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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-30-2012 Minutes SOUTH BEND BOARD OF PARK CONMUSSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MAY 30, 2012 The Board of Park Commissioners of the Park District of the City of South Bend, Indiana met on Wednesday May 30, 2012 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. Robert Goodrich,Vice President Ms. Amy Hill Mr. Garrett Mullins Park Board members absent were as follows: Mr. Robert Henry,President Staff members present: Phil St. Clair, Superintendent; Betsy Harriman,Administrative Director; Bill Carleton,Fiscal Officer; Paul McMinn,Assistant Recreation Director;Randy Nowacki,Director of Golf Operations;Laura Arriaga, Interim Zoo Director; Richard Payton,Development Director; Mike Dyszkiewicz,Maintenance Superintendent; Cheryl Greene,Park Board Attorney I. The meeting was called to order by Board Vice President Robert Goodrich at 4:01 p.m. IL Presentation by Patrick Henthorn,P.E.,Assistant City Engineer Mr. Henthom gave a presentation regarding the Combined Sewer Overflow project and the effect on the trees in the project area. The trees in the tree lawns directly impacted by construction will be removed and replaced at a ratio of 2:1 during the project and those that are indirectly affected may be replaced at a ratio of 2:1 at the homeowner's request. III. The first order of business was the interviewing of interested citizens. 1. Mr. Larry Clifford, 709 E. Washington St., addressed the Board concerning the trees on Washington St. He felt the Park Board should be more proactive in protecting the trees affected by this project. Mr. Goodrich asked Mr. Henthom to provide some information to the Board regarding the number of trees to be cut and how many home owners have asked to not have their trees cut at this time. IV. Potawatomi Zoological Society 1. Ms. Marcy Dean,Executive Director,reported that the chimps have arrived and media coverage was very good. 2. The Zoo train is running. 3. Their marketing campaign is ongoing. 4. The butterfly exhibit opened last weekend and had 1,400 over the three day period. 5. The Zoo Family Walk will be held on June 9 at 8 a.m. - - I - - V. Report by the Botanical Society 1. Ms. Heidi Gray,Botanical Society Director,reported that the construction is done. 2. There were 400 people at the reopening party. 3. She requested the Board's approval to hold an event on June 22 and serve beer and wine. Ms. Greene asked that she contact the Legal Department to clarify the licensing requirements for serving alcohol at the event. Ms. Hill made a motion to approve the event. Mr. Mullins seconded the motion and it was passed. VI. The next order of business was unfinished business. 1. Opening of Court Repair Quotes-Mike Dyszkiewicz Mr. Dyszkiewicz presented three sets of quotes for repairs to sidewalks, courts, and parking lots. The quotes were opened and red aloud as follows: a. Arnt Asphalt- $186,010 b. Walsh&Kelly- $183,300 c. Rieth-Riley- $176,230 Because each exceeded the planned budget and the level for required bidding,Ms. Greene recommended that they all be rejected because they were not specified as a divisible project. She suggested he resubmit them after going through the bid process or reduce the scope of the project and requote it. Ms. Hill made a motion to reject all quotes received and start the process again. Mr. Mullins seconded the motion and it was passed. 2. Request to Ratify Fredrickson Park Easement-Phil St. Clair Director St. Clair introduced Mr. Matthew Sherman,representing Indiana&Michigan Power. He explained the project as the relocation of transmission lines along State Road 23 adjacent to Fredrickson Park due to road widening. Ms. Hill made a motion to approve the easement as presented. Mr. Mullins seconded the motion and it was passed. VII. The next order of business was new business. 1. Request to Approve Arborist Licenses The following license applications were presented for approval by the Board: a. Leonard's Landscape and Tree b. Michiana Tree Mr. Mullins made a motion to accept the renewals of the Arborist Licenses and Ms. Hill seconded the motion. The motion was passed. 2. Requests for Use of Parks- Ms. Harriman requested the Board approve the following requests: a. June 16, 2012 - GLBT Pride in the Park-Howard Park b. June 16, 2012 -Juneteenth- Indiana Black Expo -LaSalle Park c. September 29, 2012 -Peace Paws Festival-Pets Connect-Howard Park Ms. Hill made the motion to approve the above request pending staff approval and it was seconded by Mr. Mullins. The motion was approved. - - 2 - - VIII. Approval of Minutes Ms. Hill made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on April 16, 2012 as mailed. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mullins and approved. IX. Approval of Maintenance Vouchers A motion was made by Mr. Mullins to approve maintenance vouchers for April 2012 totaling $920,933.10. It was seconded by Ms. Hill. There being no further discussion,the motion was passed. X. Business of Director St. Clair 1. Director St. Clair distributed activity reports to the Board. 2. The Conservatory Grand Reopening was held on May 18 and he commended the Maintenance Division for the remarkable job getting the building ready for the opening. Approximately 400 people attended. 3. The staff is working on the 2013 operating and capital budget. A meeting will be held with the City staff tomorrow to begin the process. 4. Discussions have been held regarding Howard Park and upgrades that could be done. The Ice Rink was discussed as part of the overall plan. 5. The Voorde Park project is almost done. It was done with a $350,000 grant from the Redevelopment Commission and partnership with Hoosier Tank. 5. The Blues Fest staff is very busy preparing for the event in June. 6. Rounds played at the golf courses are up 6,500 rounds over last year and the Zoo's attendance is also ahead of last year. 7. He thanked Mike Dyszkiewicz and his staff for getting the splash pads operable before the Memorial Day weekend. It was very hot and they weren't scheduled to be opened until June. 8. The Park Police are doing their firearms qualification this week. 9. Ms. Katie Galloway-Hocker,who has been running the City Wellness program will be leaving in June. He thanked her for her great work. 10. He addressed the problem with dying ash trees around town because of the emerald ash borer insect. They will have to be cut down as they die and replaced. 11. The visitation committee from the CAPRA accreditation organization will be here in July to review us for our five year reaccreditation. 12. He wanted to thank the Notre Dame baseball staff and team for raising $1,500 at a recent game. It will be directed to Miracle Park. XI. Comments by the Interim Zoo Director 1. Ms. Arriaga reported that the two chimps have been received and are in quarantine. They will be on exhibit separately until their quarantine is over and then they will be introduced together. 2. The riding ponies are here and giving rides. The petting area is also open. - -3 - - 3. A female Amur leopard from the Audubon Zoo is in quarantine and will be introduce to our male. 4. The Zoo has also received six wallabies to increase the gene diversity of our group. They are from Australia. X11. Comments by the Golf Operations Director 1. Aerifying has been done on all the courses. 2. The fairway project on#I at Elbel is finished and he is seeing improvements due to the increased sunlight and air flow on the course. 3. WAOR's "Gunga la Gunga"promotion was held at Elbel and was a big success. 4. The 190'Annual School Corporation's annual outing was also well received. Mr. Goodrich thanked the staff for a great effort. X111. Comments by the Maintenance Superintendent 1. Mr. Mike Dyszkiewicz gave credit to his staff for their great efforts. 2. The splash pads are running with the exception of Charles Black Center. Parts are on order. 3. The staff is grading at the Animal Shelter. 4. The new climbing walls are installed at O'Brien. 5. Preparation is underway to install the new playground complex at Belleville. It is thought this will take 2 '/2 weeks. 6. Rafting begins on June 9. XIV. Comments by Development Director 1. Mr. Payton showed the Board a copy of the new Parks Foundation brochure. 2. The Board is hoping to sell the suites at Coveleski for the Blues and Ribs Fest. It is slow. 3. The fishing program at Pinhook Park was supported by Mark Carboneau of the Foundation. 4. The Marketing and Development division is preparing for the CAPRA team. 5. The Active Youth Initiative is a two year plan. He handed out information to the Board. 6. He presented a program along with the other park systems in the area to the Convention and Visitor's Bureau's annual luncheon. XV. Comments by the Assistant Recreation Director 1. Mr. McMinn reported that there are now three climbing walls. 2. The annual Senior Citizen's picnic was held today. Turnout was very good. 3. Recent special events were the Zumba Family outing,the equestrian ride at Potato Creek State Park, and the youth fishing program at Pinhook. XV1. There being no more business to come before the Board the meeting adjourned at 5:31 - - 4 - - p.m. The next regular meeting will be held Monday June 18, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the O'Brien Administration Center. Respectfully Submitted, William Carleton Executive Secretary