Glenview Park District Board of Commissioners Candidate: Daniel Peterson

Glenview Patch submitted a list of questions to all of the s to allow each contender to have their say on the issues. Some answers may have been edited for clarity and length.

Daniel Peterson will be competing against Phil Collins, Charles Kuhn and David May for a seat on the board in the April 5 election. Read Peterson's responses below.

1) How would you assess the state of the park district’s budget?
The Glenview Park District has practiced careful financial planning and control, which has contributed to its strong current financial position. Overhead expenses have been kept to a minimum, with most resources channeled directly into programs and facilities. The District has avoided risky expansions, as well. Thus, program revenues remain strong – about half of total income – while debt service is at a manageable level. Lastly, adequate reserves exist to weather any delays in receipt of tax income.

2) If expenses need to be reduced, exactly what would you cut? Be specific.
As with any governmental unit, the Park District should always be looking to minimize expenses, reducing where appropriate, and otherwise ensuring that any increases are targeted at real needs of residents. And it appears that the District is doing this.  Should a time come when further savings are needed, I would recommend looking for more ways to collaborate with other bodies or outsource more services, and also reviewing programs to identify any that are not meeting the needs of the community, but are driving up costs. Such programs could be either re-structured or dropped. But I see no need to do so at this time.

3) If more revenue needs to be raised, exactly what would you propose? Be specific.
The best way to raise more revenue is to attract more participants in Park District programs, I would study the many programs offered, and work to understand why more people are not participating. Is it the program that needs refinement, or better awareness, or different pricing or location, or what? Then I would work to fix that. I would also look for opportunities to partner with other Park Districts to offer more collaborative programs that could bring in new fee-paying participants [and] public-private partnerships, such as sponsorships for some programs or events. Lastly, the Park District has been very effective at seeking state or federal grants where practical, and I would continue that. I would avoid raising participant fees at this time... The District should – and does – work within the base of tax revenue it has, rather than seek to increase that.

4) What’s on your wish list for new facilities?
It is just that – a wish list: an indoor fieldhouse-like sports facility, a second ice rink, more outdoor ice hockey rinks, satellite fitness centers in east, west, and south parts of Glenview, a paddle tennis facility, a Frisbee golf course, indoor golf practice facility, and so on. But any such expansions would need to be very carefully considered. This would include assessing the real demand, determining the cost, identifying the source of funding, and understanding the ultimate impact upon the taxpayers. At this point, I don’t see many of these items coming off the wish list soon. But it is still good to have that wish list.

5) In what ways can the district save money and/or offer increased value to users?
The District has many programs in place to save money and offer value to users. As a commissioner, I would look to identify more. These may come from greater collaboration with other governmental units within and outside Glenview, such as the new library, or other park districts with facilities different than ours. It may also come from partnering with private companies to bring new programs and facilities to District residents.

6) Does the district offer adequate programming to different demographic groups--seniors, children, ethnic groups? If not, how can it do a better job?
Adequate is not good enough – the District should be and is always striving to better serve all segments of our community. As a commissioner, I would seek to understand the needs to each segment, and determine how well the District is meeting them. For example, I would like to see more teenagers and young adults participating in park district programs. I would also like to see more people for whom English is not their native language participating in park district programs. What is keeping this from happening now? Let’s understand that better, and work harder to close that gap.

7) Does the district get adequate feedback from constituents on how well it is serving, or not serving, them? If not, how specifically would you increase the flow of communication? 
A chief role of a commissioner is to bring such feedback from residents to the Park District management. As a commissioner, I would reach out to every segment of the community, to gather their feedback and bring it to the staff. I would seek this feedback at schools, church groups, clubs, scout troops, sports fields, and other places I can go.

8) Does the district need to reduce its use of lawn chemicals, adopt water-saving methods (for lawns, indoor facilities, etc.), or otherwise reduce its footprint on the environment? Be specific.
The District has been very careful and conscientious in its impact on the environment. It has taken a lead in the community on issues like saving trees from the Emerald Ash Borer, recycling and re-planting. A great deal is being done now – but there can always be more. As a commissioner, I would work to identify and support ways the District can continue to lead our community in conserving resources and protecting our environment.

9) What else would you like voters to know about your positions on issues, point of view or qualifications?
We are fortunate to have an excellent Park District, with a wide range of excellent facilities and programs, and sound financial position. I have been an active user, with my family, of so many of these, for so long, plus an active member of the community for over 20 years. I know how these programs work from my service on the Park Foundation board, the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Foundation board, and the Citizens Advisory Panel for the District’s Strategic Plan. I also have strong business, management, and financial skills. I can leverage each of these to help the Park District to continue to successfully provide recreation, leisure, enrichment, and nature programs and facilities to our entire community. I look forward to this opportunity to serve my fellow residents.