TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF OCTOBER 1, 2015
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement with the Cook County Land Bank for the acquisition of flood-prone properties in unincorporated Riverside Lawn
Body
Dear Sir:
Authority is requested to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Cook County Land Bank for the acquisition of flood prone property in unincorporated Riverside Lawn.
On August 7, 2014 the Board of Commissioners authorized assessing the feasibility of flood-prone property acquisition in unincorporated Riverside Lawn based on the results of preliminary engineering for project DPR-13, a conceptual project of the Lower Des Plaines River Detailed Watershed Plan. The purpose of project DPR-13 was to reduce flood damages occurring in the unincorporated area of Cook County known as Riverside Lawn, and the conceptual project proposed constructing a floodwall to protect 39 residential structures from overbank flooding from the Des Plaines River. During preliminary engineering numerous issues arose concerning the floodwall’s location, either on private property or on property owned by the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (FPDCC), and its escalating cost in comparison to the estimated value of the structures the floodwall would protect. The Engineering Department has determined that the most viable alternative is acquisition of the flood-prone properties in Riverside Lawn.
Based on outreach performed by the Cook County Department of Planning in partnership with Riverside Township, FPDCC, and the Cook County Land Bank, initial indications are a majority of the 39 homeowners in the area are interested in relocating out of the flood hazard area. The arrangement envisioned for acquisition of these properties involves Cook County Land Bank acting as the local sponsor with funding being provided through Cook County’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) and the District. The next step is to begin negotiations with the Cook County Land Bank, so they may have appraisals prepared for each property and develop an accurate budget.
Based on the foregoing, it is requested that the Board of Commissioners grant authority for the District to negotiate an intergovernmental agreement with the Cook County Land Bank for the acquisition of flood-prone properties in the unincorporated area of Cook County known as Riverside Lawn. Once the parties agree in principle to specific terms and conditions, authority to enter into an IGA will be sought from the District's Board of Commissioners.
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 1, 2015