Final Meeting of the Year, This Thursday - 11/15

Joins us on Thursday the 15 at 6:30 pm in the fieldhouse for the last meeting of the year. Because it falls in the middle of the holiday season, no meeting is held in December, and our next meeting will be in January when the Advisory Council holds elections. All members who have attended five meetings from January to November 2012 are eligible to vote in elections or run for a position on the Executive Board if nominated. Attendance records will be provided for 2012 at the meeting to verify who is eligible to vote.

We hope to see you for one last meeting before 2013!

Fifth House Ensemble Presents "Caught: The Woods" at Humboldt Park

This eclectic arts group that combines music, dance and stories came to Humboldt Park and others earlier in the fall to hold interactive sessions to gather stories. The experiences that they heard were used to inspire this performance that will take place this Friday, November 9th, at the Humboldt Park fieldhouse from 6:30 to 7:45 pm. The performance will include NYC-based playwright Stan Richardson, Chicago's Joel Hall Dancers Youth Company, and puppeteer, Emmy Bean. 

As always, it is free and open to all ages.

Bike Sharing in Humboldt Park?

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is launching a new bike sharing program and wants your feedback. Bike sharing is a system where users can pay an annual or daily fee to use bikes that will be available at stations throughout the city and then drop them off at any of these stations when they're done. The bikes will be commuter friendly, easy to ride and adjustable, and offer a rack for carrying items. CDOT plans to locate bike sharing stations at CTA stations and other high traffic areas like shopping districts and employment centers.

If you'd like to find out more or give your input on where bike sharing is needed in the city you can attend one of the four meetings that CDOT will be holding in the next week, starting tomorrow, Monday the 29th. Please see the flyer below for specifics on dates and locations, and if you can't make the meetings you can suggest bike sharing locations on the website chicagobikes.org/bikeshare.

Notes from Yesterday's Meeting

Yesterday evening the Advisory Council held its October meeting. In case you didn't make it, here's a recap of some of the discussion and news on community programs that may be of interest to you or someone you know.

• MEND is a health-oriented program for youth ages 7-13 who are above their ideal weight and their families. The program is free and it meets once a week for the next nine weeks in the Humboldt Park fieldhouse. Each week there is an hour of exercise and activities that's followed by an hour of discussion focused on healthy living and eating. MEND urgently needs two more families to register for the program to continue, so if your family or anyone you know, is interested in joining please call Raquel Maldonado at (312)742-4740.

• Energy Impact Illinois is a federally funded program that offers up to $1,750 in rebates to insulate and weatherize your home. We were fortunate to have representative Leslie Proudfoot present at last night's meeting to provide a detailed description of the program and the benefits it offers for homeowners, like improving energy efficiency, savings on energy bills and increasing your home's value. To find out more about the program or sign up follow the link above or call 1-855-9-IMPACT.

• The Advisory Council voted to draft a letter to the Park District, Alderman Maldonado and state and federal representatives supporting and requesting electrical services for food concessions in Humboldt Park to reduce noise and emissions from gas powered generators.

• The Advisory Council will be sending a letter to the Park District Central Office, the Central Region Supervisor and Humboldt Park Supervisor summarizing recommendations made at the last meeting in regard to the Chicago Cyclocross Cup's weekly practices and December race in the park.

Thanks to all of our members, we look forward to seeing you next month.

October Meeting on Thursday the 18th

Hello...

This is a reminder that our October meeting is tomorrow, the 18th, in the fieldhouse at 6:30 p.m. There will be a representative from Energy Impact Illinois speaking about this program that promotes energy efficiency in single family homes through grant funds. Please come out to hear more, we hope to see you.

Humboldt Park Pumpkin Patch - Saturday the 13th

The annual Humboldt Park Pumpkin Patch will be tomorrow from 10 am to 1 pm at the fieldhouse at 1440 N. Sacramento. Children up to 12 years can pick out a free pumpkin and there will be treats, face painting and games. The Advisory Council will be donating Halloween treats for the event, which will include some healthy options along with the typical candy.

Come on out and get into the Halloween spirit, all ages are welcome and the event is free for everyone.

Telling Stories with the Fifth House Ensemble - Wednesday 9/26

This Wednesday, the 26th, from 4:30 to 5:30 pm in the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse there will be an event with musical group, the Fifth House Ensemble. They'll be coming to the park to play music and gather stories from the audience in an interactive concert that's suited to all ages. After encouraging audience members to share their stories, the members of the group will spend the next few weeks writing songs that are inspired by them and return in November for a concert to play these songs. To see more about the Fifth House Ensemble and their performances, visit their website where you can watch videos and read more.

This should be a unique and creative event that blends music, dancing and socializing. As always, this event is free and open to everyone, and free, healthy snacks will be provided by Cermak Produce. So bring a friend or family member and come out on Wednesday to share Humboldt Park's stories with the Fifth House Ensemble and hear some live music.

Upcoming Events in Humboldt Park and Riot Fest

Some notable community events coming up in the next few days...as always, scroll to the bottom of the blog home page to see a complete calendar of events.

• This Saturday, September 22nd, is the "Walk for No Violence to a Better Way." This will include a walk from Division and Western to Division and Sacramento as a show of unity to end violence in the community, followed by a resource fair at the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse (1440 N. Sacramento Blvd.) that will have speakers and assistance for those who have been victims of violence. Everyone is welcome to walk for free but organizations are asked to pay a $30 donation registration fee. Everyone walking is asked to wear either a white t-shirt, a t-shirt with the event logo on it, or a shirt commemorating a friend or loved one lost to violence. To join the walk, meet at Division and Western before noon on Saturday, and find out more by joining the facebook event.

• This Monday, September 24th, the Bloomingdale Trail design team returns to the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse for a public meeting to share the latest progress on the trail design and hear input on how to integrate arts into the project. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 6:00. Parking is available at the fieldhouse (1440 N. Sacramento Blvd.), but visitors are encouraged to walk, bike, or take public transit to the meeting. See the flyer below for more information.

Lastly...as many of you know (it was hard to miss) Riot Fest took place last weekend in Humboldt Park. This was the first year for the large, two-day outdoor concert to move into the park and based on the conversation at our meeting tonight, many of our members feel strongly that it was a well organized and executed event that cast the park in a positive light. We would like to thank the organizers for being actively involved in several Advisory Council meetings leading up to the festival, and for making a sincere effort to engage the community before holding such a major event in the park. We see this commitment from the organizers as a major reason why the event was a success, and were happy to see Riot Fest organizers allow local organizations to use the event as a fundraiser opportunity and hire a number of local youth to work as staff for the festival. 

SummerDance Tonight at the Boathouse

The SummerDance program returns to the Humboldt Park Boathouse (1359 N. Humboldt Blvd.) tonight for the final time this year. SummerDance is a popular event run by the Park District in parks across the city that combines dance instruction and live music. From 6 to 7 pm, there will be dance lessons from a professional instructor, and from 7 to 9 pm there will be live music and open dancing. Tonight's dance lesson will be the Puerto Rican Bomba and music will be provided by Bombazo: AfriCaribe, Buya & BomPleneras. The event is all ages and free, so bring your family and friends and enjoy one of the final outdoor events in the park while the weather is still nice.

Free Park Programs During the Teachers Union Strike & Riot Fest Jobs

As of now, there's no end in sight to the Teachers Union Strike and many families are looking for alternatives for childcare during the day. The Park District has responded by offering free daily programs for students at Humboldt Park, Eckhart Park and Lafollette Park. The programs run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., for more information please contact any of these parks. Phone numbers can be found by following the links above. Other options for childcare are available from Chicago Public Schools through their Children First program. Please follow the link above to find out more information and locations that are participating in the program.

In other news...Riot Fest, a music festival that will take place in Humboldt Park on September 15-16, is looking to hire local community members to staff the event. The organizers will be holding a job fair tomorrow, Tuesday the 11th, at the Humboldt Park fieldhouse from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. They are focusing on hiring young people, and the basic requirements are:

• Age 16 to 25
• Healthy and able to lift at least 50 lbs.
• Reliable transportation to the event
• Able to work 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 11 p.m 

The pay is $10/hr and applications will be available at the job fair, as well as Riot Fest staff to answer any questions. Please spread the word to anyone who might be interested.

Summer Dance, Tonight at the Boathouse

Humboldt Park is hosting a Summer Dance event tonight (8/29) at the Boathouse starting at 6:00 p.m.and going until 9:00 p.m. This has been a popular series, put on by the Park District in parks around the city, where professional dance instructors give an hour long lesson that is followed by two hours of live music and dancing.

Tonight's lesson is taught by Miguel Mendez of the Dance Academy of Salsa, Mambo and Cha-Cha, from 6-7 pm. Music will be provided by Calje (Salsa, Latin Jazz) from 7-9 pm. The event is open to all ages, and free, as always.

Riot Fest Jobs Event

UPDATE...THE JOBS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR A LATER DATE. I apologize for any inconvenience and I will post more about the new date when I know more about it.

As many of you know, the Riot Fest music festival is coming to Humboldt Park on September 15th and16th. It takes a large crew to run an event of its size and the organizers are looking for community residents to help fill out their staff for responsibilities involved with food sales, ticketing, and other general labor. This Friday the 24th in the afternoon, members of the Riot Fest team will be holding a hiring event at the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, which is located at the southwest corner of Division Ave. and Humboldt Blvd.

This is a great opportunity for young people in the community to make some extra money and get valuable job experience. Please spread the word to your friends and neighbors in the community who might be interested, especially youth who are of working age.

For more information, please call the IPRAC at 773-486-8345 or email Riot Fest.

Shakespeare in the Park - Tonight and Saturday

Chicago Shakespeare in collaboration with the Park District are bringing a performance of The Taming of the Shrew to Humboldt Park tonight (Friday 8/3) and tomorrow (Saturday 8/4) at the Humboldt Park Boathouse. The show tonight starts at 6:30 p.m. and tomorrow's show is at 4:00 p.m., both are free.

The performances feature professional actors, elaborate costumes and a rock n' roll soundtrack, and they're written to appeal to a wide age range, making this a very family friendly event. The actors will perform on a portable stage that's delivered by truck and has speakers and lighting like a theater. You can watch a video of it being set up here.

We're happy to see another unique cultural event coming to the park this summer. Pack a picnic dinner and come enjoy some free entertainment with your family and friends.

Happening This Weekend

It's a full weekend coming up in the park with some free, family-friendly events to enjoy.

Friday night from 6:30 pm to 8 pm is "Dance in the Parks at the boathouse, with professional dance companies performing on the stage.

On Saturday at noon the United Leagues of Humboldt Park will hold its all star game with the best players of the year competing on diamond three, near the fieldhouse.

On Saturday from 7 to 9 pm is "Movies in the Park" with the film Sono Sono Tite Curet being shown at the boathouse.

As always, scroll to the bottom of the blog homepage to see the HPAC calendar and keep checking back for more updates. In the meantime...enjoy summer in Humboldt with these free events.

Jazz City, Tonight at the Boathouse

Jazz City,  the annual Latin jazz concert put on by the Jazz Institute of Chicago and the Park District, will take place tonight from 7 to 9 pm at the Humboldt Park Boathouse. The concert is free and open to all ages, so it is a family friendly event, and it will feature percussionist Paoli Mejias along with Inspiracion Latinas. The weather forecast looks great, so it should be a perfect night to enjoy some music in the park. We hope you can make it!

Find out more at Humboldt Park Portal.

Humboldt Park is the Readers' Choice

The Advisory Council is very happy to see that Humboldt Park was chosen as "Best Neighborhood Park" in the Chicago Reader's Best of Chicago Readers' Poll.

This shouldn't come as a surprise to the members of the Advisory Council who can see on a regular basis the effort that the many volunteers and community organizations put into improving the park, as well as the pride that it inspires in its many patrons. Cheers to everyone who helps make Humboldt Park such a great place! Let's keep up the good work and enjoy an amazing summer in our park.

June Meeting on Thursday the 21st at 6:30 p.m.

Unlike most years when we take June off, the Advisory Council will be holding a meeting this Thursday (tomorrow) at 6:30 p.m. in the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse at 1440 N. Sacramento Blvd.

We will hold a discussion on the organizing of this year's Puerto Rican Festival that took place last weekend, and hear an update from Riot Fest organizers. 

We hope you can join us...

Puerto Rican Festival in the News

The Puerto Rican Festival has been getting a lot of attention in the press because of a delay in the opening yesterday. After opening the gates at 4 p.m. the festival was shut down by police due to a lack of insurance documentation, according to the Chicago Park District. It was reopened around 8:45 p.m. after organizers cleared up the issue with the Park District; watch NBC 5's coverage of the story.

Additionally, NBC reported that this year there will be a significant reduction in police presence for the area surrounding the festival as compared to previous years. In the story, a spokesperson for the CPD confirms that this will be true but does not offer numbers on how many officers have been taken off the detail, so it's difficult to know what this will mean for security in the streets surrounding the park, which see a lot of traffic and street-side celebrations. Although I did not attend the Police Department's community meeting I heard from the Advisory Council's Vice President, Glenn Brettner, that there was no discussion of a reduction in the police detail from CPD representatives.

Puerto Rican Parade Committee Hosts Public Meeting Tonight

The Puerto Rican Parade Committee of Chicago, which organizes the Puerto Rican Festival that takes place in Humoldt Park year, will be hosting a public meeting on safety issues related to the festival tonight (Thursday the 7th) at 5:30 pm. The meeting will be held at their office at 1237 N. California.

Happening This Week

This is an active week for events in the park and community meetings.

• Tonight (Monday the 4th) the park will host "Stargazing at Humboldt Park" from 7:30 to 9:30 pm at the fieldhouse. Bring a blanket and learn about stars and planets while sitting outside in the park.
• Tomorrow night (Tuesday the 5th) at 6 pm there will be a meeting about the design of the proposed park at Kimball and Bloomingdale that will also serve as an access point to the Bloomingdale Trail. The meeting will be at Funston Elementary School, 2010 N. Central Park.
• On Wednesday at 6 pm there will be a community meeting to present the draft plan of the City's  Streets for Cycling Plan 2020 and get feedback. It will be held in the Douglas Park Cultural Center at 1401 S. Sacramento Ave.
• On Saturday from noon to 4 pm the Puerto Rican Parade Committee will hold its Youth Health and Fitness Jamboree in and around the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse. There will be activities for youth like a foot race and an information fair with local organizations. The HPAC will be at the fair handing out water and information on our organization.

For more information on these events and others coming up this summer, just scroll down to the bottom of the page to see our calendar. You can click on the events for descriptions and times.

Public Safety Meeting on Puerto Rican Fest Weekend: Tonight at the Fieldhouse

The Chicago Police Department is holding a public meeting tonight (Thursday) at 6 p.m. in the Humboldt Park Fieldhouse to discuss security for the Puerto Rican Festival activities on June 14-17 and address any resident concerns. As anyone who lives in Humboldt Park or the surrounding knows, this weekend traditionally brings a large amount of traffic and visitors to the park and surrounding areas, requiring the CPD to dispatch additional resources for traffic and security purposes.

Attending the meeting from the CPD are Deputy Superintendent John Escalante and 14th District Commander Linda Flores. This will be the third year that Deputy Superintendent Escalante has been in charge of the special detail devoted to the Puerto Rican Festival. It should be noted that the CPD does not provide security for the festival itself, which is the responsibility of the organizers, so this meeting will focus on the police presence outside the bounds of the festival.

The Puerto Rican Festival is the largest event that takes place in Humboldt Park on a yearly basis. If you'd like to find out more about what this means for the community or raise questions and concerns about the CPD's handling of the event, then this will be an important meeting to attend.

Humboldt Park Beach in Danger of Closing?

At the April HPAC meeting there were some concerned residents who attended to inquire about the status of the beach opening, because they had heard it was in danger of being closed for the season. In response to their concerns, Area Manager Cynthia Rosario, who is available at every HPAC meeting to address questions like this, gave the news that the City of Chicago is transferring the cost of running the water into the pond to the Park District and it is expected to cost upwards of $1 million to run throughout the season. Cynthia neither confirmed nor denied whether or not the Park District would be keeping the beach closed, and only offered the fact that there is a scheduled date for the opening. The only information available from the Park District's website is that the beach season starts on May 25.

To give some quick background, the swimming pond that serves the beach is filled by City of Chicago water (essentially tap water) treated with chemicals for sanitary purposes. The quality of the water is checked on a regular basis to ensure that it is safe for swimming. Water is constantly flowing in on one side and out through a drain on the other to keep it flowing and clean. This is different from the other bodies of water in the park, like the lagoon, which are standing bodies fed by rainwater or non-City sources.

As many of you may know, last year the City Council approved Mayor Emanuel's plan to raise water rates by 70% over the next five years with the intended purpose of replacing outdated water and sewer infrastructure. Although the HPAC hasn't received any official statements from Park District staff or the City of Chicago, it is probably safe to assume that the City's decision to transfer the cost of the beach to the Park District is related to the City's plan for more strict water billing enforcement, which has also affected suburban governments, churches and non-profits.

Park services and facilities face constant threats due to the City's financial difficulties and the loss of tax revenue to its many TIF districts. One of the results of this is a greater need for concerned citizens to raise their voices to receive the sorts of services they have come to expect. A group of Humboldt Park residents is starting a group to lobby the Park District and City government to keep the beach open. Save the Humboldt Park Beach can be found on facebook, where they have news on this issue and resources like a form letter to send to Park Superintendent, Mike Kelly, and a link to an online petition. Please get in touch with them if you support this cause.

Bloomingdale Trail Community Meeting & Riot Fest in Humboldt Park

The Bloomingdale Trail public outreach process comes to Humboldt Park with a meeting at the Fieldhouse (1440 N. Sacramento) this Tuesday the 15th at 6 pm. There will be a presentation updating the status of the trail and discussion of the parks that offer access to the trail. So far the design team has been very active in getting feedback from the communities that the Trail runs through, and it's great to see them making a stop in Humboldt Park. If you or your neighbors want to find out more or make your voice heard on this project, this Tuesday is the time to come out and represent Humboldt Park. Members of the Advisory Council have been active in the public participation process and we expect to have a continued presence as it progresses.

This fall, Humboldt Park will host Riot Fest, a weekend long rock festival that will tentatively take place on September 15th and 16th. This is a big development for the park, since it hasn't hosted any music festivals of this scale in recent memory, and the Advisory Council is working in cooperation with the organizers to help make sure it's a positive experience for the community. Max Wagner, from the Riot Fest team, recently reached out to us to provide information about the event and address any questions or concerns we might have. He and other organizers of the festival will be giving a presentation and taking questions at our next HPAC meeting on Thursday the 17th. The festival could bring around 20,000 visitors a day to the park from around the metro area, so it's important that we work with Riot Fest staff to make sure the event is well organized and reflects positively on Humboldt Park.

It's an active week for new projects going on around the neighborhood. Both of these meetings will cover some important issues and give community members a chance to speak their minds about the impact they'll have on Humboldt Park. We hope you can make it.

Camping in Cook County Forest Preserves?

The Cook County Forest Preserve District is working on a Camping Master Plan and wants to hear your thoughts. For years, the District has not allowed camping except for youth camps, but it is looking at opening up options for public use. This could be a great option for families who are looking for an affordable weekend vacation, or anyone wanting to take a quick break from the city. It would also open the possibility for campgrounds that are easily accessible by public transit or bike.

If this sounds interesting, you can take the survey here.

14th District Safety Day Event - Tonight

Burglary seems to be a consistent problem and concern to residents in our area. You can learn more about how to keep your home safe and the signs that burglars look for when choosing their targets tonight at a presentation at the 14th District station. Details from Liz Rios, the 14th District CAPS Organizer are below:

"Keepin It Real"

A Burglary Presentation

Thursday, April 26, 2012

14th District Auditorium

2150 N. California

7:00 p.m.

Meet "Real Life" Burglars  -  Hear The "Real Stories"

   &

 Learn how NOT to be a VICTIM

Recap & Announcements from the April Meeting

Hello everyone...

Our meeting last Thursday went very well, with the resolution of some issues that have been on the table for a long time and some news on upcoming spring/summer programs in the park. Here are the details:

• The Advisory Council approved an amendment to the HPAC by-laws that sets the eligibility for voting in elections for the Executive Board. The new amendment requires that elections take place every January and members must be present at five meetings in the previous year to be eligible to vote or run in the election. It also includes a new requirement that Executive Board members be absent for no more than three meetings in a term to remain in good standing. If an Executive Board member misses a fourth meeting in their term, they may be voted off the Executive Board by a majority vote of voting eligible members. Additionally, the removed member may be replaced by a council member who is appointed by the Executive Board.
• The Advisory Council approved a second amendment to the by-laws that defines the different categories of members: General Members, Voting Members and Executive Board Members.
• A motion, made by President Ruth Pena, was approved to hold a meeting on June 21st. The Advisory Council does not usually hold meetings in June due to the Puerto Rican Festival, but this year the date falls after the festival is over. This will be a good opportunity for council members to discuss any issues related to the Puerto Rican Festival, among other things.
• The Advisory Council is looking for volunteers to work in the concession stand at Little Cubs Field. A sanitation certification class is required, but the cost is covered by the Advisory Council. Please send an email to behack78[at]gmail[dot]com if you're interested.
• Starting April 23rd, children who qualify for free lunch in Chicago Public School are eligible for a 50% discount on summer camp registration. Registration has already begun for all summer camps, please inquire in the fieldhouse (Monday-Friday, 2 pm-7 pm), or at chicagoparkdistrict.com
• April 28th is opening day for little league in the park, and a new girls softball league for 8-12 year olds will begin games this Saturday, the 28th, at noon in Little Cubs Field.
• "Bring the Family to the Table," the free monthly meal served at the park will take place next on June 21st. The event also includes games for children and information on healthy cooking.
• The 14th Police District will give a presentation on preventing burglaries on Thursday, April 26th at 7 pm in the 14th District Auditorium at 2150 N. California.

That's all for now, please check back for more news or visit us at our May meeting on the 17th. If you'd like to get email alerts for blog posts, just sign up in the box at the top right of the page.

Earth Day Clean-up Tomorrow in Humboldt Park

Just one more reminder that tomorrow is a big day in Humboldt Park with the Earth Day Clean-up event, put on by the Block Club Federation and Friends of the Park, and the Earth Day 5k Run.

The clean-up event is an opportunity for groups and residents from around the community to come out and volunteer alongside their neighbors by cleaning up trash and mulching trees. Volunteers can register at the fieldhouse starting at 9 a.m. and receive gloves, tools and t-shirts. There will also be tables set up by community organizations (including the HPAC) offering food, drinks and information about the services they provide. Starting at 11 a.m. there will be a live band playing on the veranda of the fieldhouse. The clean-up will end at noon and the entertainment will end at approximately 2 p.m. This is a great opportunity to spend a few hours doing good for the community and mixing with your neighbors. There's no minimum time commitment and everyone does whatever they can to contribute.

If you frequent one of the other parks in the area, check the Friends of the Parks website for other participating parks, but please note that volunteer registration may be closed.

To learn more about the Earth Day 5K run, see their website. The run begins at 8 a.m. at the boathouse and same day registration is available.

Hope to see you there!

April Meeting on Thursday the 19th

This Thursday, the 19th, we will be holding our April meeting at the Humboldt Park field house at 6:30. Please join us to hear about upcoming events at the park and share any comments or concerns you may have regarding programs and services in Humboldt Park.

We also plan to vote on two amendments to our Advisory Council by-laws that address who can vote in Executive Board elections and define the different categories of members (voting, non-voting, etc.).

REMINDER: this Saturday is a big day in the Park, with the Earth Day Clean-up and Earth Day 5k run both starting in the morning, with the race beginning at 8 am and the clean-up beginning at 9 am. Festivities for the clean-up will take place at the field house this year.

Minutes from the March Advisory Council meeting:

Humboldt Park Advisory Council (HPAC)

Minutes for Meeting of March 15, 2012

Location: Humboldt Park Field House

Present:

Judith Renn, Edwin Diaz, Treasurer Maggie Martinez, Tanja Deshida, Nancy Diaz, Jose Quintana, Maribel Quintana, Vice President Glenn Brettner, Liz Rios, Morgan Tomaso, Berthold Boone, Luis Diaz, Richard Karwowski, Maria Gordils, Lucy Gomez Feliciano, Amy Vega, Mikey Sanchez, Daniel Velasquez, Kurt Gippert, Alex Huebner

Meeting called to order at 6:40 p.m by President Ruth Pena; attendees introduced themselves.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

• ·       President Ruth Pena mentioned that she continues to receive phone calls from people making inquiries about the park and requested that her phone number be taken off of the Park District’s website. Area Manager Cynthia Rosario responded that she was working on having her number taken down.

TREASURER’S REPORT

• ·       Maggie Martinez had nothing to report; no money was made or spent. Once the concession stand opens they will have the usual expenses
•  Brian Hacker reported that he purchased a digital voice recorder and copies of Robert’s Rules of Order for all the members of the Executive Board, and that he is submitting receipts for these purchases to Maggie for reimbursement.

Minutes from February’s meeting were read and approved with changes. Motion made by Sergeant at Arms Nancy Diaz to approve the minutes and seconded by President Glenn Brettner.

SECRETARY’S REPORT

• ·       Secretary Brian Hacker gave a brief report on the Friends of the Park’s Park Advisory Council Conference at the South Shore Cultural Center, which he attended with Maggie Martinez and Lucy Gomez Feliciano. He discussed points from a presentation given by the Park District on permitting requirements, another on PAC fundraising by Marie Poppy of Wiesman Park, and another by Erma Tranter of Friends of the Parks on PAC best practices.
• ·       Maggie Martinez added that it was a great opportunity for networking with other members of Park Advisory Councils and an informative event.

PRESENTATION BY BONNIE TAWSE OF THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND ON THE BLOOMINGDALE TRAIL

• ·       Bonnie Tawse acknowledged that the crowd in attendance for the meeting was knowledgeable of the project and some of the members have been actively involved in the Bloomingdale Trail for a long time, like Alex Huebner, Lucy Gomez Feliciano and Maggie Martinez. She complimented Maggie on her eloquent comments at the last meeting regarding involving the community in the project and added that the audio of the comment is posted on the Grid Chicago website.
• ·       There are three phases of developing the Bloomingdale Trail, with cooperation from three City agencies – the Park District, CDOT and the Department of Housing and Economic Development. The Trust for Public Land is also a partner with these city agencies. The first phase was to write the framework plan to make recommendations for concepts and ideas.  It ended a week prior at a community meeting. Phase two is now beginning and will address the design of the Trail. The Trust for Public Land will handle the outreach of the second phase and they plan to go out into the surrounding communities to get feedback, besides having the usual large public meetings. If anyone has suggestions on how they can best reach community members they can send an email to info@bloomingdaletrail.org. There are no dates for public meetings yet.
• ·       The current plan has eight access parks to the Trail, but this is not final. There could be more options dependent on funding. They are encouraging the creation of PAC’s for all of the parks that provide access to the Trail.
• ·       Lucy Gomez Feliciano commented that the Mayor just held a press conference to announce funding for the Bloomingdale Trail. She added that the construction of the trail is expected to add 1,200 jobs and that the project has been given high priority to open in 2014. The entire 2.7 miles of the trail are expected to be open at the same time. She added that it is expected to stay open until 11 pm and will not be gated shut after this time, which raises safety concerns.
• ·       Glenn Brettner brought a copy of a Tribune article regarding Mayor Emanuel’s announcement of funding for park projects across the City.
• ·       An advisory council member inquired about the proposed park at Bloomingdale and Kimball. Bonnie responded that there will definitely be a park built there on a parcel at the intersection of the two streets.

PARK SUPERVISOR’S REPORT

• ·       Park Supervisor Jesus Perez passed out a hard copy of his report with dates for upcoming events in the park.
• ·       There is a new program starting in April that is a soccer youth training program that will teach children from local grammar schools with partner Soccer for Success.
• ·       The new bathroom stall in the women’s washroom was just installed and open.
• ·       An advisory council member asked whether there is any news about what restaurant will be in the Boathouse this summer. Cynthia Rosario responded that she does not know which applicant was chosen to lease the space but that there will be a restaurant in the space this year.
• ·       Advisory council member Kurt Gippert asked whether they Puerto Rican fest would only be four days this year rather than the usual six. Amy Vega responded that it will take place on Thursday through Saturday. Kurt asked what the reasons for shortening it are and Amy responded that the cost of the festival was a factor, as well as cuts to the City budget.
• ·       Brian Hacker asked whether the two major music fests coming to the park this summer, World Latin Music Fest and Riot Fest, were approved for alcohol sales. Jesus Perez responded that they don’t know about this yet.
• ·       Nancy Diaz mentioned the article passed out by Glenn Brettner about funding for parks and asked what this funding would mean for Humboldt Park and particularly structural repairs to the fieldhouse. Cynthia Rosario responded that the façade of the building would be repaired. Nancy asked whether a new roof would be installed. Cynthia responded that she does not know.

NEW BUSINESS

• Youth Jamboree - Amy Vega described the children’s race that the Puerto Rican Parade Committee of Chicago (PRPCC) hosts every year in the park the week before the Puerto Rican Festival. Community organizations and non-profits take part in the event and set up tables to offer information. In previous years the event took place at the boathouse but this year they are looking at hosting it at Little Cubs Field to offer more athletic and fitness events for the youth. She submitted a letter to the Advisory Council offering the opportunity to partner with the PRPCC for this event. Ruth Pena asked what it would require for the Advisory Council to be a partner in this event and Amy replied that it is an opportunity to be an exhibitor at the fair that is part of the event and get free exposure. The date of the event is June 9^th. Amy asked that the Advisory Council respond with a letter if they are interested in cooperating in this event. Brian Hacker responded that he would be willing to set up a table at the event to offer information on the Advisory Council, get people to sign up for the email list and hand out water. Ruth Pena made a motion to partner in the event, Brian Hacker seconded the motion and a majority of members approved the vote.
• Alcohol permits for summer festivals - Maggie Martinez voiced her concern that the Park District would issue permits for alcohol for the two major music festivals coming to the park this summer and asked Amy Vega if she would have alcohol at the Puerto Rican Festival. Amy responded that she applied for alcohol permits for a beer garden in the park on Friday and Saturday. She added that she does not expect to be approved, which will cause her to lose a substantial amount of money. She said that she knows the other two music festivals – Riot Fest and the World Latin Music Fest – historically serve alcohol at their events and if they are granted permits to sell alcohol this year that it will be the first time in 30 years that alcohol is sold at an event in the park. Ruth Pena asked what power the community has in whether or not the festivals receive the permits and Cynthia Rosario responded that she could provide the appropriate contacts to send letters to them. Kurt Gippert commented that he feels the Park District should make the decision based on the past histories of the respective festivals. He then asked whether the sale of alcohol at the festivals would raise money for the park. Glenn Brettner responded that the revenue made from alcohol sales at festivals goes to the park District central office for redistribution and no share of it is reserved for the location at which it is sold. Rich Karwowski made the comment that if alcohol is allowed at the large festival in the Park that it would cut down on the amount of people bringing their own alcohol into the park illegally because of the greater security presence.
• Earth Day events – Maggie Martinez announced that the Earth Day Clean-up will be centered at the field house. Two trees will be planted in the park in honor of Maggie Daley and Francisco Colon, who is the brother of former Advisory Council President, Lucy Roman. There will be entertainment and food but volunteers are needed for the cleaning. Large groups should sign up with the Friends of the Park website. There is no budget for the event, everything is based on donations from volunteers and local businesses to the Block Club Federation.  The clean up event will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the race will begin at 8 a.m. Glenn Brettner recommended that the Advisory Council offer information and a sign up sheet for the Earth Day events.

·       Brian Hacker made a motion to move the votes on the amendment by-laws to the April meeting. This was seconded by Ruth Pena and a majority of members approved the motion.

• ·       Open forum –

o   Cythia Rosario announced that because of the unseasonable nice weather the parks have been very busy before the maintenance crews have been expanded for the warmer months.

o   Jose Quintana commented that there is an area on North Avenue near the Burger King that floods during rain storms.

o   Morgan Tomaso asked why many of the lights in the center of the park are not lit in the evenings and commented that this is a safety concern for runners like herself. Jesus Perez responded that there are electrical repairs that need to be made on some of the lamps, which requires work underground. Cythia Rosario responded that the lights are on timers that need to be set for each grid, which needs to be done manually, and it is likely an issue related to daylight savings time. Nancy Diaz added that Superintendent Mike Kelly told her that all the globes on the park lamps had been replaced.

o   Tanja Deshida asked if there is anything the Advisory Council can do to enforce recycling in the park more strictly because many people throw garbage in the recycling containers. Cynthia Rosario responded that the recycling company comes separately to empty the cans but it is difficult to enforce. There are new cans that are being rolled out in more places, like the entrance to the field house, that have garbage on one side and recycling on the other. Cynthia added that it makes it difficult that many of the recycling containers are black and look too similar to the waste containers. Tanja Deshida recommended that the Advisory Council should consider a sticker that differentiates the recycling containers from the waste containers. Glenn Brettner responded that if she is willing to bring a design to a future meeting, the Advisory Council could discuss the possibility of offering funds to get them printed. Brian Hacker questioned whether this would be affective when the recycling containers are not consistently placed next to the waste containers.

o   Kurt Gippert asked whether the Park District was doing anything to provide electricity to the food vendors so the noise and exhaust from the generators could be eliminated. Cynthia Rosario responded that this would be addressed in the new contract and efforts are being made to address this issue.

o   Maggie Martinez announced that the concession stand did not get the grant to put in a garden.

o   Nancy Diaz asked if the Park District had broken ground on the new lights for the baseball diamonds and Cynthia Rosario responded that this had not happened yet.

Nancy Diaz made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m.; this was seconded by Maggie Martinez.

Earth Day, the Bloomingdale Trail and Other Announcements from our March Meeting

It was an eventful and informative March Advisory Council meeting; we'd like to thank everyone who came out and contributed. Bonnie Tawse from the Trust for Public Land gave a presentation on the progress of the Bloomingdale Trail and took questions and comments from HPAC members (who are already an informed bunch when it comes to the Trail, we found). The design team has reached the end of the first phase of planning and are now beginning work on the specifics of designing the Trail. The final community meeting for the first phase of planning took place on March 8th and was attended by a number of HPAC members; the Grid Chicago blog even posted an audio recording of our Treasurer Maggie Martinez's inspiring and thoughtful comments to the design team.

With Mayor Emanuel recently announcing significant levels of funding from federal grants and private donors the Trail is anticipated to open in the fall of 2014, but there is still a great need for the community to get involved to make this new park space the best it can be. Trail organizers are currently looking for volunteers to form an advisory council for the new Julia de Burgos Park at Albany and Whipple Streets that will eventually offer access to the trail; there will be a planning meeting on Monday, March 19th at 6 pm at Simons Park (1640 N. Drake) for anyone who is interested.

The Humboldt Park Earth Day Clean Up event was another big topic of conversation at the meeting. With a date of Saturday, April 21st it is just around the corner and the Friends of the Park, who organize the event in cooperation with many local groups, are looking for volunteers to register on their website. Earth Day is always a big event in Humboldt Park with many volunteers turning out to clean the park and see the entertainment, but there are also opportunities at many other parks around the city if you would like to come out for a different local park. Follow the link for more details and register today. Also happening on the 21st is the annual Earth Day 5K run, which will also feature the Green Market with a number of vendors.

With the warmer months approaching, there was plenty of news at our last meeting on programs and events being scheduled and planned for the spring and summer. It looks like it's going to be a busy summer in the park with the addition of two major music events that will be hosted for the first time in Humboldt Park: the World Latin Music Fest from July 20-22nd, and Riot Fest from September 14-16th. The park will also host its regular events like the Puerto Rican Fest from June 14th to June 17th, Latin Jazz Fest on July 6th and Movies in the Park on July 7th at Little Cubs Field. The Advisory Council is also happy to be partnering with the Puerto Rican Parade Committee of Chicago for its annual Youth Health and Fitness Family Jamboree on June 9th; a community event to promote health and exercise for youth that will feature a childrens' run in the park.

Now is also the time for registering for youth programs with the Park District. Registration for spring classes and the Humboldt Park Youth Baseball League is currently open, and summer camp registration will begin on April 9th for online registration and April 14th in person. See the Park District website for details. On August 8th through the 13th the Central Region Youth Baseball Tournament will be held for divisions 8-10 years and 11-12 years, please call the Humboldt Park fieldhouse if you'd like to register your team 312-742-7549.

March Meeting on Thursday the 15th

The Advisory Council's March meeting will take place this Thursday, the 15th, at 6:30 pm in the Humboldt Park fieldhouse. Come join us to hear Bonnie Tawse from the Trust for Public Land discuss the Bloomingdale Trail, an exciting project in the community to convert elevated Bloomingdale rail line into a three mile long linear park. She will be describing the project and what it means to Humboldt Park, as well as taking questions and comments.

We hope you can join us.

This Week: Seasonal Jobs with the Park District Close and Blomingdale Trail Meeting

Tomorrow is the last day to submit job applications for seasonal employment with the Park District. Every year the Park District hires a large number of temporary workers to work at parks all around the city during the warm months. These are great job opportunities for adults and younger people in high school or college and there are many different types of jobs posted. So if you haven't already, go to the Park District's job page and get your applications in.

On Thursday, there will be a community meeting for the Bloomingdale Trail where the development team will present the framework plan and discuss how community input has affected the decision making process so far. There will also be opportunities to offer input on the plan's proposals. The meeting will be held at Yates Elementary, located at 1839 N. Richmond. It will run from 6 - 7:30 pm, with open houses from 5 - 6 pm and 7:30 - 8 pm. 

Announcements from February's Meeting and Looking Ahead

Advisory Council meetings are always a great source for news and events going on around the neighborhood. Here are some of the announcements made at our last meeting:

• The Park District is currently accepting applications for all of its seasonal worker positions. Many of the positions are great opportunities for young people to find a summer job and learn some career skills. Follow this link to search the job openings and apply. Anyone who's interested should get their applications in right away, because many of the postings will be closing soon (some as soon as Tuesday, the 21st).
• On Saturday, February 25th, Friends of the Park is holding the 2012 Park Advocacy Conference at the South Shore Cultural Center. The event is organized for Park Advisory Council members and it offers speakers and discussions on issues such as fundraising, programming and best practices. Registration is free here. Members of the HPAC will be in attendance.
• The Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy is holding recruiting and informational events for high school sophomores during the months of February and March. There are a number of dates coming up all over the city so follow the link to find out the details.
• The Park District is holding an adult 3 on 3 basketball tournament (18 and older) at Smith Park on Saturday, April 7th. Registration will be held on March 17th and March 24th from 12-4 pm at Smith Park, 2526 W. Grand (312-742-7534).
• Every month The Wellness Center at Humboldt Park hosts "Bring the Family to the Table," which offers a free healthy meal, cooking demonstrations and games. The next event will be on Thursday, March 15th from 5:30-7:30 pm.

Some advance notice for next month's meeting...

• Bonnie Tawse from the Trust for Public Land will be giving a short presentation on the Bloomingdale Trail, which is a project to convert the elevated Bloomingdale Rail line into a linear park that would run from Ashland on the east end to Ridgeway on the west.
• There will be a vote on two amendments to the AC by-laws regarding voting eligibility and defining Advisory Council member categories. Drafts of these amendments will be posted closer to the time of the next meeting.

...and if you haven't already, join us on facebook.

February Meeting on Thursday the 16th

The Advisory Council will hold its February meeting tomorrow, Thursday the 16th, at 6:30 pm in the Humboldt Park fieldhouse. We plan to discuss a proposed amendment to our by-laws regarding who is eligible to vote in our Executive Board elections.

Also...if you come early at 5:30 pm, there will be a free family dinner of healthy foods in the fieldhouse as part of Humboldt Park's "Bring The Family to The Table" program.

Below is the draft agenda for tomorrow's meeting and the minutes from January's meeting:

Humboldt Park Advisory Council (HPAC)

Meeting of February 16, 2012 - 6:30 p.m.

AGENDA

I. Welcome and Introductions

II. Approval of Minutes

III. Reports

a)         Park Supervisor

b)        President

c)          Vice President

d)        Treasurer

e)         Secretary

IV. New Business

a)         Introduction and discussion of proposed amendment to by-laws regarding voting eligibility

b)        Introduction and discussion of proposed amendment to by-laws regarding Advisory Council member deifinitions

V. Old Business

VI. Announcements

VII. Adjourn

The next HPAC meeting will  be held on Thursday, March 15^th, 2012

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Humboldt Park Advisory Council (HPAC)

Minutes for Meeting of January 19, 2012

Location: Humboldt Park Field House

Present:

President Ruth Pena, Treasurer Maggie Martinez, Sergeant at Arms Glenn Brettner, Secretary Brian Hacker, Park Supervisor Cynthia Rosario, Nancy Diaz, Freddy Molina, Amy Vega, David Diaz, Richard Karwowski, Mikey Sanchez, Ramona Gordils, Carmen Diaz

Meeting called to order at 6:49 p.m by President Ruth Pena; attendees introduced themselves.

Minutes from November’s meeting were read and approved with changes. Motion made by President Ruth Pena and seconded by Treasurer Maggie Martinez.

NEW BUSINESS

• ·       President Ruth Pena said that she heard a rumor that the Park District may be making changes to their leadership and asked Park Supervisor Jesus Perez if this was true. Jesus responded that he had not heard anything about it.
• ·       Sergeant at Arms Glenn Brettner said that he noticed a banner hanging on a fence on Park District property outside the stables building advertising an event that is not related to the park and asked if this is allowed. Jesus Perez responded that the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance hangs the banners at that location and the issue should be taken up with them. Amy Vega commented that the question of what banners can be hung on park property is unclear. Ruth Pena said that the banner was for an event that was held at the fieldhouse. Glenn Brettner responded that if anyone is allowed to hang banners it could lead to unwanted advertising, such as for products.
• ·       Regarding the issue of the December Chicago Cyclocross Cup bike race held in the park, Jesus Perez said that he does not want to see it come back next year because of the damage done to the ground. Amy Vega asked if they were charged a fine for repairs, Jesus responded that he knows a permit was issued for a race but he does not know about a fine. Amy Vega responded that her organization was charged a $7000 fine because of a semi truck that drove on the grass during the Puerto Rican Parade celebration. Jesus commented that the race organizers must put up a waiver of liability and an insurance bond to obtain a permit. Ruth Pena suggested submitting a letter to the Park District from the Advisory Council and Jesus Perez responded that he would find the proper contact to send a letter to.

TREASURER’S REPORT (MAGGIE MARTINEZ)

• Treasurer Maggie Martinez submitted a report of deposits and expenses for the concession stand from the Parkways Foundation. There is a total balance of $13,500 approximately. Glenn Brettner noticed a mistake on the report showing the concession stand insurance as a deposit of $1064.30 instead of an expense. Maggie commented that she will have a full report of the entire balance next month.
• Amy Vega asked if we have a copy of the Advisory Council’s fiscal sponsor agreement with the Parkways Foundation and that it might be possible for the Advisory Council to do its own banking and still maintain Parkways Foundation as its fiscal sponsor. Glenn Brettner asked if it would be worth it to approach an accountant on this issue and Maggie Martinez recommended inviting a member of the Parkways Foundation to come to a meeting in the future and said that she will call them to invite someone. Freddy Molina said that the Advisory Council should work with the United Leagues of Humboldt Park to possibly open an account through their organization because they are a registered non-profit.
• Maggie Martinez announced that the Earth Day clean-up in the park is Saturday, April 21 and the Block Club Federation is looking for volunteers and sponsors.
• Maggie Martinez asked Jesus Perez if he expected a restaurant to take over the space at the boathouse. He responded that applications have been submitted but no decisions have been made yet.

SECRETARY’S REPORT (BRIAN HACKER)

• Secretary Brian Hacker submitted a draft of a logo for the Advisory Council and requested feedback from members. Glenn Brettner asked how the logo would look in black and white and a copy of the color version was made in black and white to see the result. There was also discussion of designing a banner for the Advisory Council to hang outside the fieldhouse. Brian Hacker asked about the typical format of banners and Amy Vega responded that they are often three by five.
• Brian Hacker mentioned that he posted a video of sledders in Humboldt Park taken by the Chicago Tribune on the Advisory Council’s Facebook page. Amy Vega brought up the possibility of opening the concession stand at Little Cubs Field during times when there are a large number of sledders.

EXECUTIVE BOARD ELECTIONS

• Brian Hacker announced the Advisory Council members who were eligible to vote according to the attendance requirements established by the by-laws. The list of members who were eligible is Glenn Brettner, Nancy Diaz, Brian Hacker, Maggie Martinez, Ruth Pena, and Lucy Roman. Mikey Sanchez and Freddy Molina objected to this announcement and claimed they had each attended enough meetings to vote in the elections. Brian Hacker stated that the eligibility was determined by reviewing the attendance sheets from the previous 12 months and that they were both one meeting short of being eligible to vote. There was discussion as to whether members of the Advisory Council should be able to send representatives in their places if they are not able to make it. Freddy Molina said that there are times when he is not available to come to meetings and that he should be able to send a representative. Glenn Brettner responded that because the Advisory Council is a citizen board made up of individuals that each individual must attend the minimum required number of meetings to vote or run. Amy Vega said that this is not the way most Boards are run, because they typically allow organizations to send representatives to voice their opinions and vote, and that the Advisory Council Board members do not know what it means to be on a board.
• After comments were finished, Executive Board elections were held for the positions of President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and Sergeant at Arms. The results are as follows.

◦      In the election for President, Ruth Pena was nominated by Glenn Brettner and seconded by Maggie Martinez. She was elected with a total of four votes.

◦      In the election for Vice President, Glenn Brettner was nominated by Nancy Diaz and seconded by Ruth Pena. He was elected with a total of four votes.

◦      In the election for Treasurer, Maggie Martinez was nominated by Glenn Brettner and seconded by Brian Hacker. She was elected with a total of four votes.

◦      In the election for Secretary, Brian Hacker was nominated by Ruth Pena and seconded by Maggie Martinez. He was elected with a total of four votes.

◦      In the election for Sergeant at Arms, Nancy Diaz was nominated by Glenn Brettner and seconded by Brian Hacker. She was elected with a total of four votes.

• After elections were held, there was discussion of the voting requirements and how they could be improved. It was agreed by all members that in the case of a cancelled meeting, an attendance sheet should be provided for anyone who attends to sign in. Those who sign the attendance sheet will then be counted as present for the meeting, regardless of whether or not it was cancelled. Maggie Martinez asked if Advisory Council members are required to re-apply for membership every year. Cynthia Rosario responded that this is not necessary. David Diaz recommended that a member should be able to be represented by another person as long as they are a member. Nancy Diaz recommended that members should be required to attend half of the total number of meetings (10) in order to be able to vote. Jesus Perez agreed with this. Glenn Brettner commented that four years ago, a large number of people would only attend the meeting when the Executive Board elections were held and not come again for the rest of the year. This is why they raised the number of meetings required to vote in the Executive Board elections to six.

PARK SUPERVISOR’S REPORT (CYNTHIA ROSARIO)

• ·       Nancy Diaz asked if the repairs to the fieldhouse roof that were discussed at previous meetings had been completed and how would it be possible to verify this. Cynthia Rosario responded that patches were made to the roof, but the warranty is expired.
• ·       Nancy Diaz said that in a recent meeting the United Leagues of Humboldt Park had with Park District Superintendent Mike Kelly, he told her that funds have been allocated to the Park District for seasonal field maintenance workers to maintain the baseball diamonds. Nancy Diaz said that they diamonds are still not maintained and does not believe that these workers were not actually hired. Jesus Perez responded that these positions were cut from the budget. Ruth Pena said that the seasonal workers are assigned where they are needed and work on Little Cubs Field. Nancy Diaz said that the ULHP has had to look into hiring private maintenance workers to drag the fields. David Diaz added that the fields are not maintained and there is not evidence that Park District workers are taking care of them. Ruth Pena recommended that the Advisory Council invite the Park District’s Operations Manager to the next meeting.
• ·       In response to these concerns, Cynthia Rosario said that ballfield laborers were taken out of budgets for most parks and that Mike Kelly was likely mistaken about the budget. The employees he referred to are assistants to the overall city maintenance staff. Humboldt Park has its own devoted maintenance worker and it is lucky to have this. Cynthia continued, two years ago the baseball diamonds were dragged every day but they are now done every other day due to budget cuts and acknowledged that this takes a toll on the leagues that pay to play in the park. Landscape Maintenance is the department to talk to about issues related issues if the ULHP wishes to contact them. Cynthia added that park staff has a calendar of priority for maintenance based on scheduling, but the other responsibilities in the park such as grass cutting and maintenance of other fields draw from the time they have to maintain the baseball diamonds.
• ·       In response to questions asked regarding Humboldt Park’s budget versus the revenue it generates, Cynthia Rosario responded that the park’s revenue does not match its expenses and that only one park in the city makes an amount of revenue that is equal to its expenses.
• ·       On the subject of the privatization of Little Cubs Field, Cynthia Rosario said that she and Jesus Perez are both opposed to it, but if Mike Kelly wants to do it, he is going to do it.
• ·       Nancy Diaz said that Mike Kelly told the ULHP that all of the lights in the park that were damaged by the hail storm in the summer of 2011 were replaced but she did not see signs of this. Cynthia Rosario responded that he was probably referring to the globes on the lamp posts.
• ·       Cynthia Rosario said that additional lighting for baseball fields is being planned and that the Park District is currently talking to electricians about the installation. Jesus Perez added that new dugouts were installed on diamonds one, two and three.
• ·       Maggie Martinez said that the Advisory Council should approach Mike Kelly about the privatization of Little Cubs Field. She said that she does not want to see a private company take the profits and raise the prices of concessions.

President Ruth Pena made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:50 p.m. This was seconded by Secretary Brian Hacker.