TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 16 , 2014
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Chicago Public Schools to install green infrastructure at various Chicago Public Schools, with payment to Chicago Public Schools not to exceed $3,000,000.00 per year for five years at a maximum of $500,000.00 per school for a maximum of 30 schools, starting in year 2015 (Deferred from Board Meeting of October 2, 2014)(As Revised)
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to install green infrastructure at various Chicago Public Schools, at a maximum of $500,000.00 per school, for a maximum of 30 schools, not to exceed $3,000,000.00 per year for five years, starting in year 2015.
On January 9, 2014, the Board of Commissioners authorized the District to enter into an IGA with CPS allowing for the District to provide funding towards the construction of green infrastructure at four Chicago Public Schools in 2014. The District and the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) are sharing the costs of the green infrastructure (GI) equally up to $500,000.00 each per school while CPS is responsible for all fees associated with recreational amenities. The projects at the four schools are nearing completion, and the ribbon cutting ceremonies will take place in October and November of 2014.
Building off of our successful partnership with CPS and DWM, it is recommended the District fund GI improvements at 30 more schools over the next five years. The projects are great vehicles to promote water conservation and GI, while helping to reduce localized flooding. The District will seek credit for this project under the GI requirements of the Consent Decree, subject to approval by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The 30 schools will be selected out of a list of 100 elementary schools that met a baseline minimum criterion judged from three main categories: flood risk, site suitability (size and logistics) and vulnerable communities (low income and high obesity). Attached is a list of the elementary schools and a map showing the location of each school. The District will place the highest emphasis on school playgrounds that can have the greatest impact on reducing stormwater entering local combined sewer systems in flood prone areas.
Based on the foregoing, the Engineering Department recommends that the District be authorized to negotiate and enter into another IGA with the CPS and make payment to CPS for up to $3,000,000.00 per year for five years at a maximum of $500,000.00 per school for a maximum of 30 schools, for construction of GI improvements, where the DWM will match our contributions on a dollar for dollar basis, and the CPS will cover all recreational amenities, and that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, the Executive Director and the Clerk be authorized to execute said IGA on behalf of the District, upon approval by the Directors of Engineering, Maintenance and Operations and Monitoring & Research as to technical matters and by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Funds for the estimated expenditure of $3,000,000.00 per year for 2015 through 2019 are contingent on the Board of Commissioners' approval of the District's budget for those years.
Requested, Catherine A. O'Connor, Director of Engineering, WSS:JPM
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Michael A. Alvarez, Chairman Committee on Stormwater Management
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for October 16, 2014