Present: John Davidson (Park Supervisor), Susan Fontana (WPAC Co –President), Denise Browning (WPAC Co-President), Richard Tiller (WPAC Treasurer), John Shirk (Urban Encounter), Clintina Taylor (Park Kids Parent), Toni Anderson (Park Kids Parent), Ryan Jackson (Softball).
- Minutes – Clintina Taylor (for Doug Wood) – November Minutes were read, updated and approved. Updates are as follows:
- Ryan Jackson was present at 11/10/09 meeting. Report on participants was given.
- Holiday Movie dates have decreased to 1 night only. Friday, December 18, 2009. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carey) will show at 6:00pm. Open to the community.
- Lyndsey Snyder (Vermiculture) is to also assist programming committee with composting and garden sustainability.
- Treasurer’s Report – Richard Tilley – submitted current balance on account. A more detailed financial report will be submitted at January’s WPAC meeting.
- Alderman Flores office re: removal of chess tables – no representation from the alderman’s office, but a minor discussion commenced among those present. The general consensus of the group was that moving the tables wouldn’t alleviate the problem of the transients’ inappropriate use of the tables and/or area. Ultimately, the removal of tables would be removing an amenity from the park. The group would rather have camera surveillance to remedy such issues.
- Judge Ann Williams re: running for office – subject deferred
- Committee Reports
- Dog Park – Adam Housley (absent), reported via email that, currently, there is nothing new.
- Website – Tim Kolecke (absent), no report made.
- Softball – Ryan Jackson, softball had a successful season. There were over 200 participants.
- Landscape/Fountain Decorating – Denise Browning (for Doug Wood), Doug Wood was in attendance at the SSA meeting to secure funding for the repair of “Mr. Wicker”. Fountain decorating was a huge success. There were approximately 90 volunteers in attendance. Thanks to John Davidson and park staff for setting up the activity rooms and providing the sound system and a special thanks to the volunteers and passers-by.
- Collaboration (Faces of Wicker Park) – John Shirk, Elaine Coorens to set-up website. This will enable project to move forward. John will keep everyone posted.
- Programming – Clintina Taylor & Toni Anderson, Family skate night will be Friday, January 15, 2010; 6pm-8pm. Transportation will be provided and the cost associated with this trip will be confirmed on Monday, December 14th. Families should expect to pay between $5-7 which may exclude the cost of ice skate rental. This year’s holiday movie will be How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Showtime is Friday, December 18, 2009; 6:00pm and is open to the community. Denise will donate popcorn and oil which will be provided free-of-charge to movie-goers. The Programming committee would like sell concessions (beverages) at this event. A motion was made and approved for monies for the supplies. A request was also made to set-up a “movie fund” line item under WPAC’s balance sheet. Winter Camp is December 21st-23rd and 27th – 30th; 9am-6pm. Cost is $75 which includes 2 field trips; Enchanted Castle and Ice Skating. Registration is open to the community and available online. Programming committee would like to move forward with adult programming as well as restructure the curriculum for the MPT program with input from program participant Carrie Martin. Suggestions were made to seek partnerships/collaborations with outside organizations and to develop criteria for program development and implementation.
- Sidebar: Book donation from Shorty’s will be used in MPT program. With this donation, the park staff will be including story-time in the curriculum.
- Sidebar: Donations need to be accompanied by a “gift in-kind” letter addressed to the Wicker Park Field House.
- Park Supervisor’s Report – John Davidson
- Budget Meeting – group discussed the 2010 budget (which is available on the park district’s website). Points of concern were the decrease in budgeted line items and the decrease in full-time staff. WPAC would rather have camera surveillance in lieu of the security guard expense.
- Winter programming – Park Voyagers program has a workshop December 10th and Fieldtrip December 12th. Program is still accepting families. Seasonal sports to begin January 11th 2010 with Floor Hockey and March 9th 2010 with 3-on-3 Soccer. Teen Summit will take place on December 12th at Fosco Park; summit has gained the interest of 500 teens. January 8th 2010, teens will have their skate night 7-9pm. Transportation will be provided. The last teen event, Thanksgiving at Humboldt Park, had 127 participants. Teens aged 13-17 years (18 if still in high school) are welcome to participate. The Shedd Aquarium to sponsor a new teen program, Mentoring for Sustainability, more details to come.
- Staffing/building hours – no report made
- Field House concerns
- Water fountain leak – Plumbers repaired Tuesday, December 8th .
- Broken Playground Equipment – Work order placed for log roll. If there is new equipment that is inoperable the items must be identified and a work order must be submitted. Denise will refer to email to identify if this is a new piece of equipment and John will proceed with the work order should this be the case.
- Green roof – DCEO has no new updates of when monies will be approved/granted/released.
- Kitchen sink – Plumbers inspected Tuesday, December 8th. They must return to complete the work.
- New Business
- Wendy Rork with Life2 contacted WPAC re: providing the field house with healthier vending machine options. WPAC will contact her to set-up a meeting; meanwhile, Toni Anderson will reach out to Colleen (Park District Concessions) to get viable options prior to meeting with Ms. Rork.
Meeting adjourned 8:15pm