Park Board Minutes 2012 06-26-12
APPROVED 7/12/12
Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department
City Hall
800 Game Farm Road
June 26, 2012 at 6:30 p.m.
Call to Order:
Ken Koch called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call:
Ken Koch - yes, Deb Horaz - yes, Kelly Sedgwick - no, Seaver Tarulis - yes, Amy Cesich
- no, Mark Dilday - no, Dan Lane - yes
Introduction of City Officials and Staff:
Laura Schraw - Interim Director of Parks and recreation
Tim Evans - Superintendent of Recreation
Scott Sleezer - Superintendent of Parks
Diane Teeling - City Council Liaison to Park Board
Public Comment:
None.
Presentations:
None.
Bills Review:
Bills List - Dan Lane asked about the alcohol order for Euclid beverage for Ribs on the River. Tim said
the city has to buy kegs and Mike's Hard Lemonade. Ken asked how they determine the quantity. Tim
said he got 20 kegs, but Scott pointed out that the city gets money back for the ones that they don't tap.
Dan asked if the city runs the tent and profits come to the city. Tim said that is correct. Deb asked
about the Vermont Systems. Tim told her that is the computer software for the REC Center classes.
Tim said there is a yearly fee for maintenance for upgrades and questions.
Deb asked about pitching rubbers. Scott said there are temporary mounds that need to be pounded in
and beat on, so the rubber can get destroyed and the nails come through, so the city has to replace them.
The bills list was approved. Motion made by Dan Lane and seconded by Seaver Tarulis.
Old Business:
OSLAD Grant - Application -
Laura said this is back on the agenda because Deb requested the item
and she checked with Ken about placing on here regarding the OSLAD Grant debarment. Laura said
the city didn't get the grant this year, so when we apply for the next grant cycle one of the questions was
will that grant be disqualified if the city gets debarred. They said no. If the City withdraws before the
presentations in October we will not get debarred. If it is after those presentations we will get debarred
if the land is sold or if we cannot come to an agreement to purchase. The reasoning is that we are taking
the funds will from someone else.
Laura said after that, the city can't apply after two years. Deb said she is concerned if the property sells.
Laura said if it sells between now and October, we are okay. Laura said if the city presents and the
property sells in December, the city is debarred for two years. Laura said a holding company could
purchase it and hold it for the city. Laura said an agreement can be written that the state is okay with
that states we are committed to buying. Laura said nothing can be officially signed or sold until after
January 1st because it has to be in the same year as the application.
Laura said if the city doesn't apply right now, it has six months to get something like an agreement in
place stating the property won't sell to anyone else. The state said if the city applies they need to be
committed to this piece of property, if we are going for the grant. The board asked how much the
property costs.
Laura said around $415,000 or under, depending on what the owner will sell it for. Laura said he lost a
lot on work he did for the city for his Special Use Application and he would like to recoup the costs.
Laura said there could be a shortage the city has to make up. Laura said it is a gamble. Laura asked the
board if they want to go ahead and apply.
Deb asked if there are other things that could put us in jeopardy for. Laura said as far as she knows, the
land and water conservation fund, there are a list of grants, possibly the recreational trails program. Deb
asked if it is worth the gamble. Laura said if the recreational trails program grant is on there, the city
can't apply for it as a match to Kennedy Road if we get debarred.
Ken said this is the second time in a row the city has been denied. Scott said one is a development grant
and one is an acquisition grant. Laura said she talked to the grant administrator about it and she thought
the application was very strong for Riverfront Park. She thinks the city should apply again.
Deb asked what is the staff recommendation on this. Scott said to go for it. Deb said she is willing to
gamble. Scott said the city is in for a development grant for Riverfront already and for Clark Woods and
if the city is turned down, the city would be barred for 2013 and 2014 and can reapply in 2015.
Scott said the city can apply for multiple grants, if the city gets barred in 2015, the city could apply
again. Ken said the city doesn't have the cash to purchase it, so the city has to have the grant to
purchase it. Laura said it does include the recreational trail. Laura said the city can only pull out if the
property sells before October and before that if it sells we are debarred.
Laura said she is more apprehensive than Scott and she feels like we need to be fully committed. Scott
said land prices are as low as they have ever been. Scott said maybe the grant coordinator should look
at this. Ken said the owner will not like this situation either. Laura said the owner said he has someone
interested now. Deb asked if the city can buy it on payments. Ken asked where that money will come
from. Deb said in our budget. Ken said that will never get past council. Tim pointed out part of the
surplus is already gone with a new hire.
Scott said that will be known after the audit. Scott said with the undecided REC Center, not a good
idea. Laura said the city can't just pull out, only if the property sells. The board discussed the prices and
how much more the city could pay. Laura said it has to be open within a year and the development plan
has to be finished within five years.
Laura said the plan includes a dog park, amphitheater, open space etc. The board discussed their
thoughts. Dan asked how Laura feels. Laura said there are other ones that will be stronger than ours.
Laura said the chances of additional open space are pretty slim.
Scott said if we don't get it and we don't back out no harm. Laura said what if they award that one and
not Riverfront that could happen. Deb said at least we get something. Ken said maybe the city should
wait. Laura said they are due again by July 1st next year. Deb asked if Corlands will hold that property
for the city that could be used as the match. Laura said she can tell the council from what she sees the
board is apprehensive about it and not sure if it is a top priority.
Deb said what if the city gets skipped on Riverfront too. Laura said this year there is $172,000 in
residual funds. Deb asked if the city can use that towards the purchase. Scott said no, but it could be
used as a match. Ken said if the board wants Riverfront and we want the grant for the bike trail, we
should leave it at that.
Laura said council can make the ultimate decision. Laura asked the City engineer [Brad Sanderson]
about the construction timeline and being debarred will not affect the recreational trails grant application
for Kennedy Road. Laura asked for the board's decision. Deb said go for it. Ken said I guess it can't
hurt. Dan said yes. Seaver said yes. Scott said the city can still negotiate with the new owner if the
property gets sold.
Additional Business:
None.
Adjournment:
Motion to adjourn made by Deb Horaz and seconded by Dan Lane. Meeting was
adjourned at 6:58 p.m.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by,
Lisa Godwin