Oak Park Park District Report 5-15-14

Park District of Oak Park  www.oakparkparks.com

Regular Board Meeting, May 15, 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:  None

Board members approved the Consent Agenda which included: the Cash and Investment Summary and Warrants and Bills for the month of April, 2014; Committee of the Whole Meetings, April 3, 2014; Regular Board Meeting minutes, April 17, 2014, Executive Session Minutes,  from April 3 and 17, 2014;  Authorization of GALA Fireworks; OPRFFY and SEOPCO PACT Agreements; Youth interventionist Agreement 2014-2016; GIS Resolution 05-01-2014; and Bi-Annual Review and Release of Executive Session Minutes:  August 15, 2013, September 12 and 19, 2013, October 24, 2013, and January 9, 2014.

Staff Reports:

·       Executive Director’s Report.  
A memorial stone is being installed in Ridgeland Common at the entrance to the athletic field.  The pool will be painted soon (delay was due to weather).   Added work is to be done on the dog park.   The work at Cheney Mansion is moving forward.  Bidding for work at Carroll Park is underway.  Nine firms have picked up the bid packets; packets are due May 23.  The bid information for Longfellow and Fox parks will be available June 18; bids will be due in July.

·       The dog park at Stevenson has virtually no users; it will be discontinued.  Ridgeland has more regular users.  The Miller Meadow dog park will be available in November.  For the Day in the Village, the Park District will have a table. 

·       Updates on the staff reports  - Bobbi Nance

Hiring for summer has begun; training will begin.  Building and grounds employees have been recertified.

Cheney Mansion was able to save a party that was originally planned for a private yard, but was rained out.

A children’s exercise session has appeared in a YouTube video..

There will be a discussion with the Library Director about the future of the library.

Pool pass redemptions yielded $2000 in vouchers.  The lottery had 953 registrations.

Old Business:

·       Recreation and Facility Program Committee:  None

·       Buildings and Grounds/Facility Maintenance Committee: None

·       Administration and Finance Committee

                    Austin Gardens Trust Disbursement 2014 and 2015

The Park Board of Commissioners approved the disbursement of funds in the amount of $23,822.38 from the Austin Trust based on the Community Foundation’s recommendation in 2014 and 2015. (The amount is for each of the two years. The money can be used only for Austin Gardens.)

New Business:

·       Commissioners’ Comments

                   Commissioner Aeschleman: 

                  He attended the Active Transportation group that discussed the plan for bikes blvd.  It involves designating residential streets as joint space. It is doing a study of bike sharing.  He has gotten good feedback regarding the athletic fields.

                 Commissioner Guarino:

                  None.

                  Commissioner Lenz: 

                  She attended the Pleasant Home Board meeting.  Plans include a fund-raising benefit on June 21.  The Gala will auction off events for small groups.  The Festival Theater is planning to widen the audience by addressing greater accessibility and by offering discounts.

                  Commissioner Wick: 

                  The Park Foundation has had turnover on the Board.  The grand opening of the Ridgeland Common Recreation Complex will be on June 14.  There will be a preview party on the evening of June 12.  The Foundation is looking at developing a strategic plan.

                  President Bullock:

                  None.

                  Executive Director Jan Arnold asked for a Task Order for June 5 regarding the renovation design of the Hedges Administrative Center, 218 Madison Ave, leading to work beginning in December. The Task Order will allow preliminary work with Nagel Hartray.  This matter will be addressed at a continuation of this meeting on June 5, 7:30 pm at the Oak Park Conservatory.

Executive Session

                  At 7:55 pm the Park Board of Commissioners approved the motion to adjourn to convene into closed session for the discussion of purchase or lease of real property for the use of the Park District.