TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF MARCH 15, 2018
COMMITTEE ON StORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Mr. David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Title
Authorization to negotiate and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the purpose of establishing a partnership to address stormwater issues in Cook County.
Body
Dear Sir:
Authorization is requested to negotiate and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for the purpose of establishing a partnership to address stormwater issues in Cook County.
The intent of the MOU is to streamline negotiations, permitting, and collaboration on future projects performed by the District and IDOT to address flooding issues. Through its Phase II Stormwater Management program, the District has already identified several opportunities where collaboration with IDOT and other stakeholders could be advantageous to all parties involved. Through this MOU, the District and IDOT would continue to share information obtained on various flooding issues, and work together to address drainage concerns through collaboration on future studies, engineering design, and construction of flood control projects. Additionally, IDOT would continue to participate in the Chicago Area Waterways Chlorides Initiative by assigning personnel to work on committees established with the initiative, in exchange for data and research collected through the initiative, to identify best managements practices for road salt use. The MOU would also include provisions wherein IDOT would consider using biosolids, compost, or plant materials provided by the District, or excess soil materials from construction projects where beneficial. The District would also consider using excess soil material generated by IDOT on its capital improvements. Further approval by the Board of Commissioners will be sought prior to negotiating intergovernmental agreements between the parties to establish roles and obligations of financial and personnel resources for specific projects.
Based on the foregoing, the Engineering Department recommends that the District be authorized to negotiate and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Illinois Department of Transportation for the mutual benefits described above, and that the Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Executive Director, and Clerk be authorized to execute said MOU on behalf of the District, upon approval by the Directors of the Engineering, Maintenance and Operations, and Monitoring and Research Departments as to technical matters, and by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Catherine A. O’Connor, Director of Engineering, WSS:JK
Recommended, David St. Pierre, Executive Director
Respectfully Submitted, Debra Shore, 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 March 15, 2018