TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF JUNE 18, 2015
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to continue participation in the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund, with a contribution to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources in the amount of $500,000.00
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to enter into an intergovernmental agreement ("IGA") with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources ("IDNR") to continue the District's participation in the Chi-Cal Rivers Fund ("Fund"), with a contribution to the IDNR in the amount of $500,000.00.
On May 7, 2015, the Board of Commissioners authorized the District to begin negotiations with the IDNR for an IGA that would include provisions allowing the District to contribute toward the Fund. Since then, the District and IDNR have agreed, in principle, as to the terms of the IGA.
The District has committed to implement a Green Infrastructure Program Plan in conformance with Appendix E, Section II (C) of a certain consent decree entered into in United States, et al., v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, Case No. 1:11-cv-08859 (N.D. Ill. 2014)("Consent Decree"). The District's contribution to the Fund will be used for green infrastructure throughout the District service area, and the District intends to seek credit for this green infrastructure under the Consent Decree.
In order to maximize the benefit of the $500,000.00 that the District intends to contribute, the District will partner with IDNR through the IGA and draw on IDNR's unique expertise with regard to green infrastructure projects. Pursuant to the IGA, the District will contribute $500,000.00 to the IDNR, and IDNR will, in turn, provide that money to the Fund for projects relating to green infrastructure within the District service area. The Fund would then leverage the District's contribution to attract additional funding from private donors such as ArcelorMital, Crown Family Philanthropies, Gaylord & Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, Wrigley Company Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, and the Joyce Foundation. The District and IDNR would then participate with the Fund's administrator, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in evaluating worthwhile green infrastructure projects to fund. For its services, the Fund's administrator will charge an administrative fee in the range of 10% to 15% of the $500,000.00 contribution.
The proposed draft IGA is attached.
Based on the foregoing, the Law Department recommends that the Board of Commissioners authorize the District to enter into an IGA with the IDNR to participate in the Fund, with contribution to the IDNR in the amount of $500,000.00, 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 General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Ronald M. Hill, General Counsel, RMH:LLD:BO'C:nm
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 June 18, 2015
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