04-13-16 Special Elbel Committee Minutes

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Councilmember Kelly stated that the players are part of his concern. The full Park Board and the full PARC Committee isn't here. Aaron has already started the consulting process, so I think it is even more important that those folks be involved. This can act as a springboard to what I expected this committee to do. Committeemember Perri stated that the first consulting agreement does conclude with a public meeting to report on the findings, similar to how we've asked that public engagement be embedded into the contractual terms. I can ensure that public reporting is embedded in there, too. Councilmember Voorde offered support to Committeemember Farrell's suggestion that a regular report be incorporated into the committee agendas. There needs to be some specificity as to what each of the committees are to do. It seems that there should be a committee for golf interests and a committee for ecological interests like standing subcommittees, and they have an opportunity to report. Get a little structure, and put it in the agenda as an agenda item, and you're home free as long as the committees do their jobs. Council Attorney Cekanski - Farrand stated that regardless of what the special committee decides, based on Recommendation Six (6) and the various options, any council member could ask me to draft the resolution that extends this and that could be on the next agenda. Councilmember White stated that the most important part of this is that communication must continue, input that we don't want to lose, the hard work that's been done, and that we have a structure in place that will facilitate communication and transparency. There's no saying that I won't choose to be on one of the standing committees. If the Park Department goes in that direction, the standing committees must be clearly defined. Committeemember Perri stated that the Dropbox will stay alive, and that we could continue to add to it. Laura Fuderer, 18485 Garwood Ct., is the conservation chair for the South Bend/Elkhart Audubon Society. To me, an assessment indicates the identification of the ecological health of the property. I'm disappointed that Recommendation One (1) doesn't ask the consultant to keep an eye to the ecological impact of those procedures. I wish that it suggested that the firm consider the cost and feasibility of certification by Audubon International which would involve putting into effect sustainable practices of golf course management. I would remind everyone that Audubon International is not affiliated with the Audubon Society of which we are a chapter. Committeemember Perri stated that it is important to recognize that the natural resource management plan will include the ecological threats, techniques to mitigate those, that's going to be very important to us everywhere. Councilmember Broden asked if we could incorporate those into one, and Committeemember Perri said yes. 10