HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 17 2020 Board Meeting MinutesSOUTH BEND BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING
August 17, 2020 The Board of Park Commissioners of the City of South Bend, Indiana met on Monday, August 17, 2020, via Microsoft Teams virtual meeting for its regular meeting. Notice of the date, time and place of the meeting were duly given as required by law. The public was provided with a link to join the virtual meeting. Park Board members present were as follows: Mr. Mark Neal, President
Mr. Dan Farrell Ms. Aimee Buccellato Park Board members absent:
Ms. Consuella Hopkins VPA staff members present: Aaron Perri, Executive Director; Eva Ennis, Operations Coordinator; Annie
Gawkowski, Chief Development Officer; Matthew Moyers, Partnerships & Standards Coordinator; Jonathan Jones, Director of Recreation; Bridget Fields, Special Events Coordinator; Patrick Sherman, Project Manager Other city representatives present: Clara McDaniels, Assistant City Attorney; Troy Warner, Councilmember; Sharon McBride, Councilmember; Lori Hamman, Councilmember I. Call to Order Mark Neal called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. He reviewed the agenda and explained the forum for
the virtual meeting.
II. Approval of the May 18, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes
Motion to approve the minutes of the June 15, 2020 Park Board meeting by Aimee Buccellato, supported
by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0.
III. Financial Statements – June 2020
Motion to approve the Consent Agenda by Dan Farrell, supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried.
Roll call vote 3-0.
IV. Use of Parks Applications – New Events 1. Rhythm to You with Girls on the Run | September 26 | Potawatomi Park (Chris Wilson Pavilion)
Bridget Fields explained that the Rhythm to You is an event for Girls on the Run participants to get
together outdoors. It will be limited to 50 people who register in advance.
Motion to approve Rhythm to You with Girls on the Run
2. 525 Foundation Presents “Say Boo to Drugs!” | October 22 | Howard Park (Inovateus
Solar Event Lawn)
Becky Savage, President and Co-Founder of 525 Foundation, explained that the event is to celebrate national substance abuse prevention month in October by passing out prevention materials and treats to kids as an alternative to Trick-or-Treating.
Motion to approve Say Boo to Drugs on October 22 at Howard Park by Dan Farrell, supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0.
3. Get Out to Vote Community Rally | September 5 | Howard Park
Councilmember Sharon McBride explained that the event is a rally to encourage people to register to
vote. The event is partnering with Notre Dame women’s basketball coaching staff and Notre Dame get
out the vote team, and Martin’s Supermarket to raise money for food vouchers.
Aimee Buccellato asked about any special precautions being taken due to COVID. Sharon McBride
explained that police officers available to help enforce masks. At the last event, over 1,000 people
attended over the entire time period. Information tables will be spread out, and there will be extended
event times.
Motion to approve the Get Out to Vote Community Rally on September 5 by Dan Farrell, supported by
Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0.
V. Interviewing of Interested Citizens
Mark Neal opened the floor for citizen comments. There were no comments.
VI. New Business
1. All-In Recreation
Jonathan Jones, Director of Recreation, presented the All-In Recreation concept, a plan to increase
recreational programming through partnerships and address budget reductions projected for the 2021
budget. The draft concept proposes making space available at six programming sites (Rum Village,
Charles Black Community Center, Howard Park Event Center, MLK Community Center, O’Brien Fitness
Center, and Pinhook Community Center) for community organizations to provide programming at. This
concept would address projected budget shortfalls by reducing personnel costs while increasing
community programming through partnerships.
Mark Neal commented that he appreciates that this plan would be more inclusive and that cannot be done
alone without partners in our community.
Dan Farrell recommended that VPA set metrics in place to measure the impact of partnerships VPA
enters into. He also recommended being strategic in identifying what makes a good partnership to help
identify how to select good partners in the future.
Aaron Perri noted that this plan will be presented publicly as part of the budget process which is
scheduled to conclude in October.
2. Opening of Bids for Security Systems
Patrick Sherman explained that VPA has several properties that all need security systems and VPA has
searching for a single provider to consolidate to one security system provider.
Aimee Buccellato opened two bids and read the company names into the record as follows:
- Communications Company
- Vermillion Systems
3. Resolution 0007-2020: Staff to Effect Transaction re: Boys & Girls Club for eLearning
Aaron Perri explained that the Boys & Girls Club is providing services and space to facilitate in-person
eLearning sites for students who have parents that need to go back to work. VPA has agreed to partner to
provide space and employee assistance to increase the number of students that can be served in this
program. Students will be housed at Charles Black Center, MLK Center, and Pinhook Community
Center. Aaron Perri noted that the MOU is in draft form but there still needs to be details to work out with
the Boys & Girls Club; therefore, the resolution presented will authorize Aaron Perri as the Executive
Director to negotiate final terms and sign the final documentation on behalf of the board. Clara
McDaniels noted that legal will ensure that indemnification, insurance, staff training and COVID
precautions are all addressed in the final legal agreement.
Aimee Buccellato asked how the agreement would consider any special needs requirements for physical
space that students may have when we offer space at our facilities. Clara McDaniels noted that the
participants in the program have already went through an application process that she assumes students
special needs would have been identified through. Aaron Perri mentioned that we could put into
documents that the facilities are not a school so they may not have all the accommodations that a school
might have.
Mark Neal requested that Aaron Perri report back at the next meeting how the eLearning has gone.
Aaron Perri requested that the board consider adding Pinhook Community Center to the resolution.
Motion to approve Resolution 0007-2020: Staff to Effect Transaction re: Boys & Girls Club for
eLearning to include Pinhook Park by Dan Farrell., supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. Roll
call vote 3-0.
4. Amendment to the Naming Rights Agreement for the Rask Family Fountains
Annie Gawkowski explained that this amendment to the Naming Rights Agreement for the Rask Family
Fountains will extend the naming rights an additional year to end in 2035 because the fountains were not
operational for a significant portion of 2020 due to COVID.
Motion to approve the Amendment to the Naming Rights Agreement for the Rask Family Fountains by
Aimee Buccellato, supported by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0.
I. Business by Executive Director Aaron Perri
Aaron Perri gave the following updates:
- Golf will present a report at the upcoming board meeting. So far this year there has been a great
turnout at the golf course.
- The EAC will present an update on the 35th Street Wetlands at an upcoming meeting soon.
- Director’s Youth Scholarship Golf Outing is September 11 at Elbel Golf Course. Registration is
now open online.
- Gov. Kernan Trail is currently under construction and should be complete this fall.
- South Bend Scullers and Paddlers raised funds to help construct a new boat dock at Gov. Kernan
Park.
- Pinhook Community Center construction is complete and the park construction is underway.
No other questions or comments from the Park Commissioners, meeting adjourned at 6:23 pm by President Mark Neal.
The next regular meeting will be held Monday, September 21, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. with location to be determined.
Respectfully Submitted,
Eva Ennis