Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout02_28_17 PandR Adv Bd Minutes - APPROVEDJA ELGIN THE CITY IN THE SUBURBS Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Meeting Minutes February 28, 2017 6:00 p.m. The Centre of Elgin Staff Conference Room Second Floor 100 Symphony Way, Elgin, IL 60120 Mayor David J. Kaptain City Council Richard Dunne Terry Gavin Rosamaria Martinez Tish S. Powell John Prigge Carol Rauschenberger Toby Shaw F. John Steffen City Manager Richard G. Kozal Present: Tom Armstrong, Andrew Dogan, Chin Keomuongchanh, Marino Lamantia, Eric Larson, Carl Missele, Fred Moulton, Absent: Michelle Santucci Staff: Randy Reopelle, Maria Cumpata, Verdelle Corn I. Call to Order: Eric Larson called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. II. Minutes of the January 31, 2017 Meeting: MOTION: Carl Missele motioned to approve the January 31 minutes as presented. Fred Moulton seconded. Motion unanimously approved. III. Citizens Forum (items not on the agenda): None. IV. Proposal from Jennifer Cook: Cook's Ice Cream is a family owned and operated business. Cook's Ice Cream would operate in Festival Park out of a pop -up tent that would be set up and taken down on a daily basis. It would include a commercial ice cream cart featuring six flavors; four reserve storage tubs; a combination dip well, hand wash, three - compartment sink, a large commercial beverage cooler; and a combination storage and point of sale cart. The equipment would run on a small gas generator. As per the city's ordinance, Cook's Ice Cream would also have a commissary location from which they would support their operations in Festival Park. Cook's proposes operating the ice cream 150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120 847 - 931 -6100 www.cityofelgin.org stand from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Tuesdays through Fridays, 11:00 am to 4:00 pm and also on some mutually agreed Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 to 6:00 pm. They would also like to operate into the fall season, Saturdays and Sundays only, from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm. This length of the fall season would be weather dependent. Randy Reopelle noted that if there are special events scheduled at Festival Park and it is determined that Cook's Ice Cream would interfere with the event, Cook's would not be allowed to operate on that day(s). MOTION: Carl Missele motioned that the Board recommend to City Council to approve entering into an agreement with Cook's Ice Cream. Andy Dogan seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Randy noted that staff will work with the Legal Department first on the agreement. V. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Park Projects: Current CDBG funded park projects include Wing Street Park, Trillium Park, Woodview Park, and Grolich Park Phase 2. The city hired a consultant, Scott Berger, with the Kane County Planning Department to assist us with the process of choosing parks, hiring consultants, the bidding process, and follow HUD's regulations pertaining the grants. We are again receiving CDBG federal funds for 2017/2018 of approximately $750,000. Eligible parks need to be located in low to moderate income neighborhoods. Potential parks for the next cycle of CDBG funds were narrowed down to parks that would benefit from renovation or ADA compliance work. They include Clifford Owasco Park, Kiwanis Park, and St. Francis Park. St. Francis Park is probably our busiest site for the summer lunch program. The park is used extensively. If you go out to the park, it looks like a Norman Rockwell scene. You'll see a great diversity of people — a variety of ethnicity and ages — little kids, parents, and grandparents. It's a great park, but in need of renovation. This is a park where we would want to have community meetings. Are the tennis courts really being used? Are there some other sports like pickle ball or soccer more suitable for the neighborhood? The kids are using the tennis courts for soccer. Maybe we need to build an all- weather surface, with soccer goals. We need to look at our inventory of recreation elements and see what is missing, what can be used at the park or needs to be replaced? The playground is very little, one small structure. The shelter is way too small. Neighborhood children use the open area for pick -up games (football, soccer, baseball). Some of the trees break up the open areas prohibiting children playing informal games. Tom Armstrong noted that there is a granite marker on a neighbor's property across from the park that is engraved 1904. The previous owners of the residence wanted to donate the granite marker to the Historical Society. Those owners have since passed away and the granite marker still remains on the residential property. It probably marked the last addition to St. Joseph Hospital, which was originally on the property that is now St. Francis Park. The Elgin Historical Society would like to see the granite marker moved back to the park. 150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120 847- 931 -6100 www.cityofelgin.org Butterfly Gardens /Park, which is not an official park, could use signage. Children come to Butterfly Gardens to learn. Eric Larson will follow -up with the neighborhood association regarding signage. It was noted that the city of Elgin owns the property, but it is not a designated city park. Randy Reopelle noted that Butterfly Gardens /Park may have to change status be incorporated as a city park. Randy further noted that CDBG funding can be used for land acquisition in low to moderate income neighborhoods, such as the property at the end of Mark Avenue. It was also noted another property that could be acquired is the Charming Street /Division Street property that was to be developed with housing (former Charming YMCA property). Timeline for bidding any project for next round of CDBG funding would be fall. Andy Dogan noted that in his opinion, $750,000 could be spent on renovating St. Francis Park. The board determined the first public input meeting for St. Francis Park could be at McKinley Elementary the second week of April. Eric Larson will contact the school. VI. Meeting with the Conservation Foundation: The Conservation Foundation has been awarded a $500,000 grant and is looking for ways to use the funding to help Fox River communities promote conservation and clean water. Randy Reopelle asked the board to brainstorm ideas for green infrastructure projects. He also communicated that he received an email from U.S. Forest Service about an upcoming webinar, "Green Infrastructure of Parks." Randy has signed up for the free webinar, March 9, 1:00 p.m. If any board member is interested they can come to our office and see the webinar along with him. Eric noted that you don't have to be able to see the Fox River to impact the river. It's about the watershed. It could be Tyler Creek, Cook Park, Slade Avenue Park, etc. It could be educational aspects of a development that would qualify it. VII. Miscellaneous: a. Other: 1. Randy Reopelle communicated that Newsome Park received a Certificate of Acceptance from The National Park Service (NPS) as a site included in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom (Network to Freedom). 2. Eric Larson communicated that the monthly NENA board meeting this week, Thursday, 7:00 p.m. at The Centre of Elgin in the Advocate /Sherman Wellness Center, includes two topics: Neighborhood Housing Services presentation about NeighborWorks project in the fall, and Advocate Sherman Hospital will give an update on their Center Street Campus status. They have made a decision not to renew leases ending in 2018. 150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120 847 - 931 -6100 www.cityofelgin.org VII. Adjournment: MOTION: Fred Moulton motioned to adjourn the meeting at 7:19 p.m. Carl Missele seconded. Motion carried unanimously. Respectfully submitted, Verdelle Corn, Recording Secretary Z -�� Approved: \ �y 150 Dexter Court, Elgin, IL 60120 847 - 931 -6100 www.cityofelgin.org