TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF DECEMBER 4, 2014
COMMITTEE ON REAL ESTATE
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to issue a 3-year permit to the Illinois Natural History Survey to periodically access District real estate located along the Main Channel and the Des Plaines River in Will County, DuPage County and Cook County to conduct its study of the winter ecology of Canadian Geese in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. Consideration shall be a nominal fee of $10.00
Body
Dear Sir:
On July 10, 1997 and May 6, 2004, the Board of Commissioners ("Board") issued a 4-year permit and a 5-year permit, respectively, to the Illinois Natural History Survey-Prairie Research Institute as a unit of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ("Illinois Natural History Survey") and working in cooperation with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources ("IDNR") and the United States Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Heath Inspection Service's Wildlife Services ("USDA") to periodically access District real estate located in Fulton County, Illinois to conduct a study of nesting mallards.
Illinois Natural History Survey, IDNR, and the USDA have now requested a 3-year permit to periodically access District real estate located along the Main Channel and the Des Plaines River in Will County, DuPage County and Cook County to conduct a study of the winter ecology of Canadian Geese in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area.
The study involves the capture of approximately 500 geese as they migrate into the study area. GPS transmitters and/or plastic neck collars with alpha/numeric markings and leg bands will be placed on these geese allowing the wildlife biologists and technicians to investigate and study their migration patterns.
The permit will allow periodic access to District land located within the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, vacant parcels and several parcels leased to the Forest Preserve District of Cook County ("FPDCC") and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County ("FPDDC") located along the Main Channel and the Des Plaines River (from 31st Street in Chicago to 135th Street in Romeoville) to conduct its study. The study will not be conducted near operational areas of the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant. The permit will encompass the following locations:
Map # Main Channel Parcels Map # Main Channel Parcels
(1) 19.02 (15) 33.03 & 33.04
(2) 20.01 (16) 34.05 & 34.06
(3) 21.01, 21.03 & 21.04 (17) 35.02, 35.03, 35.06 & 37.03
(4) 22.05 (18) 37.03, 37.05 & 37.08
(5) 23.01, 23.04 & 23.06 (19) 38.14
(6) 24.03 & 24.06 (20) 39.01, 39.02, 39.05, 39.06 & 39.09
(8) 26.08 (21) 40.01 & 40.04
(9) 27.03 & 27.04 (22) 41.07 & 41.08
(13) 31.01 & 31.04 (23) 42.02 & 42.13
(14) 32.01 & 32.04
Map # FPDCC Leased Parcels Map # FPDCC Leased Parcels
(4) 22.07 (11) 29.01, 29.02 & 29.03
(5) 23.09 (12) 30.01 & 30.03
(6) 24.08 & 24.09 (13) 31.02 & 31.03
(8) 26.06 (14) 32.05
(9) 27.02 (15) 33.06
(10) 28.02, 28.03 & 28.04 (17) 35.07
Map # FPDDC Leased Parcels
(6) 24.04
(7) 25.03
(8) 26.07
Map # Stickney WRP
(19)
(20)
The permit will require that the Illinois Natural History Survey obtain a written consent of the FPDCC and the FPDDC prior to accessing their respective leaseholds.
The District's technical departments have no objections to the Illinois Natural History Survey's request subject to access being coordinated with District staff.
As in the past, the Illinois Natural History Survey has requested a waiver of the environmental contamination insurance requirement, a reduction of the general liability and property damage insurance requirements from $4,000,000.00 to $1,000,000.00 and that the Permit is issued for a nominal fee of $10.00. In the past, the Board has approved such requests determining that the study of geese poses little or no risk of environmental contamination to District land, that the potential liability to third parties on account of the Illinois Natural History Survey's actions is very limited, and that permit fees be waived as it is a governmental agency.
It is requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize the issuance of a 3-year permit to the Illinois Natural History Survey to periodically access District real estate located along the Main Channel and the Des Plaines River in Will County, DuPage County and Cook County to conduct its study of the winter ecology of Canadian Geese in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. Consideration shall be a nominal fee of $10.00.
It is also requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and the Clerk be authorized and directed to execute said permit agreement on behalf of the District after it is approved by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel, RMH:STM:NPE:vp
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Mariyana T. Spyropoulos, Chairman Committee on Real Estate Development
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for December 4, 2014
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