Board of Commissioners

You can watch along with me here:&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=ChicagoParkDistrict

And find the agenda and past meeting minutes here: https://chicagoparkdistrict.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=826974&GUID=62D6A11F-354C-4B89-AA9D-4AC1FD369D28&Options=info%7C&Search=

Okay here we go! Commissioners have been reminded to turn close captioning on for accessibility and the Pledge of Allegiance has been recited

On to approval of the meeting minutes from 2/10/21
These minutes have been unanimously approved!

People in the parks (public comment) is beginning

Speaker 1: executive member of SEIU and employee of Chicago Parks District

Raising concerns about the 24 members in upper management who recently got raises. Noting bad timing with the pandemic, lack of funding for employees, and programming cuts over the past decade.

Speaker 1
“We are asking the Chicago Park District to take away the furloughs”

A commissioner is responding to this speaker and asking all representatives from SEIU to be grouped together, some back and forth between commissioner and speaker

Speaker 2: also making comments on behalf of SEIU; community member and employee of Chicago Park District

“I want to keep us mindful of our mission and core values”

Raising concern about delays in PPE distribution and planning to account for COVID needs this summer

Speaker 2:
“I am calling for clear and consistant communication park wide”

Also requesting COVID-19 vaccine prioritization for all direct service staff at the parks

Speaker 3:
First thanks board for restoration work between 67th to 56th. Also raising concerns about increase in vandalism and misbehavior at Jackson Park:

“The message seems to have gone our, since COVID, it’s okay to trash the parks”

Speaker 3 also gives a shout out to the maintenance team at Jackson park!

Speaker 4: Another speaker from SEIU who is presenting a petition in response to the raises for executive staff.

“The park district strives to serve the community, yet this demonstrates a clear lack of focus”

Keep following along with the thread here:

https://twitter.com/NicHodgkinson1/status/1369704837567438852?s=20

Superintendent Kelly is speaking to the operational side. He is clarifying that management is not getting raises in 2021, but SEIU did: “we are not going to renegotiate the contract here”

“This was addressed in negotiations…to set the record straight, everyone in SEIU received a 2-6% raise”

“Chicago Park District lost 100 million dollars last year and did not lay off anyone”

“I hate having these conversations because we had an incredible good year as an organization, I thought, without cuts, without layoffs, honoring our contract with the union, and doing a hell of a job with virtual programming”

We are now getting an update on PPE: 35,000 masks have been distributed. Chicago Park District also manufactured hand sanitizer and disinfecting wipes

Kelly is now addressing planning ahead, noting that they are doing the best they can given the unpredictability of the pandemic.

President LaVelle is now addressing the salary concerns
“I understand that as a union representative, your job is to always push for more, but let me present the facts”. She is
noting that raises were deferred in 2021 and is proud of how the Chicago Park District weather COVID

President LaVelle “We did it, we got through 2020”

“We have one of the best park districts in the country, if not the best, and we want to keep our team intact”
President LaVelle is noting that everyone needs to be paid appropriately and providing context around equalizing salaries, phasing in increases at all levels

We are moving on to agenda item 8: New Business

VP Tim King is speaking on item 21-1277-0310, which is an intergovernmental agreement to accept the transfer of various funds and services for park projects

Brief aside from VP King to compliment the board and staff for adjusting to meeting online including the changes to the open meeting act

Back to the matter at hand! He is contextualizing the item and noting that it is brought up yearly to make transferring funds more streamlined. This has been adapted unanimously.

Now on to item 21-1279-0310 to enter into contract with Paschen All Joint Venture for Construction of Park 596 Campus

This will be in the Brighton Park Community Area, which is currently lacking in public space

The project will convert an abandoned lot into a field space, it is well positioned around 11 schools in the area

The site has already been cleaned to remove hot spots and will be assessed from an environmental standpoint

We are now hearing about the community process conducted around this site. The team has met with both alders and several community groups as well as individual members through an online forum

In August 2020 there was a large public meeting with 70 community member attendants

Here’s a map of the site! Some highlights include a splash pool, administrative spaces, and lots of green space. This area is also well connected by public transit https://t.co/AYsCbtDugw

The board room will serve a dual purpose for administrative needs and community use. COVID-19 precautions are being integrated into the design including PPE, plexiglass dividers, and temperature check stations

There is also inside exercise space to meet community recommendations to prioritize teen needs and year-round fitness

Commissioners are expressing excitement about this project

This matter has been unanimously approved!

On to item 21-1275-0310 regarding authorization to enter into a contract with Univar USA for supply and delivery of Sodium Hypochlorite District Wide

Sodium Hypochlorite = Chlorine and is used for pools and splash areas are parks city wide

This item has been unanimously approved! Expect germ management in water areas to continue at a park near you!

Next up: 21-1266-0310. This is an extension of an intergovernmental agreement between Chicago and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County to support Neighborspace, a nonprofit partner that provides community management nature space (i.e., community gardens)

This has been approved! Find out more about NeighborSpace here: http://neighbor-space.org/

Next up, 21-1000-0210 to enter into a grant agreement with the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance. This partnership helps fund programming, maintenance, and special events at the conservatory

Matter is adopted! Onto the next item: 21-1273-0310 about mulch supply and delivery from Perfect Mulch

“We need mulch for our parks!”

This is a new contract for a 2 year term, unanimously approved

Finally, 21-1274-0310, to enter into a contract with Arlington Power for the service, maintenance and repair of small and large equipment

From weedwacker to tractor, they will be helping keep the essential equipment ready to go!

Unanimously approved

Meeting is adjourned at 12:38 PM.

Thanks for following along and what a great afternoon to head out to a local park!

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