Chicago Park District public meetings in 2020
7 substantive meetings from 2020, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Public Hearing
The Chicago Park District is holding a virtual public hearing to present the 2021 proposed operating budget and tentative appropriation ordinance. The meeting includes a presentation, public comments, and adjournment. This is a procedural budget hearing, not a final vote.
- 2021 proposed operating budget report
- Tentative appropriation ordinance
- Virtual hearing due to COVID-19
- Public comments accepted
Public Hearing
The Chicago Park District held a virtual public hearing on August 12, 2020, to consider selling up to $4,000,000 in General Obligation Alternate Revenue Bonds for harbor and marine improvements. No substantive decisions were made; the hearing was procedural, with one public comment and no written testimony. The meeting adjourned without a vote on the bond sale.
- Held public hearing on $4M bond sale for harbor improvements (no vote)
- Adjourned meeting (motion by Edwards, seconded by Koldyke)
Board of Commissioners
The Chicago Park District Board voted unanimously to initiate the process to rename Stephen Douglas Park in honor of Frederick Douglass, after striking the words 'in honor of Frederick Douglas' from the motion. The motion to approve the removal of the name was moved by Commissioner Tim King and seconded by Commissioner M. Laird Koldyke, passing with 6 ayes. The board also heard public comments from three residents and adjourned with a 7-0 voice vote.
- Approved initiating the process to rename Stephen Douglas Park in honor of Frederick Douglass (6-0)
- Struck the words 'in honor of Frederick Douglas' from the motion before approval
- Heard public comments from Colleen Wales, Eddie Anderson, and Sheila McNary
- Adjourned the meeting (7-0)
Board of Commissioners
The board unanimously approved a resolution applying the Governor's stay-at-home executive order, the minutes from the March 11 meeting, and an ordinance authorizing up to $143 million in general obligation bonds. It also ratified contracts with Milhouse Engineering and SERVPRO for emergency sanitation services. No other substantive decisions were made.
- Approved COVID-19 resolution applying Governor's stay-at-home order (7-0)
- Approved minutes from March 11, 2020 meeting (7-0)
- Approved ordinance authorizing up to $143M in general obligation bonds (7-0)
- Ratified contracts with Milhouse Engineering and SERVPRO for emergency sanitation services (7-0)
🗳️ How they voted (1 roll-call vote)
Board of Commissioners
The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners approved a contract with ASM Global, LLC to manage and operate the Gately Park Indoor Track and Field Facility and Addams Park Recreation Center. The vote was 4-0, with three commissioners absent. The board also approved the minutes from the February 19, 2020 meeting and received a certificate of publication for bond ordinances.
- Approved contract with ASM Global, LLC for management of Gately Park and Addams Park (4-0)
- Approved meeting minutes from February 19, 2020 (4-0)
- Received and filed certificate of publication for bond ordinances
🗳️ How they voted (3 roll-call votes)
Board of Commissioners
The Board approved two ordinances authorizing General Obligation bonds for the capital improvement plan and accessibility improvements, along with a reimbursement resolution for 2020 capital expenditures. Contracts were awarded for street sweeping, Wi-Fi at Gately Track & Field, and defibrillator maintenance, and a 45-day notice period was initiated to name Park #572 as Bloomingdale Trail Park. The meeting was otherwise procedural, with no unfinished business or department presentations.
- Adopted ordinance authorizing GO bonds (alternate revenue source) for capital improvement plan (5-2)
- Adopted ordinance authorizing GO bonds for accessibility improvements (4-3)
- Approved resolution authorizing reimbursement of 2020 capital improvement expenditures (5-2)
- Approved contract with Advanced Sweeping Services for street sweeping (4-3)
- Approved contract with Comcast for managed network services and Wi-Fi at Gately Track & Field
- Approved contract with Annuvia LLC (dba SOS Technologies) up to $193,281.73 for defibrillator maintenance
- Ratified contract for emergency lakefront erosion threat assessment
- Approved request to initiate 45-day notice period to name Park #572 as Bloomingdale Trail Park
🗳️ How they voted (6 roll-call votes)
Board of Commissioners
The Chicago Park District Board approved changing the general admission fee for the DuSable Museum of African American History, along with several contracts and agreements. The board also approved minutes from prior meetings and received public comments. All votes were 5-0 with two commissioners absent, except for one contract that had a 4-0 vote with one abstention.
- Approved change to DuSable Museum general admission fee (5-0)
- Authorized intergovernmental agreements with City of Chicago and other agencies for park project funds/services (5-0)
- Approved contract with Moore Landscapes, LLC for district-wide floral gardens (5-0)
- Approved contract with SPAAN Tech, Inc. for cellular infrastructure management (5-0)
- Approved contract with AT&T Corporation for switched ethernet services (5-0)
- Approved contract with SDI Presence LLC for IT services (4-0, 1 abstention)
- Approved meeting minutes from Dec 4 and Dec 11, 2019 (4-0)