Housing & Community Development Committee Meeting 4-21-2026

The City of Evanston Housing & Community Development Committee met on April 21, 2026, to discuss several housing-related initiatives. Key procurement-related discussions included a proposed ordinance addressing rental price fixing, specifically targeting algorithmic pricing tools used by landlords. The committee considered amendments to the ordinance, such as adding a data recency threshold to limit the age of non-public competitor information used in pricing recommendations. The committee voted to recommend the rental price fixing ordinance to the city council for further action. Additionally, the committee reviewed a draft work plan for the "Housing for All" 2026-2027 initiative, which outlines various housing programs and budget considerations. However, the committee decided to table approval of the work plan until their next meeting in May to allow for potential amendments to the overarching housing plan. Public comments addressed concerns about property tax relief programs, displacement, and the impact of corporate landlords on affordable housing. The committee encouraged public engagement at the upcoming city council meeting on May 11, 2026, where the strategic housing plan will be discussed.