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MWRD Corporate Boundaries Criteria for Participation in Green Infrastructure Projects to be Reassessed

10/28/2019

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
October 17, 2019

Items Discussed and Approved:

The board approved Item #46, 19-1027 granting staff the authority to negotiate intergovernmental agreements to assist 20 local municipalities and other governmental organizations with Green infrastructure projects. However, commissioners Garcia and Shore asked why some County municipalities could not participate and were told that they were outside the “corporate” boundaries. The MWRD corporate boundary is defined by its sewage treatment service which includes 95% of Cook County. However, its Stormwater Management Authority covers 100% of Cook County. Chicago Heights and Barrington projects were denied because they are located outside of corporate boundaries. Staff was asked to take another look at the roadblocks to participation as it seems unfair to these commissioners that these covered communities cannot participate because they are not in the defined corporate boundaries. Commissioner Davis requested methodology for granting projects be more equitable for underserved communities.
# 11, 19-1007 Board approved an increase of 100% for the cost of digging the TARP gate at the O’Brien plant. Depth is currently at the mezzanine level. Commissioner Spyropoulos asked if there might be another increase as they go even deeper. Answer: another change order may be needed and costs might rise.
#14, 19-0980 Authority to advertise contract for enhancements to the District’s new website. Commissioner Garcia asked that The Board be provided the list of enhancements and asked if this site will be fully functional in Spanish (not google translate).
#18, 19-1005 Authority to advertise for Safety Consulting Services on best practices. The District has put in place a newly appointed safety manager for 2020, Ed Carpinski.
#40, 19-1033 Approval to pay a Chicago Defender Invoice - Commissioner Garcia asked about using the Chicago Reader instead of the Chicago Defender that will cover 9 newspapers in print and digitally. Commissioner McGowan reminded the board that the Defender is used specifically to reach the African American community. Staff to look into the Chicago Reader.
#42, 19-1040 Report on Worker’s Compensation claim settlements. Commissioner Spyropoulos requested a report on correlation between safety prevention and workers compensation percentages for the last 3 years. Commissioner Shore asked if there was a remediation plan for unsafe transportation issues. Answer: YES.
#44, 19-1012 Report on Green Infrastructure. Commissioner Shore inquired if the Board receives an annual report in addition to required Consent Decree quarterly reports on green infrastructure projects. Guidance for where these projects are located was requested. What metric is used for the success of the locations where they have been installed? Ans: NA
#45, 19-1026 Authority to enter into a feasibility cost sharing agreement with the Army Corps of Engineer’s for a limited reevaluation of the Upper Des Plains River and Tributaries Study in the amount of $99,998. Concern centers on the Foxcom water diversion request.

Items Deleted from the consent agenda:

#13, 19-0937. Bagging services for the Stickney plant composted Biosolids. Deleted as decision was made to have bagging done on site rather than by a contractor. Item pulled until costs associated with decision can be brought to the board.
#24, 19-1014. Purchase order request for the delivery of Rock Salt. Commissioners asked that other options be evaluated for safety and cost criteria - staff reported that there has been little success in other areas of the country with alternatives that are environmentally safer. A question was raised over whether the cost of the $500,000 legal fees associated with the use of salt was factored into the evaluation of cost and safety. There is enough salt on hand for the early winter months.
#27, 19-1017. This was a request to issue purchase orders to furnish and deliver odor control chemicals and a delivery system from a new vendor. However, in public testimony, Mr. Nick Leonis of D3W Industries serving the Calumet plant since 2014 asked that this item be eliminated because the product chosen does not meet specifications. The Executive Director had already deleted the request for further evaluation, and Commissioner Shore requested a memo from D3W explaining the irregularities they have identified in the testing methodology of the new vendor.
#34, 19-1000. Without comment this authority to decrease a purchase order and amend an agreement with the University of Illinois to conduct four years of research of the use of perennial riparian grass buffer strip at the Fulton County site was deleted by the Executive Director.

Item Deferred:

#32, 19-0932 Garcia asked for a second deferment to increase a purchase order from $224,668 to $244,668 for Legal Services for Workers’ Compensation Defense. He asked for a complete list of law firms with whom the District has contracted for services.

New Business:

A 2021 Strategic Business Plan Committee has been formed including Commissioners Shore and Garcia, Executive Director Brian Perkovich, and department heads, Marianne Boyle, Susan Morakalis, John Murray and Catherine O’Connor

To view meeting agenda click HERE

Observer - Patricia Lind Meeting Length: 2 hrs. 30min

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MWRD Board Forwards Land Deal for Crestwood Casino Project

10/4/2019

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
October 3, 2019

What did the Board decide?

Approved 99-year lease for 44.4 acre property for Crestwood development project (AgendaI Item #16, 19-0992)

The board unanimously accepted an initial annual rental bid of $820,626 from the City of Crestwood. It is not clear if the lease is contingent on Crestwood receiving a casino license from the State of Illinois. The lease is for 99 years, a departure from the MWRD’s typical lease length of 39 years. There was no discussion of the 35% reduction in annual rent from the minimum $1,262,500 Commissioners authorized for this property at their August 8, 2019 meeting.
During public comment Chelsey Grassfield, policy specialist for Friends of the Chicago River, addressed the board, seeking vigilance in maintaining 60-100 foot required setbacks from the river and advocated use of sustainable landscape design when the MWRD reviews site plans for the 44.4 acre parcel bordering the Cal-Sag canal that the City of Crestwood will lease from the MWRD. The community is seeking a casino license to anchor development on this property. Ms. Grassfield said leaseholder’s focus should be on the health of the river and maintaining established waterway standards.
Later in the meeting Commissioner Cameron Davis inquired when the public would again be able to comment on sustainability and design of the development of the property. Staff said the MWRD would review site plans when they are available, and Commissioners could participate in the process.

2020 Regular Board Meeting Calendar approved (Agenda Item #1 - 19-0998)

Study of Affirmative Action hiring record deferred (Agenda Item #23 - 19-0993)

The MWRD is required to conduct a study of disparity in its Affirmative Action hiring practices. This item would have authorized request for proposals seeking an outside contractor to perform the analysis at an estimated cost of $200,000.
Commissioner Marcelino Garcia asked for this item to be deferred until he had time to discuss his concerns with staff. He said that he wanted this to be a meaningful accounting of the District’s minority hiring practices, and not just the minimum required by law. After supporting comments from Commissioners Frank Avila, Barbara McGowan, and Board President Kari Steele, the Board directed staff to schedule a study session for them on progress in minority hiring practices
Commissioner Garcia then asked to remove this RFP authorization item the Board’s agenda until after the study session.

Allocation for expert witness testimony deleted from agenda (Agenda Item #29 - 19-0952)

This item would have budgeted $200,000 for expert witness testimony in an ongoing lawsuit.
It was removed from the agenda without comment by Executive Director Brian Perkovich

Bio solids bagging contract deferred (Agenda Item #18- 19-0937)

The MWRD gives away biosolids (compost) to the public at its Stickney plant. People can take it away in their own containers, but the District pays to bag some of the material for distribution. This item proposed to seek and pay a contractor $45,000 over a 3-year period to pick up composted biosolids from the Harlem Ave. composting facility, transport them to an off-site location, bag it, and return the filled bags to the Stickney Plant.
In response to Commissioners’ questions, staff said the plan would produce 5,000 bags of compost per year at a cost of $15,000 per year. Commissioner Debra Shore asked for cost-comparisons between buying the bagging equipment and having MWRD employees do the bagging and outsourcing. Commissioner Barbara McGowan questioned the process of transporting the compost back and forth.
Commissioner Marcelino Garcia questioned the value of the project, saying that while it is very nice that the District gives away composted biosolids, the MWRD lacks a plan to monetize and distribute it products at scale. “We need to industrialize and sell the products we create,” he said. “We need a staff person who is dedicated to this idea, and who can move us forward.” The Commissioners agreed to defer this item until it could be more fully explored.

Other discussions of interest:

Commissioner Mariyana T. Spyropoulos questioned why certain contracts were rejected and why the District received so few responses to some requests for proposals. She asked if specifications for services were being too narrowly written. She suggested a look at procedures for contracting.
Commissioner Marcelino Garcia questioned if minority guidelines were being observed when the District added scope or funding to existing contracts. There were several items on the agenda that did add funds to existing contracts, and he highlighted them. Staff said that they would be attentive to this issue.

Observer - Laurie Morse Meeting Length - 2.5 hours

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MWRD Corporate Boundaries Criteria for Participation in Green Infrastructure Projects to be Reassessed

MWRD Board Forwards Land Deal for Crestwood Casino Project

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