The first tour is a “child friendly tour” and is designed for children ages 6 or older when accompanied by an adult.  This tour will be held from 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM. The second tour is designed for adults and children 15 or older.  This tour will be held from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM. 

Parking will be allowed in the Facilities gated parking lot accessible via the driveway on the north side of Lincoln Street between the two buildings.  Please arrive at the facility twenty minutes before the tour start time. The tours will start at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. promptly and no further admittance to the facility will be permitted after the tours have started.

We are gearing up to host a planning meeting to discuss renovating Penny Park.  Please watch for a meeting announcement this Fall