December Board Brief

Board Brief

Highlights from the November 28 and December 7 Committee of the Whole Meetings, and the

December 12 Regular Monthly Meeting of the Wilmette Park District Board of Park Commissioners

Project Phase Categories:

Our project work moves through a process that's broken into four phases: Defining, Planning, Execution and Completion. For detailed definitions of of each project phase, go here.

Financial Updates

It's Budget Season

At the November 28 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting, commissioners conducted their annual discussion of the 5-year Capital Improvement Plan budget. 2022 Capital spend has been re-forecasted from slightly over $7m to a little over $5.2m due to supply chain issues. The capital projects not completed in 2022 have been added to the 2023 budget.

In the month of November, there were three Committee-of-the-Whole meetings where the 2023 budget was discussed in its entirety. The complete budget was presented to the Board during a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on December 7. The 2023 budget will be posted for the public to view for 30 days, and the Park Board will vote on it at the Regular Board Meeting in January.

2022 Tax Levy Hearing

Before the start of the Regular Park Board Meeting on December 12, the Park Board held a public hearing for the 2022 Proposed Tax Levy. At the meeting, Board president Mike Murdock pointed out that the overall tax levy this year is 2.9%, which is significantly lower than inflation both at the start of the year as well as today.

While a public hearing is not required since the tax increase is not above 5%, it has been the practice of the District to conduct a hearing on the Levy nonetheless.

Project Reports

Projects in the Defining Phase

***Continued discussion about the following projects in the Defining Phase has been deferred to the new year:

Consideration of Pickleball Courts
Playground Equipment for Toddlers at Maple Park

Projects in the Planning Phase:

Project Parks and Play: Explore the Possibilities

Since the November Board of Park Commissioners meeting, we have conducted five Focus Groups and have hosted two Open Houses to gather community input in-person. In addition to these opportunities to engage, Executive Director Steve Wilson will attend various local organization meetings to continue generating interest and engagement in Project Parks and Play.

The timeframe for public engagement phase one has been extended to January 9, to collect as much input as possible. The project website will remain available through this time period.

In January, our consultants will conduct a statistically-valid survey. Each household will receive either the survey itself, or a postcard directing them to a website, to take the survey. If a paper survey is received, the household member can still do the survey online. As this is a statistically-valid survey, controls are in place to ensure only one survey per household is submitted. This survey will be the final component of Phase One engagement. The project will then shift to the Second Phase, where our consultants will thoroughly analyze the data and input, and then propose recommendations. We will then seek more public input on these recommendations.

***Continued discussion about the following projects in the Planning Phase has been deferred to the new year:

Solar Panel Project at the Community Recreation Center
Langdon Shoreline Protection Project
West Park and Platform Tennis Club Enhancements

Projects in the Execution Phase:

Lakeview Center Renovation Project

Lakeview Center renovation continues to run smoothly. Demolition of the existing deck footers and piers is complete, and new deck footings and piers are bring installed. Demo of lower-level corridors is complete. Go to pages 89 and 90 of the December 12 meeting agenda packet for photos.

Thornwood Park Tennis Court Resurfacing

As in last month's report, courts are ready for crews to paint and coat the surface. Staff is monitoring the weather and with colder temperatures, this final phase of the project may be delayed until the spring.

Projects in the Completion Phase:

Keay Nature Center Project

This project is at substantial completion. Nature play areas will be available in the spring! Learn more about the Keay Nature Center project in July's Board Brief, here. View photos on pages 82 and 83 in the December 12 meeting agenda packet

Community Playfields Restroom Project

The restroom and shelter are complete, save for a handful of small "punchlist" items. Since grass seed was applied last month, the perimeter construction fence will be in place until the spring. See photos on pages 81 and 82 in the December 12 meeting agenda packet

Around the Park District

Parks crews relocated a soil pile from Mallinckrodt to Howard Park, leveled out sand at Gillson Beach, completed athletic field work (biosolids, aerating), installed a snow fence at Hibbard Park. repaired a split rail fence, and pruned trees at Shorewood Park.

Our Building staff decorated the pavilion at Mallincrodt for Santa's Mailbox, and installed a car charging station at Wilmette Golf Course.

To view Agendas and Minutes from our past Board meetings, click here. Minutes are posted after they are approved the following month, at a subsequent meeting.

Next Committee-of-the-Whole meeting: Monday, January 23 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mallinckrodt Center "Big Room", 1031A Ridge Road, Wilmette.

Next Regular Monthly Board meeting: Monday, January 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of the Village Hall at 1200 Wilmette Avenue, Wilmette.

All meetings are open to the public. Details are posted on the Upcoming Meetings page on our website.

Meetings will be available on Channel 6 locally for Comcast subscribers. View a live meeting online here, or view previous meeting recordings here. Please check our website often for updates.