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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES FEBRUARY 5, 2007 Present: Bill Akan, Bryan Bain, Ted Bowen, Bill Gogolewski, Jim Michelson, Larry Pasquini, Jim Schwochert Excused: Kay Hansen, Terry Wohler Staff: Thomas Stephany, Director of Parks; Vince Maas, Parks Operations Manager; Steve Dobish, Lakeshore Golf Course General Manager; Steve Ziblut, Lakeshore Clubhouse Manager/Golf Pro; 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 Mr. Maas stated a correction needed to be made to the motion relative to the No Wake Zone change on page 3, to read as follows: Motion by Gogolewski to approve the No Wake Zone change at the Oshkosh/Congress Avenue bridge area to 3 PM on Fridays to Midnight on Sundays and approval of the proposed amended wording for the Ordinance change of Section 17-29. Seconded by Bowen. Motion carried 7-0. Motion by Bain for approval of the December 11, 2006 minutes, as amended. Seconded by Gogolewski. Motion carried 7-0. PARK BUSINESS 1) Dogs in City Parks Mr. Stephany reiterated his Memorandum addressed to the Board dated February 2, 2007 (said Memorandum on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). A question arose as to the notification process and Ms. Wendorf stated that she had sent out surveys to 262 adjacent property owners of the five (5) parks involved. Mr. Michelson requested that Ms. Wendorf investigate the number of citations and/or warnings that have been issued to individuals for walking their dogs in City Parks within the past five (5) years. 2) Sponsorship Signage Policy Mr. Gogolewski stated he was bringing this issue before the Board in order to raise City revenues and help organizations raise money for their groups. The revenues from the sponsorship signage could possibly help with the expenses for maintaining the diamonds. He stated that size parameters could be established to keep the signs uniformed. Mr. Bowen stated he did not like to see the City in in the business of advertising. Ms. Wendorf offered to do a mass email to the WPRA Office Support Staff members to obtain information from various cities/towns as to their sponsorship signage policies and standards. She will supply the Board members with the responses received. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 2 FEBRUARY 5, 2007 Discussion ensued as to the type of signage the Board was considering. It was determined they were considering banner type signs and that the signs would not contain any reference to alcohol or tobacco. It was the consensus of the Board members to lay this item over until the next regularly scheduled meeting. 3) Boat Launch Projects Mr. Stephany distributed copies of the Boat Launches 2006 Spending History report (said report on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes) to the Board members. He explained that part of 2006 maintenance costs included expenses incurred because of kids throwing riprap into the 24th Avenue and Fugleberg boat launch areas. He noted that estimates for fish a cleaning station amount to $65,000. Mr. Michelson inquired if there were matching grant monies available for any of the future projects listed in Mr. Stephany’s Potential Boat Launch Fund Projects-2007 report (said report on file at the City Parks office office and made a part of these minutes)? Mr. Stephany stated it was his opinion that all of the proposed waterway projects would be eligible for matching grants. Chairman Pasquini inquired if the current dollars available in the boat launch fund of $108,216.31 serves a significant purpose? Mr. Stephany stated that those monies are designed to go back into any water based oriented improvements or maintenance needs. Chairman Pasquini inquired if Mr. Stephany was inquiring of the Board for their opinions on what he presented in his report to the Board or were they making a recommendation for one project over another project. Mr. Stephany stated his report was distributed for discussion purposes. He stated there is a need to extend ramps at Rainbow Park, but the question is – should they do two or four? Mr. Stephany recommended four because the real expense of the project is installing a coffer dam to get the work done. Mr. Gogolewski stated he didn’t think Rainbow Park was a good park for a fish cleaning station due to the tremendous amount of traffic. A fish cleaning station should be built right in front of a boat launch area, but there is too much traffic at Rainbow. Mr. Bain stated the ramps at Rainbow do need to be extended and it makes more sense to first fix items that have problems rather than starting new projects. Discussion ensued relative to how many launches at Rainbow should be added/extended and the costs entailed for each endeavor. It was the consensus of the Board to lay the item over until staff has time to obtain estimate costs involved. CITIZEN’S STATEMENTS There were no Citizen’s Statements. PARK DIRECTOR/STAFF REPORTS 1) 2006 Water Park Report Mr. Stephany distributed copies of the Pollock Community Water Park Financial Report (said report on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes) to the Board members. He stated that in comparison to other water parks in the nearby communities, Pollock had a really good year by way of revenues. He stated Ms. Wendorf is currently in the process of working with one of the newly hired seasonal pool managers on the RecTrac􀂥 computer software to make sure they are on track for the up-coming season. Mr. Bowen stated instead of “start up” costs as reflected in the report, won’t there be renewal and maintenance issues that will replace the “start up” cost figures in future reports? ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 3 FEBRUARY 5, 2007 Mr. Maas stated there will be maintenance costs that staff will have to deal with as they come along, but that probably won’t occur next year or the following year. He concurred that maintenance costs would replace the “start up” cost figures in the future. 2) Parks Dumpsters Mr. Stephany stated that eight (8) years ago, the City approved an ordinance that stated “what you bring in, you take out” by way of garbage. He stated the blue barrels were previously removed from the parks and no problems developed from that removal. Based on what other agencies (i.e., Brown County) have done with respect to garbage in their parks, and with the City of Oshkosh’s budget cutbacks and the Sanitation Department cutting back one-half route and their decrease in staff by two people, there is a need to remove the dumpsters from the Parks. Staff will be alerting the special events promoters as to the removal of the dumpsters so they may make appropriate arrangements to have their garbage removed after their events. Discussion ensued as to the cost for maintaining the dumpsters in the parks and Mr. Bowen felt it was very interesting that the City might have to hire and pay for a private contractor to have garbage removed from City Parks. Mr. Stephany explained that the costs involved have to do with the City’s budget. Mr. Stephany stressed that it is the City’s standard policy now that whatever garbage is brought in needs to be taken out by the same patron(s); the City is now taking that policy to the next step in that these patrons will need to hire their own refuse company if they are unable to do it themselves. He stated they will maintain dumpsters in locations where rhere are concession stands such as Spanbauer Field, Red Arrow and the Reetz ball diamonds. There will also be 14 dumpsters located in three City Parks for City personnel use only at the Pollock Community Water Park, Red Arrow Park, Spanbauer Park, Menominee Park Zoo, the Menominee Block building, maintenance building and the maintenance building on Witzel Avenue. Instead of having 22 dumpsters within the Park’s system, there will be 14 of them located in various areas. Mr. Gogolewski inquired why a dumpster wouldn’t be maintained by the boat launches? The cost for same could come out of the boat launch fund. Mr. Stephany stated he would have to discuss that issue with the Sanitation Division. Mr. Bain stated that was a good idea as it is more convenient to have one at the boat launch sites since there is already a fund to pay for same. 3) Lakeshore Golf Course Mr. Dobish reiterated his Memorandum & reports addressed to the Board dated February 2, 2007 (said Memorandum & reports on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). He stated that weather was not conducive to golf during some of the months of summer and the weather hindered their income. He stated there is still a need to deliver a good product with really good service at a fair price. Discussion ensued as to the cost of the beverage cart. Mr. Dobish stated he had hoped that the Friends of Lakeshore would have picked up the full cost of the beverage cart, but they did not – they only paid for about one-half of that cost. He stated the commission received from the soda vendor will help pay off towards the cost of the beverage cart. Mr. Dobish stressed that this is the worse year they have had at Lakeshore due to the weather, and noted that staff is not spending money frivolously. Mr. Stephany stated that there have been discussions as to an increase in fees, but that is a delicate subject. It is staff’s belief to keep the fees at status quo in order to be competitive with other golf courses. Mr. Gogolewski inquired about the golf course obtaining a liquor license to increase revenues. Mr. Dobish stated that a municipality cannot hold a liquor license. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 4 FEBRUARY 5, 2007 4) Menominee Park Zoo Concession Stand Changes Mr. Stephany distributed copies of pictures/skematic of the Welcome Center building reflecting proposed changes (said pictures/skematic on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes) to the Board members. He stated the improvements would be paid for from the Zoo fund. 5) Menominee Park Fishing Pier “Pre-hearing” Mr. Stephany stated he had been notified of two up-coming court dates -pre-trial scheduled for February 26th and the trial scheduled in May relative to the Menominee Park pier issue. 6) Project Updates Mr. Maas reported that staff is continuing to work on the exhibits at the zoo; pruning brush at Bauman Park and cleaning up the shoreline; maintaining the hockey ice rink at Rainbow Park; continuing to maintain/repair park equipment; buoy work at Menominee Park; and completion of the project at Little Oshkosh Playground (resealing the playground/fixing playground equipment/replacing matting). Staff is also working with an architectural firm with respect to the roof repair on the Beach House at Menominee Park (CIP project) and the addition to the maintenance (block) building at Menominee Park. Mr. Bowen inquired what it would take to make the Irving Avenue roadway smooth? Mr. Stephany suggested making that a CIP project in the near future. Mr. Akan requested an update on the zoo elk exhibit work. Mr. Stephany stated the elk exhibit would be opening the first weekend in May (the elk will be arriving late April). He stated the Zoological Society is presently soliciting funds for a new bear exhibit. ADJOURNMENT They’re being no other business, Motion to adjourn by Gogolewski; Seconded by Akan. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:32 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Trish Wendorf Recording Secretary