Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes 1997 - 1998Lighthouse Landing Committee Minutes March 12, 1997 Next Meeting: Wednesday, June I I the 1:30 PM Members Present: Paul D'Agostino, Superintendent Parks/Forestry Elaine Ferris, Little Garden Club Linda Lutz, Ecology Center Coordinator Michelle Rowe Shields, Evanston Art Center Fred Yoder, Coach House Resident Frank Kassen, Facilities Management Linda Lutz: The greenhouse will have 7 windows replaced over the next month. Several windows near the door will require tempered glass. Plants are being grown for the spring sale on May 3rd. A new phone line was installed in the greenhouse. Plans are in the works to offer plant information on site. summer camp will go from June 16th through August 22nd: EcoExplore for B weeks (ages 9- 12) and Terminal Buds (5 -- 12) for the last 2 weeks. The Ecology Center plans to do several campfires using the council ring during the summer. Michelle Rowe Shields: The reed sculpture in from of the Art Center will be taken down (The Strike) and become a part of the Skokie Sculpture Park. A new piece will be on display starting May 5th through the end of June. May 31st is the Art Center benefit. Michelle extended her thanks to the City for building improvements. The door looks handsome but is still not finished. Guard rails are now a muted copper. Michelle will check the color and let Frank Kassen know what the final color the Art Center would like the railings painted. Suggestions for a landscape plan included checking with the Garden Club of Evanston to see if NWWIs Ann 2ieglemeier might be interested in doing a planting design. A mixture of new plants combined with elements of the former Jensen plan could be interesting. Suggestions included waiting to see what comes up this year and see how much space needs to be planted. The area could be enhanced with annuals for this year. The back side of the Art Center is in particular need of plants. The Art Center is looking for a formal discussion on parking; i.e. what can be done to increase parking for the Center. Handicapped spaces are being moved to the front of the building but still need what can be done to increase parking for the Center. Handicapped spaces are being moved to the front of the building but still need to be lined. May 3rd and 4th will be the open house for the Art center. The Ecology Center and the Art Center are working together on a family art and nature program in May. Paul D'Agostiso: Parks crews cut the wildflower area north of the drive. Future maintenance includes a spring clean-up followed by a Summer/Fall clean up. The hedge needs to be trimmed back from the walkway. Parks crews will plant yews. Fred Yoder: Explained the water situation at the Art Center. A SUMP pump was used to to drain the area. Water is still running from the downspout and seepage. The goal is to get the water away from the building. The porch drain gutter has a leak. Frank will take a look at the roof area. Frank Kassen: The grotto has been investigated in depth. There is no leak; the line is tight. Perhaps evaporation is responsible for part of the decline in water. Water may need to be added periodically to compensate for evaporation. Facilities Management changed switches in the greenhouse; fans should now have the capability of providing some air flow. Frank noted that the mist system in the greenhouse needs to be checked to make sure that it's safe. Linda will check with Alexis regarding the system. If it can't be readily fixed, the Ecology Center will contract out the work. Frank will temporarily cover several ornamental castings: chunks have been falling off and are hazardous. Michelle and Frank will investigate and see if some pre -made replacements are available. Elaine Ferris: Noted that Kendall College has been planting culinary herbs in front of the greenhouse for the last couple of years. NEXT MEETING: lieduesday, June 11, 1997 1:30 PM LIGHTHOUSE LANDING COMMITTEE June 11, 1997 Members Present: Jana Calderelli. Garden Club of Evanston Paul D'A ostino, Superintendent Parks/Forestry Pam Is Garden Club of Evanston 5 4� Steven ngleman. Alderman Elaine Ferris, Little Garden Club Linda Lutz, Ecology Center Coordinator Michelle Rowe Shields, Evanston Art Center Max Rubin, Director Facilities Management Don Terras, Superintendent Lighthouse Park District Fred Yoder, Coach House Resident NEXT MEETING: SEPT-EMBER 17. 1997 1:30 EM DON TERRAS: Said he had received positive feed -back on the work that the Parks Division had done along the sidewalk where trees were trimmed. The trimming allows for greater visibility to the back of the park. Restoration work is almost all done. Don is getting lots of calls for references for Continental Construction. Tours of the Lighthouse started, tours run from June through September, at 2. 3. and 4, o'clock with a cost of $2 per person and a limit of 12 per tour. Don conveyed that John Wertheimer of the Lighthouse Park District Board thinks that any more development is too much: the current level should be maintained. Lots of people would like information on the lighthouse. They may market postcards. PAUL D'AGOSTINO: Reported that: Small yews were planted at the Art Center The Parks Division is helping the Garden Club of Evanston do some work in the Wildflower Garden Area Sloped sides of the accessible walk were completed The Fountain will be cleaned this week A larger replacement for the new bush in front of the Art Center will be considered with the Fall plant order MAX RUBIN: Reported that the work at the Art Center was nominated for a preservation award. Fountain water lines have been checked. Ms. Elsch would like to see the sump pump outlet (elbow pipe) flush. Drainage file around the Art Center is broken and is the cause of basement flooding. LINDA LUTZ: Reported that the greenhouse has 9 new windows. Replacements were done on the windows where the seals were broken. Ecology Center camps start on June 16th and will run for 10 weeks; camp is held in the fog houses. Family campfires will be held 2 weekends during the summer. Kendall College continues to plant the herb garden in front of the greenhouse. MICHELLE ROWE-SHIELDS: Reported the following Art Center highlights: • The golden ring sculpture will stay up through mid -summer • Spring benefit earned $27.000 for the Center • The faculty show will be up in June • The current show has metal and wood furniture • The Art Center was mentioned in the March Chicago land magazine • Requested that the railing be painted in a gray -green color tone. Michelle will contact Elliot who will contact Max • Met with Dave Jennings conceming the parking lot • Larry Boswell was promoted to Facility Coordinator • A plan for landscaping along the ramp needs to be developed Parking alternatives including parking in front of the sculpture area was discussed. Alderman Engleman will look into it again. Staff parking may be available off Milburn. The question of who pays for parking changes was discussed. The issue of taking away green space was also discussed. Alderman Engleman will arrange a meeting with the Assistant City Manager and Michelle to discuss parking. PAM ELSCH: Introduced herself as head of the conservation committee of the Garden Club of Evanston. Part of her responsibilities includes the butterfly \ I. garden outside the north fog house, This year the Club has added a butterfly house and a sign. Both the butterfly garden and the wildflower garden attract a large number of visitors. Pam had several suggestions for the site: • Some hard scape is needed where the stairs go to the top of the beach • A small wall would be attractive and nice to sit on • Erosion is a problem in the stairway area, beach, and dunes • The patio area in front of the north fog house could use more stones • The rusty chainlink fence around the stairway should be removed • General clean-up includes glass • The area just north of the north fog house needs to be cleaned up • Trimming and cutting the trees in the area would make the area look better Paul and Max will look at the fence. Don Terras indicated that he would like all issues relating to the Lighthouse Park District property to come to the attention of the Lighthouse Park District Board. JANA CALDERELLI: Reported that her crews had been removing garlic mustard on the hillside around the Wildflower garden. She noted that the coach house garage smells like gas: it seems to be a bit stronger this year. She asked Max to check on the twice a week garbage pick-up for yard waste, Jana said that a truck had hit the stonewall at the beginning of the Wildflower garden and displaced some stone. The truck had come from the garbage area: a straighter route exists directly out to Sheridan road. Parking Lot Security at Night The committee discussed night security. High School students tend to gather in the lot and head down the banks. Alderman Engleman will has Park Patrol to increase their surveillance: as well as having the Park Patrol walk the site. Few lights are in the area. Garbage Area The Art Center and the Garden Club of Evanston will alternate cleaning up and sweeping around the garbage cans by the coach house. The Art Center will do January, February and March: Garden Club of Evanston will do April, May, June. and July. Art Center Exterior Alderman Engleman asked staff to look at the metal work on the exterior of the Art Center: especially the copper areas: Beach Entrance The Committee discussed redesigning all beach entrances for Lighthouse Beach with the objective of funneling people to one Beach entrance. Permanent fence for the entrance should be considered in place of snow fence. NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Lighthouse Landing Committee will be Wednesday, September 17th at 1:30 PM Aldermanic Library, Evanston Civic Center. LIGHTHOUSE LANDING COMMITTEE September 17,1997 Members Present: Jana Calderelli, Garden Club of Evanston Paul D'Agostino, Superintendent Parks/Forestry Pam Elesh, Garden Club of Evanston Steven Engleman, Alderman Elaine Ferris, Little Garden Club Linda Lutz, Ecology Center Coordinator Michelle Rowe Shields, Evanston Art Center Max Rubin, Director Facilities Management Don Terras, Superintendent Lighthouse Park District Fred Yoder, Coach House Resident NEXT MEETING: MARCH 18. 1997 1:30 PM The Committee reviewed the June meeting minutes. The following reports were made. LINDA LUTZ: Reported that the 10 week Ecology Center summer camp at the fog houses went well; each session has 25 campers. An 8 week after school program starts September 23rd and focuses on Lake Michigan. Snow fencing at the beach was removed. The birchbark canoe in the south fog house is being given back to Kendall College as they now have a new building for the Mitchell Indian Museum. Max agreed to do a sign for the picnic shelter that states: Permits required for group reservations. Call328-6961. PAM ELESH: Thanked Paul for trimming the maple by the fog house. The butterfly garden will over winter in its present condition and be cleaned up in the Spring. Some dead -heading was done, Suggestions on improvements for the site include: Trimming trees behind the Art Center whose branches could damage the copper roof Council Ring is historical; it needs to be renovated like it was 3-4 years ago. (Kevin Crowe, Teska Associates 869-2015, reviewed the site with a Jens Jensen group several years ago). Paul will look at the site. Dune trees need trimming, can't see from the benches (already on Paul's list) Chain link fence should be pulled on North fog house site PAUL D'AGOSTINO: Mentioned that Parks/Recreation is looking to renovate the lakefront; this could include permanent chain link fence. Design issues need to be addressed. Improvement in part are based on recent drownings. Don Terras suggested that notification of new fencing should be done highlighting the reasons for new fencing. Paul noted that historically the fence from the fog house to the dunes was a Kentucky rail fence. Paul's list Includes: Rusted chain link fence will be taken down Fall clean up at the site will be in early October Benches on top of the bathroom building; problem making the benches permanent and not attaching directly to the roof. FRED YODER: Appreciated the flowers around the site. Fred questioned the new handicapped spaces. Two are being set up In the front of the building; the current 2 spaces along the entrance drive will be eliminated. MICHELLE ROWE-SHIELDS: Survived the summer with less parking. Students are encouraged to park on Orrington and Central. There was a good response to the Golden Ring Sculpture. A new twig sculpture will be installed in May. Paul would like to meet with the artist to address maintenance issues. Landscaping Is still ongoing along the ramp. Classes have started and new exhibits are up. This year's Holiday Market is November 21 through December 14. Issues to be addressed include: Parking lot will be resurfaced as part of the CIP Working with Dave Jennings to get more parking space using a cost/benefit analysis Concemed about the plastic faucet drain from the basement that flows across the parking lot north of the stairs; Max will check to see if freezing could be a problem ELAINE FERRIS: Little Garden Club will look over the front landscaping at the Art Center to see what has survived. The group will work on the north and south ends of the Center door. JANA CALDERELLI: Thanked Paul for getting plants for the Wildflower garden area; the prices were great. The pond and fountain are still not holding water. Safety could be an issue with the pond both when the pond is full or empty. The pond needs to be rebuilt; perhaps It could be modified with the installation of a liner. Previously the pond was rebuilt according to preservation standards; rocks were numbered for accurate rebuilding. An entirely new system may be the only answer. Max will look at the pond in the Spring; a lot of work has been done with few results. The following needs repair/attention: • Bench In back of the south fog house has a board missing • Electrical outlet needs repair and cover slips (the Pond area) • Stairs down to the dune area need sweeping, vegetation removed • Pond to be checked in the Spring MAX RUBIN: Suggested getting the minutes out a couple of weeks after the meeting so everyone can review their responsibilities and commitments. Reminder notices can be sent out close to the meeting date. The ramp treatment at the front of the Art Center won 2 preservation awards. The conservatory roof still has problems. Garbage pick-up was OK. Max will review the concrete roof decorations that need to be wrapped; the wrap should prevent loose rock from falling. A replacement may be cast. DON TERRAS: Reported that Bob Jones is the new President of the Park District. The lift is working well. The LPD has been the recipient of the Margery Perkins award from the Evanston Preservation Commission and Evanston Preservation League. The is In recognition of outstanding commitment to the restoration, preservation and adaptive use of Grosse Point lighthouse as a museum. Award ceremonies were held In the Evanston City Council chamber on Monday, June 23. In addition, the book on Grosse Point Lighthouse has won a second award --this time from the American Association for State and Local History. This is a national award from a group representing cultural and educational facilities across the US and Canada. The LPD director will be attending award ceremonies on behalf of the District in Denver, CO the first weekend of October. Weekend tours of the lighthouse will conclude the end of September. Specially arranged tours of the facility continue into the second week of October when exhibits in those portions of the complex not heated will be disassembled and put in storage until next May. STEVE ENGLEMAN: Asked that If anyone had park maintenance and Improvements to let him know. Currently there is no funding for projects but the Council would like to be aware of what needs doing. Park Permits A wedding occurred behind the Art Center on a day of an Art Center event. The committee discussed permitting procedures. The City of Evanston does not issue permits for the Art Center. Don Terras issues group permits for the Deering Shelter and Elaine. Ferris issues permits for City parks. For permits over 100 people bathrooms need to be available. Michelle added that there Is an outdoor church service at the Center each Sunday. Landscape Plan Discussion on a landscape plan for the Art Center concluded that: • A landscape plan for the whole site should be done • Art Center needs to decide what they want • The Garden Club of Evanston is not Interested in this point; the Ann Ziegelmeler plan that GCE proposed was not favorable to the Art Center • Little Garden Club could be available to help especially if there was a plan The Art Center needs to be the lead on the plan NEXT MEETING The next meeting of the Lighthouse Landing Committee will be Wednesday, March 18th at 1:30 PM Aldermanic Library, Evanston Civic Center. 4'* W. LIGHTHOUSE LANDING COMMITTEE March 18,1998 Members Present: Jana CaldereIli, Garden Club of Evanston Paul D'Agostino, Superintendent Parks/Forestry Pam Elesh, Garden Club of Evanston Elaine Ferris, Little Garden Club Linda Lutz, Ecology Center Coordinator Max Rubin, Facilities Management Don Terras, Superintendent Lighthouse Park District NEXT MEETING: Wednesday. June loth 1:30 PM The Committee reviewed the Minutes of the September 17, 1997 meeting. Don Terras: Reported that Lighthouse Beach received the "Travel Holiday Insider" award as one of the best kept secrets in IIlinois - quoted as the prettiest and quietest beach in Illinois. Don expressed his thanks to the Parks/Forestry division and the Garden Club of Evanston for the clean-up at Lighthouse Beach. The Garden Club of Evanston will be building a path and adding plants to the area. Don indicated that he would like to discuss closing the Lighthouse parking lot at 10:00 PM. Suggestions include having a patrol person as soon as the Art Center closes and put a gate in and the last one out locks the gate. The gate could be unlocked in the winter. The possibility of using a different kind of garbage can at the site. Max will check to see if it is possible to pick up the garbage later as well as check park garbage pick-up routes. It would be nice to see better looking garbage cans; perhaps a rustic holder with a can inside. Don is going to make a proposal to his Board to trim and clean the south border along the parking lot. The Lighthouse Park District report is attached. Jana Calderelli: Asked if there was any feedback on the lights on the path. She thought the lights looked good and Don indicated that he had heard positive feedback from the neighborhood. The Garden Club would like to see the stone curve in the wildflower garden match the long wall. The Club has been working on the east side of the fog house and planted lilac and hydrangea. Grasses and 5 bushes were planted on the hill. The stairs going down the dune need help. Jana suggested that a railing on both sides of the steps would be helpful. There is a pipe rail on the north side and it would be nice to see a south rail that starts at the top of the stairs. Work will start at the end of April and requested that the water be on. On the Pond: Jana thinks the pipe is broken. When the City checked the area there appeared to be pressure. Perhaps there is a leak in the system or another line could be run through it. Max noted that the City has spent a lot of time with the pond. Jana and Max will discuss the fountain and the possibility of having the Garden Club of Evanston fix it. Pam Mesh: Reported that Barbara Rose Burrow will be helping at the Art Center and would like to do Jens Jensen research. The Art Center will do in phases with $2,000 being allocated for work this spring. The council ring needs some clean up of major garbage and tires. The back of the Art Center will be cleaned up as part of the landscape plan. Elaine Ferris: Noted that the dead wood has been pruned by the coach house on the north side. The cold frame area was cleaned, bindweed is still a problem, and a weeping cherry may be put in to replace the ironwood. Elaine and the Ecology Center staff will work on tidying up the front area of the greenhouse. Paul D'Agostino: Paul had drawings for possible changes to the Art Center parking lot which will add 15 new spaces to the existing lot. Some change can be done by changing the angle of the spaces. No trees would be removed. Paul will be showing the drawings to Michelle Rowe Shields. The group discussed a possible gate to the site that could be attached to a stone pillar. Consistency in gates would be nice. Linda Lutz: Reported that the Ecology Center will have several classes and campfires at the foghouses and council ring in the fall. The greenhouse will begin taking in plants for winter growing. Plants are grown for the Spring sale and the greenhouse is cleaned out before summer. The committee agreed that the next meeting would be: Wednesday, June 10th at 1:30 PM. Summary of Lighthouse Park District's report to Lighthouse Landing Committee March 18, 1998 (for use with official minutes): L) The LPD received the Richard H. Driehaus Award from the Landmarks Preservation Council of Illinois. This is the highest award presented from the Council for preservation and adaptive use of an historic structure. The Council is the largest group of its kind in Illinois dedicated to historic preservation. 2) LPD Director, Don Terras, was notified that Lighthouse Beach had won an 1998 Insider Award from Travel Holiday magazine. This award gives recognition to "one of the 50 best kept travel destination secrets of the year." Evanston should be keeper of this award on behalf of all the groups with interests in the lighthouse area. 3) In cooperation with the Garden Club of Evanston, the District's park property along the shoreline east of the picnic shelter has had a thorough cleaning and tree trimming. The Garden Club plans to use wood chips and form foot paths through the area. Budget permitting, the LPD director will make a proposal to the LPD Board to thin out overgrowth on the park's south border in the fall. 4) District director, Don Terras, expressed concern over trash problems in the area. On Friday evening, March 7, garbage cans were turned over and rolled every which way, leaving trash strewn across the parking lot and front lawn of the Art Center. "Dumping" of the garbage cans after dark has become a pattern in recent years as a result of after hours drinking in the parking lot and picnic shelter. Mr. Terras suggested consideration of: A) Closing the parking lot and park at 10 PM instead of 11 PM. This would not interfere with Art Centex classes, which end at 10, and would prevent trouble -makers from gaining a foothold in the parking lot between 10 and 11. B) Have the trash picked up at the end of the day instead of in the morning. In this way, if the garbage cans are turned over, there would not be as much trash in them. 5) The LPD received notification from the Museum of Science and Industry that they had, in storage, the original glass panels used to create the lighthouse's distinctive flash characteristic. The District has made arrangements for their transfer to the lighthouse where a new exhibit will be developed using one or more of these panels. 6) Specially arranged tours of the lighthouse will start in May. The weekend tour season of the lighthouse will start on Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7. Submitted by: Don Terras Director Lighthouse Park District s LIGHTHOUSE LANDING COMMITTEE June 17,1998 Members Present: Joan Jenkins, Garden Club of Evanston Don Stehlin, Parks Supervisor Elaine Ferris, Little Garden Club Linda Lutz, Ecology Center Coordinator Michelle Rowe Shields, Evanston Art Center Steve Engleman, Alderman NEXT MEETING: Wednesday. Sentemher 161h. 1:30 PM The Committee reviewed the Minutes of the March 1998 meeting. Alderman Engleman: Discussed the recent publicity on the Millennium Project developed by the Garden Club of Evanston that is working to improve the parkland along the shore and just north of Lighthouse Beach. A recent article in the Evanston Review did not view the project favorably. The community is quite vocal and the controversy with the project focused on the cutting down of trees. Many 7th Ward residents think the clean up and restoration of the parkland area was long overdo and are thrilled with the way the project has improved the parkland area. City staff has helped the Garden Club of Evanston with the early stages of the improvements. If anyone has ideas or projects to be considered in the City's capital improvements program (CIP) they should get these ideas in to Alderman Englcmnn. There is no guarantee on funding as CIP fiends are tight, but it is important to make requests for worthwhile projects. Join.1eiikins: Joan noted that the Garden Club of Evanston is making a 3 year project out of the Lighthouse Area . Considered the Club's millennium project, the Garden Club of Evanston expects to spend $6,000 on the area. One of the areas they are particularly concerned about is the Council Ring; a trait of Jens Jensen landscape design resembling a "campfire" circle. The pond has been an ongoing project. They have a plastic line ninning through the pond structure but no repair to the mortar. The Garden Club will wait and see what happens. The pond should be "ready" by the end of June. Joan suggested that the parking lot needs to be cleaned. Currently the Beach Crew picks up litter. Parks crews pick up some garbage and the Streets Division is supposed to pick up garbage barrels twice a week. One of the Streets vehicles is disabled and pick-up has been compromised. A pick up later in the day would be good. Elaine Ferris: Noted that she had done some clean tip and weeding around the greenhouse. Also weeded at the north end entrance. The stone pathway has been relaid in front of the Greenhouse. An ironwood tree near the site is dead. Don Steldin: Don noted that lie is sitting in for Paul. Any one needing services from the Parks Division can contact Don. Paul will return in July. Tile lakefront management plan calls for garbage pick-up in the parks every day including Saturday and Sunday. Don will remind the Parks maintenance group regarding having the lifeguards do litter pick-up as well as daily pick-up of the barrels, later in the day being the preferred pickup time. Summer youth employment groups will be working in the canal lands area, woodchip trees, and do some weeding in the Arboretum. Linda Lutz: Reported that the Ecology Center camps started on Monday June 161h. New phone lines are being installed at the Foghouses as the old lines were not working properly. The greenhouse is being cleaned out for the summer; lack of fans and adequate ventilation makes the greenhouse too hot for plants to grow during the summer months. Tile greenhouse will take in plants in September. Many thanks to the Garden Club of Evanston for the beautiful butterfly garden. Not only is it visually attractive, the campers really enjoy looking for butterflies (which are always therel). Michelle Rowe -Shields: Michelle noted that the Patrick Dourghety exhibit is very popular. The piece will be on the Art Beat show on Channel 11. Lots of people stopped by to watch the installation from May l - 201h. There were some concerns because people did climb on the piece and sat on the top. For awhile an off duty police officer was hired who kept a lot of people from climbing on the sculpture. A light was installed to help with the security, as well as signs that say "no climbing." The sculpture should be up until March 1999. A lot of work has been done especially on the North side of the west entrance. Some rose bushes were moved. I Iydrangea was added and some grass in a redesign. Phase two will concentrate along the walkway. $2,000 has been budgeted by the An Center for plants. Questions were asked on [lie parking lot schedule. Interruption in parking during the Holiday Market and September classes would be difficult far the Art Center. (Linda will try to bet a drawing; of the proposed parking lot changes from Paul D'Agostino). The Art Center would not be in favor of a gate at the Sheridan Road entrance. There is still some after hours activity in the area that requires enforcement help. The Art Center had some incidents at their benefit which was handled by off duty police hired for the benefit. The committee agreed that the next meeting would be: Wednesday, September 16Ih at 1.-30 PM, in the Aldermanic Library.