Wicker Park Advisory Council

Wicker Park Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

ATTENDED:Claribel Rodriguez (Wicker Park Supervisor), Adam Housley (WPAC President), Scott Venable (WPAC Vice-President and Mosaic Church), Richard Tilley (WPAC Treasurer), Doug Wood (WPAC Secretary), Denise Browning (Former WPAC President & WPGarden), Susan Fontana (Former WPAC President & WPGarden), John Shirk (Wicker Mic & Urban Encounter), Elaine Coorens (Our Urban Times), Jacob Moore & Tyler Culligan (Magic Boat), Mike Payette, Ryan Wilson (Family Fun Fest), Mark Tomasino (Wicker Park Choral Singers), Marley Dzis

  1. Minutes from October 2013 Read and approved: Doug Wood
  2. Family Fun Fest and Fountain Decorating Social – Saturday, November 16 – Ryan Wilson, Doug Wood, Denise Browning, Susan Fontana. Ryan outlined the details of the Family Fun Fest to be held in the gym from 10am – 2pm. Doug commented on the partnership forms submitted, equipment requested, liability insurance, and volunteer groups. Clare stated that all equipment was confirmed; Doug arranged liability insurance for the groups – insuring Park District, WPAC, and Maternal Health Care Group. A group of volunteers from Core Power Yoga and another group of Cub Scouts will help with the fountain decorating event. The Park District did not respond to the partnership forms submitted.
  3. Wicker Wonderland – Puppets – Chorus – Santa – Saturday, December 14 – Mark Tomasino, Tyler Culligan and Jacob Moore. An event with caroling and puppet shows was discussed and then cancelled later in November, since most of the council had been very focused on all the other events this year and did not have the proper time to devote to this event. We hope to present an event like this in 2014.
  4. Park District Report– Claribel Rodriguez commented on how she enjoyed Boo-Palooza and thought it was very successful. She reported that the Part-Time Attendant Position, vacant since 2010, was filled. All Park positions are now filled. Winter Programming is currently being confirmed; additional programming like ping pong for adults and kids will be added.
  5. Boo-Palooza Recap – ALL – The entire group discussed the event held on October 26 in the Park. Approximately, 3,000 people attended and there were about 300 volunteers. Suggestions for change include: More guides to direct the parade participants; more prizes at the midway games/straw stack; do not have the audience vote for the prize winners – therefore, choose a number of children to match the number of prizes and judges make decisions and announce winners on the stage; limit name tags to ‘working volunteers,’ keep fountain area clear during the event – or have volunteers keep viewers on the perimeter and keep an open path for the parade; put more signs and mark area with caution tape; judges did not see all the costumed children – increase clarity of event; remind audience where judges are located; children’s parade leader was very helpful; more people need to read and be aware of the timetable and running of the day; have a public address system for all areas, including the pumpkin patch; Bingo Cards need to be worked on; cleanup / break down needs more focus and more volunteers. It was noted that with that many people with different agendas, communication to all of them is very difficult.
  6. COMMITTEE REPORTS
    • Treasurer’s Report – Richard Tilley presented report.
    • Dog Park – Again, Adam Housley and Scott Venable noted that the dog park latches have not been addressed. The Northbrook Dog Park has better latches – we will take photos and submit to Park District. What is status of the paving order to control rats under flat surfaces? 25 Volunteers helped with cleaning day.
    • Website – Tim Kolecke – Absent
    • Landscape – Doug Wood noted that gardening was being held weekly, spring bulb planting was underway, winterizing of
      the roses would occur at the fountain decorating social, and the Jan-Feb Landscape Design was in planning stages.
    • Teen Group – Scott Venable reported that the group had a great month, attendance was good, and all were ready to add a new dance module.
    • Security – Group noted that a new camera with inside monitor was to arrive in November. Elaine Coorens asked if Clare had heard which parks would be the ones with added security – the initiative was announced in October. No details were given to Clare or central region staff.

ADJOURN – 9PM