Park Board Meeting December 17 2021 Minutes
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BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS December 17, 2020 CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners was held on this day remotely by video conference. Commissioners present: President Brad Lindner, Vice President Jim Goetz, Commissioner Susan Castellini, Commissioner Kevin Flynn, and Commissioner Linda Lee Thomas. President Lindner called the meeting to order at 9:05 A.M. Attendance was confirmed by roll call. Acknowledgement of Public Comments President Linder acknowledged public comments received and announced they will be posted on the Cincinnati Parks website with the minutes of this meeting. Approval of November 19, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes Vice President Goetz motioned to approve the November 19, 2020 Special meeting minutes. Commissioner Castellini seconded. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote. Approval of December 2, 2020 Special Meeting Minutes Commissioner Castellini motioned to approve the December 2, 2020 Special meeting minutes. Commissioner Thomas seconded. The motion passed by unanimous roll call vote. At the request of Director Kish, President Lindner added an agenda item to Old Business pertaining to the ODNR Boating and Infrastructure Grant. RETIREMENT RECOGNITION Director Kish announced retirements occurring January 1, 2021. Mary Unterreiner named the retirees: Jim Burkhardt, Ronald Dailey, Lynn Hudson, Paula Miller, Lawrence Parker, John “Jeff” Schoenfeld, Victoria Schumacher, and Fred Whitfield. Larry Parker, Jim Burkhardt, Lynn Hudson, Andy Schuermann, Ken Casey, and Director Kish recognized each retiree with a presentation of career highlights, accolades, and personal experiences. President Lindner wished the retirees luck in their next chapter. CINCINNATI PARKS FOUNDATION UPDATE Director Kish introduced Jennifer Spieser to provide an annual update for the Cincinnati Parks Foundation. Ms. Spieser greeted the Board and presented a short video highlighting the Foundation’s 2020 mission moments. Ms. Spieser presented the Foundation’s successes, including the distribution of $979K in grant funding to the parks, activation and programming in Burnet Woods and Inwood Park, revitalization of Hyde Park Square, partnership with the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on the Be.Well Program, and fundraising for the Ezzard Charles statue and Smale Expansion project. She announced the Parks Foundation Board will expand 1 from 37 members to 41 next year. Ms. Spieser expressed gratitude for Parks Foundation staff. She announced upcoming dedications of the Inwood Park Playground through PNC Bank, Tom Jones Commons in Eden Park through donor Tom Jones, and the Ezzard Charles statue project, and mentioned the continued partnership with Children’s Hospital on the Be.Well Program, and a new partnership with Luke5Adventures to provide guided hikes in Mt. Airy Forest with an accessible hiking chair through the generosity of Commissioner Flynn. She expressed her gratitude to the Park Board and staff. President Lindner expressed appreciation for the Foundation’s hard work and dedication to the Parks system. OLD BUSINESS Camping and Education Foundation Presentation Director Kish provided background on the Camping & Education Foundation’s (CEF) partnership with the Park Board and the updated proposal from CEF. She expressed her support for CEF to present the proposal, commenting it would allow the Board to engage in an open dialogue, consider the proposal, and provide a clear directive to staff. She thanked Vice President Goetz for his participation in championing the project. Vice President Goetz referenced the Cincinnati Urban Wilderness Center (UWC) Project timeline provided to the Board, which outlines the Parks/CEF partnership from 2014 to present. Mr. Goetz highlighted events on the timeline and commented on Board support, public engagement, consultant engagement, and actions related to the UWC project. He described the Park Board’s discussion regarding the UWC in March 2020 and CEF’s continued work on the proposal and on addressing the issues expressed in March. Vice President Goetz introduced Hugh Haller to present the CEF proposal. Mr. Haller thanked the Park Board for the opportunity to present. He acknowledged and responded to public comments regarding the proposal. Mr. Haller explained the UWC vision for Burnet Woods was to increase youth access to nature through the park. He described CEF’s successes and the preparation that has gone into the UWC project proposal over the last three years including community and consultant engagement, planning sessions, and working closely with Parks staff and Board. He remarked on the differences in opinion over the best use for Burnet Woods. Mr. Haller announced CEF was respectfully withdrawing the proposal from consideration. He thanked former Parks staff Ruthann Spears and Erin Morris, as well as Vice President Goetz. President Lindner responded to the announcement, expressing agreement with Mr. Haller’s comments on the positive benefits of access to nature and expressed disappointment in the outcome. He commended CEF for their efforts and expressed hope for future partnership. Commissioner Castellini commented the decision to withdrawal was tragic and felt the few had spoken for many. 2 Commissioner Flynn echoed the comments of Commissioners Lindner and Castellini. He complimented CEF as an organization and expressed hope that vocal opposition would not impact potential for future partnership. He commented there would likely be support for this type of programming in Mt. Airy Forest. Director Kish commented on the withdrawal of the UWC proposal. She expressed the vision, goals and the creativity of CEF and UC’s DAAP students will be embedded in the future of Parks’ nature programming and serve as a useful tool. She emphasized the importance of having the community as an ally and expressed she will continue to work to activate and champion partnerships and positive community relationships. Commissioner Thomas expressed her initial excitement for the prospect of the CEF program. She clarified the December 2018 vote to proceed with CEF’s proposal to establish the UWC in Burnet Woods was not unanimous; she explained her vote in opposition was not against the concept, but because she felt the depth of detail in the 2018 proposal was not sufficient to make a decision. She expressed concern regarding her personal unawareness of changes to the proposal and the negative public comments. She expressed gratitude for the work but felt a miss had occurred during the process that lead to the current situation. Vice President Goetz thanked CEF for their continued work on the UWC project proposal. Mr. Goetz commented on lessons he hoped were learned during this process regarding partnerships, transparency in communications between the Parks Director and Board, staff accountability in executing the directives of the Board, and the underlying issue of a substantive difference in opinion on the vision for Burnet Woods. He suggested the Board address this issue by setting a vision for Burnet Woods. Mr. Goetz expressed gratitude for the Park Board and apologized to CEF for negativity and criticism they have experienced. President Lindner echoed sentiments expressed by Vice President Goetz regarding the hope to move forward with lessons learned. Commissioner Thomas thanked Vice President Goetz and emphasized the importance of being reflective on lessons learned as well as acknowledging Board accountability. She commented the Board may not have clearly articulated the value of the project. Ms. Thomas expressed her support for a single Commissioner championing a project, but with full Board support, in working toward a clear desired outcome. Vice President Goetz agreed with Commissioner Thomas’s sentiments and emphasized the need for staff accountability to engage and produce a plan for the project and carry out the vision of the Board, which he felt was clearly stated in regards to the UWC project. Director Kish commented the purpose of the CEF presentation on this meeting agenda was to introduce the modified UWC proposal and present to the Board for consideration. She expressed her opinion of a distinct difference between the current UWC proposal and that which had been presented previously, motivating the decision to present it to the Board. She commented on Parks’ commitment to public engagement, the value of public comments, and the importance of partnerships. Ms. Kish acknowledged the public comments received in opposition of the 3 proposal, including a petition sponsored by Preserve Burnet Woods, and felt feedback indicated Parks is not aligned with the community on this project. She listed partners and local groups that expressed opposition to elements of the proposal. Director Kish commented she felt her conversations with community members have been in accordance with her role as Director and have not been misrepresentative the will of the Board. She commented on the reciprocal relationship of staff and Board and the commitment of staff to offer expertise as well as carry out the vision of the Board. She expressed enthusiasm for continuing to work with the Board. Vice President Goetz responded to Director Kish’s comments, expressing he did not feel she acknowledged lessons learned from this process, specifically regarding partnerships with accusatory groups, conversations and interactions with community members, and the need to voice any opposing professional opinions to the Board first. President Lindner acknowledged the need for reflection on the