MWRD Board Adopts Climate Action Plan

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
​May 4, 2023

Board Action:

• After four years of interdepartmental task force research and collaboration, interaction between MWRD commissioners and staff, a public comment period, and multiple drafts, the Board adopted its climate action plan [CAP] to be updated on an annual basis. #23-0392.  Item #34. Commissioner Garcia requested that the Monitoring and Research Committee develop a virtual presentation for employees and the public and also a tracking plan.  The full plan can be found on the MWRD website’s home page at www.mwrd.org.  Click on Strategic plan and the link to the Climate Action Plan will pop up as well.  
• Item #19, 23-0400 A purchase order in the amount of $1.5+ million was deleted by the Executive Director without comment.  It was to retain a legal firm to represent the District in acquiring certain property rights for the construction of the Central Park Stormwater Detention Basis and sewer improvements in Harvey for an additional amount of $400,000.
• All other Items were approved including #22, 23-0327 to award a contraction for $22,976 million to replace the boilers at the Stickney Plant.  This item had twice been deferred in April partially due to its cost.  Two public speakers, Cliff Haefke, Director of Energy Resources Center at UIC and Mike Archey decarbonization strategist and long-time advocate for the District rethinking how it uses its Biogas effluent, spoke against purchasing the boilers and rethinking how it will capture and use its biogas.

Items of Additional Interest

• Item #27, 23-0396 approved increasing a previous purchase order to increase consulting support services from $2.1 to $2.5 million at the Calumet Plant to help the District determine where phosphorous is coming from and to help reduce it coming into the plant.
• Item #18 -23-0399 approved entering into an agreement with Questica LTD to purchase a Public Sector Budget System for an amount not to exceed $1.52+ million dollars.  Commissioner Garcia stated that the District’s procurement system needs to be included.  He said that the District can function with the current system until 2040.  ED Perkovich responded that he would provide a timeline and goals.
• Commissioner Sypropoulos sponsored a resolution recognizing Chicago River Day, and Chelsey Grassfield, Policy Manager of Friends of the Chicago River, accepted the award and thanked the board.

Observer:  Diane Edmundson                 No Executive Session                    No new Business