Kane County Forest Preserve, Planning and Utilization Committee met July 28.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
I. Call to Order
The Forest Preserve District Planning and Utilization Committee meeting was held at 9:30 AM at the Administration Offices located at 1996 S. Kirk Road, Suite 320, Geneva, IL 60134. The meeting was opened by President Kious in absence of Chair Barbara Wojnicki at 9:30 AM. Remote=*
Members Present:
Attendee Name: Status:
President Chris Kious Present
Commissioner Mavis Bates Present*
Commissioner David Brown Present
Commissioner Michael Kenyon Present
Commissioner Jarett Sanchez Present*
Commissioner Cherryl Strathmann Present*
Commissioner Myrna Molina Present*
Commissioner Bill Lenert Absent
Chairman Barbara Wojnicki Absent
Others Present:
Also Present: Exec. Dir. Meyers; CFO Stanish; NRM Dir. Haberthur; Comm. Affairs Dir. Metanchuk & staff Kovach; HR Dir. Sarro; Public Safety Dir. & Chief of Police Burger; Landscape Architect Tegge; Attorney Hodge and Exec. Assist. Figliozzi.
II. Approval of Minutes from June 30, 2022
| RESULT: APPROVED BY ROLL CALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: David Brown, Commissioner SECONDER: Mavis Bates, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, David Brown, Michael Kenyon, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Bill Lenert, Barbara Wojnicki |
Phil Lewis of 1321 Ash Street St. Charles, former Commissioner of Kane County, spoke at 9:36 AM on a non-agenda matter. He stated that the city of St. Charles is seeking development proposals for the former Police Department building. Mr. Lewis indicated that the building could be an opportunity for the Forest Preserve to utilize the site to build/manage an art gallery/exhibit. Current developers have proposed residential housing with parking. Mr. Lewis felt this would be better suited for public entity- facility for the arts rather than residential. He shared images of the area and requested that the Planning and Utilization Commission hold a discussion for the potential building.
IV. Bids and Proposals
A. Presentation and Approval of a Bid for Natural Areas Vegetation Management at Settler's Hill Golf Course
NRM Manager Chess presented the following bid. Settler’s Hill Golf Course (224 acres) is located within Batavia, and is one of two golf courses owned by the District. In 2021, work began on updating select roughs, fairways, greens, tee boxes, bunkers and cart paths, and drainage issue repair. In addition to the course work itself, the quality of natural areas that make up the out-of-play area are also being addressed. Bids were sought from qualified firms for one year of management and naturalization of terrestrial vegetation within the non-playing grounds of Settler’s Hill Golf Course (approximately 100 acres). The work will be conducted from August 2022 until June 30, 2023. The primary goal of this work will be to control invasive and non-native herbaceous species as well as invasive woody brush in the woodland areas and along the trail edges. Species to be controlled will include but not be limited to wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), and bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.). The bid was distributed to 27 vendors, with four responding. The qualified, lowest bid was received from Davey Resource Group, Inc. of Elmhurst, Illinois, in the amount of $96,120. Contractor oversite will be conducted by our Natural Resource Management department.
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Brown asked if this type of restoration work had been done before in this area. Chess responded that it had not, the quality of the former landfill was low. The restoration work will improve the quality of the land significantly. Commissioner Brown asked when the golf course would be open to the public. Exec. Dir. Meyers responded that the course would be open in the next couple of weeks.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 8/4/2022 8:30 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Executive Committee MOVER: David Brown, Commissioner SECONDER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, David Brown, Michael Kenyon, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Bill Lenert, Barbara Wojnicki |
NRM Manager Chess presented the following bid. Oakhurst Forest Preserve (395 acres) is located in the southeast corner of Kane County and remains a highly popular preserve, thanks in part to its multi-seasonal activities. The lower parking lot near Lake Patterson was renovated in 2021, with assistance from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Part of that renovation was the creation of a wetland complex immediately west of the new parking lot, which treats and directs stormwater from the lot and surrounding area, before it reaches Lake Patterson. Additional natural prairie/grassland nodes were constructed to the east, south and west of the parking lot. In accordance with the United States Department of Army-Corps of Engineers permit requirements, bids were sought from qualified firms for three years of health monitoring and management of terrestrial vegetation at Oakhurst Forest Preserve (approximately 1.4 acres). This work will be conducted from July 2022 until June 30, 2025. The primary goal of this work will be to control invasive and non-native herbaceous species as well as invasive woody brush in the woodland areas and along the trail edges. Species to be controlled will include but not be limited to wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), and bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.). The bid was distributed to 27 vendors, with two responding. The qualified, lowest bid was received from Integrated Lakes Management of Waukegan, Illinois, in the amount of $12,598.95. Of that total, $5,340.15 is due in the first year, $4,409.40 in the second year, and $2,849.40 in the final year of the contract.
DISCUSSION: Commissioner Strathmann, asked about the term floristic quality. Chess explained that the Army Corp of Engineers use this term as an indicator that assigns plants to a numerical quality and the co-efficiency to the natural area. The numerical system calculates points and determines the level of quality of native plants.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 8/4/2022 8:30 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Executive Committee MOVER: David Brown, Commissioner SECONDER: Cherryl Strathmann, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, David Brown, Michael Kenyon, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Bill Lenert, Barbara Wojnicki |
NRM Manager Chess presented the following bid. Fabyan Forest Preserve (209 acres) is located within Geneva and remains one of the most-popular locations in the Forest Preserve District of Kane County “District,” primarily due to its dual-bank access to the Fox River and connection to the Fox River Regional Trail system. In spring 2019, work began on removing the causeway and installing a new bridge to connect Fabyan Island to the west bank of the Fox River. The work was completed in November 2019, and the west shoreline of the Fox River and west shoreline of Fabyan Island were replanted with a native-wetland species mix. In accordance with the U.S. Department of Army-Corps of Engineers permit requirements, bids were sought from qualified firms for three years of health monitoring and management of terrestrial vegetation at Fabyan Forest Preserve (approximately 1 acre). This work will be conducted from July 2022 until June 30, 2025. The primary goal of this work will be to control invasive and non-native herbaceous species as well as invasive woody brush in the woodland areas and along the trail edges. Species to be controlled will include but not be limited to wild chervil (Anthriscus sylvestris), reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea), giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida), and bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.). The bid was distributed to 27 vendors, with 2 responding. The qualified, lowest bid was received from Encap, Inc. of DeKalb, Illinois, in the amount of $15,705. Of that total, $6,025 is due in the first year, $6,525 in the second year, and $3,155 in the final year of the contract.
DISCUSSION: None.
| RESULT: MOVED FORWARD BY ROLLCALL VOTE [UNANIMOUS] Next: 8/4/2022 8:30 AM
TO: Forest Preserve District Executive Committee MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: David Brown, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, David Brown, Michael Kenyon, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Bill Lenert, Barbara Wojnicki |
None.
VI. Closed Session to Discuss Land Acquisition, Contracts, Litigation and Personnel None.
VII. Communications
None.
VIII. Chairman's Comments
President Kious thanked the members of the public who came today and thanked the Johnson's Mound Forest Preserve stewards and volunteers who were present in the audience today.
IX. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 9:57 AM.
| RESULT: ADJOURNED BY VOICE VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Michael Kenyon, Commissioner SECONDER: David Brown, Commissioner AYES: Mavis Bates, David Brown, Michael Kenyon, Myrna Molina, Jarett Sanchez, Cherryl Strathmann ABSENT: Bill Lenert, Barbara Wojnicki |
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