President
Preckwinkle called the meeting to order at 10:14 AM. Roll was called and an invocation was made. Commissioners Collins, Murphy, Gainer, and Beavers were absent.
The president
welcomed everyone to the Chicago Botanic Garden, where the meeting was held. Sophia Siskel, Executive
Director of the Garden, gave an update on the garden work and plans for the future.
Resolutions were passed honoring 9/11; Billy Casper, Jr. on running the district golf
courses; John Elliot, Education Program Manager, on his retirement; and Poplar
Creek Forest and Charles Hanson Woods Nature Preserve selected for the
Environmental Conservation Award,
The meeting recessed
to the Finance Committee meeting. Commissioner Goslin presided. The committee approved disbursements and committee reports
from Litigation, Workman’s Compensation, and Revenue Report (pool fees up,
license fees up, golf revenue up from last year).
Lots
of discussion, all positive, about the proposed ordinance to have a goal that
not less than 25% of contracts awarded be given to Minority and Women owned
Business Enterprises. This ordinance has
a sunset of 6/2016 but can be renewed if it proves effective. This is a first for the Forest Preserve and
many commissioners asked that their names be added to the ordinance, along with
Commissioner Garcia who proposed it.
This ordinance was passed unanimously.
Back
in the regular board meeting, the most important item was the purchase of land
adjacent to Orland Grasslands in south Cook County for $8 million. This adds
160 acres to Forest Preserve lands.
Also, professional services in the amount of $87,000
were approved for a consultant to set up
a program for the new MBE/WBE ordinance.
The meeting adjourned at
12:17 PM.
--Submitted by Observer Peggy Kell
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