Wicker Park Advisory Council Meeting Minutes

ATTENDED: Dan Puente (Chicago Park District Wicker Park Supervisor), John Paige (WPB SSA#33 Commissioner), Tim Kolecke (President WPAC), Scott Venable (Vice-President – WPAC) Richard Tilley (WPAC Treasurer), Doug Wood (WPAC Secretary), Denise Browning (Former WPAC President & WPGarden), Susan Fontana (Former WPAC President and WPGarden), John Shirk (Wicker Mic & Urban Encounter), Mary Tamminga (WPC), Adam Housley (Dog Park Committee), Dan Murphy (Senior Art Classes), Michael McGeer, Linda Schmidt (Cat & Mouse Game Store), Jacob Fowler

  1. WPB SSA Presentation – John Paige, WPB SSA#33 Commissioner presented the WPB 5 Year Update. Many commented and asked questions.
  2. Business Meeting – Committee Reports

    Minutes September 2012 – Doug Wood – Minutes were read and approved.

    Treasure’s Report – Richard Tilley – Out of Town – No Report Given

    Dog Park – Adam Housley stated that the dog park would be cleaned by volunteers on Saturday, November 3 from 10am – 2pm. There is no update on the bulletin board. Adam is working with Robert Gomez, owner of the Subterranean, to plan a fundraiser to benefit the dog park and the advisory council. The event is in the planning stages and may occur between late November and mid-December2012.

    Website & Budget Hearings – Tim Kolecke reported that he added detailed information about Boo-Palooza with partner links. In addition, he attended the Central Region Budget hearing and presented our budget requests. He said that Central Region staff made complimentary statements about our work at Wicker Park. He said that the Park District stated that parks that are highly utilized and whose programs regularly sell out will be determined and will be support for their efforts in the new year. The discussion resolved in a suggestion that Tim and Scott visit Alderman Moreno and ask that he support our budget requests. They agreed to visit the alderman on Tuesday, October 9 to request this support and to determine his opinions on building vending buildings in the park.

    Teen Group & Mosaic Church Support – Scott Venable reported that the attendance in the teen group was very high and that more structured activities have been planned: basketball league, dance arts and kids track.

    Landscape & Landscape Design Educational Programming – Doug Wood, Denise Browning reported that gardening will continue through December and that the monthly landscape design lectures series were going well.

    Security Camera, L-Car Café, Vandalism – Doug reported that vandalism continues, no progress has been made on people viewing the cameras, and requested that we upload a petition to WickerPark.org to request that no vending buildings be built in Wicker Park.

    Senior Art Class – Dan Murphy attended and reported that his wife Tina Murphy will teach art to seniors in the Wicker Park Field House; the project is funded in part by the WPB SSA#33. Currently, she is undergoing background check and fingerprinting and would like to begin in November

  3. Park Supervisor’s Report – Dan Puente reported that the basketball court has been renovated and painted. The broken playground slide is being repaired. The park should soon have free Internet. Work orders are pending. The morning early childhood classes are full as are all other classes. He is working on the final approvals on the showing of two movies: The Polar Express on Friday, November 16 at 6:30 pm. – $2 with free popcorn and Elf on Friday, December 21 at 6:30pm – $2 with free popcorn. The Wicker Park Parents Association paid for two scholarships totally $278. The CPS has added many half days; the field house will compensate for these changes by being open for children on these dates.
  4. Boo-Palooza Meeting – Doug Wood introduced Monica Juarez from Build ON, an organization that works with school and teens and brings them to various volunteer sites. Build ON will bring 30 teens from Phoenix Military Academy to Wicker Park to be part of the volunteer force for Boo-Palooza. Dan Puente coordinated this effort. The group then discussed all the details for the Boo-Palooza event and assigned leaders for all activities.

MEETING ADJOURED AT 9PM