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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11_17_15 PandR Adv Bd Minutes - APPROVEDJ ■► ELGIN THE CITY IN THE SUBURBS- Mayor David J. Kaptain City Council Richard Dunne Terry Gavin Rosamaria Martinez Tish S. Powell John Prigge Carol Rauschenberger Toby Shaw F. John Steffen Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Minutes November 17, 2015 City Manager 6:00 p.m. Sean R. Stegall Parks and Recreation Department Staff Conference Room, Administration Office, Second Level The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120 Present: Carl Missele, Marino Lamantia, Eric Larson, Fred Moulton, Xitlali Navarro Staff: Randy Reopelle, Maria Cumpata, Verdelle Corn Absent: Tom Armstrong, Michelle Santucci I. Call to Order: Carl Missele called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. II. Minutes of the October 27, 2015 Meeting: MOTION: Marino Lamantia moved to approve the October 27 minutes as presented. Fred Moulton seconded. Motion carried unanimously. III. Citizens Forum (items not on the agenda): None. IV. Trout Park Rivers Edge: The area south of the 1 -90 Bridge, west of Duncan Avenue and east of the river, including the two islands in the area of Trout Park Rivers Edge that the Illinois Nature Preserve Commission recommends we protect by having it designated as an Illinois Land and Water Reserve. Doing so does not change the current use of it as an area to fish, picnic, walk or bike. The designation helps protect it from outside sources that might threaten it such as ground water, runoff, and neighbors intruding on it, and so on. We can continue to maintain any and all improvements currently on the property such as the piers, shelter, paths, etc. Randy Reopelle noted that the state and Sue Bone will be more involved with removal of non - native species and plants. The city of Elgin will continue to take care of pavement, etc. MOTION: Eric Larson motioned to recommend the city council approve Trout Park Rivers Edge be designated as an Illinois Land and Water Resource. Fred Moulton seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Next step: Randy will prepare a COW Memo requesting council's approval. 150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120 847 - 931 -6100 www.cityofelgin.org V. Grolich Park Update: Randy Reopelle displayed the revised plan for Grolich Park. Randy and Carl Missele participated in the public input meeting to gather input from the neighbors living in the Grolich Park area. The original plan has been revised to change the playground and site layout to include the vast majority of the residents input. Originally the playground included two swings in the concept plan. Two tot swings have been added as requested, which doubles the size of the playground. A teeter tot and an enclosed slide that spins was also added. Another request was for some landscaping. Grolich Park goes down to the railroad tracks and the river is beyond it. As it goes down to the railroad tracks, it gets heavily wooded. The gentleman who lives in the last house on Souster Street is an avid gardener. He has an irrigation system, rain barrels, etc. He offered to provide all the landscaping and keep it maintained and looking nice. Randy noted that when it goes out to bid, we'll have alternates, including the fence, rain garden, and mulch. Our target budget is $125,000 and with the options in the revised plan the estimate is at $150,000. HUD provides to the city Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). City is looking for city projects they could use the $600,000 to $700,000 /year CDBG funding for. Streets cost considerably more, about $5M. So the CDBG funding for 2016/2017 may go to fund park improvements. One that qualifies is phase two of the Grolich Park. Currently there is an old gravel trail and exercise areas that are not connected and other ADA compliance items. Other potential park projects include Wing Street Park, Eastside Recreation Center for a playground, and possibly Trillium Park. VI. Naming of Bowes Creek Neighborhood Park: The result of the survey emailed to residents resulted in Tournament Drive Park as the top vote getter for the park name with 55.88 percent voting the park name to be Tournament Drive Park. The second highest tally was 44.12 percent for Creekside Park. The third highest tally was 3 votes for Bowes Creek Park. Other names voted for (Putter Park, Pinecrest Park, Pebble Beach Park, Tourney Park, Park View Park, Hilltop Park, Golf Park, Turtle Creek Park, Wild Tree Park, Little Porters Hub Park) each received one vote. MOTION: Marino Lamantia motioned the board recommend to city council the Bowes Creek Neighborhood Park be named Tournament Drive Park. Eric Larson seconded. Motion carried unanimously. VII. Miscellaneous: a. 2016 Meeting Schedule: The March board meeting is scheduled for March 22, which is one week earlier than the last Tuesday of the month. b. Tobacco Policy Update: The policy goes before the Committee of the Whole on November 18th. Once Council approves the policy we need to notify the user groups, add the policy to our sports' contracts, add the policy to our quarterly brochure, etc. c. Other: The Valley Creek Neighborhood Association asked Fred Moulton to follow up on a question they have. The developer of the last part of the neighborhood built out as Unit 12 gave green space to the city. They wonder if they had a fundraiser to place a bench or two overlooking the creek, they would do so but would need the city to clear out some brush and help install a bench or two. Is that something they can pursue? The city occasionally mows a path so residents have access to the creek. Carl noted that volunteers did a cleanup of that area a couple years ago. The property is city owned but not a park. Randy noted that by law if we put in a park bench, we are required to include an ADA connected sidewalk. Randy will come out and take a look at the site. VII. Adjournment: MOTION: Eric Larson motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:55 p.m. Fred Moulton seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Verdelle Corn, Recording Secretary Approved: 150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120 547- 931 -6100 www.cityofelgin.org