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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES MAY 11, 2015 Present: Victor Girens, Bill Gogolewski, Jim Michelson, Carrie Rule, Megan Schuessler, Terry Wohler Excused: Bill Miller, Jonathan Wilson Staff: Ray Maurer, Parks Director; Chad Dallman, Parks Operations Manager; Bill Sturm, Landscape Operations Manager/City Forester; Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager; Steve Dobish, Trish Marks, Recording Secretary Lakeshore Municipal Golf Course Manager; Guests: Byron Walleser, Leadership Oshkosh Adjunct Board Member CALL TO ORDER Chairman Wohler called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. ROLL CALL A quorum was determined to be present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Schuessler for approval of the February 9, 2015 minutes, as distributed. Seconded by Gogolewski. Motion carried 6-0. CITIZENS STATEMENTS (Items on Agenda) There were no citizen’s statements. PARK BUSINESS 1)Discuss/approve user fees for Oshkosh Community Sailing Program Mr. Maurer gave a brief background of the reduced fee request and read his Memorandum dated May 5, 2015 addressed to the Park Board members (said Memorandum on file at the City Parks Department and made a part of these minutes). He stated basically the group is looking for a discount (50% reduction) for their sailing program. Steve Eliason, 1528 Grove Street, representing the Oshkosh Community Sailing program, stated the group has been in existence since 2009; sail week was born a few years later; the group is now at the point where there are over 2,300 students enrolled in the program. Motion by Gogolewski to approve the user fees for the Oshkosh Community Sailing Program as requested; Seconded by Girens. Motion carried 6-0. 2)Discuss/approve marquee sign for Opera House Square Mr. Maurer gave a brief background of the project and read his Memorandum dated May 5, 2015 addressed to the Park Board members (said Memorandum on file at the City Parks Department and made a part of these minutes). He reiterated that the sign is proposed to match the new downtown amenities (light poles, trash bins and benches). Mr. Maurer stated he would be working closely with Cassie Daniels, Downtown BID Manager, with respect to placing messages on the marquee, noting that an agreement ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE TWO MAY 11, 2015 would be entered into as to what is allowed on the sign (private businesses and events would not be allowed). He stated that City staff would also be working with the BID relative to landscaping around the sign, which would be paid for by the BID. Mr. Girens inquired if local sign companies were in on the bidding process. Mr. Maurer stated he was not sure of what bid process the BID went through with respect to obtaining a sign maker. Mr. Gogolewski requested that Mr. Maurer inquire of the BID officers to determine if local sign companies were in on the bidding process. Ms. Rule stated she thinks the marquee sign is a great idea and the plans look nice. Motion by Goglewski to approve the marquee sign for Opera House Square as requested; seconded by Rule. Motion carried 6-0. 3)Discuss/recommend establishment of ordinance prohibiting fishing from boat docks at City- owned boat launches Mr. Maurer gave a brief background on the issue and read his Memorandum dated May 5, 2015 addressed to the Park Board members (said Memorandum on file at the City Parks Department and made a part of these minutes). He stated that while most incidents have been occurring at the Steiger boat launch, there have been incidents at other boat launches as well. To be consistent within the entire City boat launch areas, it is preferred to prohibit fishing off docks designated as boat launch docks. Mr. Gogolewski inquired as to who would be enforcing the proposed new ordinance. Mr. Maurer stated that once the ordinance is in effect and signage is posted, the Oshkosh Police Department would be enforcing it. In the future, it is hoped that the boat launch rangers would have the authority to enforce it. Mr. Maurer needs to discuss further with City Attorney. Chairman Wohler stated that signage would take care of most of the issues. Mr. Michelson stated that it appears to him that Steiger boat launch is the worse even though there is a fishing dock right next to the boat launch dock. This proposal is not a hardship and is reasonable. Motion by Michelson to recommend the establishment of an ordinance prohibiting fishing from boat launch docks at City-owned boat launches; Seconded by Gogolewski. Motion carried 6-0. PARK DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. Maurer stated that the Inclusive Playground at South Park is three-quarters done. Weather permitting crews will be pouring the rubberized surface this week. The grand opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday, June 5, 2015 from 5 PM - 8 PM at South Park and he encouraged the Board members and public to attend. With respect to the Stevens Park restroom project, the site was excavated today and it is hoped to have that project completed in August. The 5-year CIP will be on the next Board agenda for review and consideration. The City Council members have requested that the CIP process be started earlier this year. Also on next month’s Board agenda will be the request for approval of no parking on the north side of Siewert Trail in Menominee Park near diamond #8. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE THREE MAY 11, 2015 PARKS OPERATIONS MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. Dallman stated that the 24 Avenue boat launch restroom bids are due next week. He applied for a permit th to remove the pedestrian bridge, but cannot commence work with the construction of the culverts and walkway until October 15 per the permit requirements. With respect to the Little Oshkosh playground, plans for th refurbishing the playground are being worked on by Play by Design and the Southwest Rotary group. Crews have been working on 300 ft of railroad track for the train at Menominee Park which will alleviate some of the issues from last year of the train going off-track. All of the park facilities are opening up now and it will be a busy spring. LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. Sturm reported that a lot of tree planting is being done now by crews, as well as by the Middle Neighborhood Association and the Miller’s Bay Association. April 30 was Arbor Day and the 34 year that the thth City was recognized as Tree City USA. With respect to the George Washington project, the sidewalk is in and the City Electrician is working on the electrical work at present. Crews have been working on the landscape at Abe Rochlin Park – taking out some shrubs and putting in new plantings as well as re-mulching the entire area. At the Riverside Cemetery, crews have been lawn mowing and preparing the facility for the Memorial Day holiday. REVENUE FACILITIES MANAGER’S REPORT Ms. McCollian gave a report on the various revenue facilities, including the Leach Amphitheater wherein she reported that revenues for 2014 were $83,465 with expenses totaling $84,000. With respect to the Streaming Live concerts, approximately 1,750 people attended the Tuesday night concerts which were sponsored by VERVE. VERVE will also be sponsoring the Tuesday night concerts for 2015 as well. The Touch a Truck event had approximately 2,500 people in attendance and it was sponsored by Oshkosh Corporation who will again sponsor the event in 2015. There were approximately 115,000 visitors to the Menominee Park Zoo in 2014. Pollock Community Water Park had a good year with $330,486 in revenues and $311,487 in expenses. Winnebago Community Credit Union will sponsor all of the special events held at the pool in 2015. This past May 2-3, 2015 (opening weekend), the amusements had the best revenues ever. She noted that the boat launches are now open and that the ball diamonds have been used since April. Chairman Wohler inquired as to the amount of the boat launch fund (present balance). Ms. McCollian reported that in 2013 the revenue was $56,778 and 2014 the revenue was $86,150 leaving a current balance of $180,687.08. LAKESHORE MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE MANAGER’S REPORT Mr. Dobish reported that the golf course opened for the season on March 15 which is early historically. He th noted that the weather has been a roller coaster ever since opening day. Rounds of golf are up through April by 1,400 from last year. Revenues are up by $26,500 from last year. Mr. Dobish stated that the hot dog roller that was donated to the golf course has helped with concession sales – people tend to buy more when they can smell the concessions. Mr. Gogolewski inquired as to the condition of the greens. Mr. Dobish stated that with the irrigation system and current rainy conditions, the greens are in good condition. He noted that fertilizer has been applied and worked into the whole course. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE FOUR MAY 11, 2015 OTHER BUSINESS Mr. Maurer wished to thank Byron Walleser, Leadership Oshkosh Adjunct Board Member, for his participation on the Board. He noted that Mr. Walleser graduates from Leadership Oshkosh on May 28. th There being no other business, ADJOURNMENT Motion by Gogolewski for adjournment; seconded by Michelson. Motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:43 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Trish Marks Trish Marks, Recording Secretary