Wicker Park Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

ATTENDED: Clare Rodriguez (Park Supervisor), Adam Housley (WPAC President), Richard Tilley (WPAC Treasurer), Doug Wood (WPAC Secretary), Denise Browning (Former WPAC President & WPGarden), Susan Fontana (Former WPAC President & WPGarden), Tim Kolecke (Website and Former President WPAC), John Shirk (Wicker Mic & Urban Encounter), Elaine Coorens (Our Urban Times), Leah Root (Wicker Park Committee President), Larry Eng & Alan  (Level Vape, Owner)

  1. December 2013 Minutes Approved as Submitted.
  2. Budget Report – Richard Tilley gave a report for the entire year.
  3. Park District Report – Clare Rodriguez – Winter Programming and Other Updates – Clare gave a report on the Winter Programming and handed out the schedule.  Due to the added staff, the offerings were doubled.  The schedule includes extensive additions to the Early Childhood programming, a special event – Valentine’s Day, gymnastics, Park Kids after school program, teen classes, basketball for youth and open court basketball for adults, floor hockey, indoor soccer and volleyball.  The council was pleased with all the additions.  In addition, Clare and the council created a to-do list of items that have not been addressed with work orders: men’s and women’s bathroom repairs, weather stripping off doors, unregulated heating system, no hot water in instructors room off gym, the columns holding up the brickwork at both entrances has been in place for over 6 years and not repaired.
  4. Dog Park Committee – Adam Housley discussed the 2014 Dog Park Fundraiser to be held at Twisted Spoke on Saturday, February 15 from 7pm – 10:30pm.  Things are going well for this event. In addition, he reported on the city-wide dog park committee meeting.  At the meeting, many DFA members from numerous parks were concerned with the agreement made with Petco to install signage in dog parks.  Most were not in favor of it since no funds were directed to the dog parks and most Advisory Councils must raise all funding without Petco’s support.

    DOG LATCH – Adam is working on it.  Doug offered to contact Grant Druchas to see if he had a reliable designer.

  5. Website – Tim Kolecke, web master gave a detailed report listing numerically and graphically the number of hits the site received: most were during the 4 movies and the largest was during Boo-Palooza.
  6. Mosaic Teen Group – Scott Venable reported that the Mosaic Friday event is doing very well with programs including dance and basketball.  A new series on healthy eating and cooking is being planned.  Doug suggested Mosaic contact two of our Boo-Palooza Partners – JLC Kids in the Kitchen and the Kid’s Table for workshops and suggestions.
  7. Landscape Design Workshop – Doug, Denise and Richard reported that the 7 week class was going well with 45 students, 15 TA’s and 6 professional teachers coming to Wicker Park from 34 Zip codes.  The class is funded by enrollment fees and a $1,000 grant from Community Gardens in the Parks.  In addition, neighborhood groups from Logan Square, West Humboldt Park, Kenwood, Hyde Park, the South Loop, Humboldt Park, and Garfield Park are working on community projects on vacant lots or in parks.  These students are taking the class on Scholarship.
  8. Meeting Planning – Fests & Security – Mike Payette, Elaine Coorens, and Doug Wood spoke with the alderman about setting a community meeting to address these issues in advance.  The council asked that the two meetings be held on the same day.  Doug will send a note to the alderman and staff requesting a meeting be set in February and involve: festival staff, Central Region and Executive Park District Staff, Park Security, 14th District Police, and CAPS.
  9. Playground Water Feature Repair ($65,000 Cost – WPB SSA#33 supports $10,000 of costs) &Playground Equipment – Recruit Special Committee for Fundraising. No one volunteered to recruit individuals for this committee. SIGNAGE – We will install a sign in playground when weather warms up.
  10. Gurgoyle Water Feature – Quotes to replace Calla Lilies and Leaves that have been stolen from top of Fountain are to be obtained by Doug from Mott Company.

ADJOURN at 8:25 PM