The August 11, 2010 Committee and Board of Commissioners meetings were held at Chicago Park District headquarters, 541 N. Fairbanks. 

Commissioners attending the committee meeting at 10:30 included:  Dr. Bryan Traubert, President, Vice-President Bob Pickens, Commissioners Rouhy Shalabi, Laird Koldyke, Dr. Scott Hanlon and Dr. Margaret Burroughs and the newest Commissioner, Juan Rangel.

Approved at the Committee on Capital Improvements:

Authorization to issue final payment of $146,712.48 for work completed in connection with Brainerd, Crescent, Fuller and Veteran’s Memorial 2008 District Wide Playgrounds- Group D.  Budget for project was $1,416,000.00 and was completed for $1,380,849.76. The project was completed under budget!

Commissioner Pickens stated that the CPD did a good job and appreciated that the accessibility blended well into the design of the playgrounds.

 Approved at the Committee on Administration:

 Adoption of the 2010 Annual Tax Levy Ordinance

$259 million tax levy adopted for 2010

 Presentation of FY 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) and other associated audit documents. Click here  to view report: http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/docs/ca61ca85-a95f-4188-8d65-22a4260f82a5_document.pdf

Comptroller Melinda Gildart presented the 2009 Annual Financial Report to the Board.

 Here’s a recap of her report:

•  The General Fund increased by $22 million to $40.2 million
• Revenues exceeded expectations by $5 million due to user fees and from Soldier Field
• Pension funding declined to 67.2% from 73.8% in 2008
• Property tax receipts were $277.7 million

 Due to the downturn in the economy the CPD implemented a number of cost cutting moves including a hiring freeze, no cost of living increases, and 2 shutdown days for all union employees and 5 additional unpaid days for all managers.

 The CPD adopted a policy of internal borrowings from Long-term Income Reserve Fund to meet operational cash flow needs eliminating the use of short term bonds.

 The CPD long term debt decreased by $11 million in 2009, down 1%. The CPD issued a $24.5 million SRA Alternative Reserve Bond in January 2009.

 The CPD Debt Rankings in 2009

Fitch Ratings AA+

Moody’s Investor Service Aa3

Standard and Poor’s AA+

 In 2009 online registration for park programs reached 343,000

 Special events that benefitted the CPD:

 American Volleyball Chicago Open Tournament

Venetian Night

Lollapalooza

The work of the Parkways Foundation and Friends of the Parks was highlighted for their support of the CPD.

 In 2009 The Parkways Foundation raised private funds for the following projects:

 Buckingham Fountain Restoration Campaign

Send a Kid to Camp Scholarship Fund

Tiffany & Co. Foundation Celebration Garden

Abbott Fund Wellness Center Programs

Inferno Mobile Recording Studio

Community Gardens Grant program

Alvin Ailey Dance & Adaptive Camps

Tree Fund

 Friends of the Parks provided the CPD support in the following:

• 20^th Annual Earth Day Parks and Preserves Cleanup
• More than 4,000 volunteers cleaned up 85 parks
• 37 Community Service Days in 22 parks
• National Public Lands Day
•           100 volunteers worked in 3 parks
• Service learning
•  20 schools equaling 150 students stewarded in 6 parks
• $15,000 in Seed Grants was awarded to 23 park advisory councils

The Kathy Osterman Award for Superior Achievements of Municipal Employees was awarded to 2 CPD staff members: Michelle LoCoco (winner) and David Reamer (finalist) 

President Traubert complimented the comptroller’s office for a good job making the budget transparent and open.

Approved at the Committee on Programs and Recreation:

 General admission fee at the Du Sable Museum to African American History to be increased beginning September 1, 2010. The Du Sable Museum hasn’t had an increase in 35 years.  (Note: Commissioner Burroughs abstained from voting, as she is the founder of the DuSable Museum)

 Rates:

Adults: $10.00 (non Chicago Resident)    $8.00 (Chicago Resident)

Students and Seniors: $7.00 (non Chicago Resident)   $5.00 (Chicago Resident)

Children: $3.00 (non Chicago Resident)   $2.00 (Chicago Resident)

Children under 6: FREE

Sundays: FREE
CPS school trips: FREE

 The Du Sable Museum hosts 170,000 a visitors a year

The operating budget is $3.4 million

 Commissioner Shalabi inquired why there is such an increase. COO from Du Sable stated that the increase will allow for catch up, Du Sable will be close to the fees that the other museums charge.  He also stated that the increase falls within the budget range of the museum’s constituency

George Blakemore, a concerned citizen, spoke about the rate increase. He feels that the increase is unreasonable to increase the rate by 100%. He inquired how DuSable was able to operate under the current rate of $3. Such an increase would be harmful to the community. He requested that the motion be deferred for community input.

Vice President Pickens commented the following: that he disagrees with Mr. Blakemore’s approach. The admission increase was reviewed with core constituency. It is impossible for the DuSable Museum to survive on1960 rates.

 Tim Mitchell responded that museums need to reinvent themselves to stay relevant. The CPD supports the increase it will support the building of the Round House and allow for more technology. 

 The Board of Commissioners met at 4:00 p.m.

 New CPD Board Commissioner Juan Rangel was introduced as the newest commissioner.  

 The July 2010 Board Minutes approved

 Tim Mitchell, General Superintendent, CPD and Brenda Palm, Executive Director, Parkways Foundation gave a recap of Lollapalooza

 They thanked the CPD staff for their efforts and thanked the public for sacrificing Grant Park for the weekend.

 The 2010 Lollapalooza hosted more than 250,000 concert goers over the 3-day music festival.  The festival was expanded from 85 acres to 115 acres using 1/3 of Grant Park.

 From 2005-2009 Lollapalooza contributed $6 million to the CPD

In 2009 $1.9 million was contributed

A ten year agreement was made in 2008; Lollapalooza would contribute $1 million a year from their proceeds.

Over the past years Lollapalooza’s contributions have gone to:

• Summer camp scholarships
• Community garden grants
• Inferno Mobile Recording Studio
• Alvin Ailey Dance & Adaptive Camps
• New playground in Washington Park
• Artificial turf soccer field in McKinley Park

This year’s Parkway Foundations Galapalooza benefit grossed $250,000 and created new partners. Brenda Palm stated that Lollapalooza has helped expand private partnerships which benefit Chicago’s parks.

 Dr. Carol Adams, President, Du Sable Museum, defended the need to raise the admission fee. For 35 years the Museum kept the same admissions fee but expenses went up.

 She reported that currently 2.4% of the budget comes from admission fees. When the fee increases in September the immediate impact will be 5-6%. Within a 3 year period the Museum will be at 13%, which is the industry standard. 

 The People in the Parks segment of the Board Agenda drew 4 people who addressed the board on the following park policy issues:

 CeCe Edwards, President, Grand Crossing Park PAC presented Tim Mitchell an award for his support in building the new playground at Grand Crossing. She thanked the CPD for the free programs at Grand Crossing such as the basketball camp and teen programs. She is looking forward to more partnerships with the CPD.

 Joy Ranson Wood, Dauphin Park, thanked the CPD for the help in improving the park. She wanted to know the status of proposed archway and garden at Dauphin Park.

 Meryl Dann, from the Jackson/Burnham Park neighborhood, stated that groups are using Burnham Park, between the Drive and Cornell and south of 47^th Street as a music fest site with amplified sound.   She requested that the CPD reinstate or enforce the ban of amplified music in the park. The park is adjacent to a large condo building and the noise is so loud in her condo that the residents must leave their homes for the weekend.

 George Blakemore, questioned the CPD Commissioner about the DuSable Museum fee increase. He asked how the Museum was able to function with a $3 admission fee for so long. He asked again (see committee minutes) that the issue be deferred for community input and requested strategic plan for the next 5 years.

 Jim Watkins, Harrison Park, gave a brief history of the park. He would like to see more accessible equipment. The CPD suggested that he work with the Harrison Park Advisory Council.  

May Toy, Skinner Park, requested that a dying tree in Skinner Park be replaced.   Also, she would like to see a public information program targeted to park users to prevent them from dumping hot coals next to trees.

 Tony Iniquez, Touhy Park, thanked the CPD for the new soccer field and the repaving of the tennis courts. He also thanked the Parkways Foundation for the camp scholarships. He wanted to know the status of a new playground at Touhy Park, has it been bid on yet. Alderman Joe Moore will allocate menu funds for the playground.

 Scott Jacobs, Holstein Park, stated that the field house is 98 years old and wanted a status on the electrical rehab and plumbing repair. In 2007 $300,000 was budgeted for the repairs. Tim Mitchell stated that he would take a look at the contract. If funds, promised from the state, are actually committed to the project, the CPD will move ahead with the project.