Sangamon Sun

Arlington Heights Park District Board of Commissioners met Oct. 27.

Here is the minutes provided by the board:

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

ROLL CALL OF COMMISSIONERS

Commissioners Present          Commissioners Absent

W. Ploger                                 R. Nesvacil

T. Gelinas                                 B. Owen

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: Alli Siamis, Chris Nisbet, Kristy McCann, Kyle Kuhs, Janna Witt, Jeff Lindstrom, Jennifer Rogers, Lindsey Robertson, Madeline Paler, Matt Turinsky, Pat Klawitter, and Steve Neill.

Also on Zoom call Brian Walsh, Vista National; Dan Koutris & Eric Oiler, AHYAA; Melissa Cayer, resident and Heidi Bradley, resident.

RECOGNITION OF VISITORS & CITIZENS TO BE HEARD

Mr. Koutris and Mr. Oiler from AHYAA addressed the Board, stating their plan to attend more Park District Board Meeting in an effort to work more closely with the District on programming and the community. President Leno thanked both Mr. Koutris and Mr. Oiler for all they do for the community and their partnership working together to make a difference.

Ms. Bradley, thanked Dir. Rea for sharing the OSLAD plans for Recreation Park, and asked that the Board reconsider the location of the parking lot on Belmont Street and the that would impact would affect traffic and noise. President Leno thanked Ms. Bradley and Dir. Rea for working together and attending this meeting. President Leno explained that a parking lot is not a part of the current plans at Recreation Park. The location of the basketball court is being reviewed by staff.

MINUTES

No discussion.

Comr. Ploger moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas, to approve the October 13, 2020 Regular Meeting minutes.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Leno

Nays – None

Absent – Nesvacil & Owen

Ayes – 3; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

PRESENTATIONS & INFORMATIONAL REPORTS

September, 2020 Financial Reports

Dir. Myers shared the September, 2020 financial reports, no discussion.

Recreation Park OSLAD Grant

Exec. Dir. Fullerton shared with the Board a letter from IDNR regarding our current OSLAD Grant for Recreation Park, the letter states that we may decline the grant, with no penalty on future grant applications, due to the impact of COVID-19.

Exec. Dir. Fullerton continued with the recommendation to decline the grant and reevaluate the priority of capital needs of the District. The District has a lot of structural repairs and equipment needs that could be addressed if the OSLAD Grant is declined and budgeted funds repurposed.

President Leno led the Board in the discussion with Staff input of declining the OSLAD Grant and not proceeding with the Recreation Park project at this time due to the burden COVID-19 has had on the District. The consensus of the Board if there is no penalty at this time to decline the grant, given the deficit the District is facing due to COVID.

Dir. Myers explained that if the Recreation Park OSLAD project is put on hold, $675,000 would be available for use in fiscal year 2020-2021 and the remainder would be made available in fiscal year 2021-2022, the current capital plan for 2021/2022 includes over $7.4 million worth of projects. In addition to the Willow Park pedestrian bridge replacement, Green Slopes Park Tennis Courts, and the tuck pointing project, staff would look to complete additional additional maintenance focused infrastructure related capital projects with the funds budgeted for the OSLAD project.

The Board and Staff further discussed the details of the priority of projects and capitals that need attention. The Board asked Staff to bring back at the next Board Meeting a proposal of projects/equipment needed from previously allocated funds.

Comr. Ploger moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas, to decline the OSLAD Grant to the IDNR for the proposed Recreation Park project.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Leno

Nays – None

Absent – Nesvacil & Owen

Ayes – 3; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

OLD BUSINESS

Health Insurance

Exec. Dir. Fullerton reviewed the Staff recommendation for three plans to be renewed with Cigna for 2021 at no change in cost to the agency. To keep up with industry standards Staff is also recommending a change in the employee percentage of cost.

The discussion and consensus of the Board was to move forward offering three plans, and agreed with the increased percentage cost to the employees.

Comr. Ploger moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas, to contract with Cigna for medical insurance with two PPO plans and one HMO plan and fund the HRA program at $135,000. Adjust the employee premium contribution levels to more closely reflect the cost to the District.

• Employee Individual premiums for the Access Plus PPO 16%, Local Access PPO 12%, and HMO plans to 14%.

• The Employee/Spouse and Employee/Children premiums for the Open Access Plus PPO 20%, Local Access PPO 16%, and HMO plans at 18%.

• The Family premiums for the Open Access PPO 22%, Local Access Plus 18%, and HMO premiums to 20%.

• Keep the Opt-Out Incentive program at $2,500 paid directly to employees through payroll.

• Contract with Cigna for Dental insurance.

• Continue the contract with MetLife for Life/AD&D insurance and maintain the contract with EyeMed for Vision.

• Continue to offer the voluntary benefits that are at no-cost to the District.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Leno

Nays – None

Absent – Nesvacil & Owen

Ayes – 3; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

NEW BUSINESS

September, 2020 Vouchers

Dir. Myers provided the September, 2020 vouchers listing. No discussion.

Comr. Ploger moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas to approve the Voucher Listing for the month of September, 2020, in the amount of $791,690.91 and the payroll and payroll related expense distribution for the month of September, 2020 for $856,993.10.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Leno

Nays – None

Absent – Nesvacil & Owen

Ayes – 3; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

IAPD Credentials Certificate

President Leno shared that annually, the Board must pass the Resolution on Credentials of the Illinois Association of Park Districts for the annual business meeting to be held at the State Conference in January. The Credentials Certificate must then be filed with the IAPD office in Springfield.

Comr. Ploger moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas to adopt the of the Resolution on CREDENTIALS, appointing President Maryfran Leno as Delegate to the Illinois Association of Park Districts Annual Business Meeting, with Vice-President Tim Gelinas as 1st Alternate, Robert Nesvacil as 2nd Alternate, and Executive Director Carrie Fullerton as 3rd Alternate.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Leno

Nays – None

Absent – Nesvacil & Owen

Ayes – 3; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

Resolution R-6-20 Cook County Coronavirus Relief Fund

Staff has been working with Cook County to submit a claim under the CARES Act through Cook County. The District is eligible for up to $5,000 in reimbursements from Cook County via CARES Act dollars. A resolution needs to be passed for the District to be able to apply for these funds.

Comr. Ploger moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas to approve Resolution R-6-20 Cook County Coronavirus Relief Fund as presented.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Leno

Nays – None

Absent – Nesvacil & Owen

Ayes – 3; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

Resolution R-7-20 Proposed Tax Levy for the Year 2020

Presented to the Board was a levy timeline set forth for adopting the 2020 levy ordinance. The final date for adoption is November 24, 2020.

The Property Tax Extension Limitation Law limits the amount of the increase to 5% or the CPI, whichever is less. The CPI increase for December 2019 was 2.3%, up from 1.9% in 2018. The 2019 assessed valuation increased to $3,226,379,740. This 15.2 % increase generated a tax rate of $.457 per $100 equalized assessed valuation.

Staff is recommending that the levy be prepared for a 4.9% increase (a 4.99% increase for Truth- in-Taxation). This provides an average 4.99% increase for tax-capped funds. The equalized assessed value is based on the assumption of a 2.3% increase for 2020. Staff has talked to the Wheeling Assessor and was informed that they anticipate the growth to be fairly flat with a potential decrease in EAV.

The total tax rate generated for 2020 is estimated to be $.467 per $100 equalized assessed valuation for an overall total levy amount of $15,429,742.

The annualized impact of the 2020 estimated total tax rate of $.463 compared to last year’s total tax rate of $.457 on a home value of $300,000 is approximately $6.00.

President Leno asked that Comr. Owen’s recommendation of a flat tax be recorded on record.

President Leno stated that she does not agree with a flat tax due to the losses due to COVID- 19, and feels we should be asking for the tax to help ease the increased costs for PPE and safety of the District during these times.

Comr. Ploger moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas to approve Resolution No. R-7-20 of the Proposed Tax Levy for the Year 2020.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Leno

Nays – None

Absent – Nesvacil & Owen

Ayes – 3; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

PARK FOUNDATION

Dir. Myers shared that the Foundation Golf Outing raised $20,000. The outing exceeded our expectations this year and thanked all who helped out this year.

DIRECTOR REPORT

Exec. Dir. Fullerton shared that the Village of Arlington Heights will be presenting an architectural award for the Arlington Ridge Center, a Zoom link will be sent if you would like to attend.

The Arlington Heights Memorial Library is asking for a date for the joint meeting. The consensus of the Board was to meet on the morning of December 5, 2020.

Exec. Dir. Fullerton also shared that AHPD has two new CPRP’s on staff, Jason Myers and Kyle Donahue, congrats to them both.

COMMISSIONER REPORTS

President Leno congratulated the District for being a finalist in the Gold Medal Award, thank you for all of your time and efforts.

Comr. Ploger and VP Gelinas echoed President Leno’s comments and was proud of all involved in their efforts in the application for the Gold Medal Award.

VP Gelinas added lots of thanks from the softball community for providing a season during the pandemic.

MOVED INTO CLOSED SESSION

Comr. Ploger 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), potential pending litigation 5ILCS 120/2(c)(11), and Potential acquisition of Real Estate 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(5) at 8:52 p.m.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Leno

Nays – None

Absent – Nesvacil & Owen

Ayes – 3; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

RECONVENED TO REGULAR MEETING

At 9:58 p.m. the Regular Meeting was reconvened and the following were present: Board: Ploger, Gelinas, Leno.

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

No action was taken following the Closed Session.

ADJOURNMENT

Comr. Ploger moved, seconded by Vice President Gelinas, to adjourn at 9:59 p.m.

Roll was called with:

Ayes – Ploger, Gelinas, Leno

Nays – None

Absent – Nesvacil & Owen

Ayes – 3; Nays – 0; MOTION CARRIED

https://www.ahpd.org/assets/1/24/4._10-27-2020_R.pdf?205863