Oak Park Park District Report 6-19-14

Park District of Oak Park www.pdop.org

Regular Board Meeting, June 19, 2014

Joan Fiscella, observer

The meeting was held at the Hedges Administration Center.

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

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

III.  Public Comments

                  None

IV.   Consent Agenda

Board members approved the Consent Agenda which included: Cash and Investment Summary and Warrants and Bills for the month of May 2014; Annual and Committee of the Whole Meetings, May 1, 2014; Regular Board Meeting minutes, May 15, 2014, Executive Session Minutes, from May 15, 2014; IDNR OSLAD Grant Resolution of Authorization 2014-06-02 – Euclid Square Park Renovation; and the Prevailing Wage Ordinance 2013-06-01.

V.  Staff Reports:

       Executive Director’s Report.  

Jan Arnold thanked everyone for the work that made possible the June 14 event opening the Ridgeland Common Recreation Center.  She has gotten very positive reactions to the renovation.  The punch list to close out the project is still being worked on.  Public skate and athletic fields have gotten a great deal of use.

Work continues on the Cheney Green House; it is scheduled to be completed by July 31.

The Comprehensive Master Plan team has reviewed results of focus groups and stakeholder meetings.  These results and those of the community survey will be presented to the Board on September 11.

Work on Lindberg Park continues with the second phase of the plantings.

Conversations with District 200 and with District 97 about swimming and field conditions continue.

Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory may be able to contribute some funds for the East Garden Project (now named the Elsie Jacobsen Discovery Garden).

      Updates on the staff reports  - Mitch Bowlin

Several hundred new and returning staff is being trained, including budget training.

Summer camps are open.

There are additional sponsors for the Frank Lloyd Wright races.

      Revenue/Expense Status Report

No discussion

VI. Old Business:

       Recreation and Facility Program Committee:  None

      Buildings and Grounds/Facility Maintenance Committee:                                    

       1. Pool Master plan Update                 
                  Update from Jan Arnold re: pool master planning process:

Survey outcomes:  there were 165 respondents with high preferences for Lazy River, Peninsula with crossing activity and shallow diving designs.   There will be a public meeting regarding the pools soon.  Due to costs, ability to meet codes, etc., work may be done in phases.  Board members discussed priorities.

           2. Carroll Park Bid Recommendation

The Commissioners approved a contract with George’s Landscaping located in Joliet, Illinois, in the amount of $397,682 that includes the two alternates for the outdoor classroom and identified concrete repairs.

Work is to be completed August 22.

            3. Stevenson Park Architectural Services

The Park Board of Commissioners authorized the engagement of Altamanu, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, for a total cost of $105, 072 to create project bid specifications consistent with the approved master plan for Stevenson Park and to provide oversight of Phase I construction.  Altamanu, Inc.’s fee is $54,897, and it will serve as the lead consultant.  Terra Engineering will be the sub-contractor with a fee of $45,400.

Savings for Ridgeland Common helped moved this project forward.  Work is scheduled for May-November 2015.  The Park District has already begun informing regular users of the park; there will be a community launch for the project, and it will distribute flyers, etc.  The Park District wants to minimize any negative effects.

              4. Austin Gardens EEC Design Discussion

The Board will continue the discussion from the June COW Meeting to guide staff in the planning of the EEC at Austin Gardens.

Discussion included developing costs for various elements, ability to support, for example, solar panels, benefits of writing grants in addition to potential funding and trade offs between building to meeting certification standards without necessarily making the application for certification (due to additional labor costs of the application).

       Administration and Finance Committee

              1. 2013 Audit Report

The Park Board of Commissioners approved the 2013 Audit Report.

The required cover letter on the report explains the audit process.  There were no difficulties in the audit; there was full cooperation in completing it, and it was signed off on by the appropriate staff.  Generally accepted accounting principles were followed.  Disclosures made for the audit report may also be used for other legal documents.

             2.  2IGOV Forum Update

The Board will continue the discussion from the June COW Meeting regarding support for a future forum of all Oak Park governmental boards.

Paul Aeschleman is the Park District Board’s representative. The purpose of the proposed forum is to improve communication among the Oak Park taxing agencies.  Such intergovernmental discussions often include talk about finances and uses of tax funds; e.g. their roles in economic development.  Possible forum dates are the last weekend of October or the first weekend in November.  The planning group would want a quorum of representatives.

VII.  New Business - None

VIII.  Commissioners’ Comments

Commissioner Aeschleman: 

Praised the opening weekend of Ridgeland Common.  Fields and pool were fully repaired. Kudos to the staff who were able to prepare everything in time.

Commissioner Guarino:

(absent)

Commissioner Lenz: 

Festival Theater will have its 40th Anniversary benefit as a fund-raiser.  Hamlet is currently playing, and reviews have been good.

Pleasant Home is having a fund-raiser on June 21. 

Commissioner Wick: 

Also praised the Ridgeland renovation and opening.  He was impressed with the staff’s positive attitude.  He spent some time talking to the skating staff.

President Bullock:

Also praised the Ridgeland renovation and opening events. 

IX.  Executive Session None

X.  Continue Meeting to July 10, 2014

The Board accepted the motion.

Meeting ended at 8:35.