Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board of Commissioners Meeting 
December 16, 2025 

The Forest Preserve Environmental and Sustainability committee presented a report on the Chicago Wilderness Alliance Community Wildfire Preparedness Plan (CWPP) [25-0331].  Led by the Cook County Forest Preserves,  the report was presented by John McCabe and covered August 13, 2013 to June 2024. The plan was developed to guide mitigation and facilitate fire adapted communities in Lake, Cook, McHenry, Kane, DuPage and Will counties.  
The purpose of the plan is to:

1. Reduce loss due to wildfires
2. Promote effective wildfire response
3. Bring awareness to land management in the wildland-urban interface
4. Promote effective fuels management
5. Educate the public on wildfire prevention and mitigation

This plan reflects the collaborative effort and input of numerous community members, emergency responders, local organizations, and stakeholders from each of the six represented counties.  It is a comprehensive strategy with the use of GIS for spatial data to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from wildfire risks in the region.
Key findings are:

• Since the prior report only 2% of the area in 6 counties, or 100,000 acres, is classified as high risk.
• The 6 county area has lost over 400,000 acres of open space due to development. 
• The biggest risk factor is smoke. Within one mile of a wildfire, eight million people can be impacted. 

Action items are:

• Improve accuracy and consistency of reporting
• Create defensible spaces in high risk areas
• Implementation of fuel reduction measures
• Promotion of interdisciplinary training for fire departments

Questions and comments from commissioners revolved mainly about how the Forest Preserves communicates to a community regarding controlled burns.  Tactics include education at local libraries, knocking on doors, door hangers, working with local fire departments, and with the Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association. The Cook County Forest Preserve is educating local departments on the importance of reporting each forest preserve burn that they may respond to. This is important for tracking and accuracy. The report was received and filed.

Observers:       Laura Davis and Marge Pearson

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board Committee Meetings:
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Camp Sullivan, 14630 Oak Park Ave, Oak Forest, IL

​Seven committees, including Litigation, Legislation, Rules, Finance, Workers Compensation, Zoological, and Real Estate all met.  After attendance was taken for each committee meeting, all resolutions that were submitted were accepted unanimously without any discussion.  All recommendations were passed in the Board Meeting that followed immediately after.

Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board Meeting
Camp Sullivan, 14630 Oak Park Ave, Oak Forest, IL

Tony Preckwinkle called the meeting to order, roll was taken with a quorum of 15 present (Gainer and Moore were absent), the Pledge said, and The Land Acknowledgment was read.

​Board Actions:

•  Commissioner Miller, of the sixth District, welcomed visitors to Camp Sullivan and gave a brief history of the area.  Camp Sullivan makes up one third of the total acreage of the CCFP and is one of their five camp grounds. Unique features include an antique barn and a climbing wall. It is a great place to host events and has an incredibly rich history with many connections to the Underground Railroad.
• The Conservation and Policy Council report was given by Dr. Ryan Niegle from Moraine Valley Community College.  He stated support for the resolutions before the Board on the Des Plaines River Trail contract and the contract for four zero emissions refuse trucks.  The trucks will be financed in part with a grant from the EPA.  In collaboration, IDOT will make ambitious improvements to the Des Plaines River Trail including the construction of a new pedestrian bridge over railroad tracks in Des Plaines that will significantly improve safety and user experience. 
• Adam D. Bianchi was unanimously, with no discussion, approved to serve as the general superintendent of the Forest Preserves of Cook County.  If interested in his resume go to: https://fpdcc.com/adam-bianchi-nominated-as-forest-preserves-of-cook-county-general- 
• A resolution authorizing a joint funding agreement and engineering services agreement with Illinois Department of Transportation for the Des Plaines River Trail reconstruction and an agreement to relocate utilities and pay utility relocation and other miscellaneous cost related to the bike and pedestrian bridge construction passed unanimously with no discussion. 
• Also passed unanimously, with no discussion, were proposals to enter into contracts to purchase 4 electronic load master refuse trucks, 14 Ford F series vehicles, 8 Ford Explorer Hybrid Police utility vehicles. Other contract included organic grow crop farming, keyless entry systems for off leash dog areas, petroleum services for fuel stations, heating and cooling improvements at River Forest, and various bridge repairs.
• Commissioner Kevin Morrison moved and it was passed without discussion that the proposed interagency agreement amendment with the Chicago Zoological Society Brookfield IL for maintenance and operation of the Zoological Park on lands in the forest reserves be extended and declared the forest reserves of Cook County’s support of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. 
• Lastly, a motion was made to honor Eileen Figel.  She has served as Interim General Superintendent since January 2024 and was the Deputy General Superintendent since July 2014. Each commissioner took a turn in giving anecdotes that illustrated her contributions and leadership in all areas of forest preserve operations. She was praised for her commitment to infrastructure, programming, staff development, and creation of a culture based on equity and inclusion. Her leadership and tireless advocacy contributed to voters’ approval of a tax referendum. She guided the staff through challenging situations and it was clear that she was respected and loved by all. A huge cake was brought before the commissioners and everyone was invited downstairs for lunch and a slice of cake.

Observer: Janis Westlund

Cook County Forest Preserve (CCFP)
Board of Commissioners Meeting
Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Notes from the Commissioners’ meeting include:

• The Finance Committee stated that in this year’s annual report it will show  CCFP costs for fuel were down and cost for electricity were up as a result of improving sustainability efforts throughout the CCFP toward clean energy which includes more electric vehicles to lower their carbon footprint.
  
• The Real Estate Committee announced the creation of a new 37 acre Forest Preserve near Sweet Woods in southeast Cook County in the 5th District. 
  
• The annual Diversity Report for the CCFP showed that 61% of contracts were awarded to minority/women run businesses. There were also 19 outreach programs conducted to assist vendors in applying to the Forest Preserves.
  
• Commissioner McCaskill came to talk with this Observer about how much she appreciates the work of the League of Women Voters and then went on to talk about the 11 new all terrain wheelchairs now available at two different CCFP locations and efforts to increase the accessibility of the Forest Preserves for those with disabilities. There is also water accessibility recently built at the Beaubien Woods. 
  
• The Shedd Aquarium was recognized for their outstanding support of the CCFP over the past 10 years in the areas of restoration and protection of the land and waterways and animals throughout the Forest Preserves. Lisa Dunkau Lopez and others from the Shedd were recognized at the meeting. Ms. Lopez discussed how the partnership with the Shedd includes research, restoration of 21 monitored wetlands including the Skokie Lagoons. As well as teaching over 600 volunteers including highschool students on restoration methods.
  
• Finally, the Busse Forest nature Preserve added an expansion of 767 acres in northwest Cook County.

Observer - Deborah Halpern