HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes
ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES DECEMBER 11, 2006 Present: Bill Akan, Bryan Bain, Ted Bowen, Bill Gogolewski, Jim Michelson, Larry Pasquini, Terry Wohler Excused: Kay Hansen, Jim Schwochert,
Staff: Thomas Stephany, Director of Parks; Vince Maas, Parks Operations Manager; Bill Sturm, Landscape Operations Manager/City Forester; Steve Dobish, Lakeshore General Manager; 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 November 13, 2006 minutes, as distributed. Seconded by Bain. Motion carried 7-0. PARK BUSINESS 1) Miller’s Bay Aquatic Plant Issue Mr. Stephany reiterated his Memorandum
addressed to the Board dated December 8, 2006 (said Memorandum on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). He pointed out there have been three previous meetings
on this issue. Mr. Stephany stressed that a decision needed to be reached as to how much to charge the patrons of the Miller’s Bay mooring program for the upcoming boating season as
Ms. Wendorf would be sending out the yearly letter and forms to the patrons at the end of the month. Mr. Maas reported that he had contacted an equipment manufacturer in West Bend for
a quote on a weed harvester. A used piece of equipment would run approximately $15,000 for a 1977 model and $40,000-$50,000 for a relatively new machine (less than 10 years old). Those
quotes do not include the cost of maintenance of the machine nor operator costs. Mr. Stephany stated the Parks Department does not have any staff available to operate the weed harvester,
if purchased and/or donated. Mr. Gogolewski inquired as to the cost for dredging Miller’s Bay. Mr. Bowen stated as an advocator of the South Side Ice Yacht Club, when they dredged that
harbor, they also did some dock work. The cost was over $140 grand for a space about twice the size of the Board’s meeting room – if you figure one-half of that work was dredging and
the other was dock work, you are talking about $1 million to dredge Miller’s Bay. Mr. Stephany stated a 4th option would be to eliminate the Miller’s Bay program for 2007, which he did
not like to see happen. A 5th option would be to offer the plugs to patrons at a reduced rate for the 2007 season only, contingent upon them acknowledging that they are renting them
at their own risk and that they not complain to the Parks Department about the weed problem. Mr. Wohler stated it wouldn’t make any difference what the charge was if patrons aren’t able
to move their boats in and out of the bay due to the weeds.
ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 2 DECEMBER 11, 2006 Mr. Akan discussed some biological studies that he had investigated that could be possibilities towards a solution to the weed problem
as well as a fiberglass mat that could be used, which could potentially suppress weed growth. He feels strongly that weed cuter is expensive but how much does the City spend on a snowplow
or a garbage truck? This will continue to be a problem and he thinks we should stress to the City Council and City Manager that this isn’t any different than purchasing a garbage truck.
Mr. Bowen stated there is a flaw in Mr. Akan’s argument – amortizing services for over 65,000 people and this weed issue is just for the convenience of 48 people. Discussion ensued as
to issues involved with the purchase of a weed harvester, i.e., would it be used other places, who would operate it, what costs are involved, etc. Motion by Wohler to approve a fee of
$50 to lease a mooring plug in Miller’s Bay for the 2007 season at their own risk and that they not make any complaints, and that past patrons have priority as to their particular space.
Seconded by Bowen. Motion carried 7-0. Mr. Akan stated staff should continue to look at other options so that this issue doesn’t continue to haunt us. 2) WIOUWASH Trail – Transfer of
Management Mr. Stephany reiterated his Memorandum addressed to the Board dated December 8, 2006 (said Memorandum on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). The
County Parks Committee proposes to manage the County’s portion, but would like the City to maintain the portion of the trail that is within the City limits. Mr. Michelson stated he didn’t
think that maintaining that portion of the trail would be too time-consuming for the parks department to run a mower along the trail a few times a year. Every 3-5 years the crews would
need to take the brush whacker along the trail. Longer-term surface maintenance would entail putting down lime stone screenings. Mr. Michelson inquired if the University would be responsible
for the trail maintenance on their property? Mr. Stephany stated that is the intent. He stated that the City wouldn’t take over maintenance of the City’s portion of the trail, until
it is in good form. Mr. Bowen inquired if there was any recapture of maintenance funds from the State by way of a grant? Mr. Michelson stated there’s a possibility of 50/50-match grant,
but the Parks Department would have to research it and submit an application. Motion by Michelson to approve the support for the Parks Department to manage the City’s portion of the
WIOUWASH Trail in the future. Seconded by Akan. Motion carried 7-0. 3) Rainbow Park – No Wake Zone Time Change Mr. Stephany reiterated his Memorandum addressed to the Board dated December
8, 2006 (said Memorandum on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). He stated that he had talked with the Sheriff’s Department and was told they don’t patrol
along the river on Friday evenings due to budget cutbacks. They only patrol on holiday weekends and they work with the DNR as a courtesy. The Sheriff’s Department gets some reimbursement
up to 60%, but because of budget issues, they can’t be out there as often on Friday nights. Mr. Wohler stated he didn’t think the Sheriff’s Department would be out there on Friday nights
at all. Mr. Bowen stated that in the past he knew some people that had missed the 6:00 PM cutoff and were tapped on the shoulder with the threat of a citation. Mr. Gogolewski stressed
that the boaters need to be slowed down. Mr. Wohler stated the current signs have to be repaired any way.
ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 3 DECEMBER 11, 2006 Mr. Maas stated his crews repair them every year. He pointed out that the City Parks crew only maintains and puts out six buoys –
three on each side of the Oshkosh/Congress Avenue bridge. They don’t put any buoys/signs on Lake Winnebago. Mr. Stephany stated he is proposing changes in the Ordinance since the railroad’s
name is different and deleted some language about the bridge, as it doesn’t exist any longer. Motion by Gogolewski to approve the No Wake Zone change at the Oshkosh/Congress Avenue bridge
area to 3 PM to Midnight on Fridays and the proposed amended wording for the Ordinance change of Section 17-29. Seconded by Bowen. Motion carried 7-0. 4) Dogs in City Parks Mr. Stephany
reiterated his Memorandum addressed to the Board dated December 8, 2006 (said Memorandum on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). Mr. Akan stated he noticed
there were some fees associated with some of the other communities (i.e. Eau Claire) and was curious as to how the licensed fee were monitored? Mr. Stephany stated probably through some
type of ranger’s program. Mr. Akan stated he has been receiving more and more calls from people questioning why the City doesn’t have a dog park? He stated he would like to see something
in Oshkosh either in the parks or somewhere in the City where the public can walk their dogs. Mr. Wohler stated he is not in favor of ALL City parks, but would be in favor of either
Menominee or South Park. He feels that by allowing dogs in some of the heavier used parks, it would help alleviate the geese problem. He stated the smaller parks that just have playgrounds
and picnic areas would not be conducive to allowing dogs in them. Mr. Michelson stated this discussion has been brought up 3-4 times since he has been on the Board. His number one concern
is safety and that is why he doesn’t support dogs on trails in any park. He stated he would not support dogs in parks where there are athletic activities in parks or where there is a
a playground. He stated dogs do not like moving bikes and when dogs are around people on bikes, they tend to become aggressive. Dogs on trails in City parks would create a safety hazard.
Would the dogs scare geese? Yes, but only temporarily. The students at Webster Stanley Middle School run across the street and their activities scare off the geese, but when the kids
leave, the geese flock back. He feels the same would happen with dogs. He stated he would support discussion for a fenced in place for a dog park. Mr. Bowen concurred with Mr. Michelson’s
comments. Mr. Gogolewski inquired who would enforce the proposal? Mr. Stephany stated the Parks Department and ranger program. Mr. Bain stated he would not support the proposal of dogs
being allowed on trails if it was associated with a fee. He stated there should be a vote to come back in January to propose to allow dogs on a leash in certain places. It was the consensus
of the Board to bring it back as an action item. CITIZEN’S STATEMENTS There were no Citizen’s Statements. PARK DIRECTOR/STAFF REPORTS 1) Project Updates Mr. Maas stated that the parks
crew are continuing to work on the exhibits at the zoo and repairs to park equipment (benches, tables, buoys); cleaning and polishing the stainless steel items for the Pollock Community
Water Park; addressing the ADA issues with various facilities; and working on specs for items in the CIP.
ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE 4 DECEMBER 11, 2006 Mr. Sturm stated his crew is in the process of doing the tile roof work at the Cemetery. Mr. Dobish gave his report on the Lakeshore
Municipal Golf Course. He stated, as shown in the October report (said report on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes) their bottom line does not look as well
as they would have liked. One-half of the month of September, the entire month of October and part of November, weather-wise was not conductive to golf. He stated the course is not closed
at this point and they are still selling passes and merchandise. He expects much more revenue than what is reflected on the October report. He stated the season staff was laid off three
weeks ago. He stated they have covered their operation expenses, but it is the principal portion of the debt is hurting them. He stated they were aware of the possibility of that going
in but stated they have the annual subsidy to fall back on. He stated the rounds are down 2,500 due to the poor fall weather. Part of the revenues are down because of the discount competition.
Mr. Dobish stated in order to keep people coming through the door, they need to offer similar rates that the competitors are offering. It is more of a reaction to the market. Discussion
ensued as to season passes and their fee structures/expiration dates. Mr. Dobish stated they can only guess when the course opens because that is dependent upon the weather being conducive,
so it wouldn’t be fair to offer the season pass at a discount rate for a specific date and then not honor the pass if they open early due to good weather conditions. He stated he plans
on providing the Board with a revised income projection and suggestions as to possible expenditure cuts for the next meeting. ADJOURNMENT They’re being no other business, Motion to adjourn
by Wohler; Seconded by Gogolewski. Motion carried 7-0. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Trish Wendorf Recording Secretary