Wicker Park Advisory Council

Wicker Park Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

Present: Tim Kolecke (President & Website), Scott Venable (Vice-President & Mosaic Church), Richard Tilley (Treasurer), Doug Wood (Secretary and Garden Club & Events Coordinator), Denise Browning (WPAC & WPGarden), Susan Fontana (WPAC & WPGarden), John Shirk (Urban Encounter & Wicker Mic), Adam Housley (Dog Park Coordinator), Lauren Krebs (Music Series Fund Raising), Cynthia Rosario (Park District Area #2 Manager)

  1. Minutes – Doug Wood – January 2012 Minutes were read and approved.
  2. Treasurer’s Report – Richard Tilley- Submitted Report
  3. Committee Reports
    • Dog Park Committee – Adam Housley – Adam discussed the Dog Park Fundraiser to be held on Saturday February 11 from 7-11pm at the Twisted Spoke. Doug noted that he sent information to all neighborhood press groups. The announcement is on the WPAC website. Adam reported that Janis Taylor, Chicago Park District Dog Park Coordinator worked with him to submit a grant to FOTP for an outside bulletin/announcement board. The bulletin board is to be located in the dog park.
    • Web Site – Tim Kolecke – Tim reported that the Web site has been updated. The group discussed the benefits of adding a PayPal Option for Donations on the site. This would facilitate donations to various groups (Dog Park, Playground, Gardens, Fountain Court, Classical Music Series, Wicker Mic, Magic Boat Puppet Theater, etc). Donors could choose from events or various committees to donate their funds, when they visit the website PayPal link. The funds would be held in the WPAC account and ear marked as the donors chose them to be designated. It was requested that the Pay Pal report include all donations to all earmarked contributions. Richard will provide account numbers and FEIN number to Tim and Tim will set up the account with PayPal.
    • Softball Committee – Ryan Jackson – Absent and no report. Ryan did not respond to an email from the Advisory Council, and Cynthia Rosario had no information of softball permits for Wicker.
    • Gardens and Landscape Committee – Doug Wood, Denise Browning – Doug Reported that the seven week Home Landscape design class was going well. In addition, the lecture series is very well attended. Both of these series raise part of the $10,000 per year the garden club raises to maintain the park garden. He reported that in March the Garden Club would be offering another lecture and 2 technical workshops: plant propagation and tool sharpening. The Plant Sale is being organized for the first weekend of May; the sale assists with raising funds to maintain the gardens and educational programming.
  4. Staff Reports –Cynthia Rosario – Area 2 Manager
    • UPDATE ON STAFF HIRING & HOURS: Dan Puente has been hired as Wicker Park’s Full Time Park Supervisor. Dan is to begin on Tuesday, February 21. The Part Time Physical Instructor and Part Time Attendant (Janitor) have not been hired.
    • MOVIE IN THE PARKS UPDATE: Cynthia was not sure of date or name of movie-but the Park District will fund one movie. Cynthia will give us the answer to these questions: date? And movie Name?
    • PORTABLE TOILETS for Weekend Use – Cynthia said that she put in a request (one handicapped toilet – April through December – 2 cleanings per week. She will confirm and contact us. Dates? Number of Cleanings per week?
    • FARMER’S MARKET 2012 – Cynthia is not sure of start date. She will check and confirm: date?
    • SECURITY CAMERAS – Installation-payment-timetable: Doug stated that he would contact Patrick Levar and the 1st ward staff again to obtain an update. The Advisory Council asked Cynthia to be involved with requesting an update from the 1st ward on funding one camera. She agreed to contact the Alderman and report her findings to us. Has funding been transferred?
  5. Events Planning Update
    • Doug reported that he would submit bookings for all events and permits for the Magic Boat Puppet Show, Wicker Mic, the classical music series, and the Green Games within the next week. He also reported that all tools and mulch were booked for mulch Day, groups were being solicited for educational events on Earth Day, that Green Heart was setting the agenda for the Green Games & Programming, and that Symphony Sounds has sent a contract to us for 4 performances – one per month – second Sundays from June – September.
    • He also stated that he had submitted a grant for the puppet shows and music series to Friends of the Parks. He stated that he would submit a grant to WPBSSA#33 for the music series/puppet shows in mid- February. All regular members received a copy of the FOTP Grant and will receive a copy of the WPB grant via email.
    • Tim reported that Wormhole Coffee was interested in funding three movies, currently under negotiation. John Shirk stated that Wicker Mic was on board and ready to go. The group discussed fundraising for the music series: Lauren Krebs, Tim Kolecke and Doug Wood will work on this project and have it ready to go in March.
    • Boo-Palooza was discussed and suggestions were made to enhance games and the size of the pumpkin patch. Collaborators for this event will be solicited in the next month. Doug said he would discuss project with Missio Dei Chicago and get a response by next meeting.
    • FOTP/CPD MEETING at South Shore – Tim Kolecke and Elaine Coorens will attend. Doug will make a poster and flyers for the event.