Park Board Minutes 2016 08-11-16Page 1 of 4
APPROVED W/CORRECTIONS 10/13/16
Yorkville Parks and Recreation Department
Park Board Meeting
Thursday, August 11. 2016
6:30 p.m.
Parks Maintenance Building
185 Wolf Street, Yorkville, IL
Call to Order: Deb Horaz called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call: Deb Horaz ‐ yes; Mark Dilday – no; Amy Cesich – yes; Dan Lane – yes; Gene Wilberg –
yes; Sash Dumanovic ‐ yes.
Introduction of City Official and Staff:
Tim Evans – Director of Parks and Recreation
Scott Sleezer – Superintendent of Parks
Shay Remus – Superintendent of Recreation
Ken Koch – Alderman
Joel Frieders – Alderman Absent
Other Guests: None.
Public Comment: Gene Wilberg commented on the work that Scott and Tim have been doing on the
new Riverfront Park is fantastic. Tim said that the city is blessed to have people that have these skills
and can do the work themselves.
Approval of Minutes: Approval of April 14, 2016 minutes approved motion by Amy Cesich and
seconded by Dan Lane. Minutes approved. Approval of minutes for June 16, 2016 minutes motion by
Amy Cesich and seconded by Sash Dumanovic. Minutes approved.
Bills Review:
Bill List – May 12, 2016 – Informational purposes.
Bill List – June 16, 2016 – Informational purposes.
Bill List – July 14, 2016‐ Informational purposes.
Bill List – August 11, 2016 – Informational purposes.
Budget Report – March 2016 ‐ Informational purposes.
Budget Report – April 2016 – Informational purposes.
Budget Report May 2016 – Informational purposes.
Budget Report June 2016 – Informational purposes.
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Old Business:
Updated Park Policies – Tim said that this was a discussion a couple months ago. The non‐smoking
policy was added and the city added the lightening detector information. Tim said the lightening
detector is a warning system different than a tornado warning. Dan asked how often people rent out
parks. Tim said anyone can use the parks and if someone wants to guarantee it, it must be reserved.
The board discussed how to reserve parks and how the policy works. Tim said there have not been any
issues before with reserving parks.
Motion to approve the Updated Park Policies ‐ motion made by Sash Dumanovic and seconded by Amy
Cesich. Motion unanimously approved.
New Business:
Ginger and Soul License Extension Agreement – Tim said this will go to city council after park board
approval. Ginger and Soul are seeking another year. Tim said it is a $350.00 per month plus utilities.
Tim said things are going well for them and they would like to do some things to the building that need
to be discussed in the future that the city can work out.
All the businesses are paying their bills on time, which is a good thing and there have not been any
issues. Tim said the communication has been better, which has helped. Gene said he likes to see these
businesses complimenting what the city is trying to do. Dan said it brings people down to the riverfront.
Tim said all three businesses are doing well.
Motion to approve the License Extension Agreement for Ginger and Soul ‐ motion made by Dan Lane
and seconded by Gene Wilberg. Motion unanimously approved.
Recreation Space Discussion – Tim said he would like to get an architect to design a recreation building
for the city. The city might be able to cut costs by having a design done and get a better deal.
Dan asked what the city is looking for. Tim said for the price, he would like to budget design costs and
then ideally a half court gym size type building with a tall enough roof where it could be expanded to a
full court in the future. It needs access to a park, water, sewer and parking etc. Deb asked where the
location would be.
Tim said he is not looking for this to be tied to Beecher it would be a separate entity. Tim said another
location could be Prairie Meadows by the post office or Reminsnider Park. Tim said centrally located is
important. Tim said before we go to location, let’s get a design made the budget is $250,000. Tim said
the grant might give some money back, so we might get up to $350,000.
Deb asked about a building to have classes with a big gym. Tim said the ceiling needs to be high enough
when it is built, so it saves money down the road. Tim said a half gym would expand and allow some
basketball and classes and down the road add on for a cheaper price. Bathrooms with some changing
areas and small lockers and storage room – no office space.
Tim said if city council wants to go bigger we can. We can present a design for $350,000 and a design
for $500,000. The design is a smart way to go to design it for expansion. Tim said whatever the city
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builds, the city can grow with it. It will not be too big in the beginning and the city can expand and
generate more revenue and add on in the future.
The city staff is also maxed to the limit in what they are doing. The city needs to expand our
programming, but there is not space. Deb asked if the city should wait and keep the money in a fund.
Tim said no city council could make other decisions in the future. Tim said the only thing that the city is
spending now out of our budget is to get a design and present it to city council. Dan said it needs to be
done before it is taken away. The money has been allocated in to the parks and rec fund and city
council has the final decision.
Tim said he thinks this is an opportunity and this board needs to present it and city council can decide.
Tim said the board could decide to spend it some other way on another park. Dan said the city doesn’t
need more parks and playgrounds. Dan said the city needs programming space. Deb agreed.
Tim said we are way over average on parks and playgrounds in Yorkville. Tim said every time we do a
playground or park we have to maintain it. Tim said Yorkville is lacking recreation space and it could be
used all year, which allows the city to offer more programs. Gene asked about corporate sponsor. Tim
said the city is definitely open to that. Tim said that is why a design would be a good sales tool.
The board agrees that having a building designed is a good way to go. Tim said he will have that done in
the next couple months to present to city council. Tim said an updated master plan would be a good
idea to do in the future. Tim said this will move forward and it will cost between $7,000‐$12,000 for the
design.
The board discussed the different locations for the building. The board discussed the pros and cons and
it will be discussed in the future.
Downtown Caboose Discussion – Tim said the decision on this does not have to be done tonight. Tim
said the city owns a caboose downtown. Tim said it has not moved since the city purchased it. It costs a
lot to move it. Tim said he recommends to cut the loss and see if someone is willing to take it off our
hands. There are websites that things like that can be sold.
Tim said a couple of random residents contacted him and they would be interested in it for free and
they would have to move it. Tim said even to scrap it will cost us. Tim said there are two issues with it.
The railroad could eventually make us move it and it will cost the city thousands. Tim said it has been
sitting there for 9 years.
Tim said if the board is okay with getting rid of it, he will contact the railroad company too. Tim said the
city needs to do a notice of sale so the city can move on it. The board discussed different options. Amy
Cesich made a motion to do a notice of sale for the caboose and it was seconded by Sash Dumanovic.
Motion unanimously approved.
Reports:
Recreation – Tim said the year is off to a good start and the programs are going well. There has been an
increase in the city’s softball leagues. Ribs on the River went well. Hometown Days is coming up. Tim
said there is a new resident that wants to get a dog park and has contacted alderman about it. Tim said
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it is a matter of finding funds for it and a location. It would be at least three to four years before it
would be completed.
Additional Business: None.
Adjournment: There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:00 p.m. Motion by
Amy Cesich and seconded by Dan Lane. Meeting adjourned.
Minutes Respectfully Submitted by:
Lisa Godwin
Minute Taker