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

Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC)
Board of Commissioners Meeting 
March 11, 2025

The Board approved purchase of 2 parcels of land (around 74 acres) near the Paul Douglas Preserve in South Barrington for $3,5000,000.00 plus closing costs. The land acquisition advances the goals of the FPDCC Next Century Conservation Plan.

The Board authorized a partnership agreement with Audubon Great Lakes, Chicago Illinois to receive a $238,494.24 grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Chi-Cal River Program to support a second phase of restoration, outreach and engagement at Powderhorn Prairie and Marsh Nature Preserve and Powderhorn North Forest Preserve in southeast Cook County. 

The Board approved an intergovernmental agreement to expand Conservation Corps programming with a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in the   amount of  $344,345.00 to run through 6/30/2027 which will support the recruitment, hiring, and employment of at least forty-five (45) additional participants of the Forest Preserves’ Forest Preserve Experience, Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps, and Audubon Great Lakes Habitat Restoration Internship programs.

The Board approved a request to partner with the Chicago Area Mountain Bikers (“CAMBr”), Bartlett, Illinois that authorizes the Forest Preserves to continue a twenty plus (20+) year partnership with CAMBr to clear, manage and maintain multi-use natural surface single track trails in the Palos and Paul Douglas preserves, and other approved areas to be used generally by cyclists.

During public comments Henrietta Saunders, a member of the Conservation and Policy Council, voiced her support for The Illinois Department of Natural Resources’ grant award to support the Conservation Corps, the proposed acquisition of an additional 74 acres near the Paul Douglas Preserve in South Barrington and FP sponsorship of the biennial Wild Things Conference held March 1.

Observer: Valerie Krejcie

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners Meeting
December 12,  2023

Labor
Approved the collective bargaining agreement between the  FOREST PRESERVES OF COOK COUNTY AND TEAMSTERS, LOCAL 700 extending term of agreement to December 31, 2025 with 2 cost of living adjustments.  Effective the first full payroll period on or after January 1, 2022, the pay rates for all job classifications shall be increased by 3.5%;  Effective the first full payroll period on or after July 1, 2025, the pay rates for all job classifications shall be increased by 5%. 

Legislation
The Forest Preserve will continue collaboration with The Prairie Research Institute through 2028. The Prairie Research Institute (PRI) comprises five (5) state scientific surveys: the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center. This agreement enables the Forest Preserves to consult with and engage the technical expertise of each of these scientific institutions, based on annual tasks assigned by the Forest Preserves.
Since 2014, the Forest Preserves has partnered with the PRI for the purpose of developing a Natural and Cultural Resources Master Plan, a landmark document that has helped guide the allocation of resources and informed strategies to pursue and meet the ambitious goals set forth in the Forest Preserves’ Next Century Conservation Plan. A number of milestone projects have been achieved pursuant to implementation of the plan, including comprehensive field assessments of natural and archaeological resources within the preserves, the subsequent prioritization of Forest Preserves lands for restoration, development of a seed sourcing policy, and the development of standardized protocols for long-term assessment of conservation success.  Agreement Period: 1/1/2024 - 12/31/2028, with one (1) five-year extension option to be exercised at the discretion of the General Superintendent Fiscal Impact: Not to exceed $300,000.00 per calendar year and a total of $3,000,000.00 including any optional extensions.

Honored  

• GERALD (Jerry) W. ADELMANN ON HIS RETIREMENT WHEREAS, as President and CEO of Openlands, has dedicated his career to advancing the mission of protecting natural and open spaces to ensure cleaner air and water, safeguard natural habitats and wildlife, and help balance and enrich the lives of the people in our region, Jerry joined Openlands in 1980 to coordinate a special program that led to the creation of the Illinois and Michigan Canal National Heritage Corridor, the first federal land designation of its kind. 
• NANCY JOSEPH received the Outstanding Citizen Volunteer Award for her service as a Site Steward at Sand Ridge Nature Center in south Cook County where she has been volunteering since 2013, dedicating over 1,700 hours of service to the Forest Preserves in the past decade
• The Forest Preserves of Cook County, Chicago Zoological Society, and the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine were honored with a Best of the Best Award from the Illinois Association of Park Districts during its annual gala, receiving the Partnership Award for the Illinois Zoological and Wildlife Health Management Residency Program which focuses on the health of wild animal populations in urban and suburban settings. The program is the nation’s first wildlife residency program that meets the rigorous standards of the American College of Zoological Medicine and supports a new level of specialty care and professional veterinary medical services that are focused on establishing a baseline of wildlife health.
  

Law Enforcement
Model Policing Report for July 1, 2023 through September 30, 2023  on the status to achieve the goal of a Model Forest Preserves Police Department.  Historically the problem was with retention, but now with more money the salaries are competitive with suburban departments.  No one has left except to retire.  Also,  they feel that they are doing better with their relationship with communities of color. 

Reappointment
Laurel Ross, Henrietta Saunders, Mark Templeton as Council Members to The Conservation and Policy Council that advises the President, Board of Commissioners, and General Superintendent and develops and annually updates  the strategic plan.  Effective date: 1/1/2024 Expiration date: 12/31/2026. 

​Proposed Resolution 
$10 million grant to help improve trails at Swallow Clift and Palos Trails to address these issues: 1) Recurring erosion, 2) Wayfinding and 3) Safety and signage. 1100 acres in restoration. 22% of all Forest Preserve trails are at this site.

Observer: Valerie Krejcie

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