HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes
ADVISORY PARK BOARD
MINUTES
JUNE 8, 2015
Present: Victor Girens, Bill Gogolewski, Jim Michelson, Bill Miller, Carrie Rule, Megan Schuessler, Jonathan
Wilson, Terry Wohler
Staff: Ray Maurer, Parks Director; Chad Dallman, Parks Operations Manager; Bill Sturm, Landscape
Trish Marks, Recording Secretary
Operations Manager/City Forester;
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 Gogolewski for approval of the May 11, 2015 minutes, as distributed. Seconded by
Girens. Motion carried 9-0.
CITIZENS STATEMENTS (Items on Agenda)
There were no citizen’s statements.
PARK BUSINESS
1)Discuss/recommend 5-year CIP (2016-2020)
Mr. Maurer gave a brief progress report of the 2015 CIP projects noting that the South Park restroom facility
will be torn down after summer season with new construction starting in late fall.
Mr. Miller stated there is a need for another shelter with possibly a restroom attached (similar to the one that
was recently constructed at Stevens Park).
Mr. Maurer stated that with construction of an additional shelter, parking becomes an issue. He stated that
with shelters similar to the #2 shelter at Menominee Park; if people are renting a shelter and there are
restrooms attached, they don’t like people going through their party to get to the restrooms.
Mr. Maurer stated he would discuss the possibilities with Ron Hansche of HGM Architecture and possibly bring
the matter up at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting.
Mr. Maurer noted that the Stevens Park restroom construction is on schedule; the William Steiger path is being
worked on and hopefully will be completed this fall; contracts are being obtained for the 24 Avenue restrooms;
th
the Cemetery roads are being updated and this is the 6 year of the Taking Root program.
th
Mr. Maurer outlined the proposed 2016 CIP projects as follows: 1) Menominee Park Little Oshkosh update – The
facility is almost 20 years old (1997) and it is proposed to do a complete demolition of Little Oshkosh with the
exception of the human head. Oshkosh Southwest Rotary and the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation will be
helping financially with the project. 2) Design services for South Park lagoon improvements – Mr. Maurer
stated this project fits into the South Park Master Plan. He has been discussing the project with James
ADVISORY PARK BOARD
MINUTES PAGE TWO JUNE 8, 2015
Rabe, City’s Civil Engineer Supervisor, who stated there is $250,000 of storm water utility money that can be
used towards this project. 3) Red Arrow Park Restrooms Update – It is proposed to gut the entire restrooms
and make them more efficient and handicapped accessible. Mr. Gogolewski inquired if the restrooms would be
stainless or porcelain. Mr. Maurer stated they would be porcelain similar to the restrooms at Abe Rochlin Park
and the Lakefly Café in Menominee Park. 4) Menominee Park Tennis Courts reconstruct and lighting – It is
proposed to install more cost efficient lights with timers. 5) Teichmiller Park Restrooms Update – Mr. Maurer
stated staff is working with the neighborhood association on this project. 6) Teichmiller Park Lighting – As
long as improvements are being done at this park, it would be cost efficient to include an updated lighting
project. 7) Rainbow Park design services for launch improvements – This is the top launching site in the city; it
is proposed to do the engineering work in 2016 and do the project in 2017. Through grants and partnerships
with various organizations, the cost may do down. 8) Abe Rochlin Park lighting – this project is self-
explanatory. 9) Parks Department Building Renovation – Phase 1 – It is hoped to make the building more
efficient for office staff and Parks and Forestry crews as well as provide office space for the Revenue Facilities
Manager. Reconfiguration of the parking area is also proposed for public vehicle. Phase 2 is proposed for 2017.
10) Westhaven Park – Accessible Route and Perimeter Walk – This project is helpful for access to the
playground and would improve the site. 11) Taking Root funding – This would be the 7 year for the project
th
and staff would like to see it continued.
Mr. Michelson inquired as to Menominee Park trail work/spurs by the Beach House and Merritt Avenue that are
detailed in the Menominee Park Master Plan. There is a need to look at the trails also by the Nevada Street/New
York Avenue pump house area. It was high on the list in 2015, but got pushed back because of other projects
and then got bumped out of 2015 and is now not on the list for 2016. Mr. Maurer stated trail improvements for
Menominee Park could be added as a placeholder ford $50,000, but one of the other items would need to be
taken out of the list. After considerable discussion, it was the consensus of the Board to propose the 2016 CIP
request summary as: 1) Menominee Park Little Oshkosh update; 2) Design services for South Park lagoon
improvements; 3) Rainbow Park – design services for launch improvements; 4) Menominee Park Tennis
Courts reconstruct and lighting; 5) Red Arrow Park Restrooms Update; 6) Menominee Park trail
improvements; 7) Teichmiller Park Restrooms Update; 8) Teichmiller Park Lighting; 9) Abe Rochlin Park
Lighting; 10) Parks Department Building Renovation-Phase 1; 11) Westhaven Park – Accessible Route and
Perimeter Walk; 12) Taking Root funding.
Motion by Gogolewski to recommend approval of the 5-year CIP (2016-2020) as adjusted, to-wit: 1)
Menominee Park Little Oshkosh update; 2) Design services for South Park lagoon improvements;
3) Rainbow Park – design services for launch improvements; 4) Menominee Park Tennis Courts
reconstruct and lighting; 5) Red Arrow Park Restrooms Update; 6) Menominee Park trail
improvements; 7) Teichmiller Park Restrooms Update; 8) Teichmiller Park Lighting; 9) Abe
Rochlin Park Lighting; 10) Parks Department Building Renovation-Phase 1; 11) Westhaven Park –
Accessible Route and Perimeter Walk; 12) Taking Root funding. Seconded by Rule. Motion carried
9-0.
2)Discuss/recommend No Parking rules for Siewert Trail, east of Hazel Street, in Menominee Park
Mr. Maurer gave a brief background of the proposal per his Memorandum to the Board (said Memorandum on
file at the Parks Department and made a part of these minutes) dated June 4, 2015. Mr. Maurer stated he held
discussions with the Oshkosh Police Department and the City of Oshkosh Transit Director who both would like
the restrictions on a year-round basis, but discussions with the Principal at Webster Stanley Middle School was
not receptive to that suggestion.
ADVISORY PARK BOARD
MINUTES PAGE THREE JUNE 8, 2015
Mr. Miller inquired about special events and stated that a lot of parking spaces would not be available for them.
Mr. Maurer stated that some complaints may be submitted from the softball leagues, but complaints come in no
matter what the situation is.
Chairman Wohler stated that during the fisherees, wooden signs or barricades are put up relative to parking
restrictions.
Mr. Dallman stated that special events are able to request parking restrictions for their events through the
special event policy process.
Motion by Rule to recommend No parking rules for Siewert Trail, east of Hazel Street in Menominee
Park, to-wit: Siewert Trail – east of Hazel Street
South side of Siewert Trail, no parking at any time
North side of Siewert Trail, no parking May 1 – August 31 between the hours of 5 PM and
stst
12 AM Monday through Friday and all day of weekends.
Seconded by Michelson. Motion carried 9-0
PARK DIRECTOR’S REPORT
Mr. Maurer stated that at the Inclusive Playground ribbon cutting ceremony hundreds of people were in
attendance. The fencing that is currently there was for seeding/soiling, but will be taken down in the next few
days. The second phase of the fund-raising is for the picket fence which the committee members are promoting;
$50 for an individual and $100 for a company. The no fishing off the boat launch docks has been approved by
the City Council (adopted on the first reading in May 2015). Signs are being made up and will be placed at the
boat launch docks as soon as they are done. The Pollock Community Water Park opened on Saturday, June 6
th
with no major issues. While school is in session, the pool will be opened for limited hours. Beginning June 11
through August 23, the regular hours of noon until 8 PM will be in effect. The Tuesday night Streaming Live
Concert series has once again been sponsored by Verve, a Credit Union, and will begin on Tuesday, July 7. He
th
distributed a copy of the Tuesday night concert series schedule (said schedule on file at the Parks Department
and made a part of these minutes). Mr. Maurer reported that staff is working on the special events at the Leach
as well as the Waterfest series which starts June 18. Movie night at the Leach will be June 19 with the movie
thth
being Big Hero 6. On June 16 at Menominee Park a new event, Mascot Day, will be held from Noon until 4 PM.
th
Irish Fest at the Leach Amphitheater runs from June 11 – 14, 2015. June 17 at South Park will be a Donor
Appreciation for the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation which will showcase the Inclusive Playground.
PARKS OPERATIONS MANAGER’S REPORT
Mr. Dallman stated that the Stevens Park restroom project is coming along nicely and that the construction is a
few weeks ahead of schedule. At Teichmiller Park the sidewalks were installed and installation went well. He
noted that restoration work still needs to be completed. At West Algoma Park, concrete was installed today and
playground chips will be spread out this week. The 24 Avenue Boat Launch striping plan on the parking lot
th
was done last week and looks great. In mid to late September, the boat launch area will be closed due to the
restroom project. At the Leach Amphitheater, the Riverside parking lot is now open/functional and looks very
nice. At South Park, 300 yards of playground chips were laid last week. At Fugleberg Park, 200 yards of
playground chips were laid last week and another 100 yards will be laid this week. The parks crew had been
working diligently in getting the facilities started up at the Pollock Community Water Park in time for the June
6 opening. He also stated that the Reetz concession stand at Menominee Park will be painted inside this week.
th
ADVISORY PARK BOARD
MINUTES PAGE FOUR JUNE 8, 2015
LANDSCAPE OPERATIONS MANAGER’S REPORT
Mr. Sturm reported that with respect to the George Washington Monument project, the garden is being installed
at present and the flagpole will be installed soon. He stated that he recently received an email from Justin
Mitchell relative to the transplanting of 200 cup plants and some other larger plants which were removed and
moved to the Menominee Park pump station and/or donated to the garden clubs.
Mr. Michelson inquired as to what will happen when the plants are 3 ft or higher.
Chairman Wohler stated that the group took care of the bigger/taller plants and that it’s a wait and see what
happens by the end of June scenario.
Mr. Sturm stated that the group will have another work day to clear up the higher plants at the end of June.
They are actively accommodating to the desires of the Board. He will suggest to Mr. Mitchell to attend the next
regularly scheduled Board meeting to give an update and address the concerns of the Board.
OTHER BUSINESS
There being no other business,
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Gogolewski for adjournment; seconded by Rule. Motion carried 9-0.
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Trish Marks
Trish Marks, Recording Secretary