Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Planning Session met Feb. 28.
Here is the minutes provided by the
Present
President: Cantore
Commissioners: Cantore, A. Murphy, M. Murphy, Painter, Redick, Wehrli, Whelan
Acting
Executive Director: Stevenson
Staff. Bonnet, Hogan, Horsfall, Lahey, Malahy, Neidy, J. Ortega, Pubentz,
Zinnen
Attorney: Elsner
Call To Order The Planning Session meeting for February 28, 2017 was called to order at 6:00 PM., with President Cantore presiding. On roll call: Commissioners Cantore, A. Murphy, M. Murphy, Painter, Redick, Wehrli and Whelan were present.
President's Remarks President Cantore recognized Don Nash and Jill Ludvigsen, with the Friends of Danada. He thanked them for the support and the collaborative efforts of the Friends Foundation. Don Nash in turn thanked the President and Board members for the opportunity to work with the District staff on some of the major projects the Friends of Danada have undertaken.
Public Comment There were none.
President Cantore announced that agenda item. R-6 was being pulled from the agenda.
Regular Agenda R-1 Recommendation to Apply for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement
Program (CMAQ) Funds for Alternative Fuel System Conversions
Director of Field Operations Mike Pubentz presented to the Board staff's recommendation to apply for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) funds for alternative fuel system conversions. Board discussion ensued. It was the consensus of the Board to bring forward to the next Commission meeting.
o The purpose of the application is to try to obtain funds for alternative fuel
VonVersions.
• Over time, more of the District’s fleet vehicles have been converted to Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) or Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) type engines. The District has plans to continue to convert engines and this grant will help to offset some of the costs.
• The grant application is to convert 20 vehicles, the total dollar amount being asked for is $220,000; it is an 80/20 split with the federal funds covering $176,000 and the District would then be obligated for $44,000 should the grant be received.
• CMAQ will make the announcement of funding awards in November 2017.
R-2 Recommendation to Authorize a Letter of Support to the DuPage County Division of Transportation (DuDot) for Improvements to Lemont Road from 87th to 83rd Street
Manager of Planning Kevin Horsfall presented to the Board staff’s recommendation to have the President sign a letter of support to the DuPage County Division of Transportation (DuDot) for improvements to Lemont Road from 87th to 83rd Street. Board discussion ensued. It was the consensus of the board to bring forward to the next Commission meeting.
• The proposed work is near Old Field Oaks Forest Preserve and will involve adding dual left turn lanes going north and west. It also includes realigning Old Field Road to line up with the eastbound through lane on 87th Street. As a result the intersection will be widened.
• DuDot has done all the design work to keep everything in the existing right-of- ways so there will be no direct impact to forest preserve property.
• There will be some minor grading impacts that DuDot will have to acquire a temporary easement for. No permanent improvements will be made on forest preserve property.
R-3 Recommendation to Apply for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Funds for the North Central DuPage Regional Trail in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve
Landscape Architect Supervisor Jessica Ortega presented to the Board staff’s recommendation to apply for Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) and Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) funds for the North Central DuPage Regional Trail in Pratt’s Wayne Woods Forest Preserve. Board discussion ensued. It was the consensus of the Board to bring forward to the next Commission meeting.
• There is only one segment left in completing the entire 35 mile trail. The final segment will connect the existing trail in Bartlett, paralleling Munger Road, crossing Army Trail Road and then extending south to Smith Road where it will hook up to the Illinois Prairie Path, Elgin Branch.
• The estimated cost is $2.5 million. Staff has been actively applying for grants for this project since 2015 and has received partial funding through the Surface Transportation Program for construction in the amount of $1.5 million.
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Planning Session Meeting February 28, 2017
• The recommended amount being applied for is $152,000 for phase II engineering. The District will be required to match with $38,000. The District will be required to initially upfront $152,000 and then request reimbursement through the program.
• Phase I engineering of the project began in 2016. Staff has met with the Village of Bartlett, and Wayne and the County of DuPage and they all support the project.
• CMAQ will make the announcement of funding awards in November 2017.
R-4 Recommendation to Authorize a License Agreement within the Dunham Forest Preserve for Agricultural Purposes
Director of Natural Resources Erick Neidy presented to the Board staff’s recommendation for the renewal of all license agreements for agricultural operations at Dunham, Herrick Lake, St. James Farm, Timber Ridge and West Branch Forest Preserves under the District’s Cropland Conversion Program. Board discussion ensued. It was the consensus of the Board to bring forward to the next Commission meeting.
• Night Heron Marsh Forest Preserve has been removed from the agenda due its current agriculture, the property has been wetting up and the farmer’s yield has decreased considerably over the years. It is now most beneficial to the District to continue with restoration of the property. Additionally, the property is adjacent to ComEd property and they are in favor of assisting with restoration on their property as well as the District’s. ComEd has encouraged the staff to apply for their current open lands grant, which is a minimum of $10,000.
• There are five agreements up for renewal with a total 523 acres; Dunham Forest Preserve 120 acres; Herrick Lake Forest Preserve 20 acres; St. James Farm 214 acres; Timber Ridge 63 acres; and West Branch Forest Preserve 86 acres.
• The District allowed all of the crop land conversion license agreements to lapse in 2016. This gave staff an opportunity to re-evaluate the entire program and to instill additional precautions and specific land use requirements that will benefit the District in the future.
• Staff also re-evaluated the cost per acre. For years the District was being paid $106.50 per acre. The average for the Chicago area is about $175 to $250 per acre. Dupage County is considerably lower specifically due to the soil, which is not that great for farming and the acreage available are small. Staff has raised the amount charged per acre to $150. This is a 29% revenue increase annually.
• Payment due dates have also been changed from June 30th to July 1st, which better aligns with the Districts fiscal year.
• Staff added additional language to help tree protection; farmers will have to give larger buffers along the boundaries and under trees.
• Additionally, language that increases the amount of grass waterways used to help with erosion was added.
• Also added, is the prohibited use of specific pesticides which are neonicotinoids that are specifically affecting pollinators. The current farmers do not use neonicotinoids; however, staff wanted the language in the contract prohibiting that use for the future.
• The contract for Timber Ridge is slightly lower at $125 per acre due to the relationship the District has with this specific farmer. When Kline Creek Farm is not doing their 1890’s practices, this farmer does all the farm work behind the scene for the District.
• In the past, annual revenue has been $57,000 per acre; with the 29% increase revenue will be raised to approximately $73,000 per acre. That money is then used for restoration for those properties in the future.
• All contract are five - year agreements.
R-5 Recommendation to Authorize a License Agreement within Herrick Lake Forest Preserve
for Agricultural Purposes
Please refer to R-4 above.
R-6 Recommendation to Authorize a License Agreement within Night Heron Marsh Forest
Preserve for Agricultural Purposes
This item was pulled from the agenda by President Cantore.
Please refer to R-4 above.
R-7 Recommendation to Authorize a License Agreement within St. James Farm Forest Preserve
For Agricultural Purposes
Please refer to R-4 above.
R-8 Recommendation to Authorize a License Agreement within Timber Ridge Forest Preserve
For Agricultural Purposes
Please refer to R-4 above.
R-9 Recommendation to Authorize a License Agreement within West Branch Forest Preserve
for Agricultural Purposes
Please refer to R-4 above.
Informational Agenda I-1 Danada Visitor Garden Water Feature Enhancements Provided by Friends of Danada
Manager of Planning Kevin Horsfall presented to the Board some exciting new enhancements to the water feature to the Danada gardens that will be fully funded by the Friends of Danada. This information is being shared with the Board because the Friends of Danada continue to be a model example of how non-profit support groups and the District can work together to enhance the District’s facilities and programs. Per the license agreement between the District and the Friends, the Executive Director has already approved these improvements and staff will be soliciting proposals to complete the work this spring. Board discussion ensued.
• The water feature is designed to look like a concrete watering trough. It is a key element in the rain garden all the downspouts drain into the trough, the water is recycled and cleansed, and then exits into the rain garden in the courtyard.
• The work will involve sealing both the interior and exterior of the trough and cladding the exterior on three sides with the cellular PVC foam based boards that match the material on the decking, but will be white to match the siding on the atrium. It will be capped with a copper flashing, which will help with water penetration. A lit decorative panel will be installed in the middle.
• These improvements will make the feature more esthetically pleasing during the fall and winter when the vegetation dies back. These improvements will also help to extend the life and minimize future maintenance of the feature. It also maintains the character, allowing the front to still look like the concrete watering trough, but on the back it will be dressed up to match more of the features in the courtyard.
• The total cost is anticipated to be approximately $17,500; which is fully funded by the Friends of Danada.
I-2 License Agreement with City of Naperville for Sanitary Sewer Access at Springbrook Prairie
Forest Preserve Manager of Planning Kevin Horsfall presented to the Board a future request of the City of Naperville for a license to access their sanitary sewer. As per the District’s license and easement policy it will fall upon the Executive Director for approval. The intergovernmental cooperation to make this happen took several years and results in a win, win for each agency by honoring past commitments, responsibly protecting natural resources and preserving tax payer investments in both the built and natural environments. Board discussion ensued.
• Due to the successful restoration efforts of the Department of Natural Resources, it has become challenging for the City of Naperville to access certain portions of their sanitary sewer easement, which was granted to them by the District in 1975.
• A 20- year license agreement gives the City of Naperville access to their existing easement providing a temporary access corridor, with the flexibility to alter depending on future restoration efforts.
• The license agreement will be at no cost, in essence, the restoration has prevented the City for being able to access certain parts of their easement.
• The IDNR, the City, and the District have all reviewed and approved this agreement.
Adjournment (6:34 PM) Commissioner Redick moved, seconded by Commissioner M. Murphy that the Planning Session meeting be adjourned. On voice vote, all Commissioners voted “yes”. Motion carried.
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