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FINAL APPROVAL OF THE CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT CODE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION TO AMEND CHAPTERS I, VII AND XIII OF THE CODE
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To the Honorable Board of Commissioners of the Chicago Park District:
I. Recommendation
It is recommended that the Board of Commissioners grant final approval of the Chicago Park District Code review and the authority to amend Chapter I Section B., Chapter VII, Section E., and Chapter XIII, Section B. of the Code of the Chicago Park District. Notice of the proposed amendments was posted for 45 days on the Park District website and in fieldhouses. As the Chicago Park District has received no additional public comment regarding the proposed amendments to Chapter I and Chapter VII, final approval thereof is recommended. The District did receive comment in opposition of amending Chapter XIII from Friends of the Parks. Please see explanation below.
II. Explanation
Chapter 70 ILCS 1505/7.02, enables the Board of Commissioners to “establish by ordinance all needful rules and regulations for the government and protection of parks…” Therefore, it is recommended that the following chapters of the Chicago Park District Code be amended to reflect the following additions or modifications of language and/or sections:
Chapter I, Section B. (Amendments). The District wishes to update the language of section B
Chapter VII, Section E. of the Chicago Park District Code. The District wishes to update procedures the naming and renaming of parks and features.
Chapter XIII, Section B. of the Chicago Park District Code. The District wishes to delete this section as it is no longer in effect, with its purposes now fulfilled by a more rigorous internal process lead by the Department of Planning and Development, informed by public input and peer review.
The General Counsel shall prepare and publish red-lined copies of the portions of the Code of the Chicago Park District that have been revised by reason of this amendment.
The notice period of forty-five (45) days soliciting public input regarding the amendments to the Code was initiated on September 19, 2018. Friends of the Park strongly opposed the recommendation to amend Chapter XIII of the Code of the Chicago Park District and respectfully requested that amendment to said chapter be deferred until further review could be made. This was stated by Friends of the Park representative, Daniel LaSpata, during the public comment period on September 12, 2018.
III. Discussion
The Chicago Park District reviews the Code on a rolling basis to ensure that it accurately reflects any updates in policy, practice or procedure, including any changes in applicable state, federal or local law. In addition, the District conducts a special review every five years as a part of our commitment to best practices and as required for state and national accreditation by the Illinois Association of Park Districts and the National Recreation and Park Association. These changes to the Code were made as a result of our five year review process.