Category: Metropolitan Water Reclamation District

Remote Closed Session Attendance Rules Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

10/17/2021

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
October 7, 2021
Board Members Absent - Cameron Davis and Josina Morita

Board Action:

Commissioners pulled 9 agenda items for discussion. Once discussed, items 18 and 45 were deferred, while remaining items on the consent agenda were approved, including item #38 [21-0801], a lease agreement with Argo Construction that would allow them to expand their operations on 4 acres of MWRD land on the Main Channel in unincorporated Cook County, including barge operations. Mr. Rick Raymos, an Argo executive, spoke in favor of the lease during public comments, citing jobs and economic growth as benefits. This item had been deferred by Commissioner Davis at the September 23 meeting.
Most of the meeting was consumed by a debate among Commissioners about proposed changes to Board rules that might allow, under certain conditions, an absent member to attend executive sessions remotely, after the pandemic emergency has passed. Commissioner Marcelino Garcia pulled the item for discussion, arguing in favor, saying it might be prudent to “allow those not here in person to attend executive sessions in a room not accessible to others,” noting an in-person quorum was still needed. Commissioner Corral Sepulveda agreed, while Commissioner Shore was concerned that the Board could not ensure confidentiality if a board member was attending remotely, and the change could potentially expose the Board to litigation. Commissioner Spyropoulos is in favor of the rule change. However, Commissioner McGowan disagreed saying that she is not in support, and that the pandemic should not be used as an excuse to make their job easier. “I don’t support this at all,” she said, “I can’t see why we all can’t come to work.” With that comment she deferred the item [#45 21-0923] for further study.
Commissioner Eira Corral Sepulveda deferred item #18 [21-0879], permission to advertise a $2 million contract for janitorial services for the MWRD’s headquarters building on Erie Street in downtown Chicago. The Commissioner asked the Executive Director to report back on if the building paid a prevailing wage to janitors.
Executive Director Brian Perkovich deleted item #19 [21-0880], which would have authorized the Agency to advertise for a contract for employee training on workplace behavior. No reason was given.

New Business:

Commissioner Shore “made a proposal to add a new protocol to require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test in the last 48 hours for anyone entering the Board Room to attend the Board meeting”.

Item Of Interest

The Board approved entering into an agreement with the University of Illinois at Chicago, for preliminary review of the potential for Water Reuse in Cook County in an amount not to exceed $100,000. Item #28, 21-0906.

Observer: Laurie Morse Length of Meeting including 85 min. Exec. Session: 3 hours

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Expanding Participation in Stormwater Projects

7/24/2021

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Metropolitan Water reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
July 15, 2021
The meeting was held by videoconference. The next board meeting, August 5, will be held in-person in the first floor Board Room at district headquarters.

Agenda Items
The following two agenda items, deferred from the 6/17/21 board meeting were approved:

#9 21-0508 Authorization to amend the scope of work per Diversity Administration review and re-advertise the contract 15-266-4H5 Decommissioning of the Thornton Transitional reservoir. The Thornton Quarry contains this temporary reservoir.
#12 21-0515 Authority to advertise Contract 21-416-11 regarding services to the main office building complex after review by Diversity Administration.

Several items were pulled from the Agenda for discussion and approved.

#11 21-21-0635 Authorization to pay annual membership dues to the U.S. Water Alliance, a nonprofit organization that advances policies and programs that build a sustainable water future for all by bringing together diverse stakeholders to find common ground solutions to the nation's most pressing water challenges.
#42 21-0569 Decrease Contract 98-RFP-10 in the amount of $2,291,737.50. The original contract was for production of 50,000 dry tons/day of biosolids (nutrient rich organic materials resulting from treatment of domestic sewage sold as natural fertilizer) at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant. Over the past years the pelletizer units' average production using indirect drying technology has been in the range of 40,000 dry tons/day of pellets. It was suggested to schedule a study session once the "Master Plan for Biosolids" is complete.
#51 21-0612 Authority to commence statutory procedures to lease 9.3+ acres of District real estate located south of the Main Channel and west of Central Ave in Forest View, IL. Lakeshore Recycling Systems has expressed interest in leasing this land, although there will be a public open competitive bidding process. Throughout the process there will be public engagement in hearings. In the public comment, the Forest View Village Administrator supported Lakeshore Recycling Systems interest.

Stormwater agenda items approved:

#53 21-0575 Intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Oak Park for the Lemoyne Parkway Relief Sewer
#54 21-0623 Negotiate IGAs for acquisition of flood-prone properties in Lyons, Northlake, Willow Springs, and Winnetka.
#55 21-0627 Negotiate with the Village of Flossmoor for Berry Lane Stormwater Improvements.
#56 21-0628 Authority to assist various municipalities with Local Stormwater Partnership Projects. At this time the topic of Disproportionately Impacted Areas (DIAs) came up on how MWRD could generate greater interest in DIAs partnering with MWRD for stormwater projects. MWRD's goal is making Cook County flood resilient but realizes some areas of Chicago and South Suburbs have flooding issues needing stormwater projects. Suggestions were to better understand barriers that DIAs have in applying to MWRD for partnerships and providing assistance to them such as cost sharing, technical assistance, attention to equity for those most in need and engagement of commissioners for community outreach. MWRD does have ongoing public outreach programs through Stormwater Management- this past year they have been virtual.

Deleted Items

Agenda Item #13 21-0560, the purpose of which is to qualify electricity suppliers so that they could participate in a reverse auction (after a request to buy electricity, suppliers place bids for the price they are willing to sell their electricity, the lowest price gets the contract: i.e. reverse). This item was deleted to remove the contract extension wording before consideration.

New business:

MWRD has received certification for its first Monarch butterfly waystation at the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant and are looking at adding more waystations. MWRD is partnered with the IL Monarch Project. Native plants such as Milkweed have extensive root systems that can help reduce flooding as well as providing food and habitat for Monarch butterflies. Almost 3,000 people have taken the Save the Monarch pledge on MWRD's website and MWRD has distributed over 6,000 complimentary milkweed seed packets.

Observed by Michele Niccolai Meeting length: 2.5 hours

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Thornton Provisional Reservoir Status Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

6/23/2021

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
June 17, 2021

The MWRD Board agenda began at 10:30. All commissioners were eventually present.
There were no public speakers. Auditors presented their findings for the MWRD and the MWRD Retiree Health Care Trust financial statements for 2020. There are no material weaknesses, and the MWRD is in stable financial condition.
Commissioners asked for a number of items to be discussed, but in the end, there were two significant discussions:

Item 21-0494 was singled out by several commissioners, having to do with annual dues membership to Current Innovation, NFP. Com. Garcia wondered if the MWRD was getting much from the membership. Com. Shore explained the background of MWRD’s relationship to Current Innovation: There is no economic development department at the MWRD to attract businesses and organizations that highly value clean water, and that this group was recommended by World Business Chicago, as a combination of academia, business contacts, and venture capital to be able to provide the MWRD the ability to attract the attention of water-oriented businesses. Coms. Garcia and Pres. Steele appreciated the history but asked Exec. Dir. Perkovich to report results from the membership in the next year.
Item 21-0508 is a fifth attempt at issuing a contract to decommission the Thornton Provisional Reservoir, in critical use from 2003 to 2015 until the Composite Reservoir came on line. No contractors bid on the project when it was put out to bid four times before. This contract should cost between $21 Million and $25.4 Million. The scope has been limited now to decommission after a “plug” will be put in the tunnel connecting the transitional reservoir with the Composite. The Transitional holds 3.6 billion gallons of water while the new Composite holds 7.9 billion gallons. The worst rain event occurred in 2008 when 9.5 inches fell in one day, and the Transitional was filled to capacity. Since then neither has been filled. Dr. Katherine O’Connor in Engineering reported the MWRD is using updated rainfall estimates and has calculated they do not need the temporary reservoir. It rained 3 inches in 15 minutes in South Holland July 29, 2016, and the reservoir did not fill but residents had extensive flooding. This point to the need for remediation more locally like bioswales and disconnected downspouts from the combined sewer. The combined sewer pipes are not wide enough to carry all the water to the reservoir. This item is deferred.

Other discussed items follow:

Item 21-0515 was deferred by request of Com. McGowan to research more about minority contracting within the nearly $5 Million mechanical contract over three years.
Item 21-0549 refers to pre-employment psychological testing for police candidates. Com. Spyropoulos suggested the MWRD research economies of scale with other city and county agencies performing the same testing.
Item 21-0545 refers to Green Alley Reconstruction in Westchester for $675 K. Coms. McGowan, Garcia and Corral-Sepulveda were interested in minority contracting with the Village of Westchester.

All items were passed with the exception of the two deferred contracts.
Amy Little - Observer

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MWRD Strategic Plan (2021-2025) Adopted Unanimously

6/5/2021

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
June 3, 2021; 10:30 a.m.
Present: Commissioners Steele, Corral Sepulveda, Du Buclet, Morita, Shore, Spyropoulos, and Davis.
Absent: Commissioner McGowan; Commissioner Garcia (after executive session)
Staff: Executive Director Perkovich

Board Discussion and Action:

21-0501 MWRD Board of Commissioners adopted the Strategic Plan (2021-2025) on a unanimous roll call vote: 7 ayes 0 nays 2 ab. All commissioners made enthusiastic statements in support of the process and praised the work of the team.
21-0502 Three fifths of the public comments urged the Board to support the resolution recognizing water as a basic human right and that water should remain in the public trust. Roll Call: 7 ayes 0 nays 2 ab
21-0494 Deferred by request of Commissioner Garcia.
21-0477 Commissioners discussed purchase of thirteen electric utility vehicles. ED Perkovich reported that the electric vehicles had not done well in our climate in the past, but improvements have been made. Vehicles will be used only in plant. They are initially more expensive, but better for the environment. President Steele said a cost comparison had been done and asked Director Perkovich to circulate that information to the commissioners. Roll Call: 7 ayes 0 nays 2 ab
21-0495 Commissioner Shore questioned the Streambank Stabilization Project on the Calumet Union Drainage Ditch. She noted that the Cal-Union District was not contributing to the expense. Director Perkovich stated the district did not have the resources to contribute and that they do not own the ditch. The MWRD has the right to dissolve these drainage districts. Commissioner Shore stated it would be a public service to dissolve these districts that continue to assess fees to taxpayers. Since the MWRD does the work and has the responsibility, she asked staff to have preliminary conversations on this issue. Roll Call: 7 ayes 0 nays 2 ab

There was an executive session from 11:44 a.m. to 12:21 p.m. Upon return from executive session, the Board passed the remaining agenda items on a roll call vote. 7 ayes 0 nays 2 ab Meeting adjourned at 12:48 p.m.

Observer: Georgia Gebhardt Meeting Length: 2 hours 15 minutes

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Procurement Procedures Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

5/23/2021

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 20, 2021
Present: President Steele, Commissioners Davis, Du Buclet, Garcia, Morita, Corral Sepulveda, Shore, and Spyropoulos. Commissioner McGowan absent

Board Action:
Agenda Item #25-#21-0457 - contract for approval - removed from Consent Agenda for discussion

Commissioner Shore raised concerns about the $15 million boiler contract in which the low bidder was dismissed because of a missing signature on a subcontract. She asked how this can be avoided and what measures could be taken? Director Perkovich stated the ordinance mandates that any contract missing signature(s) is automatically rejected.
Commissioner Shore reported her staff had researched this issue and had found that since 2016, there were sixteen bids rejected because of lack of signature, resulting in a cost of more than $2 million to taxpayers. Other agencies conduct a compliance review to avoid this. MWRD has no such review. Director Perkovich said the staff could definitely research this. President Steele directed that this be done ASAP.
Commissioner Shore called this a systemic failure and that the Board had repeatedly asked for improvement in procurement procedures. Commissioner Davis pointed out that there are electronic tools that automatically kick contracts out that are incomplete, thus alerting the agency to that fact before they are filed.
Commissioner Shore’s second question was whether it is possible for these large contracts to be broken up into smaller parts. This would allow smaller contractors to bid on them, thus helping to meet MWRD’s goal of rewarding contracts to a more diverse group. Director Perkovich affirmed that this could be done.
All other commissioners made statements in concurrence with Commissioner Shore’s concerns. Agenda item #25 was voted down on a roll call vote with all 8 commissioners present voting against the item.

After a lengthy executive session, the Board reconvened and approved all the remaining agenda items.

New business:

June board meeting will most likely be held in person.
Commissioner Davis reported the Chatham Pilot Study had been halted, but not because of MWRD.
Commissioner Shore said feedback on the state water plant would be invited next week.

Observer: Georgia Gebhardt Meeting time: 189 minutes including Executive Session

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Grazing of Goats Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

5/15/2021

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Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
May 6, 2021

Board Action:
Four items were pulled for further discussion though all were approved.

Resolution #21-0390 regarding the hiring of grazing goats was pulled by Commissioner Shore. The contract was scheduled to be awarded in January, and Commissioner Shore is concerned about its effects on ground nesting groups. She requested a list of the locations that the grazing group will be deployed, the timeline for deployment, and asked that staff work with birders to take into account ground nesting birds.
Resolution #21-0415 was pulled by Commissioner Spyropoulos to request more information as this major project has been on the books since 2019 and the District has rejected several bids for Odor Control Systems at two-Tarp Shafts and the decommissioning of the Thornton Transition Reservoir. Cost $14.5 to $17.6 million. Commissioner Davis asked the staff to examine the possibility of breaking down the contract into smaller sections.
Resolution #21-0399. Report on green infrastructure, detention, and compensatory storage volumes required by the Watershed Management Ordinance (WMO). Commissioner Shore suggested the District have a development plan to proactively reach out to developers to help them meet the WMO requirements.

Stormwater Management

Resolution #21-0385 is to honor retiring Mayor, Arlene A. Juracek of Mount Prospect, and to thank her for being a great partner on flood control issues.

New Business

Commissioner Shore requested a memo detailing the vaccination rate within the District, the approximate timeline for full vaccination, and a detailed plan for staff to return to work.

Public Comment

There was one public comment by phone stating that he hoped that Commissioner Garcia would consider resigning from one of his two public positions.

Length of Meeting: Public meeting lasted 45 min - a very short business meeting with a very long Executive Session in the middle of the meeting

Observer - .Diane Edmundson

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Remote Closed Session Attendance Rules Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

Expanding Participation in Stormwater Projects

Thornton Provisional Reservoir Status Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

MWRD Strategic Plan (2021-2025) Adopted Unanimously

Procurement Procedures Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

Grazing of Goats Discussed at MWRD Board Meeting

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