Water District Board Deals with Lease Issues at Board Meeting

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) Board Meeting  
June 20, 2019

Board Actions:

An amendment to the lease agreement dated June 11, 2013 between the District and the City of Blue Island on 137.64 acres of District real estate located north and south of the Cal-Sag Channel between Kedzie Avenue and Fay’s point in Blue Island, Illinois was approved. (Agenda Item 19-0537) 

• The main provisions of the amendment were to expand Blue Island’s leasehold to include the District’s SEPA Station 3 site and Cal-Sag Channel Parcel 15.09 and to allow Blue Island to host various community events and maintain community farms and a parking lot. 
• This amendment had been previously pulled from the June 6, 2019 agenda.
• There was much discussion on this amendment because Blue Island had entered into an agreement with BIOS Farm, an organic farm serving the community and benefiting 100’s of residents.  However, due to the fact that BIOS Farm is an commercial enterprise and sells its production to the public, the District's legal department held that this is an unauthorized agreement and use under the lease.  The agreement between Blue Island and BIOS Farm did not go through the District bidding process as well.  While BIOS Farm serves the community it is not considered a ‘community farm’, which is typically individually operated for the operators’ own personal consumption.
• Public comment from BIOS Farm, Village of Blue Island and District discussion revealed that there was general support for the mission and activities of BIOS Farm and an agreement with Blue Island, but that a study session should be called for to address the legality of their agreement and that provisions should be made to allow for BIOS Farms operations to wind down to prevent waste, as the growing season is in full swing.

OTHER DISCUSSION:
Two agenda items relating to 91.9 acres of District real estate located in the City of Evanston were discussed.  
DEFERRED:  
Item 19-0600: Authority to amend lease agreement dated October 14, 1966, as amended, between the District and City of Evanston on approximately 91.9 acres of District real estate located in Evanston along the north Shore Channel to (1) allow Evanston to hold festivals and outdoor concerts and (2) allow the sale and consumption of alcohol.  Consideration shall be a nominal fee of $10.00.
Commissioner McGowan would like more information and will submit questions in writing.
APPROVED: 
Item 19-0610: Authority to resolve the Notices of Default issued to the City of Evanston arising out of violations of the lease agreement dated October 14, 1966, as amended between the District and the City of Evanston on Approximately 91.9 acres of District real estate located in Evanston along the North Shore Channel.  Consideration shall be $77,450.25

Item 19-0614:  Authority to issue a 1-year permit to Northwestern University to allow parking and tailgating activities during home football games on North Shore Channel Parcels 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, and 2.08, in Evanston Illinois.  Consideration shall be an annual fee of $80,000.00.

Observer - Nancy Mitzen                                                           Meeting Length: 2.5 hours