Chicago Park District public meetings in 2020

Public Hearing

The Chicago Park District is holding a virtual public hearing to present the 2021 proposed operating budget and tentative appropriation ordinance. The meeting includes a presentation, public comments, and adjournment. This is a procedural budget hearing, not a final vote.

• 2021 proposed operating budget report
• Tentative appropriation ordinance
• Virtual hearing due to COVID-19
• Public comments accepted

Public Hearing

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners is holding a virtual public hearing to consider selling up to $4,000,000 in General Obligation Alternate Revenue Bonds to finance harbor and marine improvements. The meeting includes a presentation on the bond sale, an opportunity for public comments, and adjournment. No other substantive items are on the agenda.

• Public hearing on intent to sell up to $4,000,000 in General Obligation Bonds (Alternate Revenue Source)
• Bond proceeds to finance harbor and marine improvements
• Virtual meeting due to COVID-19 health emergency
• Public comments accepted during the hearing

The Chicago Park District held a virtual public hearing on August 12, 2020, to consider selling up to $4,000,000 in General Obligation Alternate Revenue Bonds for harbor and marine improvements. No substantive decisions were made; the hearing was procedural, with one public comment and no written testimony. The meeting adjourned without a vote on the bond sale.

• Held public hearing on $4M bond sale for harbor improvements (no vote)
• Adjourned meeting (motion by Edwards, seconded by Koldyke)

Board of Commissioners

The Chicago Park District Board voted unanimously to initiate the process to rename Stephen Douglas Park in honor of Frederick Douglass, after striking the words 'in honor of Frederick Douglas' from the motion. The motion to approve the removal of the name was moved by Commissioner Tim King and seconded by Commissioner M. Laird Koldyke, passing with 6 ayes. The board also heard public comments from three residents and adjourned with a 7-0 voice vote.

• Approved initiating the process to rename Stephen Douglas Park in honor of Frederick Douglass (6-0)
• Struck the words 'in honor of Frederick Douglas' from the motion before approval
• Heard public comments from Colleen Wales, Eddie Anderson, and Sheila McNary
• Adjourned the meeting (7-0)

Board of Commissioners

The board unanimously approved a resolution applying the Governor's stay-at-home executive order, the minutes from the March 11 meeting, and an ordinance authorizing up to $143 million in general obligation bonds. It also ratified contracts with Milhouse Engineering and SERVPRO for emergency sanitation services. No other substantive decisions were made.

• Approved COVID-19 resolution applying Governor's stay-at-home order (7-0)
• Approved minutes from March 11, 2020 meeting (7-0)
• Approved ordinance authorizing up to $143M in general obligation bonds (7-0)
• Ratified contracts with Milhouse Engineering and SERVPRO for emergency sanitation services (7-0)

Personnel Board

The Chicago Park District Personnel Board is meeting to consider general personnel business, including approving new job descriptions and salary ranges for several positions and title or requirement changes for others. The meeting may include closed session discussions on employee appointments or dismissals.

• Approval of new job descriptions and salary ranges for Deputy Inspector General, Director of Workforce Development, Deputy Director of Workforce Development, and Assistant Benefits Manager
• Approval of title or requirement changes for Region Manager, Deputy Director of Natural Resources, and Labor Foreman
• Possible closed session for personnel matters

Board of Commissioners

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners approved a contract with ASM Global, LLC to manage and operate the Gately Park Indoor Track and Field Facility and Addams Park Recreation Center. The vote was 4-0, with three commissioners absent. The board also approved the minutes from the February 19, 2020 meeting and received a certificate of publication for bond ordinances.

• Approved contract with ASM Global, LLC for management of Gately Park and Addams Park (4-0)
• Approved meeting minutes from February 19, 2020 (4-0)
• Received and filed certificate of publication for bond ordinances

Board of Commissioners

The Board approved two ordinances authorizing General Obligation bonds for the capital improvement plan and accessibility improvements, along with a reimbursement resolution for 2020 capital expenditures. Contracts were awarded for street sweeping, Wi-Fi at Gately Track & Field, and defibrillator maintenance, and a 45-day notice period was initiated to name Park #572 as Bloomingdale Trail Park. The meeting was otherwise procedural, with no unfinished business or department presentations.

• Adopted ordinance authorizing GO bonds (alternate revenue source) for capital improvement plan (5-2)
• Adopted ordinance authorizing GO bonds for accessibility improvements (4-3)
• Approved resolution authorizing reimbursement of 2020 capital improvement expenditures (5-2)
• Approved contract with Advanced Sweeping Services for street sweeping (4-3)
• Approved contract with Comcast for managed network services and Wi-Fi at Gately Track & Field
• Approved contract with Annuvia LLC (dba SOS Technologies) up to $193,281.73 for defibrillator maintenance
• Ratified contract for emergency lakefront erosion threat assessment
• Approved request to initiate 45-day notice period to name Park #572 as Bloomingdale Trail Park

Public Hearing

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners is holding a public hearing to consider selling up to $40 million in general obligation limited tax bonds. The funds would finance capital improvements, including land acquisition for parks, building and improving facilities, refunding bond anticipation notes, and paying issuance expenses. The hearing is required by state law before the bond sale can proceed.

• Public hearing on intent to sell up to $40,000,000 in general obligation limited tax bonds
• Bond proceeds for capital improvements, land purchase, facility improvements, and refunding bond anticipation notes
• Hearing held at Warren (Laurence) Park, 6601 N. Western Ave, Chicago
• Public comments accepted during the hearing

Public Hearing

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners is holding a public hearing to consider selling up to $53,000,000 in General Obligation Alternate Bonds to finance capital improvements for recreational programs. The hearing includes a presentation on the bond issue and an opportunity for public comments. This is a required step under the Bond Issue Notification Act before the board can proceed with the bond sale.

• Proposed sale of up to $53,000,000 in General Obligation Alternate Bonds
• Bonds would finance capital improvements for recreational programs
• Public hearing held at Warren (Laurence) Park, 6601 N. Western Ave, Chicago
• Presentation on bond issue (item 20-1149-0219)
• Public comments accepted

Board of Commissioners

The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners is meeting to consider several items, including a proposed change to the general admission fee for the DuSable Museum of African American History, authorization for intergovernmental agreements for park projects, and contracts for floral gardens, cellular infrastructure, and IT services. The agenda also includes routine items like approval of minutes and public comment.

• Authorization to change general admission fee for DuSable Museum of African American History
• Contract with Moore Landscapes, LLC for district-wide floral gardens (Specification P-19008)
• Contract with Spaan Tech, Inc. for cellular infrastructure management (Specification P-19014-R)
• Contract with AT&T Corporation for switched Ethernet services
• Contract with SDI Presence LLC for IT services

The Chicago Park District Board approved changing the general admission fee for the DuSable Museum of African American History, along with several contracts and agreements. The board also approved minutes from prior meetings and received public comments. All votes were 5-0 with two commissioners absent, except for one contract that had a 4-0 vote with one abstention.

• Approved change to DuSable Museum general admission fee (5-0)
• Authorized intergovernmental agreements with City of Chicago and other agencies for park project funds/services (5-0)
• Approved contract with Moore Landscapes, LLC for district-wide floral gardens (5-0)
• Approved contract with SPAAN Tech, Inc. for cellular infrastructure management (5-0)
• Approved contract with AT&T Corporation for switched ethernet services (5-0)
• Approved contract with SDI Presence LLC for IT services (4-0, 1 abstention)
• Approved meeting minutes from Dec 4 and Dec 11, 2019 (4-0)