[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6148370,"mediaKeyId","5515268-d68e7b828764778898da66c5673471b6","parentId",5515268,"title","Evanston delays Responsible Bidders Ordinance rollout as council approves Fire Station No. 3 repair contract","audioSeconds",126,"startMs",1574000,"endMs",1700000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5515268-d68e7b828764778898da66c5673471b6&start=1574&end=1700","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5515268-d68e7b828764778898da66c5673471b6/thumbnail_1574000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6148370/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Evanston-delays-Responsible-Bidders-Ordinance-rollout-as-council-approves-Fire-Station-No-3-repair-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6148370-c54ecbe4604429ab5bac57f3f4cbe4d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442675&Signature=UH8D0Uzz71tyMXlXLDWfJhIh20oeznlj4wtgQSFBIwqPuCYoblZ6V6c2PCHszEUg779jGU6N5tsITVKs3-HIz8mH2FC-J8Erg5WK3f9TZ5FMpVcZEB~OojpGj1yGjA6J-gqX3XeOK6Pb-gD4nt6MIvk5eMz~IlJFFMqdb3wn1XdIb5c8J99avxn3kN5ekujq~G37dg-RedcujA7boCFtu9WlEXqPJEXtAWrOgbXt2000CkVA1Uzr122nVBHMuCAXLsZMCYD-pYNgfnTaOck6yTjFUku4jfHE1ZwyMO6E8mhEf0qdj6Fil0oA06jh6mlrFXpiEcELN5~eEC2e5sZtVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Evanston, IL","date","2025-07-29T16:01:37Z","article","The City Council on July 28 approved a $147,800 contract with Ramirez Group LLC for structural concrete repairs at Fire Station No. 3, and during debate several council members criticized the city for not yet applying the recently adopted Responsible Bidders Ordinance (RBO) to solicitations.

The council approved the contract on a 6–1 vote. Council member Kelly voted no and said she could not support the contract because the RBO—adopted by ordinance months earlier—should be in force for current solicitations. Corporation Counsel Alex Ruggie told the council the delay in applying the ordinance to bid packages was an oversight; he said purchasing had been asked to hold new solicitations until staff completed updates to include RBO language.

Council member Newsom moved approval of the Ramirez Group contract. Council member Hedekaris seconded. The clerk recorded roll-call votes with six council members in favor and one against. Council member Kelly explained she pulled the related items from consent because the contracts in question “were not subject to our responsible bidders ordinance” and said the ordinance “shall be in full force and effect beginning upon passage.” Ruggie said last-minute ordinance changes delayed implementation and that purchasing was updating bid documents and would not issue new bid packages until that work is complete.

The decision approves repairs at a neighborhood fire facility while highlighting an implementation gap between the council’s policy choices and procurement practice. Council members asked staff to accelerate integration of the RBO language into solicitations; staff committed to updating bid documents and to delaying new bid releases until the changes are in place.

Ending: The Ramirez Group contract was approved, and staff said it would hold future solicitations until RBO language is added to bid packages. Council members signaled they expect prompt implementation of the ordinance and greater clarity from purchasing on timelines and enforcement.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Evanston City Council Meeting 7-28-2025","oneSentenceSummary","On July 28 the Evanston City Council approved a $147,800 contract for concrete repairs at Fire Station No. 3 while several members pressed staff about implementing the recently passed Responsible Bidders Ordinance.","taxTitle","Evanston, Cook County, Illinois","taxId",2640,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6148375,"Evanston council approves $636,000 Twiggs Park playground contract amid cost and procurement concerns",627,1713000,2340000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5515268-d68e7b828764778898da66c5673471b6&start=1713&end=2340","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5515268-d68e7b828764778898da66c5673471b6/thumbnail_1713000.jpg","/articles/6148375/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Evanston-council-approves-636000-Twiggs-Park-playground-contract-amid-cost-and-procurement-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6148375-20bbf6802bfba202401ddd5a99c0e820/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442675&Signature=ozWqyz4y4135EiZX1YOgQ2Z3GkcaucQ-sQkUTcll9rbyvmlkmakmtCRr2Fgi4kFeSyQqxzabWpQNZFE3f0JJq70-REF~7rfriFQQNbon9u4XYT9P5mckKpk52Ec1vimDV69QebM3M7n5Ng3SHgT8hGCUWe4f~btBypK6hWUmyG0dy8gToJ8H3ozXgfruW2-N0kQ1JbN69m1xFBWqa5XDknnPe8aLMlNyaePWXeOzxigMBbFjvJNM6BHs3ib53L9TLk4nG~Yzh0ZIS79eMsDHGXVa9WQWbgBC39CgL6bc4v6zW5L4BkMoY45WpN1qnU5XKdoaRJgQj7bV4-q-X4aWow__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Evanston City Council on July 28 approved a $636,000 contract with AGAE Contractors for the Twiggs Park Playground Improvement project, amid debate about procurement practices and rising park construction costs.

Council members split on fiscal and procurement questions but the motion carried 5–2. Opponents cited a single bid, concerns that the Responsible Bidders Ordinance (RBO) had not yet been applied to the procurement, and broader questions about escalating park project costs. City staff and supporters said leveraging Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds made it sensible to move forward with playground replacement and limited path improvements at the site.

The contract matters because the city and residents are weighing how to maintain and improve parks while containing rising construction and installation costs. Supporters argued that accepting grant funds allows the city to do more than the available local funds would permit; critics asked for greater cost analysis and fuller application of newly adopted procurement standards.

Council member Newsom moved the contract award; the clerk recorded a roll-call vote with five members in favor and two against. Council member Kelly and council member Davis voted no. Council member Burns and others defended the project’s scope and said the work is consistent with prior park improvements and lower than several recent projects.

City Engineer Laura Biggs described the city’s approach: when grant funding becomes available staff “look at it as an opportunity to leverage city funds to get something bigger done than we could do with just city funds alone.” Biggs said the playground equipment being replaced was old and that the project is in a Census tract prioritized under the city’s equitable planning. She also said the city moved to prioritize Twiggs Park because it qualified under the HCDC (Housing and Community Development Committee) action plan and the council-approved 2024 action plan.

Several council members pushed staff for more transparency on costs. Council member Burns noted that the $636,000 contract compares favorably to some recent work and urged colleagues not to stall projects at the final approval stage. Council member Kelly and others pointed out that only one bid was received and that the city’s new Responsible Bidders Ordinance has not yet been implemented across bid packages. Corporation Counsel Alex Ruggie said the delay in implementing the RBO was an “oversight,” and that purchasing was holding new bid packages until the ordinance language had been incorporated.

Council members also discussed installation costs. A staff explanation noted installation and site-work often double the cost of the equipment itself, and Council member Rogers asked whether the city should study bringing installation in-house; staff replied doing so would require significant new equipment and positions. Council member Davis requested a formal cost analysis and said she had submitted a referral previously asking for an in-house cost study.

Clarifying cost references provided by staff included comparisons to other park projects: Harbor Park reported costs near $858,000 in 2020, Larimer Park about $1,460,000, and another park project reported near $2,020,000; staff said the full Twiggs Park scope (play equipment plus paths and other work) totaled roughly $963,000 while the contract award for construction work is $636,000. Staff also said $92,000 for path improvements comes from a separate CIP line item rather than the playground CDBG allocation.

Ending: The council approved the contract 5–2; staff said they would incorporate RBO language into future solicitations, provide the requested cost analyses on in-house work if the council asks, and continue communicating with council members about prioritization of park projects.","The City Council approved a $636,000 contract for Twiggs Park playground improvements July 28 after debate over rising park costs, single bid submissions and pending implementation of a Responsible Bidders Ordinance; staff said CDBG funds were leveraged to extend project scope.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6148382,"Evanston residents press council to restore Special Olympics services after coach’s termination",1054,168000,1222000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5515268-d68e7b828764778898da66c5673471b6&start=168&end=1222","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5515268-d68e7b828764778898da66c5673471b6/thumbnail_168000.jpg","/articles/6148382/Evanston/Cook-County/Illinois/Evanston-residents-press-council-to-restore-Special-Olympics-services-after-coachs-termination","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6148382-1f026ba9e7397efc2fb74f70886f78a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442675&Signature=gl4zPprgKvNh2NcAvF33Tsnj9yg6FNVU8ruApuyNXo2k2gv74CkuAFwGGGnFG0Lqxp1JHyGN9dwP1Hgan8d6J3L6mVfSiFJqbGDyvvG9Z1rCqEudecuyJZja6yhi--mEeCjAol51bC0~HfCQV7Y7NAs6Cp2SwjAIu01sDWY~lMftAWYi0ro5a7gHnRgcEvRGVxCcQhjmllimtPu2nB81aDWNh245zzMe-~vgarZ~bHbRRypQczkMDDoAyaagEReOKgW0tX0Ls7ivJl10EAWr7LxKoR6IzKiNdMxmc2DZxOnGH3AKkBLZZUWi7XQvffuR6Cp78WUBC~i6OxHtDXKdzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Evanston residents and athletes told the City Council on July 28 they want the city to restore Special Olympics programming after the termination of long-serving coach and program lead Leonard Woodson. Public commenters said the change, which they said occurred in mid-July, led to canceled activities and left athletes without coach support.

Speakers described the Special Olympics program as a long-standing, community-supported service and said recent staffing changes disrupted scheduled competition and travel. Council members said staff is working to reestablish programming and that they will seek further review with city management.

The concerns matter because the Special Olympics and accessible recreation services provide coaching, travel coordination and community supports for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; speakers said cancellations denied athletes expected competition and social opportunities. At least one regional competition and several upcoming state-level events were described as jeopardized by the service disruption.

Bob Houser, a 41-year resident, said he learned of the termination “about 03:30 today,” and that Woodson had worked for the city for decades. “We just learned of Leonard's ultimate termination about 03:30 today,” Houser said. He told the council the Special Olympics program had been “a shambles” since Woodson’s departure and said a regional softball meet scheduled for Sunday was canceled. Liz Litvak, who identified herself as an athlete, said, “Please don't take away our coach.” Caroline Kolean said Woodson nominated her to compete at nationals and helped her find work as a swim instructor. Cecilia Wallen, whose son Marcelo has participated for 19 years, described Woodson’s role in travel, event organization and creating “a stable and supportive presence” for socially isolated athletes.

Several council members acknowledged the comments and asked staff to act. Council member Davis said she had read constituent emails and was “working with city staff to make sure that we continue to prioritize Special Olympics and also other services for people who have special needs.” Council member Rogers said she had asked staff for a plan “so that we can pick the ball up” and noted a delay that affected weekend programming. A staff speaker told the council, “we are very committed to our inclusive programming” and said staff was working “very diligently to ensure that the delivery of programs in the future are not disrupted.” The staff speaker also said the city manager, Luke Stowe, was on vacation and that, at the moment, the administration “doesn't have much to share.”

Council member Kelly asked for an executive-session meeting under the personnel exemption to discuss the matter with the city manager. Kelly moved a request for closed-session discussion “related to personnel to discuss recent changes in the special recreation program, specifically with the Special Olympics program and the process that has impacted resident participants, as soon as possible.” Council member Rogers seconded. Council members and staff discussed timing while the manager was on vacation; staff said it might be possible for the manager to join remotely but had limited details. After public and council discussion about procedure and timing, Kelly later withdrew the formal motion to go into executive session; council members agreed to seek a prompt meeting with the city manager and to send a joint letter requesting that meeting and follow-up information for families.

The council did not take personnel-level action during the July 28 meeting. Instead, council members pledged to pursue immediate administrative steps and communication. Council member Nussbaum urged that the city “replace the personnel and make sure these programs are back, in business as soon as possible.” Mayor Biss and other council members thanked speakers for their advocacy and encouraged families to continue submitting written concerns and to sign a joint letter to the city manager.

Ending: Families and athletes said they want a clear plan and better notice; council members said staff would share a plan with the families and the council as soon as it is available. The city’s announcement of any personnel-level details will be limited by confidentiality rules and state Open Meetings Act restrictions.","Residents and athletes urged the Evanston City Council on July 28 to restore Special Olympics programming after the city terminated longtime coach Leonard Woodson; council members said staff is working on a plan and agreed to seek further review with city management.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Evanston delays Responsible Bidders Ordinance rollout as council approves Fire Station No. 3 repair contract

Evanston council approves $636,000 Twiggs Park playground contract amid cost and procurement concerns

Evanston residents press council to restore Special Olympics services after coach’s termination