THE GLEN ELLYN PARK DISTRICT BOARD RETREAT MEET

The Special “Retreat” Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners was held at the Lisle Hilton on Saturday, August 29. All Commissioners were in attendance along with Cory Atwell, Executive Director. The meeting was less formal, being held at a conference table and no voting was to take place. A large portion of this meeting was dedicated to the discussion of Capital Projects; both the 10 year history and a proposed Capital Plan.

The meeting began with the exciting news that Commissioner Julia Nephew and her husband Eric Bergman are expecting twins. Congratulations to the Nephew/Bergman household!

Commissioners Ron Aubrey, Bill Dallman, Ed Hess and Board President Sandra Minogue relayed their experiences on the Board and the challenges they have all faced at one time or another when the consensus of the Board did not agree with them and when a vote has not gone their way. They all explained how this has happened to all of them at one time or another but that they are a Board, and once a decision is made they have to stand together, work together and move forward.

In the spirit of boardsmanship and opening a dialog all were asked to discuss their reasons for running. Commissioners Dallman, Aubrey, Hess, Kinzler and President Minogue all explained their history of coaching and involvement with their children’s sporting activities while echoing a strong belief in community service and giving back to the community. Commissioner Melissa Creech said everyone knows why Jay, Julia and she ran. Commissioner Nephew wants her Park District to be stronger and more responsive to the community with transparency & fiscal responsibility as in their campaign.

Touching on a history of projects, Board President Minogue expressed pride in the District’s vision – at how they do not look at programs and facilities for just now, but how they look at what is going to happen; at what they have done and what has been accomplished. Dallman recalled the debate concerning the Maryknoll acquisition and whether that was even going to happen.

Commissioner Nephew wants to see more emphasis on acquiring open space and commented on the 2005 District survey which states that the #1 priority (63%) of the residents is land acquisition. Nephew is concerned that there is too much emphasis on facilities and not open space.

Commissioner Hess asked Nephew “Where is the open space? We are more alike than you think in that we all like open space. Maryknoll was going to be housing, that was the last big parcel in Glen Ellyn and the Board at the time knew they would never have that opportunity again.” Hess also commented that they need facilities and infrastructure to support the Park District’s programs. Hess also mentioned the recent Park District acquisition of the southwest corner at Ackerman Park. He suggested that when the public inquires about land acquisition that they may not be aware of what is being done or they do not realize how little land is available and reminded the other Commissioners that the Park District is not the Forest Preserve District.

Commissioner Creech asked that in reference to a developer’s cash in lieu of land if that money shouldn't be put in a land acquisition fund. Director Atwell explained that those funds are required to be spent in the neighborhood where the development took place, not just anywhere within the District.

Commissioner Aubrey reminded all that they are Parks and Recreation and that the District is composed of 29 parks and over 300 acres. The recreation part has grown and has created a huge stress on the facilities and they need to figure out how to handle it. District 87 went to No-Cut Sports this year, the District found out after D87 made that decision. This is an example of decisions being made and the District having to keep up with the demand for fields.

Minogue commented to Creech that “I think we’re closer than you think. You’ll understand the facility side the longer you are involved.” Director Atwell explained that the Skate Park at Newton was the result of 10 kids and their parents attending a Board Meeting and asking for it. This is now a successful and viable entity. He further remarked how one Commissioner went to bat for Bocce Ball at Maryknoll and every night on his way home he observes 10-15 players using the courts.

The Capital Plan portion of the meeting was basically a wish list for the next 5-6 years. Atwell explained that things do not come off the list but that they might shift either through surveys, legislation or a safety concern. A “scoreboard” was presented with all of the proposed Capital Expenditures. Commissioners were to vote 1 thru 5 (1 most important, 5 least) and to vote their gut. Atwell gave the Board prioritized Staff recommendation. Some of the Staff recommendations were due to safety issues and changes in legislation. Staff recommendations are as follows and not in order:

Seal coating and asphalt repair at Ackerman 75,000
Re-installing Volleyball courts at Ackerman 20,000
Replacing the playground at Ackerman 125,000
Nature Center at Churchill
(pending OSLAD grant) 300,000
Campground at Churchill 5,000
Razing the house at Churchill 10,000
Replacing the playground at Manor Park 75,000
Seal coating the parking lot at Johnson Center 20,000
Safety Village at Maryknoll Education Center
(pending $40,000 state grant) 50,000
Maryknoll playground splash/shade` 75,000
SARC Parking Lot 7,500
Virginia Graeme Baker Act Sunset Pool 75,000
Lake Ellyn Shoreline Stewardship 15,000
Replace Astro Turf at Holes & Knolls 20,000 $
Sunset Pool Flag Pole 2,000
Park Signage 5,000
Land Acquisition 50,000

Director Atwell pointed out that when Governor Quinn signs the budget $40,000 in grant money will be available for the Education Center at Safety Village. He also pointed out that in reference to Sunset Pool the newly enacted Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act would require the District to spend 20% of the Capital Budget to retrofit drains at Sunset Pool to be in compliance with this law.

The Board then reviewed the rest of the “wish list” of proposed Capital Expenditures. Some examples include painting and tuck-pointing Johnson Center; all of the Commissioners gave this a high priority. A proposed trail leading from Ackerman to the Great Western Trail received more support (3) from Creech and Aubrey while the other Commissioners gave it little support (5). Meanwhile replacing - installing water fountains at Danby Park and Presidents Park received warm support from Dallman (2) and little support from the rest (5).

This meeting presented the Board with an opportunity to review what needs to be done in the parks, what they would like to be done and to start a dialog to determine what action will be taken. No votes were taken, no consensus was required and no decisions were made regarding Capital Expenditures at this meeting.

The Board also discussed a suggestion by Commissioner Jay Kinzler that they attend as Board Liaisons District Volunteer Athletic Association meetings. It was suggested instead that they invite the Co-Chair to the Board meetings instead to give the entire Board an opportunity to listen to any comments and concerns the Associations may have and that the Board as a whole would be in a better position to act in meeting the needs of the Associations.