Title
Resolution approving a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Delta Institute and Lake County to advance the goals of Lake County’s Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Plan.
Staff Summary
• The Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Plan, which was adopted by the Lake County Board on January 12, 2026, directs action on making trees healthier, more abundant, more diverse, and distributed equitably throughout Lake County.
• The Delta Institute, a nonprofit organization which collaborates with communities to solve complex environmental challenges, approached Lake County to partner on a project to address opportunities identified in Lake County’s Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Plan.
• The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) creates a partnership between the parties for existing county and municipal tree plan reviews, two virtual presentations on trees and related topics, one in-person training at a site in Lake County, and one tree planting event at a site in Lake County to serve as a demonstration site through 2027.
• Under this MOU, Delta will serve as the coordinating partner, leading the work to design and implement strategies that achieve project goals throughout Lake County.
• Under this MOU, Lake County will serve as an implementation and thought partner actively collaborating with Delta to codesign, execute, and advance strategies and to help align local partners around shared priorities.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the 2023 Strategic Plan directs staff to implement the Lake County Regional Tree Initiative in Fiscal Year 2024 to lead in the effort to prevent further increases in global temperature, mitigate climate change effects, and protect and enhance our natural environment; and
WHEREAS, the Urban and Community Forestry Strategic Plan directs action on making trees healthier, more abundant, more diverse, and distributed equitably throughout Lake County; and
WHEREAS, Lake County and Delta Institute agree that sustained regional and local collaboration is the best way to advance the goal to build the foundations for a future innovative regional tree planting consortium throughout Lake County; and
WHEREAS, the County and Delta Institute have agreed on the Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”), attached hereto outlining the roles and responsibilities of each party.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the Lake County and Delta Institute MOU is hereby approved; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution shall be effective as of the date of its adoption.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on July 14, 2026.