PLATFORM PLAYERS SUCCESSFULLY PROMOTE HUT

The September 21 Regular Board Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners was called to order at 7:00 PM. Several members of the Glen Ellyn Platform Tennis playing community were present, as well as the Daily Herald and Glen Ellyn News.

The Consent Agenda containing the Finance Report and the Voucher List of Bills totaling $342,982.76 passed unanimously with a motion made by Commissioner Bill Dallman and seconded by Commissioner Sandra Minogue.

The Platform Tennis Community, led by Scott Park and Ryan Snyder presented a comprehensive proposal to add two Platform Tennis courts and a Warming Hut which would also be used as a future classroom for the Safety Village curriculum at Maryknoll Park.

Some key points from their proposal:

Chicago Area Platform Tennis has seen a 500% growth in a decade.

Comparisons of buildings, memberships and growth for similar programs in Hinsdale and Winnetka (the closest to Glen Ellyn) were referenced.

Why Should GEPD Care About Paddle in Glen Ellyn:
Need winter activities for everyone for a more vibrant, active and social community during the colder months (Sept.-May),

57.8% of the GEPD 2009 community survey responses indicated a need for a greater emphasis on adult recreation.

Lack of a viewing hut (and restroom) facility limits growth and utilization, especially for Women and Seniors.

Platform Tennis is seeking a partnership with the Park District to build the Warming Hut/Safety Village classroom. Platform Tennis is offering $150,000 which is the result of a 2 to 1 matching grant from a private foundation and a $150,000 loan to 2013. Platform Tennis would pay the interest on the loan until 2013 and at that time the Park District could either sell non referendum bonds, or use funds that are currently being used to repay the Village ($100,000.00 annually) for the purchase of Maryknoll Park in 2000. The Village will be paid in full in 2013.

The proposal seeks $50,000 from the Glen Ellyn Park District this fiscal year, with a firm commitment of $150,000 to be paid in 2013 when additional funds become available to the District.

With a building lifespan of over 40 years, the Park District is currently paying $5,000 for the trailer at Maryknoll Park: the District would incur costs of $200,000 either way. Mr. Park also remarked that the facility could be rented out for other tournaments and league play. Furthermore clinics can bring in additional revenue to the program as well as to the Park District. The Glen Ellyn Platform Tennis Committee (GEPTC) is planning two fund-raising tournaments a year; one to fund the program and another to fund the Glen Ellyn Parks Foundation.

Glen Ellyn Park District Counsel Steve Adams stated that the loan would NOT be secured with Park District property, and the Park District would not have an obligation to the bank. This is a technical negotiation and would require an intergovernmental agreement between the Park District and the Glen Ellyn Platform Tennis Committee.

When asked if the Park District had ever entered into an agreement like this before, Commissioner Ron Aubrey remarked YES: and during Matters From Commissioners detailed that in 1923, at the risk of a gas station being built at the corner of Park & Crescent, and at the risk of Ball Park (Memorial Field), being developed, a community association was formed to purchase the property which they later sold to the Glen Ellyn Park District for recreational use!

Mary Defiglia, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation commented that a previous proposal last winter was based on Winnetka’s facility. After further review a more modest and less expensive facility can be built and serve the same purpose for GEPTC and the Park District.

Superintendent of Parks Dave Scarmardo said he has received calls from several companies offering in-kind donations pending Board approval and they can also seek assistance from the Technology Center of DuPage – TCD, the former DAVEA. TCD is constructing the Safety Village buildings. Currently three Safety Village buildings are complete.

Scott Park also remarked that Glen Ellyn Village Trustee Pete Ladesic has offered assistance from several of his contacts.

Commissioner Melissa Creech said she is concerned over the loan issue. She did not want to commit to something for other boards and suggested that they just go ahead and let Platform Tennis pay for added courts.

Ryan Snyder, in reviewing the Platform Tennis proposal asked Commissioner Creech if the GEPTC is paying for the additional courts than what is the Park Board willing to bring to the table?

Creech: It’s our land!

Mr. Snyder, Mr. Snyder and several taxpayer/platform tennis players in the audience responded: It’s our land too!

Commissioner Bill Dallman said that in his ten years on the Board, he has never seen a proposal presented where an organization came forward with this much “skin in the game”.

Commissioner Jay Kinzler proselytized in great length and in great detail before finally stating that his problem was philosophical said: …no argument it will be popular and possibly a revenue maker. “I know I probably won’t vote for it”. Kinzler has been a vocal opponent of Platform Tennis since his campaign and first Park Board meeting in May 2009 when he dismissed the sport a “Pet Project”.

Commissioner Sandy Minogue commented that when we talk of future Boards our job is to have a vision and see down the road.

Board President Ed Hess remarked that other organizations have contributed to enhancing Park District facilities. Over the years softball spent approximately $16,000-18,000 for the batting cages at Ackerman Park; Football $30,000 for the Press Box at Newton and Baseball most recently promising $35,000 for the lights at Village Green.

When the discussion appeared to have run its course, Park District Executive Director Cory Atwell said that the Board would have to give some direction to Platform Tennis, most likely in the form of a motion and a vote. Kinzler told Commissioner Bill Dallman to “take the moral high ground” and not vote since Dallman plays Platform Tennis.

Commissioner Ed Hess made a motion to move forward with the proposal for Platform Tennis to add two more courts and a dual use Warming Hut/Safety Village classroom building subject to Board approval a of an acceptable intergovernmental agreement and amended budget to reflect spending $50,000 this fiscal year. Commissioner Minogue seconded the motion, which passed: 4-3.

As the result of several Riford Road residents experiencing flooding during July and August, Superintendent of Parks Scarmardo updated the Board on a recent inspection of the earthen dam embankment conducted by Patrick Engineering. The berm embankment is structurally sound and the Park District will continue to work with the Village to seek a long term solution to the flooding at Lake Ellyn.

Park District Counsel Steve Adams stated that this is a regional stormwater issue NOT a Lake Ellyn issue. Commissioner Creech asked if there were other places in addition to Lake Ellyn to store stormwater. A prompt response was that they could have had it at Ackerman Park when in 2007 the Village took the lead and asked the Park District to add a stormwater detention/soccer field facility there.

Park District Naturalist Renae Frigo informed the Board that Saturday, September 25 is Natural Public Lands Day. The Park District will be celebrating at Churchill Park and the focus is public land stewardship. Of 285 Park Districts in Illinois, only 4 are participating. The Bookstore and the Library are partnering with the Park District for this event.

A motion to change financial reporting, which was recapped in great detail over the last few issues of The Glen Ellyn Park Bench failed 3-4.

Jim Rafferty, a recently retired 37 year employee of the Glen Ellyn Park District received a Proclamation of Achievement by the Board. Mr. Rafferty was instrumental in locating and preserving an artifact from Memorial Field which will be replaced at the artificial turf dedication at Memorial Park on Saturday, September 25.

During Matters from Staff and Commissioners Superintendent of Finance Laurie Woods introduced her successor, Nicholas Cinquegrani. Superintendent Woods will be retiring October 15.

Commissioner Ron Aubrey announced that the Park District will be participating in a Chamber of Commerce sponsored Harlem Globetrotters special event at Glenbard West on October 4.

The meeting adjourned into Executive Session at 9:19 PM. The next Workshop Board Meeting of the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Tuesday, October 5, 2010 at 7:00 PM. The meetings are held at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center (SARC) 185 Spring Avenue. As with all meetings, the public is invited and welcome to attend.