Welcome to the Planning Building Zoning and Environment Committee today, April 29th, 2026, calling the meeting to order.

In addition to being able to attend in person, remote attendance has been made available to the public via Zoom at the link on the agenda.

This meeting is recorded through Zoom.

Per county rules in the Open Meetings Act, attendance via remote means is permitted to for qualifying reasons as long as the majority of committee members are physically present.

We do have a quorum.

We have been notified in advance by member compost that he requested to participate electron electronically due to a work reason.

A physical quorum is present, so he may be marked as present and is eligible to vote on matters before the committee today.

As a reminder to members attending remotely, please ensure your camera is on at all times.

Okay.

Can you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

I pledge allegiance of the United States of America.

And to the Republic for which it stands.

Okay.

Can I get a roll call, please?

Um you say here.

Thanks, Chair Peterson.

Present.

Member Schlick.

Here.

And Member Waffen.

Thank you.

Is there any agenda to the agenda?

No addenda to the agenda.

Do we have public comment?

No public comment.

Okay, no chairs remarks today.

I guess my remarks would be I was very pleased to see that there was a lovely article in the Herald.

It was actually an editorial praising Lake County, Cook County, the count the collar counties for successful stormwater projects.

And they say that it is money well spent.

Um so that was nice to hear.

Um to get some kudos for something that we are doing well.

And I was very pleased to see that.

Um based on a lot of the rain we've had, it has worked because we've had a lot less flooding this month, and we're very happy about that.

Um finished business.

No unfinished business.

Okay.

We're gonna go to new business, the consent agenda 8.1.

Can I get a motion, please?

Motion by member Keniznik, second by member Frank.

All in favor?

Aye.

Motion passes.

We're moving on to the regular agenda 8.2.

We're gonna welcome PBND director Eric Wagner and Deputy Director and Zoning Administrator Krista Barkley Braun.

Okay.

Okay.

Official.

Okay, Eric, give me one second.

Okay.

So this is an ordinance adopting the 2024 International Council ICC International Existing Building Code as amended and amending the 2024 ICC International Building Code, the 2024 ICC International Residential Code, and the 2023 National Fire Protection Association 70 National Electrical Code.

And can I get a motion, please?

Motion by Member Frank, second by member Schlick.

Okay, Eric, you're on.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So uh Christine Either walked with the amendments this morning.

Um, and uh any feedback and questions from our committee.

Our our plan is to come back with uh amendments uh for action that's the uh follow up if necessary, otherwise we're taking back site.

Uh good morning, everybody.

Um Eva Done, I'm the building official of the planning building and development division, and I'll be proposing today the amendments uh to currently adopted international residential code, international building code, and national electrical code, and also a new adoption of international existing building code, and as we follow vocal in depth.

So last year, state has adopted base building code.

And for us to be compliant with all the base building codes.

Okay.

Or I can guess testing.

Testing.

Are you hear us?

Yeah, we I can hear you now.

Okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

Oh, there we go.

So it is correct.

In addition to adopting a new ICC code, we also proposing amendments to existing uh to currently adopted building codes.

So international building code now will implement additional language as it relates to existing building codes.

So just references to make sure that compliance pathway is clear.

Um that is now will be part of the ICC codes adopted if it is.

County currently has a fence registration program, which uh simplifies the process for uh customers and applicants, and we make sure that the language is more consistent.

So we're reducing um from seven foot to six foot as it relates to which projects um can now comply with the and and proceed with the registration process.

And just to clarify uh a registration for a structure is a simplified version of a permit.

So it's not something that's as complicated complicated as applying for a permit.

It's it's a much much simpler process that we designed several years ago for a cat for a variety of different types of simple projects that eliminate the need for the paperwork that's necessary for permitting.

So what this does is it simplifies things for our customers.

Okay, very good.

So next we're gonna discuss national election.

Eva, try to speak into the microphone because the people on the Zoom are having trouble hearing us.

Thank you.

We'll try.

Hopefully, it works.

Um, so we are moving next uh to the topic of amendments to twenty twenty-three national electrical code.

Um, so those amendments relate to our field issues, communication issues, but we're trying to streamline and make sure that compliance is reached in more consistent and clear matter.

So, one of the amendments that we're proposing is to make sure that there is an added language to abandoned viring that is no longer used, conduits or equipment.

We're requesting to add additional amendment to make sure that it's removed uh from the installations.

And that's mostly applicable to commercial projects where you see, let's say in um multi-office buildings above ceiling versus a lot of layers of uh installations where throughout the time as we're not remodeling happens.

So we want to make sure that inspections are going smoothly and things that are left are not causing any issues for any improvements.

So we're asking to uh eliminate some of the language in the in the building code to make sure that uh redundant wiring methods, uh outdated wiring methods, installations and language that is typically not used is removed and not used as an exception or misinterpreted.

And it's important to note that this would apply in cases in which you're opening up walls and so forth, you know, in an existing home.

It doesn't require you know anyone to go into areas that are that are not being touched to to remove wiring.

Or like installations as well.

We're talking not only above ceiling inspections, but for example, in residential construction, you have not been to wiring, which is still in the code.

I we have not seen any new applications of it.

We just want to make sure that these type of installations are essentially, if they're outdated, uh they're not necessary to have in there anymore.

So we're also talking about additional requirements for non-metallic shielded cable rollmax, that would be most common term that you've seen referenced in the industry.

So we're adding additional language for the crawl spaces, unfinished attics, basements, uh, that it's more specific.

So the language is there in the code, but it's becoming more specific.

So let's say if you have an unfinished attic and you have an access opening within six feet, we're putting uh metal strapping and securing that wiring.

So whoever's using the space or the inspectors or uh maintenance staff are essentially protected.

So if the language is in a code, we're just making it more specific.

And uh examples like let's say we're subject to physical damage, we're changing those um uh references to expose the physical damage because we are challenged every day on you know inspections and reviews.

What does it mean?

So this more specific language will make process a little easier.

And that was one of the things as we were developing these amendments.

Eva worked very closely with the uh building inspecting the inspection team, um uh especially our electrical inspector and reviewing you know those areas that are consistently coming up as as sticking points when people are moving through the inspection process when there's confusion, um, you know, debate, disagreements.

Um, and so our you know, what one of the one of our goals with these amendments, especially with the electrical code is to get things clear, you know, clear.

So it's it's it's very explicit so that that you know, construction projects uh managers, um they know you know what the expectations are so that when they get to inspection time, there's not these questions that come up.

Okay, so we also removing a table uh three ten points valve.

So that table deals with uh conduit sizing, it reflects some of the exceptions in the code.

There's already other tables that deals with uh conduit sizing, viring sizing, and it's being misapplied.

We see that time on and time on, then it comes to the uh sizing applications and it creates delays.

So we're just trying to remove um items in a code that we had issues and contractors had issues, but again, we're removing it, the requirements are still in a code in other areas.

So just to make sure that the complexity is reduced.

Um we're also adding additional language to the arc fold requirements, arc faults uh essentially try to catch uh arcing.

So if you have loose wires, there might be sparks.

So that's what these devices typically um you know try to test for.

And we're adding additional language to make sure that um these devices are listed, they're accessible.

And again, this language is already in a code, so just adding a little bit more clarifications in there for the accessibility, because you know, inspectors also need to verify it's installed if it's not behind furniture, behind walls.

We cannot properly conduct inspections and verify it's safe.

Uh we also remove um installations first.

A lot of people think, okay, so I have this in my house, I want to just replace it the same way it was.

So again, we're trying to eliminate like for like interpretations.

So let's say if you removed uh your wiring for your lights, uh this firing now has to comply with current standards.

And we're not talking about, you know, let's say alterations throughout the house, only areas where work takes place and we're adding that frigid language saying, okay, anything you touch, it's not like for like, it needs to be brought to compliance and it is feasible right now.

Let's say if you remove drival, if it's accessible, if it's uh you know not increasing any cost, it needs to be brought for to current standards and compliance.

Um we're also adding a little bit more clarifications to exceptions that arc faults right now have in the code.

So let's say there's already exceptions in there where it's not required, uh, but we're also adding additional um language in there.

So let's say if it uh if firing is installed in metal conduit, rigid metal conduit, intermediate metal conduit, uh, we would allow an exception because we already have a grounding path and we have protection from arcing.

So in this area, let's say if it makes it difficult for whoever's making that installation, um, there's another option for them.

And this this requirement and additional exception we're adding in there is already applied in other counties.

Um the last thing that we're adding is additional clarifications for receptacles.

So again, we want to make sure that, for example, if you have a GFCI receptacle, it's accessible, it's not behind the refrigerator.

These items, let's say are these devices are hard to reset if you can access them.

So there's just additional language that we're adding that is more practical and easier to understand as it requeles to AFCI and GFCI requirements and the receptacles.

So if the amendments and new proposed international existing building code pass, um then the requirements will take effect on July 12th of 2026.

And uh our typical process is uh projects will comply based on your on their submittal date.

So any project received after July 12th will have to comply with the new amendments and the existing building code if adopted.

Okay.

Member Keniznik.

Thank you.

What a great presentation.

I can tell a lot of work went into this.

Thank you, Ms.

Denev.

Uh I'm curious about the last bullet point on the previous slide.

It says projects in process prior to the effective date will be reviewed under the codes in effect at the time of submission.

So I just want to confirm that I understand this correctly.

Uh any process that's any project that's in process will not have to abide by these codes, but the ones that were in place on the time at the time they started their project.

That's absolutely accurate.

So this is something that you know, we cannot require somebody who already designed to a certain standard to comply with something that is in the motion.

So we want to make sure that it's uh an easy transition to the customers.

And uh if they need to adopt a new codes, redesign their projects, they have enough time.

So it always is based on the application date.

So anything already issued, anything currently being submitted, it it will comply with current requirements.

I will point out that the these are best practice-based, and a lot of our contractors are already building to the current to the code that we're proposing because it's the right thing to do.

Okay.

Member Wasick.

Thank you.

I'm I'm a little bit confused on the two different codes.

There's the international code, there's this existing building code.

Uh one it's not like a retroactive thing where the existing billing code would say, okay, you have role mix, you have to put in conduit, right?

So there's no action that people who've done improvements or are seeking improvements have to take, right?

So international existing building code will apply for commercial projects only.

It will not apply to residential projects.

So good to know.

Um, it makes the process a little simpler.

Um, it's uh international existing building code does not go in depth.

It's just gonna say, okay, uh, let's say if you're uh proposing a new occupancy within half of your building, only half of that building will need to comply with accessibility with fire protection and you know, let's say uh means of egress requirements.

So it will categorize things and it'll tell you extent of the requirements, and then you go into specific building codes.

So let's say if accessibility is required, you go to state accessibility code.

If your um ratings of a partition is is, you know, let's say required to be brought up to code because you have two occupancies, you'll go into the building code.

So international existing building code applies only to commercial projects because for more complex and it sort of uh deviates uh the percentages and which code you specifically would have to comply for what.

So, what part of this um amendment process applies to residential, if any?

Uh so um at this point, um, the national electrical code amendments and international residential code amendments, which deal with the fence registrations both apply and are separate from the international existing building codes proposed today.

And is that just for new construction or improvement projects?

What does that apply to?

Well, the fence, the fence height is just a clarification.

So it's it's already something that we're doing in practice, and it's just to get the code to align with our department practice.

So it's just to it's a clarification really, right?

That if it's under six feet, you can six feet or under, you can posit that can be processed through a registration, doesn't require permit.

If it's over six feet, um, it requires a permit.

Okay.

So that's that's just it's there's really the customer will right will there, yeah, there will be no perceivable difference to the to the customer.

So I'm gonna dig down a little bit and it gets a little bit technical, but there's always confusion.

We've done a lot of wiring recently as to whether you can do Romex versus conduit.

I mean, the the better contractors prefer conduit, and I I like it better, but but it's not really clear whether that's required to go to conduit.

Do you know what I'm talking about?

Yes.

So I again we are not restricting the use of Romex uh or non-metallic shielded cape cables.

We we are still allowing it with those current amendments and proposed amendments.

Um we're just adding additional language, let's say um that was not as specific to attics, not specific to crawl spaces or basements.

It did talk about it in the code, but we're just being more specific.

Okay, now if you're dealing with attic, that's the areas of concern because you don't want to have loose firing, right?

Right.

It's not in conduit, it's allowed, it's just uh they're providing more requirements in in both areas where we feel like there's a higher hazard.

Um, or let's say, you know, in the basement, if if you're running against the joys, you know, how does it need to be secured?

So we're going more explicit with both requirements and we're still allowing it.

For arc fault exception, we're allowing um customers or homeowners not to use an arc fault if they do a conduit.

So let's say this is an option.

You can still do uh Romax, but then you'll have to have an arc fault device in your panel.

Or you can run a conduit, and if you don't like, you know, you have a choice.

Okay.

And each job is different, you know, based on a scope and extent.

And sometimes, you know, one option is better, but it doesn't fit every single scenario.

One of the sort of philosophical approaches that we take with respect to building codes is primarily, you know, we're we're looking for life safety protection.

That's the that's the core goal.

If you have different methods to achieve that, um to the same degree, we look for the the cheaper option uh that that would benefit the the customers bottom line.

And so if Romex can be included in a in a project and that saves some costs, along with some additional protections related to to the use of Romex, that's for us uh a good balance between ensuring life safety, which is you know, the which is inherent in some of these amendments, but also providing for the slightly cheaper alternative to a you know conduit throughout the house.

So that this this I think achieves both goals, maintains, you know, holds a line on affordability for these projects, but also adds a little bit more of the life safety protections that are important when you're looking at things like wiring.

So just to be clearer, there are options to go with the cheaper version, but the preference is towards the safer version.

Is that what you're saying?

It's always it from a from a um best practices standpoint, conduit throughout is the preferred route.

But we can achieve the same safety level with the Romex with these additional like arc well protections and so forth, and then conduit in the attics where it's you know loose wiring, where we can achieve the same level of protection.

The the difference between the two, really, practically speaking, is that when you're doing work, you know, to rework within your wiring system, Romex makes it more difficult to do the rework at that point in time.

It's easier to work with conduit to pull wires in and out.

Um so we look at it in terms of like the upfront costs are important to the customer.

Safety is both important to the customer and to the county.

And so we're trying to marry the two with uh a good balance.

And that's what that's the overall intent and effect of these regulations we're updating them.

What options are available?

Yes.

Okay, thank you.

Member Frank.

Thank you, Chair.

Uh you may have just covered this, but I just put quickly from my general understanding, just some definitions.

The International Code Council and the National Fire Protection Association, National Electrical Code, those are the standards, right?

Those aren't actual codes that we are subject to.

And so we're adopting those standards in these in these areas, right?

So we we already have we're we're adopting the existing building code.

So it's we currently have seven building codes, I think it's seven that we have previously adopted.

Um the existing building code would be the eighth book, so to speak, um, that we are adopting.

And then we are amending, we are putting local amendments on the other three codes that we've already adopted and are enforcing.

So the electrical code, the international residential code and the international building code.

And so just back to the sort of terminology.

Are there any jurisdictions where the international code is the code and there and they are just subject to it?

Like I understand in the US, like local authorities have to adopt codes, but the terminology to me makes me wonder.

It's a lot of it's a lot of names and jargon and you know, abbreviations and acronyms kind of mixed into this.

Um the uh, you know, the so the state adopted as of as of last year, the state has now the requirement for base building code.

That means you have to have all of these uh select building code blocks adopted as a municipality or county.

If you have not adopted those, because they are there are counties and municipalities that have not the process, it's a complicated process.

You have to have staff money resources, then you fall back into the state's hands.

So meaning that you cannot enforce something less stringent than the state.

Um, so it does create a little bit more work on compliance enforcement, but then technically existing building codes still applies to us, even though we have not adopted because you cannot be less stringent than the state.

That's how we read.

So if you have not done the work and adopted quotes properly, then you're gonna have to cross-reference different books and different standards and still go back to that minimum standard as the state mandates.

So and the short answer, not everybody has adopted it, but we still have to comply with uh intent and and the minimum requirements as to state mandated.

Thank you to explain.

And another way to look at it is you know, you've you've heard of model ordinances, right?

Well, the International Code Council um material that that's embedded in all of these international building codes is essentially a model ordinance that both at the local level and at the state level, those provisions in whole or in part could be adopted.

It's simply that code council is essentially the the eminent authority on best practices within this industry internationally.

And so it's recognized as the go-to for standards to the extent that a state or local government is going to adopt standards.

And so that's that is the model that we utilize in addressing you know these types of issues.

The local amendment process is where you know you might take that base template and add a little nuance, a little bit of you know, a little bit of minutiae to that addresses local conditions, local concerns.

And so there's always some flexibility at the local level to amend the template, so to speak, with our own local preferred standards.

And so typically when we go through an amendment process that is adopting, you know, a version of the International Code Council's codes, we add our own local amendments.

And so that's like what we have with the fence registration issue, like where we decided, you know, we're just basically not requiring a permit.

You know, in contrast to how the International Code Council handles it.

And so that is our local decision to do it that way.

But by and large, we follow the experts at the International Code Council level in developing our building codes for Lake County.

Okay.

Well, I think you guys did an excellent job.

Thank you very much.

And I think it was very um clear a lot of the changes that you're going to make, and we will be in compliance with these different organizations and their requirements.

Any other questions?

Any other questions?

Okay, all in favor?

Aye.

Okay, motion passes.

All right.

Thank you, Eva.

Thank you, Krista.

Eric, do you have a director's report?

Very brief update for the committee on a few things that we've got cooking right now.

Um, as we've noted previously, we're in the midst of doing some really deep diving best practices research into the topic of data centers.

Staff have attended at this point in time multiple different listening sessions, discussions, panel discussions, and have amassed a library of best practices from both regional and national level organizations that are informing our um approach to communication around data centers as we prepare to bring that item back to the committee for discussion early summer.

Umultaneously, we're working on finalizing two sets of amendments that are uh that the committee has already blessed and it's already been um um prepped for a ZBA public hearing by the county board previously.

One is our sustainable developments, development incentives ordinance, another one is a comprehensive packet of amendments, general amendments, um, with various changes to our regulations, most notably some really significant changes and streamlining to our planning and development process, which is going to be really beneficial to encourage uh development within the unincorporated area and um promote housing.

And so we look forward to going through the ZBA process later this summer into the fall with these amendment packets, bringing those back to the committee for discussion and action, hopefully with the um plan to adopt those this year.

And then finally, wanted to mention that um following the county board's adoption of the memorandum of understanding with CMAP governing the sort of the our relationship for phase two of Housing Lake.

We are now deepened discussions with the uh CMAP team and doing a lot of outreach to some of our um housing partners to kind of frame this next step in the process.

And so a lot of exciting conversations are starting to happen now.

Look forward to more information about Housing Lake in the coming weeks.

And um, as always, you could you could uh reach out to me with any questions you have about housing topics.

That's my report.

Okay.

Thank you very much.

We appreciate it.

We are really looking forward to hearing more about data centers and more about housing lake.

Um moving on to stormwater management 8.4.

We are having Mike Priscella.

Um Kurt, how are you?

Okay, so ordinance adopting the Manitou Creek Fish Lake Drain Watershed based plan prepared by the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission as an amendment to the Lake County comprehensive stormwater management plan.

Can I get a motion, please?

Motion by Member Schluck, second by Member Wasik.

Take it away.

Good morning, Chair and members of the committee.

Uh Kurt Wolford, executive director of the Stormwater Management Commission, also here with Mike Priscilla or watershed planning supervisor and uh Jacob Josefowski might be online, I think.

Um, but I just want to introduce uh our staff that are worked on this project that started in 2020.

And then a lot of things happened in 2020, if everyone remembers.

Uh there's a pandemic.

So we were all clear and we were able to knock out a lot of other work and then get back on this plan, which was started back in 2020.

So a lot of stakeholders were involved in this effort.

So I want to acknowledge all the other local governments, the landowners, the stakeholders, the board members.

I know there's board members here that were instrumental in that plan.

And I'm looking around, I don't see many uh people in the public comment, but we did have a lot of the stakeholders come to our SMC meeting last month and voice the support and the effort and the work of the staff.

So I just want to relate relay the great effort that Mike and his team and Jacob did for the plan.

And uh with that, I'll I'll pass it over to Mike.

Morning.

Good morning.

Um Yeah, so uh the item here is uh adoption of the Manitou Creek Fish Lake Drain Watershed Plan as uh as an amendment to our countywide stormwater plan.

Um we'll get going here.

So uh the watershed itself is located in uh western Lake County.

It's about 50 square miles.

Uh you can see in the map that smaller map on on your left there.

Uh it's a relatively small portion of the overall Fox River watershed, which uh unfortunately has has gotten itself into the news over the last couple weeks.

Um you'll see there's uh a pretty large portion of that watershed up in Wisconsin, the Fox.

We're dealing with uh an area though that's wholly contained within Lake County.

Uh the map on the right there shows you the two um the two subject subwatersheds that we're looking at, Manitou Creek and Fish Lake Drain.

Uh those contain all or uh portions of more than uh 20 units of local government here in Lake County.

Um, and about 49% of that area is unincorporated as well.

So that's uh probably a larger proportion than most of our other uh subwatershed areas here in the county.

So why do we develop watershed plans?

Well, um SMC certainly has a use for uh watershed plans.

Um, it's but it can be one of the first steps in our process of of developing um either programs or uh capital improvement projects that we ultimately implement.

But we want our plans to be available kind of a roadmap for all stakeholders that are in the in the watershed, might be interested in in advancing uh watershed goals.

Uh as I mentioned, uh, you know, water doesn't generally follow political boundaries uh when it's flowing.

So whether that's uh coming from another state into our state or moving from one unit of local government to another, uh watersheds tend to be the geographic unit of choice for attempting to manage water-related uh phenomena.

Uh our plans include a comprehensive summary of existing conditions.

Uh, so it provides uh a bit of a baseline for us to make decisions.

Um, and then kind of the meat, the the purpose of the plan is to identify potential projects for watershed improvement as well as uh funding sources.

Um then an important note as well implementation of watershed plans is voluntary.

These are not prescriptive documents.

There's a separate uh volume of literature and and regulatory programs out there that we also participate in.

Uh but watershed planning is is a voluntary uh a voluntary effort.

Uh here just an outline uh of basically the table of contents of our of our watershed plan.

Um if you're uh you know, if you're an analog person, uh we have a uh several hundred-page technical report that's divided up this way.

Uh if you're more of a digital uh person, we have a uh web-based mapping application that we've found to be uh a pretty helpful and useful way for uh stakeholders to interface with our plan.

So you can kind of just zoom in, click on uh on a point on the map and and see what's recommended in that area.

The plans founded on uh five uh goal areas and multiple objectives within those goal areas that relate to uh improvement of water quality, uh reduction of flood risk and flood damage and enhanced stormwater management, uh natural resources management, particularly as it relates to wetlands, uh improving watershed education and outreach, uh, as well as improving watershed coordination and partnerships uh among the the stakeholders and units of government in the watershed.

We've identified uh, you know, numerous what we would call issues.

Um I don't want to have a laundry list of things that you know we can we can poke at here.

Um, but uh a few of the highlights, uh the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has identified 18 lakes uh in this planning area as having some type of water quality impairment.

Um SMC uh in concert with other local units of government have identified 83 flood problem areas and FEMA uh through its flood hazard mapping uh has identified more than a thousand structures that are located in potential flood hazard areas.

Uh during the development of these plans, SMC staff also does uh field inventories of the the drainage system, the stream and and lake system in the watershed.

And uh one of the data points, there's many, many data points that we collect during those inventories.

But one one data point, for example, here is uh the critical erosion areas along stream banks and lakeshores that would benefit from stabilization uh under future projects.

And as I mentioned, the action plan is really the you know, that's really the the meat of this uh whole effort.

Uh so we identify three different types of actions in our watershed plans, one uh being programmatic.

So those are um, you know, more uh they're not tied to a specific geographic location.

They're kind of watershed wide or or um, you know, policies, programs that we can enact.

A good example of that would be limitations on the use of phosphorus fertilizer.

That's one that you know has really been in kind of surface water management for years.

And I know there's a number of communities in the county that have already enacted uh limitations on on phosphorus containing fertilizers.

So that that would be an example of a programmatic action that might be recommended.

Um the basin wide um actions are uh essentially a result of the robust geographic information uh that we now have in database form.

Um so thinking about uh identifying all the large parking areas in a in a watershed and and recommending um wiser management of uh of chlorides and and de-icing materials during winter months.

And then we have site-specific actions where um we actually have a specific location in the watershed and a specific recommendation for a type of uh project or practice that can be implemented there.

And that's this uh rather colorful map you see up on the screen.

Um, and you can dive into much more detail on that uh in our web mapping application.

So here's a summary of our site-specific action plan.

We've got over 700 projects listed in this uh in this watershed.

Um we do identify, among other things, a low-end and high-end uh cost range for each project.

It's just an estimate.

Um, but you'll see for those 700 plus projects that the price tag would be somewhere, we estimate between 85 and 201 million dollars.

That's a very large number.

700 projects is a very large number.

So as I mentioned at the beginning, implementation is voluntary.

We don't, you know, presume that all 700 projects are going to be implemented in the lifetime of this of this plan.

Um, we do um, you know, we do want to take a broad approach.

We have a number of uh, you know, a large number of stakeholders, and we we do want to ensure that um if there's impetus for uh for one of these voluntary projects that it's in this plan.

Um so it's a you know, that is a large number.

Um again, we we expect that there's going to be a smaller fraction of these that are ultimately implemented, but we want to make sure uh that we have a large menu when we come to the table.

Chair Hart has a question.

Sure.

Yeah.

You bet.

This is really interesting.

So your flood risk reduction, 380 acres, uh like these are not all um sort of separated, some overlap into the other, I would assume.

That's correct.

Yeah, let me actually back up one more.

If you look in kind of the southern uh third of the of the area there, you see a large sort of brownish greenish blob that is uh or polygon that's uh Ray Lake Forest Preserve.

So there's a large um, you know, there's a large flood benefit project, uh wetland restoration that's that's um being proposed there.

So that's I think kind of what you're getting at, right?

There's that overlaps with you know some projects that are also identified along the channel of the of the stream there that's running through it, as well as the wetlands that are nestled in to the preserve.

So yeah, they do they overlap.

Thank you.

And so do you have sort of if you go to the next slide, um, hey, if we do this one thing, like your Ray Lake Forest Preserve, um, we anticipate it'll have this positive.

So maybe you're yeah, so right.

And if you go into our mapping application, you can pick out the individual points, and there is a whole uh, you know, table that pops up that tells you, yeah, we think it'll reduce, you know, if it's if it's a water quality project, it'll reduce pollutants by this much, or it'll have this benefit for flood damage reduction.

So it like you do this project and it will impact all of these other things, i.e.

the um, you know, downstream effect, if you will.

Right now.

Oh I really didn't mean to do that pun, but I so okay.

Thank you very much.

You bet.

Um, so we also uh do make an effort while we're developing these watershed plans to involve the public and watershed stakeholders as much as possible.

Uh, we did hold a series of stakeholder meetings during planned development.

Uh that was followed by a 60-day public comment period last year that included two additional uh public informational meetings.

Uh we met with uh each unit of local government that was interested in meeting with us to discuss um their priorities and goals for the watershed.

Uh, we held two public hearings earlier this year uh to kind of receive any final uh comments on the plan.

And ultimately we did receive more than 160 comments, um, which is a kind of a record, at least during my 19 years uh doing watershed planning here at the commission.

And I think that just speaks to the level of engagement that we were getting from uh from the public from the stakeholders in our watershed.

They're very engaged, very involved.

And so um that was good to see.

And then uh next steps, uh obviously here we're um seeking adoption of the plan by the county board.

Following that, uh we would anticipate working with our our local partners and stakeholders to adopt uh the plan on a local level as well as begin implementation.

Uh and then we have built into the the document itself um kind of a performance report card uh type of system where we can evaluate how implementation is going.

And ideally uh we would want to update update this document in uh 10 years.

And yeah, so that's that's it.

And I do I just real quick, I do want to uh give some give credit to uh my colleague Jacob Josefowski who uh was kind of the technical architect of of our um of our mapping application and a lot of the uh kind of grind work that went into developing this.

Okay, thank you.

Um we have some questions.

Uh member Frank.

Thank you, Chair.

Mike, Director Wolford.

Thanks for the overview.

Uh my question is more general based on something that Chair Aldermerg said at the beginning of the meeting, which is hey, you know, we've had some significant rain events and we're seeing some improvements.

Is there an engineering estimate or any sort of a metric to say, hey, we've made these improvements in these watersheds, and we've noticed a difference.

There's X number of uh, you know, roads or uh buildings were not flooded in this rain event because of things that we've done.

Do we have any sort of like that?

I I guess uh anecdotally, well, not anecdotally.

I mean, you I witnessed it, Kurt.

Uh you know, in this particular watershed, we have the the Knollwood uh subdivision on Duck Lake, and you were out there last week.

I was uh out there with uh Donnie Schmidt looking at the Knollwood project, which is one of our DCO projects, and in a normal flood event, or not normal flood, a moderate flood event, uh homes would be cut off, emergency vehicles would be cut off, um delivery garbage trucks couldn't access areas.

And Donnie and I were able to drive through the entire subdivision and reach every home in that subdivision, which normally they'd be cut off.

Um while I was with Donnie and we were driving around, I received a phone call from another mayor uh who was telling me this area is not flooding.

So thank you for these projects.

So I I have some qualitative feedback that I've received.

And Donnie was we were driving around when I see received the phone call from the other mayor, and they were saying to me that I know you probably don't usually receive phone calls with good news, but I do want to call you with good news.

And I'm like, thank you.

Yeah, usually no news is good news.

If we do hear anything, it's usually not good news.

But to hear uh the local elected officials calling me uh also while out with Donnie Rag around Fox Lake, which is one of the worst hit areas in this event, um, to be able to drive around in the subdivision and access the homes and then to receive a call during that time that these projects are working.

Thank you.

Uh, that was a a qualitative feedback that I'd like to share.

But um this is a um different event than 2017.

You know, 2017 was a major flood where eight to ten inches of rain just fell out of the sky on top of Lake County, flooded thousands of homes, and then the water worked its way into the rivers.

So while the rivers were at their flood stage, we were uh trying to coordinate with a lot of people throughout the county when people were digging out of their basements and throwing wet carpet and furniture out on their front curbs, dealing with that while a flood is going on.

So this event, although it is a major flood event, it was a riverine event.

We didn't have all the upland flooding and problems to deal with, but it was really good to have an event like this, which is a good event to have a lot of the staff coordinate the emergency management agency.

They activated their emergency operations center and a virtual three alert status.

There's a lot of coordination that went into it.

Staff were working long hours over the weekends, they're still working on it.

Um, but what we're not seeing is the level of damage, and that's a good thing.

So flooding will continue.

I always say flooding will actually get worse because of the increased rainfall and the growth of development that's occurring, especially in southeast Wisconsin.

Um, but flood damage can be reduced.

And that's one thing I did experience through this event is that our infrastructure is making a difference.

We're not seeing as much damage, but it is a different event.

So I'd say it's a positive thing.

We also are able to have a lot of our staff who are new and not been through these flood events.

Here's what we do.

Here's what we do in the field, here's how we train, here's who we communicate with.

Um, I know that there's a mark, a multi-agency resource center, Tammy, somewhere she's not here, that's going to be opened in Wakanda and Carrie because yeah, the Fox River is still dealing with a major flooding event.

Um so yeah, metrics, I'd say they're it's positive, but I don't have a good statistical report at this point.

Yeah, I want to say the Displains River also did much fared much better in this event because of a lot of projects they've done along that river.

Gurney used to flood, oh my God, so badly.

And they've done we the county's done so much work there.

We bought up properties, and it's not the same types of problems in the 90s, it was horrific there.

Every every time we had one of those big flood events, and it's not like that now because of all the a lot of different things the county has done for flood prevention.

Yeah, go ahead.

So if I may, thank you.

Um, thank you for that response.

I fully understand that there's maybe not a uniform metric.

Um, but I would suggest that it'd be great for you to at least document those anecdotes.

I mean, I I've seen it uh in our area, Skokie River, and an incident that I would have assumed would have caused a road closure in the past, did not.

Um and I just think it's very rare in public investments and infrastructure that we can point to some sort of a return on investment.

And um, people don't call to complain when they're not flooding, but um, I think it'd be important if we could at least document what we're seeing is the improvements in some format.

So yeah, I I agree with that.

And we've been so blessed to get this hundred and twenty-two million dollars from Springfield to address so many different issues.

So we don't have that flooding, and we've been able, we've gotten half that money.

We've been able to do a ton of projects.

So, yes, and when these things happen, we should be documenting what's gotten better.

We know what's been what the worst is.

So if we can, you know, put together what the improvements we've seen.

It's I mean, it'd probably be a wonderful log to keep.

Yeah.

This was also uh thank you for your comments.

When we do have a flood event like this, we're wanting to see how well the infrastructure is performing.

So we get out there and we can see the the technical side, it's like, okay, the water is in training and it's flowing through the pipes, and it's not so that's the technical part, but really the the damage is I think the ultimate metric is there less damage, are there less people having to evacuate their homes?

Are there less people having to throw away their um possessions that have been inundated in their basements?

We we're seeing an improvement there.

Um, and we can definitely work on putting better metrics on that so you can fully understand the investment and what that return is and the positive benefit that it's making.

Okay, member Wasik.

Thank you, Chair.

Um Kurt, I think one of the calls you might have gotten was from the mayor of Third Lake regarding the uh wetland restoration project along Milk Creek and Linden Road.

That was one of them.

Yeah, I got one too.

So that was and that road rarely floods out, you know, not during extreme storm events, but it's just uh it's so close to Mill Creek and it's on the edges.

We're all in Savannah.

So so thanks for that project.

But that's not connected to this.

But John, one thing if I can butt in real quick, uh, you know, that was a wetland restoration project, too.

And some people don't make the connection that wetlands right wetland restoration actually is a form of stormwater management that benefits and provides tremendous amount of flood mitigation and flood storage.

Um the Libertyville State's levy in Libertyville Public Works was out there uh nonstop, making sure that the elevations are um at a level where they don't need to evacuate people behind the levee.

And just north of Libertyville Estates levee is independence grove and a vast amount of wetlands.

And we had conversations with the National Weather Service because they do river forecasting, and there's some phenomena that they can't fully understand.

Why is it that when Gurney is flooding, we're not seeing all those events downstream, and something's wrong in the environment.

Well, something's not wrong, it's just not accounted for that.

There is a vast amount of wetlands that are soaking up this water upstream of the levee and pretty much reducing the flooding before it gets to Liverville States, before it gets to Lincolnshire.

So we had uh our drone teams out, they were filming or capturing the water level and then all the wetlands that are flooded at Independence Grove, and that data has been shared with the National Weather Service, and they're going to be updating their river forecast models because down in Lincolnshire, they were freaking out.

They're like these forecasts, we have to evacuate.

Like it's not gonna happen.

So they're gonna clean up their models.

But I just want to say that you know, that project in Mill Creek that Third Lake uh said was a great project.

It was a wetland restoration project that benefited and provided flood damage reduction.

So wetlands are a powerful tool in our toolbox.

Well, thank you so much for adding that.

And I'll just keep going and say that one acre of wetlands can absorb a million gallons of water, so we can't do too much of this.

I mean, we're just starting.

But this is more a question for Mike, and I want to thank you and your team and Mike and Jacob for just the extraordinary level of civic engagement on on this project.

How many stakeholder meetings did you have, Mike?

I mean, I attended quite a few of them, but I just kind of lost track of them.

Yeah, I I would guess we have a dozen.

Yeah, half a dozen plus you know, some additional informational meetings and things.

So having read the report, there were a lot of best management practices, but what would you say just kind of boil it down for us, you know, for the committee's sake?

Um, what would be the top three that you would say are achievable in the near term?

And by near term, I would mean within the next three years or so.

Yeah, so um, you know, addressing the uh nutrient impairments in the lakes.

So, you know, whether that's through lakh stabilization or through other best management practices that'll reduce phosphorus loading, um, that's an important one.

Um, I think anywhere we can get some help there is good.

Um we have a number of projects uh for flood damage reduction that have been identified.

In fact, we have one that's a fairly extensive study um along the Round Lake Drain and its tributaries between Round Lake and Long Lake.

Uh that is another uh important one.

That area has you know long suffered from uh from flood damages.

Um then I you know, I mean Kurt kind of mentioned this.

Uh, I'm probably a bit biased professionally because I also worked on our wetland restoration plan, but I just think you know, being in the county that we're in with the landscape that we have, and particularly in this watershed where there still are uh opportunities for wetland restoration.

I you know, to echo your your comment that you can't do enough of it.

I I think you're right.

I mean, where we where we have an opportunity to restore wetlands um to manage our stormwater, I think you know it'd be a good idea to capitalize on that.

Well, thanks again.

And I I look forward to the implementation of of this plan and on scale, and and it's it's gonna take some more funding, but uh we're we're willing to step up and say, look, we're doing the right thing, we're helping out people in Cook County too on a desplace.

And uh I think that you know, just there's so many ideas in this plan that are achievable.

It's just a matter of you know, getting the work done and let us know how we can help move it down the road.

Thanks.

Yeah, I feel like we should definitely highlight that tool.

I don't know if people realize that wetland restoration equals flood prevention.

Like, I don't know if that has registered with people, but I think it's that's a really important point that came out to me today.

That's a big key thing in terms of having less property damage and um, you know, being able to not have as many worries by doing something, you know, that helps the environment and helps our residents.

So yeah, there's uh different sites in the county that the Army Corps of Engineers has identified, and it was not working out well because you can see some of these Army Corps reservoirs that they build down at Northbrook Court and down at Route 22, these big holes in the ground with razor wire perimeters that doesn't look too inviting.

Um, but what has been done in Lake County with a lot of work through the forest preserve, they've been doing great work, a lot of uh local partners too, like uh Libertyville Township with their open space.

Um creating these wetland enhancement projects that the residents can also enjoy, ride your bike through it and enjoy it, not having to look at a giant bathtub with razor wire around it.

So there's ways that you can do these multi-objective projects that check off a lot of boxes and flood mitigations, a benefit from wetlands, water quality, and they're nice to look at.

I like looking at them.

So thank you.

Terrific.

Any other questions for Kurt or Mike?

Any other questions?

Okay, all in favor.

Aye.

Motion passes.

Thank you both very, very much.

Good work.

And good work.

Thank you for everything you've done with the flood issues for the last couple of weeks.

It's it's been a lot of work.

Thank you.

Okay.

County administrators report.

Do you have one?

No county administrators report.

Okay, we are gonna have a very short executive session to review minutes.

Um, can I get a motion?

Motion by member Frank, second by Member Knighnick.

Do we need a roll call for that?

Yes, we need a roll call for this.

Okay.

Oh, that's me.

Oh, I was like, that's you.

Member Campos.

Hi.

Member Frank.

Aye.

Member Kniesnik.

Vice Chair Peterson.

Member Schlick and Member Wasick.

All right.

Can he stay?

So item 11.1 is committee action approving the planning, building, zoning, and environment committee executive session minutes from October 8th, 2025.

Can I get a motion and a second?

Motion by member Knighnick, second by member Wasick.

All in favor.

Aye.

Okay.

Item 11.2 is committee action regarding periodic review of closed session minutes.

The state's attorney's office has reviewed the executive session minutes for the planning building zoning and environment committee as well as the inactive planning building and zoning committee, which this committee has assumed the functions of.

Motion by member Schlick, second by member Wasick.

All in favor.

Aye.

Okay.

That sounds good.

Motion passes.

Okay.

Any member remarks.

Okay, I think we're good.

Thank you.

We will adjourn our next meeting will be May 6th, 2026.

Have a good day.

Thank you.