"Ten Years of Growth: 2010-2020" Presentation to Cook County Forest Preserve District Board

Cook County Forest Preserves District (FPDCC) Board Meeting 
February 24, 2021 –
Virtual meeting called to order at 10:00 a.m.

FPDCC Superintendent Arnold Randall presented “Ten Years of Growth: 2010-2020” 

• Superintendent Randall outlined actions taken to create success:

                 1. changing the organizational culture 
                2. creating 2014 Centennial Plan and Next Century Conservation Plan
                3. working successfully with 100 partners
                4. creating the Conservation and Policy Council 
                5. increasing offerings and outreach to public 
                6. growing fiscal health
                7. committing to equity (in contracts, staff, community relationships)
                8. adopting a 2018 sustainability plan

• Benjamin Cox (Friends of the Forest Preserve) reflected on successes of the past ten years, noting the FPDCC has grown from a troubled agency to highly efficient one. Due to partnerships and development of the Green Paper, there is an extensive plan in place working in the best interest of all working parties. He also noted that FPDCC cares for one of the largest pieces of Nature in the world with significant species being preserved for people to enjoy.
• Eileen Fiegel (Deputy Superintendent of Forest Preserves) spoke of the decade long mission to operate, protect and continually assess what Forest Preserves offers to county residents and visitors.
• Jerry Adelman (Open Lands) thanked Pres. Preckwinkle and board. He urged continued ecological stewardship beyond political administrations.

Items Considered by Board:

• Agenda Item #21-0143 –Honoring the FPDCC for receiving the Public Natural Areas Award from the Chicago Tree Initiative’s Urban Forestry Awards Program for its Tree Protection and Preservation Specifications Manual. 
• Agenda Item #21-0165 – Conservation and Policy Council members presented a report entitled “Scaling Up Volunteers in the Forest Preserves of Cook County.” The Next Century Conservation Plan (NCCP) established a goal of restoring 30,000 acres over 25 years. Accomplishment of this goal well positions the Forest Preserves to address the threats that climate change, biodiversity loss and limited access to nature pose to people’s well-being. The Council recommends the FPD and its partners invest in the best available strategies to engage, train, inspire and retain dedicated volunteers and, especially, volunteer leaders. The Council also recommends developing a volunteer recruitment strategy consistent with the recommendations of the Racial Equity Diversity and Inclusion position paper (Agenda Item 20-0285). 
• Agenda Item  #21-0117 – Partnership agreement with Audubon Great Lakes to establish a habitat restoration internship in 2021-22. The 16-week annual program will engage a crew of about eight adults in hands-on ecological conservation primarily at sites in Calumet, Palos and Tinley Creek regional preserves. Program is oriented toward participants interested in future careers in land management, ecology and related fields.
• Agenda Item #20-0464 – Building upon previous efforts, the Conservation and Policy Council’s “Nature-Compatible Recreation in the Forest Preserves of Cook County” position paper recommends the Forest Preserves prioritize nature-compatible recreation and oppose new uses that are not aligned with the Forest Preserves’ mission. The paper also recommends that existing recreational programs and/or facilities which do not align with the Forest Preserves’ mission and are not financially sustainable be transformed to natural spaces or re-purposed for nature-compatible recreation.

Calendar of Events (virtual and in-person) for 2/24-3/16/2021 is available online at www.fpdcc.com/events. 

Observed by Linda LaBuda                                        Meeting Length: 2 hours