HomeMy WebLinkAboutJuly 17 2023 Park Board MinutesSOUTH BEND BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING
July, 17, 2023 The Board of Park Commissioners of the City of South Bend, Indiana met on Monday, July 17, 2023, 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 Consuella Hopkins – Vice President Sam Centellas Park Board members absent were as follows: Georgianne Walker
VPA staff members present: Jordan Gathers, Executive Director; Jessica Williams, Executive Assistant; John Martinez, Chief of Park Operations; Emily Sims, Chief Development Officer; Macey Hanna, Director of Recreational Experiences; Amy Roush, Director of Development; Hannah Francis, Special
Events Manager; Maggie Sullivan, Marketing Manager; Rachael Coates, Executive Assistant; Rachael Zeiger, Special Events Manager Other city representatives present: Jenna Throw, Assistant City Attorney; Canneth Lee, Councilmember; Troy Warner, Councilmember; Patrick Sherman, Project Manager; Adam Toering, Historic Preservation Admin I. Call to Order
Mark Neal called the meeting to order at 5:02 pm. II.Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting on June 26, 2023 Motion to approve the meeting minutes of June 26, 2023, by Sam Centellas, seconded by Consuella
Hopkins, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. III.Consent Agenda Motion to approve the consent agenda of July 17, 2023, by Sam Centellas, seconded by Consuella
Hopkins motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. IV.Arborist Licenses – New 1. Hart Wood Tree Care Motion to approve the Arborist Licenses, by Sam Centellas, seconded by Consuella Hopkins motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. V.Use of Parks – New Events 1. Back to School Cookout on August 11, 2023 at 11:00am – 2:00pm at South East Park
Officer Bourne stated this is a free event with free food and drinks, and free face painting. Vendors such as Goodwill will all be in attendance. They have invited Crime Stoppers, South Bend School Corporation, and Venues Parks & Arts to attend as well. This event is open to the public. Motion to approve the Back to School Cookout on August 11, 2023 at 11:00am – 2:00pm at South East Park, by Sam Centellas, seconded by Consuella Hopkins motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0.
VI.Interviewing of Interested Residents Debra Durall approached the podium to speak about concerns with activity happening by the St. Joesph
Riverbanks. Durall provided two documents along with a formal ask for better management of the Riverbanks. Documentation included on the Board of Park Commissioners webpage. VII.New Business 1. Resolution 0003-2023 Youth Services Bureau at Sorin Park Jenna Throw explained this resolution represents the next steps for the subdivision adjacent to Sorin Park. The Board is being asked to sign off on the subdivision and later there will be a formal action to accept the parcel. There will be some work on the lot of land that will provide a net increase of park land.
Motion to approve Resolution 0003-2023 Youth Services Bureau at Sorin Park, by Consuella Hopkins, seconded by Sam Centellas motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0.
2. Boehm Park Access Agreement This agreement is to allow East Side Youth Baseball Softball Association access to Boehm Park. East Side is permitted to use this land to operate baseball and/or softball fields. Michael Harding was present and indicated all information was correct.
Motion to approve the Boehm Park Access Agreement, by Sam Centellas, seconded by Consuella Hopkins motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. 3. Seitz Park License Agreement Jenna Throw explained the parcel where this license agreement takes place is currently owned by the Redevelopment Commission. Once the Seitz Park project is completed, this parcel will be transferred back to the Board of Park Commissioners. The RDC will approve the agreement, but it is being brought to the BPC for visibility as this is technically park property. Partick Sherman stated this license agreement
is with Wharf Partners. Wharf Partners will be building a restaurant and would like to make an outside patio adjacent to the riverwalk. This restaurant will be open to the public as part of the agreement. This agreement gives access to land to extend the patio. They have been given 120 days to do the work. After
work has been completed or while work is taking place there must be access to the riverwalk if it is open. If there is any blockage of the riverwalk there is a penalty. Motion to approve the Seitz Park License Agreement, by Sam Centellas, seconded by Consuella Hopkins. President Mark Neal abstained. Roll call vote 2-0. VIII.Reports by Organization 1. Downtown South Bend Inc. Willow Wetherall presented some of the key initiatives that DTSB is working on, provided a few recent updates, and highlighted a particular key strategic initiative. The DTSB mission is to enhance and advance downtown. The four key areas that DTSB works on are street level solutions, landscaping, advocacy, and creative placemaking. There have been record turnouts for events downtown. Wetherall stated DTSB is seeing pre-pandemic numbers. 800 people attended their movie night, which is the second highest attendance recorded. Also, there have
been 2 sold out wine walks. Thousands of people have attended First Fridays and August is Totally 80’s themed. The dedicated police patrols continue to be highly successful. 11 previously vacant properties are under local ownership and are being restored. This is
bringing life back into our downtown area. Mural Mania just finished up as well. The key strategic initiative Wetherall discussed was advocacy around a downtown transit hub. A copy of the presentation can be viewed on the Board of Park Commissioners webpage.
IX.Report by Chief Community officer – Maurice Scott
Rachael Coates spoke on behalf of Maurice Scott and the Community Initiatives division of Venues Parks & Arts. An update for the month of June was provided. The South Bend Alive grantees came together for a training during the month of June. A representative from HBCU Power Awards shared with the organization. Coates informed the BPC the Violence Prevention Coordinators spent time at the King at Kennedy Summer Camp where they saw an average of 25 to 30 kids daily. The SOI & POETS have been active at both Howard Park and the Charles Black Community Center. Coates explained the POETS spend the summer evenings building relationships with the youth and community members at Howard Park. The SOI group is a part of the basketball program at CBCC, and this program engaged 150 kids during the month of June.
X.Report by Executive Director Jordan Gathers - The 4th Annual Vibes Music Festival is on July 29 from 1:00pm – 10:00pm at Howard Park
- Movies in the Park happens Friday, July 21 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm at Howard Park - Howard Park Summer Concert Series also takes place every first Friday at 7:00pm – 8:30pm
- Kids Triathlon is Saturday July 22 from 8:00am – 12:00pm at Adams High School - Fusion Fest will take place September 9 – 10 at Howard Park. Billboard and radio ads will run the entire month of August. - The Seitz Park project is delayed due to wall repairs. XI.Adjournment No other questions or comments from the Park Commissioners, meeting adjourned at 6:07 by President Mark Neal. The next regular meeting will be held August 21, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. at Howard Park Event Center and virtually. Respectfully Submitted, Jessica Williams Clerk, Board of Park Commissioners