Park District of Oak Park www.oakparkparks.com
Regular Board Meeting,
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February 20, 2014
Joan Fiscella, observer
Find out what's happening in Oak Park-River Forestfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The meeting was held at the Oak Park Conservatory.
Present: President Jessica Bullock, Commissioners Paul Aeschleman (Vice President); Victor Guarino (Treasurer); Sandy Lentz (Secretary); David Wick. Executive Director Jan Arnold; Mark Boland, legal counsel.
President Bullock opened the meeting at 7:30 pm. The Board approved the agenda.
Community Service Award:
The following individuals were recognized for their contributions to the advancement of parks, recreation and leisure in the community through Community Service Awards:
· Frank Lipo – Historical Society. He has provided historical background information on parks and facilities for projects and programs.
· Dee Jeffries – Oak Park Youth Baseball and Softball. She has served as a volunteer on the Board of Directors in the position of Director, Vice President of softball and President.
· Jason Geil, David Kindler, and Josh Sieget – 100th Anniversary Photographers for the Park District. They photographed Oak Park residents for eleven months in activities using parks and recreation, culminating in a limited edition book, People, Parks, and Play.
Visitor/Public Comment: None
Board members approved the Consent Agenda which included: the Cash and Investment Summary and Warrants and Bills for the month of January 2014; minutes from the Committee of the Whole Meeting January 9, 2014; Regular Board Meeting minutes, January 16, 2014; approval of reviewed Executive Session minutes, January 9, 2014; Festival Theatre Affiliation Agreement; Illinois Department of Natural Resources PARC Grant Resolution of Authorization for Rehm Park Pool Renovation – Phase 1, ComEd & Openlands Green Region Grant Resolution 2014-02-01; and Personal Policy, Section 3-8.
Staff Reports:
· Executive Director’s Report.
Executive Director Jan Arnold highlighted progress on Ridgeland Common: snow on the roof is melting, and materials were delivered and are on the roof. Expected work is due to begin in four weeks. The rink refrigerator tubing is slated for this week; rink is to be poured Feb. 28.
Staff attended the Illinois Parks and Recreation Association meeting at which the Park District received several awards, including the Distinguished Accreditation Award and Exceptional Workplace Award. Diane Stanke, Director of Marketing and Customer Service, was awarded the IPRA Community Impact Award.
· Updates and Information from Staff – Jamie Lapke, Gymnastics Manager
The Parks Foundation will be announcing a fund-raiser. Grants applications continue to be prepared.
Staff has participated in team-building and communication skills improvement, as well as training in preventing bias.
Advertising for summer camps has begun
Old Business:
o Recreation and Facility Program Committee
Screen Printed Apparel Bid
The Board of Commissioners approved the lowest bidder, Sunburst Sportswear, Glendale Heights, IL, for screen printed and embroidered apparel for 2014 and to allow the Executive Director authorization to extend the bid award for a second year of 2015, based on the compliance with terms of the bid and performance of services. Two bids were submitted, but only one was complete. Park District staff reviewed Sunburst’s pricing, references, and other company information before recommending acceptance of the bid.
o Buildings and Grounds/Facility Maintenance Committee
o The Board approved the Lindberg Park Contract with a Plainfield, IL firm. Adjustments were made to bring the contract within budget.
o The Cheney Mansion Greenhouse Contract is in process. Although seven vendors took part in the walk-through, only two submitted bids; some changes may be needed to bring bids within budget. This meeting will be continued on March 6.
o 2013 Field Usage and Improvement Update.
Permits and usage counts have been refined so the results are more realistic and allow better management of use (planning, billing, and maintenance). A presentation outlined field maintenance practice. A goal is to maintain the fields without pesticides.
o Professional Architectural Services for Pool Master Planning
The Board of Commissioners approved Attachment – Task Order Number 4, from Nagle Hartray Architecture of Chicago, Illinois, in the amount of $38,600 for the creation of a Pool Master Plan for the District.
New Business
o Work continues on the comprehensive master plan. The process will begin with focus groups and stakeholder interviews that will help generate questions for a survey to go to a broader population. The survey will be done in May. By August Lakota plans on having a preliminary set of strategies with input from the Board. They will meet with the public in September. All work is to be done by the holidays (Thanksgiving ff).
Commissioners’ Comments
Aeschleman:
Pleased with results of marketing study done by Diane Stanke.
Guarino:
Congratulations to award winners.
Lenz:
State awards show quality of Park District
Wick
Found the revised presentation of field usage helpful.
Bullock:
Noted that the playing fields look good. Encouraged board members to participate in the comprehensive plan meetings.
There was a brief clarification about the discrepancy in the rink dimensions and possible adjustments to be made to meet contract requirements.
Executive Session.
The Park Board of Commissioners convened into closed session for discussion of the purchase or lease of real property for the use of the Park District.
