Category: Partnerships

Cook County Forest Preserves Programs and Budget Disrupted by Coronavirus

5/25/2020

Cook County Forest Preserves District (FPDCC) Board Meeting (Virtual)
May 19, 2020

Superintendent Arnold Randall opened the remote online virtual meeting mentioning Covid-19 challenges. Posts regarding Covid-19 state that until May 31, all public restrooms are closed, visitors are to wear a mask and are asked to follow social distancing guidelines (staying 6 feet from others) and keep moving. Until further notice no picnics or sports on properties. Dog parks are closed, following CDC guidelines. For Memorial Day weekend the FPDCC asked people to stay home and preserves had parking closures to limit the size of crowds. Golf courses and fishing lakes in the City of Chicago are closed. The FPDCC meets daily regarding management of sites. On its website, there is a page dedicated to Covid-19 covering Events, Locations and Precautions. Because of Covid-19, there are revenue shortfalls.

The Des Plaines river and many waterways run through FPDCC properties and the district routinely deals with flooding and these properties hold the majority of rain runoff. During recent rains, trails and parking lots were flooded. No canoeing or kayaking was allowed on waterways due to danger of higher flow. Visitors should check site websites before going and exercise care near water.

A Forest Preserves Tree Protection and Preservation manual was adopted. This manual was developed after receiving a grant via the Morton Arboretum from the US Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program because of its goal to help people connect with nature in urban forests. This manual includes many of the district's practices with added detail and clarification. FPDCC has a diverse number of tree species and needed a handbook of policies for protecting trees and ecosystems and for construction projects involving outside workers.

Horizon Farms, around 400 acres, is a former equestrian estate in Barrington Hills. FPDCC owns most of the property. It is temporarily closed and the Board gave the go ahead to negotiate for the remaining property to secure the right for public access.

Two Intergovernmental agreements between FPDCC and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) were authorized. MWRD needed the right to used FPDCC property for two of its projects. First one is 1st Avenue in Maywood for storm water improvements to alleviate chronic flooding conditions that affect access to several hospitals including Loyola U Medical Center. The second MWRD project is the reconstruction and maintenance of the McCook levee along the Des Plaines river.

Authority was given to FPDCC to register Bergman Slough as an Illinois Land and Water Reserve (ILWR) through the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission. This approximately 280 acre preserve is adjacent to the Village of Palos Park. The addition of Bergman Slough would establish FPDCC's 5th ILWR.

Authorization was given to accept a Grant Award from the Nature Conservancy via the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's Save Our Great Lakes Program. This grant will help to restore and enhance habitats of Burnham Prairie, that are attractive to birds. It will also help the Sand Ridge Nature Preserve, South Holland, which contains a rare dune and swale remnant and a learning center for the natural and cultural history of the Calumet Region- the Illinois and Indiana counties on the south shore of Lake Michigan.

Financial arrangements were approved for the three Aquatic Centers, if needed, for the 2020 summer season. At this time, the centers will not open Memorial Day weekend and FPDCC is assessing and waiting for guidance from the state if they could be opened later in the 2020 summer season.

Calendar of Events: Due to Covid-19, all events have been canceled up to the beginning of August. On the website home page, under "The Latest" is "Nature at Home: Videos, Activities and More". At this time there is no Fall Program guide. Also recommended are the Brookfield Zoo and Chicago Botanic garden websites for activities and things to do.

Due to Covid-19, FPDCC has a serious decline in revenue: loss of taxes, permit and pool fees, concessions. There is a hiring freeze and a hold on construction/development/landscaping projects.

Observer: Michele Niccolai Meeting length: 1 hour

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Cook County FPD Board Approves Contract for Tasers and Body Cameras for Officers

12/31/2019

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting - December 17, 2019

Board Reports and Actions:

Report from Dept of Permits, Rentals and Concessions was given on the 2019 Customer Service Survey. People who held special events/picnics in groves were surveyed on a weekly basis during the summer and these results were reviewed weekly to assess and improve areas of operation. Customer satisfaction increased in 2019 over the last year. The permit, landscaping/maintenance, and law enforcement staff received the highest ratings. After starting this survey in 2018, ratings for overall experience are still high.
The board approved a contract for taser weapons and body worn cameras for the Forest Preserves Law Enforcement Dept. This was passed to aid in the safekeeping of thousands of visitors to nearly 70,000 acres of Forest Preserves property of trails, picnic groves, nature centers and campgrounds. In the rare situation, tasers will allow officers to de-escalate active resister and assailant subjects to avoid the use of deadly force with body cameras documenting encounters with citizens. Addition of tasers will be for the safety of citizens and for law enforcement officers.
Authority was given by the board for the Forest Preserves to submit a portion of Elizabeth Conkey Woods located in the villages of Crestwood and Palos Heights to the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission for review as the first step for its formal dedication as an Illinois Nature Preserve. This designation preserves/protects Illinois' natural areas and endangered species habitats from rapid changes in land use/expanding urban development. The Forest Preserve of Cook County currently has 25 dedicated Nature Preserves and 4 Land & Water Preserves.
The board approved the Forest Preserves Cook County Calendar of Events for the winter season: December 17, 2019 to January 21, 2020. Events include bonfires, snowshoe and outside activities.
The board approved Brookfield Zoo increasing admission fees.

Retirements Noted

Thomas Nissly retired from Chicago Botanic Garden after 24 years, having served as Executive Vice President, CFO, Treasurer. He joined in 1995 with a background in accounting/financial matters including issues of non-profit institutions. The Chicago Botanic Garden had its origins in 1890 as the Chicago Horticultural Society.
Cynthia Moreno retired from the position of Director of the Conservation and Experiential Programming Dept after seven years of service. This department is responsible for all public educational and outdoor recreational programming and community outreach/engagement.

Two Illinois Association of Park Districts Awards given:

Intergovernmental Award given to the Forest Preserves of Cook County and the Housing Authority of Cook County for their partnership/working together on the Conservation Corp's Forest Preserve Experience Program. The Conservation Corp provides paid summer hands-on employment restoring natural areas for high school youth and adults from diverse communities/populations.
Award for Best in Green Practices for Forest Preserves of Cook County for its Sustainability and Climate Resiliency Plan. This plan includes environmentally friendly policies/strategies for climate change impacts to its lands and ecosystems.

Observer - Michele Niccolai

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meets at River Trails Nature Center for May Board Meeting

5/21/2019

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting - May 21, 2019

What did the Board Decide?

Approved the issuance of (not to exceed) $8,500,000.00 General Obligation Limited Tax Bonds of the Forest Preserve District. Passed unanimously.
Approved replacement of sixteen vehicles due to age and condition. Two will be outfitted with hybrid electric engines and fourteen will have dual fuel tank capability (propane/unleaded gas). This purchase will support the Forest Preserves sustainability goals and reduce greenhouse gas production. Eight Police Utility Interceptor vehicles were also approved for replacement.

Three Intergovernmental Agreements were approved:

An agreement to share stream and detention basin data collected in the North Branch Chicago River Watershed for use in an update of the North Branch Chicago River Watershed-Based Plan.
An agreement with the University of Illinois for professional services to assist Forest Preserves in implementation of Climate Resiliency Plan and the Net Zero GHG Emissions goal.
An agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to accept an Open Space Land Acquisition & Development grant of $673,900.00 with a local match of $673,900.00 for improvements at the Sand Ridge/Shabbona/Green Lake Nature Campus. This grant will fund nature-based building and site improvements to support development of a cohesive campus that will welcome and orient new visitors.

General Superintendent Arnold Randall shared the Summer 2019 Proposed Calendar of Events with the Board.

Meeting Length: 90 minutes (including meetings of Rules, Finance, Real Estate & Law Enforcement Comm.)

Observer - Georgia Gephardt

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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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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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Cook County Forest Preserves Programs and Budget Disrupted by Coronavirus

Cook County FPD Board Approves Contract for Tasers and Body Cameras for Officers

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meets at River Trails Nature Center for May Board Meeting

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

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

Cook County Forest Preserve Board Approves Agenda Quickly

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