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ARPA Funds Available to Cook County Forest Preserve District

4/28/2023

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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

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Sponsors Agreement to Study Ice Age Cook County

3/16/2023

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting
March 14, 2023

The Board approved:

An intergovernmental agreement with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign through the Illinois State Archaeological Survey to conduct a study called “First People in a New Landscape: An Interdisciplinary Investigation of Ice Age Cook County.” The Board listened to a presentation by the First People’s Project about how nearly half of all Cook County’s 12,000 year history is preserved in Cook County land. This study will include archaeological field surveys, public outreach and education. (23-0223)
The Board approved an ordinance acquiring new land near Wolf Road Prairie Nature Preserve. The Save the Prairie Society donated a five acre parcel that is adjacent to existing Forest Preserve land. (23-0224)

The Board referred:

The Board referred to committee a resolution creating a Decennial Committee per the Local Government Efficiency Act that was recently passed. This Act requires the CCFPD to form a committee by June 2023 comprised of all members of the public body and two members of the public, to study the governing statues, ordinances, rules, etc., and include recommendations to increase accountability and efficiency. (23-0230)

Other items of interest:

The Board received its yearly report on the Resident Watchman program. The Resident Watchman Program began in 1918, and allows qualified individuals to live in Forest Preserve properties to help with security, fire prevention, snow maintenance, and downed power lines. They also assist citizens when necessary, mow grass, and report on hunting/dumping/vandalism. This program saves the district money from having to pay contract workers to perform these duties. (23-0219)

Observer: Amber L Elmer

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Continues Focus on Land Acquisition and Services to Public

2/14/2023

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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

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Dan Ryan Woods #1 Rated Forest Preserve In Cook County

1/25/2023

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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

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Cook County Forest Preserve Expands Popular Conservation Corps Programs

12/21/2022

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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

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Cook County Voters Pass Tax Hike for the Forest Preserves

11/22/2022

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting
November 15, 2022 – 10:00 a.m.

President Toni Preckwinkle thanked everyone for their hard work in the passage of the referendum approving a tax hike. The referendum won with a 68% approval, and will be about 40M a year in extra funds for the Cook County Forest Preserve.

The Board approved:

The Board approved a contract amendment with the Friends of the Forest Preserve to extend and increase their contract with the Career Immersion Program in the amount of $1,050,000. The Chief Financial Officer had also approved this item. (22-0425)
The Board passed an ordinance to add to Forest Preserve land near Orland Grassland at location 9700 W 167th Street, Orland Park. (22-0479)

Other items of interest:

The Board thanked Commissioners Larry Suffredin, Deborah Sims, Peter N. Silvestri, and Luis Arroyo for their work and dedication to the Forest Preserve. This was their last meeting on the Board.
The Forest Preserve’s calendar of events can be found at https://fpdcc.com/events/ The Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe has just started their light-filled holiday installations. National Take a Hike Day is on 11/17, and Country Lane Woods, Willow Springs is hosting a 5-mile hike with a naturalist at 1 p.m. Registration required.

Observer: Amber L Elmer

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ARPA Funds Available to Cook County Forest Preserve District

Cook County Forest Preserve District Sponsors Agreement to Study Ice Age Cook County

Cook County Forest Preserve District Continues Focus on Land Acquisition and Services to Public

Dan Ryan Woods #1 Rated Forest Preserve In Cook County

Cook County Forest Preserve Expands Popular Conservation Corps Programs

Cook County Voters Pass Tax Hike for the Forest Preserves

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