[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] Good morning. Good morning. Good morning. Welcome to the happy place. Chicago Park District Board hearing. Let's see, whatever one please, join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance.
[0:38] held at 9.57 AM. This Wednesday, December 11, 2024, regarding the supplemental appropriation
[0:48] ordinance of the Chicago Part District for additional 2024 revenues and expenditures.
[0:55] Notice how this public hearing was published on Wednesday, November 27, 2024,
[1:00] in the Chicago Sun Times. A newspaper of general circulation within the Chicago area
[1:05] and was also made available on Chicago Part District's website,
[1:09] additionally, three copies were available for public inspection in the office of the
[1:14] sit secretary. Will the secretary please take a roll call of the commissioners?
[1:21] Commissioner Puzzle, Commissioner Casinata,
[1:24] President, Commissioner Garrett, Commissioner Jackson, Commissioner Jackson is not present,
[1:29] Commissioner Bush, Vice President Baiye, President, and President Everett,
[1:35] President.
[1:36] Quorum is present.
[1:37] However, please be advised that this hearing is informational and for the purposes of hearing
[1:41] public input.
[1:42] But the record reflect that the General Superintendent and CEO Rosa Escarino is also in attendance.
[1:51] This hearing is hereby called to order.
[1:54] We will now open the hearing to public discussion.
[1:57] Well, Secretary, call the names of those who have signed up to speak for the public hearing.
[2:02] Please note that those who signed up to speak at this regular board at this
[2:07] Some military meeting will be called to speak during the regular board meetings.
[2:13] We ask that you please limit your comments to two minutes.
[2:16] Our first and only speaker today for the public hearing, Kenneth Newman.
[2:19] If you could please proceed to the podium.
[2:25] Welcome, Ken.
[2:26] Good morning, commissioners.
[2:28] President of a different tend to ask where we know.
[2:32] I have taken a very interesting look at this and look at all the financials.
[2:37] And all I'll say is, while there are many separate financial categories that this money could have spent been spent on, I believe the greatest use of it would have been for lighting athletic fields, ice rinks or tennis courts.
[2:58] There are numerous tennis courts, many of which I taught tennis on this past summer, through
[3:06] the USDA for the Park District Day camps, and those courts are only usable until seven
[3:12] eight o'clock at night during the summer, and as darkness falls, but the weather is still warm
[3:19] enough, because I used to play tennis when it was 45-50 degrees outside, there were numerous
[3:25] courts throughout the city. Starting with, I'm in I park, both Harold Washington Park and
[3:32] Nichols Park, both have tennis courts that are unlighted. I taught at Marquette Park,
[3:38] both courts are unlighted. At Abbott Park, Graver Park, Fernwood Park, and there are parks
[3:45] throughout the city that could use lights. The ice skating rinks need much brighter
[3:50] lights, including the midway, which I have both worked at, and has been skating on since
[3:56] I was a toddler.
[3:59] Now we have of course we have a much better rink there with a pipe underneath a zambony.
[4:04] So all I'd say is that capital improvements for supplemental money, and I believe there will
[4:10] be future more supplemental money as some of the things that I want to see done in parks.
[4:18] I believe that more income will be coming to the Park District, and I hope that it's used for
[4:23] capital improvements. Thank you.
[4:26] Thank you.
[4:26] I appreciate your comments, I agree. I hope you are right about future supplemental income coming
[4:32] to the Park District because we need it. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Newman. At this time,
[4:41] the Director Scott Green from Budget and Management will address the commissioners.
[4:47] Good morning President Everett Vice President by Board of Commissioners.
[4:51] My name is Scott Green and I'm the Director of Budget and Management for the Chicago
[4:54] Park District.
[4:56] In front of you today is a request to approve a supplemental order.
[5:00] For fiscal year 2024's annual operating budget for $10 million to increase the FI-24 budget from $575.9 million to $584.9 million.
[5:15] The appropriation per poses at the corporate fund increases from $379 million to $389.9 million.
[5:26] In Schedule 1, estimate A of the ordinance, the additional revenues is classified as other
[5:33] revenues, however, the increase in revenue is due to manage assets over performing their
[5:39] original FY24 budget estimates.
[5:43] Solge your field, golf, and sports centers, mainly at McFetch Ridge, are the main drivers
[5:48] of this additional revenue.
[5:49] I would also like to note that these additional revenues in managed assets have also led to additional costs that have decreased the amount of year-end non-personals salvage that could be utilized in a transfer of appropriation or ordinance, which I will speak about later today.
[6:09] The additional revenues will cover the district,
[6:14] will cover, sorry, additional costs for the districts as we're estimating our close out for FY204,
[6:22] which in schedule 2, appropriation A of the ordinance,
[6:26] you will see there is a recommendation to increase the corporate fund personnel services line by $10 million
[6:33] do to increase costs and salaries and wages and health benefits. Thank you for your consideration
[6:40] of this ordinance and I'm have a answer and any question that you may have.
[6:45] I understand historically
[6:47] since I've been on this board that these adjustments take place every year. As you prepare the
[6:53] budget for 2025, how has this right-sizing impacted the bigger budget that's coming to us for approval?
[7:01] Thank you for the question. This year an estimating has helped in former F.L.I. 25
[7:08] budget recommendation. Part, particularly, I spoke to the rising costs and health benefits.
[7:14] You'll hold notice in F.L.I. 25 where we're proposing a $3 million. And increase our 12%
[7:20] and increase on that line. And we have much more predictable per person outclass
[7:26] coming in for the next year too.
[7:32] Yeah, the commissioners.
[7:35] Okay.
[7:36] Thank you.
[7:36] Thank you, Scott.
[7:41] Okay.
[7:43] This will conclude our public hearing.
[7:46] Can I please have a motion to adjourn?
[7:49] It's all moved.
[7:51] Back and done.
[7:53] Motion has been moved in second.
[7:57] There's no debate.
[7:59] Motion carries.
[8:01] Oh, take that back.
[8:02] All in favor.
[8:06] Okay, motion carries.
[8:09] Okay, very good.
[8:10] This concludes the public hearing.
[8:12] This hearing portion of the meeting is now adjourned.