November 16, 2017

​Park District, Lakefront Committee, November 16, 2017

Committee members:  Ryrie Pellaton, Shelley Shelly, Bryan Abbott
Also, Park District members Amy Wolfe and Gordon Anderson were in the audience as well as staff.  Other members may have been there as well but I did not recognize them.

Significant Topics Discussed:
                                                                                                    
The main topic discussed was the Lakefront proposal that has been sketched out by Woodhouse Tinucci Associates, which is available on the Wilmette Park District website, Lakefront tab, bottom of the menu “Beachhouse/Parking lot project”.  The Committee read (and distributed) e-mails received from the community on the project, and then commenced a presentation by a representative from Woodhouse Tinucci. 
 
The subjects of concern in the e-mails/correspondence are:  (1) presence of so many non-Wilmette residents at the beach crowding out residents and making parking impossible; (2) several petitions for “decent toilet facilities” at the Sailing beach signed by approximately 94 people; (3) other concerns about facilities at the sailing beach; (4) preferences for the beach house kitchen; and (5) parking.  For the most part, these topics occupied the Committee which heard a presentation from the designer and took comments from the audience. 
 
Discussion centered around the following: 
(1) The road access which is too narrow for bikes now (in addition to cars) and would need to be widened but widening is limited because of an electrical facility.  Audience members suggested a bike lane adjacent to the sidewalk to the center of the park where there is a perpendicular walkway directly toward the beach.  The designer said he would consider this.
(2) The design of the parking lot itself in terms of how the cars circulate and need for shade.  The planned size is about the same as currently, from 327 to 334 spaces.
(3) The size of the kitchen.  There were three options, a small kitchen (microwave and vending machines); medium kitchen allowing staff some minimal ability to cook and reheat but not a full kitchen with frying ability; and large kitchen with cooking facilities.  The Committee decided to ask the designers to go forward with a final design using the medium kitchen but price without the full equipment at this time. The difference was $125,000 versus $172,000.  The idea was to add the equipment later if the budget can be held in check.
 
The Committee discussed the schedule which was presented on a Gantt chart. Design will be finished in January with signoff in early February 2018. Site and scope will be finalized in November 2018. Contract documents will be completed in February 2018. Permitting will take place from March to Labor Day 2018. Bids will be obtained by June 2018.  The work would begin after Labor Day 2018.
 
FY2018 Budget: There were discussions about how some fees were proposed to rise more than the 3% cost inflation of the budget numbers.   Numbers are always rounded to the nearest dollar so for small fees, there may be no change.  Fees that are proposed to rise in excess of 4% (which I will use because some fees going up 4% are just the 3% rounded) are “Season Parking Resident” – up 8%; Season Parking non-resident, up 23%; Daily parking weekday, up 6%; Daily parking Weekend, non-resident, up 8%; Aquatics camp up 7% for both residents and non-residents.  There was a lot of discussion and many questions about the various numbers.
 
The Committee went on to managers reports at 10 p.m. when the Observer had to leave.
 
Next meeting:         
Observer:      Anne Treadway                    
Meeting Length: The Observer attended the meeting from 7:30 until 10:00 p.m. The meeting began at 6:30 p.m.