Should Evanston Allow More Lakefront Events?

The number of special events held on Evanston's lakefront could more than double over the next three years, if city council members approve a temporary change to lakefront use policy.

Aldermen are expected to vote on a revised lakefront special events policy during Monday night's city council meeting. New criteria proposed by the parks and recreation board would increase the number of events allowed per year from 12 to 33. Events would also be categorized as high and low impact, and the board is suggesting that 11 high impact events and 22 low impact events be allowed per year. 

“The board feels that the lakefront is an asset for us all in Evanston, and [the current policy is] limiting,” parks and recreation board member Dan Stein told the council earlier this year.

If city council members approve the revised policy, the new regulations would go into effect for the next three years, at which point aldermen would vote on the number of lakefront special events again.

Also on the agenda for Monday night's council meeting:

1. Aldermen are expected to vote on a special use permit for Beacon Academy, a Montessori high school hoping to open at 622 Davis St. While the school was initially seeking financial assistance from the city as well, a representative told Patch that Beacon Academy is holding off on that request for now. 

2. Approval of a binding referendum question for the dissolution of Evanston Township is also on Monday night's agenda. Evanston Township Supervisor Gary Gaspard recently resigned, but city council member have been talking about dissolving the township for years. 

3. Aldermen are expected to vote on an ordinance that would restrict the use of electronic cigarettes. If approved, the ordinance would prohibit e-cigarette use wherever smoking is prohibited. It would also change the city code's definition of "tobacco products" to include e-cigarettes, thereby allowing the city to prohibit sales to minors. 

Several people spoke up against the restrictions on e-cigarettes at the most recent city council meeting, arguing that they were a valuable tool for cessation and had few, if any, proven health risks.