The FPDCC
will be celebrating its 100th birthday in 2015.
Today, approximately 11% of the county footprint (about 69,000 acres),
is in forest preserve. A description of the 2014 accomplishments of FPDCC can
be found at the October 8, 2014 special board meeting introducing the proposed 2015
budget.
The
financial status of FPDCC is sound. The
corporate fund analysis discussed at the December 2014 meeting (reflecting the
financial picture as of October 31) showed year-to-date revenue of $50.8
million and year-to-date expenditures at $41.9 million. Revenues are $5.6 million ahead of last year.
The
district is in year 3 of the 5-year capital improvement plan. Examples of improvements include the
construction of additional trails, trail connections, and campgrounds, and
infrastructure improvements including those related to life-safety and
accessibility. Yet more tasks remain
than the resources to pay for them.
The
district is still actively purchasing property where and when it makes sense to
do so. Possible future acquisitions could include farmland or brownfields. For example, at the December board meeting,
members approved acquisition of lands near Lake Calumet that will connect to
the Illinois Department of Natural Resource managed areas. (See December meeting
notes.) The district is also partnering
with other units of government, e.g. the City of Chicago, on a rails to trails
project for Bunker Hill/North Branch Division in Niles.
The FPDCC's
ability to fulfill its mission is enhanced by two organizations: the Forest
Preserve Foundation and the FPDCC Conservation and Policy Council. The Forest
Preserve Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) charitable foundation created in
October 2012, has become an important partner for FPDCC management by raising
private "funds and in-kind resources to support initiatives in the forest
preserves that are new, innovative and not able to be supported through current
tax revenues." More than $160,000 in grants have been made to train more
than 250 students through its citizen scientist program and conservation corps
programs. For more information on these
programs see http://fpdcc.com/volunteer-spotlight-feb/.
Appointed
members to the newly created (November 2014) Conservation and Policy Council
advise FPDCC Commissioners, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and
FPDCC General Superintendent Arnold Randall on implementation of the Next Century Conservation Plan (the guiding document for the future forest preserve
district),
annual budget recommendations, conservation policies & practices, and
long-term strategic issues. The 10-person council is comprised of
individuals whose background, experience, and volunteer activities are in
conservation and habitat restoration, outdoor recreation, health &
wellness, sustainable design & energy management, landscape architecture,
education, environmental law, among other specialties.
The
following actions, addressed by the commissioners during the 4th quarter, are
particularly relevant to League positions and interests of its members:
October
7, 2014 Meeting
#14-0473/14-0472: Resolution approving use of funds for
supervision and construction funds of the 2.96 mile Southern Extension of the
North Branch Bicycle Trail (from Devon & Caldwell to Foster & Kostner).
This cost-sharing project (with Federal funds awarded through IDOT, to support
efforts that contribute to air quality improvement and provide congestion
relief), obligates FPDCC to cover 20% of the cost.
#14-0417: The Real Estate Committee recommended
approval of a license request by Waste Management of Illinois to locate,
operate, and maintain two groundwater monitoring wells in Beaubien Woods Forest
Preserve near the CID landfill and recycling facility on Lake Calumet.
#14-0400: Requires a special event permit to hold
rallies, pickets, protests, speeches, and demonstrations of 25 or more people
in the forest preserves
#14-0475: Disbursement of $200,000 for the Chicago
Conservation Leadership Corps summer 2014 internship program
#14-0405: Consistent with the FPDCC Next Century Conservation
Plan to open up the forest preserve to non-traditional activities that will
appeal to more people, a contract was awarded to Go Ape for design and
construction of an aerial adventure and zipline course. The company will pay FPDCC a $20,000 annual
fee plus a tiered percentage of the gross revenue generated. This project was opposed by the non-profit Friends of the Forest Preserves. Commissioner
Suffredin was the sole dissenting vote as he did not see this use as one that
is consistent with the FPDCC mission.
#14-0484: Contract with Chicago public television
station WYCC to create a one-hour documentary focusing on the upcoming FPDCC
centennial and the Next Century Conservation Plan. Content will also be used in interactive
kiosks.
Contracts
were awarded for invasive species removal at Swallow Cliffs in the Palos
Preserve (#14-0464), and at various locations for: replacement tree planting
due to the Emerald Ash Borer (#14-0465);
tree removal/topping/pruning (#14-0466, 14-0467); habitat restoration & education through a
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant (14-0482, 14-0483)
November
18, 2014 Meeting
#14-0391: The Rules committee recommended full Board
approval of an amendment to Title 1, Chapter 5, Section 1-5-2 of the FPDCC Code
of Ordinances to require any proposed new ordinance or proposed amendment to
existing ordinances be referred to a committee or subcommittee (and only one
committee or subcommittee) upon introduction to the Board. Upon referral, the committee shall hold a
hearing after which the item shall be reported to the Board which may vote for
immediate consideration of the item by a majority vote.
#14-0170: Commissioner Suffredin introduced a proposed
resolution opposing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposed use of the
Fullerton Woods and Harry Semrow Golf Driving Range for stormwater
management. A 2013 report by the U.S.
Corps of Engineers created a comprehensive plan for addressing flooding and
stormwater along the Des Plaines River.
Recommended remediation measures included creation of a reservoir within
the Aptakisic Creek watershed (Lake County) near the Village of Buffalo
Grove. The Village of Buffalo Grove
passed a resolution opposing the siting of the reservoir and the Corps of
Engineers modified their report to, instead, propose creation of the two FPDCC
reservoirs. However, the Corps did not
present their proposal to the FPDCC Board nor has the Board acted upon the proposal,
which is contrary to the mission and land use policies of FPDCC. Furthermore, the resolution calls for the
Real Estate Committee to convene a public hearing to discuss the proposed
reservoirs.
#14-0419: Authorizes the Village of Niles to locate,
operate, and maintain a 72-inch storm sewer and outfall structure to the North
Branch of the Chicago River. This storm
sewer will replace a 60" combined sewer that currently discharges to the
North Branch in times of flooding.
#14-0537: Disbursement of $150,666.77 to the University
of Illinois' Prairie Research Institute for developing the Natural and Cultural
Resources Master Plan to be produced as part of the FPDCC centennial
celebration.
#14-0510: $50,000 contract to Friends of the Forest
Preserves to establish the Forest Preserve Leadership Corps which will provide
advanced conservation and leadership skill training for young adults (ages
18-20) who have graduate from the Chicago Conservation Leadership Corps. This
next level of training will provide
year-round opportunities in prescribed fire, herbicide application,
stewardship, chainsaw operation and community engagement experiences.
#14-0513: A $43,000 grant award through the Great Lakes
Restoration Initiative (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) to manage invasive
species at Wentworth Woods in Calumet City.
#14-0556: Additional funding for architectural and
engineering design & construction services at the Oak Forest Heritage
Preserve. Superintendent Randall gave a
complete timeline and report on the historic and current creation of trails
& trail connections at this site where the recent discovery of human
remains was the subject of incorrect media reporting.
December
16, 2014 Meeting
#14-1016: Acquisition of 1.87 acres near the Powderhorn
Prairie Preserve (4000 W. 134th St., Chicago).
#14-1020: Acquisition of 1.696 acres near Powderhorn
Prairie Preserve (12201-12257 South Avenue K, Chicago)
#14-1022/#14-1023: Creation of a forest preserve near Powderhorn
Lake and Nature Preserve.
#14-1027: Amendment of intergovernmental agreement with
the Illinois Department of Natural Resources authorizing $1.6 million to the
FPDCC for tasks related to the removal of the Chick Evans Golf Course and
Winnetka Road dams on the North Branch, and the Dempster Dam on the Des Plaines
River. Dam removal has been in the works
for 12 (!) years, and will improve recreational use of these waterways.
Submitted by
Sheri Latash
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