FOREST PRESERVE PLANNING AND UTILIZATION COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 March 25, 2011 The Planning and Utilization Committee meeting was held Friday,, at 9:05 a.m. in the Board Room of the Fox Valley Ice Arena, Forest Preserve Administration Offices, 1996 South Kirk Road, Suite 320 in Geneva, IL. MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Mitchell Committee Members: President Hoscheit (late) Auger, Davoust, Lindgren, Taylor and Wojnicki. MEMBERS ABSENT: Frasz, Kenyon, Kunkel, and Reyna. ALSO PRESENT: Executive Director Meyers, Director of Finance Quinlan, Director of Planning and Development Culp, Director of Natural Resources, Drew Ullberg, Director of Public Safety, Chief Gilloffo, Director of Operations Holan, Human Resource Manager, Smith, Director of Community Affairs, Metanchuk, District Wildlife Biologist, Bill Graser, Attorney Hodge, Commissioners Allan, Ford, and Citizens of Kane County. MINUTES: Motion to approve February 25 th minutes, by Commissioner Davoust, and second by Commissioner Wojnicki, motion carried. PUBLIC COMMENT No public comment. PRESENTATION OF BIRD AND BAT STUDIES REPORT The bird and bat studies report was moved to the first of the meeting. Presentation was delivered by Wildlife Biologist, Bill Graser with a power point slide presentation. The studies can enable the District to interpret the quality of the habitats and how that can reflect on the restoration processes. There are time and manpower restraints on the amount of studies the staff and volunteers can accomplish. The bat study is important because they are susceptible to the White Nose Syndrome, which is a disease that is affecting the population of bats. It has not officially entered northern Illinois, but has been detected in Southern Illinois and is expected to come north soon. The population of bats inhibits the mosquito population, and there is a direct correlation. Q & A and Further Discussion Commissioner Wojnicki inquired as to how we can get more bats to come into Kane County. Chairman Mitchell asked what as a county body we can do, for example making the wind turbines safer, for the bat community. Commissioner Wojnicki said that they would make the recommendations to the County Committees that may deal with the turbines. The study will tell us how to handle the decrease in population and how and what we may need to do as next steps. The suggestion of bat houses was made for residents or those interested in bats. Commissioner Auger asked what the actual study knowledge baseline was in Kane County and how we decide what to study. Wildlife Biologist, Bill Graser, explained that we have little knowledge of either bats or birds. The District prioritizes the needs of the studies based on environmental and species specific criteria. Commissioner Mitchell suggested that the Community Affairs Committee give out bat houses

2 BIDS AND PROPOSALS Director Quinlan presented the bids for agenda items A-F together for approval vote: Presentation of a bid for well drilling at Binnie Woods Forest Preserve: The well at Binnie Forest Preserve currently provides water to the shelter, restrooms, as well as the occupied staff resident house. The following problem issues are being experienced with the well at Binnie Forest Preserve: o The well is not supplying sufficient water pressure or volume to supply both the residence and flush restrooms located in the shelter with water. o Sediment brought up with the water is clogging the filters and Sloan valves causing staff to clean the filters and valves almost daily. o Recently the well has not passed several state health department tests for potable water so the water cannot be used for a drinking supply. A new well would be drilled that will supply the needs of both the house and shelter. The specification requires the well to be drilled up to 800 with the contractor supplying and installing all of the electrical and operating components and hookups. The well will have a variable speed pump that will only use as much energy as is needed for the water demand therefore saving us money over a conventional pump that works at full speed when water pressure decreases. The old well will also be abandoned and sealed. The bid packet was sent to eight vendors, with two vendors responding. The qualified lowest bidder was Suburban Well Drilling in Plato Center, IL with a bid price of $23, Discussion Commissioner Wojnicki commented that the deep well is expensive. Motion by Four bids were voted together after full description of each was given by Director Quinlan. Presentation of a bid for Contracted Weed Management at Bowes Creek Woods Forest Preserve: Approval is requested to hire a contractor to conduct several herbicide applications to control Canada thistle, garlic mustard, wild chervil and Japanese hedge parsley found in woods, old field areas, and along fence lines across the preserve. The performance standard set in the bid is to reduce all target weeds by 95% at each of those sites by September The District sent the bid packet to 12 vendors with 4 responding. The lowest qualified bid was provided by JF New of Monee, IL for $16, Discussion none U:\Meeting Minutes\2011\Planning and Utilization\PU_MIN_March 25_2011.docx - 2 -

3 Presentation of a bid for Painting and Staining of Nine Shelters and the Johnson s Mound Cabin: We have been staining the dark brown shelters with a lighter cedar colored solid stain to brighten them up and make them more aesthetic. These improvements will be made at nine shelters and the cabin in Johnson s Mound Forest Preserve. The shelters are located at: LeRoy Oakes, shelters #1 and #2; Gunnar Anderson, shelter #1; Fabyan, shelters #2 and #3; Johnson s Mound, shelter #3 Elburn, shelter #3 Les Arends, shelters #1 and #2 The bid packet was sent to 15 vendors, with 5 vendors responding. The qualified lowest bidder was Incredible Builders of Hampshire, IL with a bid price of $18, for the project. Presentation of a bid for Trail Resurfacing at the South End of Kane County: Every year, as part of our preventative maintenance program, the Operations and Maintenance Department budgets money to resurface approximately four miles of asphalt trails. Each year we alternate between the north and south ends of the county. This year we are planning to resurface the following five sections of trail: Oakhurst trail along 5 th Ave. Batavia Branch of the Prairie Path Great Western Trail near St. Charles Virgil Gilman Trail at Waubonsee College Virgil Gilman Trail at Bliss Woods The specifications call for the existing asphalt to be pulverized in place and used as additional base material and then 2 surface course asphalt laid over the base material. The trail is then backfilled with pulverized topsoil and seeded. The bid packet was sent to 18 vendors, with 11 vendors responding. The qualified lowest bidder was A Lamp Concrete of Schaumburg, IL with a bid price of $236, Presentation of a bid for a Bat Study to Be Conducted at Various Preserves: Staff feels we are at a critical point in time with regard to bat populations. A fungus, known as White-Nose Syndrome, has killed millions of bats across the eastern flank of the nation, yet we lack even basic data on this animal here and the fungous is moving towards Kane County. Staff would like to hire a firm to conduct baseline bat surveys across the Brunner Family, Helm Woods, and Freeman Kame, (north) Forest Preserves. The bid packet was sent to 10 vendors with 5 responding. The lowest qualified bid was provided by Environmental U:\Meeting Minutes\2011\Planning and Utilization\PU_MIN_March 25_2011.docx - 3 -

4 Solutions & Innovations, Inc. of Cincinnati, Ohio for $22, with an additional $2, for the alternate, totaling $24,600. Presentation of a bid for a Breeding Bird Study to Be Conducted at Various Preserves: Staff would like to hire a firm to conduct breeding bird surveys in 2011 and 2012 at Blackberry Maples, Big Rock, Lone Grove, Fabyan- east, and Oakhurst Forest Preserves. The study will include baseline breeding bird surveys, spring migration stopover data, as well as area searches, and nesting documentation for two consecutive years at each of the five preserves noted. The contractor is required to produce a final report by October The District sent the request for quote packet to 11 vendors with 8 responding. After all submittals were thoroughly reviewed by staff, the lowest qualified quote was provided by Atwell, LLC of Naperville, IL for $55,200. Atwell, LLC was selected over all other quotes based on the number of hours to be dedicated to actual field data collection, qualifications of their avian ecologist and the level of proposed sampling to be completed. These conditions put them ahead of all the other firms. Motion by Commissioner Lindgren, second by Commissioner Davoust; motion carried. Presentation of the Schweitzer Woods Forest Preserve Engineering Contract Change Order: Staff completed the concept plan for the preserve and obtained the services of Engineering Resources to complete the engineering drawings for the new parking lot and drive. During the review process with the Village of West Dundee and the County, it was determined that additional engineering work was needed to complete the drainage requirements. Detention design was not originally anticipated at the time of the original contract, because it appeared that the project would disturb less than the 25,000 square feet threshold in the Kane County Storm Water Ordinance. The additional work is necessary to design the detention for the project. Typically designed detention basins will be replaced by rain gardens as a natural alternative. The changes include $1, for supplemental services for BMP (Best Management Practices) work and $2,126 for storm water design and calculations. Engineering Resource Associates Inc. has submitted a request for additional $3, to complete the engineering needed to obtain the permits for this work. Discussion The lead time will be one month. The detention will be a rain garden, natural area. The Nature Center will be notified that the area may be closed for up to three days. Commissioner Taylor inquired as to whether the aquifers were shallow or deep. Director Ullberg made an educated guess but will send the information to Commissioner Taylor and anyone else interested in the information. Motion by Commissioner Lindgren, second by Commissioner Auger; motion carried. U:\Meeting Minutes\2011\Planning and Utilization\PU_MIN_March 25_2011.docx - 4 -

5 NEW OR UNFINISHED BUSINESS Presentation of an Intergovernmental Agreement with the County of Kane for the Wetland Enhancement Project at Muirhead Springs Forest Preserve: Muirhead Springs is a 797 acre preserve located west of Elgin in Plato Township. The District just completed the initial improvements to the preserve, through an OSLAD development grant that included a new parking lot and drive, picnic area, prairie restoration, wetland enhancements and over 4 miles of trail. Part of the wetland enhancement included developing a plan to control the water level in the preserve by varying the trail elevation and abandoning field tile. During the construction process staff worked with the County of Kane Department of Facilities, Subdivision and Environmental Resources to develop a plan that would meet the requirements of the County s Wetland Initiative Program. The proposed intergovernmental agreement includes the County funding the wetland enhancement project up to $150,000. The District has worked with the County on similar wetland projects in the past and they have been successful. Motion by Commissioner Wojnicki, second by Commissioner Taylor; motion carried. Presentation of a License Agreement with the Wasco American Legion Baseball League at Campton Forest Preserve: The Wasco Baseball fields are four minor league fields located at the Eastern edge of Campton Forest Preserve along LaFox Road. Two of the four fields located at this site are within the Campton Forest Preserve. The Wasco American Legion Baseball League has had an informal agreement with the District for the use of this property since The organization is proposing new improvements to the site and has submitted a plan for the District s review. Both the District and the Wasco American Legion Baseball League would like to formalize the agreement before any work gets completed The license agreement will give the Wasco American legion Baseball League the ability to continue to provide the baseball fields for the organization and they agree to continue to maintain the fields with no cost to the District. Motion by Commissioner Wojnicki, second by Commissioner Hoschiet; motion carried. Presentation of a Site Plan for LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve: Director Culp presented the site plan for the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve. It detailed the cross country route changes and the preservation of the natural areas around the building for the more formal appearance and picturesque view. The schools that participate in cross country events as well as other groups were actively inputting comments and concerns to the overall site plan. The plan is an agreement of these suggestions. The District has also coordinated with the Township to phase the driveway improvements. We will eliminate an entrance to public use. The Committee is approving the site plan so that Staff can proceed with engineering. U:\Meeting Minutes\2011\Planning and Utilization\PU_MIN_March 25_2011.docx - 5 -

6 Discussion President Hoscheit commented on the good example this preserve will be of both passive and active recreation. Commissioner Mitchell and Commissioner Davoust complimented staff on the coordination of the groups to come to a consensus. Commissioner Davoust also requested that if possible we keep the treeline for the more formal appearance. Motion by Commissioner Davoust, second by Commissioner Hoscheit; motion carried. Presentation of a Request by the City of Batavia for Their Safe Routes to Schools Program: The City of Batavia has applied for a grant to install new sidewalks and trails in various locations that will provide safer routes to school for the children. The proposed plans include crossing some of the trails owned by the Forest Preserve District. Because the some of the paths cross existing forest preserve paths the grant requires the Forest Preserve District to be a partner in the safe routes to school project. The project would not require any financial obligation from the Forest Preserve, just concurrence with the safe routes to school program so the connections could be made to existing forest preserve trails. Discussion None Motion by Commissioner Hoscheit, second by Commissioner Wojnicki; motion carried. Presentation of the 2011 Burn List and Schedule: Director Ullberg explained the informational schedule of the burns for the 2011 spring and fall seasons. The neighbors of the preserves are notified via US Postal that the burns are scheduled. Discussion None. EXECUTIVE SESSION None COMMITTEE CHAIR COMMENTS: President Hoscheit reminded all that the referendum is up for vote on April 5 th. The referendum meetings seem to have positive feedback and have brought forward questions and concerns that are very relevant to the current economic situation. OTHER COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Commissioner Davoust suggested a deck be added to the existing Settler s Hill north end. It would enhance the current experience. Chairman Mitchell redirected this request to the Land Acquisition and Enterprise Committee. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Committee, the meeting was duly adjourned on a motion by Commissioner Wojnicki, seconded by Commissioner LIndgren, to 9:00 a.m. on April 28th, to the administrative offices of the Forest Preserve, 1996 S. Kirk Road, Suite 320, Board Room, Geneva, Illinois. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted by Ellen J. Maglio Ellen J. Maglio Recording Secretary U:\Meeting Minutes\2011\Planning and Utilization\PU_MIN_March 25_2011.docx - 6 -