The stormwater subcommittee met with the City on Thursday, July 9 in City Chambers to continue discussions concerning the City’s request to use parks for stormwater detention.
Approximately 50 residents attended the meeting and 18 spoke during public comment, most imploring the City, Park and School districts come to agreement(s) in order to start helping residents affected by flooding. The meeting format closely followed the agenda attached below wherein during agenda item 4, the Park District took the opportunity to go through the attached presentation providing a background on our discussions with the City and specifically, the Park Board’s position on York Commons and Golden Meadows parks and the request to extend the term length of the Maintenance Facility lease. this included an overview of the long history of collaboration and cooperation initiatives between the Park District and City to benefit the community when the City has requested the use of parkland for municipal purposes.
The negotiations were productive and the following points of agreement were reached:
- The City’s subcommittee will recommend to the Public Works Committee and City Council an extension of the Maintenance Facility lease to 2108, per the Park District's original proposal.
- Both parties are in agreement over the use of the west lobe of York Commons per the Park District's latest letter to the City. The City presented some slides showing potential recreational uses of the west lobe which they asked the Park Board review. Copies are attached and will be brought to the July 22 meeting of the Park Board for discussion.
- An intergovernmental agreement will be developed to include a “Whereas” clause that speaks to the City’s commitment to accomplish the recommendations within their flooding plan for the remainder of the Southwest Study Area.
In regards to the use of Golden Meadows Park, it was agreed that, after receipt of the City Council’s commitment to the extension of the Maintenance Facility lease, a joint meeting with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) will be held to determine potential options to phase in a conversion of the site. The Mayor indicated the City is “happy” to purchase that portion of the property, but suggested a potential phase-in of the process to bring stormwater assistance sooner. This means, the Park District will try to find a way to allow the City to utilize the west portion of Golden Meadows Park sooner rather than later, while protecting the Park District’s interests and relationship with the IDNR. This might involve the property being converted to a detention basin with some recreational function while still in Park District ownership, until such time as replacement property could be acquired. The City’s engineering firm, Burke, prepared some conceptual drawings for this as well; copies are attached.
The City Manager and Park District Executive Director will begin to re-examine the terms of a draft IGA.
Discussions will begin on additional park sites under consideration at the next subcommittee meeting on July 23.
UPDATE
July 13, 2015 The City’s Public Works and Buildings Committee discussed the extension of the Maintenance Facility lease and approved a report recommending it go to City Council for consideration on Monday, July 20. The results of the City’s consideration will be brought to the July 22 meeting.J
