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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6-13-22 Minutes ADVISORY PARK BOARD JUNE 13, 2022 Present: Lauren Bartelt, Amy Davis, Deborah Martin, Becky Metz, Lester Millette, Lori Palmeri, Timothy Franz (Alternate Board Member), Koby Schellenger (Alternate Board Member) Excused: Tony Dirth, Devon Hudak, Kay Qualley Other: Natalie Larsen, Callie Rudoll and Kayla Peterson, Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop 2414; Mark Lyons, City of Oshkosh Planning Services Manager Staff: Ray Maurer, Parks Director; Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager; Stacy James, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Chair Davis called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. A quorum was determined to be present. INTRODUCTION OF TIMOTHY FRANZ – NEW ALTERNATE BOARD MEMBER Mr. Franz thanked the Board for having him. He looks forward to serving the City in a different way; he worked for the city previously and retired in 2018. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Metz for approval of the May 9, 2022 minutes. Seconded by Millette. Motion carried 8-0. NEW BUSINESS 1) CONSIDER THE REQUEST FROM GIRL SCOUT TROOP 2414 TO INSTALL A MONARCH WAYSTATION AT RUSCH PARK Mr. Maurer introduced the Girl Scouts and stated that they are requesting to install a monarch waystation at Rusch Park as part of their Silver Award project. Ms. Larsen and Ms. Rudoll spoke to the Board about how Rusch Park is a good location for their project. Their project would include signage as well as planting flowers that would encourage monarchs to come to the area. The girls spoke about their timeline for the project, the work they would complete as well as how they would raise the funds to support the project. Motion by Millette to approve request from Girl Scout Troop 2414 to install Monarch Waystation at Rusch Park. Seconded by Martin. Motion carried 8-0. 2) DISCUSS PARKLAND DEDICATION AND/OR FEES-IN-LIEU OF LAND DEDICATION FOR FARMINGTON COTTAGES SUBDIVISION Mr. Maurer states that this new subdivision will be on the north side of the city. He also introduced Mark Lyons from Planning Division who was available to answer any questions. Mr. Maurer then ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE TWO JUNE 13, 2022 gave some background regarding the city ordinance requiring either parkland dedication or fees in lieu of parkland dedication. The City has noted a deficiency of park land in this neighborhood and worked with the developer in order to create this space. Future development is planned for just south of this neighborhood and it was discussed that the proposed location would be ideal so that the new development could also dedicate land near these current parcels increasing the size of the park area for the neighborhood. With the two proposed lots, the parkland dedication is deficient of the amount required by 5,600 square feet so it is anticipated that the city will work with the developer to purchase a third lot and collect the fee in lieu that the developer is deficient on. Mr. Lyons added that the City continues to work with developers to look at different ways to achieve all goals for the subdivision and this is just another circumstance in which the City and the developer have worked together to reach a common goal. Ms. Palmeri questioned why the city would be buying a lot if the developer is deficient in the land dedication. Mr. Lyons responded that the City is working with the developer to make the land dedication worth their effort and for it to be fiscally reasonable for all parties. If the Board approves the dedication it will then move to Plan Commission and ultimately Common Council for approval. Motion by Martin to recommend approval of Parkland Dedication for Farmington Cottages Subdivision. Seconded by Davis. Motion carried 8-0. 3) DISCUSS AND RECOMMEND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) 2023-2027 Mr. Maurer reviewed that the CIP is an annual item that staff brings to the Board for review. He will be meeting with Finance staff and the City Manager on Friday to review the requests from the department. There are a lot of requests and he asked that everyone keep in mind that they do not all get funded. His focus will be on the next three years primarily with a quick review of requests for 2026 and 2027. He started with a review of requests in 2023, and how we are putting some projects together (tennis court and basketball court resurfacing) in hopes that we will be able to get better pricing if there is more than one location for work. Another note for 2023 is that it is anticipated the Quarry Park work will likely cost only half the amount that is being requested after his discussions with city staff. Play equipment replacement is recommended every 15-17 years so staff rotates them so that the oldest equipment gets replaced. It had been previously recommended by the Board to have park trail improvements in CIP every year to continue to maintain trails. Cemetery road repaving is a bi-annual item as well. Mr. Maurer then reviewed requests for 2024 which included some carry-overs from 2023 as well as annual requests. Also included in 2024 are design work for Menominee Park Parking Lot and Reetz Fields reconstruction, work at 44th Parallel Park and Stevens Park as well as development of Park Site “A” (Ripple and Oregon) and Menominee Park Zoo Improvements. A review of 2025 requests included a continuation of work at both Lakeshore Park and Menominee Park, road reconstruction in Menominee Park which is an extension of the 2022 approved CIP item, play equipment replacement at both Abe Rochlin and Rainbow Memorial Park, Phase 1 of lighting ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE THREE JUNE 13, 2022 replacement at Menominee Park, acquisition of property for central city park and trail improvements and cemetery road repaving. When reviewing projects for 2026 and 2027, Mr. Maurer reminded the Board that these lists don’t even begin to touch on the actual number of projects that the department has. There are so many more potential projects as well as the daily type of projects that get absorbed by the annual budget for the department. After reviewing the project list for 2026 and 2027, Mr. Maurer commented that the Stoegbauer restroom project may get moved up with the additional requests for the facility since the park play equipment was replaced. Mr. Maurer asked the Board to focus on 2023 and 2024 at this time and opened up for discussions. Mr. Schellenger asked if staff had done a cost savings on switching to LED lights. He states that the county discovered that they would make up the money spent by switching within a couple of years. Mr. Maurer responded that this is something that could be looked into with City Electric staff. Ms. Palmeri questioned why development in outlying parks was being requested prior to work in the central city area. Mr. Maurer answered that the developments are on land that the city already owns and also due to requests from residents in the area. Ms. Martin requested that perhaps the central city property acquisition could be moved to an earlier year. Ms. Davis asked if there was a potential property to purchase and advised against setting money aside too soon if there wasn’t property available. Discussions were had regarding the East Hall property recently acquired by the school district and the potential to work with them to make this area open to the public. Mr. Franz suggested that the Board keep in mind that with a lot of the newer developments coming into the city, there was an expectation that parkland would be developed and he wouldn’t want to deter future developers from coming into the area if those expectations aren’t upheld. Mr. Millette agreed that there needs to be more discussions and more information before funds could be expended for central city property. Mr. Schellenger recommended using the $125,000 in savings in 2023 from the Quarry Park project estimate and putting that money toward a potential collaboration or acquisition in central city area for a park. Motion by Schellenger to recommend adding a project to 2023 CIP for an amount of $125,000 to be used for potential collaboration or acquisition in central city for a park. Seconded by Palmeri. Motion carried 8-0. Motion by Martin to recommend approval of 2023-2027 CIP Project listing with recommended amendment. Seconded by Metz. Motion carried 8-0. PARK DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. Maurer updated the Board that the Lakeshore Park 4-season building project is on target. The Parks Administration building has encountered a delay in materials. Staff is currently planning to move out of the current building in mid-August which will allow for electricians to complete some work in the building before demolition in September. Mr. Dallman was unable to attend the meeting and Mr. Maurer provided updates for his projects as well. The Riverside Park gazebo is installed and restoration work is being completed at this time. It is ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE FOUR JUNE 13, 2022 anticipated to be ready for use by July 1. There has been an uptick of vandalism in the parks. Red Arrow restrooms were recently set on fire and a contracted firm is working on that cleanup meaning the restrooms will be closed until the repairs are complete. Staff has put out social media posts regarding the vandalism, the City Manager has addressed it with his platforms and Oshkosh Media has been helping to spread awareness of the issue as well. It is encouraged that if you see something, say something by either calling the parks office or police non-emergency number. As for the revenue facilities Pollock Community Water Park opening was delayed one day to June 9 due to bad weather. It has been very busy since the opening and Mr. Maurer reminded that the department is still looking for maintenance staff at the pool. The department also continues to look for volunteers for their special events including the Tuesday Night Concert Series at the Leach Amphitheater and Brews on the Bay events at Menominee Park. Friday, June 24 there is a Free Family Movie Night at the Leach Amphitheater featuring Sing 2 as well. At the Menominee Park Zoo, the zoo education coordinator has set up daily events for visitors and the department is hosting Wildlife Wednesdays as well. More information for all of these events can be found on Facebook. LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. Derks updated that contractors continue to work on Emerald Ash Borer tree removals on the southwest side of the city and will move to the northeast side of the city when finished with that area. It is anticipated that work will be completed by September 1. Staff continues to work on planting memorial trees and terrace trees as well as annual planting throughout the city. Being short on staff it is taking some time however staff are working as best they can at this time. Mr. Maurer added that the department recently took on the downtown BID projects and staff is working on that as well. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Davis for adjournment; seconded by Martin. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:00 P.M Respectfully submitted, Stacy L. James Stacy L. James, Recording Secretary