Chicago City Wire

Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners met Sept. 13

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

ORDER OF BUSINESS  

Roll Call 

General Business 

Approval of the Minutes 

Acknowledging Excellence 

People in the Parks 

New Business 

Adjournment 

By order of President Myetie H. Hamilton 

In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Section 12101 et seq.), the Chicago Park District does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or admission/access to programs and activities. 

Any person with a disability who desires special accommodations or the services of a sign language interpreter in order to attend a meeting of the Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners, should contact Disability Policy Officer, Larry Labiak, 504 Compliance Officer, 4830 South Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609, at 312/742-5097 or accessibility@chicagoparkdistrict.com at least 72 hours before the Board Meeting. 

Myetie H. Hamilton 

President 

Sarah Gelder  

Secretary 

Pledge of Allegiance  

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.  

Roll Call  

A Roll Call was made and the following Commissioners were found to be in attendance:    

Present: 5 - Commissioner Ashley Hemphill Netzky, Commissioner Jose M. Munoz, Commissioner Andrea Telli, Commissioner Sharif Walker and Vice President Modesto Valle  

Absent: 1 - President Myetie Hamilton 

1. GENERAL BUSINESS:  

23-1104-091 3 

CERTIFICATE OF PUBLICATION FOR NOTICE OF THE INTENT OF THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT TO ISSUE GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS (ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCE) IN AN AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $6,000,000 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINANCING HARBOR AND MARINA IMPROVEMENTS AND NOTICE OF RIGHT TO FILE PETITION  

Sponsors: Office of the Secretary 

Indexes: Certificate of Publication 

This Certificate was marked as received and filed by the Secretary.  

23-1098-091 3 

RESOLUTION TO APPOINT A CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT REPRESENTATIVE AS COMMISSIONER TO THE PUBLIC BUILDING COMMISSION OF CHICAGO  

Sponsors: Commissioners' Office 

Indexes: Appointment 

Attachments: Resolution - PBC Appointment 

A motion was made by Commissioner Hemphill Netzky, seconded by Commissioner Walker, that the Resolution appointing Myetie H. Hamilton as Public Building Commissioner be adopted. The motion carried by the following vote:  

Aye: 5 - Hemphill Netzky, Munoz, Telli, Walker and Valle 

Absent: 1 - Hamilton 

2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES: 

23-1101-091 3 

APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING AND PUBLIC HEARING HELD ON AUGUST 9, 2023 

Sponsors: Office of the Secretary 

Indexes: Meeting Minutes

A motion was made by Commissioner Telli, seconded by Commissioner Walker, that the Meeting Minutes be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:  

Aye: 5 - Hemphill Netzky, Munoz, Telli, Walker and Valle 

Absent: 1 - Hamilton 

3. ACKNOWLEDGE EXCELLENCE:  

23-1106-091 3 

RECOGNITION OF THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT HARVEST GARDEN PROGRAM  

Sponsors: Cultural and Natural Resources 

Indexes: Presentation 

Kristin Brock, Manager of Outdoor and Environmental Education, gave a presentation in recognition of the Chicago Park District Harvest Garden Program. Senior Program Specialist, Breanne Heath, Program Facilitator, Jennifer Tarnoff, and Camp Counselors, Aliyah Howard and Candace Frazier were also in attendance.  

4. PEOPLE IN THE PARKS: 

23-1102-091 3 

PUBLIC COMMENTS  

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023  

Sponsors: Office of the Secretary 

Indexes: Public Comments 

The following members of the public addressed the Commissioners:  

1. Bobbie Townsend (Addressed Mandrake Park and requested more pools and youth programming in South Side neighborhoods)  

2. Kenneth Newman (Addressed Jackson Park and requested swim safety initiatives, harbor improvements, advertising revenue opportunities, and increased revenue from special events)  

3. Phillip McGrath (Addressed concerns with the Chicago Park District pension)  

4. James Wales (Commended Grant Park programming and requested more for-profit events in different parks and a Park Supervisor be established in Grant Park as to streamline leadership duties)  

5. Berry Nelson (Addressed Washington Park and requested baseball diamond improvements and a meeting with Park Advisory Council to discuss additional needs)  

6. Denise Ferguson (Addressed concerns with Riot Fest in Douglass Park and requested enhanced safety and acknowledgement of noise sensitive zones)  

7. Florina Florea (Addressed concerns with Riot Fest in Douglass Park)  

8. Cecilia Butler (Addressed Washington Park and requested funding)  

9. May Toy (Commended the Harvest Garden Program, addressed Union Park, and requested clearer swimming schedule communications and enhanced pool safety policies during youth swim)  

10. Louise McCurry (Commended increased security in Jackson Park, requested fire resistant trashcans, and that overgrown ADA paths be cleared)  

11. Jeff Jenkins (Addressed Night Out in the Parks programming and requested additional support and funding for Midnight Circus)  

Dave Kostelansky registered to speak but was unavailable for comment.  

5. NEW BUSINESS:  

23-1099-091 3 

ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF NOT-TO-EXCEED $6,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION UNLIMITED TAX BONDS, SERIES 2023  

(HARBOR FACILITIES REVENUES ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCE)  

Sponsors: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 

Indexes: Bond  

Attachments: Published in Pamphlet Form_Ordinance (Issuance of GO Unlimited  

Tax Bonds, Harbor Facilities, ARS) 

Bond Purchase Agreement 

Preliminary Official Statement 

Steve Lux, Chief Financial Officer, addressed the Commissioners.  

A motion was made by Commissioner Munoz, seconded by Commissioner Hemphill Netzky, that the matter be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:    

Aye: 5 - Hemphill Netzky, Munoz, Telli, Walker and Valle 

Absent: 1 - Hamilton 

23-1100-091 3 

ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $170,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION LIMITED TAX PARK BONDS OF 2023 IN ONE OR MORE SERIES  

Sponsors: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 

Indexes: Bond

Attachments: Published in Pamphlet Form Ordinance (Issuance of GO Limited Tax Park Bonds) 

Escrow Agreement 

Bond Purchase Agreement 

Preliminary Official Statement 

Steve Lux, Chief Financial Officer, addressed the Commissioners.  

A motion was made by Commissioner Munoz, seconded by Commissioner Walker, that the matter be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:    

Aye: 5 - Hemphill Netzky, Munoz, Telli, Walker and Valle 

Absent: 1 - Hamilton 

23-1105-091 3 

ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF NOT TO EXCEED $15,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION UNLIMITED TAX REFUNDING BONDS (PERSONAL PROPERTY REPLACEMENT TAX ALTERNATE REVENUE SOURCE)  

Sponsors: Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer 

Indexes: Bond  

Attachments: Published in Pamphlet Form Ordinance (Issuance of GO Unlimited 

Tax Refunding Bonds, PPRT ARS)

Escrow Agreement 

Bond Purchase Agreement 

Preliminary Official Statement 

Steve Lux, Chief Financial Officer, addressed the Commissioners. 

A motion was made by Commissioner Munoz, seconded by Commissioner Walker, that the matter be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:    

Aye: 5 - Hemphill Netzky, Munoz, Telli, Walker and Valle 

Absent: 1 - Hamilton 

23-1108-091 3 

AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH CONTRACTORS FOR INCLUSION IN THE RAPID RESPONSE 

CONSTRUCTION SERVICES 

PRE-QUALIFIED POOL 

SPECIFICATION NO. P-22015  

Sponsors: Planning and Construction 

Indexes: Pre-Qualified Pool

Attachments: Exhibit A - Rapid Response Pool Firms 

EDS - Rapid Response Vendor Poo 

Heather Gleason, Director of Planning and Construction, and Brian Stepp, Director of Purchasing, addressed the Commissioners.  

A motion was made by Commissioner Telli, seconded by Commissioner Hemphill Netzky, that the matter be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:    

Aye: 5 - Hemphill Netzky, Munoz, Telli, Walker and Valle 

Absent: 1 - Hamilton 

23-1109-091 3 

AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH F.H. PASCHEN FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE ELIZABETH MORSE GENIUS CHILDREN’S GARDEN AT THE GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY 

SPECIFICATION P-23007  

Sponsors: Cultural and Natural Resources 

Indexes: Contract Award-IFB, RFP, RFQ  

Cathy Breitenbach, Director of Cultural and Natural Resources, addressed the Commissioners.  

A motion was made by Commissioner Munoz, seconded by Commissioner Telli, that the matter be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:    

Aye: 5 - Hemphill Netzky, Munoz, Telli, Walker and Valle 

Absent: 1 - Hamilton 

23-1103-0913 

AUTHORIZATION TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH WESTREC SMI LLC (SUNTEX MARINA INVESTORS) FOR MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF OUTDOOR ICE RINKS 

SPECIFICATION NO. P-23010  

Sponsors: Revenue 

Indexes: Contract Award-IFB, RFP, RFQ  

Trena Harris, Deputy Director of Revenue, and Brian Stepp, Director of Purchasing, addressed the Commissioners.  

A motion was made by Commissioner Hemphill Netzky, seconded by Commissioner Munoz, that the matter be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:  

Aye: 5 - Hemphill Netzky, Munoz, Telli, Walker and Valle 

Absent: 1 - Hamilton 

6. ADJOURNED  

A motion was made by Commissioner Hemphill Netzky, seconded by Commissioner Munoz that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried by the following vote:  

Aye: 5 - Hemphill Netzky, Munoz, Telli, Walker and Valle 

Absent: 1 - Hamilton

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