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PROPOSED ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE TO TEMPORARILY EXPAND AREA DESIGNATED FOR THE OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF A ZOO
WHEREAS, in 1920, Edith Rockefeller McCormick donated approximately 83 acres of land to the Forest Preserves with a restrictive covenant, requiring that the land be “used and maintained in perpetuity by the [Forest Preserves] as a zoological garden[;]” and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves added another 98 acres to be used for zoo purposes; and
WHEREAS, in 1921, the Chicago Zoological Society (“CZS”) incorporated for the purpose of building, operating and maintaining what is now known as Brookfield Zoo Chicago (“Zoo”); and
WHEREAS, in 1926, after a 1923 failed tax referendum, voters changed course, and approved a dedicated zoo tax leading to the official start of construction work and site grading; and
WHEREAS, on 7/1/1934 , the Zoo opened its doors to the public; and
WHEREAS, effective 4/8/1986, the Forest Preserves and CZS entered into an Agreement for the Maintenance and Operation of a Zoological Park on Lands of the Forest Preserve District (the “Main Operating Agreement”); and
WHEREAS, this Main Operating Agreement was set to expire on 4/7/2026, but was extended for one (1) year via Board Item No. 25-0197 with a new expiration date of 4/7/2027; and
WHEREAS, through this Main Operating Agreement, the Forest Preserves designated property for use as a zoological park to be maintained and operated by the CZS as part of the Zoo; and
WHEREAS, today the Zoo sits on approximately 235 acres; and
WHEREAS, to transform the Zoo for generations to come, on 10/22/2024, CZS unveiled its Next Century Plan (see Board Item No. 24-0307), with a goal of revolutionizing animal habitats and spaces; embracing sustainable practices; transforming guest experience and accessibility; and expanding contributions to environmental education and conservation sciences; and
WHEREAS, the CZS desires to use additional Forest Preserves land for parking to accommodate visitors to the Zoo; and
WHEREAS, the Forest Preserves desires to temporarily designate additional property of low ecological value adjacent to the Zoo, totaling approximately 3.37 acres in Brookfield Woods, for zoological park purposes and authorize the CZS to operate and maintain such additional property as a temporary overflow parking area in conformity with all other provisions of the Main Operating Agreement; and
WHEREAS, CZS will indemnify the Forest Preserves and name the Forest Preserves as an additional insured with respect to the operation and maintenance of this additional property; and
WHEREAS, if trees need to be removed in connection with the use of this additional property then CZS shall notify and seek approval from the Forest Preserves prior to any removal; however, tree mitigation fees under the Tree Mitigation Plan (see Board Item No. 20-0279) will be waived as such fees have not traditionally been charged for property designated for Zoo purposes; and
WHEREAS, CZS will be responsible for restoration of this additional property to its original condition if not included in the successor agreement to the Main Operating Agreement; and
WHEREAS, neither the Forest Preserves nor CZS anticipate the proposed expanded footprint to have any impact on ancillary agreements between the parties, including, without limitation, agreements pertaining to development of programs, animal food procurement, veterinary programs, wireless license, and infrastructure support (Board Item Nos. 15-0449, 25-0254, 24-0192, 26-0287, 20-0289, 23-0276, 23-0308); and
WHEREAS, in the successor agreement between the Forest Preserves and CZS, anticipated to start 4/8/2027 subject to Board of Commissioners approval, the parties will revisit in its entirety the area of land designated for Zoo purposes with the understanding that if additional land is added to the footprint to be used for Zoo purposes in one place, then a reciprocal amount of land may be removed from the footprint in another area and returned to non-zoological Forest Preserves purposes.
BE IT ORDAINED, by the Forest Preserves of Cook County Board of Commissioners:
Section 1. The Forest Preserves shall, and hereby does, designate the real property totaling approximately 3.37 acres and legally described below (the “Temporary Parking Area”) for zoological park purposes until April 7, 2027:
Lot 4 and Lot 3 except the north 40 feet of said Lot 3 and also except the west 40 feet of said Lot 3, all in Block 36 of Kimbark and Hubbard’s subdivision in the south half of Section 26-Township 39 North-Range 12 East of the Third Principal Meridian in Cook County, Illinois.
Section 2. The Forest Preserves hereby authorizes an amendment to the Main Operating Agreement for the limited and specific purpose of authorizing the CZS to operate and maintain the Temporary Parking Area for temporary overflow parking purposes, consistent with the remainder of the Agreement and the WHEREAS clauses described above.
Effective date: This ordinance shall be in effect immediately upon adoption.
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