HomeMy WebLinkAbout03_22_16 PR Adv Bd Minutes - APPROVEDA
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
March 22, 2016 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, Tom Armstrong, Eric Larson, Xitlali Navarro, Michelle Santucci
Absent: Marino Lamantia, Fred Moulton
Staff: Randy Reopelle, Maria Cumpata, Wayne Carlstedt, Verdelle Corn
Guest
Call to Order: Carl Missele called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
II. Minutes of the February 23, 2016 Meeting:
MOTION: Eric Larson moved to approve the February 23 minutes as presented to the
board. Michelle Santucci seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
III. Citizens Forum (items not on the agenda): None.
IV. Trillium Phase 2 Park Plan: Holly Yee, Ellis Middle School 7t' and 8t^ grade science
teacher, summarized the work the environmental club at Ellis (Science N.E.R.D.S.) does.
They have been doing clean -up work along Willow Creek for a decade. Every once in a
while the Mayor would come out and would talk about how things are going. They
chatted regarding a safer way for the students to get to the creek from Ellis Middle
School rather than walking along Laurel Street where there are no sidewalks and cars
travel at higher speeds. About four years ago Mayor Kaptain conveyed that the city had
bought two homes and tore them down.
The students came up with the park name, Trillium Park. The park has the native plant
species Trillium, which has three petals and is one of the first plants to bloom in the
park. The three petals of the Trillium plant represent the three partners who worked to
150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120 847- 931 -6100 www.cityofelgin.org
clean up the site - Elgin Parks and Recreation Department, Neighborhood Housing
Services, and Ellis Middle School Science N.E.R.D.S.
Randy then continued noting that the phase 1 work is completed and are now working
on the phase 2 concept plan.
There is a vacant lot to the east that the city is trying to acquire owned by the Fowler
family. The Fowler family has been asked to donate this property to the Elgin Parks and
Recreation Foundation. The Foundation will then give the property to the city. A
boardwalk can be installed once an environmental study of the property is completed to
be sure there is nothing, such as illegal dumping, with the property that makes it a
liability. In the meantime Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money can be
utilized to fund the phase 2 work. 3D Design's phase 2 concept plan includes some of
the original design provided by Mary Lou Seidel of Neighborhood Housing Services.
Mary Lou had a landscape architect designate areas for a reading area, a butterfly
garden and areas of concrete and benches that will be ADA compliant. The sloped area
of about 400 -500 feet is would not be ADA compliant as it is very hilly. Randy will talk to
3D Design regarding the area filled with concrete pieces to discuss erosion options. A
possibility is to put topsoil on top of it and plant it.
V. Woodview Park Plan: Randy Reopelle summarized the concept plan for the park next
to the Eastside Recreation Center (ERC). The plan includes a shelter, different age
appropriate playgrounds, and water spray area that the staff at ERC asked for. During
summer camp ERC staff walk the kids over to Lords Park pool every day so the kids can
cool off. The water spray area is nothing like the water play area in Festival Park. It will
be on only for ERC programs. The pier and dock will have an ADA compliant path to it
and a seat wall at the decorative concrete plaza.
VI. Valley Creek Neighborhood Bench Request: Neighbors proposed putting a bench
overlooking property the city owns along Tyler Creek and off Clearwater Drive.
Residents living on either side of the city owned property are not excited about it.
Therefore, the neighbors who proposed the bench overlooking the area will rethink
what they want.
VII. Miscellaneous:
a. Gifford Park Association (GPA) Request: GPA submitted a request for the board to
consider waiving of the Pavilion rental fees for their organization's Lords Park
Pavilion rental on Friday, April 22, to host their annual pot luck dinner. GPA
members host and man a water station for the participants of the annual Fox Trot.
MOTION: Tom Armstrong motioned the board approve the waiver of fees for GPA's
April 22nd Pavilion rental. Eric Larson seconded. Motion unanimously approved.
b. Senior Services Associates Request: Senior Services submitted a request for the
board to consider waiving of Pavilion rental fees for the senior citizen picnic on
150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120 847 - 931 -6100 www.cityofelgin.org
Wednesday, September 14. Each year Elgin Police Department staff attend the
event and assist in serving lunch to the seniors.
MOTION: Eric Larson motioned the board approve the waiver of fees for GPA's April
22nd Pavilion rental. Tom Armstrong seconded. Motion unanimously approved.
c. Park Foundation Event: Randy Reopelle noted that the Foundation is hosting
Golden Memories at Lords Park, which also serves as a way to kick off the
Foundation's planned giving program where people can write the Foundation into
their wills. The series also serves as Foundation "friend" raiser rather than a
fundraiser. The Foundation is looking for stakeholders for city parks.
d. Other:
- Advocate Sherman Hospital is considering the request from city to give more
property. Original piece is just over one acre and city ordinance states
neighborhood parks should be a minimum of 3 acres. It was suggested that the
property /park could be a health /wellness themed park.
- Mayor's Walking Challenge kicks of April 6 and concludes May 18. Elgin's goal is
to log 210,000,000 steps. Elgin has a unique link to WalkerTracker through the
Activate Elgin website.
VII. Adjournment:
MOTION: Eric Larson motioned to adjourn the meeting at 6:53 p.m. Michelle Santucci
seconded. Motion carried unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
V//erd //elle Corn, Recording Secretary
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Verdelle Corn, Recording Secretary
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150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120 847 - 931 -6100 www.cityofelgin.org