Wicker Park Advisory Council

Meeting – WPAC – February 8, 2023 Minutes

MINUTES: Wicker Park Advisory Council Meeting, Thursday, February 9, 2023

In Attendance: Adam Housley (President), Mike Payette (Vice-President), Denise Browning (Treasurer), Farah Tunks (Central Region Director), Raquel Maldonado (Area 1 Manager), Anita Gilkey (Chicago Park District Community Relations), Chloe Waryan (Chicago Public Library), John Shirk, Susan Fontana, Mike Runkle, Kristin Drutchas (Dog Park Committee), Grant Drutchas (Dog Park Committee), Elaine Coorens, Heidi Hedeker

 

  1. John Shirk and Adam Housley Led the Meeting. They welcomed all in attendance and asked the attendees to introduce themselves.

 

  1. January Minutes Read and Approved: Mike Payette moved that the minutes of the January 12,2023 meeting as presented by John Shirk, and attached to the agenda of February 9 meeting be approved. Elaine Coorens seconded the motion. All members of the Council voted yea; there were no nays.

 

  1. Supervisor’s Report – Submitted by Keith Jones and Presented by Raquel Maldonado
  • Programs
    • Early childhood-all going and some filled – see the Winter Schedule
    • Adults – workout class has 8 (Tuesday Nights)
    • Partnerships and Saturday Programs – Classes Filled
      • 2 sessions-9am & 10am classes
      • Kids Create Studio – Partner
      • Spring Classes
    • Park Kids – After school program 40-full
    • Teen Club – Recruiting for the Program
    • Archery for the Park Kids – taught by the Supervisor – for ages 10-12
    • Asked if WPAC can help promote the programs – answer was – YES!
  • Black History Month – Park Kids (Instructors are leading)
    • Children will make Achi games from Ghana & beaded necklaces with meanings.
    • Leaders and their backgrounds with pictures are posted in our Park Kids room.
  • Seasonal sport teams and pics – on the board in the lobby of Wicker Park & TV video
    • Winter sports-2ball competition in March, 3 v. 3 soccer team – working on
    • Practice game (Floor Hockey) @ Commercial Park for 8–10-year-olds- first week of February
  • Video-marketing video of the programs over the last year and a half-done by the Supervisor
    • Updated routinely with programs
  • Boxing Show – tentatively planned for July 6 @ Wicker Park. 2022 show had a huge turnout.
    • All Girls Boxing Show – 7pm start time – Outside
  • PAC partnered events – trades requests and Activity Request Forms all submitted.
    • Tentatively have team members scheduled for Mulch Day & the Plant Sale.

 

  1. PAC EVENTS Updates: Permits, Activity Request Forms, Movie Request form for 3 Movies and PAC Annual Report for 2022 Activities were submitted and discussed.
  • Activity Request Forms (ARF) were Submitted by Denise Browning on Mon, Jan 23, 2023 for these events:
  • 8 ARF Documents – one for each of these requests: Mulch Day & Dog Park Cleaning Day, Plant Sale, Yoga, Music Series, Wicker MIC, Request for Field House Hours Extension at Movies, Art Classes, Boo-Palooza
  • 1 Document – Trades orders for the Plant Sale & Boo-Palooza
  • 1 Document – Listing the content of the expandible box called Purpose for all ARFs
  • 7 Permits & 7 Site Plans were submitted by Leah Root on Jan 23, 2023 for Mulch Day & Dog Park Cleaning Day, Plant Sale, Yoga, Music Series, Wicker MIC, Art Classes, Boo-Palooza
  • Movie Request Form was submitted by Leah Root on Wed, Jan 25 for 3 movies held on 3rd Thursdays (this is our 1st Choice to be confirmed in March) – alternative dates were submitted as requested: Movies Requested are:

++(Please do not announce Movie Titles until Mid-May when Park District announces the Entire City-wide series)

  • Sponsor Sales begin when dates/movies are confirmed – early announcement of sales made in February.
  • The Annual Park Advisory Council Report for the Year 2022 was submitted on line on 2/5/2023 – deadline was 2/18/2023

 

  1. Park District Confirmation of all of the requests made in the Activity Request Forms for Mulch Day, the Plant Sale and Sunday Dates that can be booked for Music performance. Farah Tunks and Raquel Maldonado approved all the requests submitted with these changes: Sunday Music should be scheduled in June and August based on staffing obligations to the Summer Camp. The trades orders are not yet confirmed, but WPAC will be informed when they are confirmed. The center room cannot be used at the plant sale. SEE Attachment #1 for Details.

 

  1. The Slate of Nominated Officers and Committee Members was presented and discussed. See Attachment #2 for Details. Mike Payette moved that the slate of candidates for 2023/2024, attached to the February 9 agenda or presented at the meeting, ie John Shirk: President, Grant Drutchas: Vice President, Michael Runkle, Secretary and Elaine Coorens, Treasurer, be approved. Susan Fontana seconded the motion. All members of the Council voted yea; there were no nays.
  2. WPAC REQUESTED that the Park Staff Establish a Wicker Park Advisory Council Bulletin Board in the Field house to Post the following in compliance with the WPAC By-Laws and Chicago Park District PAC requirement:
  • List of upcoming meetings & Contact Information
  • Approved Minutes of Monthly Meetings
  • List of Nominated Officers (Feb-March) and then List of Elected Officers (March-December)
  • Resumes of Nominated President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer posted until March Election

Response: Raquel Maldonado and Farah Tunks said they’d work with Park Staff to Establish a Board.

 

  1. Dog Park Renovation Committee Report: Kristin Drutchas reported on the Dog Park Survey. The public is taking the survey and the results will be analyzed beginning March 1. The group hopes to submit the survey results and the dog park design to the Park District on April 1, 2023 for their review. Kristin will be in charge of the Dog Park Cleaning Day on April 29.

 

  1. New Business: Chloe Waryan (Chicago Public Library) discussed the programming at the Bucktown-Wicker Park Branch and invited the members to keep the library in mind. She hopes to attend the WPAC meetings on at least a quarterly basis.
  2. Adjourn – 7:45pm – Mike Payette moved that the meeting be adjourned. Grant Drutchas seconded the motion. All members of the Council voted yea, there were no nays.

SUPPLEMENTAL DOCUMENTS

ATTACHMENT #1

BOOKING CONFIRMATIONS – Addressed At WPAC Meeting on Thursday, February 9, 2023 & Emails from Keith Jones:

Farah Tunks (Chicago Park District Central Region Director), Raquel Maldonado (Area 1 Manager) confirmed this Checklist as shown below at the 2/9/2023 Meeting.  Keith Jones (Park Supervisor) confirmed other check list items.

++These requests were originally included in the Activity Request Form (ARF) submitted for each event 1/23/2023.

PLANT SALE-Fundraiser for the 10,000 sq. ft. of Gardens in the Park

Confirmed Both Dates: DATE: Saturday, May 13 and/or Sunday, May 14 (Rain Date)

Confirmed: EVENT TIME: 10am-6pm (Set up 7am-10am; Tear Down 6pm-7pm)

Confirmed Both Dates – FIELD HOUSE HOURS REQUESTED: 7am-7pm both May 13 and May 14 (Rain Date)

PENDING TRADES CONFIRMATION TRADES ORDER: – 35-6ft Tables – The Order was placed in JAN 2023

Confirmed: Tables Delivery Date (Thursday, May 11 for Use on Friday, May 12 -Sunday May 14) Pick Up Date May15

Confirmed: EVENT LOCATION: West Side of Field House on Both Sides of the Sidewalk. The Lawn Adjacent to the Parking

Lot for tables and plant sorting on Friday May 12

FIELD HOUSE ROOMS:

Confirmed: East Room (Food Room)-Saturday, May 13 for Volunteer Food Room and/or Sunday, May 14 Rain Date Set up on Friday, May 12 after Park Kids

Confirmed: GYM-Plant Overnight Storage-Friday, May 12-4 or 5pm until Saturday, May 13 8am for plant storage and/or Sat-Sun (Rain Date)

Confirmed: Gym in case of Rain on Friday – 11AM-6PM-Friday, May 12-used for plant inventory and pricing – this was

done in 2022

Confirmed: FIELD HOUSE SUPPLIES: 7-6ft Tables available, 35 chairs (Please Confirm Numbers and availability), 3 children’s tables (available – must be covered when used with chairs for children’s planting area

Confirmed: ELECTRIC: Outlets on West Side Field House

Confirmed: PARKING LOT: Friday, May 12 from 8am-3pm Plant Delivery Friday East Half for Plant Delivery Truck

 

MULCH DAY & DOG PARK CLEANING DAY WPAC Coordinated with Parris Purdis (Landscaping Area Manager) – Equipment and Date Confirmed with Parris Purdis

Confirmed: DATE: Saturday, April 29 or May 6 (Rain Date)

Confirmed: EVENT TIME: 9am-2pm

Confirmed: BOTH DATES: FIELD HOUSE HOURS REQUESTED: 8am-2pm

Confirmed: EVENT LOCATION: Entire Park

FIELD HOUSE ROOMS & EQUIPMENT:

Confirmed: Store Landscape Supplies inside from Friday, April 28-Saturday, May 29 and then again after the event until

Monday, April 30 when picked up by Parrris Purdis’ Team

Confirmed: East Room-Saturday, April 29 for Volunteer Food Room – 8am-2pm-Same for Rain Date May 6

5 tables and 30 chairs- Set UP on Friday, April 28

Confirmed: LANDSCAPING ORDER -WPAC Arranged with Parris Purdis – Deliver Friday, April 28-Parris Purdis- (Stored

inside field house in East Hallway to gym) – 9 Wheel Barrels, 15 Large Forks, 15 Hard Garden Rakes, 15 Leaf

Rakes, 10 Large Push Booms

 

MUSIC SERIES SUNDAYS – Which are Best for Keith & Field House – This Allows us to Book Performing Groups – We need to know if 2nd and 3rd Sundays work? We said in both the Permit and ARF that we book Groups in March.

We’d like to present 4-6 Performances on the 2nd and 3rd Sundays in June, July, and August. Is this possible?

DATES – Do These work for Park Staff? June 11 & 18, July 9 & 16, August 13, 20 – We will begin to book Performances.

RESPONSE From Raquel Maldonado – All Sundays in June and August are available to use to book MUSIC. 

We will work with these Dates for Booking: 6/4, 11, 18, 25 and 8/6, 13, 20, 27 since Raquel said Sunday Dates in July are difficult since the Summer Camp will be running from June 26 – August 4.

 

ATTACHMENT #2– Slate of Officers and Committees

Election of Wicker Park Advisory Council Officers – Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 6:30pm-7:45pm at the Wicker Park Advisory Council Meeting

 Nominated Individuals for Executive Positions of Wicker Park Advisory Council

President – John Shirk

Vice-President – Grant Drutchas

Secretary – Michael Runkle

Treasurer – Elaine Coorens

The Committees – All Committee Members are Members of the Board of Directors

Committee – Communications with Park District Staff for Permits, Partnerships, Trades, etc – Leah Root, Denise Browning, Doug Wood

 Committee – Works with Treasurer, Communication Liasson with IRS and State – Submits Yearly Reports-Taxes – Denise Browning

 Committee – Dog Park Cleaning and Communications on Repair Needs – Kristin Drutchas

Committee – Dog Park Renovation Committee – Lead Design and Fundraising Initiatives –Kristin & Grant Drutchas

 Committee – Fundraising for Events – Doug Wood, Leah Root, Mike Runkle

Committee – Programming & Events –Doug Wood, John Shirk, Denise Browning, Susan Fontana

 Committee – Plant Sale & Gardens – Denise Browning, Doug Wood

Committee – Wicker MIC – John Shirk

Committee – Yoga – Denise Browning, Doug Wood

Committee – Music Series – Doug Wood with Input from Mike Payette