Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board Meeting
May 10, 2022

• Today’s meeting took place in the Little Red Schoolhouse Nature Center, which works on connections between communities and the Forest Preserve. Aside from many trails, exhibits and animals, the center has moonwalks and stargazing, and has recently added many Spanish language programs.
• The board approved a grant award for improvements to several segments of the Des Plaines Trail. A $9.1M grant from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning and the Federal Transportation Alternative Program goes towards more than five miles of trails that will be rerouted and rebuilt. (22-0223, 22-0224, 22-0225)
• Public comments centered again on the wish to move the Coyote living at River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook to a Wildlife Sanctuary in Colorado. 

Observer: Amber L Elmer

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting 
April 5, 2022

Almost the whole first hour of the meeting was Public Comments: 

• The first 7 public speakers spoke on behalf of the Conservation Corps and importance of continued funding. Speakers shared the value of the Conservation Corps,  Green Corps Chicago Program and Student Conservation Association to educate them on the natural world around them, a safe place to continue learning and careers in conservation.  Several shared their growth as a “larger sense of purpose,”  their feeling of a “sense of duty,” and the value of the natural world to their mental health. One speaker shared that he had been incarcerated and had difficulty getting a job.  Now he has a career. 
• An additional 8 speakers spoke about the coyote ambassador at River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook.  These speakers spoke about “Rocky” the coyote and the environment where it currently resides.  The general request is to have the coyote transferred to a Wildlife Conservation sanctuary in Colorado.  Superintendent Randall spoke about the report due in July regarding this issue and the importance of making decisions based on science, best practices and facts. 

​Board Actions:

• The Commissioners approved contracts increasing the money for the Friends of the Forest Preserves to offer the Career Immersion Program and the North Branch Conservation  Corps Program. The Friends of the Forest Preserves run the Conservation Corp programs.
• The American Rescue Plan Act made money available to the  Forest Preserves to increase this funding. Forest Preserves partner with Audubon Great Lakes, Green Corp, Friends of the Forest Preserves, Forest Preserve Foundation, Student Conservation Association, and Housing Authority of Cook County. The goal of these programs is to work with low income communities - both the people and the land. It also targets people with barriers to employment and without career networks.  All of the programs are paid employment, that offer job training and certifications. Results from these programs indicate 70-100% retention rate and 60-90% of adults able to obtain a job offer after training. 
• Forest Preserve programs and events are ramping up. Events can be found at:      http://www.fpdcc.com/events

Observer:     Laura Davis                                                                           Meeting Length: 1 hour 42 minutes

Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners
March 15, 2022, 10:00am

The meeting was called to order and quorum was established.

Public Comment:

• Much of the meeting was devoted to public responses to the housing of the coyote “Rocky” at the River Trails Nature Center. 
• There were 53 written testimonies submitted, and 22 individuals spoke. 
• The speakers were nearly equally divided between those that wanted the coyote to remain at River Trails and those that wanted the animal transferred to a rehabilitation center and wildlife sanctuary. 
• Those in favor of the coyote remaining cited the animal’s status as an Outdoor Ambassador for the Forest Preserves and the care and professionalism of the staff at the nature center. 
• Those in favor of moving the animal to a sanctuary cited the stress-related behaviors the animal is exhibiting in its cage. 
• The move to a center will not cost the County anything.

Observer - Trudy Turner

Forest Preserves District Cook County (FPDCC) Board Meetings 
January 11 and February 8, 2022
River Trail Nature Center Facebook posts January 14 and 27

The Coyote's Story

•  A four year old coyote is housed at River Trail Nature Center (RTNC), Northbrook IL.  In 2018, this coyote was discovered under a house porch in Tennessee.  It was taken to a local animal shelter thinking it was a puppy and stayed there for several weeks, interacting/socializing with humans in preparation to be adopted.  When the shelter realized the animal was a coyote, it was transferred to a TN wildlife rehabilitation facility.  This wildlife facility tried to undo the imprinting as its identity was attached to humans.  Imprinting happens shortly after birth/hatching where the animal fixes its attention on the first object/animal it senses and then follows it, usually in the wild, a parent.  If a very young wild animal is removed from its surroundings, it imprints on humans.  It became apparent that this coyote was too friendly with, attached to, had no fear of and was dependent on humans.  The coyote at RTNC was imprinted and socialized with humans and is unable to survive in the wild.  At this point the RTNC, an animal sanctuary, is the coyote’s family (pack). 
• change.org petition:  this petition was started several months ago by a Northbrook IL resident.  In the petition, the coyote is named “Rocky” whereas animal facilities don’t give wild animals names because they are not pets.  People are asked to sign on to remove “Rocky” from FPDCC’s RTNC and transfer him to the Colorado Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg.  The petition states that at River Trail, the cage enclosure is too small for the large territory a coyote needs to roam in, coyotes need socialization in packs, the animal exhibits stress behavior and it cannot escape human noise.
• In the Jan 11 and Feb 8 FPDCC Board Meeting,  RTNC Facebook postings of Jan 14 and Jan 26, staff addressed  concerns regarding the living conditions of the coyote.  FPDCC acknowledges that this is not an ideal situation for the coyote and realizes all input shows concern for the animal.  The outside cage enclosure meets the IL IDNR and USDA standards and provides shelter from wind and rain.  It contains climbing structures, a platform and a hammock for exploration.  There are three den structures including a hollow log and a kennel where the opening is hidden from public view. The dens are small spaces for the coyote to curl up in and straw and blankets are provided.  The animal has a good coat of fur and is healthy enough to remain outside in the winter.  The enclosure is cleaned daily and at times undergoes deep cleaning.  There are several feedings a day, fresh water and daily enrichment training that includes mental tasks or challenges requiring use of different senses.  The animal’s behaviors are watched and veterinary care provided.  The coyote is not solitary and socializes with humans.  FPDCC staff includes a senior wildlife biologist, a former licensed animal rehabber and staff with zoo experience.
• This coyote is an Ambassador animal, used for educational purposes.  These popular programs are important especially for urban children who do not get the chance to see wild animals native to Cook County. People learn about the lives of animals and learn the importance of protecting wild habitats.  Young children remember these encounters.  The RTNC follows guidelines that apply to the coyote’s care, information taken from the Assoc. of Zoos and Aquariums Ambassador Animal Guidelines.
• FPDCC believes moving the RTNC coyote to the Colorado sanctuary would be very stressful and the move could endanger this male as it does not know how to communicate with or integrate with any coyote pack.  The coyote could face pack rejection from the two established resident packs already in the Colorado sanctuary.   FPDCC believes that since the coyote lives in a stable environment, it would be harmful to remove him. The FPDCC along with Commissioner Scott Britton will review goals/operations of the Nature Centers’ Ambassador animal programs and an update on the process and progress will come in March 2022 as there are no simple and quick answers to this public difference of opinions. 

Observer: Michele Niccolai

Forest Preserve District Cook County (FPDCC) Board Meeting
February 8, 2022

Board Action:

• The 2021 Annual Report from the “Racial Equity Diversity Inclusion Committee” (REDI) was received and filed.  The FPDCC is committed to advancing racial equity, diversity and inclusion, striving to make everyone feel welcome in the Forest Preserves.  This committee was formed November 2018 and consists of employees from across the Forest Preserves and continued in the past year to advance community engagement projects.  In 2019 a Land Acknowledgment was created highlighting the relationship Native Americans in Cook County have with the forest preserves.  FPDCC acknowledges the lands of the Council of Three Fires (Ojibwa, Ottawa, Potawatomi), the Miami, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Sauk and Meskwaki peoples.  The FPDCC continues to collaborate with organizations serving Native American communities.  The REDI committee was awarded the 2021 Social Justice award from the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials. 
• Advertising and promotional services for FPDCC was approved.  Advertising would align with the 2022 communication goal of focused outreach to communities and populations impacted by a history of racial inequity and would highlight goals of the FPDCC’s “Next Century Conservation Plan”
• A partnership was authorized for the FPDCC, U of I Champaign, and the Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield to support a three-year veterinary residency program focused on wildlife health management in urban areas.  The resident would provide veterinary care for FPDCC Nature Centers’ managed animals, wildlife field studies/disease management programs.  The resident would work with U of I’s Wildlife Epidemiology Lab for health/disease studies and practice zoological medicine at Brookfield Zoo in association with FPDCC’s research programs.  This partnership will further investigation into zoonotic disease (disease transmitted to humans from animals) and wildlife health as part of conservation efforts in Cook County.  This veterinary residency would be one of only two programs focused on wildlife health management and lead to board certification as a Diplomate of the American College of Zoological Medicine.
• Payment was approved for the Friends of the Forest Preserves to administer paid employment programs that provide youth and young adults  job skills training within the conservation field, with a focus on ecological restoration in the preserves.  The Palos Conservation Corps and Forest Preserve Experience program also provide, besides pay, environmental education.  The Forest Preserve Experience program has a partnership with the Cook County Housing Authority to hire and train a diverse group of young people hopefully to be the next generation of conservation leaders.
• The Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Plan Progress Report FY2018-FY2021 was received and filed: This report covers the progress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration. This plan is found HERE.

Observer:  Michele Niccolai

Forest Preserve District Of Cook County Board Meeting​
November 2, 2021 - 10:00 A.M.

Arnold Randall, who has been Superintendent of the Forest Preserve of Cook County since 2010, was presented the Cornelius Amory Pugsley Medal for excellence in park administration by the American Academy of Parks & Recreation administration. Randall manages one of the largest park systems in the nation. The commissioners lauded his work, citing the many improvements to the district that have been made during his tenure. 

Board Action of Note:

• Board authorized a plan to enter a Memo of Understand (MOU) with a Commonwealth Edison provider. This program offers a $300,000 incentive to install a Very High Efficiency HVAC system at the General Headquarters Building. This incentive would cover a part of the construction costs. (Agenda Item 21-0479)
• 2022 update to the 5-Year Capital Improvement Plan was referred to the Capital Development Committee. Comments on the draft report can be submitted on the Forest Preserve website through the end of the year. (Agenda Item 21-0485)
• Commissioner Suffredin presented an annual survey of FPD activities that was done by his staff. There were 619 permit requests; 56% were first time visitors. He stated the results were as positive as they have ever been. A list of recommendations for improvement (all minor & administrative) were included. (Agenda Item 21-0512)
• Committee items from finance, real estate and law enforcement requiring board action were approved unanimously. 

Observer: Georgia Gebhardt