ADDISON PARK DISTRICT
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
MINUTES
1. CALL
TO ORDER
President Jessen called the meeting to order at
2. CHANGE IN AGENDA
None.
3. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - Don Jessen
A. Future Meeting Dates
Executive Director McKinnon stated at the last meeting there had been discussion on the meeting dates. He distributed a memo to all Board members of tentative dates for the upcoming year and for the month of December.
Executive Director McKinnon asked that the Board members review the scheduled dates for the Committee/Board meetings to see if it fits into their schedules.
B. Foundation Update
Executive Director McKinnon mentioned that the Volunteer Dinner is being held on October 16th at the Empress Banquet Hall.
Commissioner Ortale thanked all the staff volunteers who have given their time to help the Lions Club.
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Committee of the Whole
C. Miscellaneous
President Jessen said that the Park District has been working on a lot of things to maintain open space. He talked about the open space at Addison Golf Course. At the present time, there are plans for single family homes and duplexes and no open space for the Addison Park District. Right now it does not look promising. This is the third developer that has proposed a project and he cannot see how these are going to be better than any of the others. The prices of the homes will begin at $500,000 and be about 1,900 square feet. There will be no open space or park and the Park District has to negotiate that.
Executive Director McKinnon said that the Park District can ask for open space. There are 38 acres, but all of it is not buildable. Fifteen acres is green space, which is flood plain, being used as walking paths. The Park District will automatically get $320,000, but that is up to the Park District. If we go for acreage, we can get about 5 lots.
Commissioner Reed asked if we could demand land and get it. President Jessen said that has never happened. We can take the money or the land. Traci Wicks asked how much the property went for. Mr. Jessen said that the first offer was $13 million and the next offer was $11 million. This offer is somewhere in that range. They still have to get approval from the Army Corp of Engineers. Executive Director McKinnon said that this is a little different plan and may not have to go back to the Army Corp of Engineers. They will be using the wetland and leave them as is. Commissioner Reed said that they are giving the Park District about $65,000 to $100,000 per acre. President Jessen said that we want the property because $300,000 is for only about 3 acres.
President Jessen did not think they were going to give us the land and maybe we can get a little more money. Commissioner Reed would not go in with a defeatist attitude. We can recommend and the Village has the final say. Executive Director McKinnon has had a meeting with Jenko and it is a nice layout with open space and walking paths, but when they asked Executive Director McKinnon what the Park District would want, he suggested 4 soccer fields, which would take about 10 acres of land at a cost of $1.7 million. Commissioner Reed said that most builders come in and offer dollars because they can sell the lots for much more. Executive Director McKinnon said that they also offered to build soccer fields in another location.
We have to decide what we want the referendum for, pool or soccer fields. There are options such as a turf soccer field, mini stadium on Centennial Field. The point is that if we do not get the golf course property for soccer fields, there is other property that has potential in town and the referendum plan can include abut $2 million for open space for fields and multi-use area.
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Committee of the Whole
President Jessen said that we need to push and negotiate for more.
President Jessen discussed the Town Center plans and gave an update.
4. FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION - Tom Reed
A. Accounts Payable for Ratification
Staff answered all questions presented by the Board.
B. Bond Ordinance Schedule
Janis Jordan said she met with Tom Chapman last week and went over the schedule based on the changes for November’s board meeting date. Janis stated that the big bond payment is due December 1st and that we need to have the proceeds before that date. On October 22nd, we will publish the notice for a public hearing, and on October 29th, we will hold our Public Hearing prior to the Board Meeting. Janis stated that the bond closing will be November 28th.
C. Miscellaneous
None.
5. BUILDING
& GROUNDS -
Joe Welkomer
A. Spray Pad Final Payout
Noel Rolle said he developed a punch list and that a lot of the items on this list could not be completed until after the splash pad closed for the season. He mentioned some of the work that was done. The first winterizing of the splash pad was done, as well as some training with park maintenance staff.
Noel mentioned that most of the items were completed on the list and that they were waiting for a response from the company in regards to the wrong color of the fence.
Executive Director McKinnon mentioned that the fence company offered to give us the fence free if we keep the color brown instead of black, which is what we had originally ordered. The fence company offered to donate the fence if the Park District gave them a letter to use for tax purposes. With a couple of modifications to the fence, Noel said we would give them the letter.
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Committee of the Whole
B. Miscellaneous
Noel stated that the demolition of the slides would begin next week. He explained the process of demolition.
6. RECREATION -
Donald Ortale
A. Pool Referendum Update
Executive Director McKinnon said that Kit Dailey would be present at the next Board meeting to give an update of where we stand with the referendum. Some of the pros and cons concerning whether we should or should not go to referendum with the open space issue were discussed.
Traci Wicks presented the board with a summary of what is currently on the website. The summary of the results of the pool survey will be available on the website. In addition to this, there will be an email address directed to Traci where residents can ask questions or send concerns and they will be addressed by herself or Executive Director McKinnon.
B. Review Contract Programs
and Percentages
Michael Walaszek talked about trying to keep the programs in house as opposed to contracting out. We will be continuing with the current contract programs we have, but in the future, we are looking to cut back.
C. Miscellaneous
Michael Walaszek explained the waiting lists we have for dance classes and how the kids are selected for the dance classes.
Executive Director McKinnon met with Village Manager, Joe
Block, and Chief, Tim Hayden, to discuss the problems concerning the Green Oaks
basketball court and the undesirable activity going on and the non-residents
usage of the court. Noel Rolle mentioned that the Parks Department has been finding
beer bottles at the site. Executive
Director McKinnon stated that it was suggested by the Village to remove the
basketball court and use that space for something else. Commissioner Reed asked if we could have
supervision at the courts during various times of the day. It was suggested that it would be too
difficult to monitor. President Jessen
suggested making it a ½ court. It was
decided to take down one of the basketball rims. Commissioner Reed expressed his concern with
just taking away the basketball court with no other options.
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Committee of the Whole
7. FACILITIES - Michael Capizzano
A. Club Fitness Open House
Greg Vitale presented the Board with a Fitness Open House and Member Appreciation Week. In the past, it was held for 1 or 2 days; it will now be extended for 1 full week. This will include free use of the fitness center and pool, free group fitness classes and aqua classes, free blood pressure testing, free personal trainer meet and greets, free fitness workshops, free chair massages.
Greg mentioned he has hired a part-time membership coordinator.
B. Golf Dome Preparation
Charles Sims gave a brief update of the golf dome. Fitzgerald Lighting has completed the repair of the lights in the golf dome. Preparation for the target greens is taking place this week. Staff is painting the upper deck of the golf dome. There will be six trees removed from the front of Links & Tees. The opening of the golf dome will be the first week of November depending on the weather.
C. Miscellaneous
None.
8. President’s Report & Commissioner
Comments
President Jessen mentioned he would be going to
9. Directors Interim Report
Executive Director McKinnon mentioned the $110,500 check we
received from Unison. Unison is now the
cell tower proprietor at
The World Wide Day of Play was successful.
Staff has still been unsuccessful attempting to meet with
the neighbors of Links & Tees golf course adjacent to tee
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Committee of the Whole
The final bill repair for Centennial Park turf totaled $2,000 for the Italian Fest. It was sent to Mr.Onesti.
First Founders Parade was held Sunday, October 7th.
Staff reorganization in the administrative office. Two positions are being posted on the Addison Park District and IPRA websites.
10. Executive Session
None.
11. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted By,
Lisa Zucchero
Recording Secretary