March 20 Ballot Initiatives Informational Meeting

Evanston officials voted late last year to adopt two measures that would put two questions on the March 20, 2012 Illinois General Primary election ballot. The first will be an advisory referendum regarding dissolution of Evanston Township and the second will be a referendum regarding electric power Community Choice Aggregation.

Additionally, there will be informational presentations at various ward meetings prior to the March 20th General Primary Election:

• 9th Ward Meeting - 7 p.m. February 29, Levy Center, 300 Dodge Ave.
• 1st Ward Meeting - 7 p.m. March 6, Evanston Public Library, 1703 Orrington Ave

Advisory Referendum Question Regarding Township Dissolution on March 20, 2012 General Election Ballot

On December 5, 2011, the Evanston Township Board adopted Resolution 4T-R-11 to include an advisory referendum on the March 20th General Election ballot with a question asking Evanston residents whether the Township Board should continue to pursue dissolution of the Township, with its duties transferred to the City of Evanston. The advisory referendum question will ask the voters of Evanston:

“Should the Evanston Town Board continue to pursue the issue of dissolving Evanston Township?”

The referendum is advisory, meaning that it serves only to inform elected officials of public opinion and will help guide their further discussions regarding Township services. Learn more about the advisory referendum here>>>

Community Choice Electricity Aggregation (CCA)

Evanston’s City Council is working to help Evanston residents and small businesses lower their electric bills. On November 29, 2011, Council passed an ordinance to approve the submission of a binding referendum question on the March ballot about Community Choice Electricity Aggregation (CCA).

CCA would allow the City of Evanston to bundle together the thousands of Evanston accounts and seek bids for a cheaper source of power. The referendum question will asks the voters of Evanston:

“Shall the City of Evanston have the authority to arrange for the supply of electricity for its residential and small commercial retail customers who have not opted out of such a program?”

This year, 19 communities across Chicagoland have implemented CCA programs and saved residential and small commercial retail customers 25% on average on the supply side of their electric bill. CCA also can support the Evanston Climate Action Plan goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 13% by 2012. Learn more>>>