[Dewey-Darrow] Neighborhood Improvement Project

[SugrCreek at aol.com]

Dear Neighbors,
Many thanks to all of you who called, emailed and phoned in  your votes on 
the recent proposals for use of the Neighborhood Improvement Fund  (NIF).
 
Here is a synopsis of the  results:
For those of you who have not heard, we pulled the rain barrel proposal off 
the ballot  as new information showed they were not a good use of NIF 
money. Votes were not  tallied for that proposal.
 
The tot lot proposal was not ready at this time to be  presented to the 
Economic Development Committee. The Grandmother Park Initiative  is continuing 
to develop and revise that proposal. They are planning to present their 
finished proposal to the  neighbors in another neighborhood meeting in the 
future. If  approved by neighbors, it will then be presented to the EDC.
 
The cul-de-sac  proposal was approved by neighbors with a 91%  margin. 
Dickelle Fonda and I presented it to the EDC  last night. Many questions were 
asked by the members of the EDC (three alderman  and three Evanston 
residents).  Because Nature's  Perspective Landscaping designed and planted the 
corners last year (after  bids from other companies were considered) and because 
they did quality work  (all corners were planted in the time specified, all  
plants have  flourished, all maintenance has been successful, and the work 
was done within  budget), we had asked them to provide a design and bid for 
this work as well.  Alderman Rainey, however, expected that we would bring in 
two other bids as  well. The total cost of the cul-de-sac proposal 
including one year of  maintenance is $24,549.85. Even though the NIF money has been 
set aside for  neighborhood use, when any given proposal is over $20,000.00 
the City of  Evanston requires three bids on the project. Therefore, 
Alderman Jean-Baptiste moved to remove the 1 year of  maintenance from the 
proposal to bring it under $20,000.00 and it was approved  by the EDC with a vote 
of 5-1. Dickelle and I will bring three  bids to the next EDC meeting on May 
20 for 1-3 years of maintenance for the  cul-de-sacs. You will all be 
notified before the meeting.
 
Now the cul-de-sac  proposal must be approved by the City Council. Barb 
Scwartz from  Nature's Perspective and I will make the presentation to the 
Council this coming  Monday, April 27. If approved, work  can be started soon!
 
Thanks again to everyone who voted! We'll let you know what  happens next 
week.
Sincerely,
Julie Westbrook
(847) 869-9136
_juliemarkw at earthlink.net_ (mailto:juliemarkw at earthlink.net) 
 (mailto:w at earthlink.net)  
 

 
"It is  not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to 
recognize, accept,  and celebrate those differences"

(Audre Lorde  1934-92)
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