[remote or in person] Board of Commissioners

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

Utilities

Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024
10:30 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. CDT

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100 East Erie Street Chicago, IL 60611 (Directions)

MWRD Headquarters, Board Room

The agenda for this meeting is not yet available, please check back once assigned.

You have the option to document this meeting in person or remotely, via live stream.

If you attend the meeting in person, an additional hour will be added to your pay for this assignment. You will be required to go through a metal detector and show government-issued photo ID.

If you choose to document this meeting remotely, visit/refresh https://mwrd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx at the scheduled meeting time. A link labeled “In Progress” will appear under the Video column for the corresponding meeting (though it may not be until at or a little after the scheduled start time).

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Reporting

Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team

Note-taking by Robert O'Connor

Amendments to stormwater regulations could affect flooding and contamination of rivers in the Chicago area.

View notes

Live reporting by Will Reynolds

Amendments to stormwater regulations could affect flooding and contamination of rivers in the Chicago area.

Will Reynolds @willinois

Good morning! I'm live tweeting the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Board of Commissioners meeting, scheduled at 10:30, for @CHIdocumenters. #CHIdocumenters

10:28 AM Aug 8, 2024 CDT

Will Reynolds @willinois 2/19

@CHIdocumenters The board starts on time and has a public speaker, Tessa Murray from Friends of the Chicago River. The Friends oppose some proposed changes to flood protections and watershed management.

Will Reynolds @willinois 3/19

@CHIdocumenters Chair Steele says meeting video isn't working but I'm not having any trouble viewing. They begin meeting as a committee of the whole. mwrd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

mwrd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx

Will Reynolds @willinois 4/19

@CHIdocumenters Commissioner Spyropoulos, who recently won the Democratic Primary for Clerk of the Circuit Court, asks how many participants were invited to an auction to provide natural gas. Staff was unsure and will have to provide the answer later.

Will Reynolds @willinois 5/19

@CHIdocumenters Spyropoulos asks for details on three more agenda items, including what equipment is being purchased for a project. Ex Dir Perkovich will follow up with details after the meeting.

Will Reynolds @willinois 6/19

Commissioner Garcia brings up a contract proposed on agenda item 41 and asks if the company is best to meet diversity goals. He says the follow up conversation with the Executive Director is better done in private.

Will Reynolds @willinois 7/19

Commissioner Davis has concerns about the process for procurement and a contract with Lizzette Medina & Company.

Will Reynolds @willinois 8/19

Staff explain the significance and process of a Letter of Intent. Commissioner Sepúlveda wants the process to ensure that contractors seek out subcontractors who meet diversity goals. Chair Steele asks for a memo from staff on proposed changes.

Will Reynolds @willinois 9/19

Commissioner Spyropoulos asks why a project is 244 calendars behind schedule. Staff say the procurement of electric equipment is difficult. It's a common problem in the industry since COVID.

Will Reynolds @willinois 10/19

The executive director of the MWRD retirement fund gives his report. In response to a question from Davis, he says a lot of boring financial stuff that's probably important. The fund's actuarial value of assets is good.

Will Reynolds @willinois 11/19

There's a network error message and the video stopped. Chairwoman Steele announced earlier that video was working for the public but not internally for staff. Now it's not working for the public.

Will Reynolds @willinois 12/19

Video is back! The retirement fund report continues.

Will Reynolds @willinois 13/19

After an extended discussion of revenues, expenses and the number of tier 1 and tier 2 employees, the retirement fund report concludes. The committee of the whole adjourns and the board takes a 5 minute recess.

Will Reynolds @willinois 14/19

The Water Reclamation District returns from recess. I spent the break grabbing a snack and realizing that I haven't watched the Blues Brothers movie in a couple years. I wonder if I know anyone who hasn't seen it yet.

Will Reynolds @willinois 15/19

They take roll call votes on items discussed in the committee of the whole. They pass. Consent agenda items are read by the clerk.

Will Reynolds @willinois 16/19

Consent agenda items are passed. Time for new business. There's a resolution recognizing the Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program. Chairwoman Steele recognizes a program participate in the audience. A group toured the MWRD facilities. polishedpebbles.com

polishedpebbles.com

Will Reynolds @willinois 17/19

Steele invites everyone to an event for the re-opening of Centennial Fountain. mwrd.org/events/centenn…

mwrd.org/events/centenn…

Will Reynolds @willinois 18/19

Commissioner Pogorzelski references a New York Times opinion piece suggesting the Great Lakes should be used to provide water for western states, like Arizona. He passionately says ABSOLUTELY NOT!.

Will Reynolds @willinois 19/19

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District adjourns at 12:29. This concludes my live tweeting for #ChicagoDocumenters. Due to a new job, this will probably be my last time live tweeting/Xing for @CHIdocumenters. It's a great program and I've loved doing it!

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Attachments

Agenda

By Grace Del Vecchio 8/8/2024

Retirement Fund Presentation

By Grace Del Vecchio 8/8/2024

Agency Information

Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago

mwrd.org

(312) 751-6633

public.affairs@mwrd.org

@MWRDGC

See Documenters reporting

Created in 1889 as the Sanitary District of Chicago, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) today is a special-purpose district responsible for treating wastewater and providing stormwater management for residents and businesses in its service area, which encompasses 882.1 square miles and includes Chicago and 128 suburban communities throughout Cook County.

The MWRD serves approximately 10.35 million people each day, including 5.25 million residents of Chicago and 128 suburban communities. To learn more about the agency’s management structure and departments, click here.