TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MAY 21, 2015
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to amend the Rain Barrel Program and to amend existing rain barrel Intergovernmental Agreements consistent with the program changes, and further to enter into Memorandum of Understandings with community groups and nongovernmental organizations interested in participating in the program.
Body
Dear Sir:
On January 6, 2014 ("Effective Date"), the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois entered a Consent Decree between the United States of America and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago ("District"). Among other commitments, the District was required to develop and implement a Rain Barrel Program within four months of the Effective Date wherein it distributes 10,000 low or no-cost rain barrels within three years of the Effective Date and a cumulative/total distribution of 15,000 low or no-cost rain barrels within five years of the Effective Date of the Consent Decree.
In an effort to reduce barriers to participation as identified by potential and current participants, the Director of Maintenance and Operations recommends amending the current Rain Barrel Program. With regard to the Municipal Distribution Network, we propose eliminating the requirement that municipalities must conduct two residential site visits along with the requirement that residents receiving rain barrels must 1) have downspouts directly connected to the sanitary sewer system; 2) disconnect those downspouts from the sewer system; and 3) redirect the downspouts into the rain barrel to be eligible for participation. With regard to the Community Group/Nongovernmental Organization ("NGO") Distribution Network, the District proposes eliminating the mandatory requirement that the community group/NGO make site visits to ensure proper installation of the rain barrels, but add a requirement that the community group or NGO sign a memorandum of understanding ("MOU") to document its responsibilities under the program. With regard to the Marketing and Promotion program, we propose that the District's limit of distributing one rain barrel per community event be removed. For both the Municipal and Community Group/NGO distribution networks, to ensure a wider distribution of rain barrels, it is recommended there be a limit of four rain barrels distributed per location. The revised program document is attached.
To properly document and memorialize the District's updated Rain Barrel Program to protect the District's interests, the Law Department has revised a template Intergovernmental Agreement ("IGA") to be used for each municipality currently participating in or seeking to participate in the Rain Barrel Program. The Law Department has also drafted a MOU to be used by community groups and NGOs. The Law Department recommends that the amended template IGA and the MOU not be subject to changes so as to maintain consistency with all entities. The Maintenance and Operations Department will continue to maintain a rain barrel distribution log and administer the rain barrel contract. The amended template intergovernmental agreement and template memorandum of understanding are attached.
Authorization is hereby requested to amend the Rain Barrel Program consistent with the foregoing, enter into amended IGAs with municipalities consistent with the program changes, enter into MOUs with Community Groups and NGOs, and further, that the Chairman of the Committee on Stormwater Management, the Executive Director and the Clerk be authorized to execute each amended IGA and MOU in a form substantially similar to those attached hereto upon approval by the Director of Maintenance and Operations as to technical matters and by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Manju P. Sharma, Director of Maintenance and Operations, MPS
Recommended, Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel, RMH:LLD:BO'C
Respectfully Submitted, Michael A. Alvarez, Chairman, Stormwater Management Committee
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for May 21, 2015
Attachments