Forest Preserve District (FPD) Cook County Board Meeting
Sept. 22, 2020

​Meeting called to order at 10:00 am  
          
Agenda Item 20-0279  Adoption of Amended Tree Mitigation Plan.  Commissioner Arroyo made a motion to discharge this item from committee, substituting it for 20-0278 which was put into effect Nov. 1, 2020. This substituted item provides greater detail for planning tree mitigation projects within the forest preserves between public utilities and the FPD. Resolution was passed.  Other agenda items relating to tree mitigation, including 20-0320, were also passed.

Agenda Item 20-0303. Partnership Agreement with Chicago Region Trees Initiative (CRTI) Master Plan. This is a collaboration with over 90 organizations and agencies to leverage their knowledge, resources and expertise to build a healthier, more diverse and resilient regional forest.  Partners include Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL; Arborist Assoc., Antioch, IL; Chgo Dept of Health, Chgo, IL; Metropolitan Mayors Conference, Chgo, IL. Com. Britton stated that a healthy tree canopy is essential in addressing climate change.  Passed.

Agenda Item 20-0333  Corporate Fund Analysis of Revenue and Expenditures for July 2020.
Agenda Item 20-0334  Procurement and Disbursements Report, June 1, 2020-July 31, 2020
Agenda Item 20-0335  Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), Fiscal Year Ending 12/31/2019,    Audit completed. Ending balance for 2019 was $84.7 million, an increase of over $12.6 million from 2018.   
CFO Steven Hughes stated that cost cutting steps taken since April include a hiring freeze that has resulted in 50 open positions.  Only the most necessary will be filled; these are primarily law enforcement positions.  Budget for July was met. CFO reported a “healthy corporation fund balance” is expected this year, due in part to last year’s balance.  Vote to Receive and File was passed.  

Agenda Item 20-0304 Proposed Resolution in Support of the 10 Shared Principals of the Illinois Assc. of Chiefs of Police and the Illinois NAACP was presented by Com. Britton and co sponsor Com Miller.  Com. Britton stated its purpose is to support continued progress in policing. Commissioners made comments and had questions for the sponsors. In response, Britton stated that every suburban police dept. with which they have communicated has already adopted this and adhere to its principles. The IL Association of Chiefs of Police have been involved in discussions with suburban and urban police in developing this and the Association approved this specific language. Com. Miller stated that this statement of principles allows police dept. to review and become current with present concerns in policing.  Supt. Randall stated that within the FPD, the focus of policing continues to be developing relationship with the public that is respectful.  Supt. Randall stated that the values and intent in the 10 Shared Principles initiative reflect standards the FPD police are expected to achieve. Com. Arroyo moved to refer this to the Law Enforcement Committee for further discussion. Com. S. Morrisson seconded. Com Moore, committee chair, stated this would be be called at next month’s meeting. Passed.

Other items of note:

• FPD is in Phase IV of reopening.
• Forest Preserve Foundation Executive Director, Shelly Davis, will be leaving the Foundation after 7 years of service. In that time the foundation has invested $2.5 million in restoration and youth programs.  Commissioners recognized her service since the Foundation began.
• Schedule of events at the Forest Preserves is available at fpdcc.com/events.
• Sand Ridge Nature Center will serve a s a public distribution location for cloth face masks in partnership with IL Dept. of Emergency Management.

Observer - Carolyn Cosentino                                         Length of meeting - 2 hr 8 min

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting - June  16, 2020    
        Virtual Meeting

Board Action

• In order to cover operations at the gardens, a resolution was passed by the commissioners to allow the Botanic Gardens to begin the necessary changes in the visitor plaza in order to allow ticketing for entrance in 2022.  The request is to allow fees in order to cover ongoing capital investments in the Garden. Research regarding pricing will continue in 2021 in order to be comparable to the Brookfield Zoo, other cultural institutions in Chicago and elsewhere.  Tentative suggestions are staggered pricing for children, adults and elderly, and offering 52 free days a year.  The proposal is not to exceed $35 for admission and not to exceed $30 for parking, however, admission pricing may result in lower parking pricing closer to $10.  The long time frame for the request is due to the needed physical changes to accommodate admission ticketing. 
• Resolution was approved to allow the Forest Preserve to partner with the Bobolink Foundation for prairie restoration and invasive specie removal in Barrington Township. 

Observed by:  Laura Davis                 ​Meeting Length: 10:20 to 11:34am  (difficulty connecting to virtual meeting)

Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting
October 22, 2019

The Forest Preserve Board meeting spent 40 minutes of the hour on the consent agenda thanking various employees for their time served.

The IL Nature Preserve Commission thanked the Forest Preserve District (FPD) for preserving species and habitat in many spots throughout Cook County.  Harms Woods is just the most recent designation in the FPD as a nature preserve.

Superintendent Randall reported that attendance is up, that fall is a lovely time to visit the forest preserve because there are fall colors and no insects.  Permits go on sale November 15 and on-line use should make it especially easy.

He thanked an employee for almost single-handedly updating the website, particularly with regard to mobile-friendly access.  He mentioned Ryan Lothian by name and said that otherwise it would have cost the FPD more than $100k to update and improve the website. Check out the updated website.

Observer:  Amy Little

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

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