TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF DECEMBER 3, 2015
COMMITTEE ON STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authority to amend the board authority given on October 16, 2014 regarding 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
Body
Dear Sir:
On May 15, 2014, the Board of Commissioners authorized the District to enter into an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) allowing for the District to provide funding towards the construction of green infrastructure (GI) at four Chicago public schools (CPS) in 2014. The District and the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) shared the costs of the GI equally up to $500,000 per school while CPS was responsible for all costs associated with recreational amenities, along with on-going maintenance and operations. The projects at the four initial schools were completed in 2014.
Due to the success of the 2014 projects, authorization was granted by the Board of Commissioners on October 16, 2014, to enter into an IGA with CPS to install GI 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 2015.
In 2015, the District budgeted $3,000,000.00 to install GI. CPS could only fund GI projects at two schools out of the six schools originally planned for 2015. Construction for both schools, Orozco and Cather, was completed in 2015. However, all parties still desire to fund a total of 30 schools from 2015 through 2019. In order to complete 30 schools within the 5-year time frame originally envisioned, the District is seeking greater flexibility in determining the number of schools to be completed and funded in any given year. For example, CPS and DWM have indicated sufficient funding is available to fund nine schools in 2016, with the District’s share being no more than $4,500,000.00, or a maximum of $500,000.00 per school.
Based on the foregoing, the Engineering Department recommends that the Board amend the scope of authority it originally provided at its October 16, 2014 Board meeting, thereby authorizing the District to enter into an IGA with CPS and to make payment for an amount not to exceed $15,000,000.00, at a maximum of $500,000.00 per school for a maximum of 30 schools, from the time period of 2015 through 2019, for construction of GI improvements, where DWM will match the District’s contributions on a dollar for dollar basis, and CPS will cover all recreational amenities. It is further requested 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 Director of Engineering as to technical matters and by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Funds for the estimated 2016 expenditure, in the amount of approximately $4,500,000.00 to cover GI projects at nine schools expected to be completed in 2016, and for the remaining expenditure in the amount of approximately $9,500,000.00 between years 2017 through 2019 will be 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 December 3, 2015