Park Board Minutes 2012 03-22-12
APPROVED 4/12/12
Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department
City Hall
800 Game Farm Road
March 22, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Call to Order:
Ken Koch called the meeting to order at 6:59 p.m.
Roll Call:
Ken Koch - yes; Debbie Horaz - yes; Kelly Sedgwick - no; Amy Cesich - yes; Vicki
Covney - no; Mark Dilday - yes; Seaver Tarulis - yes.
Introduction of City Officials and Staff:
Laura Schraw - Director of Parks and Recreation
Scott Sleezer - Superintendent of Parks
Tim Evans - Superintendent of Recreation
Other Guests:
None.
Public Comment:
None.
Presentations:
None.
Approval of Minutes:
The minutes from the March 8, 2012 meeting were approved. Motion
was made by Seaver Tarulis and seconded by Deb Horaz.
Bill Review:
The board reviewed the bills list. Ken Koch stated Tommy McNeal was a great referee this year for
REC Basketball. Tim stated he will let Shay know. Amy Cesich asked about the price for mulch. Scott
stated the city shops the price each year for the best price. The bills list was approved. Motion was
made by Amy Cesich and seconded by Mark Dilday.
Park Board Budget Report February 2011 and Park Board Budget Report for February 2012 - The
board had no questions regarding the budget reports.
Old Business:
None.
New Business:
Proposed Text Amendment to the PUD (Planned Unit Development) Ordinance - Laura Schraw stated
previously the process would go through several different committees, commissions and city council and
not necessarily be changed. The proposal is that instead of going through so many committees and
boards, the majority of the commenting will occur from staff which happens before the plan is released
to the public.
Laura said she will sit in and make sure plans meet the city's master plan and it is the proper direction to
go with the next park development. After that meeting, they would go to plan commission and we
would have a park board member there to represent and reinforce the points. Laura said the park board
representative comments would be included in the hearing. After that, the planning commission will
vote on it and forward it to city council. Laura said it is a way to have a representative sit on the
commission and be a vocal representative of the park board.
Ken Koch asked if the person would be sitting on the planning commission. Laura stated the person
would be a voting member. Ken asked how that works with the Mayor appointing process. Laura said
she is assuming they would expand the committee by a member, but only be there when there is
something park board related and not all the time. Laura stated at that time, the park board member
would be a voting member and their comments would be included in the public hearing.
The board discussed how things worked in the past in Yorkville when working with developers. Ken
Koch said he would like that process to remain intact somehow. Ken said the board needs to hear the
plans staff is taking to planning commission. Scott said prior when they submitted a plan to park board,
staff would create a memo with staff recommendations to the developers.
Laura stated the point of this process is by the time this gets to Park Board the developer should be
following staff recommendations. Ken said there might be items where they decide to do something
different because of a potential school site or something. Laura said she doesn't think that is an issue
because staff is reviewing things and knowing what the city needs.
Ken stated if he gets wind of something he things is wrong with the PUD, he stated he is then forced to
go to city council and go against staff. Laura said no, because you have the planning commission. He
said but you are forcing a park board member to go to city council to explain. Laura said no not
necessarily. She said staff comments will be in a memo that will go to city council.
Scott stated this will actually help by getting this to the developers earlier and come to park board when
staff has already seen it. Deb Horaz doesn't like just one person not the full board involved. Ken said
staff needs to make sure early in the process it is run by this board at some point, so the board can see it.
Laura said it comes to park board after it is in the planning commission packet.
Laura said the staff is not trying to not speak to the board about it, it just might not be prior to the
planning commission meeting. Ken asked if it then goes directly to city council. Laura stated yes. Scott
said he understands the concerns the board has. Scott said the staff has been great about updating the
city plans and the staff is pro park and the board should trust in the staff.
Deb Horaz said we do, but we as a board would like to give our advice and then just one person on the
board is representative. Amy said the staff is ever changing so then what happens. Laura said in other
districts the park board members don't have any say in park designs. Ken asked what was the reasoning
for this change. Laura said staff and the attorney because of policies in other communities. Krysti
understands your value and recommended to have a representative there from park board. Laura said in
Yorkville, the board has more of a voice here than other communities. She said staff will tell you what is
going on.
Ken said he likes the idea of being part of planning commission. Ken said he just wants an avenue to
stop something the park board doesn't like. Laura said if we have to call an extra meeting to discuss
something, we can always do that. Ken said before it goes to planning commission, get it to the board
so that we can see what is going forward.
Laura said because the plan has to be published for open hearing, we will have to wait until after the
meeting to discuss it. Laura said we can have a meeting before it goes to city council. Deb Horaz stated
the staff needs to communicate what their wants are so the board is one the same page. Deb asked if
this is an appointed position. Laura said she doesn't think so, she will check on it. Amy asked if we can
rotate the person.
Laura said when you are there, whatever you say is in the public hearing, which holds more value than
you know. Laura said if the board is adamantly against this, I will pass it to Krysti. Ken said it needs to
come to the park board in a meeting before it goes to planning commission. Ken said the developers
don't need to come here and take their time. Amy said she does like having the member at the planning
commission and board agreed.
Ken said he doesn't think this will be a problem in the near future because of the developments sitting
empty right now. He stated it could be years before there is any new developments. Amy said she wants
to see the developments that are already here developed before anything new is built. Laura said right
now the advantage the board has is having someone here in this building involved in all the planning.
Laura said she is involved in so much, she knows what is going on.
The board agreed they want a voting member on the planning commission. Ken said he just wants
something to come through here before the planning commission meeting. Laura said she will ask if the
representative is appointed or not and if we can change it to come through the park board first. Amy
said she just finds it interesting that the trend is the park board is being phased out and gives leverage to
the council. Laura said staff wants the park board.
Amy said she likes the idea of streamlining so things can move along quicker. Amy said she just wants
to be careful that the importance of this board doesn't get lost. Deb said we work as a team here. Ken
said he doesn't want to have to argue with staff. Laura said sometimes they don't listen, but that is why
we keep writing memos and state what the staff and park board want. Laura said she will talk to Krysti
and get some more answers.
Reports:
Directors Report - Laura stated a resident came and spoke about Riverfront and Beecher park and his
concerns about not removing Beecher like Riverfront. The board was happy to hear of that concern
because they agree. Laura recommended the board to attend the city council meetings so they can state
the concern that parks and recreation are vital to this community.
Deb stated she thinks the public does support parks and recreation. Ken stated services should not be
cut. Deb said people came to this town with these programs. Amy said it is a contradiction. Amy said
the city is trying to get people to move here, yet cutting programs.
Parks Report - Scott stated the lights are going up on the tennis courts next week. He stated the city is
doing all the electric, so it will be a few months before they are on. The paving should be mid to late
April.
Recreation Report - Amy asked about the memberships at the REC Center. Tim stated it is about the
same as last year, the weather has hurt us a bit. Tim said they are going to cut back on staff hours a little
bit. Tim said the 5K sign up is going well.
Additional Business:
None.
Adjournment:
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Motion was made by Amy
Cesich and seconded by Ken Koch.
*Items needed for Board approval or recommendation.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by:
Lisa Godwin
Minute Taker