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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RECOGNIZING THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY
WHEREAS, it is the mission of the Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability ("DES") to foster healthy, resilient and thriving communities by improving the quality of life, protecting the environment and promoting sustainability and environmental justice throughout Cook County; and
WHEREAS, DES develops and implements innovative programs that address climate change, pollution prevention and community engagement, while cultivating partnerships with residents, municipalities and the business community; and
WHEREAS, the Climate Resiliency Planning for Communities Program and the Businesses Reducing Impact to the Environment ("BRITE") Program are two DES initiatives funded, in whole or in part, with Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds allocated to Cook County pursuant to the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Public Law 117-2) ("ARPA"), and are designed to respond to the negative economic and public health impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, including investment in environmental resilience, pollution prevention and sustainable economic recovery; and
WHEREAS, the Climate Resiliency Planning for Communities Program is a DES-managed initiative that supports municipalities and community partners in preparing for and adapting to the impacts of climate change, including extreme heat, flooding and other climate-related hazards, through data-driven planning, robust community engagement and practical implementation strategies; and
WHEREAS, public engagement for the Climate Resiliency Planning for Communities Program included approximately 90 separate engagement sessions, resulting in valuable feedback from more than 1,025 participants that helped define community-driven goals, priorities and recommendations for the municipalities of Bellwood, Franklin Park, Justice, Lynwood and Markham; and
WHEREAS, the public engagement strategy for the Climate Resiliency Pla...
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