Kane County Forest Preserve Executive Committee met Dec. 2.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
I. Call to Order
The Forest Preserve District Executive Committee meeting was held at 8:30 AM at the Administration Offices located at 1996 S. Kirk Road, Suite 320, Geneva, IL 60134. The meeting was opened by President Chris Kious at 8:30 AM. Remote=*
Members Present:
Attendee Name: Status:
Commissioner Barbara Wojnicki Present
Commissioner Jarett Sanchez Present
Commissioner Dale Berman Present
President Chris Kious Present
Commissioner Michael Kenyon Present
Commissioner Drew Frasz Present
Commissioner John Martin Present
Commissioner Myrna Molina Present* (via remote @ 8:34 a.m.)
Commissioner Mavis Bates Absent
Others Present:
Commissioners: Brown; Exec. Dir. Meyers; CFO Stanish & Accounting Supv. Petschke*; Chief of Planning Anderson Jr.; Dir. of NRM Haberthur & Adm. Assis. Rodeghero*; Dir. of Comm. Affairs Metanchuk; HR Dir. Yee; Chief of Police/Dir. of Public Safety Burger; Recording Secretary Figliozzi and staff member graduates of Leadership Academy.
II. Approval of Minutes from November 4, 2021
| RESULT: APPROVED WITH VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner SECONDER: Drew Frasz, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Myrna Molina, Mavis Bates |
None.
IV. Presentation and Approval of Bills and Commissioners' Per Diem from November 2021
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 12/14/2021 2:00 PM
TO: Forest Preserve District Finance and Administration Committee MOVER: Dale Berman, Commissioner SECONDER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Myrna Molina, Mavis Bates |
HR Dir. Yee held a Graduation Ceremony for the new employees that completed the Leadership Academy training program. She provided background information of the program, noting the first graduation was held in 2016. The classes are given by the Executive Coach Amy Cotter and include educational presentations from staff such as, Barb McKittrick with Environmental education, Ken Stanish, finance and Chuck Misner with safety education. Certificates were given to the graduates. Brief conversation occurred.
VI. Finance and Administration
A. Presentation and Approval of Revisions to the District's Mission Statement Comm. Affairs Dir. Metanchuk presented the review of the mission statement. She noted that staff met and discussed the verbiage that really pinpoints our mission within environmental education, conservation, etc. In the Commissioner’s 2021 Master Plan Retreat, the Commission suggested to include “well-being” in the statement as a result of the County’s constituents and public actions during the pandemic.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 12/14/2021 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner SECONDER: Jarett Sanchez, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mavis Bates |
Exec. Dir. Meyers presented the amendment to the General Use Ordinance to include and regulate electric bikes on District property.
Electronic bikes (e-bikes) have gained popularity over the past several years and public agencies have been updating their ordinances to allow for their use on trails. Additionally, the County, through the Council of Mayors Pedestrian Committee, has entered into an agreement with a bicycle company to provide rental bikes to various communities along the Fox River Trail. E-bikes are included in the rental package that have been accepted in certain communities such as Elgin and Batavia. This adds to the difficulty in enforcement when e-bikes are accepted by some agencies, but not all, along a multi-jurisdictional trail, such as the Fox River Trail. The District’s General Use Regulation Ordinance does not allow for the use of e-bikes on our trails as they are considered a motorized vehicle.
Currently, there are three classifications of e-bikes as follows:
∙ Class 1: Requires the use of the pedals for the bike to engage and maintain the battery motor. These bikes have a governor system that limits the speed of the bike to approximately 20 mph. When the rider stops pedaling, the battery motor will cease.
∙ Class 2: Requires the use of the pedals to engage the battery motor. The rider can then stop pedaling and use a throttle to continue propelling the bike. Similar to a Class I e-bike, the Class II e-bikes have a governor system that limits the speed of the bike to approximately 20 mph.
∙ Class 3: Does not require any use of pedals to engage the battery motor. Also, they have no governor system that would limit the speed of the bike. These bikes can go over 40 mph.
Staff is recommending the Committee consider the inclusion of Class 1 and 2 e-bikes as approved bicycles on District trails.
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Martin asked about the classes and if the public would understand the enforcement, Commissioner Kenyon echoed question and asked how the public would be notified. Comm. Affairs Dir. Metanchuk responded that notice would be posted in a press release, added to social media, and in the District’s welcome brochures. The Committee felt that signage was important as well.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 12/14/2021 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: John Martin, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mavis Bates |
Exec. Dir. Meyers presented the Early Retirement Incentive Program
The ERI program allows eligible employees (IMRF members) to purchase up to five years of IMRF service credit. Eligible employees are those with at least twenty years of service who are at least fifty years of age by the date of their retirement. The member’s age at retirement will then be increased by the amount of service credit purchased. For example, if a 50-year-old member purchases five years (or 60 months) of service credit, his or her age will be increased to age 55 for the purposes of determining IMRF retirement benefits.
As the District has grown to just over 23,000 acres, administration has been reviewing options to provide for additional staff. Offering the IMRF ERI program from January 31, 2022 through January 31, 2023 is one option that has been reviewed. Initial analysis reflects that an early retirement incentive program offered during that time frame could result in a significant payroll savings for the District, which could then be reinvested into the addition of four to six new full time positions. DISCUSSION: Commissioner Kenyon commended the District staff for providing options to save money. He noted that this is a great opportunity and reminded the Committee that the Sheriff Department had provided the same incentive a few years back.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 12/14/2021 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mavis Bates |
A. Presentation and Approval to Purchase Approximately 46.75 Acres Adjacent to Big Rock Forest Preserve in Big Rock Township
Chief of Planning Anderson Jr., presented the following parcel available for purchase in Big Rock Township. The property is located adjacent to the Big Rock Forest Preserve joining this parcel would allow another access to Jericho Road within Big Rock Forest Preserve.
DISCUSSION: None.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 12/14/2021 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: Barbara Wojnicki, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mavis Bates |
Chief of Planning Anderson Jr., presented the following parcel available for purchase in Aurora Township.
DISCUSSION: None.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 12/14/2021 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Jarett Sanchez, Commissioner SECONDER: Dale Berman, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mavis Bates |
A. Presentation and Approval of an Engineering Proposal for the IDNR RTP 19-154 Interpretive Trail, Signage & Bridge Project at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve
The District received a Recreational Trails Program (RTP) grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) for the LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve Interpretive Trail, Signage & Bridge Project. This project will enhance and expand the trail system, and aid in the interpretation and explanation of the natural and historic resources throughout the preserve. In addition, it will better-provide for collaborative program opportunities between the District’s Environmental Education staff at Creek Bend Nature Center and Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley at the Durant House Museum, and Pioneer Sholes School. Staff has finalized the conceptual design in concert with the IDNR. We are now ready to move to the next stage. The District initiated a Request for Proposal (RFP) process to complete the preliminary, final engineering and permitting portion of this project. The District requested three RFPs from qualified engineering firms. It was determined that Hey and Associates was the responsive engineering firm for the project. It is in the District’s best interest to utilize Hey to complete the preliminary engineering process. Once this part of the process is complete, the District will work with Hey to develop valued final engineering and permitting scope of work costs for services rendered.
DISCUSSION: None.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 12/14/2021 9:00 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Commission MOVER: Drew Frasz, Commissioner SECONDER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mavis Bates |
| RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Drew Frasz, Commissioner SECONDER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mavis Bates |
X. Communications
Exec. Dir. Meyers promoted the Holiday Luncheon on Friday, December 3, 2021 at Kuiper’s Family Farm at 11:00 a.m. Comm. Affairs Dir. Metanchuk reported, the Kane Forest Preserve Foundation raised approximately $3,000 on Giving Tuesday. These funds will assist in the purchase of new trees. Metanchuk emphasized the importance of fund raising for the Forest Preserve and encouraged all to share with family and friends. The next Foundation meeting will be held this afternoon at 1 p.m. via zoom. Metanchuk reported that the District has been officially awarded the Distinguishing Agency Accreditation award.
XI. President's Comments
President Kious promoted the Senior Stroll held by the Environmental Education program staff today, December 2, 2021 at LeRoy Oakes Forest Preserve beginning at 10:00 a.m. He congratulated the recent graduates from the Leadership Academy.
XII. Financial Reports
Reports A-C were moved together.
A. Revenue & Expense Report through October 2021
B. Cash & Investment Report: October 2021
C. Bond Investment Report: October 2021
| RESULT: PLACE WRITTEN REPORTS ON FILE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Drew Frasz, Commissioner SECONDER: Jarett Sanchez, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mavis Bates |
The meeting adjourned at 9:27 a.m.
| RESULT: ADJOURNED BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: Dale Berman, Commissioner AYES: Dale Berman, Michael Kenyon, Drew Frasz, John Martin, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Barbara Wojnicki ABSENT: Mavis Bates |
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