TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF NOVEMBER 21, 2024
COMMITTEE ON REAL ESTATE
Mr. Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Title
Authority to grant the Wilmette Park District an 8-year, approximately 7,300± sq. ft. non-exclusive easement to construct, operate, and maintain roadway improvements to Harbor Drive on portions of North Shore Channel Parcels 1.03 and 1.14 in Wilmette, Illinois. Consideration shall be a nominal fee of $10.00
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Dear Sir:
The Wilmette Park District (“WPD”) operates and maintains Gillson Park, an approximately 60-acre public park in the Village of Wilmette. The vast majority of Gillson Park is located on land owned by WPD, but approximately 7.2 acres are located on District real estate, known as North Shore Channel (“NSC”) Parcels 1.12 and 1.13. WPD has leased this portion of Gillson Park from the District since 1964. WPD’s lease, as extended, expires May 31, 2032. WPD’s rent is a nominal fee of $10.00, plus 25% of annual net income.
WPD is undertaking a substantial infrastructure improvement project at Gillson Park, including roadway resurfacing, sewer replacement, and reconfiguring portions of Harbor Drive. The work on District land consists of road resurfacing, modifying portions of Harbor Drive to accommodate a bike lane, adding a 5-foot-wide sidewalk, and removing a segment of a storm sewer to allow for the installation of a new water main segment. The District’s technical departments reviewed those planned improvements on WPD’s leasehold and had no objections. The District’s Local Sewers Systems Section has also issued a WMO permit for the overall project.
In addition to these approvals, WPD requires an 8-year, approximately 7,300± sq. ft. non-exclusive easement to construct, operate, and maintain a small portion of the Harbor Drive improvements located on adjacent District land leased to the Wilmette Harbor Association, known as NSC Parcels 1.03 and 1.14. The improvements at this location will include adding a bike lane and new sidewalk. WPD requests an 8-year easement term to coincide with its remaining lease term. A portion of the easement area (approximately 6,200 sq. ft.) will be solely for temporary construction access and staging; the remaining portion will allow WPD to maintain the improvements for the duration of the easement term.
The District’s technical departments have reviewed WPD’s request and have no objections thereto. The Wilmette Harbor Association has also provided its consent for the proposed improvements. A nominal fee of $10.00 is recommended as is customary for government agencies using District property for public recreational purposes.
It is requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize the District to grant the Wilmette Park District an 8-year, approximately 7,300± sq. ft. non-exclusive easement to construct, operate, and maintain roadway improvements to Harbor Drive on portions of North Shore Channel Parcels 1.03 and 1.14 in Wilmette, Illinois. Consideration shall be a nominal fee of $10.00.
It is further requested that the Executive Director recommend to the Board of Commissioners that it authorize and direct the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and the Clerk to execute said easement agreement after it is approved by the General Counsel as to form and legality.
Requested, Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:BJD:JAW:vp
Recommended, Brian A. Perkovich, Executive Director
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for November 21, 2024
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