MWRD Board to hold Study Session on Comprehensive Land Use Policy

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting
April 7, 2022

Land Use Policy:

• There were two local village representatives who spoke at the public comment period, one from Stickney, one from Forest View, both in support of proposed leases in their villages. 
• Com. Davis asked to discuss the merits of leasing individual parcels especially for long periods of time, (30 to 40 years) without having a comprehensive land use policy.  The nominal items that triggered the long discussion were 9, 10, 37, 40, 41 (22-0331, 22-0333, 22-0317, 22-0344, and 22-0345).  Com Davis argued that leasing parcels on a piecemeal basis was a bad idea before having a policy in place. 
• Coms. Garcia, Morita, and Corral-Sepulveda have been on the Land Use Committee gathering input from various commissioners and constituents.  Com. Garcia said that each lease had to consider the village zoning and surrounding land use of MWRD property, and that already 80% of MWRD real estate was set aside for preservation and natural space. 
• Com. Perry voiced alarm about 30 to 40 year leases that would tie the hands of the MWRD for years to come. 
  
• Com. Garcia and Coms. Morita and Corral-Sepulveda did not take issue with the first parcel (22-0331) in Forest View, because it was surrounded by industrial lands, but all three agreed, after much prompting from Com. Davis, that they would hold a study session before mid-June on comprehensive land use of MWRD real estate.  All commissioners gave verbal assent they would commit to attending a study session.  

Other Board Discussion and Action:

• There was once again abundant discussion about a contract forfeit for a small contractor because it could not deliver the material at its quoted contract price, brought up by Com. Davis.  Commissioners were indignant that the MWRD must forfeit contracts and have to go out for bid to spend larger amounts, with seemingly no consequence to the forfeited contractor other than they could not bid again for one year.   Dir. Perkovich had investigated since the last meeting, and said that the MWRD could pursue legal remedies even after forfeiting the contract, so in the end, commissioners agreed to the item, as long as the staff presents best practices regarding contracts from other public agencies to revise the consequences for breach of contract.  (Item 11, 22-0351)
• Com. Morita expressed interest in the very large labor contract for $12 million, wondering the particulars.  Staff explained that the contract was for seasonal and vacation union labor so the MWRD would not need to hire full time employees.  Com. McGowan asked that perhaps the contract could be broken down into three parts and Dir. Perkovich said he would work on this for the next meeting, the only advantage in one contract being the ease of administration by staff. (Item 13, 22-0306).  The item was deleted.
  
• Com. Spyropoulos asked to delete the knowledge exchange programs with Dubai and Singapore that were deferred from the last meeting. She took issue with both countries’ treatment of labor, women and LGBTQ.  MWRD has some of the best sewage treatment and stormwater practices in the world, and there should be a consequence for countries which do not adhere to US human rights standards.  The items were deleted unanimously.  (Items 31 and 32, 22-0291 and 22-0294)
  
• Chicago River Day is May 14.  Com. Spyropoulos and Com. Davis wanted to remind the board of the importance of volunteers to a public agency, speaking highly of Friends of the Chicago River as a great example.

All commissioners were in attendance in-person. 

Observed by Amy Little