Public Budget Hearing + Board of Commissioners
Chicago Park District
Parks
Remote
This is a remote assignment to cover the following back-to-back meetings:
- 11:15 a.m.: Public budget hearing
- 11:30 a.m.: Regular board of commissioners meeting
A link to access the meeting live-stream will be posted at https://chicagoparkdistrict.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
Check the source website for additional information
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team
Note-taking by
Jonah Nink
Live reporting by
Christian Gentry
Chris Gentry
@TheChrisGentry_
Hi, I’ll be live-tweeting today's Chicago Park District Public Budget Hearing and Board of Commissioners Meeting for #CHIdocumenters @CHIdocumenters
11:16 AM Nov 10, 2021 CST
@CHIdocumenters The Parks District has been the center of a controversy for the last several of months related to the report on lifeguard sexual abuse, and the subsequent cover up.
This is merely an informational hearing and no vote will actually be taken on the meeting today.
Interim CEO Rosa Escareno talks about the goals of the park district, to create quality and affordable activites for the youth and family of the city
She speaks of how the budget will not only resurrect old programs, it will expand programs, and it will add new programs such as wrestling, culture in the neighborhood, soccer for success and others.
This will also expand girls programing, through the "go girls go" camp and girls play program across the city.
She also highlights spaces, like the new buildings down in the Caulumet Environmental Center, and the Brighton Park expansion.
Escareno highlights that not only does this take the previous budget, it expands it. All without increasing costs for residents. The sole revenue expansion would be a small increase to the property tax of around 4$ per person.
Escareno talks about the previous acts of the CEO. She says that she is going to establish the "Office of Protection" that will intake and process all claims of harassment, discrimination and abuse.
She also highlights the plan to increase training for staff members to spot and respond to incidents of harassment. She says that the city will work towards long term "cultural change" to make sure that "safety and respect" are the highest priority of the parks district.
Escareno highlights the fund that means that no youth will be denied activities due to lack of funds. The fund payed for daycare for nearly 4,500 folks, and paid for other activities like swimming lessons and recreational activities.
Steve Lux the parks CFO is up next. He says that the budget has two themes.
The first is raising the programmatic schedule up to pre pandemic levels. The second is using the funding passed as a part of the Illinois Capital Plan
The first is raising the programmatic schedule up to pre pandemic levels. The second is using the funding passed as a part of the Illinois Capital Plan
Here is the overall budget for the next few years. https://t.co/tr3ux7wNr2
Additionally here is the operating revenue from various properties.
The PPRT and Property Tax is the vast majority of revenue.
Park Fees and Permits only account for 6% of revenue. https://t.co/iOfXpUFTsX
The PPRT and Property Tax is the vast majority of revenue.
Park Fees and Permits only account for 6% of revenue. https://t.co/iOfXpUFTsX
When it comes to spending, around 49% of the spending is from personnel expenses. https://t.co/x8a6oMG8jq
The majority of the increase in revenue comes from Soldier field expanding operations, and from general growth in tax revenue as businesses picks back up.
There is an overall increase in property tax of $4.5m. and should be around 4$ per home owner. https://t.co/HujT0D7FG2
There is an overall increase in property tax of $4.5m. and should be around 4$ per home owner. https://t.co/HujT0D7FG2
As for expenditure, this is driven largely by an increase into the pension fund in line with the overall city goal of getting pension debt under control.
The increase in salary also comes from the minimum wage increases.
The increase in salary also comes from the minimum wage increases.
The debt is a negative expenditure, due to the boards bond approval a few months ago.
Preisdent Avis LaVelle says that this budget hits all of the priorities of centering safety.
We are now heading into the comment section. Thus far this includes just 4 folks.
First off is Louise, she speaks to the need for a new gymnasium in Jackson park. She talks about the "gem" of the Phoenix Garden in Jackson park. She says that the increase in visitors rose up up to 8000 a day, and the island where the park sits is in need of repair.
Up next is May Toy, She is a member of the Advisory Council.
She is advocating for the community garden, for skinner park specifically, but also for the community garden program as a whole.
She says which the park district provides land, there is no funding
She is advocating for the community garden, for skinner park specifically, but also for the community garden program as a whole.
She says which the park district provides land, there is no funding
She talks about how South and West communities can not afford to run the gardens, especially those that are ornamental and can edible
LaVelle asks about the cost on average for a garden.
May Toy says that for the larger park that she runs, it costs around $4000 per year. Though she says that it is a larger park and others might not need that level of funding.
May Toy says that for the larger park that she runs, it costs around $4000 per year. Though she says that it is a larger park and others might not need that level of funding.
Avis Lavelle, says that the Parks District should not be getting subsidized by residents, she encourages Rosa to look into her comments.
Up next is Leslie Wreck, She is the President of the Grand Park Advisory Council.
She says that she has submitted a written proposal. She says that the balance between city-wide events and neighborhood use has been unfairly favored towards city wide events.
She says that she has submitted a written proposal. She says that the balance between city-wide events and neighborhood use has been unfairly favored towards city wide events.
She says that the park has been heavily damaged. She asks for the parks district to establish a capital fund to help do major repairs in Grant Park.
She says that she wants to work with the District to find external funding for ongoing maintenance
She says that she wants to work with the District to find external funding for ongoing maintenance
She says she is concerned about the increase in fees for Maggie Daley Park. The increase cost for scooter fees, and others have sometimes doubled. She says she has not been given a reason for those increases.
She also mentions that there are many unfilled positions in the park, and asks for general communication with the park council on these issues.
Last up to speak is Lavonte Stewart. He is the President of the Rose(? Rosenblum?) Park Advisory Council. He mentions a need for a playground before breaking up and hanging up.
The public hearing is adjourned, we now call the official meeting to order.
First up is a the appointment of appointment to the Parks Employees Annuity and Benefit Fund of Chicago. Which passes along with the minutes.
Next up is updates on the improvements at the Big Marsh Park
Matt Freer the Assistant Director of the Environmental Conservation and Engagement team is presenting on it.
Matt Freer the Assistant Director of the Environmental Conservation and Engagement team is presenting on it.
The Big Marsh area is the center of a large natural space network. It also includes a bird watching area and a dirt biking and bmx biking zone. https://t.co/jPree1lKGo
Since the Park District took over the area, they conducted a feasibility study, and began large scale ecological restoration. The park itself opened in 2016, and is currently going through expansion
The Environmental center opened this week. There is additionally work being done on the OSLOW site which will include nearly 3 miles of natural trails, as well as a new bike trail system.
Friends of Big Marsh Executive Director, Paul Fitzgerald. It is a 501c3 used to support big marsh work.
Originally it was focused on bike development and fundraising, and now additionally it is focused on incorporating the local community
Originally it was focused on bike development and fundraising, and now additionally it is focused on incorporating the local community
Big Marsh broke records for attendance in its races, and its "Birds Bikes and Beats" program.
The Friends of Big Marsh have entered into a 3 years lease to manage a bike rental program at the Environmental site.
The Friends of Big Marsh have entered into a 3 years lease to manage a bike rental program at the Environmental site.
The "Big Hill" Construction is the last phase of bike park development, and will begin development next year.
Next up the Park District acknowledged the winner of the Junior Bear football champion. All head coaches are Chicago Park District staff, and all coaches are certified by the official USE Football program.
Junior Bear Football is 100% free including uniforms, equipment, travel, etc.
Lafollette park one the Junior Bears championship and they have one twice in the last four years,
Up next is an update to the Financial Assistance Fund update.
The Director of the program first highlights the need to prioritize "out of school time" https://t.co/sIuU6NNx1f
The Director of the program first highlights the need to prioritize "out of school time" https://t.co/sIuU6NNx1f
She talks about how park programs are priced to what was affordable in the community.
The fund as a whole comes from their annual fundraising campaign and is supported by the annual budget. https://t.co/derfofF638
The fund as a whole comes from their annual fundraising campaign and is supported by the annual budget. https://t.co/derfofF638
Around 90% of the 2018 financial assistance fund came from the general budget, this year it was only50% of the budget. This is partially due to a 70% decrease in park program, but also due to a 100% increase in fundraising.
Next up we are at the general comments for the Parks Board, this is the "People in the Parks " program. The first speaker Jackie, comes up. She talks about an issue that came up from the Humboldt Park Advisory Council
She says that board members are slandering folks online, are being rude and tardy during meetings and are targeting specific community members.
Next up is Jenny, John, She is a Humboldt Park Advisory Council. She says that she is dismayed, about the statements made by the Humboldt Park Advisory Council President, especially the remarks made towards Maggie Martinez.
She requests that the Parks District Immediately take oversite over the council.
President Lavelle, says that the board is aware of the problems, and that she is working on solutions
President Lavelle, says that the board is aware of the problems, and that she is working on solutions
Barbara Coolie is up next.
She says that, while some of the issues were addressed, there are still issues around the resurfacing of the tennis court and basketball court, and a long overdue parking lot, that was announced in 2007 but was never completed.
She says that, while some of the issues were addressed, there are still issues around the resurfacing of the tennis court and basketball court, and a long overdue parking lot, that was announced in 2007 but was never completed.
Next up is Barbara Devero, she is a 77 year old swimmer at a variety of locations around the south side. She has collected 30 years of records around problems with Poos and Beaches and is offering to meet with the board to discuss them.
Next up is Rebecca Wolfram. She expresses concern about the use of Douglass Park for private for profit events. She highlights the destruction to the park, the overcrowding of the CTA and the disruption to normal events and hospitals.
Andre, from the 12th ward is up. He says that he has loved using the park, but that for the two back to back music festivals the park was closed up.
He says that the issue around safety, and the lack of infrastructure, makes holding events there difficult.
He says that the issue around safety, and the lack of infrastructure, makes holding events there difficult.
Next up is David Costalanski, he wants to talk about the Lakeshore park. Pat Levar and his team came to the park to look at accessibility. David urges a rapid fix before the weather turns to avoid injuries.
David says that he is concerned that the advisory council is not included in park programs and contact with the previous park CEO being largely ignored.
Next up is the Concession Program Overview. This is the program that takes vendors from across the city and runs restaurants, grab and go, etc.
Specifically the program in question is for the South Shore Cultural Center.
The recommended winner is NAFSI.
Specifically the program in question is for the South Shore Cultural Center.
The recommended winner is NAFSI.
Executive Chef Jon Glass would be focusing on the Mediterranean feel of the area.
The motion carries unanimously with VP King abstaining out of an "abundance of caution" as the chef used to work for him
Next up is the contract with Tara Engineering for designs specifically for Ronan Park
The proposed project at Ronan park is for a new "Neighborhood Gateway" https://t.co/fhiSmemX7w
The total project is around $3.5m. The dark green land is owned by the parks, while light green is city owned land where communities gardens currently sit. https://t.co/3xfeiWHnSY
President LaVelle asks asks about water sports, Gleason says there are not currently any at the park though there are others along the river.
Up next is a change order. This is for Park 596 which would have a Fieldhouse, an admin building and overall site development.
The cost of this order is around $4 million
The cost of this order is around $4 million
Here is the overall plan:
It would include
*Fitness center
*Art walk
*Playing fields
*Classroom spaces
*Admin offices and rooms https://t.co/fu4AujTvhS
It would include
*Fitness center
*Art walk
*Playing fields
*Classroom spaces
*Admin offices and rooms https://t.co/fu4AujTvhS
The site is currently undeveloped. It was covered with such bad construction waste before the cleanup. https://t.co/5QmhBjUGfq
Prior to construction, several other developers had walked away from the site. Dan Cooper director of environmental services is up.
Cooper says that the primary reason for the change order is that during the start of construction they ran into several underground storage tanks
While there were some tanks that were accounted for, there are 9 that were discovered outside those that were planned for https://t.co/M2IkCexBRX
The project still has the 26% and 6% diversity inclusion metrics.
The change order was verified and vetted through various parks staff and analysts, she says that while this is a challenge construction program, checks are put to make sure the project is legit
The change order was verified and vetted through various parks staff and analysts, she says that while this is a challenge construction program, checks are put to make sure the project is legit
President LaVelle, says that she initially pushed back along with Ald. Munoz, around the change order of 4 million. She was concerned around the possibility of someone low-bidding which then rackets it up after the contract has been gotten.
She says that it looks like Gleason has done the due diligence and created checks on this project.
Board Member Valle asks about the timeline and the contingency budget
Gleason says that the current timeline is Spring 2023, though there are some issues with supply chains right now. The contingency budget is around 2.2 million, though you dont want to spend it all at once.
Gleason says that the current timeline is Spring 2023, though there are some issues with supply chains right now. The contingency budget is around 2.2 million, though you dont want to spend it all at once.
The change order, while there was some concern, passes unanimously.
Commissioner Edwards does not come back from the closed meeting as he had a hard stop.
The rest of folks are here. The board met in closed session to discuss a personnel matter no further action was taken
The rest of folks are here. The board met in closed session to discuss a personnel matter no further action was taken
President LaVelle takes a point of personal privledge. She talks about her 30 years of service. She says that she is "deeply sorry about the culture of abuse and harassment at the Chicago Pools and Beaches Department" .
She says that this was going on long before the she took over. She says that she is sorry for the way that the system was handled. She emphasizes that any issues are not the fault of the board as a whole, and that she takes full responsibility.
She says that she knows that there will be a full investigation, and that those investigations will find out that she took all her actions with integrity and respect.
She says that she is going to be working with the CEO and leadership to implement new policies to prevent this issues from going on in the future.
She says that she is not being forced out, that the Mayor has been supportive of her "every step of the way" But that her time has come to an end. This will be her last meeting and her last day as president.
She thanks the board, says that she respects all of the members of the board. She calls for a motion to adjourn
All of the other members of the board go around and thank her Avis for her support. Then there is a motion to adjourn. Which carries and the meeting adjourns at 3:25
Agency Information
Chicago Park District
To govern the Chicago Park District, setting policies, governing operations, and charting the direction of current and future programs.
Remote meetings are live-streamed at https://chicagoparkdistrict.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx.
