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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-16 PARCOFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER, CITY CLERK PARC COMMITTEE Committee Members Present: Other Council Present: Others Present: NOVEMBER 14, 2016 4:20 P.M. Randy Kelly, Dr. David Varner, Oliver Davis, John Voorde, Citizen Member John Mazurkiewicz Karen White, Jo Broden, Regina Williams- Preston, Tim Scott, Gavin Ferlic Kareemah Fowler, Joseph Molnar, Michael Passavoir, Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand Agenda: Aaron Perri and Mic Perry — Venues, Parks and Arts Dept. Update Committee Chair Randy Kelly called the meeting to order with one (1) item on the agenda. Aaron Perri and Mic Perry — Venues, Parks and Arts Dept. Update Aaron Perri, Venues, Parks, and Arts Department, 321 East Walter Street, South Bend, IN, served as presenter of this update. He stated that Elbel Park was closed for the season, which allows for the opportunity to replant and replot the course. This is an effort to reinforce ecological diversity, but also to reduce much of the maintenance cost. He also explained that they would most likely be including the name "Preserve," playing to the ecological - environmental theme. He updated the Committee on the First Tee of Michiana which was officially presented to the PARC board. He stated that it was about getting more youth into golf and making it a more sustainable sport, long -term. This is primarily to take place at the Studebaker golf course. Mr. Perri informed the Committee that there would be personnel changes to ensure long -term business success of the operation. TJ Mannen is returning to his old post as Golf Pro, "his bread and butter," from the post of Director of Golf which he'd taken on ten (10) months prior. This allows them to bring in someone of substantial experience in business development. Karen White asked Mr. Perri where his department was in the post- budget process of reorganizing staff. Mr. Perri responded that the Venues, Parks, and Arts Department has twelve (12) positions posted, mainly in experienced divisions, and that currently there is no timeline on 455 County-City Building • 227 W. Jefferson Boulevard • South Bend, Indiana 46601 Phone 574- 235 -9221 • Fax 574- 235 -9173 • TDD 574 - 235 -5567 • www.SouthBendIN.gov JENNIFER M. COFFMAN ALKEYNA M. ALDRIDGE JOSEPH MOLNAR CHIEF DEPUTY/ CHIEF OF STAFF DEPUTY/ DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK filling those positions. Ms. White asked whether there were actual promotions in the reorganization structure, or if those with positions in the department had to apply for vacant positions and go through the entire hiring process. Mr. Perri responded that there were no actual promotions and that those working in the department were encouraged to find postings for positions in which they were interested. Mr. Perri stated that he expected six (6) of the twelve (12) to be filled by people already in the Department. Committeemember Dr. David Varner asked Mr. Perri what was going on with Elbel Park aside from the golf course. Mr. Perri responded that much of that was coming into play through their Natural Resources Management plan. There are a few more pieces of work to do in the spring on the environmental consulting side of things, which will provide a roadmap to invasive species mitigation, natural areas, evolution, bird watching opportunities, etc. Mr. Perri stated, The whole gameplan is, we'll just have to figure out how to fund it and finance it. Committeemember Dr. Varner stated, So, you're looking at some time next spring? Mr. Perri responded, Correct. It was a year -long study and I think we started it sometime in the summer. Committee Chair Randy Kelly asked Mr. Perri whether or not he had any financial information regarding Elbel and for some of his thoughts on running the course even through the winter. Mr. Perri responded, We will continue to keep it active through the winter. It's been used every winter informally for sledding and snowshoeing and bird watching, things of that nature. We'll want to embrace a little more formally, this year. Committee Chair Kelly responded, Tires and that kind of thing? Mr. Perri responded, Some of those things that require infrastructure probably won't be ready this winter. Regarding finances, Mr. Perri explained that golf was on the same revenue line as previous years, but that there was an overall reduction of expenses for the year. He stated, It will be a little more favorable than years past, but we did make some extra capital expenditures, one of the first ones we made was an additional capital investment. Mic Perry, 901 East Fox Street, South Bend, IN, stated, Be it duly noted, acknowledged, and acclaimed by all good people in Chambers here assembled, the pronouncement of enduring and supreme importance. Now, I have to figure that that is probably how the announcement happened on December 11th, 1816, when Indiana became the nineteenth (19th) state to join the Union. I think they probably would have introduced that concept somewhere along those lines. He stated that he, in fact, had a concept of how to celebrate the State's bicentennial anniversary, which he would like to present. Before that, he informed the Committee that on November 15th, 2016 there would be a neighborhood meeting at Broadway Christian Parish at 6 p.m., on the subject of housing. He further explained that these meetings normally occur every second (2nd) Tuesday of a given month at 6 p.m. at the same time and place. Mr. Perry stated that there has not been much fanfare in South Bend regarding the celebration of Indiana's bicentennial. Two (2) years ago, United Ways came up with the idea of a "Bison - tennial" celebration. He explained that after weeks of training at the Neighborhood Leadership Academy, he, in conjunction with the Far West Neighborhood, was tasked with coming up with a project that would benefit the neighborhood or City in general. An idea that got a lot of support was the concept of getting a fiberglass bison that would represent the bison on the State Seal of Indiana. Have sponsors around the State buy them from an outfit in Kansas and then install it. There are already two (2) of them in South Bend —one on 4H fairgrounds, another at Logan Center. The idea is to have a "Bison - tennial Biozone" at Ravina Park. There would be the bison, and prairie grasses and 2 flowers on the upper level of Ravina Park, eliminating the need for mowing. On the lower level, along the creek itself would be rushes, native grasses, and some prairie and wild flowers native to the State, along the left bank of the creek. This would not only be a recreational area but educational, where school kids can come and look at the buffalo and at the creek —a snapshot of the Hoosier prairie in 1816. Fitting and inexpensive for the Parks Department. He stated that the bison costs $1500, delivered. He suggested the use of the paving bricks from the City street projects to build a pedestal for it, six (6) to seven (7) feet above the ground to avoid opportunities for vandalism, and to better the view of the installation. Mr. Perry presented another idea, which he admitted has not been met with support: honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by renaming Ravina Park to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. Mr. Perry stated that nobody, whether in the Parks Department or Historic Preservation, knows where the name Ravina comes from. He could not find the word in a Spanish, Portuguese, or Italian dictionary. He stated, Let's take a word that doesn't exist —let's make everybody happy —and consider renaming Ravina Park to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. In addition, he suggested an addition to the Bison - tennial concept. He stated, There's a cute little bison calf that these people have fabricated, as well. My concept, as I mentioned the last time I talked to you folks, would be for the City of South Bend —for the pennies that it costs, literally, compared to the rest of your budget —to buy a mama, and a papa bison, and a baby bison, and give that to the Potawatomi Pokagon Band for their Indiana district headquarters out on Locust Road. They've got this wonderful carved wooden sign—we could have the mama and papa buffalo, and the baby buffalo out there, and we could thank them for things that they've already done for our town and our area, and things that they have already pledged, as you all know, to do in the future in lieu of property taxes with this half -a- billion - dollar ($500,000,000) casino hotel and Pokagon Band Village project. Committee Chair Randy Kelly responded, I remember the first time you came to me with the Bison - tennial idea, with the prairie grasses and —yeah. And I know the work that enFocus has been doing in that area along the creek would fit right into your concept, as well, and that they're in favor of doing it. Mr. Perry added that Bowman Creek is in favor of the project. Committee Chair Kelly asked Aaron Perri if he had anything to add to that. Mr. Perri responded that he thinks the Parks Department is prepared to through Venues, Parks, and Arts —get the bison and to continue to work on the prairie idea, in support of the Bowman Creek educational ecosystem. He stated, With the bison, we will continue to work out where exactly it's placed. With no further items on the agenda, Committee Chair Gavin Ferlic adjourned the meeting at 4:37 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, 'TZ:�'-w /Z- i Randy Kelly Chairperso