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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-22-17 PARC O�SOU r88�IV PEACE N � U d a ��a 1865 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK KAREEMAH FOWLER,CITY CLERK PARC COMMITTEE MAY 22, 2017 4:40 P.M. Committee Members Present: Randy Kelly, Dr. David Varner, Oliver Davis, John Voorde, Mick Perry (citizen member), Laura O'Sullivan (citizen member) Committee Members Absent: None Other Council Present: Regina Williams-Preston, Gavin Ferlic, Jo M. Broden, Tim Scott Other Council Absent: Karen White Others Present: Aladean DeRose, Kareemah Fowler, Graham Sparks Presenters: Aaron Perri, VPA Director Agenda: VPA General Update Committee Chair Randy Kelly called to order the PARC Committee at 4:40 p.m. He introduced members of the committee and proceeded to give the floor to Aaron Perri, Director of VPA. General Update,Aaron Perri,VPA Director Mr. Perri stated, I have typed up a few things to share that may be of interest to you all, but feel free to ask any questions as well. On the Venues side of VPA, we are undergoing a study with consultants to find the best management merging structure for the Morris, Palais and Century Centers. In the next eight(8)to ten(10) weeks, HPS Consulting will be working toward forming and presenting that proposed structure to us. They may be reaching out to you for feedback. Golf season is well underway and revenues are up ten percent (10%) from 2015 and up five percent (5%) over 2016. The trend is upward for us. Mr. Perri continued, About a month ago we had a presentation from Orbis Consulting in regard to Elbel Park which resulted in some recommendations on how to preserve and accentuate the environment of the course. We also went on a hike in the back of the course to see what sort of future trails could be created for hiking. We will also be looking at Erskine Golf Course. Orbis Consulting also helped us by constructing a Natural Resources Management Plan which is a system-wide management plan. This helps us with all fifty-two (52) of our properties. That will 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/DIRECTOR OF DEPUTY/DIRECTOR OF POLICY ORDINANCE VIOLATION CLERK OPERATIONS be presented to the Park Board on Jul. , our next Park Board meeting. That is being run through the Ecological Advocacy Committee. We now have Park Ambassadors,transitioning away from the traditional Park `Rangers.' They will be doing the same types of duties except without weapons or handcuffs. Instead of driving around in trucks,they will be more on foot and will have more of a hospitality and services mentality. The Riverfront Parks & Trails planning process has been going well. The next meeting for that is Tuesday, June 27th g 5:30 p.m. at the O'Brien Center. That is when the final plans and recommendations will be presented for us. Shortly thereafter, it will be encumbered on us to figure out exactly what we will invest in and how we might want to phase that process. We do have already$10 million identified for this project through partnerships, bonds, grants and TIF funds. All this information can be found at riverfrontparksandtrails.com. Committeemember Oliver Davis stepped out of the meeting at 4:51 p.m. Mr. Perri continued, The riverfront is the gem of the City, and these projects are figuring out ways to connect it all. The project list is kept up to date on sbvpa.or . There are probably about sixty(60)projects that we are working on. Some of the highlights are Fremont Park, in about three (3) weeks there will be the city's largest splash pad there. Kelly Park is also coming along, as is Leeper Park. Potawatomi Park just got resurfaced. We've installed the first wheelchair swing at Potawatomi Park. The Charles Black Center is on target, we are just waiting for the EPA's final health risk assessment but we are on track for groundbreaking in September. We are starting to announce the addition of the City's second dog park. We will be tearing down the debunked Safetyville at Rum Village and adding it there. We have also restored the Morris Fountain to its original marble. Final thing I wanted to highlight is that summer programs are well underway. In fact,programmatically this will be one (1) of the busiest summers we have ever had. Best. Week. Ever. is around the corner as well. Friday night will be the best night. Committeemember Laura O'Sullivan briefly described her event for Best. Week. Ever. Committeemember Mick Perry inquired about public restrooms in the parks and the Public Art initiative. Mr. Perri answered Committeemember Perry's inquires. Mr. Perry also suggested putting public art in the entry way of the County-City Building. He also suggested to have an `I Heart South Bend' sign in front of the County-City Building. Councilmember Tim Scott asked, Is there going to be a way to get members of the non-profit board of the Morris Center onto the Century Center Board? Mr. Perri answered, The Morris Board is a fundraising board and it will continue to exist regardless of this merger. The Civic Center Board of Managers is a State Legislative Board and its make-up is five (5) Mayoral appointees and four(4) Council appointees. City Clerk Kareemah Fowler asked, Is Potawatomi Pool set to open on time this year? 2 Mr. Perri affirmed, Yes, it should be open Memorial Day weekend. There are some fun events planned for the pool this year. Councilmember Scott asked, There is a pocket park on the corner of Lafayette and Lamonte that is in really bad shape. Could you look into that? Mr. Perri acknowledged and confirmed follow-up on that pocket park. Mr. Perry asked, There is also a pocket park on Miami Street by the viaduct that is overgrown and it looks like vandals have pushed over the sign there. Mr. Perri answered, That is private property but we should look into that. Unfortunately this is a likely case when neighborhoods build little private parks such as these. Time goes by and the maintenance and upkeep of those parks fall short. We need to identify volunteers that can come in and take care of those things. Mr. Perry followed up, Also, will the bandstand at Sietz Park be deconstructed and reconstructed? Mr. Perri replied, It will be reconstructed but it won't be back in the same park, but it will find a new home. With no further business, Committee Chair Kelly adjourned the PARC Committee meeting at 5:11 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, Randy Kelly Chairperson 3