[Dewey-Darrow] FW: NIF meeting today-IMPORTANT: STILL VOTING

[Mark Westbrook]

Dear Neighbors,
Thanks so much to all of you who came and contributed to a very productive meeting today. Voting is still going on. For anyone who hasn't voted and would like to, please send in your vote by Tuesday, April 21 by 10:00 P.M.
If anyone would like to help with the voting process and take ballots around in their block, please let Dickelle or me know and we will send you the ballot to print out. We would like to make this process as democratic as possible! We want to include your vote!

Here is a brief synopsis of what transpired at today's meeting: 

All proposals approved last year are in process. The corner plantings have been installed and are being maintained through the end of this growing season. The soccer teams are expanding. The mailings about the ChicoBags (reuseable shopping bags) and bike helmets and bike safety course should be going out by May 1. Depending on the number of ChicoBags and bike helmets ordered, we will have used between $96,000.00 and $108,000.00  of the Neighborhood Improvement Fund.

Dickelle Fonda detailed her research into the 6 cul-de-sacs within the NIF area. They were put in, sometimes decades ago, at the request of area residents to alleviate reckless street traffic. The city put in the plantings but left the maintenance to residents living on either side of the cul-de-sacs. Over the years many of the trees and bushes have been run over or become diseased or died. Nature's Perspective (who also designed and planted the corners) has surveyed all six areas and drawn plans to save as many plants as possible and rejuvenate these areas with hardy, drought and salt-tolerant trees, bushes, and plants. In one area a fence has been added as an additional barrier. These plans include all material and labor for the 6 cul-de-sacs as well as one year of maintenance by Nature's Perspective. After one year, the City of Evanston will be asked to take over the maintenance of the cul-de-sacs. Total cost of this proposal is $24,549.85. For more information about this proposal, please see attachment or call or email Dickelle Fonda at (847) 491-9748 or SugrCreek at aol.com. 

There was some discussion about this proposal and how continued maintenance should be handled. There was also a question about adding "bollards" (decorative cement posts) to increase the security of the areas.

Gay Riseborough and Adam Finlayson gave details of the "Tot Lot" or "pocket park" proposal. Several buildable lots have been identified in the Dewey-Darrow neighborhood (Dempster to Lee, Dodge to Florence). Gay and Adam are part of the Grandmother Park Initiative committee who have a plan to purchase a lot and install a playlot with playground equipment specifically sized for 1-5 year-olds. Their budget for this plan includes land purchase, demolition of a building if necessary, playground equipment, landscaping and fencing, and various fees. The playground would be donated to the City of Evanston after completion. They are asking for $50,000.00 from the Neighborhood Improvement Fund as seed money to buy the lot. After discussion at the meeting today, they clarified their request by saying that they will work to come to an agreement with a property owner and will present their proposal again to the neighborhood before going to the Economic Development Committee. For more information or questions about this proposal, please see the attachment or call or email Adam Finlayson at (847) 866-3697or amf at adamfinlayson.com, or Gay Riseborough at (847) 475-5159 or gayrise at comcast.net.

There was much discussion and many questions asked about this proposal, both pro and con. Some residents feel this is a very good use of the NIF and will add to the attractiveness and ambiance of the neighborhood. Some residents feel this is a good idea, but not a good use of the NIF because they feel it would not be usable by and available to enough residents in the NIF area. Still others liked the idea but thought the amount was too much and favored a smaller amount of money.

After discussion with two area residents who own rain barrels, I have decided to remove the Rain Barrel Proposal from the ballot. Although it is a very "green" idea and I have read many good things about rain barrels in doing my research, they are impractical and difficult to use on a daily basis. In a 1" rainfall, about 600 gallons fall on an average roof. You would need over ten 55-gallon barrels to collect that rain. They have to be set up every spring and taken down and emptied every fall. If you get rain during the cold weather season, your rain barrel will not be available. If you forget to empty your barrel before we have a freeze, the barrel will crack from the ice inside. Although they have a screen to prevent mosquitoes from infesting the barrel, if you don't keep the screen absolutely free of debris, mosquitoes will breed on top of the barrel.

Several other residents have asked about other ways to use the fund money such as: 
1. Fund half the price ($40) of a permanent yard waste bin, available from the City of Evanston for every residence in the NIF area. These would save both the cost of paper yard waste bags and the trees that were cut down to make them. They could be required to stay with the residence and would be a long-term item.

2. Fund extra years of maintenance on the corner plantings.

3. Fund extra years of maintenance on the cul-de-sac plantings, if passed.

Motions were made and seconded for me (and I would be happy to have any volunteer help) to research these three ideas and come back with formal proposals. Please call or email with any questions or suggestions: (847) 869-9136 or juliemarkw at earthlink.net.

You are still able to vote on the "Tot Lot" proposal and the "Cul-de-Sac" proposal, Yes or No for each one. All residents 18 and over may vote. Please let us know how you would like to spend this money! If you have already voted, but after hearing this discussion you want to change your vote, you may do so up to 10:00 P.M. this Tuesday, April 21. Just contact Dickelle or me, whoever recorded your vote.

Sincerely,
Julie Westbrook and Dickelle Fonda
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