Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC) Board Meeting
at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center
May 23, 2023

A tribute to Shelley Spencer was on the agenda.  In 2015 she produced “Chicago’s True Nature” an Emmy award-winning documentary on the Forest Preserves of Cook County (FPDCC).  
https://fpdcc.com/chicagos-true-nature-forest-preserves-cook-county/
She has been on the FPDCC’s Conservation and Policy Council taking part in the Council’s Racial Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee.

The Friends of Northbrook Forest Preserve was organized in 1998 and received recognition for their volunteer work in Somme Woods, Somme Prairie Nature Preserve, and Somme Prairie Grove Nature Preserve in northeast Cook County.  The groups “hands on” restoration includes brush control, prescribed burns, chainsaw safety, and invasive species control.  Over decades this group has contributed thousands of work hours to restoring the health and biodiversity of the preserves.

Commissioner Dennis Deer was reappointed to the Board of Directors of NeighborSpace, an affiliate partner of the Forest Preserve along with the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District.  NeighborSpace is a nonprofit urban land trust in Chicago that supports gardens with dedicated community groups.  NeighborSpace has acquired vacant lots and provides basic insurance, access to water, protection of land from development, links to resources, and technical assistance so community groups can focus on gardening.

A brownfield is a property that is underutilized or vacant that may have environmental issues that prevent redevelopment.  The Cook County Dept of Environment and Sustainability will provide American Rescue Plan Act funds up to $1.5 million to the preserves in Brownfield Program demolition, environmental assessment and environmental remediation services for an estimated 65 structures.  The plan is to increase green space for outdoor recreation.  

Illegal dumping of garbage such as construction debris, tires, hazardous waste, household appliances, electronics, landscape waste on forest preserve land, waters, beaches or down storm sewers is an ongoing pollution problem when perpetrators won’t use legitimate waste disposal and FPDCC has to bear the cleanup costs.    It is hard to monitor 70,000 acres for this “fly dumping” as a lot of dumping happens at night.  Three agenda items were referred to the Finance Committee that proposed to raise the uppermost fine to $750 from $500 for each offense.  Violators caught will be held liable for the cost of legal waste disposal as well as the cost to replace or repair the property damage from the illegal dumping.

Sagawau Environmental Learning Center is in Lemont IL and has 2.6 miles of walking trails which in the winter are groomed only for cross-country skiing.  Sagawau offers ski lessons and rents equipment.  Sagawau Canyon has the only natural exposure of bedrock in Cook County- guided walks can be scheduled.  The visitor center has many exhibits and its website lists many events and programs.

Observer - Michele Niccolai

Cook  County Forest  Preserve District Board Meeting
April 25, 2023  10am - 12:30pm 

Board Action:

• The Forest Preserve District has received ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) funds and will use  approximately $10 million within the Forest Preserves for capital improvements such as restrooms;  another $10 million will go to the zoo for improvements; and $10 million for the Botanic Gardens to replace a roof.  (Agenda Item 23-0308)
• The Forest Preserves has received a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for  Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development (OSLAD) for acquisition of a 14.3 acre parcel in Orland Park. The parcel is just north of the 960 acre Orland Grassland Preserve.  (Agenda Item 23-0296)
• The Board approved moving the May 23, 2023 board meeting from Sand Ridge Nature Center in South Holland to Sagawau Environmental Learning Center due to construction at Sand Ridge. (Agenda Item 23-0295)

Other items of interest:

• Out of seven public speakers, four spoke out on the issue of the coyote at the River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook requesting the coyote be moved to a sanctuary in Colorado.  Superintendent Randall shared that the enclosure is currently being enlarged with increased enrichment being included.
• Stephen Hughes, CFO of the Cook County Forest Preserves, will retire shortly.  He was recognized for his 40 years of public service and as a strong advocate for the recent referendum.   (Agenda Item 23-0309)

Observer: Laura Davis 

Cook County Forest Preserve District (CCFPD) Board Meeting
February 7, 2023

Board Action:

• Items approved for land acquisition, 3 parcels (23-0109, 23-0110, 23-0111). 2 funded through AARPA.  authorizes creation of new Forest Preserve near Sweet Woods. (23-0109)
• Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) donated a 5-7 acre parcel adjacent to Wolf Rd Prairie (23-0123).
  
• Approved Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Morton Grove regarding redevelopment of small parcel (23-0113).
• Status Report on Model Policing (23-0139) was Received and Filed. During FPD Law Enforcement Committee meeting, discussion of changes in hiring/training, social media outreach, SafeT Act Mandates and their impact took place. Training for CCFPD takes longer than Sheriff’s police; IDNR provides additional training for officers’ work in forest preserves.
• Interagency Agreement Between Chgo. Zoological Society and CCFPD for increase in admissions and parking fees at Brookfield Zoo to support its 2023 budget proposal  (23-0183).  Approved.

Items of Interest:

• 3 new Members were approved to join Conservation and Policy Council, an independent advisory group to CCFPD: Daisy Feidt, Megan Bang, Ryen Nagle. (23-0132)
• Finance Committee:  Final Corporate Expenditures for 2022 are anticipated to be below estimates for the year (2022). Report to be completed by the end of the month. Property tax collections are now up to date.  PPRT collected is $14.5 M over last year, total was $23.7M. 

Carolyn Cosentino - Observer

Cook County Forest Preserve Commissioners Board Meeting 
January 24, 2023

Results of a 15 week customer service survey by the Forest Preserves had a 25% response rate.  Results indicated:

•  Dan Ryan Woods is rated #1 Forest Preserve
•  Walking in the woods increases respondents’ agreement with Forest Preserve initiatives
•  Vendors hired by the Forest Preserves delivered
•  African Americans rated Forest Preserve police higher than other groups

Board Action:

• #22-0551 - The Board unanimously approved a resolution calling for a twelve week paid parental leave policy financial impact analysis supported by Commissioner Bridget Degnen.   Comments included the position of the Forest Preserves as being family friendly and the need to recruit and retain qualified personnel. 
• #23-0109 - Forest Preserves will purchase 130 acres of land near Sweet Water Woods, Glenwood, in south suburban Cook County with grants from IDNR (Illinois Department of Natural Resources.  This land will be reforested and contribute to reduce flooding.

Public comments:

• Several requests were to move the coyote from River Trail Nature Center to a wildlife sanctuary in Colorado. Superintendent Arnold Randall responded that the Forest Preserves will be working on a new larger enclosure and the delay was due to finding a contractor. 

Observer:   Laura Davis 

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Directors Meeting
December 13, 2022

General Superintendent Arnold Randall introduced contract amendments to the Board that increase funding for Conservation Corps programs that are looking to expand, as a result of an increase in funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (“ARPA”). Conservation Corps programs are required to provide participants with “paid, field-based ecological restoration experiences that train participants to restore the land as directed.”

• The Board approved an additional $170,000 for the Experience Program, which is a summer youth employment program. (Agenda Item 22-0524)
• The Board approved additional funding for the Chicago Conservation Corps young adult Gap Year Program. (Agenda Item 22-0525)
• The Board approved a contract with Greencorps, a green-industry employment program with on-the-job training. (Agenda Item 22-0526)
• The Board approved a contract amendment extending the current contract until 2023, and adding $180,000 to the North Branch Conservation Corps program. (Agenda Item 22-0424)

Other items of interest:

• The Board approved a partnership with The Field Museum to build a Gathering Space at the Beaubien Wood Boat Launch. Artist Christine Perri is designing a Prairie boat, and once finished will belong to and be maintained by the Forest Preserve. (Agenda Item 22-0521)
• The Board approved the reappointment of Jacqui Ulrich, Director of the Conservation and Experimental Programing Dept. (“CEP”) to the Board of Directors of NeighborSpace. NeighborSpace is an affiliate partner of the Forest Preserves that owns and maintains property around Chicago for the community to use as gardens or however the community sees fit. (Agenda Item 22-0365)

​Observer: Amber L Elmer