Evanston Wins 2013 Sunny Award for Website Transparency

The City of Evanston has received an A+ from an open government advocacy group for its website, earning it a 2013 “Sunny Award.”

The Sunshine Review is a nonprofit organization that encourages government transparency. Its annual Sunny Awards look at state, county, city and school district websites and evaluate their transparency.

Evanston was one of 247 government entities to win the award, and this is the third Sunny Award the city has won. 

“Receiving this award highlights the efforts of elected officials and city administrators to keep residents informed by making information easily accessible,” Evanston City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz said in a statement. “Availability of information to our residents helps foster resident participation in their local government and helps educate them on policy decisions that impact their daily lives. Additionally, we even offer an online tool at www.cityofevanston.org/transparency for residents to submit suggestions on other items they think should be included online.”

Eight states earned nearly half of the 247 Sunny Awards given. The leading states were Florida (25), Virginia (19), Illinois (19), California (12), Georgia (12), Kansas (11), Oklahoma (10) and Colorado (9).

The Sunny Awards announcement falls during the annual  “Sunshine Week,” March 10-16, a period nationally recognized by hundreds of media and civic organizations, that celebrates the efforts of activists and the strides taken towards open government.