HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 18 Park Board MinutesSOUTH BEND BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING
April 18, 2022 The Board of Park Commissioners of the City of South Bend, Indiana met on Monday, April 18, 2022, at Howard Park Event Center, 219 S. St. Louis Blvd and virtually on Microsoft Teams 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: Mark Neal - President Aimee Buccellato
Park Board members present and attending virtually as follows: Consuella Hopkins – Vice President Dan Farrell
VPA staff members present: Aaron Perri, Executive Director; Jessica Williams, Executive Assistant; John Martinez, Directors of Facilities & Grounds; Annie Smith, Chief Development Officer; Patrick
Sherman, Project Manager; Bridget Fields, Special Events Manager; Matthew Moyers, Community Standards Coordinator; Matt Frazier, Marketing Manager Other city representatives present: Clara McDaniels, Assistant City Attorney I. Call to Order Mark Neal called the meeting to order at 5:01 pm. II. Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on March 21, 2022 Motion to approve the meeting minutes of March 21, 2022, by Aimee Buccellato, seconded by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. III. Consent Agenda Motion to approve the consent agenda of April 18, 2022, by Dan Farrell, seconded by Aimee Buccellato
motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. Consuella Hopkins arrived at 5:10pm.
IV. Outstanding Partner – Girls on the Run Michiana Amy Cooper Collier, the Council Director started by sharing a video to introduce the program and some of the participants. Girls on the Run Michiana is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a world
where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. Girls on the Run inspires ALL girls to build confidence and make intentional decisions, while fostering care and compassion for self and others. Trained coaches use physical activity and dynamic discussions to build social, emotional, and physical skills in every girl while encouraging healthy habits for life. The South Bend 5k run will take place on Saturday May 21, 2022, at Potawatomi Park. Aaron Perri presented Girls on the Run Michiana with the Outstanding Partner certificate. V. Use of Parks – New Events 1. Michiana Hematology Oncology – Concert for a Cure at Howard Park on August 5, 2022 Chris Villaire stated that this event will be a concert sponsored by Michiana Hematology Oncology for the community and cancer patients and survivors in the greater Michiana area. Whistle Pigs will be the
featured band.
Motion to approve the Michiana Hematology Oncology – Concert for a Cure at Howard Park on August
5, 2022, by Aimee Buccellato, seconded by Dan Farrell motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0. VI. Interviewing of Interested Residents Mark Neal opened the floor for interested residents to speak on a topic not on the agenda. There were no comments from the public. VII. Randolph Park Right of Way Dedication (Moved from New Business) Patrick Sherman presented on the Randolph Park Right of Way Dedication and shared a timeline of improvements. The improvements from 2017 to 2020 include a new sidewalk, new playground equipment, and new basketball court. In 2021, street removal engineering began and in 2022 the street removal process began. Sherman explained that the park will gain approximately 1700 square feet in
space and the park will be safer and a lot more useful. All Board of Park Commissioners agreed to sign the Deed of Dedication for Randolph Park.
Motion to approve the Randolph Park Right of Way Dedication, by Dan Farrell, seconded by Aimee Buccellato motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0.
VIII. Old Business 1. Indiana Michigan Power East Bank Trail Update Mona Livingston expressed the East Bank Trail is scheduled to reopen on May 6th. Commissioner Farrell asked for clarity on the original completion date versus the new completion date. May 6th was confirmed as the new completion date. Livingston stated all the encountered setbacks were due to unnatural and uncontrollable events. Commissioner Farrell asked for an update on the dog park reopening. Patrick Sherman confirmed the dog park will be reseeded and remain closed for an extended period. Commissioner Buccellato asked where the public can find the information given in this update. Indiana Michigan Power states that they can place information on their website for better accessibility. 2. LaSalle Park Remediation Plan Rick Brown and Stephen Studer presented on the LaSalle Park Remediation Plan. The public can view the information in the presentation by visiting https://southbendin.gov/epa-approves-work-plan-for-becks-lake-remediation/. Brown and Studer discussed the site history, more recent site background, further site
investigation, and the remedial action plan. In the 1960s, the City acquired the property and developed LaSalle Park without awareness of past contamination. The federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) was passed decades after the City
acquired the park, and makes any person, including a municipality, who has ever owned or operated contaminated land potentially responsible to clean it up, regardless of if they caused the contamination. Dr. Boyles explained that in 2015 an administrative order (ASAOC) was signed by the City of South Bend and Honeywell to perform a focused remedial investigation, planning documents were approved, and an additional AOAOC was signed to complete the remediation action. Site investigation showed results from over 200 additional soil samples collected in November and December 2019 throughout the park. Together, the City and Honeywell have expended nearly $5 million to investigate the area. The upcoming final phase of the project may cost an additional $1.5 - 2.0 million. Brown and Studer stated that the next steps would be to proceed with excavation in an extra cautious manner. Brown explained the excavation process provided by the EPA in further detail. The EPA has indicated that the park poses no immediate health threat. Commissioner Buccellato expressed concerns about the timeline overlapping with heavy park usage. Discussion ensued on the best time to begin the remediation plan and how much of the park to block off for work. Work will not begin until late June,
post Juneteenth celebration. Brown and Studer clarified that the excavation process will take place either
by the City or by EPA. The current timeline allows for the City to be in control of the process. Commissioner Buccellato asked for clear and concise language and communication to the community
when closing the park. Once a contractor has been selected on May 12th, another public meeting will be scheduled. 3. MLK Dream Center Updates Aaron Perri gave updates on the Martin Luther King Jr. Center development project. There have been 9 public meetings and plenty of public feedback. Over 700 individual responses have been recorded from December 2021 to now. The public expressed that they would like to see a community center, sports, health & wellness area, market space, a café, garden space, and much more. The new building design by Meticulous places the new center on corner of Linden Ave. and College St. The design includes a playground, splash pad, basketball courts, and a storage building to house transportation and trash
receptacles. May 12th is the date for the final celebration for the design and currently 11 million dollars has been raised for the project. Commissioner Buccellato asked the square footage of the new center. Perri relayed the center will be greater than 30,000 sq ft total. This project will take 16 weeks for
completion after bidding. IX. New Business
1. Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies – Reaccreditation Document Updates Matthew Moyers presented the documentation for review by the Board of Park Commissioners. These documents require approval by the Board for the reaccreditation process which happens every 5 years. Moyers stated that these are all documents that were chosen to guide park operations. a. Volunteer Manual Motion to approve the Volunteer Manual by Aimee Buccellato, seconded by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0. b. Marketing Manual Motion to approve the Marketing Manual by Aimee Buccellato, seconded by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0.
c. Preventative Maintenance Manual Motion to approve the Preventative Maintenance Manual by Aimee Buccellato, seconded by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0.
d. Recreation Strategy Motion to approve the Recreation Strategy by Aimee Buccellato, seconded by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0.
e. Concussion Policy Motion to approve the Concussion Policy by Aimee Buccellato, seconded by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0. f. Master Plan Update Motion to approve the Master Plan Update by Aimee Buccellato, seconded by Dan Farrell, motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0. 2. History Museum Studebaker Fountain Transfer Aaron Perri explained the history behind the Studebaker Fountain. The History Museum provided an
agreement that states the Studebaker Fountain belongs to the City of South Bend. The agreement also
states that The History Museum will recall the fountain if not maintained or if dismantled.
Motion to approve the History Museum Studebaker Fountain Transfer, by Dan Farrell, seconded by
Aimee Buccellato motion carried. Roll call vote 4-0.
X. Report by Executive Director Aaron Perri
Aaron Perri gave the following updates: - Niles Ave Dog Park will be closed May 6th to July 1st. - Rent.Fun is a new kayak rental station that will be installed in May at Pinhook Park. It is solar powered, and access is controlled remotely. This will be the first in the Midwest. - Bird scooters are no longer allowed to be driven in Howard Park. City code prohibits motorized vehicles. A geofence has been placed in Howard Park to prevent accidents and injuries. Commissioner Neal asked if rules can be communicated to park goers. Perri indicated new signage and handouts can be made to help spread the word. Online posting is suggested by Commissioner Buccellato as well. - Harriet Tubman Statue discussion will be held at the next meeting and the Facilities &
Grounds division should receive the statue on Wednesday April, 20th. XI. Adjournment
No other questions or comments from the Park Commissioners, meeting adjourned at 7:07 by President Mark Neal.
The next regular meeting will be held June 20, 2022, at 5:00 p.m. at Howard Park Event Center and virtually. Respectfully Submitted, Jessica Williams Clerk, Board of Park Commissioners