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Cook County's Forest Preserve Superintendent Shares Urban Wildlife Management Techniques with Beijing

2/26/2019

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Of Commissioners Meeting
February 19, 2019

What did the Board decide?

The Board welcomed the Boy Scouts of America back to the Forest Preserves after some years of being denied usage due to the exclusionary nature of their membership some years ago. Commissioners Sims and Suffredin heartily commended them for becoming inclusive and welcoming.

What else did the Board discuss?
Most of the meeting consisted of two presentations.

The first topic was the refurbishment and renovation of the Major Taylor trail, connecting the south suburbs to the city. Major Taylor was the first African American cyclist to win the Cycling World championship in 1899. He was active from 1895 to 1910 and spent most of his later years in Chicago. The trail runs from Dan Ryan Woods to the Cal-Sag trail. The surface has been refurbished and viaduct murals will be restored by the springtime.
The second presentation was by Superintendent Randall about his trip to Beijing (the Chinese paid for the trip) where he talked about how to manage nature preserves in urban areas. The Chinese invited Cook County to teach Beijing about how to encourage participation and education, and create healthy eco-systems. Beijing is home to 30 million people and they have just one nature center and one campground. The eco-system is not healthy. Supt. Randall described seeing no wildlife except for one squirrel and a few birds. The climate is much drier than Chicago’s and they were very concerned about using controlled burns to manage underbrush.

Other Items of Interest

The FP signed an agreement with Bike and Roll to allow for bike rentals this year.
The County is hoping the State will allocate funds for a capital budget for the Forest Preserve this year.

Observer - Amy Little Meeting Length: 53 minutes

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Adopts Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Plan

12/6/2018

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting - September 11, 2018

What did the Board decide?

Adopt the Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Plan, which calls for the Cook County Forest Preserve District (FPD) to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by the year 2050 and implement a roadmap that will allow the forest preserves to be resilient in a changing climate. Item 18-0313.

Celebrate the late Donna M. Alexander, who had a special relationship with the FPD. Item 18-0308.
Authorize agreements to expand the Sand Ridge Bicycle Trail by 1.3 miles.
- FPD will pay 20% of the engineering costs for phase III the project estimated at $70,000.
- The FPD selected Christopher B. Burke Engineering to serve as consulting engineers for phases I, II and III, and FPD will pay 20% of their cost (13,939.21) for Phase III. Item 18-0349.
- The FPD will pay 20% of the construction cost ($136,500).
- The FPD will pay the full amount of the phase 3, and then get reimbursed for IDOT’s share, ending with only paying the above. Item 18-0356.
Accept a grant award from the Nature Conservancy (part of an award they were granted from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation) for habitat restoration activities at Thornton-Lansing Nature Preserve in Lansing, specifically to complete 56 acres of wetland restoration. “In addition, through collaboration with other partners, 18 acres of wetland swale and adjacent upland habitat will also be revisited at Powderhorn Prarie and Marsh Nature Preserve in Burnham as well as comprehensive monitoring of wetland bird populations across the project sites” to measure impact of restoration activities. Item 18-0340.
Authorize FPD to enter into and amend the Sixth Amended and Restates Intergovernmental Agreement with Cook County. The amendment adds reimbursable services. Item 18-0343.
Authorize FPD to enter into an execute a contract that would address energy efficiency improvements at the Central Garage Building in Maywood. The contract would be for two years, and there are two potential one year extensions. Item 18-0287.
Authorize FPD to enter into and execute a contract with Christopher B. Burke Engineering to construct 1.3 miles of bicycle trail from Sand Ridge Nature Center to Green Lake Aquatic Center and the Burnham Greenway in South Holland and Calumet City. The contract is for $70,000, but 80% will be reimbursed by IDOT. Item 18-0348.

The following items of interest were all referred to the Real Estate Committee:

Authorize FPD to grant a permanent easement of 0.492 acres to IDOT for the replacement of 2 existing culverts to reduce flooding and to do maintenance. The easement fee is $8,000. Item 18-0297.
Authorize FPD to grant a temporary easement for five years to IDOT for 0.208 acres for regrading of existing berms to reduce flooding. 32 trees will be removed. Item 18-0300.
Authorize FPD to grant a permanent easement to IDOT for 0.281 acres for access to its pumping station. No trees are expected to be removed. Item 18-0305.
Extend an Intergovernmental Agreement with the Village of Palatine that grants Palatine limited access to the FPD property to establish and maintain a vegetative buffer between the forest preserves and nearby homes. No cost. Item 18.0338.
Authorize the renewal for five years of an existing Intergovernmental Agreement with Northbrook Park District to use and maintain a chain link fence between the forest preserves and the Coast Guard Park in Northbrook, which has an off-leash dog area. Item 18.0339.
Sell one of the 27 properties that were approved by the State Legislature for sale. Item 18-0347.

Observer - Sarah Bury Meeting Length - 23 minutes

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Opening Day for Cook County Forest Preserve Permits Changed to November 15

10/17/2018

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting - October 16, 2018

What did the Board Decide:

Agreed to move the opening day for permits from January to November to accommodate folks planning events in 2019, more mild weather in November than January, and some folks have less cash after the holidays than in November.
Board approved a 3 year, competitive bid contract for Billy Casper Golf, from Virginia, to staff and manage better coverage for park golf and pavilion facilities. Forest Preserve staff were unable to meet all the demands from constituents.
Wampum Lake and Thornton-Lansing Road Preserves were elevated to Nature Preserve status which is the highest level of protection and indicate important natural and cultural significance.
An agreement was renewed with University of Illinois Prairie Research Institute to continue research in Cook County Forest Preserves.

Observer - Laura Davis Meeting Length : 11am until around 3pm. With a 1/2 hour lunch break

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Cook County Forest Preserve Board Approves Agenda Quickly

6/12/2018

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting - June 5, 2018

What did the Board decide?

Approved Workers Compensation items, Revenue and Expense report, Contract Performance, and Payment of Firms.

What else did the Board discuss or refer to committee?

The Board discussed their partnership with the Park District with regard to Movies in the Park, Commissioner Schneider’s Fishing Derby at Busse Lake, Kid Fest with canoes and archery, “Live Healthy/Discover Nature”. Also mentioned were partnerships with the Botanic Gardens and the Brookfield Zoo.
They discussed the agreement with Niles to add trail connections to the North Branch Bicycle Trail and the Forest Preserve’s partnership with the Sheriff for the fifth year to continue destruction and demolition of Forest Preserve buildings using inmates to do the work for vocational rehabilitation.
They mentioned the upcoming calendar of events.

Observer - Beverly Graham Meeting Length - 15 minutes

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Forest Preserve District Board of Cook County Approves Agenda Items in Record Time

4/30/2018

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Forest Preserve District of Cook County Board Meeting - April 24, 2018

What did the Board decide?
Approved the following:

Partnerships with various groups for habitat volunteer work
A contract for drug testing
A contract for satisfaction surveys
Renewal of a contract for media services
Contract amendments for landscaping, and professional services

What else did the Board discuss or refer to committee?
There were multiple committee meetings before the scheduled Board meeting including Workman’s Compensation, Rules, Finance, Real Estate (for a Metropolitan Water Reclamation District license renewal request for a pumping station) and Finance Subcommittee on Litigation.

Other Observations:
The Board meeting actually started 45 minutes late due to the length of the Consent Calendar Meeting of the Cook County Board which included resolutions and awards for a variety of groups (the Loyola Mens Basketball team, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Service Day, Autism Awareness Month, Westchester Food Pantry etc.) This was then followed by the quick moving committee meetings listed above.

Observer - Peggy Kell Meeting Length - 30 minutes

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Health Benefits of Walking in the Forest Preserves Highlighted at Board Meeting

4/9/2018

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Cook County Forest Preserve District (FPD) Board Meeting - March 13, 2018

What did the Board decide:

Acceptance of report from study conducted July, 2015-January, 2018 “ Walking Green: Developing an Evidence Base for Nature Prescription in Forest Preserve District of Cook County” A study partially funded by the Cook County FPD and by Northwestern University was conducted by Dr. Teresa Horton to compare health benefits of walking in a forest preserve property and on a suburban sidewalk. While health benefits of walking are widely recognized, the issue of whether where we walk matters needs further study. The purpose was to gather evidence that might provide data supporting nature prescription-in essence, a recommendation to spend time in nature. Her results indicate there is a greater benefit to perceived mood and perceived level of stress. This is part of an initiative to connect medical providers and use of forest preserves. The program Park Rx is currently under development with Swedish Covenant Hospital.
Mary Mix McDonald: Resolution to honor her life of public service. She served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners, 1974-1994, the first Republican woman elected to the Cook County Board. Her service included the establishment of the Chicago Botanic Gardens and improving Cook County Hospital.
Friends of Chicago River: Resolution to honor their service as valued partners of the Forest Preserves and advocates for the Chicago River system. General Supt. Randall acknowledged their beneficial, meaningful projects for restoration and support of Chicago River policies, inspiring people of all ages to advocate for nature.
US Green Building Council LEED Platinum Certification: First such recognition for a Cook County FPD building. This was for the renovation of the Rolling Knolls Pavilion for exceptional energy efficiency and sustainability. Several other environmentally conscious projects are in progress, including one at the Chgo. Botanic Gardens.
Forest Preserve Foundation Executive Director thanked the Illinois Counties Officials Assoc for a gift of $401,000 for grants.
Bike and Roll Program will be expanded and upgraded to an unlocked system. More bikes will be available at more locations at a lower cost. An app is used.
Bike path connections - Several bike path connection projects are in process with approval for contract amendments. Several other amendments were approved regarding improvements in park facilities.

Of note:

Board Pres. Toni Preckwinke was invited by the MWRD to take a swim in the Chicago River which she did with the wetsuit they provided.
Mary Mix McDonald’s daughter found the following quote among her mom’s favorite clippings tucked under the glass on her dresser. “Care of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only object of good government.” Thomas Jefferson

Observer - Carolyn Cosentino Meeting Length: 1 hr. 18 min.

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Cook County's Forest Preserve Superintendent Shares Urban Wildlife Management Techniques with Beijing

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Adopts Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Plan

Opening Day for Cook County Forest Preserve Permits Changed to November 15

Cook County Forest Preserve Board Approves Agenda Quickly

Forest Preserve District Board of Cook County Approves Agenda Items in Record Time

Health Benefits of Walking in the Forest Preserves Highlighted at Board Meeting

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