Habitat Restoration and Wetlands Mitigation on Cook County Forest Preserve District Agenda during Covid 19 Crisis

Forest Preserve District Cook County Virtual Board Meeting
July 28, 2020

Meeting opened at 10 am. No public comments.
Board Action:

• Agenda Item 20-0241: FPDCC regular board meetings, for the remainder of 2020 will be held as scheduled at 10 am; those dates are Sept. 22, 2020; Oct. 20, 2020, Nov. 17, 2020, Dec. 15, 2020. The Sept. 20 meeting, scheduled to be held at the Chgo Botanic Garden Farm will be a virtual meeting. Approved.
• Agenda Item 20-0304: Resolution, sponsored by Com. Britton and Miller, in support of the 10 Shared Principles of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois NAACP to guide reforms that eliminate disproportionate negative impacts of policing on people of color. To be adopted for FPD Police Dept. Approved.
• Agenda Item 20-0301: Authorization requested to extend grant agreement with IL Dept of Transportation for a trail system inventory for $240,000. Extension would be through Sept. 2022. Work was slowed due to Covid19. This would support a systematic approach to review over 350 miles of trails, paved and unpaved, to prioritize what need to be done, and monitor progress. Approved.
• Agenda Item 20-0260: Authorization to extend IGA with UIC for consulting services to FPD’s Racial, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (REDI) Committee for Phase 2 work. The work is on further improving business processes, training, and strategic planning which would promote organizational change. Approved.
• Agenda Item 20-0288: Corporate Fund Revenue and Expenses through May, 2020 shows Revenue YTD $30,897,369 which is $316,000 below last year. Non tax revenue is down $1,117,000 from last year which was not unexpected. $412,000 has been refunded in permit fees, $92,000 in campground fees. YTD expenditures are $19,105,875; this is $1,064,000 above last year. Hiring freezes and cost cutting measures that have taken place since May are not yet reflected. Corporate expenditures are down $3.8 million. A hiring freeze is now in place with some exceptions where serious need exists. Budget reductions include $2 million in non-personnel expenses; most departments have cut 12% in non-personnel costs. Construction and development projects are on hold until the end of the year. At that time, there will be a review to determine whether monies need to be reappropriated to support the budget or if they can be returned to departments for their original intent.

Other items of interest

• County CFO’s are being directed to apply to FEMA first for costs insured due to COVD19. FPD has incurred $260,000 in related costs through May 20. Application can be made to the City to fill gaps in CARES Act reimbursement. There is no reimbursement for refunded revenue in CARES Act.
• All items listed as Proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement, Salary Schedule, Wage Adjustments, and Healthcare Plan Resolutions were accepted.
• All nature centers are open for restrooms; outdoor spaces are being used for programming in small groups. See website. fpdcc.com/events , for current list of events at forest preserves.

Observer: Carolyn Cosentino                                           Meeting length: 1 hr 15 min