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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES JULY 11, 2011 Present: Victor Girens, Jim Michelson, Mark Philipp, Bob Poeschl, Allan Siman, Terry Wohler Excused: Bill Gogolewski, Bill Miller, Jonathan Wilson Steve Dobish, Lakeshore Golf Course General Manager; Staff: Ray Maurer, Parks Director; Trish Wendorf, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Vice Chairman Wohler called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. A quorum was determined to be present. CITIZENS STATEMENTS (Items on Agenda) Jessica Steig, 450 Sullivan Street, on behalf of Oshkosh All Inclusive Park Project. She stated the group is currently gaining support through the forms of a petition and giving out information via Facebook, their website and the Farmer’s Market. They have received an overwhelming support to date. PARK BUSINESS 1)Discussion on Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan Mr. Maurer stated what he wanted to do is bring back the Goals and Objectives to determine if there were any questions or comments the Board wished to make and/or new direction the Board would like to pursue. He suggested adding a bullet point to the Forestry section relative to continuing implementation of the Taking Root campaign as funding becomes available. Mr. Michelson inquired as to page two – park development goal on size? Mr. Maurer suggested the following: Promote the benefits of larger neighborhood and community parks which provide a wide range of facilities. In addition, he suggested the following for an objective for this goal: Identify residential districts that are deficient in neighborhood parks and consider acquiring land for parks in these areas. In central-city areas, consider in fill lots for neighborhood parks to address deficiencies. The Board was in favor of this revision. Park Service Area Map for Existing City parks Jeff Bahling, Senior Landscape Architect for the Rettler Corporation of Stevens Point, Wisconsin, presented a schematic reflecting the various parks and their distinctions/categories. He stated with future annexations, the Board might want to start considering the need for more neighborhood parks. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE TWO JULY 11, 2011 Mr. Michelson stated he would like to know the amount of public land on the water way. Mr. Bahling stated that this information will be included in the final document. Mr. Poeschl inquired if the Leach Amphitheater was considered a park? Mr. Bahling stated the Leach Amphitheater area is considered a special use park. Mr. Maurer stated that the public school grounds property should be included in the list or on a different matrix. At the present time concentration was only on City owned property, but with service areas, we may want to include the school districts. He also stated that the goal for next month’s meeting is to discuss Capital Improvement (CIP) projects. Mr. Michelson commented that the capacity of the utilization of each park should be considered. He noted that Menominee Park is pretty full, i.e. zoo, playgrounds, diamonds, boat launches, etc. Mr. Bahling stated that is something that is done through Boards and citizens’ input. Mr. Girens inquired as to which areas are fee generated similar to the Leach Amphitheater, the golf course and the park shelters? Mr. Maurer stated the boat launches are also fee generated. He noted that staff will be incorporating some fee generating ideas such as user fees for ball diamond in the near future. All fees generated go into their separate funds (boat launch fees go into the boat launch fund; amusement fees go into the amusement fund, etc.) and that the fees for park shelters go into the general fund. The Recreation Department has a maintenance fund for scoreboards and other maintenance issues at athletic fields. The concession stands are run by various service groups who pay a percentage of sales to the Parks Department. Mr. Poeschl stated he is thinking about the Leach Amphitheater and how it fits into this plan. He suggested creating objectives of what we want the Leach Amphitheater to become. He did not feel there is enough vision for the Leach Amphitheater. Mr. Maurer stated that due to the nature of the Leach, golf course and zoo, these are unique facilities that require their own business and/or master plans which are either existing or will be worked on. CITIZEN STATEMENTS (Items not listed on the Agenda) There were no citizen statements. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE THREE JULY 11, 2011 PARK DIRECTORS REPORT Mr. Maurer stated that last week Jeff Bahling and Meegan Haas of Rettler Corporation took a two day tour of the park facilities to determine maintenance needs of each individual park and their facilities. Items identified included restrooms facilities which need to be updated, ADA issues, pathways, fishing and boat piers, etc. Mr. Maurer stated that the repeal and recreation of Section 19-4(O) of the City of Oshkosh Municipal Code pertaining to weapons prohibited in City Parks was pulled from the City Council agenda due to the adoption of the State’s concealed weapons law. Local enforcement cannot restrict people from carrying weapons in the park until we know more about that bill. Mr. Maurer reported that staff is working with members of the Sustainability Advisory Board for shoreline restoration at the north end of Miller’s Bay. Golf course easement that was approved by the Board at the last meeting has now been approved by both the Plan Commission and the City Council. The of Oshkosh Pedestrian and Bicycle Circulation Plan committee will be holding a public meeting tomorrow night at 4 PM and he encouraged the Board members to attend. Mr. Maurer announced that Parks Department staff is holding a Summer Fun Day at the Leach Amphitheater on Sunday, July 17 and encouraged the Board to attend as well. th Mr. Poeschl inquired as to the status of wood chips at the playgrounds. Mr. Maurer stated that the Parks Operations Manager had ordered woodchips and installation was being scheduled in the very near future. Mr. Maurer gave a verbal report from the Parks Operations Manager who could not attend tonight’s meeting, which included: staff is down due to the retirements of three full time staff members; special events such as Sawdust Days, Brews ‘N Blues, etc., with respect to their post-event clean up is being coordinated with those special event organizers and staff; installation of the benches along the Riverside Park riverwalk is being completed as well as the boat tie offs in that area; staff is continually working on mowing of all park properties as well as playground maintenance being undertaken. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business, Motion by Siman for adjournment; seconded by Girens. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:43 PM. Respectfully submitted, Trish Wendorf Trish Wendorf, Recording Secretary