Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board Meeting
July 7, 2026, Mathew Bieszczat Volunteer Resource Center, 6100 N. Central Ave., Chicago
Highlights notes, Deborah Stone
All other items on the agenda not addressed below, passed (or if reports, were received and filed as appropriate).
Item 26-0118:  Laurel Ross gave the monthly report of the Conservation and Policy Council Monthly Report. She noted the Consent Calendar item recognizing two volunteers is the tip of the iceberg of the extensive volunteer activity at the Preserves which has been ongoing for many decades. She cited some of the many other good things going on at the Preserves which were not included in the General Superintendent’s report. They included work with state agencies on restoring Blandings Turtles and inventorying rare plants, a successful winter restoration season, and participation of 143 young people in Conservation Corps summer. She wanted the fact that the Referendum funding is making a difference, such as in the recent addition to Thorn Creek Meadow, an important bird area, to be publicized.
Item 26-0328: The area designated for operation of Brookfield Zoo was temporarily expanded by 3.37 acres of low ecological value, for temporary overflow parking while construction work is going on at the Zoo.
Item 26-0330: Proposed Amendments to the Forest Preserves Land Use Fees were sent to the Real Estate Committee.
Item 26-0327: The annual Energy Expense Report, now required by the 9/25 contract with Ameresco, was sent to Finance.
Item 26-0271: Report on status of achieving the goal of a Model Forest Preserve Police Department was sent to the Law Enforcement Committee.
Item 26-0268: Contract with two solar energy vendors to provide on-site ground-mounted solar through a Power Purchase Agreement at the Central Maintenance Compound in Maywood, was approved after the Board suspended the rules to take up the item directly instead of sending to Committee. Annual cost estimated at $32,500, which, while it exceeds the estimated cost for non-solar power, does provide price certainty, and is expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions from this facility by over 43%.
Several grants were accepted, including:
Item 26-0308: $200,000 from Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources for improving the boat launch on the Little Calumet River.
Item 26-0316: $100,000 from the Prairie State Conservation Coalition for acquisition of 42 acres in Glenwood to protect the Deer Creek Floodplain and to advance the Southeast Cook County Land Acquisition Plan.
Several contracts were approved, extended or amended.  The largest were:
Item 16-0311:  Approval of 3 year Contract with Christopher B Burke Engineering, Ltd. For $1,239,837.50 for Phase III Engineering services to oversee rehabilitation of about 1.3 miles of the Des Plaines River Trail, which among other improvements will add a signalized crossing at Strieby Drive and a couple of new connections to additional nearby locations.
Item26-0283: Extension for two years of contracts with 20 outside counsel law firms, with the additional cost not to exceed $2,300,000. This two-year renewal was allowed by the original three-year contract.
Item 26-0318:  Amends previously approved item 25-0296, Resolution granting General Superintendent Authority to Approve and Execute Utility Agreements. Relates to contract with Ameresco approved in 2025 to administer agreements with energy suppliers, and increases amount of this contract from a maximum of $1m to $1.75m to cover items such as electrical transformers needed when the District upgrades buildings. Board member  comments on this item included recognition of significant rate hikes by ComEd, and questions about whether the District could get any accommodations from ComEd to reduce the cost of new transformers and the like.
Also,
Item 26-0307: Proposed Calendar of Events, presented to be Received and Filed. Notable for the several dozen varied programs planned for the period 7.7.26-9.14.26.

​Observer - Deborah Stone

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting
April 14, 2026

Board Action:

• Budgets were approved for the planning and development for the Sandridge Nature Center. Work will begin soon and will be completed within a year. Improvements will be made to the kitchen and upgrade the main entrance for accessibility.
• The Commissioners celebrated and honored the career of retiring Theresa Odom, the Cook County Forest Preserves Chief Police. Theresa Odum was sworn in as a Patrol Officer for the Chicago Police Department and over the next 26 years moved up the ranks from Patrol Officer to Sergeant. In  2021 Odom was appointed to the position of Chief of Police and responsible for a staff of over 120 members of all ranks for sworn and civilian employees, including President Preckwinkle’s Security Detail. Many of the commissioners spoke about her leadership and photos were taken.
• Recognition of Earth Day on April 22 and discussion followed about all of the many activities planned for all ages this month in honor of Earth Day. Activities are planned for almost all of the CCFPs.
• April is National Volunteer Month and the commissioners honored the volunteers and ambassadors at Brookfield Zoo for 54 years of service.
• Authorization was approved for the CCFP to amend its Partnership Agreement with the Chicago Horticultural Society in Glencoe to increase the spending authority under its Partnership Agreement with the Chicago Horticultural Society, which operates the Chicago Botanic Garden. This was needed in order to staff native plant Nursery Manager and Nursery Technician positions through the Garden for an additional year of financial support (not to exceed $191,360) to ensure continuity in nursery operations during peak growing season.

Superintendent Adam Bianchi made the following comments in his report:

• 2025 recorded 78K service hours from volunteers
• Spring is the burning season - 14 days of it.
• This month is the opening day of inland trout fishing. 
• Working on floating island habitats. 
• Chicago conservation leadership corp - provides paid internships and the response has been overwhelming, many more applicants than positions. They hope to expand it.

​Observer - Deborah Halpern

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting
May 6, 2025 at the Botanic Garden

​Items of Interest:

• The Commissioners approved the purchase of 37.04 Acres at 20278 Cottage Grove Ave, Glenwood, to create a Forest preserve near Sweet Woods, with closing costs of $2,970,000.00.
• The Botanic Garden and the Zoo get capital Improvement monies from the Referendum.  The Botanic Garden is growing and providing seed and plugs for restoration sites.
• The Report of the Finance committee meeting showed that in Corporate Fund analysis, Non-tax revenue was up $33.5M and expenditures were down.  
• The Real Estate Committee agreement was approved by the Commissioners with New Trier High School for access drive and underground sewer line (total .23 Acres) In exchange for payment of license fees and use of School District parking for Forest Preserves patrons and permittees.
• In the Public Testimony time, Kevin Allen Ake from the Elk Grove Historical Association used his 3 minutes to request that they could get permission to place cameras at the Elk Pasture so that people can see the Elk, to educate the people, as the Elk mostly hide in the woods.  The Association has the monies.  Just need permission.  President Preckwinkle referred that to staff to contact Mr Ake.  

​Observer - Barbara Palmer

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners Meeting
May 14, 2024

CCFP scientists presented information on the upcoming “Cicadas Celebration”. Cook County will not see the “double emergence” of the two varieties. The area will only experience the one 17 year Cicada and the first adults were seen yesterday, May 13. They will last through the beginning of July. The CCFP Sound Map Project will be recording the cicada songs.

Diversity Committee Report:
The CCFP exceeded their 2023 set goals. In 2023: 

• 42% of all contracts were awarded to minority and/or women owned businesses
• 52% of contract payments for primary or subcontractors went to minority or women owned businesses
• 15 outreach events took place in 2023 to publicize contract opportunities

The Cook County Forest Preserve District approved the purchase of two properties in the southeast area of Cook County near Sweet Woods close to Homewood and South Holland.

• Property 1; 46.44 acres for $1,520,000
• Property 2; 42.09 acres for $1,680,00
• Totals: 88.53 acres for $3,200,000
• Purchase will increase the CCFP to a total of 69,893 acres
• The properties were agricultural and unincorporated
• The acquisition advances the goals of the Southeast Cook County Land Acquisition Plan, Next Century Conservation Plan, and Acquisition and Disposition of Land Position Paper. 

Public Speakers:

• Cheryl Thomas, Chair of the Brookfield Zoo Board and others spoke of the $10M restoration of the Bottlenose Dolphin 7 Seasons pool. During the 15 months of restoration the dolphins were transported to Minnesota where they continued to be cared for by Brookfield Zoo staff. The dolphins have now returned safely to their new home at the Zoo.

​Observer: Deborah Halpern

Forest Preserve District Of Cook County Board of Commissioners
2024 Budget Hearing
Oct. 26, 2023

The Forest Preserve District Budget Request for all funds for FY 2024 is $188.7M - an increase of $6.6 M or 3.6% from FY 2023. The Corporate Budget Request which funds the day-to-day operations of the FPDCC, is $87.3M, which is an increase of $12.1 M from 2023. Gen Supt. Randall stated the budget became possible on Nov. 8, 2023, because the tax levy passed, providing a substantial increase in funding. Questions from Commissioners spanned Renewal Energy Credits, contracts for hay mowing, MWBE contracts, bike rental, and coping with suicide in the forest preserve. Progress in expanding educational opportunities and widening access for all were common themes in reports from FPDCC, Brookfield Zoo, and Chicago Botanic Garden.

Some highlights include:

• The FPDCC will allocate $12.4M in 2024 to fund its pension allowing it to meet actuarial recommendations to ensure the FP Fund remains solvent.  In 2023 the Illinois State Legislature passed legislation allowing the FPD to increase the amount paid into the pension fund yearly. Those changes and the additional monies from the referendum has put the fund on a sustainable path to meet its obligations.
• Randall stated that priorities for FPD are continuing to restore protected land to ecological health, acquire and protect more land, and making the forest preserves inviting and accessible to all. He emphasized that in planning, measured growth and working within a responsible fiscal framework are important.
• A Capital Development and Restoration Committee has been formed with Com. Miller serving as Chair. 15,000 acres are being restored, 1400 acres of new restoration work is planned, 180 acres of tree thinning. 17 new FTE in Dept of Resource Management will scale up restoration. Unused trails will be decommissioned; Randall stated individuals create their own trails with damaging results in sensitive areas.  5 new FTE in Planning and Development will manage planning design and construction of trails. Randall stated that adjacent, connector parcels of land are priorities for purchase, targeting South and Southeast suburbs. Randall stated that FPD only pursues lands on the market. $7M is budgeted for this year.
• A Conservation and Experiential Programming Dept, emphasizing outreach, engagement, and training has been added with 1500 additional programs, the largest expansion of programs ever. Five campgrounds have been added and 50 miles of trails. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion remain priorities for planning. There is a new Racial Equity and Inclusion Coordinator and coordination with neighboring American Indian community leaders.
• Law Enforcement has partnered with Sheriff’s Dept. for records management system. New needs assessment and plans for staffing and training are ongoing. Collaboration and coordination across departments is underway with law enforcement.

Dr. Michael Adkesson, Pres. and CEO of Chicago Zoological Society and Director of Brookfield Zoo stated the Zoo will be 100 in 2034 and continues to grow in providing exception animal care and welfare programs. 

• The FPD has committed $18.9M to the Brookfield Zoo ($4M over last year) and has committed to funding for annual inflation growth. In its reaccreditation process, it was noted that the Zoo needs to address its aging infrastructure.
• The Society and Zoo engage in regional and global conservation work. The FPDCC and Univ. of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine have collaborated to launch a pioneering program. The program provides early-career vets with specialized training in wildlife health and disease. It is the first in the US.
• Education programming partnerships in 2023 include King Conservation Science Explorers Program and Urban Rivers Project in which students developed and installed wildlife habitats. 
• To encourage access, the Zoo partnered with over 300 organizations to distribute free passes to student groups, veterans’ groups, individuals with disabilities, and economically challenged families. The FPD Nature Express bus is used to enhance access. 

Jean Franczyk, President, and CEO of Chicago Botanic Gardens described the gardens as “living museums” and stated they were pleased to have stable funding from the successful referendum.  

• The FPD supports 20% of its operating budget. For FY 2024 it has committed $11.6M ($2.4M over last year) and has committed to funding for annual inflation growth.
• $5 M from AARPA funds has been approved by CCBC for roof replacement projects at 2 buildings.
• While fees have increased, Franczyk noted that a variety of discounts on parking and admission are available.
• Many collaborative projects with FPDCC and other foundations are in place. A paid stewardship program, Stewardship in Natural Areas, is expanding. Propagating native seeds, pollinator programming, and urban agriculture programs such as Veggie Box and Windy City Harvest are in place. EDI efforts including looking at accessibility to enhance participation by the public. Expanding board representation and de-biasing hiring process are part of this effort.

Observers: Debbie Halpern & Carolyn Cosentino