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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDecember 16, 2024 Meeting MinutesSouth Bend Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting  December 16, 2024   The Board of Park Commissioners of the City of South Bend, Indiana met on Monday, December 16, 2024, 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:  Mr. Mark Neal, President   Ms. Consuella Hopkins, Vice President Park Board members virtually present were as follows: Mr. Sam Centellas VPA staff members present: Jordan Gathers, Interim Executive Director; Officer; Amy Roush, Chief of Development; Anastasia Smith-Davis, Executive Assistant; Cody Risedorph, Director of Golf ; Macey Hanna, Director of Recreational Experiences; Evelyn Mitchell, Superintendent III. Other city representatives present: Michael Schmidt, Assistant City Attorney; Patrick Sherman, Engineering; Canneth Lee; 1st District Councilman. Call to Order  Mark Neal called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. Minutes of the Regular Board Meeting held on October 21, 2024. Motion to approve the meeting minutes of October 21, by Consuela Hopkins, supported by Sam Centellas, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. Consent Agenda Motion to approve the consent agenda of December 16, 2024, by Sam Centellas, supported by Consuella Hopkins, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. Interviewing of Interested Residents No residents commented during this meeting. Use of Parks- New Events Mark Neal questions if there is anyone representing the event request. There was no representative for the event at the meeting. Motion to approve the Fall Famil Fun Fair, by Consuella Hopkins, supported by Sam Centellas, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. New Business 2025 Member Approval for Ecological Advocacy Committee Garry Harrington, Rum Village Park Manager seeks permission to add a new member to the Ecological Advocacy Committee. Mark Neal asks for clarification if there is documentation on previous/ current members that will carry over into the new year. He follows up by asking with questions on who the applicant is. Andy Schnabel, EAC President, comments he is unsure who this candidate is. Garry follows with giving a briefing on the new candidate, sharing that he comes highly recommended by the COSB Forester, Brent Thompson. Mark Neal confirms that the EAC board is to stay under 10 members There were no questions from the board. Motion to approve the 2025 Member approval for EAC, by Consuella Hopkins, supported by Sam Centellas, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. ESBSA Parks Project Angela Smith of 1643 Compass Drive shares her company has been retained to assist the East Side Baseball and Softball in conjunction with the Parks Department to seek approval for an exciting new project on Hickory Road, for the property owned by ESBSA and Tarkington/Boehm Park. Angela continues to give details of the project by sharing there is a public process for land use approval that includes a special exception and development agreement that will require signature from the Commissioners. Angela allows Greg Kil, owner of Kil Architecture, to give more details on the project. Greg gives the Commissioners a printout of the projects plan. He explains in detail the layout of the construction and project. Greg mentions this project will enhance the facilities and better the experience for the players. Cody Neal, 10700 Brench Court, East Side board member shares due to updated requirements, there are certain aged players that need upgraded playing fields. He mentions there is an indoor facility listed in the plans that will allow programming all year round and would be the first in the area. He continues by stating they are currently at 150 registered in 2024 and is sure the registration numbers will increase by next year, adding a demand on the parks expansion and open up the programs to more people in the City. Mark Neal asks if Legal or the Executive Director has any comments on the presentation. Michael Schmidt adds this project is in the scope of Parks Department for approval. Michael confirms that the Parks Department has control over the next steps. The ESBSA team shares the blueprints for the project and gives in-depth details about the property and the plans for construction. ESBSA informs the group that the application needed to pursue the project is due once every month. Angela Smith shares the timeline of the application process. After comments are made by the Commissioners, ESBSA, and Legal, it is decided that the Parks Department staff and the legal team will review in detail the materials given and will return in the New Year with a recommendation to the ESBSA group. FREG Amendment Patrick Sherman, Project Manager of Public Works shares this approval is a formality, this agreement is a primary agreement with the Construction Company. The small drive that is north of Seitz Park is a part of a multi-purpose agreement from 2019 included a variety of changes that surround Seitz Park. One portion of this agreement is for the City to pave the drive located north of Seitz Park in the Stephen Mills apartment complex. Patrick shares the paving has already been completed; the Park Board being a part of the agreement is presented this information to approve the agreement. Motion to approve the FREG Amendment, by Sam Centellas, supported by Consuella Hopkins, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. Swing Batter Swing Micheal Schmidt, Legal Representative, shares the City collaborated with many different organizations to ger funding to drive the renovation remodel to increase the capacity of the Four Winds Field. He continues by stating the Use agreement undergone changes to reflect ongoing maintenance of facility, and shared costs. The project has already started, necessary negotiations with MLB have gone out, currently the group is getting signatures to continue the process. Richard Nusbaum, General Council for South Bend Cubs, explains his connection to the Four Winds field since 1988. He begins with stating the funding process began in 2021 and the funding timeline will last another 20 years. Richard informs the Commissioner that there is an agreement between the City and The Cubs that has been extended. The Cubs will be taking on more of the maintenance needs of the space. Motion to approve Swing Batter Swing, by Sam Centellas, supported by Consuella Hopkins, motion carried. Roll call vote 3-0. Report by Organization Ecological Advocacy Program Andy Schnabel, President of the EAC gives the following updates: 1.Expansion of memberships, in 2023 there were 4 members, and in 2024 the total went up to 8. 2. Rebuilding of relationship with Board of Park Commissioners. 3. Increased volunteer presence 4. Monthly weed warriors group established 5. Received 3 grants 6. Committee is more active than ever 7. Working in partnership with the Office of Sustainability 8. Working to update South Bend code ordinance for trees Mark Neal congratulates EAC for their continued phenomenal work and asks the group to present in 4-5 months with an update. Business by Executive Director Jordan Gathers Jordan Gathers gave the following updates: Currently interviewing for open positions in VPA. Gives introduction to Cody Risedorph, newest Director of Golf for VPA. Shares that interview team is on the last round of interviews for the General Manager of Venues. Finalizing job descriptions for 2025. MLK Dream Center construction is moving at a great pace, looking forward to it’s completion in early 2025. Leeper Bridge construction is completed. Four Winds, Morris Raclin Murphy, and Leeper Tennis Courts continue to undergo construction Ice skating season has begun at Howard Park. Many fun family orientated events happening each week. Mark Neal asked if there was a MLK Dream Center timeline. Jordan answers the building will hopefully be completed in spring of 2025. Adjournment No other questions or comments from the Park Commissioners, meeting adjourned at 6:06 pm by President Mark Neal.    The next scheduled meeting will be held Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at Howard Park Event Center and virtually. Respectfully Submitted,   Anastasia Smith-Davis