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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009 Veterans Memorial Park Minutes t VETERANS MEMORIAL PARK COMMITTEE Wednesday, Meeting of January 21,2009 MINUTES A. Call to Order. The meeting of the Veterans Memorial Park Committee was called to order by Chairman Cook at 5:15 p.m. at the City Hall, 2"d Floor North Conference Room. Chairman Cook wished all the members and guests a happy new year and happy holidays. B. Roll Call. Members Present: Jack Cook, Gene Banke, Jerry Deering, Rich Dunne, Wally Porter, Tom Schmidt, Gordon Schnulle, Tom Sandor, and Jerry Turnquist. Ex-Officio Members Present: Mike Millikan. Members Absent: Wally Wetzel, John Walters, and Library member Carole Medal . Ex- Officio Members Absent: Sue Olafson and Cherie Murphy Others Present: Bob Balsamo, Elinor Richoz and Bill Dreher. C. Approval of Minutes. A motion to approve the October 15, 2008, minutes of the Veterans Memorial Park Committee was made by Mr. Banke and seconded by Mr. Schmidt. The motion unanimously passed. D. Comments from audience (one subject per person, limited to three minutes each). There were no comments from the audience at this time. E. Comments regarding November 11, 2008 Dedication ceremony. There were no comments from the Committee other than the consensus that it was a wonderful ceremony but was very cold that day. F. Engraved brick update. Mr. Millikan reported to the Committee that, so far, $16,350.00 has been received for the purchase of bricks. He indicated that,to date, 175 4" x 8" bricks and 28 8" x 8" bricks were sold. He added that the bricks will be installed at the park in the spring. G. Discussion on future of Committee. Chairman Cook began by saying that the intention of this meeting was to determine what would be the future of this Committee. He opened the floor for comments. Mr. Sandor started by saying that he believed that the Committee had finished the job it set out to do and now should be dissolved and also believed the City Council considered the work of the Committee to be done and would hesitate to ask for any more funding. His only concern was who is responsible for the maintenance of the park, including flags and lighting. He indicated that, regardless of the status of the Committee,this would be his last meeting. He indicated that he believed that our Veterans Memorial Park was a first class memorial and was one of the best Veterans' parks in the area thanks to all of the Committee's hard work. Mr. Schnulle agreed with Mr. Sandor's view. Mr. Deering indicated that the maintenance on the park would be done routinely as with any other city park. Mr. Deering added that Mr. Bell was not satisfied with the quality of the flags and that the next ones ordered would be of a better quality. It was suggested by Mr. Sandor and Mr. Dunne that, two to three weeks prior to a ceremony, one of the members of the Committee could go to the park and then let Mr. Bell know if there are any problems. Mr. Schmidt was also concerned about the maintenance issue,the Phase II riverfront issue and the plaque for large donors, and believed the Committee should continue until those matters are resolved. Mr. Turnquist asked what was the City Council's original intention and Mr. Sandor reiterated that the Committee was to continue until the park was completed. Mr. Millikan read aloud Section 6 of Ordinance No. T35-07 related to Dissolution of the Committee: "The Veterans Memorial Park Committee shall automatically be dissolved upon the completion of the proposed Veterans Memorial Park and the opening of such a park to the members of the public unless the City Council takes further action to extend or recreate the committee." He believed that, as the Ordinance stated, since the park was completed and is now open to the public, unless the City Council wants to continue it, the Committee is considered to be dissolved. Mr. Deering said that the Committee needs to find out what the City Council wants to do although he also believed that the City Council will not offer any more funds toward the park and that it considers the park completed. Mr. Deering reminded the Committee that, technically, the City owns the property and any events will have to go through the special events process, including permits, etc. Mr. Deering also mentioned that an idea had been batted around about the City building a temporary platform that could be used for any water-related ceremonies which would be erected at the time of a ceremony and dismantled and stored until the next time it would be needed. Mr. Turnquist indicated that the Committee should pursue the temporary platform idea but worried that, if not brought before the City Council, it may never get done. Chairman Cook brought up the fact that both Mr. Deering and Mr. Millikan would soon be retiring from the City and wondered who would continue to represent the City on the Committee and Mr. Deering responded that the Committee would have to seek clarification on that matter from the City Council. Mr. Balsamo mentioned that South Elgin has a water overlook which didn't cost a lot of money and the permitting process didn't take that long. He believed that this Committee has been successful. He indicated that he believes that donation money is out there and that people would be more willing to donate mosey if they knew exactly what their money would be used for. Mrs. Richoz indicated that she believed that the Committee should continue into and through Phase II. Mr. Dreher also agreed that the Committee should continue through Phase II and that he believed that his donation of$1,000 was going to be applied toward Phase II. Mr. Banke said that he had mixed feelings about all of the discussion but believed that the Committee should continue. Mr. Dunne supported the idea of the Committee continuing and begin the permit process for the water element. Mr. Porter indicated that he was speaking for himself and on behalf of the Navy Club. He indicated that, when the water element was eliminated from the original plan and made into a"Phase II"project, he was concerned that it would never get done and, as far as the Navy Club is concerned,the water element was the most important aspect of the park because of the ceremonies that it performs on Memorial Day and other days. He believed that the Committee should continue through Phase II. Mr. Schnulle indicated that Phase II also involved the Marine Corp League. Mr. Sandor made a motion that the Committee go to the City Council and get its opinion as to whether the Committee should or should not be dissolved. Mr. Schnulle seconded the motion. Before a vote was taken on the motion, Chairman Cook opened the floor for discussion. He asked who would declare the park"completed?" Mr. Sandor responded that the ordinance made it clear that the park is considered completed once it opened to the public. Chairman Cook again asked how the Committee should proceed and, if continued, who would stay and who would go. He also wondered if a sub-committee should be formed to continue with the unanswered questions and unfinished projects. Mr. Turnquist agreed that there should be some kind of dialogue between the Committee and the City Council and/or the Mayor. Mr. Deering said that he believed that two or three members of this Committee should form a sub-committee to meet with the City Council to determine the Committee's future. After this brief discussion, Mr. Sandor indicated that he was withdrawing his motion and no vote was taken. Mr. Schmidt reiterated that a plaque should be made for the large donors because they would like to see their names memorialized at the park. He also said that large donors could help support maintenance of the park and Phase II. • H. Committee Reports: Large Contributions (Tom Sandor, Jerry Deering, Gene Banke); Plaques and Bricks (Tom Schmidt, Jerry Turnquist and Tom Sandor); Merchandising (Gordon Schnulle, Wally Wetzel, Tom Schmidt and Rich Dunne): There were no reports from these sub-committees. I. Other Business. o Mr. Millikan indicated that the marker for the Combat Infantryman's Badge, which was inadvertently placed on the opposite side of the park from the CIB, would be corrected in spring. o Chairman Cook called a meeting for Wednesday, February 18, for further discussions. He asked that, if anyone would like to volunteer to work with him in future discussions with the Mayor and/or City Council, to meet with him after the meeting. H. Adjournment. A motion to adjourn was made by Chairman Cook and was seconded by Mr. Banke. An oral vote was taken and the motion passed unanimously. The meeting of the Veterans Memorial Park Committee was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.dRe pectfully submitted, ,, , - �� I l /i l an.ra . Kolba Recording Secretary Community Development Group Date Approved: