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Announcements and Staff Reports
Carl Caneva, City of Evanston Health Department talked about three issues.
• The City combined Building Standards and Health Division into “Property Standards Division.” Mr. Caneva said this is a “natural transition” since the two divisions have always worked together. The increased efficiency will enable staff to increase community education and prevention, in addition to enforcement.
• Rodents: “Rodent Protection Checklist” was distributed. Residents with concerns should call the City at 3-1-1.
• Mosquitoes become more of an issue as the weather gets warmer.
Community Announcements
• 2nd Ward Earth Day Clean-Up, this Saturday, April 20 9 am-Noon
Ald Peter Braithwaite, invites you to join the Kiwanis and ETHS Community Service Clubs, for a ward-wide clean-up effort for Earth Day. Gloves and trash bags are available for participants. Contact Kelley Elwood, kelleyelwood@yahoo.com, to RSVP, reserve materials or with any questions.
• Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program Job Fair is on Saturday, April 20 & 27. Click here for details.
• Have Dreams, an organization that helps individuals who have autism, is having an open house. Click here for the organization’s website and for more information.
• Reggie Napier, PST Officer 2nd Ward Crime Report
While burglaries/robberies remain low in the Ward, Officer Napier said that summer often brings more bike thefts. He offered up a deal for neighborhood groups: if neighbors can gather together on a Saturday, Officer Napier will come register everyone’s bike. Contact Officer Napier for more info.
Information and Community Discussion
• Erie Health Center–Dana Kelly
The federally funded health and dental clinic is renovating a building at Hartrey Avenue and Dempster St. The health center is currently locatd in the Lorraine Morton Civic Center and is having a grant opening in August at it's new location in the 2nd Ward. Between October 2012 and January 2013, the Center provided services to over 400 dental and 400 medical patients. At the new location, services will be expanded to include: a full range of primary care, dental, mental and behavioral health care, case management, pediatrics, a broad range of health education and more.
The Center will be hiring in June. Medical Assistants, Physicians and multi-lingual employees are needed. More information will be made available at a later date. For more information on the Erie Evanston/Skokie Health Center, go to their website.
• Economic Development West Evanston
o Update on Evanston Plaza Scott Inbinder Bonnie Investments & Wally Bobkiewicz, City of Evanston, City Manager
Scott Inbinder talked about how Bonnie Investments is actively seeking tenants for Evanston Plaza. The company is reaching out to both anchor and smaller stores. The challenges he’s finding: some anchor stores have said the space is too near Old Orchard or downtown Evanston. He also said that, despite the perception by some, Dominick’s has not been a hindrance, rather very “helpful and agreeable”. He also listed some selling points: the center is in a dense, urban market; there are a variety of spaces as far as size and shape; and there is ample parking.
Bowling Alley: Not sure yet if it’s happening. Pin Stripes and Brunswick have already said they are not interested in opening new locations. The owner of Wilmette Bowl, however, has looked at the space. There are issues with the configuration of the building (ceiling height, support columns etc) so, as Scott put it, “the location is “not ideal but not impossible.”
Bonnie Investments is preparing to do some painting and improvements on the store canopies and there have been ongoing conversations with potential businesses.
New tenants, moves and expansions
- Pediatric Practice: Traisman, Benuck, Merens & Kimball is currently renovating a space and plan to open in late April/early May.
- DaVita Dialysis
- Pappa Romeo
- Armed Forces office moved to the Plaza from across Dempster
- Kingston Grill is looking to expand into more space
- Dance Center Evanston is looking to expand and create a Performance Space
- Heartwood Center is expanding into what was the Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse.
- Evanston Rebuilding Warehouse moved down the street on Dempster.
- Team Evanston is looking at space accross from the Music Institute of Chicago on Dempster St
Next Ward Meeting: Thursday, May 9 at 7pm
 The Evanston Police Department’s Problem Solving Team officers will hold beat meetings this year to update residents on current crime trends in their neighborhood, inform them about the police deployment process and solicit information about their views of police service in their area.
All residents and business members are encouraged to attend their respective area meeting. The beat meetings will be held on a regular basis in convenient neighborhood settings. The meetings will start at 7:00 p.m. and are expected to last until 8:00 or 8:30 p.m. Upcoming beat meetings are scheduled to take place from April 17 through May 7.
A police problem solving officer, along with the commander of police community strategies bureau and Chief Eddington, will be present to hear feedback from the community on quality of life issues and crime issues in their neighborhood. At the end of the meeting, discussion can be focused on community members who are interested in setting up neighborhood groups, and there will be opportunities for one-on-one questions with the officers.
Enhanced communication and a working relationship between community members and their problem solving officer can lead to a more effective partnership and allow police to better serve Evanston, making Evanston a better community.
Any questions about the upcoming meetings can be directed to the police community strategies office at 847-866-5019.
PST Beat 604
2nd Ward- Washington School - 914 Ashland Ave. – Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m.
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 April means pothole filling season for the City of Evanston’s Streets and Sanitation Division. With winter behind us, the spring thaw typically brings with it potholes throughout the city. The city has dispatched crews to fill them to help make city streets safer for motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.
The City of Evanston took in 147 service requests to fill potholes in 2012 through its 3-1-1 call center and 70 service requests so far this year. Residents can report a pothole by calling 3-1-1 or online at www.cityofevanston.org/pothole.
Potholes and pavement failures are formed by the freeze-thaw cycle. When water seeps into cracks in the pavement and freezes, it expands and creates larger cracks. With the weight and movement of traffic, the cracks degrade the street surface, forming potholes over time.
The city uses UPM to fill the holes, which is a permanent cold mix patch material for potholes and asphalt repairs. UPM can be used in either wet or dry potholes and is designed to perform in any weather condition.
While the city has filled many more potholes then just those reported by residents, it does not count individual potholes filled. Rather, they count the amount, in tons, of UPM they use as filler. So far this year, the city has used 129 tons of asphalt to patch potholes. This compares to 109 tons in 2012, 239 tons in 2011 and 129 tons in 2010.
The city’s Streets and Sanitation Division dispatches as many as four crews of three workers at a time to fill potholes. The filling of potholes is prioritized by volume of traffic or service level of the street. In other words, main thoroughfares are filled first, then side streets and then dead-end streets. Additionally, the city prioritizes 3-1-1 service requests into the first group. It is important to note that city crews do not wait for a 3-1-1 request to fill potholes; they proactively search and fill them.
When a crew finds a pothole, the first step is to remove as much loose material as possible, creating a hole with firm paved edges. The next step is to actually fill the hole with UPM a little higher than the surrounding asphalt. The final step is to roll or tap the asphalt into the hole to bring the material to the same grade as the surrounding asphalt.
The majority of 3-1-1 requests to fill potholes are generally completed within a few business days.
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The Evanston 4th of July Association and City of Evanston will be holding a community meeting to gather public input on Independence Day activity ideas at 7 pm on Monday, April 29. The meeting will be held at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center.
The Evanston 4th of July Association and City of Evanston will be holding a community meeting to gather public input on Independence Day activity ideas at 7 pm on Monday, April 29. The meeting will be held at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center.
The goal of the meeting is to get community input on some potentially new activity sites; generate some additional site partners for the association; create possible transportation improvements to and from the parade; and to get general thoughts on Independence Day activities. To celebrate Evanston 150 the goal is to have events in every Aldermanic Ward. There are already successful events in several Wards so there are plenty of resources, experience and support available for new, startup locations and suggestions.
 The men of Second Baptist Church & First Church of God Christian Life Center invite all men to the join them on Saturday, April 20 from 8:00 am to 11:30 am at Second Baptist fir a Town Hall Health Awareness Summit for Men.Three very knowledgeable doctors will be sharing a wealth of information. Sisters, please encourage your husbands, sons, brothers, uncles (all the menfolk in your life) to attend!
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An Earth Day clean-up event will be held in the 2nd Ward at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 20.
Three ways to participate:
1) Meet at ETHS’s main entrance (1600 Dodge Ave.) at 9 a.m. where volunteers will be deployed around the ward.
2) Encourage your neighbors to help clean-up the block. Pick-up supplies for your group at ETHS and clean-up at your convenience.
3) Employers, get into the spirit and clean-up around your property.
Gloves and trash bags are available at ETHS for all participants. RSVP or reserve supplies for your group. RSVP/Reserve Supplies/Questions: Mary Collins: collinsm@eths.k12.il.us, Kelley Elwood: kelleyelwood@yahoo.com or 847-708-1878.
Sponsored by ETHS Community Service Clubs, Kiwanis & Alderman Peter Braithwaite.
Please share this information! My goal is to keep all neighbors in our Ward informed about upcoming events and opportunities that you can benefit from. If you have any questions, concerns, or comments please feel free to contact me directly. I can be reached at pbraithwaite@cityofevanston.org or 847-801-9386. Thank you!
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