Park Board Minutes 2005 09-26-05 UNITED CITY OF YORKVILLE
YORKVILLE PARKS & RECREATION DEPARTMENT BOARD MEETING
Parks & Recreation Administrative offices Riverfront Building
Monday, September 26, 2005
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER.
Meeting was called to order by Chris Rollins at 7 : 00 p .m.
ROLL CALL .
Chris Rollins, Ken Koch, Heather Fiala, and Tammy Smock
GUESTS/CITY OFFICIALS/STAFF:
Laura Brown, Park and Recreation Director
Scott Sleezer, Superintendent of Parks
Allecia Vermillion, Beacon News
PUBLIC COMMENTS :
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES .
There was a correction on page 10 of the September 12, 2005 minutes—The Park Board
had recommended no park land in Aspen Ridge (not Autumn Ridge) . j
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Minutes from the September 12, 2005 board meeting were approved on motion by Ken
Koch and seconded by Tammy Smock. The motion was unanimously approved.
BILLS REVIEW:
Cash Analysis & Bills List
Laura Brown wanted to clarify that on page 10 the $40. 92 for tolls for the pet parade
were actually for tolls and program expenses for the pet parade. Tolls were actually only
$ 3 . 00 and the balance was for supplies .
Fox Valley Special Recreation was reimbursed for the non-resident as discussed at the
last meeting. An approved copy of the policy was provided to be put in the policy
manual.
Heather Fiala motioned to approve the bills list and was seconded by Ken Koch. Roll
call vote: Chris Rollins—Yes, Ken Koch—Yes, Heather Fiala—Yes, Tammy Smock—
Yes. The motion was unanimously approved.
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DEVELOPMENT
The sewer lines and the water lines are in at the regional park. One of the fields is totally
groomed with the other two to follow, which will include fall seeding. There were a few
minor changes to the parking lot.
Regarding upcoming baseball, Ken Koch informed Laura Brown that someone will be
contacting her about the priorities of the age groups and possibly purchasing a portable
mound.
Gilbert Park is done. Sunflower and Cannonball parks are under construction. There was
an issue with Rice Park. Children are throwing rocks from the stone wall that is around
the sand. Scott Sleezer indicated that he will have someone look at it and see what they
can do so that these rocks do not get moved.
OLD BUSINESS :
Seniors Arrangement/Space Status Update
There was no additional information at this time.
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Update Establishing a Park DistrictlOpen Forum
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Laura Brown had drafted an informational sheet informing the public about the Open
Forum that was to discuss the possibility of becoming a park district. She made a few
changes to the draft. The first bullet will now be, "Do you want Park and Recreation
Services expanded? The third bullet will be, "How does the issues and discussion at the
City Council meeting about forming a park district affect you and the community? " The
sixth bullet will be, "When and should Yorkville get a public pool and aquatic center?"
And the final bullet will be a discussion about community awareness and venues for park
and recreation services. Residents of Yorkville, people who have participated in
programs or are in the school district, and partners and stakeholders in the Community
will be notified about this forum. It will also be in The Record and The Beacon News .
Laura Brown will make the revisions and will notify the Board of the place and the
Thursday in October that is available.
Update on Parks 1 PW Maintenance Facility
There is no update at this time
NEW BUSINESS :
Park Naming Applications /Requests
There is a policy that in order for a park to be named after a person, this person must have
resided in Yorkville or have had a significant contribution to Yorkville. We received
three applications for naming the parks . Two of the applications will be denied because
the people did not reside in or contribute to Yorkville. Laura Brown will request more
information on the third application as the application did not provide much detail about
the person' s life.
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Park Board Meeting Dates (Fiala)
Heather Fiala proposed changing the night of the Board meetings and meeting monthly
instead of bimonthly. There was a concern that the Board meetings may become too
lengthy if they met monthly, although canceling a meeting if there is not much on the
agenda would be considered. They are considering changing the meeting to Thursdays,
but they will need to ask the Board members that are not present. At the next Board
meeting Laura Brown will give the Board a Thursday schedule to approve, and they will
reexamine the question of a second meeting on an as needed basis .
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REPORTS
Director Report
Last Saturday Laura Brown presented at the Illinois Municipal League on Park and
Recreation. It was well attended.
Laura Brown also wanted to bring to the Board ' s attention the Economics Research
Associates Report on the benefits of parks. This covers some of the issues that some of
the Aldermen were having on why we should have parks and the value of them. This
study, which was done by the Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD), will be a
great tool to use as a reference, including on establishing a park district.
Parks
Scott Sleezer notified the Board that they let go of the person who was handling the
' baseball fields. He was in his one year probation period and they felt it would be in the
City' s best interest to let him go . They have a seasonal person who will help out until
Christmas . To fill the position, they will be looking for someone with laboring
experience and they will train him. The quality of the baseball fields is very good and
there is a standard on how we want to keep them. In fact, people have asked why Parks
does not maintain the schools ' fields .
Two people from Park and Recreation have attended playground safety school and have
taken the certification tests and as a result, we have identified some issues that needed to
be corrected. In addition, two Park employees and one Recreation employee will be
going to NRPA in October in San Antonio . Scott Sleezer will be finishing his second
year at a maintenance school in Colorado . And Sue Swithin will be finishing her final
year at PDF, a professional development school: This is a good opportunity for the
people and the City reaps the benefits of this education, too, with a high quality of work
and the condition of the parks.
IPRA is having their annual conference the third week in January at the Hilton on
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. The City will pay for the Board to attend this if they are
interested. This would be a great opportunity for Board members to meet other Board
members .
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS
None
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CORRESPONDENCE:
Miscellaneous Correspondence
Articles are in the packets to read.
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ADJOURNMENT :
The meeting adjourned at 7 :47 p.m. following the motion by Heather Fiala and seconded
by Ken Koch. The motion was unanimously approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Jeanne Arbet
Minute Taker
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ATTENDANCE
Yorkville Parks & Recreation Department
Board Meeting
Monday, September 26, 2005
Please Sian In
GUESTS/CITY OFFICIALS/STAFF:
Laura Brown, Parks and Recreation Director
Scott Sleezer, Superintendent of Parks
Allecia Vermillion, Beacon News
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BOARD MEMBERS :
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Eh Heather Fiala ❑ Alderman Paul James Ken Koch
❑ Richard Korinek Chris Rollins Tammy Smock
❑ Van Truman
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