Chicago City Wire

Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners met Feb. 26

Here are the minutes provided by the commissioners:

Board of Commissioners

Commissioner Coya Paz Brownrigg

Commissioner Robert Castaneda

Commissioner Sean Garrett

Commissioner Philip Jackson

Commissioner Sharon Bush

Vice President Modesto Valle

President Marlon Everett

PUBLIC NOTICE

In accordance with the provisions of 5 ILCS 120/1 et seq., PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that the RESCHEDULED REGULAR BOARD MEETING will be held on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 9:00 A.M. at the Chicago Park District Administration Building (Park 596) located at 4830 South Western Avenue, Chicago, IL 60609.

ORDER OF BUSINESS

Roll Call

General Business

Meeting Minutes

New Business / Non-Consent Agenda

Strategic Initiatives

People in the Parks

Closed Session

Open Session

Adjournment

By order of President Marlon Everett

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.

Marlon Everett Sarah Gelder

President Secretary

Pledge of Allegiance

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

Roll Call

Present: 4 - Vice President Modesto Valle, Commissioner Coya Paz Brownrigg, President Marlon Everett and Commissioner Sharon Bush

Absent: 3 - Commissioner Philip Jackson, Commissioner Robert Castaneda and Commissioner Sean Garrett

Presentation on Chicago Park District Black History Month Events

Rosa Escareno, General Superintendent and CEO, gave remarks about Black History Month Events in the Parks. Then, Michael Floyd, Area Manager, showed a short video presentation and introduced Senior program participants from Columbus Park for a line dance performance.

The Secretary stated for the record that Commissioner Jackson joined the meeting during the Presentation on Chicago Park District Black History Month Events.

Present: 5 - Vice President Modesto Valle, Commissioner Coya Paz Brownrigg, Commissioner Philip Jackson, President Marlon Everett and Commissioner Sharon Bush

Absent: 2 - Commissioner Robert Castaneda and Commissioner Sean Garrett

A motion was made by President Everett, seconded by Commissioner Jackson, to set the Order of Business for the day as reflected in the posted agenda. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 5 - Valle, Paz Brownrigg, Jackson, Everett and Bush

Absent: 2 - Castaneda and Garrett

1. MEETING MINUTES:

25-1044-0226 APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES FOR THE SPECIAL BOARD MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 17, 2025 AND THE REGULAR BOARD

MEETING HELD ON JANUARY 22, 2025

Sponsors: Office of the Secretary

Indexes: Meeting Minutes

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

Aye: 5 - Valle, Paz Brownrigg, Jackson, Everett and Bush

Absent: 2 - Castaneda and Garrett

2. NEW BUSINESS / NON-CONSENT AGENDA:

25-1046-0226 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENDITURES RELATED TO THE 2025 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM

Sponsors: Treasurer

Indexes: Reimbursement Resolution

Rosa Escareno, General Superintendent and CEO, congratulated Cynthia Evangelisti, Treasurer, for her years of service and upcoming retirement.

Cynthia Evangelisti, Treasurer, addressed the Commissioners. A motion was made by Vice President Valle, seconded by Commissioner Bush, that the Resolution be approved. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 5 - Valle, Paz Brownrigg, Jackson, Everett and Bush

Absent: 2 - Castaneda and Garrett

3. STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:

25-1049-0226 A Greener City: 

PRESENTATION ON THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

Sponsors: Office of General Superintendent

Indexes: Report

Rosa Escareno, General Superintendent and CEO, gave remarks about the vision for sustainability initiatives in the Parks. Then, Cathy Breitenbach, Director of Cultural and Natural Resources, addressed the Commissioners.

4. PEOPLE IN THE PARKS:

25-1050-0219 PUBLIC COMMENTS

FEBRUARY 19, 2025

Sponsors: Office of the Secretary

Indexes: Public Comments

The following members of the public addressed the Commissioners:

1. Denise Ferguson (Addressed health, safety, public access, and park maintenance concerns related to mega festivals in Douglass Park)

2. Rachel Azzarello (Addressed concerns related to mega festivals in Douglass Park, the District's permit fee process, and community meeting format, and requested development of an alternative permanent festival grounds)

3. Florina Florea (Addressed health, safety, environmental, park maintenance, and community meeting format concerns related to mega festivals in Douglass Park)

4. Leslie Recht (Addressed public access, environmental, park maintenance, and curfew policy concerns related to Grant Park and requested a meeting with the Board)

5. Philip McGrath (Addressed concerns about Chicago Park District funding allocations and Pension Fund Program)

6. Kenneth Newman (Addressed advertisement revenue opportunities, requested more progress updates related to the development of DuSable Park, and requested increased maintenance and development of various artificial turf fields)

7. Bobbie Townsend (Addressed stewardship programming for youth and requested recertification of the Dyett High School pool and installation of an air conditioning system in the Mandrake Park gym)

8. Pastor Doyle (Addressed Board relations with the City of Chicago)

9. Norman Bolden (Addressed concerns with the liquor license permit process for the concessions at Rainbow Beach)

10. Eric Lewis (Requested support in the development of a monument honoring Bob Love)

11. Lisa Stringer (Addressed health and safety concerns related to encampments at Gompers Park and requested enforcement of Chapter 7 of the Code)

12. Lynn Burmeister (Addressed the Gompers Park Framework Plan, health and safety concerns related to encampments at Gompers Park, and requested enforcement of Chapter 7 of the Code)

13. JJ Betts (Addressed health, safety, and programming concerns related to encampments at Gompers Park and requested enforcement of Chapter 7 of the Code)

14. Ryan Johnson (Addressed health, safety, and programming concerns related to encampments at Gompers Park and requested enforcement of Chapter 7 of the Code)

15. Stephanie Samuel (Addressed health, safety, maintenance, and programming concerns related to encampments at Gompers Park and requested increased collaboration with the City of Chicago and enforcement of Chapter 7 of the Code)

Written testimony was received from Lisa Gold, Katherine Shea, Pat Newman, Gail Beitz, Matthew Robertson, Petra Nikolich, Preeti Saini, Nicole Foster Hill, Robert and Verla Grays, Terry Donato, Caitlin Fisher, Mark Heller, Daniel Cortez, and Rebecca Wolfram.

The Secretary stated for the record that Commissioner Bush left the meeting during Public Comments.

Present: 4 - Vice President Modesto Valle, Commissioner Coya Paz Brownrigg, Commissioner Philip Jackson and President Marlon Everett

Absent: 3 - Commissioner Robert Castaneda, Commissioner Sean Garrett and Commissioner Sharon Bush

5. CLOSED SESSION:

Pursuant to 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(2)

President Everett stated that the Commissioners would enter Closed Session to consider matters appropriately discussed in Closed Session, pursuant to the Open Meetings Act, 5 ILCS 120 Section 2, Subsection (c) (2).

A motion was made by Vice President Valle, seconded by Commissioner Paz Brownrigg, that the meeting enter into Closed Session. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 4 - Valle, Paz Brownrigg, Jackson and Everett

Absent: 3 - Castaneda, Garrett and Bush

6. OPEN SESSION

A motion was made by Vice President Valle, seconded by Commissioner Paz Brownrigg, that the meeting return to Open Session. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 4 - Valle, Paz Brownrigg, Jackson and Everett

Absent: 3 - Castaneda, Garrett and Bush

7. ADJOURNED

A motion was made by Vice President Valle, seconded by Commissioner Paz Brownrigg, that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried by the following vote:

Aye: 4 - Valle, Paz Brownrigg, Jackson and Everett

Absent: 3 - Castaneda, Garrett and Bush

https://chicagoparkdistrict.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=M&ID=1261473&GUID=DA8D1E70-CBB8-4047-A2A0-E8783F062885