Hi, this is Tim Hogan. I’ll be live tweeting this afternoon’s Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
@MWRDGC meeting for @CHIdocumenters Follow this thread for coverage of the meeting.
@MWRDGC meeting for @CHIdocumenters Follow this thread for coverage of the meeting.
The Metro Water Rec building is at 100 East Erie near the magnificent mile and the water tower. 
Inside, staff set up the presentation and meeting materials for the public. This is a special meeting for the departments of the @MWRDGC to make 2020 budget presentations.
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters The @MWRDGC committee on budget is presenting the department’s 2020 schedule. Here is the process of presenting the budget, public hearings and board proceedings to adopt the budget.
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters After calling the meeting to order, Budget Committee Chair Frank Avila turns it over to Executive Director Brian Perkovich to present the 2020 Budget Overview.
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters The @MWRDGC website has more documents and resources for the budget meeting here: bit.ly/2PWXgoB
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters John Murray of the @MWRDGC presents the Maintenance & Operations budget for 2020. Commissioner @debrashore asks if there is a comprehensive overview of all the waterways of the Chicago area including the small streams maintenance program.
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters @debrashore The committee moves to accept the corporate fund, maintenance and operations fund, and construction funds. The motion is passed.
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters @debrashore Catherine O’Connor, Director of Engineering for @MWRDGC presents the Engineering department’s portion of the 2020 budget #chidocumenters #chicagowater
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters @debrashore The committee accepts the Engineering capital improvement bond fund for 2020. Presenting the storm water management budget, Catherine O’Connor mentions a request for a fund increase for 6 new positions. Repeating Director Perkovich, no new tax levy is requested for this.
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters @debrashore Commissioner @debrashore comments that the @MWRDGC is not spending all the $$ appropriated for stormwater management. Worries that not enough work is being accomplished systemwide to mitigate the effects of flooding.
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters @debrashore Commissioner Marcelino Garcia says he knows there have been issues with communicating the @MWRDGC s plans to Spanish speaking residents in Stickney, IL. He asks O’Connor if the department had enough speakers of the residents different languages.
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters @debrashore Commissioner Cameron Davis asks if $100,000 can be budgeted for funding to enhance green infrastructure by through partner organizations like @NeighborSpace. Chair Silva tells him the $$ must not be earmarked for any particular org. It is subject to an RFP
@MWRDGC @CHIdocumenters @debrashore @NeighborSpace After the Engineering and stormwater and related budget items are approved, Edward Podczerwinski of @MWRDGC presents the Monitoring and Research portion of the 2020 budget.
The environmental monitoring and research department will remove 6 vacant positions in the 2020 budget. @debrashore asks for more info on these positions and to encourage more funding for research and collaboration with all the scientific resources and institutions in the area.
@debrashore Commissioner Garcia asks why the training $$ has been reduced and what education campaigns for communities are in the budget. Garcia says he has heard complaints relating to the Stickney water plant. mwrd.org/sites/default/…
@debrashore The board accepts the monitoring and research budget. The finance department’s budget is now presented by Jacqueline Torres. The finance department is working to accept payments online, partnering with the Treasury and IT depts. #chidocumenters
@debrashore It is a full house for this budget presentation meeting.
@debrashore Jacqueline Torres responds to @debrashore s questions on digitizing district board proceedings. They are available online at mwrd.org.
@debrashore Susan Morakalis presents the districts budget and responds to questions from Commissioners Davis and Garcia on lobbying efforts.
@debrashore The law and procurement & materials management sections of the budget are accepted by the board.
@debrashore The general administration section is being presented and @debrashore wants to know the status of the @MWRDGC s central office building at 100 East Erie. Is the building ready for the staff of the future?
@debrashore @MWRDGC The general administration section also includes the diversity and public affairs sections. The GA budget section for 2020 is accepted by the board.
@debrashore @MWRDGC The @MWRDGC has an active public affairs department that makes drone videos of its plants, stages roadshows about the district and produces various publications mwrd.org/education/publ…
The information technology section presents and talks about cybersecurity training for @MWRDGC employees. @debrashore asks about the creation of a ‘Chief Information Officer’ position. #chidocumenters
@MWRDGC @debrashore The IT section budget is approved and Beverly Sanders now presents Human Resources budget. There is a 1.8% increase from last years budget, largely due to increased healthcare costs.
@MWRDGC @debrashore The HR department conducts 7 collective bargaining agreements for its employees. Sanders anticipates successful bargaining with all 7 agreements in 2020. #chidocumenters
@MWRDGC @debrashore The HR department budget for 2020 is accepted. The board of commissioners now presents its 2020 budget.
@MWRDGC @debrashore The board of commissioners budget for 2020 is accepted and James Mohler now presents the budget status of the Retirement Fund. Mohler notes that slightly more $$ is being taken out than being put in as of now. He says it is not unusual but is something to keep an eye on.
@MWRDGC @debrashore Mohler says the markets have aided the investment assets of the @MWRDGC retirement funds in 2019. He compares the districts pension fund favorably to the Chicago Municipal pension fund where he can from. #chidocumenters
@MWRDGC @debrashore The retirement fund is accepted as is the entire executive directors budget of the @MWRDGC for 2020. The final vote is unanimous. The assembled staff and others file out quickly.
@MWRDGC @debrashore The @MWRDGC special budget meeting has concluded. The total appropriation request for the 2020 budget is $1,089,417,467 which is a decrease of 10.9% from the 2019 total adjusted appropriation of $1,222,943,041. #chidocumenters
