OFFICE OF THE MAYOR CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
April 19, 2023
TO THE HONORABLE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO
Ladies and Gentlemen:
At the request of the Commissioner of Transportation, I transmit herewith an ordinance authorizing the execution of an intergovernmental agreement with the Forest Preserves of Cook County regarding trainings for the Greencorps Chicago Program.
Your favorable consideration of this ordinance will be appreciated.
ORDINANCE
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago (the "City") is a municipal corporation and home rule unit of government under Article VII, Section 6(a) of the 1970 Constitution of the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserve District of Cook County (the "Forest Preserve") is a body politic and corporate of the State of Illinois; and
WHEREAS, the City, through its Department of Transportation ("CDOT") manages a green industry job training program called Greencorps Chicago; and
WHEREAS, Greencorps Chicago provides re-entry opportunities and skills to unemployed individuals in landscaping and horticulture, tree care, ecological restoration, chainsaw operation and safety, herbicide application, seed collection, plant identification, regional ecology, and prescription burn training, among other things; and
WHEREAS, Greencorps Chicago trainees learn through both classroom training and hands- on field experience; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserve owns and manages a system of over 69,000 acres of natural habitats and other lands capable of being restored to a natural condition, pursuant to the powers granted in the Cook County Forest Preserve Act, 70 ILCS, 810/0.01 et seq.\ and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserve desires to utilize Greencorps Chicago crews in undertaking certain ecological restoration and habitat enhancement projects, general grounds maintenance (e.g., mowing, weeding, mulching, tree care and litter pickup) and other land management projects on Forest Preserve lands; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to assist the Forest Preserve in the management of these lands through its Greencorps Chicago program to provide training opportunities to its trainees; and
WHEREAS, the City has previously entered into intergovernmental agreements with the Forest Preserve, under which the Forest Preserve has paid the City for services to be rendered by the City at various project sites throughout the City under Greencorps Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the City anticipates to execute an intergovernmental agreement with the Forest Preserve, under which the Forest Preserve will pay the City approximately $1,350,000 for services to be rendered by the City at various project sites throughout the City pursuant to Greencorps Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the City anticipates to execute a second intergovernmental agreement with the Forest Preserve, if awarded a contract for a to be determined amount pursuant to the Forest Preserves competitive process in 2023 for services to be rendered by the City at various project sites throughout the City pursuant to Greencorps Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserve now requires the City to indemnify the Forest Preserve in case of any loss suffered by the Forest Preserve by the provision of services by the City; and
WHEREAS, the Commissioner of CDOT (the "Commissioner") is authorized under Section 2-102-030(t) of the Municipal Code to enter agreements with governmental entities such as the Forest Preserve to implement urban forestry and beautification programs such as Greencorps Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the City has determined that it is desirable and in the public interest to enter into the two aforementioned intergovernmental agreements with the Forest Preserve (the "Agreements") in order to set forth the City's and the Forest Preserve's respective objectives, duties and responsibilities and to describe the procedures and guidelines to be followed with respect to participation in Greencorps Chicago; now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO:
Section 1. The above recitals are incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. Subject to the approval of the Corporation Counsel of the City of, the Commissioner and a designee thereof are each hereby authorized to execute and deliver the Agreements (and such other documents as are necessary or appropriate) between the City and the Forest Preserve for Greencorps Chicago, which may include language providing indemnification to the Forest Preserve and to perform any and all acts as shall be necessary or advisable in connection with the Agreements. The Agreements shall contain such other terms as the Commissioner deems necessary or appropriate.
Section 3. To the extent that any ordinance, resolution, rule, order or provision of the Municipal Code of Chicago, or part thereof, is in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance, the provisions of this ordinance shall control. If any section, paragraph, clause or provision of this ordinance shall be held invalid, the invalidity of such section, paragraph, clause or provision shall not affect any of the other provisions of this ordinance.
Section 4. This ordinance takes effect upon its passage and approval.