Oak Park Park District Report 3-20-14

Park District of Oak Park  www.oakparkparks.com

Regular Board Meeting,  

March 20, 2014

Joan Fiscella, observer

The meeting was held at the Hedges Administration Center.

Present:  President Jessica Bullock; Commissioners Paul Aeschleman (Vice President); Victor Guarino (Treasurer); Sandy Lentz (Secretary); David Wick.  Executive Director Jan Arnold.

President Bullock opened the meeting at 7:30 pm.  The Board approved the agenda.

Public Comments

                  Numerous guests attended, although most turned over their speaking time to representatives.  The topic of conversation was the need for adequate space for outdoor sports in spring through fall, through organizations for baseball, softball, and soccer.  Fields are needed for both games and practice.  It was noted that the sports teams affect not only the players and families; groups often go out to dinner after games, thus contributing to the economy of the village.  Reference was made to conversations with Park District officials, indicating intent among all to work through the issues, including cooperative planning, early call for field requests, and denial of new programs unless the need is great.  A couple of people also requested consideration for the impact on neighbors of the parks (noise, etc).

Board members approved the Consent Agenda which included: the Cash and Investment Summary and Warrants and Bills for the month of February, 2014; Park Board minutes from the February 6, 2014; Committee of the Whole Meetings, February 20, 2014; Regular Board Meeting, Executive Session Minutes from February 20, 2014; and the Revised FOIA Rules and Form —Resolution 2014-03-01.

Staff Reports:

·       Executive Director’s Report.  
Executive Director Jan Arnold reported updates on renovation of Ridgeland Common.  Inspection of the dog park is scheduled for March 28.  The Common is to open April 5. 

Weather conditions have postponed opening of the playing fields.  Staff is looking for other practice locations.

·       Updates on the staff reports.

The Finance Department is working on the audit which will be presented to the Board in June.  Direct deposit will be available for vendors, thus saving time and money.

The final focus group has met, and one of the things the staff has found is that Dasher boards are being used more frequently.

The Park District will hold a job fair.

Cheney Mansion has begun booking for the 2015 wedding season.

Old Business:

·       Recreation and Facility Program Committee – None

·       Buildings and Grounds/Facility Maintenance Committee

o   Cheney Mansion Greenhouse Contract Update
The Board of Commissioners approved the contract with ATP, from Northfield, IL, in the amount of $403,000 for the renovation of the Cheney Mansion Greenhouse.

o   Carroll Park Master Plan.
The Board of Commissioners authorized, with a vote of 4-1:

A.     Phase II of the Carroll Park Master Plan; and

B.     Authorization to engage Altamanu, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, for $74,993.98 to create project bid specifications consistent with the approved master plan and to provide oversight of Carroll Park Phase II construction. 

Bids will go out in August of 2014.

There was some discussion of the flexibility of the acquired space at Carroll Park.

·       Administration and Finance Committee - None

New Business

Commissioners’ Comments

Aeschleman: 

                  Commented on the management of playing fields, including the need to spend time to make sure the processes are more open and collaborative and to use data to help make decisions.  This attention will save residents from spending time at more meetings.

Guarino:

                  Seconded Aeschleman’s comment, but warned about the limitations of land in Oak Park.

Lenz: 

                  Agreed that the Board can always do better, but progress is being made.

Wick: 

                  Indicated that he was happy to see everyone attending; he is also happy with Ridgeland Common developments.

Bullock:

                  Indicated her appreciation of the work of the affiliates.

Executive Session

                  The Board approved the motion to adjourn to closed session for the discussion of appointment, employment, or performance of a specific employee of the District.