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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSeptember 21 2020 Board Meeting MinutesSOUTH BEND BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING September 21, 2020 The Board of Park Commissioners of the City of South Bend, Indiana met on Monday, September 21, 2020, at Howard Park Event Center and 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 Ms. Consuella Hopkins Mr. Dan Farrell Ms. Aimee Buccellato 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; Jeff Jarnecke, Executive Director of Venues 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 August 17, 2020 Board Meeting Minutes Motion to approve the minutes of the August 17, 2020 Park Board meeting by Dan Farrell, supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0. III. Consent Agenda 1. Financial Statements – July 2020 Motion to approve the financial statements for July 2020 by Dan Farrell, supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0. 2. Use of Parks – Renewal Clara Ross, 726 Cushing St., South Bend, Indiana 46616, presented the idea for Box City. October 10 is Homeless Awareness Day. Agencies that support homeless services will come together on that day bring awareness to the local homeless community needs. The Box City event will take place at Howard Park. Bridget Fields noted that everything is in order with the application for approval. Motion to approve the Box City event at Howard Park on October 10 by Dan Farrell, supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. Roll call vote, 4-0. IV. Interviewing of Interested Citizens T. Enstacia White discussed how the D.R.E.A.M.S. organization that provides high-quality outreach programs for youth ages 8-18 would be a beneficial partner with the Charles Black Center and Martin Luther King Jr. Center. D.R.E.A.M.S. organization has programs geared towards personal and professional development and could be implemented at the centers well. Mark Neal requested that VPA staff touch base with T.Enstacia White about implementing the D.R.E.A.M.S. organization at VPA facilities. V. New Business 1. Announcement of Open Applications for Ecological Advocacy Committee Membership Matthew Moyers, Partnership & Standards Coordinator, announced that VPA will open the application process for new members of the Ecological Advocacy Committee. VPA will accept applications until October 30. Recommendations will come before the Park Board at the November meeting. 2. Award Security System Proposal Patrick Sherman, Project Manager at VPA, explained that at the last Park board meeting the board opened proposals from Vermillion Systems and Communication Company. The scoring committee agreed to award the proposal to Vermillion Systems. Aimee Buccellato asked if a 75% score is expected or if the committee was hoping for a score closer to 100%. Patrick Sherman replied that the scoring committee was confident that both companies could do a good job and the scores weren’t meant to reflect otherwise. The scoring committee tried to be very thorough in their review of the two proposals. Patrick Sherman noted that the upgrading of the systems is a one-time project and the monitoring of the security systems will be for a 2-year term. Motion to award the security systems proposal to Vermillion Systems by Dan Farrell, supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. Roll call vote, 4-0. 3. Lease Agreement with First Tee of Michiana Jeff Jarnecke, Executive Director of Venues, explained the partnership between First Tee of Michiana and Studebaker Golf Course that currently exists. First Tee of Michiana provides free instruction and programs for youth at Studebaker Golf Course. First Tee of Michiana would like to expand their program at Studebaker Golf Course and make the golf course their home by renovating the club house at Studebaker Golf Course to better accommodate their programs. Jenny Zimmerman, First Tee of Michiana, reviewed the current programs at Studebaker Golf Course with First Tee which includes Kids Golf Free which led to 1,700 rounds played by youth for free. First Tee would like to expand at Studebaker Golf Course to make it the permanent home and learning center facility for First Tee of Michiana. The facility improvements include a golf similulator, and indoor putting green, outdoor covered deck, golf cart storage, and flexible open space. There is also a proposed a 1 acre short game practice area. The anticipated cost for the improvements is approximately $800,000. Construction could start as early as next month. Jeff Jarnecke explained that the request from the board is to approve a lease agreement to First Tee because the project will be privately developed and funded through First Tee. As part of the agreement, VPA and the City Engineering Department will play an active role in the improvements. Dan Farrell commented that the numbers are impressive and asked how big the number can get. Jenny Zimmerman replied that she is excited to see how high they can get. She noted that numbers will be down this year because they normally do after-school programs that have been cancelled this year. Consuella Hopkins asked how First Tee advertises their programs to make sure the entire community is aware. Jenny Zimmerman replied that they do a lot of outreach at the South Bend Community School Corporation elementary schools. Transportation can be an issue to getting kids to Studebaker Golf Course, but First Tee continues to work on that problem. Clara McDaniels explained that the lease is still in negotiations with First Tee. She anticipates that the lease agreement will be completed by the next meeting for final approval. Motion to support the ongoing negotiation of the lease agreement to be ratified at the next board meeting by Aimee Buccellato, supported by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote, 4-0. 4. MOU with Beacon Health and Fitness at Howard Park Jonathan Jones explained that Beacon Health and Fitness will be using Inovateus Solar Event Lawn for 6 weeks to offer fitness classes to the public on Saturdays. The classes are offered free of charge Motion to approve the MOU with Beacon Health and Fitness at Howard Park by Dan Farrell, supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. Roll call vote, 4-0. 5. Amendment to MOU with IUSB at Leeper Tennis Jonathan Jones explained that VPA offered space at Leeper Tennis Center to IUSB for their regular tennis season use last year, and IUSB would like to extend the agreement another year. The amendment to the MOU will extend their use of the courts another year. Mark Neal asked if the courts are still available to the public when IUSB uses the courts. Jonathan Jones replied that they only use a portion of the courts, so VPA is still able to keep the courts open to the public for regular hours. Motion to approve the amendment to the MOU with IUSB at Leeper Tennis Center by Dan Farrell, supported by Aimee Buccellato, motion carried. Roll call vote, 4-0. 6. Golf 2020 Season Update Tony Stearns, Director of Golf, reviewed the 2020 season so far noting that numbers have been higher than they’ve been in the last several years. The course opened May 11 after being closed for 50 days due to COVID. He also reviewed how the Golf Now program has been beneficial to the golf team in tracking data and marketing. VI. Report by Youth Employment Coordinator Kintae Lark Kintae Lark reviewed the Youth Jobs SB program as it has taken place over summer 2020. The program provided jobs and job readiness training for 90 youth ages 15-21. Students were offered training in the areas of personality inventory, career pathways, time management, budgeting, conflict resolution, and goal setting. He reviewed concepts for improving the program in the future including reaching more young people in within South Bend, offering job skills camps for youth throughout the community, and having more job opportunities in spring and fall that leads into summer jobs. VII. Business by Executive Director Aaron Perri Aaron Perri gave the following updates: • Announced that Ray Comer who served as VPA’s athletic director for many years passed away this month. • Jonathan Jones welcomed a new baby this month • The Director’s Youth Scholarship Golf Outing raised $22,000. • E-learning program continues at VPA facilities. The school board is meeting right now to decide if e-learning will continue. • The All-In Recreation Program has been updated since the last meeting. The updated proposal has been presented to Common Council through the budget hearings. • VPA will be working on an RFP for operating parking garages at • The development staff is working on a 100 Year Morris Celebration campaign to raise funds for improvements there and plan a celebration in 2022. • Howard Park was selected as the American Institute of Architects Indiana chapter Project of the Year. No other questions or comments from the Park Commissioners, meeting adjourned at 7:14 pm by President Mark Neal. The next regular meeting will be held Monday, October 19, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. with location to be determined. Respectfully Submitted, Eva Ennis