Chicago City Wire

Cook County Board of Commissioners Environment and Sustainability Committee met June 12

ATTENDANCE

Present: Degnen, Morita, Britton, Miller, K. Morrison, Quezada, and Trevor (7)

PUBLIC TESTIMONY

Chairwoman Degnen asked the Secretary to the Board to call upon the registered public speakers, in accordance with Cook County Code.

1. Kristi DeLaurentiis - SSMMA

2. Kathrine Tellock - Green Era Chicago

24-3431

COMMITTEE MINUTES

Approval of the minutes from the meeting of 3/12/2024

A motion was made by Vice Chairwoman Morita, seconded by Commissioner Britton, to approve 24-3431. The motion carried by the following vote:

Ayes: Degnen, Morita, Britton, Miller, K. Morrison, Quezada, and Trevor (7)

24-2832

Sponsored by: TONI PRECKWINKLE (President), Cook County Board Of Commissioners

PROPOSED INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT

Department: Department of Environment and Sustainability

Other Part(ies): City of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois

Request: Approval of proposed Memorandum of Agreement

Goods or Services: The County and City will each contribute existing staff resources for management of the CPRG grant funding if awarded

Agreement Number(s): N/A

Agreement Period: Five years from execution of the agreement

Fiscal Impact: None

Accounts: N/A

Summary: The Department of Environment and Sustainability respectfully requests approval of the proposed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the County and the City of Chicago (City) for the parties’ joint Climate Pollution Reduction Grant (CPRG) application. The City, as lead agency, submitted a grant proposal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requesting $197,971,197 in CPRG funding focusing on three areas: 1) industrial decarbonization programs, 2) decarbonization of public facilities, and 3) diversion of food waste from landfills. The MOA, which is a requirement of the grant application, and which must be sent to the U.S. EPA before July 1, 2024 for the grant application to be considered, sets forth the parties’ commitments to fulfilling their respective roles and responsibilities to successfully implement the GHG reduction measures described in the application.

A motion was made by Vice Chairwoman Morita, seconded by Commissioner Quezada, to recommend for approval 24-2832. The motion carried by the following vote:

Ayes: Degnen, Morita, Britton, Miller, K. Morrison, Quezada, and Trevor (7)

24-2870

Sponsored by: TONI PRECKWINKLE (President), Cook County Board Of Commissioners

PROPOSED RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A HEARING ON THE UPDATED COOK COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN

WHEREAS, the collection, processing and disposal of municipal solid waste is a fundamental responsibility of local governments to protect public health, safeguard the environment, and provide for an improved solid waste management system; and

WHEREAS, the Illinois Solid Waste Planning & Recycling Act (415 ILCS 15/) requires Illinois counties to have a solid waste management plan (SWMP), form an advisory committee to help create the plan, and update the SWMP every five years; and

WHEREAS, the Cook County Municipal Code: Chapter 30, Article VI: Solid Waste and Recycling, establishes the creation of the solid waste advisory committee, requires the designation of a county solid waste coordinator, and sets forth waste hauler reporting requirements; and

WHEREAS, Cook County adopted its original plan in 1996 and the Cook County Board of Commissioners approved plan updates in 2000, 2012, and 2018; and

WHEREAS, the 2024 SWMP update was designed by the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability in conjunction with the University of Illinois: Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, and;

WHEREAS, the 2024 SWMP update was completed in cooperation with the Cook County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, which included representatives from the Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County, the West Cook County Solid Waste Agency, the South Suburban Mayors & Managers Association, McDonalds USA, Rush University Hospital, Faith in Place, the Plant Chicago, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, the Chicago Sustainability Task Force, and the City of Chicago: Department of Streets & Sanitation; and

WHEREAS, Cook County has provided a copy of the 2024 SWMP update to all 134 municipalities within the County, and posted the updated plan for public review and comment; and

WHEREAS, the updated SWMP presents a progressive vision for managing solid waste in Cook County through the implementation of best practices in solid waste management; and

WHEREAS, the Cook County Board of Commissioners supports the expansion of zero waste and circular economy best practices over the next five years as described in the SWMP; and

WHEREAS, in alignment with the Illinois Materials Management Advisory Committee Report to the General Assembly, the Cook County Board of Commissioners sets the goal of achieving a 45% suburban Cook County waste diversion rate by 2030; and

WHEREAS, it is a guiding principle of the SWMP to maximize opportunities to educate and engage, which includes incorporation of feedback from members of the public.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Cook County Environment and Sustainability Committee will hold a hearing in June 2024 to hear public comments on the proposed recommendations in the 2024-2029 Cook County Solid Waste Management Plan...end

A motion was made by Vice Chairwoman Morita, seconded by Commissioner Miller, to recommend for approval 24-2870. The motion carried by the following vote:

Ayes: Degnen, Morita, Britton, Miller, K. Morrison, Quezada, and Trevor (7)

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was made by Vice Chairwoman Morita, seconded by Commissioner Miller, to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried by the following vote:

Ayes: Degnen, Morita, Britton, Miller, K. Morrison, Quezada, and Trevor (7)

https://cook-county.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1204255&GUID=2C08A141-8F2C-4E5C-A31A-CAE839CDBF38