APRIL 2016 MINUTES – Wicker Park Advisory Council General Meeting
Tuesday, April 5, 2016 at 7pm – 8:30pm Wicker Park Field House – 1425 N. Damen
Attended: Clare Rodriguez (Park Supervisor), Scott Venable (Vice-President), Doug Wood (Secretary), John Shirk (Urban Encounter and Wicker MIC), Denise Browning (Garden), Joe Sawicki (Softball, WickerICE), Nick Gecan (Co-Chairman, Wicker ICE), Lorna Cagan (Volunteer Coordination/Social Media, WickerICE), Nick Grygiel (Website, WickerICE), Maggie McKay (WickerICE Nutrition), Alexa Schutz (WickerICE), Eric Szurgot (WickerICE), Michael Watt (Neighbor), Elaine Coorens (Our Urban Times)
- 1. Minutes – March 2016 Minutes were read and approved.
- Treasurer’s Assistants Report – Taxes, Books
Doug Wood, Denise Browning (for Richard Tilley) reported that the 2015 taxes were submitted and gave updates and balances of sub-accounts (WickerICE, Dog Park, General Fund). We now have on-line banking and a bank card for deposits and with drawls.
- Park District Report – Clare Rodriguez, Park Supervisor
- Spring Programs are in full swing.
- Clare passed out the Wicker Park Summer 2016 Camp Schedules to all present. The camps begin on 7/5/2016 and end in mid-August. The camps cover children under 13, teens from 13 – 16, and play camp is geared toward the 4-6 year olds.
- Clare noted that Wicker Park will have a new full-time physical instructor soon. The staff member comes with an extensive diversity of experiences and should be developing new programming, including programs for adults.
- Clare reported that a group of Park District staff viewed the field and repairs should be taking place sometime soon. We will work to get a confirmed date for sodding that does not affect June programs.
- She was informed by the Nights Out Group that we would host Midnight Circus in the Parks again this year. The group discussed the event.
- Websites and Social Media Updates and Content for All Events/Initiatives.
- Doug will speak with Tim Kolecke to ask when he has time to upload all summer events and programs.
- Doug will receive access to WPAC FACE book for uploads.
- WickerICE
- End of Season Survey & Report– View Edit Survey-Launch and Report Contents – The council discussed the draft survey, made suggestions, and an edited form of the survey will be distributed to those in attendance before it is uploaded and distributed. Alexa Schutz & Doug Wood will work on end of year report.
- WickerICE STORAGE – Most items stored with Iron Sleek – the following was moved to storage in March
- $400 – 100 Feet of Netting and Netting posts Removal, Storage and haul away
- $400 – Storage and haul away of various components: 5 rolls matting (4ft wide X 10ft long rolled – 85lbs each, 3 scoop shovels, 4-4ft blade shovels blue, 2-4ft blade shovels white, 2 sweegees (one straight/one curved), 2 ice chippers, 3 garbage can resurfacers
- Rink walls and Plexiglas covers – paid in original fees
- Nick Gecan is storing snow blower
- Joe Sawicki set location for storage of golf cart
- Promotions – Spring Events & Summer Events The group discussed the upcoming events:
- Big Mulch & Rake Day/Dog Park Cleaning – Sat. April 16 at 9am – 1pm. Walk Thru – Doug/Shirron – Park District tools and locations of the mulch piles are confirmed. Volunteers will come from, WPAC, WPGarden, New City Church, Urban Encounter, Grace Church – Goshein, IIT, Josephinum, Friends of the Parks Associate Board. We will obtain shirts and gloves from Friends of the Parks.
- Plant Sale and Workshops – Sat. & Sun. May 7 & May 8 at 10am – 4pm
- Gardening – Every Saturday at 10am – 1pm
- Volunteers were requested to help sell sponsorship packages for Music-Theatre Series – $450 or other.
- Discussion of the Summer & Fall Events Updates & Promotions – See Schedule
- Summer All Events Banner will be installed after May 14 and the following will be Available – All Events Cards, Nutrition Classes Card, WickerICE Card Ready; Movie Card-May 15
- Trades Orders Pending –Platforms for Chorus and Boo; Chairs for Chorus, String Quartets and Theatre PENDING
- Permits, Site Plans, Partnership Letters, Partnership forms for 5 events and educational programs/small events submitted: Plant Sale, Yoga, Music-Theatre Series, WickerMIC, Boo-Palooza (Boo-Needs Project Manager- Discussed – still vacant), mulch day, garden inside meeting space, nutrition classes inside space, Landscape Lecture Series, Fountain Decorating Social, and Home Landscape Design Class. PENDING
- RAIN DATE REQUESTS submitted for Yoga – Inside Gym Tuesdays at 6:30pm, Music-Theatre – gym, central room, WickerMIC – gym – PENDING
- Michael Watt asked about freeing more time for the public use of the field and limiting softball time. We suggested he form a committee to negotiate with all users and come to a resolution. It was noted that all decision must be reviewed by all users.
ADJOURN 8:30 PM