Sangamon Sun

Arlington Heights Park District Board of Commissioners met Aug. 11.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

President Leno called the Annual Board Meeting to order at 7:01 p.m.

ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS

Commissioners Present                                Commissioners Absent

W. Ploger

B. Owen

R. Nesvacil

T. Gelinas

M. Leno

STAFF PRESENT: Carrie Fullerton, Executive Director; Brian Meyer, Director of Recreation and Facilities; Jason Myers, Director of Finance and Personnel; Ben Rea, Director of Parks and Planning; and Kendra Maher, Recording Secretary.

Other Staff on Zoom call: Steve Neill, Kristy McCann, Alli Siamis, Tom Divello, Jeff Lindstrom, Jeff Everson, Lindsey Robertson, Jennifer Rogers, Pat Klawitter, and Cari Boyle.

Also on Zoom call Jen Kim, and Melissa Cayer, residents.

RECOGNITION OF VISITORS & CITIZENS TO BE HEARD 

None.

MINUTES

Vice President Gelinas noted that he did not second the motion to move into closed session for the July 14, 2020 meeting. President Leno noted that several motions in the minutes did not mark her as absent. The Board agreed to approve the minutes, with these corrections to be made.

Comr. Nesvacil moved, seconded by Comr. Ploger, to approve the July 14, 2020 Regular Meeting minutes.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Nesvacil, Ploger, Owen, Gelinas 

Nays – None

Abstain - Leno

Ayes – 4; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

Comr. Owen moved, seconded by Comr. Nesvacil, to approve the July 20, 2020 Special Meeting minutes.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Owen, Nesvacil, Ploger, Gelinas, Owen 

Nays – None

Absent - None

Ayes – 5; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

PRESENTATIONS & INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

IPRA Environmental Report Card

Dir. Rea stated the District has completed the IPRA Environmental Report Card previously in 2010 and 2015. In 2010, the agency scored 52/100 (52%) possible points, 106/127 (83%) in 2015, and 160/202 (79%) possible points this year.

It should be noted that IPRA updated the report card in 2017 adding additional categories for consideration. The District still ranks in the very good category (same as 2015) even though the scoring percentage is lower than that received in 2015.

Dir. Rea shared that the Envirogroup will begin completing the report card on an annual basis and will share the results with the Board.

Comr. Ploger noted that an area of improvement on the report card could be gained by communicating our efforts better.

GFOA Award

Dir. Myers shared that the District has been awarded for the 34th year in a row the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for excellent financial reporting. Dir. Myers stated that the District takes pride in receiving this award, and thanked Supt. Witt and team for great work.

President Leno congratulated the Staff on behalf of the Board for all of the work and effort put forth to achieve this award.

Financial Forecast

Exec. Dir. Fullerton introduced the forecast, and explained that this document will be updated and brought to the Board on a monthly basis.

Dir. Myers shared the updates in the document, and noted changes are in red. Highlights included refunds, revenue adjustments, and budget/property tax updates.

Bond Rating, Debt Structure, Strategy for the Future – Eric Anderson, Piper Sandler

Dir. Myers shared that Staff have been working with Eric Anderson, Managing Director for Piper Sandler & Co, to review bond rating, current debt structure, refinancing options, and strategizing for future debt issuances.

Mr. Anderson reviewed with the Board the District goals from debt and payment structure, existing non-referendum debt limits and structure, impacts of rating gradations, and when the next opportunity to issue debt would be.

OLD BUSINESS

Capital Projects

Exec. Dir. Fullerton summarized for the Board that the capital projects have been broken down into five phases, with a budget of $3,018,540. Staff is recommending cutting back on the budget due to the current financial situation due to the pandemic. The Board requested a review, including an overview of the conditions of outdoor tennis courts. Exec. Dir. Fullerton stated that during an extensive tour last week, many trails, basketball, tennis, and other surfaces are in need of replacement or repair.

President Leno asked for clarification on what the recommendation from staff is to reduce the capital budget to what dollar amount. Exec. Dir. Fullerton stated at this time, staff is recommending to delay the Green Slopes project for a future year and reduce the scope of the project.

Discussion between Staff and Board reviewed the overall timeframe for the bidding process and timeline for the expenditures for the OSLAD project.

President Leno recommended that the Board review the tennis/pickleball courts in a separate meeting, and develop a master plan for the District infrastructure. President Leno is not in favor of changing the plan at Green Slopes, and stated the Dryden tennis courts look awful.

Exec. Dir. Fullerton acknowledged that all hard surfaces (trails, basketball courts, and parking lots) need to be reviewed together along with tennis and pickleball.

Comr. Nesvacil agreed that there is a need to review the big picture of the overall conditions and proximity to other courts throughout the District.

Comr. Owen expressed the Board’s need to review the infrastructure for the better part of the District and spend the tax dollars wisely, and not in favor of making any changes to the Green Slopes project at this time.

Comr. Ploger stated all along was in favor of reducing the size of the footprint at Green Slopes, however after all the community support and time spent developing the project now is not the time to change direction. Comr. Ploger is a fan of playgrounds and tennis and believes as a district we have gotten away from maintaining what is important, and agrees that the distribution of the tennis courts across town should be reviewed.

Vice President Gelinas shared concerned of no money coming is hard to spend money, still in favor of moving forward with Green Slopes, however, does not want to lose the AAA Bond rating.

The consensus of the Board is to move forward with Green Slopes with bidding the project to see where the numbers come in at, and then set a date in the future to have a topic meeting to discuss hard surface project needs of the District over the next five years. The Board gave direction to give priority to Phase 1, 2, and 3 of the of the capital budget projects, with a total of approximately $2M.

Resident Jen Kim spoke to the Board, asking the Board to look at the large amount projected to be spent at Green Slopes, when it could perhaps be spent at multiple parks across town.

Payment of Furloughed Part-Time IMRF Payments

Exec. Dir. Fullerton explained that in May, the Board voted to pay IMRF employees for one- quarter hour at their default pay rate so that these employees could obtain their monthly IMRF service credit and retain their IMRF benefits.

In total the cumulative cost to the District is $406.32 through July. Staff continues to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the District. As a variety of cost saving measures are being implemented, staff is now recommending that this benefit be discontinued after the August payment.

Comr. Ploger moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas to discontinue the one-quarter hour payment to IMRF employees placed on temporary furlough due to the COVID-19 pandemic after the August payment.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Owen, Nesvacil, Leno 

Nays – None

Absent – None

Ayes – 5; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

NEW BUSINESS

NWSRA Assessment Resolution (R-4-20)

Exec. Dir. Fullerton explained annually the Commissioners must approve the Resolution of the NWSRA Assessment for the following year. The current approval is for 2021 collected from the 2020 tax levy.

This year’s request is for $571,987.59, an increase of $3,508.04 (0.006%). The amount approved last year was $568,479.55.

Comr. Nesvacil moved, seconded by Comr. Ploger to approve Northwest Special Recreation Association Assessment Resolution for Calendar Year 2021 from 2020 taxes in the amount of $571,987.59.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Nesvacil, Ploger, Owen, Gelinas, Leno 

Nays – None

Absent – None

Ayes – 5; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

COMMISSIONER REPORTS

Vice President Gelinas was very complimentary to staff for the summer flexibility of operations. Thank you for all Staff does to make the District better.

Comr. Nesvacil echoed Vice President Gelinas’s comments and inquired about storm damage following the storm on August 10, 2020. Dir. Rea stated there were some trees that were taken down in the north end of town, but felt the District was spared.

Comr. Owen complimented the green team, when reviewing the IPRA Environmental Report card, nice to see that Staff is looking for ways to better the environment.

President Leno shared that the ARC has been very accommodating, and thanked the frontline staff who wear their masks and keep the building cleaned up.

MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION

Comr. Nesvacil moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas to hold Appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of specific employees of the AHPD – 5ILCS 120/2(c)(1), and Potential acquisition of Real Estate 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) at 8:43 p.m.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Nesvacil, Gelinas, Owen, Ploger, Leno 

Nays – None

Absent – None

Ayes – 5; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

RECONVENED TO REGULAR MEETING

At 9:24 p.m. the Regular Meeting was reconvened and the following were present: Board: Gelinas, Owen, Ploger, Nesvacil, Leno.

Staff: Fullerton, Rea, Maher, Everson, and Rogers.

No action was taken following the Closed Session.

ADJOURNMENT

Vice President Gelinas moved, seconded by Comr. Ploger, to adjourn at 9:25 p.m. Roll was called with:

Ayes – Gelinas, Ploger, Nesvacil, Leno, Owen

Nays – None

Absent – None

Ayes – 5; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

https://www.ahpd.org/assets/1/24/8-11-20_R.pdf?204456