Churchill Park Nature Center Authorization

Item IV on the June 2, 2009 Agenda is Resolution 09-04, Resolution of Authorization IDNR/OSLAD Grant Application. The Board is preparing to authorize a $900,000 project at Churchill Park to construct a nature center, low ropes course, fire pit, and several boardwalks; remove invasive species; plant seeds and plant material; and install new signs and exhibits. The house that is currently on the property will be torn down.

The Glen Ellyn Park District is preparing to submit a grant application in July 2009 requesting $300,000 in state funds and committing the GEPD to $600,000 in matching funds for this project at Churchill Park. If the board authorizes approval for this project, staff will apply for a grant and the Board will not act on this issue again until it authorizes budget money to the project after the grant is received or denied.

Staff recommends that this is placed on the consent agenda for June 16, 2009.


*** UPDATE June 3, 2009***
The Board packet that we received for the June 2, 2009 meeting contained one itemized budget for the Churchill Park project. This budget was dated May 18, 2000 and totaled $857,779.94. Staff explained at the meeting that this budget was included for "historical" purposes and that no current itemized budget is available. The intended project total will be $600,000 not $900,000.

Increasing Transparency

Item IX on the June 2, 2009 Agenda, Documents on the Park District Website, is discussion topic I requested. Specifically, we will discuss expanding the Glen Ellyn Park District website to include public documents such as board packets, policy manuals, comprehensive plans, detailed budget documents and other documents that give insight into the state of the Park District.

Other items to consider:

• Publishing Board Highlights on website within 48 hours of each board meeting
• Investigating ways to broadcast our meetings to the public, including low-cost options such as podcasts or web video
• Making board packets and relevant documents available to those in attendance at board meetings
• Using an opaque projector to show plans and documents during board discussions
  

Workshop Agenda June 2, 2009

The next Glen Ellyn Park District meeting is this Tuesday, June 2 at 7 pm at the Spring Avenue Recreation Center.

The agenda is posted online here: http://www.gepark.org/assets/PDFs/Board%20Agendas/060209wm.pdf

I'll be posting more about the agenda topics later!

My Bio

I've lived in Glen Ellyn with my husband, David, since 2000. We have two daughters, Anna (4) and Molly (3). We enjoy participating in many Glen Ellyn Park District programs, such as music, art, ballet, gymnastics, pre-school, toddler classes, swimming, yoga, and fun family activities like the Polar Express.

I was elected to the Glen Ellyn Park District Board of Commissioners in April 2009. I became interested in GEPD activities as one of the leaders of the Save Ackerman Woods project that protected 340 mature trees from destruction in 2008. I am also a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. I am currently taking time away from my career to be a stay at home mom.

I am a certified high school teacher and administrator with a focus on technology. I have held various teaching and leadership positions at Lake Park High School District 108 in Roselle, IL, including Director of Technology. In this role, I managed and budgeted for $500,000 in technology-related expenses and directly supervised 19 employees. I worked with architects and engineers to plan for the district's technology needs in a $60 million school expansion project. I initiated on-line student registration, redesigned the district website and chaired the district Technology Committee.

In the classroom, I taught English and Journalism and advised the school newspaper. I also provided staff development opportunities to assist teachers with integrating technology into their classrooms. I received my undergraduate degree and two graduate degrees from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana.