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A Resolution Approving a Professional Services Agreement with Greenprint Partners for the Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Study and Plan in an Amount Not to Exceed $120,035 and Authorizing its Execution.
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Introduction
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This resolution authorizes the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with Greenprint Partners for the Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Study and Plan in an amount not to exceed $120,035.
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Recommended Action
Staff recommends approving the resolution.
Prior Board Action
On December 3, 2024, the Board approved Resolution 24-382 approving the Village of Oak Park's Climate Ready Rainscapes Grant Program.
On March 18, 2025, the Board adopted Ordinance 25-138 which amended Chapter 22 ("Streets and Sidewalks") to allow property owners to maintain gardens in the Village Parkways.
Background
The Village released the Biodiversity and Green Infrastructure Study and Plan on June 6, 2025, and received eight highly qualified proposals. After reviewing proposals, staff determined the Greenprint Partner's proposal to be the best and are recommending that the Village Board enter into a Public Service Agreement with the firm.
The Climate Ready Oak Park (CROP) plan includes as one of its six main commitments the commitment to "Establish 30% of Oak Park's land as green infrastructure or enhanced park management."
The Village Board Goal 5.1.h.i reads "Develop a plan to transition 30% of Village-owned property to native species, green infrastructure including bioswales, organic soil amendments, and new forested areas, via turf removal/reduction or other site-appropriate strategies. Include equitable and authentic community engagement processes during the planning process."
To develop a plan to meet the 30% commitment of the CROP plan, the Village must first gain a better understanding of what counts towards that goal, develop a methodology for measuring progress towards the goal, and develop an existing baseline. The attached Resolution approves a contract with Greenprint Partners, who will use robust community engagement to develop a definition, methodology, and baseline for the 30% commitment. From that baseline, Greenprint will provide a plan with opportunities to increase green infrastructure and enhanced park management through projects, policies, and programs. This plan will allow staff to work with community partners, design programs, and build out capital projects, which will make meaningful and measurable progress towards the 30% commitment.
The Village has been working towards the 30% commitment through projects such as green alleys and parkway trees, programs such as Rainscapes, and policies like the Parkway Planting Ordinance. This study and plan will help staff measure the impact of these ongoing programs and make meaningful improvements to them to further meet the 30% commitment.
Further, the plan will help the Village progress on designing and prioritizing programs that make progress on the CROP plan actions. Some actions which will be addressed or advanced by this plan include GD01, GD04, CP02, CP03, CP04, DR02, DR03, GI02, GI03, DW04, EP02, TC03, NN02, NN03, NN04, CA02, CA03, CA04.
Timing Considerations
There are no specific timing considerations associated with this item.
Budget Impact
The Resolution approves an agreement for an amount not to exceed $120,035. This amount is budgeted for fiscal year 2025 within the account # 2310.41020.101.570859.0000.
Staffing Impact
The Office of Sustainability and Resilience will manage the project and contract. Over the course of the contract Sustainability staff will spend approximately 100 hours.
Other Village departments, specifically Public Works will be involved in reviewing drafts and providing input. Approximately 50 hours of staff time may be necessary for this review.
DEI Impact
The Green Infrastructure Study and Plan will include significant outreach with residents, institutional partners, and municipal leaders to inform definitions, metrics, and designs. Equity considerations will be considered when identifying opportunities and plans, including green space access, flood risk, urban heat and neighborhood density. The CROP plan includes the commitment to direct 40% of public climate and sustainability dollars to the most vulnerable and the resulting plan will help the Village accomplish that commitment.
Community Input
There has not been community input on this item yet. The proposed project will include significant public input.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends approving the resolution and approving a Public Service Agreement with Greenprint Partners for the Green Infrastructure Study and Plan.
Advantages:
* Conducting a study will help the Village understand the current baseline of green infrastructure and enhanced park management, as well as opportunities to expand.
* A green infrastructure and enhanced park management plan will assist the Village towards meeting the commitment to establish 30% of Oak Park's land as green infrastructure or enhanced park management.
* Staff determined Greenprint Partner's proposal to be the best of those received through a competitive RFP process.
Disadvantages:
* Sustainability Funds are required to fund the Study and Plan.
* Staff time will be utilized to manage the contract and review the study and plan deliverables.
Alternatives
Alternative 1:
Do not approve the Public Service Agreement and do not conduct the Study and Plan.
Advantages:
* No staff time will be spent on the Study and Plan.
* No budget resources will be expended on the Study and Plan.
Disadvantages:
* The Village will not have a baseline to understand progress towards the commitment to 30% green infrastructure and enhanced park management.
* The Village will not have a methodology for measuring the impact of existing programs and policies towards the 30% commitment.
Alternative 2:
Do not approve the Public Service Agreement and choose a different vendor from the proposals received.
Advantages:
* One of the received proposals had a slightly smaller budget impact.
Disadvantages:
* Staff determined that Greenprint Partner's proposal had the best engagement and equity strategy and the best technical and design approach of the proposals received.
Anticipated Future Actions
Staff anticipate that the Vendor will present a final plan for approval in Quarter 3 of 2026.
Prepared By: Lindsey Roland Nieratka, Chief Sustainability Officer
Reviewed By: Jack Malec, Assistant to the Village Manager
Approved By: Kevin J. Jackson, Village Manager
Attachment(s):
1. Resolution - Greenprint Partners PSA
2. PSA - Greenprint Partners signed
3. RFP_Green Infrastructure study and plan
4. Proposal_Greenprint