AMBITIOUS ACKERMAN PLANS IN PRELIMINARY BUDGET

At the July 21st Board Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District, the Consent Agenda passed unanimously.

During Public Participation, members of the community were present to voice their concern over the Park District’s potential financial support for artificial turf at Memorial Field. John Huston asked Executive Director Cory Atwell if opponents of turf would have an opportunity to meet with staff since the Glenbard West Booster Club and Gaining Ground had met with staff. Director Atwell informed Mr. Huston that staff would meet with Mr. Huston and other concerned citizens. Commissioner Julia Nephew interjected that Mr. Huston was to email her if his calls to the Park District to schedule a meeting were not returned. Paul Leak and Don Pydo were also in attendance.

Regarding placing Documents on the Park District website: with the assistance of Steve Adams, District Counsel, a motion was made by Commissioner Melissa Creech and seconded by Commissioner Bill Dallman to direct staff to place documents on the website. The motion passed unanimously. Items to be included are Board Packets and the Monthly Voucher List. Items pertaining to legal or HIPA (Health Insurance Privacy Act of 1999) issues are to be excluded.

Under New Business Kathleen Esposito, Superintendent of Recreation and Dan Kroger, Recreation Supervisor provided a comprehensive overview of the Ackerman Sports Complex Preliminary Budget. Part of their method in determining a preliminary budget for this Complex included researching somewhat comparable facilities such as the Geneva Park District and the Orland Park Park District, and others.

Commissioner Ed Hess asked how they budgeted 500 Fitness Center members at $300. Director Atwell responded that they took a conservative percentage of Park Districts with a somewhat comparable facility to devise a fiscally conservative Preliminary Budget for the Ackerman Sports Complex. Recreation Supervisor Kroger commented that in making these comparisons they purposely budgeted lower for the Ackerman Preliminary Budget. Commissioner Hess remarked that this gives him a lot of confidence in the process.

Also discussed were general facility rentals, turf costs and chargebacks for new and existing programs. The staffing requirements will be conservative at first and driven by traffic. According to Superintendent Esposito, “There will always be someone there, someone in charge”.

This led to further discussions about offering a nominal $10 Fitness Center membership for resident Seniors to use the walking track. Commissioner Creech and Commissioner Jay Kinzler opposed the $10 a year fee and suggested that it be offered at no charge. The Geneva Park District has 2,000 senior walking members at the walking track at their Fitness Center who pay $10 annually.

Commissioner Kinzler asked what consideration there would be for Little League Teams to schedule use of the batting cage. He was informed that a schedule of open times would be available.

Commissioner Creech asked what the grand total cost was to which Director Atwell responded, $10.5 million. Superintendent Esposito stated that this does not include the Fitness Center equipment. This has not been chosen yet and the Board will vote to approve when ready.

Commissioner Creech proceeded to propose a Field Usage Study. She wants this as reference for the next referendum, to make sure the Park District is asking the right questions and that staff has the right answers. Commissioner Creech wants a field by field, space by space, room by room audit of how all Park District space is used, when and by how many participants.

Room by room breakdowns required by Commissioner Creech would be for example: general purpose, dance, fitness. She wants to know what the Park District has and how it is being used. She stated that this is a useful tool for the Board and better than anecdotal reference so that for the next referendum – they will have the documentation.

Commissioner Bill Dallman remarked that while conceptually it may be a good idea, they already have that information and the Board does not micromanage the day to day operations of the Park District.

Commissioner Hess suggested doing this on a limited basis, sample a few facilities and see what information is obtained and how useful it is before spending the time and money to see, for example, seasonality, time of day, summer/winter programs etc. Hess inquired, “How would we use this information? Perhaps evaluating this data Program by Program could be more usable?”

Commissioner Creech responded that in the history of the Park District decisions were made to build Sunset Pool, Ackerman Sports Complex and to renovate the Main Street Recreation Center. She wants these numbers and data to guide the process and to make sure that fields are available when needed.

President Sandra Minogue asked Recreation Supervisor Kroger if there were “any examples of a soccer game that wasn’t played due to lack of fields”. Kroger responded, “No”.

Director Atwell commented that due to the scope and nature of Commissioner Creech’s request it should be handled externally. There are organizations available to bid on the Field Usage Study and that he would submit a quote as soon as possible.

The Board unanimously approved a $948,317.87 pay request for the Ackerman Sports Complex and the final pay request of $3,019.05 for Village Green Park.