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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES MARCH 12, 2012 Present: Victor Girens, Bill Gogolewski, Jim Michelson, Bill Miller, Mark Philipp, Bob Poeschl, Allan Siman, Terry Wohler Excused: Jonathan Wilson Staff: Ray Maurer, Parks Director; Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager; Steve Dobish, Lakeshore Municipal Golf Course Manager; Trish Wendorf, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Chairman Gogolewski called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. A quorum was determined to be present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Siman for approval of the February 13, 2012 minutes, as submitted. Seconded by Wohler. Motion carried 8-0. CITIZENS STATEMENTS (Items on Agenda) There were no citizen’s statements. PARK BUSINESS 1) Review and recommend approval of Oshkosh Youth Baseball donation to renovate Mary Jewell Park baseball diamond Mr. Maurer gave a brief overview of the proposed donation by Oshkosh Youth Baseball (OYB) per the donation form submitted to the City on March 6, 2012 (said form on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). He stated he has been working with Troy Kohl and other representatives of OYB for both safety and aesthetic improvements at Mary Jewell Park. The donation would be approximately $25,000 ($14,000 for backstop and fencing and $11,000 for infield mix). Mr. Miller stated that OYB does an incredible job and supports the community and facilities and he wished to thank them for their efforts. Chairman Gogolewski inquired if the portable toilets at Mary Jewell Park could be shielded from sight, possibly with the planting of arborvitae. Troy Kohl, representative of OYB, stated that makes sense and he will discuss the issue with the other OYB Board members. Chairman Gogolewski inquired as to what will happen with the old infield mix. Mr. Kohl stated the existing material will be excavated and be used to replenished the base of the new field and add new material (infield mix) to finish the grade. Mr. Girens stated he had been involved with OYB for years and the public still ask him about Westhaven Park diamonds; those diamonds are in bad shape, i.e. weeds in the infield. Mr. Maurer stated items/concerns such as that are addressed in the Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan and staff will be concentrating on those issues. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE TWO MARCH 12, 2012 Motion by Girens to recommend approval of Oshkosh Youth Baseball donation to renovate Mary Jewell Park baseball diamond. Seconded by Wohler. Motion carried 8-0. 2)Discussion of schedule and process for Menominee Park Master Plan Mr. Maurer gave a brief overview of the Menominee Park Master Plan schedule (said schedule on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). Mr. Poeschl inquired with respect to the April 25 date, are the user groups meeting prior to the Board meeting. th Mr. Maurer stated that was correct in that the user groups would be meeting between 4:30 – 6 PM prior to the Board meeting at City Hall. He stated the Board members are invited to attend the earlier meeting with the user groups. He announced that on April 4, 2012 there will be a public input meeting at 6:30 PM at the Oshkosh Senior Center and on April 25, 2012 there will be another public input meeting at 6:30 PM at Oshkosh City Hall. Mr. Philipp inquired if the group spearheading the observation tower project in Menominee Park were notified. Mr. Maurer stated he had emailed Roy Duxstad about the plan process. He also noted that Southwest Rotary received an email regarding the user group survey. Mr. Miller inquired as to how many people have responded to date to the surveys. Mr. Maurer stated that to date approximately 70-75 citizens have responded and six (6) user groups. Mr. Maurer stated he also sent out an email to the user groups to remind them of the timeline. Mr. Poeschl inquired as to what other methods were used to get the surveys out. Mr. Maurer stated there were two articles/editorials in the local newspaper and Mr. Bollier (Oshkosh Northwestern) would possibly be doing another reminder article this week. Direct mailing of the survey was done to 640 property owners adjacent to Menominee Park as well. Ms. McCollian stated she had put the survey’s link on Facebook and Twitter and the Parks Department’s ™™ website. Hard copies were also given to the Library, Senior Center and City Hall for public use. 3)2011 Financials for Lakeshore Golf Course Mr. Dobish gave a brief overview of the revenue/expense reports (said reports on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). He stated that April, May and June of 2011 were not good months for revenue due to weather conditions. The rounds for 2011 came to approximately 27,172 which is approximately 3,000 down from last year. Mr. Maurer reminded the Board that these report figures are not final figures until the City’s auditors have completed their audit. 4) 2011 Financials for Pollock Community Water Park Ms. McCollian gave a brief overview of the 2011 Annual Financial Report (said report on file at the City Parks office and made a part of these minutes). She stated that the pool season started out slow due to weather conditions. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE THREE MARCH 12, 2012 Mr. Wohler stated that the financials look good and reminded the Board that the pool was not built with the intention of making a profit. Mr. Michelson inquired with respect to the gifts and donations, how much of that came from the endowment fund at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. Ms. McCollian stated all of that money was received from the endowment fund. This year staff is concentrating on improving the ventilation system at the pool. Mr. Poeschl inquired as to how many family passes were sold. Ms. McCollian stated that a breakdown/report as to all passes would be made available at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting. CITIZEN STATEMENTS (Items not listed on the Agenda) There were no citizen statements. PARK DIRECTORS REPORT Mr. Maurer stated that the Parks Department will be putting on Tuesday night concerts at the Leach Amphitheater from June 19 through July 31. The Oshkosh Downtown Business District (BID) Board will be thst co-sponsoring these concerts. It is the intention to have local bands perform and to keep the concerts family affordable by charging $5 per person/$3 for students. Parks staff will be operating the concession stands. He wished to take this opportunity to thank the BID for helping to fund these concerts. Staff is working with the Waterfest representatives to avoid competing with their patrons and pricing of concessions. On the concert date, the gates will open at 6 PM with the concerts running from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. At the next regularly scheduled Board meeting there will be a citizen coming forward about the possible donation of a train car. At this time the citizen is attempting to obtain donations to help support the project. The possible site for placement of the train car is at Fugelberg Park (north end of the park). Mr. Maurer stated that the State of the City is scheduled for next Monday (March 19) at the Oshkosh th Convention Center at 6 PM. He encouraged the Board members and public to attend. With respect to the Pratt Trail bridge (Menominee Park), he is meeting with a consulting firm and City’s engineering department to determine cost estimates to restore the bridge. New bleachers (ADA compliant) are being assembled and will be installed at the Reetz ball diamonds (Menominee Park). Mr. Siman stated that there is graffiti in 3 or 4 places in Little Oshkosh at Menominee Park. Mr. Maurer stated he would have staff take care of that issue. Mr. Miller inquired as to Riverwalk updates. Mr. Maurer stated he will invite Mr. Allen Davis, Community Development Director, to a future meeting to give an update to the Board. He stated that City staff is working on an agreement for the area behind the hotel with hopes that construction would begin within the next month. After the boating season, it is anticipated to begin work behind Becket’s. Mr. Miller stated that City staff is doing an incredible job with the whole Riverwalk project. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE FOUR MARCH 12, 2012 REVENUE FACILITY MANAGER’S REPORT Ms. McCollian reported that with respect to the Tuesday night concerts at the Leach Amphitheater, she is putting the information on Facebook and Twitter as well as the City’s website. To date she has received good ™™ response. She stated she is working with Next Media for billboard ads which will be installed in May and will continue until July. She stated that a year or two ago, students from UW-O were working on a marketing project for the Leach Amphitheater and they came up with the name for the concerts, to-wit: Streaming [LIVE] at the Leach. Ms. McCollian reported that she is getting ready for the Park’s first annual Egg-Citing Day at the Zoo scheduled for th Saturday, April 7 in Menominee Park. She stated that lots of businesses are getting involved, including Target and Party City. Mr. Girens inquired if there were any thoughts on having a Blue Grass night at the Leach. Ms. McCollian stated that it is hoped to have a mixture of all types of music during the Tuesday night concerts at the Leach. Chairman Gogolewski inquired if there was any intention of raising boat launch fees this year or next year? Ms. McCollian stated that staff is going to do a study on all of our park fees this year. Tomorrow she is having all the boat launch stickers and information packets delivered to all the boat launches and the vendors. Chairman Gogolewski stated that the City’s boat launch fee revenues are doing exactly what they were intended to do – maintain and improve the launches. Mr. Wohler concurred with Mr. Gogolewski that the launches are well-maintained and added that unless there is a project(s) that exceeds the revenues already received, he does not see a reason to raise the fees. He does not want the fees raised just for the sake of keeping up with other communities. Mr. Maurer stated that staff will look at project(s) versus revenues and make a determination from that. LAKESHORE MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. Dobish stated that the golf course came through the winter in very good condition. Staff completed the ladies’ 18 tee and it will be opened this year. He reported there was no damage to any of the trees, with the th exception of three hazard trees that Forestry removed. It is hoped to have the golf course opened (without carts) on Wednesday, March 14, weather permitting. With respect to aeration, it is anticipated to do the th greens late in May or early June weather/revenue permitting. He stated that the Friends of Lakeshore will be funding a chipping green on the hill by the putting green. Mr. Dobish announced with deep regret, the passing of a golf course employee, Roy Abraham. Mr. Abraham was a valued employee who loved working the golf course concessions. He will be missed by staff and patrons of the golf course. ADJOURNMENT There being no other business, Motion by Wohler for adjournment; seconded by Miller. Motion carried 8-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:43 PM. Respectfully submitted, Trish Wendorf Trish Wendorf, Recording Secretary