TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 16, 2017
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 continue 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 December 4, 2014, the Board of Commissioners approved the issuance of a 3-year permit to the Illinois Natural History Survey (“INHS”) 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. The subject permit was issued for a nominal fee of $10.00 and expires January 19, 2018. INHS has requested a new 3-year permit upon expiration of the existing permit.
The permit will continue to allow periodic access to District land located within the Stickney Water Reclamation Plant (“Stickney WRP”), 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 127th Street in Will County) to conduct its study. The study will not be conducted near operational areas of the Stickney WRP. The permit will encompass the following locations:
Map # Main Channel Parcels Map # Main Channel Parcels
(1) 20.01 (15) 34.05 & 34.06
(2) 21.01, 21.03 & 21.04 (16) 35.02, 35.03, 35.06 & 37.03
(3) 22.05 (17) 37.03, 37.05 & 37.08
(4) 23.04 & 23.06 (18) 38.13
(7) 26.08 (19) 39.05, 39.06 & 39.09
(12) 31.01 & 31.04 (20) 40.03 & 40.04
(13) 32.01 & 32.04 (21) 41.07, 41.08 & 41.09
(14) 33.03 & 33.04 (22) 42.02, 42.11 & 42.13
Map # FPDCC Leased Parcels Map # FPDCC Leased Parcels
(3) 22.07 (10) 29.01, 29.02 & 29.03
(4) 23.09 (11) 30.01 & 30.03
(5) 24.08 & 24.09 (12) 31.02 & 31.03
(7) 26.06 (13) 32.05
(8) 27.02 (14) 33.06
(9) 28.02, 28.03 & 28.04 (16) 35.07
Map # FPDDC Leased Parcels
(5) 24.04
(6) 25.03
(7) 26.07
(8) 27.03 & 27.04
Map # Stickney WRP
(18)
(19)
The permit will require that INHS 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 INHS’ request subject to access being coordinated with District staff.
As in the past, INHS 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 INHS’ actions is very limited, and that permit fees be waived as it is a governmental agency utilizing the land for a public purpose.
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 continue 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, Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:CMM:NPE:vp
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, David J. Walsh, 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 November 16, 2017
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