First Quarter Fiscal Year 1999
Work Program Report to the Commission
September 29, 1998

The following report highlights the major work program activities undertaken during the first quarter of Fiscal Year 1999 in support of the June 30, 1998 adopted "Fiscal Year 1999 Work Program and Line Item Budget." Responsible senior staff members are identified for each of the following work program items.

AIR QUALITY

Research began for the development of a guide for local governments regarding land use and site design actions to promote pedestrian travel, especially for older residents. (Paige)

COMMISSION POLICY APPLICATIONS

Amendments to the Illinois Water Quality Management Plan - During the last quarter, the Water Resources Committee considered six Level II requests for amendments to adopted state and areawide water quality management plans and staff, following Commission guidelines, processed seven Level III National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) notices. (Washington)

Criteria for the Selection of Submittals / Identification of Actions for NIPC Review & Comment - The Planning Committee discussed and reviewed at both meetings a staff recommended proposal for updating the Commission's Review Selection Criteria to be used for selecting projects to receive official NIPC "review and comment." This resulted from a staff generated assessment (including a survey of local governments) of the notification and review process operated under Executive Order 12372 and in cooperation with the State of Illinois. The Committee approved the Review Selection Criteria. The Commission's review and comment activities will focus on items that further the following Commission objectives:

• To increase intergovernmental & public/private cooperation and use of agreements as part of conflict resolution
• To increase support for and concurrence between municipal, county, and regional plans, policies, objectives, and programs
• To implement the policies, objectives, and guidelines of Commission adopted plans and policies, i.e., agricultural protection, water quality, moderation of growth trends, equity, etc. (Washington)

Development of a Watershed Based Planning Approach - The Water Resources Committee, on behalf of the Commission, has entered into the Illinois EPA public hearing record detailed testimony with recommendation for incorporating point source issues into a watershed planning process. In addition, the Water Resources Committee has developed additional recommendations for a Commission role in a non-degradation and remediation watershed planning process, and called for the maintenance of a notification and watershed impact assessment process. (Dreher/Washington)

Review and Comment on Actions of Regional Impact - The Water Resources Committee approved comments on Kane County Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan and the Will County Comprehensive Countywide Stormwater Management Plan--Public Review Draft. (Washington)

NIPC Project Clearinghouse Notification - The Planning Committee acted on the following 117 types of grant requests during the quarter. (Washington)

• July:  Open Space--Land Acquisition & Development (OSLAD) - 1, Transportation - 3 , Illinois Housing Development Authority - 5
• September:  OSLAD - 76, Transportation - 17, IHDA - 13, Other - 2
• TOTAL:  117 for the Quarter 

COMMISSION AND COMMISSIONER SUPPORT

Regional Aviation Needs Briefing - The Planning Committee discussed a newsletter type document that would summarize the presentations and discussions on regional aviation capacity that took place at the full Commission meeting on June 30, 1998. Staff was directed to prepare a draft which summarized the presentations by the representatives of the State of Illinois and the City of Chicago, and the discussion of the NIPC Commissioners. The draft newsletter was reviewed and staff was directed to distribute it extensively throughout the region. (Paige)

FORECAST DEVELOPMENT & MODEL REFINEMENT

Staff completed a data analysis paper on the impact of forecasts on various NIPC policy concerns. The DRAM/EMPAL model was rerun to begin analysis of model sensitivity. A new staff member has been hired to join forecast team. (Dieber)

GENERAL COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION

Annual Conference - The Executive Committee began planning for the 1999 regional conference. Committee discussions, to date, have agreed on several basic points regarding the conference. Committee members agreed to 1) hold the 1999 conference in late March or early April 1999; 2) that the conference would be held at the Rosemont Convention Center, or the immediate area, due to anticipated lower costs, and car and transit access; and 3) that the conference would have multiple-tracks to attract different interest groups and also to allow the use of funds from a variety of sources. (Radtke/Washington)

HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES

Subarea Residential Collaborative - The operation of the Subarea Residential Planning Demonstration Project, initiated in February 1998, continued to be the focus of the Housing Action Committee. In June, the Subarea Steering Committee began their examination and discussion on methods to improve the location and variety of new residential development within the subarea. This discussion was concluded at their July monthly meeting. The topic of "Fair Housing: Issues and Approaches" was addressed at the groups September meeting and focused on the formulation of subarea fair housing goals, policies, objectives, and implementation actions.

To engage plan and zoning commission members of the subarea communities, a workshop, organized by the Illinois Chapter American Planning Association, in cooperation with NIPC and the Subarea Steering Committee, was held on July 29, 1998. The workshop, attended by over 60 local plan commission members, local government officials, and staff, provided affordable high quality training to planning commissioners, zoning commissioners, and local officials. Workshop speakers included Joe Martin, Executive Director, Diversity Inc. Of The Housing Coalition of the South Suburbs and Ronald Cope, Shareholder & Officer, Ancel, Gunk, Diamond, Cope & Bush. (Washington)

INFORMATION (DATA) SERVICES

Geographic Information Systems - Work proceeded slowly on GIS data catalog projects, awaiting arrival of replacement staff. Staff participated as instructors in national meetings concerning spatial data metadata. ArcView tutorial used in NIPC training seminars was rewritten. (Dieber)

Development Monitoring - Awaiting review of data by DuPage County, staff produced first draft of data report on employment estimates. Specifications for redevelopment of NDD computer tools completed; scope of work with consultant to complete this work written. (Dieber)

1995 Land Use Inventory - Work is proceeding with various stages of completion in Lake, Will, Kane and McHenry counties. (Dieber)

Technical Assistance to Local Governments and the Private Sector - During period, staff handled 276 data requests. Eight workshops training local governments on their participation in Census Bureau Address List Review program were held. These were attended by individuals representing 140 municipalities, 1 county and 4 townships. (Dieber)

Internal Computer Network Assistance - A list of computer hardware and software needs was compiled. Competitive prices were determined and purchases were made. (Dieber)

INTERGOVERNMENTAL PLANNING INITIATIVES

Planning Services staff have worked with local governments in eastern Will County (through the Eastern Will County Regional Council (EWCRC)) in conducting a bicycle workshop. Staff have worked with the Wikaduke communities in proposing a Congestion Management for Air Quality (CMAQ) application to develop an intergovernmental approach to arterial access management in the Wikaduke Trail corridor. (Paige)

LAKE MANAGEMENT

USEPA 1999 National Lakes Conference - Staff initiated program planning for the 12th Annual National Conference on Enhancing the State's Lake Management Programs to be held on April 21-23, 1999 in Chicago. The Commission co-sponsors this conference with the U.S. EPA each year for leaders of the states' lake management programs and statewide lake associations. The theme of the 1999 conference will be "Nutrient Management Strategies to Protect Lakes and Reservoirs" (Dreher)

Clean Lakes Program Activities - Phase 1 Diagnostic/Feasibility Illinois Clean Lakes Program studies were initiated at Maple Lake (Forest Preserve District of Cook County) and the Chicago Botanic Garden Lagoons (Cook Co.) in April 1997. The 2.5-year studies are currently assessing the lakes' conditions which will lead to the development of a plan to protect the lakes' recreational uses and long-term ecological health.

LAND USE - REGIONAL GROWTH STRATEGY

Staff completed revisions to the Regional Growth Policy Statement adopted by the Commission on June 30 and prepared the statement for printing and distribution. The Areawide Regional Growth Strategy Advisory Committee met on August 14. The principal topic of discussion was the selection of policy inputs to the next round of population and employment forecasting. The committee provided staff with input on the likelihood of four objectives - "brownfield" redevelopment, high-density development near existing and new transit stops, and affordable housing - being achieved to an extensive degree. Research continued on several of the policy tools related to the Growth Strategy. (Dieber/Ford/Paige)

OPEN SPACE & RECREATION PLANNING

Chicago Wilderness Project - Staff continues to work with the 60 member consortium of agencies who have combined their skills and resources to collectively work to protect and restore the precious natural resources in northeastern Illinois. Current activities include participation in the development of a biodiversity recovery plan for the northeastern Illinois area, biodiversity impact assessment of the NIPC regional growth forecasts, membership on the Chicago Wilderness coordinating committee, and chair of the Policy and Strategy Committee. NIPC staff updated a detailed work scope for the development of the regional biodiversity recovery plan and completed, during the summer, 5 subregional meetings to generate public input on the development of the biodiversity recovery plan. An outline of the recovery plan has been completed and preliminary recommendations have been drafted. (Paige)

Regional Water Trails Plan - In conjunction with the Open Lands Project, NIPC staff continued the process of developing a regional plan for use of water trails in northeastern Illinois. Staff, in conjunction with staff of the Open Lands Project and the Paddling Council have completed a first draft of the regional water use trail plan. It was been transmitted to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources for review. During the review process, it was discovered that only 29 land owners were involved in the plan's recommendations. A decision by IDNR was then made to extend and expand the plan process so as to include an outreach activity specifically for each of the 29 land owners. The plan process has thus been extended until the end of Fiscal Year 1999. (Paige)

OPERATIONS

Agency Work Program Development & Monitoring - The Fiscal Year 1999 Work Program and Line Item Budget has been printed and copies distributed to all Commissioners and staff. A copy will be submitted shortly to the Government Finance Officers Association for review. Commission staff participated in the final round of discussions regarding the allocation and use of Fiscal Year 1999 transportation planning funds. In May 1998, the Commission received an interim amount of $1,021,000. The final allocation provides the Commission with $1,420,000 in transportation planning funds. These funds will be augmented with $35,000 from the Illinois Department of Transportation for our clearinghouse house notification process; and, with approximately $95,000 in carryover funds from Fiscal Year 1998.

Accounting and Payroll - Field work on the Fiscal Year 1998 audit has begun, and the Commission's independent auditors, Hill, Taylor & Co., are expected to issue a draft of their report early next month. (Swanson)

Administrative Services - Approximately 15 grants, contracts and subcontracts were reviewed, negotiated and executed during the past quarter. Negotiations have been held with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA) regarding the contract for the $500,000 appropriated by the Illinois General Assembly for NIPC this past session. DCCA has not yet issued the agreement, however. The new personnel handbook has been scheduled for review by the Management Cnmmittee. Bids are currently being sought for a new satellite copier. The Fiscal Year 1999 acquisition list for computer equipment and software has been developed. The Staff Fringe Benefits Committee has been examining the feasibility of establishing transit pass and flexible spending account programs and will be submitting its recommendations shortly. (Swanson)

Kendall County Liaison - Informational presentations about NIPC were made to the City of Sandwich and the Planning, Building and Zoning Committee of the Kendall County Board. Presentations were made to the village boards and plan commissions of Millington and Newark in mid-September. A presentation before the Yorkville City Council was postponed until a later date due to scheduling problems. (Swanson)

STORMWATER & FLOODING MANAGEMENT

Technical Assistance Provided to Local Governments - Staff, with new funding from DCCA and continued funding from local government contributions, provided advice to local governments on a variety of stormwater management and water resource issues, including urban stormwater management. The Commission also is coordinating with interested parties to encourage a multi-objective Phase 2 planning study of the Des Plaines River in Cook and Lake counties. (Dreher)

Will County Comprehensive Stormwater Plan - Commission staff has completed its assistance to the Will County Stormwater Committee in developing a comprehensive countywide stormwater management plan. The Committee has completed its public meeting and hearing process on the draft plan and is now completing the final plan. (Dreher)

Kane County Comprehensive Stormwater Plan - Staff also has been assisting the Kane County Stormwater Management Committee in preparing a comprehensive countywide stormwater management plan. A draft plan has gone through a public review and meeting process. Staff is now assisting in revising the draft plan in response to public comments. (Dreher)

STREAMS & WETLANDS MANAGEMENT

McHenry County Wetland Identification Study - Staff, under contract with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, continues to coordinate a study of wetlands in McHenry County. This project, known as an Advanced Identification (or ADID) study, is intended to develop improved knowledge and understanding of the County's wetland resources. Staff is completing final tasks, including final data entry and mapping, a final report, a brochure, and a user-friendly GIS-interface. (Dreher)

TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

2020 Regional Transportation Plan Support Activities - Staff has participated in subregional implementation studies, including the Northwest Corridor Transit Feasibility Study, the Wikaduke arterial study, the Indiana MIS study for west Lake County, and the three Metra Major Investment Studies for expansion of the North Central Service and extensions of South West service to Manhaftan and West service to Elburn. Staff has also worked with the RTA on the Regional Transit Assistance Program providing assistance to local communities. (Paige)

WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT

Water Quality Technical Assistance - Technical assistance was provided to a number of communities and organizations on a range of water quality and nonpoint source management concerns. Notable topics of assistance included streambank and shoreline stabilization, natural detention basin designs, lake management, and wetland/prairie restoration. (Dreher)