Priorities

Envision Evanston

Residents want a well-defined Comprehensive Plan and subsequent rezoning that works for all of Evanston.

• The Envision Evanston process has been criticized as rushed, sloppy and inadequate.

• Review and revision of the Comprehensive Plan is too important to rush. 

• Plans should be developed sequentially so that the Comprehensive Plan can guide the rezoning efforts. The results should deliver true affordable housing with something better than a “one-size-fits-most” approach.

• More and more residents are voicing their concerns that the proposed plan has not been well thought out. 

Affordability

“Too expensive” is a lament we hear across all of Evanston. Cost savings will be our mantra. Every dollar we can save on the city budget will help with affordability.  

• Let's set a budget we can afford, manage it and not overspend 

• Taxes are high but the total cost of living includes rising fees, costs for licenses, permits and fines and so on

• Regressive costs hit low-income residents the hardest

• Review city operations for efficiencies 

Affordable Housing

Let's start building now.
 

• Increasing density will not create truly affordable housing.

• We are commitment to work and expand affordable housing solutions that are sustainable and permanent. 

• Housing support will be needed.

• Let's deal creatively with the use of land trusts, low equity co-ops and "rent-to-own" options

Downtown & Economic Development

A vibrant downtown is essential to the brand of Evanston.  

​​​

• Remove tax any incentive for building owners to leave store fronts vacant

• Ensure that Northlight breaks ground in March 

• Leverage our thriving art community with more colorful, lively, joyous events

• We are known for expensive and aggressive parking enforcement. This works against us. I will delegate a task force to resolve the parking question 

• Reducing parking revenue will have to be reflected in budget savings but this question must be answered

• Entice business owners 

• Improve public safety. Panhandlers, scooters, skateboarders on sidewalks or anything that deters visitors works against improving downtown. 

District 65

District 65 state reflects what can happen when a board fails it's mission.

• District 65 costs are one of the biggest impacts on affordability. This and their academic results directly affect the attractiveness of Evanston. 

• Going forward, the city should insist on consulting with District 65 and its reorganization team to improve their educational results and to minimize the impact on residents both financially and through any proposed school closings.  

• The City/School Liaison Committee exists: "To enable officials of the City Government and the two School Boards to confer on a regular basis to achieve community financial coordination and better coordination in other fields of community concern. Reports recommendations to the City Council and to the School Boards."

• Work with the committee to ensure that financial review and coordination is a part of each meeting.

​

Northwestern

Is an integral part of our community, but we need a real partnership.

• Can we work as true, real, honest, and committed partners? This will require much more transparency and financial support from NU but  would be in our mutual best interests.

• Keep engaging with Northwestern. Work with their city liaisons to ensure that all citizens are respected

• A stable, well-managed city is needed to attract top faculty and grad students.

• A vibrant energetic city, especially downtown, is in all stakeholder’s interest students, faculty, residents, service and retail businesses.

• Our current relationship with NU is very transactional. Either we establish a real partnership or we be sure that we get the most from every single transaction. NU protects it's interests, we must also protect ours.

Financial competency

Nothing in the City or the City budget stands alone.

• “Affordability” has been a major topic of this City Council, yet it is addressed as if it’s a stand-alone topic. Our city staff recently presented to the City Council 38 suggestions for “new sources of revenue.” 36 of these were increases in regressive fees, permits, and licenses that have the traditional source of revenue…the residents. Issues should be addressed holistically. For example, revitalizing downtown Evanston cannot be discussed without addressing public safety. Everything is linked by the city budget. The budget reflects our priorities.

• Corporate accounting provides a lesson in how to set and manage a budget. Currently our budget, line items are changed, funds are transferred, and the budget amended. All of these make year-to-year comparisons and projections harder. The new proposed budget should be based on the previous year’s actual budget.

• Budgets are a tool to manage an operation more precisely. Accurate budgets are needed to use resident’s money efficiently and effectively. There should be a clear, simplified accurate version of the budget for residents to review, presented in the same way from year-to-year.