“We’ve heard loud and clear there’s tremendous interest and will to turn that pattern around and to begin fully funding,” said Ald. Clare Kelly (1st), who brought up the issue. Kelly estimated the city will need to allocate an additional $4.5 million this year to...
News
City Council discusses proposed 2023 budget, pension debt
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st) said she" believes the city can keep the property tax levy flat while still fully funding the pension debt." Read full story in Daily Northwestern
Residents and dogs rally support to reopen Evanston’s Dog Beach
Ald. Clare Kelly (1st), who joined the residents Saturday, said the city’s swift action reflects a change in leadership, including at the city manager and alderperson level. “It didn’t take that long. It didn’t take months of work and consultants,” Kelly said. “They...
Legacy Business Program to aid established businesses in surviving and prospering
"A working group headed by Councilwoman Clare Kelly of the First Ward is creating the programme." Read full story on BollyInside
Legacy Business Program to help long-time enterprises survive and succeed
“Evanston’s heritage resources are vitally important, bind its residents to their physical environment, and define the City’s unique character and identity. However, Evanston’s living heritage remains largely underrepresented and vulnerable from threats such as...
Council approves nearly $500,000 for firefighters who gave up salary increases during COVID-19
“..At the Sept. 19 meeting, First Ward Council Member Clare Kelly made the recommendation firefighters receive a one-time payment, a compensation for their sacrifice...In lieu of not losing firefighters,” Kelly said, the staffing “not only helped to cement the team...
Land Use Commission, Sept. 14, votes unanimously to recommend rejection of proposed Chicago Ave. 18 story residential high rise.
As Council Member for the First Ward where this 18 story development was proposed, I greatly appreciate the community’s involvement and participation in the discussions around this proposed planned development. In response to comments from “City Observer” and...
Committee OKs funding to honor legacy businesses
Council member Clare Kelly (First Ward) proposed creating the program, which officials hope to use to retain long-standing Evanston businesses, which have long been regarded as a key element in the city’s economic development strategy. Read Full Article Evanston...
Council Member Kelly Initiates Programs and Policies to Support Evanston ‘Legacy Businesses’
by Bill SmithMay 31, 2022 Councilmember Kelly’s initiative to promote and support Evanston's Legacy Businesses. Evanston’s Economic Development Committee is scheduled to vote Tuesday evening on a plan to provide financial support for existing small businesses. Read...
Thanks to Council Member Kelly! Bring Your Pup to These Evanston Restaurants
by Nancy McLaughlin May 30th, 2022 Good news, Evanston dog lovers! Ten local restaurant patios have been approved for doggie dining this year, and more permits are in the works, according to Ellyn Golden, Evanston’s Environmental Health Licensing Coordinator. Read...
Ban On Dogs On Outdoor Restaurant Patios In Evanston To Be Lifted
Pooches on patios will be permitted as the Evanston City Council Monday unanimously approved an ordinance allowing dogs at outdoor cafes. https://patch.com/illinois/evanston/ban-dogs-outdoor-restaurant-patios-evanston-be-lifted
Kelly Successfully Held Over 2021 Budget Increase to Ensure Fiscal Accountability Measures
"Kelly spoke with the city’s chief financial officer and treasurer, about ways to improve the process going forward. ..Gandurski said she found Kelly’s request for Desai to report any projected overages and surpluses of business units quarterly to the Finance and...
Former Varsity Theater site moves to next chapter
"Council Member Clare Kelly, in whose First Ward the project is located, spoke at the meeting in praise of the building’s adaptive reuse, saying the action was in keeping with other measures the council took that night, such as approving major climate change...
Kelly’s Successful Initiative to Freeze 2022 Property Tax
After Evanston residents had shouldered many consecutive years of property levy increases, straining their household budgets and forcing even middle income residents to move out of Evanston. Council Member Kelly committed to ensuring that Evanston residents would not...
Housing subcommittee hits impasse on rental licensing program
Kelly, chairing the meeting, agreed the current system for dealing with property complaints is ineffective but argued it could be dramatically improved without launching a licensing program. “If, for example, we started with proactive inspections – if we increased our...
How council members ‘bright ideas’ are faring
Evanston Now by Bill Smith December 24, 2021 Read on evanstonnow.com Evanston City Council members have advanced dozens of ideas for new legislation since they formed a Referrals Committee following last April’s election. Most of those ideas remain somewhere in the...
NU Donates $800K for New City Fire Engine
First Ward Councilmember Clare Kelly played a central role in engaging Northwestern for this contribution along with retired Evanston firefighters and lifelong residents Dave Ellis and Jack Mortell, who provided support by studying and comparing similar universities’...
Northwestern donates second fire engine to Evanston Fire Department
The Daily Northwestern Yiming Fu, City Editor January 4, 2022 Northwestern donated $800,000 to Evanston in December to fund the purchase of a new fire engine. The fire engine will be the second purchased from University-donated funds. In 2009, NU donated $550,000 to...
Plan Commission advances ADU moratorium proposal
Evanston Round Table by Matt Simonette August 3rd, 2021 Click for Full Story in Evanston Round Table The Evanston Plan Commission, by a 3-2 vote, advanced a proposal that would impose a six-month moratorium on permitting and construction of non-owner occupied...
Calendar
Upcoming First Ward meetings, First Ward Agenda items at City Council and other committees, and other events.