Forest Park DDA tables Digital Realty community benefits agreement, presses for local-hire and reporting

Board members reviewed a draft community benefits agreement (CBA) developed for Digital Realty and had a remote participant from Digital Realty (Scott Glenn) on the line. The board and legal counsel asked for stronger oversight and verification language — including reporting requirements and mechanisms to verify commitments — and discussed local-hire goals staff included as part of the draft.

Attorney Mattricardi said the draft envisions reporting requirements in conjunction with leasing and that parties would submit an annual report to document progress against agreed commitments. "They will have reporting requirements, and that will be in conjunction with the lease agreement as well ... they will have to submit an annual report, each year," counsel said.

Scott Glenn said he would take the draft to Digital Realty’s teams and review elements such as sourcing of subcontractors and local hiring. Board members noted they want language that not only sets targets but creates verifiable steps (job fairs, outreach, vendor engagement). One board member described a 30% local-hire goal discussed in the draft; Digital Realty said it would review subcontractor sourcing and labor-location issues with its general contractor.

Given that many board members had not had sufficient time to finalize comments and that Digital Realty had not yet received this version for its review, the board moved and seconded to table the item so staff and counsel can negotiate terms with Digital Realty and return a finalized document for a future vote.