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CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
CITY OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS
LORRAINE H. MORTON CIVIC CENTER
JAMES C. LYTLE COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Monday, October 19, 2015
7:00 p.m.
ORDER OF BUSINESS
(I) City Council Roll Call – Begin with Alderman Braithwaite
(II) Dedication of the Joan Barr-Smith Aldermanic Library
(Reception immediately following the dedication ceremony.)
(III) Mayor Public Announcements
(IV) City Manager Public Announcements
Promotion of Brian Scott, Deputy Fire Chief
ComEd Smart Meter Roll Out
(V) Communications: City Clerk
(VI) Citizen Comment
Members of the public are welcome to speak at City Council meetings. As part of the Council
agenda, a period for citizen comments shall be offered at the commencement of each regular
Council meeting. Those wishing to speak should sign their name, address and the agenda item
or topic to be addressed on a designated participation sheet. If there are five or fewer speakers,
fifteen minutes shall be provided for Citizen Comment. If there are more than five speakers, a
period of forty-five minutes shall be provided for all comment, and no individual shall speak longer
than three minutes. The Mayor will allocate time among the speakers to ensure that Citizen
Comment does not exceed forty-five minutes. The business of the City Council shall commence
forty-five minutes after the beginning of Citizen Comment. Aldermen do not respond during
Citizen Comment. Citizen Comment is intended to foster dialogue in a respectful and civil
manner. Citizen comments are requested to be made with these guidelines in mind.
(VII) Special Orders of Business
(VIII) Call of the Wards
(Aldermen shall be called upon by the Mayor to announce or provide information
about any Ward or City matter which an Alderman desires to bring before the
Council.) {Council Rule 2.1(10)}
(IX) Executive Session
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City Council Agenda October 19, 2015 Page 2 of 3
10/24/2013 6:42 PM
(X)Adjournment
SPECIAL ORDERS OF BUSINESS
(SP1) Downtown Performing Arts Center Update
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report.
For Action: Receive and File Report
(SP2) Penny Park Recommendations from the Park and Recreation Board
The Park and Recreation Board and City staff recommend that City Council
provide direction and approve the following recommendations. 1) Terminate the
contract with Leathers and Associates Inc. with payment for work completed. 2)
Issue a Request for Proposal for the renovation/rehabilitation of Penny Park,
which should include options for both a Community Build and a traditional
Contractor Build with wood. 3) If necessary, facilitate any public design process
through the Park and Recreation Board with public involvement.
For Action
(SP3) Wholesale Water Sales Update
Staff will provide an update to City Council about wholesale water sales to
neighboring communities.
For Discussion
(SP4) Fountain Square Renovation Project
Staff recommends City Council approve a proposed scope of work for the
Fountain Square Renovation Project and authorize staff to proceed with the
project through preparation and release of an RFP for consulting design services.
For Action
(SP5) FY2016 Proposed Budget Presentation
Staff will provide a presentation regarding the FY2016 Proposed Budget. No
formal action will be taken regarding the FY2016 Budget. Budget documents are
available here: http://www.cityofevanston.org/city-budget/
For Discussion
(SP6) Approval of Appointment
For appointment to:
M/W/EBE Development Committee
For Action
Jessica Oldani
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City Council Agenda October 19, 2015 Page 3 of 3
10/24/2013 6:42 PM
MEETINGS SCHEDULED THROUGH OCTOBER 2015
Upcoming Aldermanic Committee Meetings
Tues, Oct 20 7 pm Housing & Community Dev Act Committee
Wed, Oct 21 5:30 pm City-School Liaison Committee
Wed, Oct 21 6:30 pm M/W/EBE Advisory Committee
Fri, Oct 23 7 am Housing & Homelessness Commission
Sat, Oct 24 9 am Special City Council: Budget, Truth in Taxation
Mon, Oct 26 6 pm A&PW, P&D, City Council meetings
Wed, Oct 28 6 pm Transportation/Parking Committee
Wed, Oct 28 7:30 pm Economic Development Committee
Order and agenda items are subject to change.
Information is available about Evanston City Council meetings at: www.cityofevanston.org/citycouncil.
Questions can be directed to the City Manager’s Office at 847-866-2936. The City is committed to
ensuring accessibility for all citizens. If an accommodation is needed to participate in this meeting, please
contact the City Manager’s Office 48 hours in advance so that arrangements can be made for the
accommodation if possible.
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For City Council meeting of October 19, 2015 Item SP1
Special Order of Business: Downtown Performing Arts Center Update
For Action: Receive and File Report
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Wally Bobkiewicz, City Manager
Paul Zalmezak, Senior Economic Development Coordinator
Jennifer Lasik, Cultural Arts Coordinator
Subject: Downtown Performing Arts Center Update
Date: October 16, 2015
Recommended Action:
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file this report.
Background:
Mayor Tisdahl appointed the Downtown Performing Arts Center Task Force to
determine the viability of creating a downtown performing arts center and to evaluate
potential anchor partners, usage plans, available sites and funding options. On July 27,
2015, the City Council voted unanimously to accept the Task Force recommendations
summarized in the Downtown Evanston Performing Arts Center Task Force Final
Report and directed the City Manager to return to the City Council at a future date with
recommendations for next steps.
In summary, the Task Force recommended a facility with the following key features:
1. Three stages of varying size,
2. A major resident theater company as the anchor which would be involved in the
construction and fundraising,
3. Ownership and day-to-day facility management responsibility assumed by a not-
for-profit corporation overseen by a governing board,
4. A sizable lobby and/or common area(s) suitable for hosting public and private
events
5. Funding from public and private sources
The Task Force identified three downtown locations which provide excellent access to
parking facilities, public transit, restaurants, and shops for theatre patrons before and
after shows: 1) 1718 Chicago Ave (library parking lot), 2) 601-11 Davis Street (Chase
drive thru/vacant lot), and 3) 814-16 Clark Street / 1729 Benson Avenue (southeast
corner of Benson and Clark)
Memorandum
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To realize this vibrant community performance space that will solidify Downtown
Evanston as a destination for dining and the arts and a catalyst for further economic
growth, the City Council has three immediate considerations: 1) who will anchor the
center, 2) where will it be located, and 3) how will it be funded.
As reported in the Task Force report, McLaurin Development Partners on behalf of
Second Baptist Church, along with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) architects
approached the Task Force and presented their vision for the redevelopment of 814-16
Clark / 1729 Benson. This site is an estimated 23,000 square feet and is composed of
three parcels. St. James Armenian Church owns two parcels located at 814-16 Clark.
Evanston Benson, LLC owns the larger parcel located at 1729 Benson. Zeb McLaurin,
of McLaurin Development Partners (the developer agent hired by Second Baptist
Church to oversee the property acquisition and development), reports a contract to
purchase 1729 Benson is in place.
Tim Evans, Executive Director of Northlight Theater, will provide an update to the City
Council this evening on its review of options related to this site.
Staff will continue to work with McLaurin and Northlight as they move forward with plans
for the Benson site and return to the City Council with updates as appropriate.
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For City Council meeting of October 19, 2015 Item SP2
Special Order of Business: Recommendations for Penny Park Improvements
For Action
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Bob Dorneker, Interim Director, Parks, Recreation and Community
Services
Subject: Penny Park Recommendations from the Park and Recreation Board and
Request for City Council Direction
Date: October 8, 2015
Recommended Action:
The Park and Recreation Board and City staff request that City Council provide direction
and approve the following recommendations regarding how to proceed with
improvements to Penny Park:
•Terminate the contract with Leathers and Associates Inc. with payment for work
completed.
•Issue a Request for Proposal for the renovation/rehabilitation of Penny Park.
The Request for Proposal should include options for both a Community Build and
a traditional Contractor Build for the renovation and rehabilitated of Penny Park in
wood, without a pavilion or restroom.
•Should any public design renovation/rehabilitation process be necessary, it would
be facilitated by the contractor through the Park and Recreation Board with
community involvement.
Funding Source:
Funding for the Penny Park improvement project is being requested in the 2016 Capital
Improvement Plan in the amount of $500,000. Also, $40,000 had been previously
encumbered for the contract with Leathers and Associates Inc., of which $7,714. has
been paid for services performed in 2014.
Memorandum
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Page 2 of 3
Background:
On January 26, 2015, the City Council approved having the Penny Park improvement
process go to the Park and Recreation Board for further evaluation and direction in
order to address the concerns of residents. The Park and Recreation Board first
addressed the project in February where staff provided an overview of the process
thus far and identified the following questions to be answered in their
recommendations back to City Council:
•Does the playground need to be totally rebuilt or renovated?
•If restroom and/or pavilion is needed to be constructed in the park?
•Should the equipment be constructed with wood or plastic?
•Is the work on the playground project going to be community build or constructed
by a contractor?
•Should the $40,000 contract with Leathers and Associates Inc. be discontinued?
Several community members at the meeting posed a number of questions and
concerns regarding the Penny Park project, which the board addressed and agreed to
work closely with the community on how to proceed. After discussing next steps, the
Board requested that staff obtain an evaluation of the current structure of the park and
the structural soundness of the wood structure, including what it would take to address
ADA compliance. In response, staff agreed to seek an independent firm to perform a
general inspection of the play equipment.
Playground Guardian, a national firm that specializes in playground equipment audits,
inspections and maintenance, was selected to perform an inspection of the playground.
The inspection was performed in April 2015 by Tony Malkusak who has 27 years of
experience in the field of playground safety and is one of the nation’s leading experts on
inclusive play.
The report of his findings was presented at the July 2015 Park and Recreation Board
meeting. In summary, he reported that the playground structure has been maintained by
the city and steps could be taken to renovate and keep intact the play areas. He
suggested some immediate actions to take which include, but are not limited to: sanding
wood elements; replacing missing parts; repairing hardware that is loose or popping out;
replacing wood elements that are rotting; applying preservative on a regular basis to
wood elements; and addressing other conditions which would be identified during the
renovation process.
Mr. Malkusak also responded to questions from the Board and residents on his findings.
The Board further discussed the pros and cons of renovating the play structures, as
compared to replacing the equipment with new playground equipment commonly found
in other City of Evanston playground environments. After much discussion, the Board
accepted the Penny Park playground inspection report as presented and determined to
hold off in finalizing their recommendations until the September meeting (the Board
doesn’t meet in August).
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Page 3 of 3
In September 2015, the Board drafted and approved the following recommendations to
be presented back to City Council on Penny Park:
• Terminate the contract with Leathers and Associates Inc. with payment for work
completed.
• Issue a Request for Proposal for the renovation/rehabilitation of Penny Park.
The Request for Proposal should include options for both a Community Build and
a Traditional Contractor Build for the renovation and rehabilitated of Penny Park
in wood, without a pavilion or restroom.
• Should any public design renovation/rehabilitation process be necessary, it would
be facilitated by the contractor through the Park and Recreation Board with
community involvement.
Next Steps:
If the Park and Recreation Board recommendations are accepted, staff would proceed
with issuing a Request for Proposal for the renovation/rehabilitation of Penny Park so
work on the project could occur in 2016.
Attachment:
Penny Park Playground Inspection Report
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Penny
Park
Playground
Inspection
City
of
Evanston
Parks
Department
Inspection
Conducted
By:
Malkusak
Date
of
Inspection:
April
20,
2015
Time
of
Inspection:
1:00
–
4:00pm
Weather
Conditions:
Cloudy
w/
some
rain
&
drizzle,
47
degrees
Overview:
The
playground
environment
at
Penny
Park
is
a
truly
unique
site.
Over
a
5-‐day
period
in
June
1990,
over
1,500
volunteers
helped
build
the
playground,
designed
by
Leathers
&
Associates
out
of
Ithica,
NY,
the
mostly
wooden
play
environment
is
25
years
old
and
has
been
enjoyed
by
tens
of
thousands
of
children
and
families.
In
spite
of
the
efforts
of
the
City
of
Evanston
to
maintain
the
integrity
of
the
playground,
it
is
showing
wear
and
tear
of
the
constant
use.
Working
with
community
leaders
and
interested
organizations,
the
City
of
Evanston
is
developing
a
plan
of
action
for
the
Penny
Park
playground
environment.
The
goal
is
to
sustain
the
integrity
of
the
playground
environment
as
a
community
asset
while
minimizing
unsafe
conditions
and
resources
needed
to
sustain
the
playground
environment.
Several
meetings
and
discussions
have
taken
place
between
all
interested
parties.
The
City
of
Evanston
hired
the
services
of
Playground
Guardian
to
conduct
an
inspection
of
the
playground
equipment
to
get
an
independent
3rd
party
observation
of
the
vitality
of
the
playground
equipment.
The
following
report
and
photo
images
from
Playground
Guardian
show
the
conditions
present
of
the
playground
equipment
on
the
day
of
the
inspection,
Monday,
April
20,
2015.
Please
note,
Playground
Guardian
was
hired
to
conduct
an
inspection
of
the
playground
equipment
to
determine
the
playground
equipment’s
ability
to
function
when
in
use.
The
inspection
and
report
are
not
a
playground
safety
audit,
which
is
a
thorough
and
complete
inspection
and
evaluation
of
the
playground
equipment
and
environment
to
determine
compliance
with
the
American
Society
for
Testing
and
Materials,
or
ASTM
F1487-‐11
Standard
Consumer
Safety
Performance
Specification
for
Playground
Equipment
for
Public
Use,
and
the
Consumer
Product
Safety
Commission
Document
No.
325
Handbook
for
Public
Playground
Safety
are
recognized
as
the
standard
of
care
documents
for
public
playground
environments.
This
report
and
inspection
is
not
intended
to
identify
every
non-‐compliant
condition,
test
conditions
of
footings
and/or
posts
below
the
playground
safety
surface,
nor
determine
priority
order
of
safety
issues
found.
If
the
desire
of
the
City
of
Evanston
to
have
a
playground
safety
audit,
Playground
Guardian
would
provide
another
proposal
for
services.
The
report
is
organized
by
7
common
categories
of
items,
found
during
the
on-‐site
inspection.
This
report
will
contain
some
of
the
photo
images
taken
during
the
on-‐site
visit
showing
examples
of
each
of
the
categories.
¥ Accessibility
–
the
construction
dates
for
Penny
Park
Playground
occurred
prior
to
the
Americans
with
Disability
Act
of
1990.
¥ Barriers
&
Guardrails
–
the
use
of
barrier
walls
and
guardrails
on
playgrounds
are
used
to
prevent
inadvertent
falls
from
elevated
play
surfaces
on
the
playground.
Falls
are
the
number
1
type
of
injury
occurring
on
public
playgrounds.
¥ Broken
or
Missing
Items
–
from
play
equipment
and/or
elements
of
the
play
structure
¥ Hardware
Issues
–
on
playground
equipment
that
are
worn,
rusted,
or
popping
off
9 of 23
¥ Wood
Rotting
and/or
Splintering
–
no
wood
items
were
tested
specifically
for
internal
rotting
and
no
items
were
tested
below
the
surfacing
elevation
during
the
on-‐site
visit.
Items
identified
showed
indications
of
rotting
and/or
splintering.
¥ Miscellaneous
Play
Equipment
Issues
–
slides,
steering
wheels,
swings
and
upper
body
equipment
which
do
not
fall
into
any
of
the
other
categories
¥ Non-‐compliant
Safety
Issues
–
according
to
statistical
information
gathered
by
the
CPSC,
these
are
conditions
found
on
playground
equipment
that
can
cause
very
serious
injuries
to
children.
o Entanglement:
conditions
known
to
grab,
or
hook,
a
users
article
of
clothing
o Crush
and
Shear:
conditions
known
to
injure
fingers
or
toes
o Head
Entrapment:
conditions
known
to
entrap
a
child’s
head
or
neck
among
the
playground
equipment
o Slide
Clearance
Zones:
areas
within
the
slide
chute
that
are
clear
of
objects
to
prevent
children
from
inadvertently
coming
into
contact
with
objects
during
sliding
activity.
To
summarize,
playground
environments
typically
last
20-‐30
years,
depending
upon
materials,
usage
and
climatic
conditions.
Penny
Park
Playground,
is
25
years
old,
built
by
volunteers
using
wood
products,
has
very
heavy
usage
and
is
located
in
a
climate
that
experiences
a
wide
range
in
temperatures
&
conditions.
In
spite
of
regular
maintenance,
the
play
equipment,
in
it’s
current
condition,
appears
to
be
coming
to
an
end
of
its
useful
life.
The
following
are
options,
or
courses
of
action
(not
in
any
particular
order),
the
City
of
Evanston
should
consider
for
Penny
Park
Playground:
¥ Renew
the
Playground
Equipment
–
The
City
would
keep
the
playground
structure
in
tact
and
continue
to
perform
custodial
and
preventive
maintenance.
Actions
would
include,
but
are
not
limited
to;
sanding
wood
elements,
replacing
missing
parts,
repairing
hardware
that
is
loose
or
popping
out,
replacing
wood
elements
that
are
rotting,
applying
preservative
on
a
regular
basis
to
wood
elements,
and
addressing
other
conditions
as
they
come
up.
o Pros:
low
initial
output
of
capital
and/or
operating
expenses,
preserve
the
original
installed
play
equipment
environment.
o Cons:
high
use
of
staff
resources,
and
original
play
equipment
near
end
of
its
useful
life.
¥ Replace
the
Playground
Equipment
–
The
City
would
remove
the
existing
playground
equipment
and
replace
with
a
modular
piece
of
playground
equipment
commonly
found
in
other
City
of
Evanston
playground
environments.
o Pros:
low
output
of
staff
resources
to
maintain
new
playground
equipment,
play
area
replacement
environment
would
conform
to
current
ADA
law.
o Cons:
spirit
of
place
and
uniqueness
of
existing
playground
environment
would
be
lost
¥ Restore
the
Playground
Equipment
and
Environment
–
The
City
would
remove
the
existing
playground
equipment
and
restore
it
as
best
as
possible
to
its
original
condition.
The
process
should
be
similar
as
the
one
used
to
transform
the
original
Penny
Park
Playground.
o Pros:
perpetuate
spirit
of
place
and
uniqueness
from
the
original
design
and
process,
open
and
active
community
input
&
involvement,
play
area
environment
would
conform
to
current
ADA
law.
o Cons:
higher
use
of
staff
resources
10 of 23
Playground
Equipment
Structure
Areas
–
the
following
images
show
the
different
play
areas
of
Penny
Park.
Accessibility
–
the
following
image
shows
current
conditions
regarding
accessibility.
Please
note,
the
original
playground
was
designed
and
installed
prior
to
the
Americans
with
Disabilities
Act
of
1990
was
signed
into
law.
Technically,
this
playground
design
and
implementation
did
not
have
to
meet
the
ADA
of
1990.
However,
it
is
required
the
playground
environment
complies
with
the
current
ADA
Law
&
Standard
for
play
areas
5-‐12
yr.
old
Swing
Area
2-‐5
yr.
old
Swing
Area
Composite
Structure
Area
Composite
Structure
Area
Composite
Structure
Area
Composite
Structure
Area
Composite
Structure
Area
Playground
Safety
Surfacing:
Engineered
Wood
Fiber
(EWF)
11 of 23
if/when
alterations
begin.
The
safety
surface
currently
in
place,
the
Engineered
Wood
Fiber,
can
be
an
accessible
surfacing
system,
as
long
as
it
complies
with
the
site
preparation,
installation,
and
maintenance
stipulations
of
ADA.
Barriers
and
Guardrails
–
the
following
images
show
elevated
platforms
utilizing
seating
as
the
barrier
and/or
guardrail
protection,
however,
the
height
of
the
back
rest
of
the
seats
is
not
high
enough.
Original
designed
ramp
from
hard
surface
pathway
to
play
equipment
does
not
have
a
continuous
route.
Missing
equipment?
Replace
missing
item
if
applicable.
Play
environment
pre-‐dates
ADA
of
1990.
12 of 23
Missing
block
on
Tic-‐Tac-‐Toe
panel.
Tire
worn,
exposing
wire.
Bottom
chain
broken
on
walk.
Broken
or
Missing
Items
–
the
following
images
show
examples
of
broken
or
missing
items
on
the
playground.
Because
of
the
heavy
usage
this
playground
receives,
it
is
to
be
expected
to
replace
broken
or
missing
parts
as
part
of
the
inspection
and
maintenance
program.
Hardware
Worn,
Rusted
and
Popping
Out
–
the
following
images
show
examples
of
the
wear-‐n-‐tear
of
usage
has
on
the
hardware
and
connectors
on
the
playground.
Seating
area
top
of
wall
height
less
than
38”
above
designated
play
surface.
Increase
height
of
back
rest
to
minimum
38”.
Chain
worn
on
Tire
Tunnel.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
“S”
Hooks
worn
on
Ring
Trek.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
Chain
and
connection
worn
on
Floating
Steps.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
13 of 23
Wood
Rotting
and
Splintering
–
the
following
images
represent
conditions
observed
during
the
on-‐site
inspection.
This
is
a
common
occurrence
for
wood
playground
equipment.
Hardware
rusted
and
nails
popping
out.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Fasteners
popping
out
of
wood
elements.
Re-‐
connect
or
replace.
Fasteners
popping
out
of
wood
elements.
Re-‐
connect
or
replace.
Wood
splintering
and
rotting
away.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Wood
splintering
and
rotting
away.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Wood
splintering
and
rotting
away.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Wood
splintering
and
rotting
away.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
Wood
splintering
and
rotting
away.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
Wood
splintering
and
rotting
away.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
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Miscellaneous
Play
Equipment
Issues
–
Play
Equipment
Issues
for
Slides,
Steering
Wheels,
Upper
Body
Equipment,
and
Swings
–
the
following
images
show
observations
made
during
the
on-‐site
inspection
related
to
specific
pieces
of
play
equipment.
Swings
(2-‐5
&
5-‐12)
Bolts
exposed
at
top
of
5-‐12
Swings
creating
entanglement.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Kick-‐out
areas
below
belt
swings.
Regularly
and
frequently
add
EWF
to
fill
in
areas.
Bolts
exposed
at
top
of
2-‐5
Swings
creating
entanglement.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Tot
Swing
chain
is
uneven.
Untwist
chain,
or
remove
appropriate
number
of
links
to
balance
out.
“S”
Hook
worn
on
2-‐5
Swing.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
5-‐12
Swing
footing/support
exposed
at
top
of
surfacing.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
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Steering
Wheel
assembly
loose.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Steering
Wheel
assembly
loose.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Steering
Wheels
Steering
Wheel
assembly
loose.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Slides
–
Spiral,
Wood
Tube,
Wave,
Straight
and
Curved
Slide
exit
height
greater
than
15”.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Wood
Tunnel
Slide
wood
splintering
and
showing
signs
of
rot.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Spiral
Slide
holds
water
at
exit
area.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
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Underside
of
Spiral
Slide
missing
hardware
and
hardware
rusted.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Upper
Body
Equipment
Upper
Body
equipment
has
splintering
wood
supports
and
beams.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Upper
Body
piece
has
rope
attached.
Remove
rope.
Base
of
Sliding
Pole
has
exposed
footing.
Consult
with
representative
for
alternative
solutions
to
cover
footing
with
EWF.
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Non-‐compliant
Safety
Issues
–
the
following
photo
images
are
conditions
found
in
the
playground
environment
that
have
been
known
to
cause
serious
injuries
on
children.
Crush
and
Shear
–
the
following
images
show
areas
where
play
components
where
movement
is
a
part
of
the
play
experience
can
crush/shear
a
child’s
finger
or
toe.
Entanglements
–
the
photo
images
in
this
section
show
areas
where
children’s
clothing,
or
similar,
can
get
caught
in
different
areas
of
the
playground.
Slides
are
the
primary
areas
where
this
issue
can
occur.
Crush
&
shear
on
end
of
clatter
bridge.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Crush
&
shear
on
clatter
bridge
boards.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Crush
&
shear
on
chain
by
vertical
post.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Non-‐continuous
surface
at
transition
of
slide.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Non-‐continuous
surface
at
transition
of
slide.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Non-‐continuous
surface
at
transition
of
slide.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Non-‐continuous
surface
along
slide
sidewall.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
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Head
Entrapments
–
the
following
images
show
places
on
the
playground
where
young
children,
upon
entering
an
opening
feet-‐first,
can
get
their
heads
stuck
in
the
opening.
Head
entrapment
on
barrier
wall.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
Head
entrapment
across
flat
bridge
wall.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
Head
entrapment
on
floating
steps.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
Head
entrapment
on
vertical
pipe
climber.
Consult
representative
for
alternate
solutions.
Head
entrapment
on
upper
body
play
component.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Head
entrapment
on
barrier
wall.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Head
entrapment
on
barrier
wall.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
Head
entrapment
on
Tic-‐Tac-‐Toe
panel.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
19 of 23
Slide
Clearance
Zone
–
the
following
photo
image
shows
a
condition
where
a
vertical
post
is
located
within
an
area
where
a
child
could
come
into
contact
while
sliding
down
the
slide.
Respectfully
submitted
by,
Antonio
Malkusak,
CPSI,
Abundant
Playscapes
Sub-‐contractor
Field
Inspector
for
Playground
Guardian
June
8,
2015
(revised
July
6,
2015)
Spiral
Slide
clearance
less
than
23”
to
support
post.
Consult
representative
for
alternative
solutions.
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For City Council meeting of October 19, 2015 Item SP4
Special Order of Business: Fountain Square Renovation Project
For Action
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Administration and Public Works Committee
From: David Stoneback, Public Works Agency Director
Subject: Fountain Square Renovation Project
Date: October 19, 2015
Recommended Action:
Staff recommends City Council approve a proposed scope of work for the Fountain
Square Renovation Project and authorize staff to proceed with the project through
preparation and release of an RFP for consulting design services.
Funding Source:
The total estimated cost for this project, including engineering and construction is
$4.7M. Funding for this project could come from the Washington National TIF or
Water/General Obligation Bonds. The estimated cost for the fountain area is $3.0M and
the work on Sherman is estimated at $1.7M.
Background:
Fountain Square has been the heart of downtown Evanston since 1854 and is critical to
the City’s identity. The existing plaza and fountain were installed in 1976. The site is
used for a wide variety of public activities including Memorial and Veteran’s Day
services, holiday celebrations, summer festivals, public forums and casual seating for
area residents, downtown employees and visitors.
Due to age and intense use, the existing plaza and fountain have deteriorated. Specific
system deficiencies include leaking basin walls, aging and inoperable mechanical
equipment, inoperable lighting and failing paving and seating. Additionally, the site’s
configuration and fountain features provide limited flexibility for public use and the
existing design is both outdated and generally unappealing within the context of the
downtown’s contemporary core.
In 2014 the City engaged Teska Associates to conduct a Visioning Process in order to
work with the public to reimagine the site, evaluate ways to improve user experience
and create a flexible pedestrian friendly environment suitable for year round use.
Working with City staff, Teska led a process where public input was gathered through a
Memorandum
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variety of methods including focus groups, open houses, social media, direct
engagement with downtown businesses and a weekend street closure event. Midway
through the process, Teska developed a project goal statement and prepared four initial
design concepts for public consideration. Each concept explored unique themes for the
site and examined a variety of features and design forms. A copy of Teska’s design
work along with additional information regarding the public engagements is available at
the project webpage (http://cityofevanston.org/public-works/my-fountain-square/). A
summary of the public engagements conducted during the visioning process follows:
Date(s) Activity
August 14, 2014 Focus Group Meetings
September 15, 2014 Council Presentation
October 16 to December 9,
2014
Public outreach activities (website, social media,
questionnaire, comment cards, interviews)
October 25 - 28, 2014 Halloween and Harvest Event
March 11, 2015 Public Open House
March 16 - 31, 2015 311 Survey
May 21, 2015 Downtown Evanston and Park and Recreation Board
Meetings
July 14, 2015 Joint Ward Meeting (Wards 1 and 4)
The Visioning Process allowed residents to explore an open book of solutions for the
Fountain Square site. The process generated numerous ideas and gathered feedback
from a wide cross section of both Evanston residents and visitors. After reviewing the
materials generated and gathered during this process, staff recommends the following
scope and strategy for project execution:
Scope of Work
1. Fountain Square Plaza: Create a new fountain square plaza which includes
enhanced pavements in roadway areas immediately east, west and south of the
plaza and incorporates the landscape area south of Davis. The new plaza will
include a water feature, Veteran’s Memorial, permanent holiday tree, variety of
seating areas and landscape enhancements.
2. Sherman Avenue Improvements: Replace the 100 year old water main, widen
sidewalks on the east side of the street with streetscape enhancements and
resurface the roadway between Church Street and Davis Street.
Implementation Strategy
1. Fall 2015: Through an RFP staff will procure the services of a consultant design
team to develop final concept designs, perform any required site investigations
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and prepare construction documents as well as provide construction
administration services for the project.
2. Winter to Spring 2016: Working with staff, the selected consultant team will
develop refined concept designs for public review and comment, culminating with
the selection of a preferred design alternative.
3. Summer to Fall 2016: Working with staff, the selected consultant team will
perform any required site investigations and prepare construction documents for
project implementation.
4. 2017 to 2018: Depending on potential phasing needs, project construction will be
performed with completion to occur no later than December 31, 2018 to meet the
closing date of the Washington National TIF.
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