Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES MAY 14, 2007 Present: Bill Akan, Ted Bowen, Bill Gogolewski, Kay Hansen, Dennis McHugh, Jim Michelson, Larry Pasquini, Terry Wohler Excused: Jim Schwochert Staff: Thomas Stephany, Director of Parks; Vince Maas, Parks Operations Manager; Bill Sturm, Landscape Operations Manager/City Forester; Trish Wendorf, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Chairman Pasquini called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. A quorum was determined to be present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Wohler for approval of the April 9, 2007 minutes, as distributed. Seconded by Gogolewski. Motion carried 8-0. PARK BUSINESS 1) Little Oshkosh Playground Mr. Stephany reiterated his Memorandum addressed to the Board dated May 11, 2007 (said Memorandum on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). Diane Tice, 418 W. 17th Avenue, on Wednesday, May 9th, she had taken her child to Little Oshkosh about 6:30 P.M., and they were almost knocked over by teenagers who were engaged in a water balloon fight. There were teenagers at the playground who were almost 6’ tall, who were running around the playground and cussing/swearing to the point of ridiculous. She stated those older kids do not need to be in a playground designed for little ones. Travis Aschebrook, 529 Waugoo Avenue, stated he uses the park and noted that he does not do drugs nor does he use foul language. He stated it is the parents’ responsibility to stand up to the older kids horsing around at the playground and tell them to stop. Kaz Anderson, 633 Waugoo Avenue, stated he has played in the Little Oshkosh playground for years, as it is a great place to hang out with his friends. He suggested making the early hours for the little kids and later in the evening, it could be utilized by the older kids. Andrew Behm, 742 Franklin Street, concurred that the Little Oshkosh playground area is a great place to socialize with friends and play tag. While sometimes their tag games conflict with the little kids there, his group has invited the little ones to join in the game. He stated he is a martial arts instructor and is used to interaction with the smaller kids. Mr. Stephany stated the activities of some of the teenagers conflicts with the smaller children and there is a need to protect those younger children. He then showed the Board a jackknife that was found by staff in Little Oshkosh last week. There is a need to create some ordinance rules or policies to regulate how that playground is used throughout the day. Mr. Gogolewski stated there is already an ordinance about not smoking at that playground, yet it is not enforced. He stated it does not make sense to make yet another ordinance that would not be enforced. Mr. Stephany stated he is not aware that the no smoking ordinance is not being enforced, as he does not have all the Police Reports to substantiate that claim. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 2 MAY 14, 2007 Mr. Gogolewski stated before another ordinance is put on the books, a determination should be made if the current ordinances are being enforced by staff or the Oshkosh Police Department. Mr. Stephany stated that staff tries to enforce all the ordinances in effect. He suggested instead of regulating the hours that teens can play at Little Oshkosh by way of an ordinance, maybe it would be best to put the hours of teen play under Parks Rules and Regulations. Mr. Gogolewski stated at the Pollock Community Water Park, they have lifeguards to enforce the rules and regulations, but at Little Oshkosh, there is no staff available. He suggested that the Auxiliary Police could police the area between 4-8 PM. Mr. Wohler stated the Auxiliary Police are volunteers and do not get paid and he felt they would not be able to assist with the monitoring of the playground. He suggested that the Oshkosh Police Department have some plainclothes officers patrol the area 3-4 days a week to patrol the area. Having someone monitoring the playground would be a deterrent. He does not like the idea of an ordinance in this regard, but thinks incorporating the hours that teens are allowed in the playground under general Park Rules and Regulations is fine. Mr. McHugh concurred with Mr. Gogolewski in that the City often ignores Ordinances currently in effect. He stated the Little Oshkosh playground is not very well lit and teenagers hang out there because they have anonymity because of the darkness. Staff should post any applicable rules (i.e. no smoking) and the area should be policed by the law enforcement officers frequently. Mr. Michelson concurred with Mr. McHugh’s comments. He inquired as to any vandalism at the Little Oshkosh playground. Mr. Stephany stated while no one has tried to burn down the playground, there have been incidences of graffiti and breakage of slides and other play amenities. Mr. Michelson stated there is a need for staff presence at the playground to deter the conflicts conflicts of the teenagers versus the smaller children. There are too many ordinances on the books that are not being enforced now and it is not a good idea to add another ordinance that would not be enforced. Mr. Akan inquired of Mr. Ashenbrook as to why teenagers use Little Oshkosh for entertainment purposes? Mr. Aschebrook stated that Little Oshkosh is a unique area because of the different obstacles and different ways to play tag. It is a better area to play tag versus a field of grass. The playground has an extra element of things to climb and places to hide and it is reasonably safe. Mr. Anderson stated they also play at various school playgrounds, but prefer Little Oshkosh since it is very accessible and more fun. Robert Munch, 1011 County Road M, stated he and a group of his friends utilize Little Oshkosh and it’s play equipment the way it is supposed to be used and they tend to use it when there are not a lot of little kids there. Discussion ensued as to the no-smoking policy, time frames when the teenagers utilize the Little Oshkosh playground, possible rules/regulations and guidelines for using the playground. Kelly Aschebrook, 529 Waugoo Avenue, stated the teens have a right to be in the park, but two weeks ago, they were simply playing a game of tag and were asked to leave the park. He stated he did not want to see rules in place that are not enforceable. The teens that appeared before the Board are an example of good things that can be done by kids their age and their good behavior should be encouraged. 2) Boat Launch Dumpsters Mr. Stephany gave a brief overview of the dumpster situation. He stated due to budget constraints, the Sanitation Division will no longer be able to empty the dumpsters and the Parks Department would be required to hire independent dumpster services. He stated while there is still a dumpster at the South Park pavilion area that was utilized by the motorcycle show, the Art Fair, and other large special events, notice has been given to those organizers that the dumpster situation will be their responsibility ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 3 MAY 14, 2007 in the future. The special event organizers have been given a full year notice to get in sync with the dumpster policy. Mr. McHugh inquired as to what is being placed in the dumpsters? Mr. Maas stated there is a wide variety of things being put into the park dumpsters – things from picnic use to personal household items. Mr. McHugh concurred with Mr. Stephany that the dumpsters should be phased out of the parks and that the special event organizers need to make their own arrangements as to disposing of their garbage. CITIZEN’S STATEMENTS Charles Basiks, 1002 Rood Avenue, South Beloit, Illinois, stated his position on the weed issue at Miller’s Bay in Menominee Park. PARK DIRECTOR/STAFF REPORTS Mr. Maas stated his crews are concentrating on grass cutting and the opening of the Pollock Community Water Park in June. Crews are also working on the zoo exhibit as well as the daily cleaning of restrooms and park shelters, daily maintenance and repairs to park equipment. Mr. Sturm stated his forestry crews are working in full force on tree planting and have started working on flowerbed plantings. Mr. Stephany reported that crews are also working on ball diamond maintenance. He stated the Recreation Department bought new scoreboards for the baseball diamonds and the parks crew is helping with the installation of those scoreboards. Seasonal and part-time workers are also coming on board. Mr. Akan stated the Boy Scouts have made some benches for the North High Conservancy Park and have donated same. Mr. Gogolewski inquired as to the status of the sponsorship signs at the ball diamonds. Mr. Stephany stated that issue will be brought back to the Board in the fall. Staff will be working on guidelines and costs for same. Mr. Gogolewski inquired as to the Quarry Park Fast Pitch Club status. Mr. Stephany stated the Fast Club President is working with the City Attorney on the details of the contract. ADJOURNMENT They’re being no other business, Motion to adjourn by Gogolewski; Seconded by Akan. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:27 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Trish Wendorf Recording Secretary