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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-14-22 Minutes ADVISORY PARK BOARD NOVEMBER 14, 2022 Present: Lauren Bartelt, Tony Dirth, Devon Hudak, Deborah Martin, Becky Metz, Lester Millette Excused: Amy Davis, Kay Qualley, Koby Schellenger (Alternate Board Member) Absent: Lori Palmeri, Timothy Franz (Alternate Board Member) Staff: Ray Maurer, Parks Director; Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director; Travis Derks, Landscape Operations Manager; Stacy James, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Vice Chair Dirth called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. A quorum was determined to be present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Hudak for approval of the September 12, 2022 minutes. Seconded by Millette. Motion carried 6-0. NEW BUSINESS 1) EMERALD ASH BORER (EAB) PRESENTATION BY TRAVIS DERKS, LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS MANAGER Mr. Maurer introduced Travis Derks who is the Landscape Operations Manager and City Forester. Mr. Derks oversees the Landscape Operations Division and put together the presentation on EAB to update the Board and the public with what is presently transpiring in the city as it regards to EAB. Mr. Derks started with the history of EAB. It was first introduced in Michigan on shipping materials in 2002 and spread from there. It came to Wisconsin in 2008 and locally to Oshkosh in 2016. Mr. Derks then reviewed some of the hardest hit areas in Oshkosh including Westhaven, Lark Street and Akan Acres Park. Work was completed recently in Akan Acres Park along the north property line. Mr. Derks then reviewed the City’s response to EAB. The department started treating select ash trees in a three year cycle in 2014. Beginning in 2020 the department began selective removal of infected ash trees. By the beginning of 2022 it was apparent that outside help would need to be brought in to assist with the amount of work that would need to be done. In the spring of 2022 the City hired two outside contractors to assist with the ash tree removals in Zones 3 and 4. A different contractor was brought in for fall of 2022 to assist with removals in Zones 1 and 2 as ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE TWO NOVEMBER 14, 2022 well as stump removal and terrace restoration. The fall removals should be completed within the next couple of weeks along with stump removal and restoration in Zones 3 and 4. Mr. Derks added that the City will be replanting terrace trees, and if there are any property owners that would like a terrace tree replacement, they can contact him to be put on the list. The department will be developing a Strategic Plan for reforestation within the City to include diversity of species as well as age of the trees. The department is also working on funding to cover the costs by entering into a partnership with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation (OACF). The campaign will be called Taking Root II in recognition of the previous fundraising campaign for planting trees in the City. Funds raised in 2022 will be matched by the JEK Foundation up to $100,000. Mr. Maurer added that the city contributed $100,000 as well. 2) UPDATE ON 2023 BUDGET Mr. Maurer advised that the Common Council approved the 2023 Budget and Capital Improvement Projects during their November 9 meeting and he wanted to update the Board with everything that was approved for Parks: 1. Additional funding for Lakeshore Park development 2. Quarry Park restroom building and parking lot removal 3. Westhaven Circle Park and Teichmiller Park Tennis Court resurfacing (to include the addition of pickle ball courts) 4. Rusch Park trail development 5. Pickart Park (new west side park) development 6. Roe Park play equipment replacement 7. $25,000 for park trail improvements 8. $25,000 for Riverside Cemetery Roads 9. Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) update 10. $250,000 for EAB mitigation Overall the department received a lot of funding for projects in 2023 which will be on top of completing the new Park Operations building, Lakeshore Park 4-Season building and the Bear/Fox Exhibit at Menominee Park Zoo. The department’s list of approved projects was more extensive than what is normally approved and Mr. Maurer is happy to see that the City is supporting these quality of life items. Some of the funding is coming from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds the City has remaining , the Roe Park play equipment will be part of the Neighborhood Association project with grant funding, and the Rush Park trail development funding will come from monies received for fees in lieu of parkland dedication. Mr. Millette noticed that with the addition of the EAB funding in 2023, there will be over $750,000 spent on taking down the ash trees alone. Mr. Maurer added that the number doesn’t include in-house staff time. Ms. Martin added that these funds are only for city owned trees and there are nearly just as many private trees that are needing to be removed as well. Mr. Maurer added that Mr. Derks and Anne Schaefer, the Marketing & Fund Development Coordinator, have applied for a $25,000 grant with the DNR to receive additional funding for the tree replanting as well. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE THREE NOEMBER 14, 2022 PARK DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. Maurer started with an update on the Chief Oshkosh monuments. He has been working with the company that received the order. The department recently received two proofs for the plaques to review. He worked with the Menominee Nation Tribe members to review the orders and the plaques have since been sent for manufacturing. There are three more that will need to be manufactured in the next couple of weeks and they will all be installed in the spring when concrete is available and ground conditions permit . The Lakeshore Park 4-Season building continues to experience building delays and is now facing landscaping delays. The delays have put a halt to installing asphalt in the parking lot and along the roadway. The current plan is to hold off on the asphalt until spring. An updated schedule should be released soon and they are hoping for the shelter to be available for use beginning June of 2023. ASSISTANT PARK DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. Dallman stated that at Pollock Community Water Park, the contractor is working on re- plastering the lazy river. The project will be complete by spring so that the lazy river can be used in the summer. At Rusch Park the Monarch Station was completed at the beginning of October and he encourages the Board and the public to check it out. At Reetz ball diamonds the department worked in collaboration with the Oshkosh Recreation Department for field improvements. They completed restoration on the South field to laser level it and some work was completed on the north field as well. These collaborations will continue at other fields in the future. LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. Derks advised that staff will continue to work on stump grinding in Zones 3 and 4 over the next couple of weeks as weather permits. The fall tree planting is completed and there were 11 different species of trees that were planted in the terraces. The holiday tree that was previously located in the Opera House Square has been transplanted in Menominee Park near the Kiwanis Shelter and replaced with a Serbian Spruce. These types of trees can live for a long time and Mr. Derks believes it will be a good addition to Opera House Square and work well in the future as the holiday tree. Mr. Derks also reminded everyone about the Memorial Tree Program the city has where you can plant a tree in city green space in honor of or in memory of a loved one. The price for the tree is $400 and more information can be found online on the Parks website (ci.oshkosh.wi.us/Parks) or by calling the office (920.236.5080). ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE FOUR NOVEMBER 14, 2022 OTHER BUSINESS Ms. Martin questioned procedures for closing down restrooms seasonally. She stated that there was recently a cross country meet at Red Arrow on a weekend and the restrooms were closed. Mr. Dallman responded that while the restrooms are only open seasonally, the school district will usually advise the department of when they have meets. However, they did not communicate regarding that particular meet, which is why the restrooms were not open that day. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Millette for adjournment; seconded by Martin. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:32 P.M Respectfully submitted, Stacy L. James Stacy L. James, Recording Secretary