REGIONAL STORMWATER COMMISSION

Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HJR0054

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Full Text of HJR0054

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HJR0054 - 104th General Assembly

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HJ0054 Engrossed
LRB104 20346 MST 33798 r
1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 54

2

WHEREAS, Antiquated stormwater and sewerage systems are
3
associated with the municipalities of Berwyn, Oak Park, and
4
Cicero and those parts of Chicago known or described as the
5
South Austin and North Lawndale neighborhoods, collectively
6
referred to as "the region"; and

7

WHEREAS, Aspects of these stormwater and sewerage systems
8
were designed and built as far back as the early 20th century,
9
with piping circumferences and other technologies that are
10
long obsolete; and

11

WHEREAS, Due to limited capacity and other obsolete
12
technology, these antiquated systems are often overwhelmed,
13
resulting in the flooding of stormwater and raw sewerage
14
throughout the region, including streets, alleys, businesses,
15
homes, and public buildings; and

16

WHEREAS, As the result of this obsolete technology and the
17
manner in which the systems interplay and converge, the
18
residents and businesses of the region are severely impacted;
19
and

20

WHEREAS, During and following the torrential rainstorm
21
that took place on July 2, 2023, Cicero's system was

HJ0054 Engrossed
- 2 -
LRB104 20346 MST 33798 r
1
overwhelmed with more than 860,000,000 gallons of rainwater,
2
including millions of gallons of sewerage; and

3

WHEREAS, Those circumstances resulted in the flooding of
4
more than 6050 homeowners, 1500 renters, and 125 businesses,
5
causing an estimated $333,000,000 in immediate damage to
6
businesses, residences, and public property; and

7

WHEREAS, In past years, residents and businesses
8
throughout the region have experienced comparable rainwater
9
and sewerage damage associated with many other storms; and

10

WHEREAS, Apart from possible support from such entities as
11
FEMA, the financial costs of such damage are often borne
12
exclusively and inequitably by the region's residents,
13
businesses, and taxpayers; and

14

WHEREAS, Stakeholders in the region are investigating the
15
option of instituting meters and other mechanisms and means to
16
ensure that those in the region eventually will bear no more
17
than their fair cost of dealing with rainwater and sewerage;
18
therefore, be it

19

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
20
HUNDRED FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
21
SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Regional Stormwater and

HJ0054 Engrossed
- 3 -
LRB104 20346 MST 33798 r
1
Sewerage Equitable Solution Commission is created to study the
2
problem of antiquated stormwater and sewerage systems in the
3
area collectively referred to as "the region" and to suggest
4
policy and legislative solutions; and be it further

5

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall consist of the
6
following members who will serve without compensation:
7

(1) One elected or appointed official and one
8

professional employee designated by the Executive Director
9

of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, who shall
10

serve as Chair;
11

(2) One elected or appointed official and one
12

professional employee designated by the Mayor of Berwyn;
13

(3) One elected or appointed official and one
14

professional employee designated by the President of the
15

Village of Oak Park;
16

(4) One elected or appointed official and one
17

professional employee designated by the Town President of
18

Cicero; and
19

(5) One elected or appointed official and one
20

professional employee representing the South Austin and
21

North Lawndale neighborhoods designated by the Mayor of
22

Chicago; and be it further

23

RESOLVED, That the Department of Commerce and Economic
24
Opportunity shall provide administrative support for the

HJ0054 Engrossed
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LRB104 20346 MST 33798 r
1
Commission; and be it further

2

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall convene at the call of
3
the Chair, preferably once a month and in Berwyn, Oak Park,
4
Cicero, or Chicago at a time and place designated by the chief
5
executives of at least three of the municipalities referenced
6
herein or by the Director of the Department of Commerce and
7
Economic Opportunity, following consultation with said chief
8
executives; and be it further

9

RESOLVED, That the Commission shall submit a report
10
detailing recommended possible policy and legislation to
11
implement an equitable solution to the stormwater and sewerage
12
flooding problems to the General Assembly no later than
13
January 5, 2027 and, upon the filing of the report, the
14
Commission is dissolved; and be it further

15

RESOLVED, That the Governor's Office of Management and
16
Budget, following consultation with the Department of Commerce
17
and Economic Opportunity, is requested to submit to the
18
General Assembly a separate report detailing legislation and
19
budgetary recommendations to offset the costs borne by
20
residents, businesses, and governmental entities in "the
21
region" as the result of the inequitable circumstances
22
surrounding the antiquated stormwater and sewerage systems;
23
and be it further

HJ0054 Engrossed
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LRB104 20346 MST 33798 r
1

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution are
2
delivered to the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Water
3
Reclamation District, the Mayor of Berwyn, the Village
4
President of Oak Park, the Town President of Cicero, the Mayor
5
of Chicago, the Director of the Governor's Office of
6
Management and Budget, and the Director of the Department of
7
Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

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