Park Board Minutes 2015 01-15-15Page 1 of 4
Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department
Special Park Board Meeting
ARC Building
201 W. Hydraulic Avenue
6:30 p.m.
January 15, 2015
Call to Order: Seaver Tarulis called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call: Deb Horaz ‐ no; Kelly Sedgwick – no; Seaver Tarulis – yes; Mark Dilday – yes; Amy Cesich
‐ no; Dan Lane – yes; Matt Konecki – yes.
Introduction of City Official and Staff:
Tim Evans – Director of Parks and Recreation
Scott Sleezer – Superintendent of Parks
Shay Remus – Superintendent of Recreation
Other Guests: None.
Public Comment: None.
Presentation: None.
Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the December 18, 2014 were approved. Motion to approve
the minutes made by Dan Lane and seconded by Matt Konecki.
Bills Review:
Bill List – January 8, 2015 – Dan asked about the tent rental deposit. Tim said it is for next year.
Old Business:
131 Hydraulic Unit C – RFP Results & Presentation – Tim said he did ask the two people to come tonight
to present a presentation and they both let me know they withdraw being considered. Tim contacted
the third person and said he would talk to the board to make sure you wanted them to come and what
direction the board wants to go.
Dan asked what the reasons were for withdrawing. Tim said they said the location of their businesses
are doing well and they didn’t want to take on another place. Tim said he told her she is the only one
left the others decided to withdraw. Tim said he would ask the board if they want to see if other
businesses are interested.
Tim said in February she could come in and meet with the board. Tim said staff is working on a proposal
as a backup plan. Tim said they have met with the Chicago Whitewater Association about using some
space for office and doing some events. Tim said they would probably want the old Geneva Kayak
building, but they might be open to others.
APPROVED 2/12/15
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Tim asked the board if they want him to put the RFP out again. Tim said he does not want the buildings
to be empty in the summer. The board agreed. Tim said the board needs to have a backup plan Tim
said the board can discuss it at the February meeting. Dan asked what happens if she is the only one
and the board doesn’t want her.
The board is concerned if there is a demand for her business. Dan said the board won’t take her by
default. Tim said we can have some options at the next meeting and put out another RFP. Tim
suggested to table this for now and in February decide how to move forward. Tim wants to make sure
we have someone in there for the summer.
Tim said the Illinois Chicago Whitewater Association reached out to the city about partnering with us
this summer. Dan doesn’t want it to be free. Dan said he doesn’t understand how if someone has rent
at $300 how they want to discuss that. Dan said why is it negotiable.
Dan said if the rent is $300 that is what it is. Tim said that is for the board to decide. Scott said he thinks
that the rent on commercial space is negotiated and it is a common practice. Dan said $300 is
reasonable. Scott said some may have the opinion it doesn’t hurt to ask.
Tim said Chicago Whitewater likes the kayak chute here and we were discussing how to help us get
more people down to the area. Tim said it seems like everyone wants more people downtown and if we
don’t have a great businesses opportunity, we need a plan B because we don’t want a business that will
fail.
Tim said the point of all this is to bring people downtown. Tim said the city can leave the conference
room available to rent for birthdays or other meetings. Scott said the ice cream shop could rent it out
and pay us a usage fee. Scott said partnering with Whitewater would be smart because those are the
people that use this and would use the facilities and shop and enjoy Yorkville.
Matt said people have seen the businesses fail and they might be are reluctant. Dan said there is no left
turn there, which he feels hurts businesses. Dan said you have to drive around the block and it is not
good for businesses.
Scott said he thinks it gives the opportunity for the city to use the space and gives us time to get the
right fit. Dan agrees the board should not rush to get someone in there just for the sake of getting
someone in there. It needs to be the right fit. Seaver said the water chute has not been used much and
partnering with the Whitewater Association would help.
Scott agrees. Tim said we could hold more events. Tim said he wants to drive more people downtown
and use the water feature, which then leads to them eating and other things. Scott said the city could
paint the building and landscape it. Scott said some high schools have kayaking teams. Scott said if
there were qualified people involved in that sport here in Yorkville, schools would have a facility.
There was a discussion about putting up posts and gates that were permanent and Chicago Whitewater
would monitor that and take care of it. Scott said a post every 50 to 60 feet. Scott said they can be
painted to blend in. They are not large. Tim said at the February meeting we will discuss this more and
bring back some options for the board to decide.
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Scott said at the Geneva Kayak building, there will be a significant amount of construction for at least a
year. The playground will be there, joint trails and memorial area is being built. Scott said people can
get to it, but there will be a significant amount of construction. Scott said that might be a reason to
partner with Whitewater. Tim said this item is tabled until next month.
Motion to table made by Mark Dilday and seconded by Dan Lane. Motion passes.
New Business:
RFP for Riverfront Park Playground – Tim said this RFP is so we can get this out to potential playground
companies to get things moving on the playground. Scott said we would like a nature theme. Scott said
the cost is $90,000 in equipment with a volunteer build.
Scott said the city is constructing the park. Scott said we will send this to playground manufacturers and
get their input and get storyboards following our directions in the RFP. Scott said they will come back
with storyboards and we will look through them and pick the one we like the best. Scott said hopefully
it will be back by the end of February and we will have things ready for the meeting in March.
Staff has to do infrastructure first before install. Scott said actual installation would be late summer or
fall. Tim said per the grant, it has to be done this year. Tim said we would like to get this approved
tonight, so we can get it to city council and bring this back to the board in March. Scott said we are
shooting for a 5‐12 year old playground.
Motion to approve the RFP for a nature themed Riverfront Park Playground for $90,000. Motion made
by Mark Dilday and seconded by Matt Konecki. Motion approved.
Parks and Recreation Survey Results – Tim said he will put this on the agenda for next month when
more board members are present. Tim said it is a good tool and he thinks the city should do it once a
year or periodically and stay in touch with our residents.
Dan asked about the demographics and the ages etc. Shay said it is built into the survey. Shay said they
asked age range and how many in your household. Shay said the highest majority was 134 people were
in the range of 30‐39 out of 263. The board discussed the demographics and how they worked in the
survey.
The board discussed how often to do surveys and the best way to do them.
Reports:
Parks – Scott said the city is replacing a component at Fox Hill East. The clatter bridge keeps coming
apart and we have replaced bolts, but we decided to take it out and put in a climber. Scott said the
shelter at Bridge it done and we are getting tables in. Scott said the guys have been working in the FE
Wheaton woods. Scott said we are taking down holiday decorations some are frozen to the ground.
Scott said Tim and him have been working on the two grants.
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Recreation – Preschool holiday parties went great at the end of December and the parents met the
teachers. Registration for 2015‐2016 began and there are 14 kids registered for next year and we are
giving tours daily.
Ready Set Go is completely full with 40 kids and it is a great program, which is feeding into the preschool
program. Basketball started with games last Saturday and we are using four schools there are 360 kids.
Dan said he likes to see the Recreation news in the Record.
Shay said they are planning summer special events bringing back the favorites and doing some new
ones. Shay said they are having a Bunny Breakfast this year.
Additional Business: None.
Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:35 p.m. Motion was
made by Matt Konecki and seconded by Mark Dilday.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by:
Lisa Godwin
Minute Taker