Friends of the Parks

Notes from the September 14, 2011 Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners meeting.

Approved by the Committee on Administration:

Authorization to enter into a contract for the purchase and implementation of budget software

Senryo Technologies will implement a new budgeting software Oracle Hyperion planning and Essbase system. This new software will increase productivity, eliminate duplication, reduce manual creation of reports, manage resources efficiently, and aide in the efforts of more transparent reporting. The Chicago Park District has been ising current version of Oracle since 2001 and is currently unsupported. The initial contract amount is $1,543,975 with 4 additional 1 year extensions not to exceed $80,000.

Authorization to enter into a contract for ambulance and paramedical services

Medical Express Ambulance Service provides onsite ambulatory care at Chicago Park District sponsored competitive sporting events such as the Special Olympics, gymnastics competitions, and boxing matching. The Chicago Park District is not required by law to provide onsite ambulatory are at these sponsored competitive sporting events. The service needs are determined by the Director of Programming. The initial 2 year contract amount is not to exceed $190,000 with 2 additional 1 year extensions.

President Traubert requested the Department of Risk Management track types of injuries at these events.

Authorization to participate in the City of Chicago’s contract for the lease of automobiles and light duty trucks

The City of Chicago has a contract with Enterprise Leasing Company of Chicago for automobiles and light duty trucks. The Chicago Park District has a 5 year vehicle replacement plan currently 50% of the vehicles are leased, 45% purchased, and 5% rented seasonally. Since 2008 $1.5 million has been saved through the City of Chicago lease contract. The current contract is set to expire in November and the new contracts gives the CPD an additional 10% savings off of the monthly bill! The 5 year contract amount should not exceed $3million annually and includes 4 additional 1 year extensions. The contract amount includes car insurance and routine maintenance such as oil changes. Currently the City of Chicago performs maintenance on all CPD owned vehicles at a premium rate and charges the CPD a 10% surcharge on gas.

Presentation of the 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR), Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) and other associated documents

Melinda Gildart, Comptroller, presented the 2011 CAFR and PAFR reports. The CAFR and PAFR reports are introductory financial and statistical reports that detail liability and resources of the Chicago Park District. It is a true financial accounting of the CPD. The current total assets for the CPD are $2.5 billion and liabilities are $1.1 billion. In 2010 the CPD received $236 million in tax receipts, 41 million less than in 2009.  In 2010 revenue equaled $244 million and expenses $238 million.

KPMG issues a professional opinion of the reports.

Authorization to advertize bus transportation services as a target market solicitation

The Department of Purchasing requested the authority to use a pre-qualified pool of 7 contractors to provide bus transportation services. The bidding is restricted to women, minority owned businesses or a joint venture with the majority owner MBE or WBE. The CPD has been going target marketing bidding since 2009. 

Authorization to advertize outside printing services as a target market solicitation

The Department of Purchasing requested the authority to use a pre-qualified pool of 7 contractors to provide outside printing services. The bidding is restricted to women, minority owned businesses or a joint venture with the majority owner MBE or WBE. The CPD has been going target marketing bidding since 2009. 

Approved by the Committee on Programs and Recreation

Authority to enter into contracts for the general contractor serviced RFQ pool

Rafi Sarafian requested the use 18 prequalified companies for general contractor services in order to expedite the bid process. No minimum work is guaranteed. The contract amounts should not exceed $750,000 without board approval. Any contracts over $750,000 must receive Board approval. The contract is for 1 year with 3 1 year addition extensions. Projects include: environmental remediation, playground installation, construction, plumbing, and roofing
Erma Tranter, Friends of the Parks questioned the integrity of using a preselected RFQ pool and inquired how does the CPD avoid the influence of lobbyists. Tranter also requested an economic disclosure statement with every single bid put out and that the RFQ be advertised very year. 

Authorization to enter into a contract for debris dumping transfer station services

Recycling Systems Inc. will receive process debris, dirt, garbage, asphalt, and any other materials that are collected and dumped by Chicago Park District garbage trucks. The contract amount is for $456,850.00 for the initial 2 year term with 2 additional 1 year extensions

Authority to accept a parcel of land from the City of Chicago for a new park located at 1799-1805 N. Milwaukee Avenue

The Chicago Park District accepted a .3 acre plot of land located at 1799-1805 N. Milwaukee Avenue to be developed into a pocket park and access point along the Bloomingdale Trail. The Trust for Public Land has raised $450,000 for development of this park and must be completed in 2012.

The Bloomingdale Trail will have 8 different access points along the 3 mile Bloomingdale trail: the Chicago River, Walsh Park, Churchill Field, Milwaukee/Leavitt, Maplewood Avenue, Albany Whipple Park, Kimball Avenue Park, McCormick Tribune YMCA. The Trail will connect 4 different communities and wards: Bucktown, Wicker Park, Logan Square, and Humboldt Park.

A community design charrette will be open to the public October 1 and October 2 at the Mc Cormick YMCA. The Driehaus Foundation and Boeing will underwrite the charrette. 

Construction on the Bloomingdale Trail is expected to begin in 2014.

Authority to accept the donation of land at the intersection of Lawrence and LaPorte avenues for the expansion of Grace Zwiefka Thius Park (Park 119)

As part of a planned development the Chicago Park District accepted a .45 acre of land from Lennar Chicago Inc. The addition to Grace Zwiefka Thius Park more than doubles the size of the park. The new addition was developed and remediated by Lennar Inc and will act as a passive space for the park. Under the direction of the Chicago Park District Lennar cleaned up the property to meet IL EPA standards for remediation.

Authorization to continue participation in the City of Chicago contract for safety glass and glass services

The City of Chicago has a contract with MTH Industries for safety glass and glass services. The initial 5 year contract term expired in 2010 and the CPD will extend the 2^nd 1 year extension. The second extension will expire on September 30, 2012. The contract amount will not exceed $200,000. MTH Industries provides great service and good pricing.

Authorization to enter into contracts for supply, delivery, and installation of plastic lockers, toilet compartments, benches, and other related washroom accessories and replacement parts 

Commercial Specialties Inc, and Inter City Supply Co., Inc will provide the CPD with plastic lockers, toilet compartments, benches and other washroom accessories and replacement parts. The contract is for 2 years with 2 1 year extensions the contract amount should not exceed $865,840.

Authorization to enter into contracts for the supply and delivery of lumber and other related building materials.

Chicago United Industries LTD, Harry’s Lumber and Virmac Services will provide the CPD with supply and delivery of lumber and other related building materials.  The contract is for 1 year with 4 additional 1 year extensions.