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HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-10-19 Minutes ADVISORY PARK BOARD DECEMBER 10, 2018 Present: Amy Davis, Tony Dirth, Scott Greuel, Steve Herman, Devon Hudak, Todd Kaufmann, Becky Metz, Bill Miller, Lester Millette Excused: Jay Supple Jr., Leadership Oshkosh Adjunct Board Member Other: Al Wenig, Oshkosh Recreation Department Director Staff: Ray Maurer, Parks Director; Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director; Stacy James, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Chair Davis called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M. A quorum was determined to be present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Motion by Herman for approval of the October 8, 2018 minutes. Seconded by Hudak. Motion carried 9-0. CITIZEN STATEMENTS & PARK BUSINESS 1) DISCUSS REQUESTS TO RESERVE TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL COURTS AT MENOMINEE PARK Mr. Maurer states that since the completion of the newly renovated courts at Menominee Park he has received more requests to reserve or rent the courts. He is concerned that there will continue to be an increase in these requests. Current requests have come in from some individual groups as well as the Recreation Department and the YMCA. The City has an understanding with the Recreation Department that there is no fee for facility use. A concern with the rentals is that it takes away from public use. A possible solution might be to only rent a limited amount of courts at a time which members of the Board agreed with as well. There are 14 tennis courts and 4 pickleball courts in the city’s parks system. The Board generally agreed that if there is a charge for Menominee Park courts then there should be a charge for all. It was also agreed that if there is staff time involved with preparing the courts that there should be a charge as well. Back in 2015 the Board had reviewed charges for different uses and had decided not to charge at that time. Mr. Wenig stated that the Recreation Department currently offers indoor pickleball. He has seen it continue to gain in popularity. He is currently looking to use the outside courts for lessons to start if it is well attended they may look into leagues in the future. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE TWO DECEMBER 10, 2018 Mr. Dirth inquired as to whether some of these same user groups that are requesting use of the courts helped to pay for them to be reconstructed. Mr. Maurer advised that city CIP funds paid for the project however there is a group of people that are trying to begin a maintenance endowment fund with the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation to help pay for improvements in the future. After further discussion regarding limited reservations for the courts and potentially charging fees it was decided that staff will reach out to get an updated fee schedule from the surrounding communities for tennis court and pickleball use and will bring that information back to the Board for further discussion. 2) REVIEW AND RECOMMEND AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 19 OF MUNICIPAL CODE Mr. Maurer advised that there have been some minor changes to Chapter 19 of the Municipal Code so it was decided that now would be a good time to clean up the document to clarify some items and correct typographical errors. He briefly reviewed the changes including: Listing all parks alphabetically rather than breaking them up by park type  Amending the amplified sound provision to line up with how Common Council has voted  in the past Changing park curfew to 11pm-5am to accommodate early morning use  Amending the name for Little Oshkosh in the case that it is not a community build when  replaced in 2019 Changes to the boat launch program  Change dates for sticker validation to line up with current use o Change location for the stickers to line up with current use o Changes to boat launch buy out requirements to accommodate smaller groups that o want to buy out the entire launch Changes to boat launch buy out requirements pertaining to special event use o Motion by Dirth to recommend approval of amendments to Chapter 19 of Municipal Code. Seconded by Kaufmann. Motion carried 9-0. 3) UPDATE ON 2019 ADOPTED BUDGET AND CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (CIP) Mr. Maurer reviewed with the Board the projects that have been approved in the 2019 CIP and provided in the spreadsheet that was sent out with the packets. Common Council and the City Manager appreciate the Board working to provide input regarding these projects as well as prioritizing the projects for them. Project totals come in just under $1 million which shows that there is strong support for the parks system from the Council and community. Mr. Maurer also briefly reviewed the equipment that will be replaced in the CIP. As for the operating budget that has been approved there are a lot of projects that staff will be working on in 2019. Mr. Maurer reviewed the list with the Board. It will make for a busy year but Mr. Maurer is excited to see the different projects and improvements that are being made. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE THREE DECEMBER 10, 2018 Some of the projects that staff will be working on in 2019 include: Eagle Exhibit at Menominee Park Zoo  Project anticipated to start in early spring o Infrastructure improvements for communication at Menominee Park  Provide internet in buildings and ability to install security cameras o WebTrac add on for rental software  Allows for online shelter reservations at this time, future potential for activity registration o and pool pass purchases Lakeshore Riverwalk  AECOM will be the consultant. Bid out in January, start project in March/April, completion o in early October. Electronic Pay Stations at boat launches  Carry-over project from 2018 o Spanbauer ball field improvements  Bid out in 2018 but no favorable bids received, plan to request quotes in January with plans o for summer completion. Rainbow Park ball field improvements  Fill hauled to site to level out. Syd Supple continuing to raise funds for project. Request o quotes with Spanbauer hoping for better pricing with two projects to complete. Teichmiller Park ball field improvements  Weather pushed completion of batting cage and field fencing back o William Waters Plaza  Working with several departments in the city to make improvements o 4) UPDATE ON PARKS DEPARTMENT 2018-2020 STRATEGIC PLAN Mr. Maurer states that staff worked with Walter Jankowski to complete the department’s strategic plan. Walter has assisted the city with their strategic plans as well as the police and fire departments. This is a three year document that lays out the projects the department will begin to work on. He reviewed the listing with the Board which included many of the projects that had already been discussed as well as many internal goals and projects that the department intends to work on. He feels it is a good document for staff to reference and notes that all staff in the department provided input. Mr. Herman states that Common Council uses the same format for making decision when approving the budget and CIP so having the department create their own strategic plan and lining up their projects with the city’s strategic plan is helpful when deciding where to use tax dollars. PARK DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. Maurer advised that the Nice Rink is nearing completion and will be open to the public soon. December 21 beginning at 5:30 is the Reindeer at the Rink event. There will be a dinner available for purchase as well an appearance by Santa and his reindeer. The invitation and more information can be found on the Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s website. ADVISORY PARK BOARD MINUTES PAGE FOUR DECEMBER 10, 2018 ASSISTANT PARK DIRECTOR’S REPORT Mr. Dallman confirmed that the rink will be up and running within the next week. The committee had a goal of improving the aesthetics at the site and the department has been working toward bringing that to fruition. To his knowledge this will be one of the first rinks in the area to open to the public. Staff has been working toward completing projects and Landscape Operations is taking advantage of the good weather to complete pruning in the parks. Event planning has also begun for park events in 2019 to be able to inform the public of events sooner than normal. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Miller for adjournment; seconded by Herman. Motion carried 9-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:55 P.M Respectfully submitted, Stacy L. James Stacy L. James, Recording Secretary