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Home My WebLink About10 - October 24 2016 MinutesSOUTH BEND BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 24, 2016 The Board of Park Commissioners of the Park District of the City of South Bend, Indiana met on Monday, September 19, 2016 at the O’Brien Administration & Recreation Center, 321 E. Walter St., South Bend, Indiana for its regular meeting. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting were duly given as required by law. Park Board members present were as follows: Mr. Mark Neal, President Ms. Aimee Buccellato Ms. Amy Hill Park Board members absent were as follows: Mr. Dan Farrell Staff members present: Aaron Perri, Director of Parks; Eva Ennis, Operations Coordinator; Paula Garis, Special Events Supervisor; Ben Dougherty, Assistant City Attorney; Matthew Moyers, Special Project Coordinator; Amy Roush, Administrative Assistant Supervisor; John Martinez, Maintenance Superintendent I. The meeting was called to order by Board President Mark Neal at 5:00 p.m. II. Approval of Minutes of the September 19, 2016 Regular Board Meeting Motion to approve the minutes of the regular board meeting held on September 19, 2016 by Aimee Buccellato, supported by Amy Hill, motion carried. III. Approval of the Consent Agenda Motion to approve the consent agenda by Amy Hill, supported by Aimee Buccellato motion carried. IV. Interviewing of Interested Citizens Request for citizen input on items not listed on the September 19, 2016 Park Board Meeting agenda. Mic Perry of Southeast Area Organization Residents shared a plan to create a Bowman Creek biozone at Ravina Park to celebrate Indiana’s bicentennial. The project would include planting native wildflowers similar to the natural habitat of Indiana along Bowman Creek and a bison sculpture installed at Ravina Park. The project has support of Bowman Creek group and the PARC Committee of Common Council. Mic Perry also recommended changing the name of Ravina to Martin Luther King Jr. Park to honor Martin Luther King Jr. in our city. V. Report by Organizations There were none. VI. Unfinished Business 1. Update on Elbel Special Advisory Committee Recommendations Aaron Perri reported that the department will stagger the seasonal shut down golf courses for the winter. Studebaker will be closed this weekend. Elbel will close in mid-November. Erskine will close when snow comes. All three courses are included in the budget for the full 2017 season. Updates on the Ecological Advocacy Committee and First Tee of Michigan will be discussed later in the meeting. VII. New business 1. Supplemental Agreement to the City of South Bend Teamster Local Union No. 364 Agreement Aaron Perri reviewed the highlights of the Parks Supplemental Agreement including an average 3% salary increase, 4-year agreement, job readiness allowance, and PERF contribution. Mark Neal noted that Section B. should state “employer” not “employee.” The titles of Amy Hill and Aimee Buccellato also need to be switched in the document. Motion to approve the Supplemental Agreement to the City of South Bend Teamster Local Union No. 364 Agreement subject to changes made on the document by Amy Hill, Aimee Buccellato supported, motion carried. 2. Board of Public Works Agency Agreement- Parking Garage Maintenance Aaron Perri reported that parking garage maintenance will be reverting to the city. Day to day operations of garages will not change. DTSB will continue to manage parking subscriptions. Venues, Parks and Arts will make capital improvements. Parks will also not handle responsibility of the retail space in the garages. Ben Dougherty noted that the meeting dates is incorrect on the agreement and should be changed to the correct date of October 24, 2016. Motion to approve the Board of Public Works Agency Agreement with the adjusted date by Amy Hill, Aimee Buccellato supported, motion carried. 3. First Tee of Michiana Michael Rippey reviewed First Tee of Michiana and shared plans for how it could be integrated into Studebaker Golf Course. First Tee of Michiana’s mission is similar to the tradition at Studebaker of education. First Tee focuses on positive values and character and physical activity and wellness. First tee of Michiana would be responsible for minor renovations, programming, and community relations at Studebaker. They are also looking to partner with local schools and organizations to find interested participants. First Tee would need to raise $130.000 for the program at Studebaker which would include improvements at Studebaker. Recommends entering into usage agreement in December between Parks and First Tee (Indiana Golf Association). Michael Rippey added that First Tee is looking for transportation options to help participants get to Studebaker. Amy Hill recommended working with Transpo for transportation options. 4. Ecological Advocacy Committee Matthew Moyers reported the results of the Ecological Advocacy Committee selection group. He reported that there were an excellent number and quality of applications and the selection group tried to select a balance of talents and expertise for the new committee. Aaron Perri added that meetings will operate under the open door laws and will be public meetings. Motion to approve recommendations that were presented to the Board by Amy Hill, supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. 5. Recognition of Amy Hill / Introduction of Consuella Hopkins Mark Neal recognized Amy Hill for her five years of service as a Park Board Commissioner. He also welcomed Consuella Hopkins who has been appointed to fill Amy Hill’s position. VIII. Business by Director Aaron Perri Aaron Perri gave the following updates: - The National Recreation and Parks Association conference was this month, and a number of staff attended. - The new Venues, Parks and Arts Department was codified in legislation two weeks ago. VPA will be hiring a deputy director and a new division with 10 new positions. - The Riverfront Parks and Trails Community Forum #2 is November 2. Smith Group JJR will come back to the community to make sure they have the correct vision. - South Bend just entered into a contract with Park Score, which is a company that will assign a park score for our city, identify park desserts, find areas in need of park facilities and provide other valuable data about parks in South Bend. - In 2017, the department will introduce tenant user liability insurance program (TULIP) to allow small users to have a small fee to buy into insurance. - Newman Center was officially sold. - EPA provided updated on their work at LaSalle Park: soil sampling is almost complete, will hear about area near CBC by March and rest of park next summer. IX. Report by Maintenance Superintendent John Martinez John Martinez reviewed facilities and grounds project updates from the last month including Keller Park playground improvements, graffiti removal, plantings at the Morris Performing Arts Center. He also gave the following updates: - Kelly Park renovations are almost complete. There are interconnecting sidewalks between all facilities to make the park ADA complient. - HVAC improvements have been made at Martin Luther King Center. Air Conditioning will work at that facility next summer. - IUSB Softball project is starting this week. No other questions or comments from the Board, meeting adjourned a 6:29 p.m.by President Mark Neal. The next regular meeting will be held November 21, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the O’Brien Administration Center. Respectfully Submitted, Eva Ennis Executive Secretary