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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-17-2014 Minutes SOUTH BEND BOARD OF PARK CONMUSSIONERS REGULAR MEETING FEBRUARY 17, 2014 The Board of Park Commissioners of the Park District of the City of South Bend, Indiana met on Monday February 17,2014 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 Park Board members absent were as follows: 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; Randy Nowacki,Director of Golf Operations; Mike Dyszkiewicz,Maintenance Superintendent; Mark Bradley,Marketing Director; Cheryl Greene,Park Board Attorney L The meeting was called to order by Board President Robert Goodrich at 4:00 p.m. IL The first order of business was the interviewing of interested citizens. 1. Rum Village Pavilion Rental Request-Betsy Harriman A representative from Dice Down Riders came before the Board to request permission to hold a gathering in Rum Village Park in April and June of this year. There were some issues regarding the gathering in June of 2013 that concerned a large group in the park and noise from motorcycles. Park Police Chief Orlowski reported that he was not present at the park that day,but received reports of loud noise and people that were reluctant to enter the park due to the crowd and noise. He said that the South Bend Police Department responded to 5-6 calls. The representative said that he knew of no issues and he was told that the police that came spoke to some people and then left the park. Mr. Orlowski recommended that because of the size of the event that it be treated like a special event. He requested that security be required to present during the event. Director St. Clair asked that staff work with the group to resolve their issues within the next week. III. Report By Organizations 1. Potawatomi Zoological Society-Marcy Dean Ms. Dean reported that the transition was going well. a. A request for proposal for the master plan has been issued and will be received in March with the intent to award in April. - - I - - b. The AZA reaccreditation application will be mailed February 24. c. AZA improvements are underway. d. The Potawatomi Zoological Society audit has been completed with no issues. e. February Zoo Winter Days was held recently and 190 attended. f. Opening day will be March 28. g. She is working to fill several positions, including Business and Operations and Director of Development. She expects to have them filled in the next two to three weeks. h. The leopard's holding area has been improved in anticipation of cubs. i. Ancon Construction will be working on the red panda exhibit and hope to be done in April. IV. The next order of business was unfinished business. 1. Opening of Chemical and Fertilizer Bids-Randy Nowacki Mr. Nowacki opened two bid packages that were received. The companies submitting bids were Harrells and John Deere Landscaping. The bids were opened and the first and last items in each were read aloud. Mr. Nowacki requested approval to refer the bids to staff and to bring the results and recommendations to the Board at the next regular meeting. Ms. Hill made the motion to refer the bids to staff for review and to bring their recommendations back to staff at the next meeting. Mr. Mullins seconded the motion and it was passed. V. The next order of business was new business. 1. Request for Use of Parks-Betsy Harriman a. April 27, 2014-Aids Walk-Howard Park b. June 28,2014-HIV Motorcycle Ride-Pinhook Park Ms. Harriman recommended approval of these events. Mr. Mullins made a motion to approve the two requests and Ms. Hill seconded the motion. It was passed. 2. Request to Approve Arborist License Applications a. Tom Underly Tree Service-Renewal b. Dave Talboom Lawncare, Inc-Renewal c. TLC Tree Removal, Inc.-Renewal d. McClean Services, Inc.-Renewal e. Arborcare, Inc.-Renewal f. Watson's Tree Service, Inc.-Renewal g. Vera Cruz Tree Service-Renewal h. B and B Floral Adventures-Renewal i. Alex's Take Down Tree Service.-Renewal j. Kachur Tree Service-Renewal k. The Crossing National, Inc., Inc.-Renewal 1. Feurbringer Landscaping&Design, Inc.-Renewal m. Michiana Tree-Renewal Ms. Greene had reviewed all the applications and they met all requirements. Ms. Hill made a motion to approve the arborist license requests. Mr. Mullins seconded it and it was passed. - - 2 - - VL Approval of Minutes Ms. Hill made a motion to approve the minutes of the regular Board meeting held on January 21,2014 as mailed. The motion was seconded by Mr. Mullins and approved. VII. Approval of Maintenance Vouchers A motion was made by Mr. Mullins to approve maintenance vouchers for January 2014 totaling$1,458,522.67. It was seconded by Ms. Hill. There being no further discussion,the motion was passed. VIII. Business by Director St. Clair 1. Director St. Clair distributed the annual report for the Department. 2. He discussed the transition at the Zoo and said it is going well. IX. Comments by the Assistant Director of Parks 1. Ms. O'Connor reported that the Daddy-Daughter Dance was held last week. 1,230 couples attended at the Century Center. 2. River City Basketball league games have started. 3. Learn To Swim registration has begun. 4. The Ice Rink has been doing well. 5. Softball registrations have started. 6. The annual Camp Fair will be held this Saturday at the Century Center. 7. Registration for Camp Awareness and Kid's World starts next week. 8. The Recreation Board Report is being updated. 9. Next month a request to change fees at the Leeper Tennis Center will be requested. X. Comments by the Marketing Director 1. Mr. Bradley related that the Park Foundation meeting was held last week. They are working with IUSB on the website development. Also,two board members have resigned. 2. The Passport to Play event that was canceled due to weather has been rescheduled to tonight. 3. The Let's Move campaign will begin this spring. 4. The master plan meetings are scheduled for the first week of March. XI. Comments by Golf Operations Director 1. Mr. Nowacki informed the Board that he is in discussions regarding how the Affordable Care Act will affect operation of the golf courses. 2. The annual open house will be held at Erskine Clubhouse this Saturday. 3. Scrub trees have been cleared along hole #2 at Elbel as part of the golf master plan. XH. Comments by the Maintenance Superintendent 1. Mr. Dyszkiewicz reported that snow from downtown is being stored at Covleski until it can - -3 - - be moved at a better time. 2. They are using front end loaders to remove snow from the cul-de-sacs we plow because there is no place to put it. 3. We are having heating problems at various locations. 4. The Howard Park Ice Rink is operating well. Director St. Clair thanked the maintenance and recreation staff for their outstanding work during the recent snow storms and subzero weather. They have worked long hours clearing snow throughout the City and staffing the warming centers. XIIL There being no more business to come before the Board the meeting adjourned at 4:49 p.m. by President Goodrich The next regular meeting will be held on Monday March 17, 2014 at 4:00 p.m. in the Boardroom of the O'Brien Administration Center. Respectfully Submitted, William Carleton Executive Secretary - - 4 - -