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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-21-2013 Minutes SOUTH BEND BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 21,2013 The Board of Park Commissioners of the Park District of the City of South Bend, Indiana met on Monday November 21,2013 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, President Ms. Amy Hill, Vice President Mr. Garrett Mullins Mr. Bruce BonDurant Staff members present: Phil St. Clair,Director of Parks; Bill Carleton,Director of Financial Services; Betsy Harriman, Administrative Director; Susan O'Connor, Deputy Director; Paul McMinn, Assistant Recreation Director; Randy Nowacki, Director of Golf Operations; Laura Arriaga, Interim Zoo Director; Sharon Smith, Zoo Concessions & Gift Shop Manager; Mark Bradley, Marketing Director; Cheryl Greene,Park Board Attorney L The meeting was called to order by Board President Robert Goodrich at 4:07 p.m. IL The first order of business was the interviewing of interested citizens. III. Report By Organizations 1. Potawatomi Zoological Society- Marcy Dean a. Ms. Dean reported that preparations are underway for the 2014 Association of Zoos and Aquariums reaccreditation. b. Ancon is developing renderings for fund raising and is preparing blue prints for construction. c. The Zoo Train closes on October 31. d. Zoo Boo is this weekend. Twenty-seven vendors are coming and they are expecting 8- 10 thousand visitors. e. The Jack o Lantern Spectacular for adults will be held this Thursday. f. The video cameras in the animal areas are done. IV. The next order of business was unfinished business. There was no unfinished business. V. The next order of business was new business. 1. Request for Use of Parks-Betsy Harriman a. IUSB Vet Walk,November 9,2013,Northside River Walk Ms. Harriman recommended approval of the request. Mr. BonDurant made a motion to approve the request for the IUSB Vet Walk. Ms. Hill - - I - - seconded the motion and it was approved. 2. Request to Ratify the Extension of Contract with Hoosier Cutters for Cemetery Maintenance through 2014- Bill Carleton Mr. Carleton requested that the Board approve the extension of the current contract with Hoosier Cutters for maintenance of the city cemeteries for an additional year at the same amount that was approved last year, $39,500. Mr. BonDurant made a motion to approve the request to extend the contract with Hoosier Cutters for an additional year at the same annual rate. Mr. Mullins seconded the motion and it was passed. VI. Approval of Minutes Ms. Hill made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on September 16, 2013 as mailed. The motion was seconded by Mr. BonDurant and approved. VII. Approval of Maintenance Vouchers A motion was made by Mr. BonDurant to approve maintenance vouchers for September 2013 totaling$1,032,571.41. It was seconded by Ms. Hill. There being no further discussion, the motion was passed. VIII. Business by Director St. Clair 1. Councilman Henry Davis, Jr. addressed the Board to request that the Board support his Council Resolution to name the softball field at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Mr. Seabe Gavin, Sr. Mr. Gavin played baseball locally in high school and with the Negro leagues in the 1930's. Ms. Greene said she wasn't sure of the process for the Board to do the naming, but would research it. President Goodrich said the Board would consider the request as soon as the Board attorney rendered an opinion as to the process. He said they would get back with Mr. Davis at that time. 2. Director St. Clair reported that an agreement with the Teamsters for a three year contract has been reached and will be vote on by the membership next week. 3. The Parks budget will need to be approved by the Council by the end of the month. Three meetings are scheduled in that time frame. 4. Park staff will be traveling to Oklahoma to bid on ASA softball tournaments. 5. He discussed the long term Combined Sewer Overflow project and how it affected the parks. Some storage/holding tanks are planned in several parks. 6. The Public/Private Partnership with the Zoological Society has made lots of progress and a financial arrangement has been reached. He distributed information on what has been agreed to date. It is hoped a final agreement can be put together soon. He will be meeting with the Zoo staff tomorrow to inform them of what has been agreed to. - - 2 - - IX. Comments by the Deputy Director 1. Ms. O'Connor recognized Mr. Stevie Gavin, Jr. for his contribution to the Martin Luther King, Jr. softball program. 2. Belleville Softball Complex has closed for the season. 3. River City Basketball Leagues start tonight with practices. 4. At the Charles Black Center, they celebrated breast cancer awareness by wearing pink all week. 5. A leak has developed at the MLK, Jr, Center gymnasium floor and it is proving difficult to determine the source. 6. A new naturalist has been hired at the Rum Village Nature Center. 7. The Howard Park Ice Rink will open the Friday after Thanksgiving thanks to the effort of two maintenance employees that repaired the chiller. 8. The World Softball Tournament contract for 2015 has been sent to our legal department for examination. 9. In four weeks staff will be going to Oklahoma to bid on 2015 tournaments. 10. Recreation staff just returned from the National Recreation and Parks Association Congress and shared what they learned with other staff. X. Comments by the Marketing Director 1. Mr. Bradley reported that the Parks Foundation is starting a"100 Friends" campaign that will encourage participation with the foundation. 2. A community forum will be held concerning childhood obesity on October 30. It is hoped to get feedback from youth. 3. The "What's Up"newsletter is going out regularly and a new calendar format will replace the activity brochure. 4. Master plan public meetings are planned for November and December. XI. Comments by the Zoo Director 1. Ms. Arriaga reported that a new vet has been hired and starts today. 2. Staff has started moving birds inside for the season. 3. A white naped crane chick has been shipped to St. Louis. 4. AZA preparation is underway. XII. Comments by Golf Operations Director 1. Mr. Nowacki reported that most part time employees are gone for the season. 2. Studebaker Golf Course will stay open on a day to day basis. 3. Elbel will close December 2. Erskine will stay open, weather permitting. 4. Season passes will be sold earlier this year. 5. TJ Mannen, Elbel Pro, is at the PGA meeting in Indianapolis. 6. An electric gate is going to be installed at the maintenance building at Erskine to restrict access to the area. - - 3 - - 7. A burglary occurred at the Erskine Clubhouse last week. A safe was stolen along with approximately $500 in cash. A police report has been filed and the alarm company was out to check the system. XIIL There being no more business to come before the Board the meeting adjourned at 4:54 p.m. by President Goodrich The next regular meeting will be held November 18,2013 at 4:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the O'Brien Administration Center. Respectfully Submitted, William Carleton Executive Secretary - - 4 - -