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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.09.2024 APB Minutes ADVISORY PARK BOARD September 9, 2024 Present: Amy Davis, Becky Metz, Jacob Floam, Devon Hudak, Steve Herman Excused: Timothy Franz, Lester Millette Staff: Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director; Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Chair Davis 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 August 12, 2024 minutes. Seconded by Floam. Motion carried 5-0. NEW BUSINESS 1) DISCUSS AND RECOMMEND EXTENSION OF THE NO WAKE ZONE BETWEEN THE OSHKOSH AVENUE BRIDGE AND WISCONSIN STREET BRIDGE Mr. Dallman stated that Section 30.77 of the Wisconsin Statutes authorizes the City of Oshkosh to enact ordinances applicable on the waters of the State that lie within its jurisdiction. Further explaining that the city has received a request from the Riverwatch Condominium Association to extend the no wake zone in the Fox River to encompass the entire river between the Oshkosh Avenue bridge to the Wisconsin Street bridge due to erosion along their shoreline property. Dallman opens the item for comment. Public comments included: ▪ Sally Widzinski, 240 N Campbell Road: In favor of extending the no wake zone. Additionally stating the work that she has witnessed to repair erosion and the ways she has witnessed boaters drive in that area. ▪ Nance Wilde, 248 N Campbell Road: In favor of extending the no wake zone. ▪ Dave Wilkens, 260 N Campbell Road (resident): In favor of extending the no wake zone. ▪ John Kubasta, 400 N Campbell Road: Against the extension of the no wake zone. Additionally stating that he is the owner of Kubasta’s Landing and believes the now wake zone is overkill. He claims that wakeboarding in that area is not only unsafe bust causing the most issue and that is what should be addressed. He believes people will not use this long stretch of river is if the no wake is extended AVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 2 SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 and it is not fair to punish everyone for a small percentage problem. ▪ Jeff Hagner, 505 Marion Road (business manager): Against the extension of the no wake zone. Additionally stating that he is the site manager at Mercery Marine and they need this area for performance testing. Most of their endurance testing is done at another plant but they do need this stretch for the research and development done at this plant. Hagner stated that he too has to complete shoreline maintenance at his business. ▪ Timothy Carr, 2815 Shorehaven Court: Against the extension of the no wake zone. Additionally stating that he is a member of the Oshkosh Boat Club, dock slip owner, and one of the Directors on the Board at the Lakeside Harbor Dock Condominiums. He believes that expanding the no wake zone would cause boaters to avoid Oshkosh, negatively impacting business owners and the resale value of boat slips. He has seen the erosion that others have but believes that is part of owning property on the water. ▪ Joe Honsa, 902 Taft Avenue: Against the extension of the no wake zone. Additionally stating that he is the owner of Lakeside Marina where they deliver approximately 200 boats per year. Honsa stated that he too has to complete shoreline maintenance at his business property. ▪ Katelyn Schneider, 902 Taft Avenue: Against the extension of the no wake zone. Additionally stating that she is a delivery captain at Lakeside Marina. She agrees that there is an issue with the wakeboarding and speed leading up to the bridges. She believes that the no wake could be extended a small amount leading up to the bridge to encourage boaters to slow down sooner but not past the bridge. Schneider stated that she is on the water an average of 7 times per day and believes that the problem is speed and it is at the bridge near the senior center but not past that. Following public comment, Mr. Herman stated that the City of Oshkosh does have the ability to enact an ordinance to prohibit wakeboarding and/or water skiing in the river. He suggests that the city could also encourage the Sheriff’s office, DNR, and Coast Guard to more closely monitor boat activity in the area. Herman stated that bridges can often times be closed for up to an hour, and that also needs to be considered when addressing the time it will take boaters to pass though Oshkosh if the no wake extension is approved. Further stating that extending the no wake zone would hurt many businesses and boaters and would be a detriment to the City of Oshkosh. Mr. Floam echoed the safety concerns with wakeboarding in the river. Further suggesting that water sports and the erosion concerns in the proposed area are separate issues and should be addressed separately. He suggests that funding may be available from grants or other sources to help with erosion but does not think that simply extending the no wake will solve this issue. Ms. Hudak would like to see wakeboarding banned on the river and possible options for funding to address the erosion so that everyone can win in this situation. AVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 3 SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 Ms. Davis stated that she would like to see the erosion issue resolved without needing to penalize or limit all boaters through the area. Additionally, she would like to see the wakeboarding issue addressed. Motion by Herman to deny the extension of the no wake zone between the Oshkosh Avenue bridge and Wisconsin Street bridge. Seconded by Floam. Motion carried 5-0. Motion by Herman to recommend department staff investigate the possibly of a City Ordinance limiting towing-behind sports on the river between Pioneer Island to Lakeshore Park. Seconded by Hudak. Motion carried 5-0 2) DISCUSS AND RECOMMEND 2025 FEES FOR POLLOCK COMMUNITY WATER PARK Mr. Dallman stated that the program to aid low-income families, using foundation dollars, will stay in tact. Ms. McCollian stated that the tables shown in the memo attachments will also depict a discount that is offered to those buying their season passes prior to opening. Dallman stated that the proposed increase in fees will help offset pool staffing and operating costs. Motion by Metz for recommendation of the 2025 Pollock Community Water Park fees to Common Council. Seconded by Floam. Motion carried 5-0. STAFF REPORTS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (Dallman) Mr. Dallman shared an update on the projects happening in parks on the west side of the City of Oshkosh. First, the Rusch Park trail improvements, between Newport and Ruschfield, have been completed. This was completed in cooperation with the Streets Department. Additionally, the playground replacement project at 44th Parallel Park has begun. This project will include the removal of the current playground and a new one installed. REVENUE FACILITIES MANAGER (McCollian) Ms. McCollian shared that the Snooze in the Zoo event was a success with approximately 75 people staying the night in the zoo. Upcoming events include Touch-a-Truck at the Leach Amphitheater and Brews in the Zoo and Zooloween Boo at the Menominee Park Zoo. The Brews on the Bay series has concluded. The events were successfully hosted at Rainbow Memorial Park throughout this past summer proving potential for the location going forward. AVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 4 SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 ADJOURNMENT Motion by Davis for adjournment; seconded by Herman. Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:15 P.M Respectfully submitted, Ericka Maertz Administrative Assistant