Park Board Minutes 2014 12-18-14Page 1 of 4
Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department
ARC Building
201 W. Hydraulic Avenue
6:30 p.m.
December 18, 2014
Call to Order: Deb Horaz called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call: Deb Horaz ‐ yes; Kelly Sedgwick – no; Seaver Tarulis – no; Mark Dilday – yes; Amy Cesich
– yes (late); Dan Lane – yes; Matt Konecki – yes.
Introduction of City Official and Staff:
Tim Evans – Director of Parks and Recreation
Scott Sleezer – Superintendent of Parks – (not in attendance)
Tyler Nelson – Athletic Coordinator
Shay Remus – Superintendent of Recreation
Ken Koch ‐ Alderman
Other Guests: Robyn Sutcliff – Foxy’s Ice Cream
Public Comment: None.
Presentation: None.
Approval of Minutes: The minutes from the October 16, 2014 were approved. Motion to approve the
minutes made by Amy Cesich and seconded by Mark Dilday.
Bills Review:
Bills List Review – The board discussed different things on the bills list. Deb asked about a cost. Tim said
it was for a wooden bridge falling over and the city had several people voice concern. Tim said there
was a company doing other work, and they were willing to make the repairs for a reduced price at
Bridge Park.
The board discussed different programs that the Parks and Recreation offer and what revenues they
bring in. The board discussed the budget and how much money is left in the year. The board discussed
that recreation is actually not to make money, but to offer programs. Tim said recreation just has to
stay within the budget.
Budget Report – October 2013 – Informational purpose.
Budget Report – October 2014 – Informational purpose.
Budget Report – November 2013 – Informational purpose.
Budget Report – November 2014 – Informational purpose.
Old Business:
APPROVED 1/15/15
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Bridge Park – Tim said a couple months ago we brought this issue to the city attorney for adult softball.
Tim said the city attorney said that only allowing certain people at the park, would be discriminating
against different groups and it needs to be more general, not adults only.
Amy said she doesn’t understand why the city can’t say it is for adults only. Tim said it can be a certain
day and time, but it has to be available to anyone and not adult softball. Tim said there can be times like
if we say Tuesday and Thursday between 6‐10. Tim said the board can discuss it and bring this back to
city council. Amy said the issue is the city losing leagues to other communities.
Shay asked Oswego if they had increased security or anything at their field with use of alcohol. Oswego
said no. Shay said Oswego is going to begin selling alcohol in a couple years because they have not seen
any negative effect from it and no issues. Shay said this has been our discussion, if there will be any
problems. Amy said can we present this as a trial/test period things to see if things go well.
Matt asked if there is a lot of opposition to having alcohol. Tim said the police have no issue with it.
Amy said there was a problem with the city selling it. Deb said the board said no to selling alcohol. Matt
said most softball leagues ‐ that is what they do. Oswego allows alcohol anywhere. Matt suggested that
Yorkville look at Oswego policy.
Ken said the American Legion serves alcohol. They have issues there with trunk drinking while the boys
are playing the game and the parents go out to the trunks and drink. Ken said the bartender at the
Legion told us that the trunk drinking has to stop. Amy said this would be a seasonal thing. Tim said
yes.
Ken said the Riverfront functions allow alcohol. Tim said those are events with staff in attendance. Deb
said we are getting forced into this because of Oswego allowing it. Amy said that people would like to
have a beer and not be in trouble. Ken said they are doing it anyway like the trunk drinking. Tim said
we just have to keep any eye on it. Shay said there are always reasons why people go to certain leagues.
Shay said the city is trying to find ways to make our leagues attractive to people. The board discussed
Oswego and them having no issues with drinking at games. Amy said she thinks it should be presented
to the city council and go in with the pros and cons. Dan said that his stepson plays in a league and they
do it anyway. Dan said we should give it a chance and see.
Shay said it will be outside of the dugouts and it will be part of the league rules. Deb said there needs to
be rules so it is not a free for all. Deb suggested to ask city council if it should be allowed at all the parks
not just softball. Tim said it could lead to that if things go well.
Motion to allow alcohol at Bridge Park for Softball with no alcohol in the dugout or on the field Dan Lane
motioned and Matt Konecki seconded. Deb – yes; Amy – yes; Mark – yes; Dan – yes; Matt – yes. Motion
passed.
New Business:
Park Board Meeting Dates 2015 – Tim said he is running into problems with city council and the packets
and it causes issues with things moving slow. Tim would like to move it to the second Thursday same
time and same location.
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Deb said the January meeting can be held without her, if needed. The board discussed times and dates
in January. Motion and second to move Park Board Meetings to the second Thursday of the month at
6:30 p.m. Motion made by Mark Dilday and seconded by Amy Cesich. Deb – yes; Amy – yes; Mark –
yes; Dan‐ yes; Matt – yes.
131 Hydraulic Unit C RFP Results – Tim said there was three proposals to rent the building. Tim said this
can be a discussion tonight and decision can be made later, if needed. Dan thinks that they should
attend and make a presentation, so that we can ask questions. Dan wants to table this until the people
can come in to meet with them in person.
Deb said if this is important to them, they need to attend. Tim said he will have them attend the
January meeting. Ken said Upper Crust caters into Oswego and other places. Ken said he did not realize
you cannot go there for a single family it has to be 10‐12 people minimum. The board discussed the
Upper Crust business and how he runs things. Dan said he does a great job.
Deb said she has an issue with negotiating the rents, so they need to be in attendance to discuss that.
The board discussed the rent being the same amount and it is not up for negotiation. Tim said that is up
to the board to decide. Dan said if you want to rent an apartment, there is not negotiation. Tim said
once the board picks a tenant, there will be a contract drawn up.
Tim said the board can decide what they want to do with the rent. Tim said they might want to talk
about the percentages. Tim said he will contact them and have them attend the next meeting to discuss
these things.
Robyn Sutcliff said she had a non‐compete clause that she could not sell anything that another business
are selling. Tim said that things will be handled the same. The board would like all three to come in to
the next meeting. Deb asked if there will be something written to cover the legal fees if they default.
Tim said that is something that can be added into a lease/license. Deb asked to be able to phone into
the January meeting.
301 E. Hydraulic – Request for Proposal – Tim said this is to get things rolling to get a tenant into this
location. Amy made a motion to accept the 301 E. Hydraulic Street Request for Proposal. Matt
seconded. Deb – yes; Amy – yes; Dan – yes; Mark – yes; Matt – yes.
Purchase of New Dump Truck – Tim said this was in the budget. Tim said the price should be the same
as last year and the city budgeted a bit more than needed. Motion to approve a purchase of a 350
dump truck in the amount of $29,010. Amy motioned and Matt seconded. Deb – yes; Dan – yes; Amy –
yes; Mark – yes; Matt – yes.
Reports:
Recreation Report – Shay said the preschool registration began in December for next year and those are
just for the kids already in the program. Shay said Ready Set Go is filled up with 40 kids.
Basketball starts in December and there are 280 players this year and 60 in the 5th and 6th grade group.
We are using all the elementary schools which is going well.
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Shay said the child development classes are going well on nights and weekends. The Holiday Under the
Stars went great and thanks to Dan for being Santa Claus. Shay said it was great weather for Chili Chase.
The catalog was delivered the 1st of December.
The online survey closed on December 1st and Tim will have results coming soon. 259 people completed
the survey. The riverfront fishing was approved. Tim said the skate park meeting is on Monday. The
appraisals are back on Bristol 65. Tim said the park staff is getting ready for the winter months.
Matt asked about progress on Riverfront Park. Tim said the fishing pier has been approved by the state
and the next meeting will be and RFP for the playground. Tim said things are moving forward because
most of it has to be done next year.
The board discussed extending the park and making it bigger and having bathrooms. Deb said she
would like to have a band shelter. Tim said on the grant there cannot be any changes. The board
discussed different options. Tim said the Chicagoland Whitewater Association wants to use the building
and bring people into the community. Matt asked how large the association is. Tim said they are not
really large, but their events would be held here and bring more activity.
Deb asked why they need a building and not a booth. Tim said they did some things in Aurora and it was
pretty successful. Ken said if that building is gone the Comed power plant will stick out. Tim said if all
this goes through there will be a band shelter. The board discussed different plans for Riverfront and
how to use the space.
Tim asked if any board members want to go to the state conference in January. Scott can drive people
there and back if they are interested.
Additional Business: None.
Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:32 p.m. Motion was
made by Amy Cesich and seconded by Matt Konecki.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by:
Lisa Godwin
Minute Taker