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Harms Woods Designated 25th Illinois Nature Preserve

10/24/2019

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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
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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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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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Cook County Creates New Forest Preserve Near King's Grove

12/15/2017

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Cook County Forest Preserve District Board Meeting – December 12, 2017
Significant Decisions:
  • The Board approved an ordinance to create a forest preserve near King’s Grove in District 6.  The board also accepted the donation of 1+ acres in Park Forest from the Land Conservancy of Will County that would add, and provide a buffer, to the District’s King’s Grove holdings. 
  • The Board approved three ordinance amendments that update the District’s sexual harassment policies and procedures in compliance with the State of Illinois standards. 
  • The Board approved its calendar of meetings for 2018, including three meetings to be held in the field (Feb 8, Mar 17, Jul 26).
  • The Board approved a 1-year renewable contract to conduct row crop farming at select sites that were historically used for agriculture prior to acquisition by the Preserves and are therefore not in an ecologically natural state. Crop farming prevents invasive plant species from taking over fallow land, and keeps the properties in manageable condition until a restoration project can take place at the site.  The annual contract may be renewed up to 4 times at the discretion of the General Superintendent.
Other Actions:
  • The Board approved a 3-year partnership agreement with Trailbound Trips, a Cook County company that offers guided hiking and bicycling trips geared toward women audiences, while also educating them on restoration and conservation topics.  
  • The Board also authorized entering into a new 7-year agreement with optional 3-year extension with the Oak Park Tennis Center to continue offering tennis related programs to youth and adults. The new agreement calls for an increase in financial compensation to the Preserves, plus an OPTC commitment of an annual $20,000 capital contribution to ensure that the tennis facility remains in good condition for the length of the agreement.​
Observer – Pamela Calvert        Meeting length:  1 hour
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Volunteers Voice Support of Restoration Programs in CC Forest Preserves

2/17/2016

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FPD Finance Committee and Board Meeting - Feb 9, 2016

Both meetings were short with no contentious issues discussed. A number of bid contracts were awarded and disbursals recommended which seemed to be clearly presented and well-organized.

Significant Topics Discussed:
  • Public comment included volunteers who testified in support of the restoration programs being carried out by the Friends of the Forest Preserves (FOTFP), with one steward pronouncing that more taxpayers were out at his cold workday during the last weekend than appeared to be present in the chamber observing the meeting. In contrast to the generally favorable tone of the rest of the speakers, regular observer George Blakemore also spoke, questioning why "Friends" of the Forest Preserve should be requesting funds, if they are true Friends.  There was a total of $100,000 in monies and $20,000 in either funds or in-kind support voted for this organization.  No one answered Mr. Blakemore's concern directly at the meeting, but it is clear from the packet that FOTFP has generated more than $300,000 from other sources and over 6000 volunteers. The CCFPD amounts provide a needed match for outside funds, or supplement work that is ongoing on public lands.
  • A large sum was also voted to continue the relationship with U of I Extension for the Master Naturalist program, a competitive program which is currently seeking applicants.  Master Naturalists are required to complete public service in the Forest Preserves as part of their designation process.
  • Another public speaker was Mike McDonald, a well-known photographer who presented each Commissioner with a copy of his new book, My Journey into the Wilds of Chicago, A Celebration of Chicago's Startling Natural Wonders. Many of the pictures in the book were taken in the Forest Preserve District, and he expressed appreciation for this resource and encouraged ongoing care of this world-class resource.
Observer - Henrietta Saunders


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