Our last meeting was brought to 2nd Ward residents for the first time ever live online via Twitter. Community members who could not attend used the hashtag #EtownWard2 to follow tweets from the meeting and ask questions. See a summary of the meeting's tweets here.

Get the latest Evanston updates by following @CityofEvanston on Twitter.

Evanston has received more than 70 inches of snowfall so far this season. Combined with several bouts of extreme cold, it's been a challenging year for snow plow crews and residents alike. Public Works Operations Coordinator Hank Daniels reported that as the weather warms, City crews will concentrate on filling potholes. Residents can report potholes by calling 311 (847-448-4311 outside of Evanston), or submitting a 311 service request online.

Although March is just around the corner, it's still possible that Evanston could see more accumulating snowfall. To review parking regulations and sign up for alerts in the event that a Snow Route Parking Ban or Snow Emergency is declared, click here.

Thank you to Hank Daniels for his informative report.

Reggie Napier, PST Officer for the 2nd Ward, shared an update from Crimereports.com, the online tool that tracks crime incidents by location. Between Dec. 1, 2013 and Feb. 1, 2014, the 2nd Ward reported a total of eight burglaries. As the weather begins to warm, Officer Napier warned residents that garages are more likely to be targeted. Remember to lock up to help protect your property.

Thank you, Officer Napier, for all that you do for the City of Evanston and the 2nd Ward.

Special thanks to City Engineering Manager Homayoon Pirooz, who outlined the planned 2nd Ward capital improvement projects for 2014. These include:  

Proposed 2014 Street Resurfacing: 

• Clark Street – Ridge Ave. to Oak Ave.
• Darrow Avenue – Greenleaf St. to Crain St.
• Fowler Avenue – Greenleaf St. to Dempster St.
• Grey Avenue – Cleveland St. to Washington St.
• Hartrey Avenue – Greenwood St. to Lake St.
• Oak Avenue – Church St. to Clark St. 
• Washington Street – Dodge Ave. to Dewey Ave., along with water main repairs

50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Program
Evanston's 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Program helps property owners improve the appearance and safety of their homes and neighborhoods by covering half the cost of replacing or repairing deteriorated sidewalks. The program covers all public sidewalks in the city, including those in front of homes, businesses, religious institutions and schools. Learn more and sign up >>>

Proposed Protected Bike Lanes
Protected bike lanes on Davis St. west of Florence Ave. to Ridge Ave., and on Church St. from McCormick Blvd. to Dodge Ave., have been proposed for 2014 and 2015, respectively.  

Street Light Upgrades
85-watt street lights along McDaniel Ave. and Fowler Ave. between Main St. and Dempster St. are scheduled to be replaced with 165-watt units in April and May.

Proposed New Sidewalks
New sidewalks on the west side of Pitner Ave., between Greenleaf St. and Dempster St., and the south side of Dempster Ave., between Pitner Ave. and Hartrey Ave., have been proposed for 2014.

Penny Park Renovations Planned
Last renovated in 1991, Penny Park is set to be redesigned in 2014. A topographic survey is now underway, and future public meetings will be scheduled to discuss plans for the park. Stay tuned for updates.

Please call 3-1-1 with any traffic engineering concerns.

A grocery store working group has been created to address the vacancy at the former Dominick's store in Evanston Plaza. A number of potential tenants have shown interest in the property, and the City hopes to have an update soon.

In addition, the former KFC property on Dempster Ave. has been purchased, but a new tenant has not yet been announced. Stay tuned.

Thank you to Economic Development Coordinator Meagan Jones for the update.