prbm20120312
City of Muskego
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD
Monday, March 12, 2012
Approved 4/16/12
Board President Whipple called the monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board (Board), City of
Muskego, to order at 5:45 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
The meeting notice was posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law on Thursday, March 8, 2012.
Present: Mr. Gary Boisits, Ald. Kert Harenda, Mr. Jerald Hulbert, Mr. Hyde, Mr. “Butch” LeDoux, Mr. Toby
Whipple and Director Anderson
Not Present: Mrs. Koble (excused)
GUEST: Denise Konkol of MUSKEGO PATCH, Larry Lefebvre, Scott Lago, Mark Moriarty
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
February 13 Minutes
Mr. Brett Hyde moved to approve the minutes of the February 13, 2012 meeting, seconded by Mr.
Boisits. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS:
2012 Water Bugs Ski Team Agreements
Commitment Dates… Director Anderson stated that for 2012, the Waterbugs are requesting 31
practice dates which is 1 more than 2011 and 14 shows which is 1 less than 2011. He reminded the
Board members that they had requested the Waterbugs improve on the volume which they did. Mr.
Hulbert moved to approve the dates as submitted for 2012. Mr. Boisits seconded. Mr. Hulbert
stated his one issue of concern was the volume and they have taken care of it. Upon a voice
vote, the motion carried.
Pier Placement… Director Anderson provided the Board with copy of the pier placement agreement. It
is the same as in 2011. Mr. Hyde moved to approve the agreement for 2012. Mr. Boisits
seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried.
Ski Jump Agreement…No action is required from the Board. Director Anderson shared that the
location of the ski jump did go before the Public Safety Committee. They left it in the same site as in
2011 after some other options were discussed. He stated that Mr. Moriarty has received approval from
the new owner of the island for the ski jump’s location. A copy of that approval will be provided to the
Common Council.
Muskego Festival Committee
Mr. Scott Lago presented the festival committee’s request for usage of Veterans Memorial Park for the festival
from August 19-27. They will start with setup on the 19th. Thursday will be family day again. Some of the food
vendors will be open and they will also see what type of entertainment will be suitable for a family event. Friday
at 5:00 p.m., the main festival will be open and will run through Sunday with shutdown at 6:00 p.m. As in the
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, March 12, 2012, page 2
past, they were also asking for extended park hours. Director Anderson requested they inform the carnival
people that they cannot come into the park until that Monday. He reminded Mr. Lago that the bathrooms are
open by staff on Thursday and then it is the responsibility of the festival to close/open, clean and stock the
bathrooms until the festival is over. Mr. Lago agreed to keep this procedure in place. Mr. Hulbert asked if they
had a plan in the event it rained the week before. Mr. Lago said they would try to relocate the m depending on
how heavy the vehicles are. Closing off Pioneer Drive was not an option as the residents did not agree. The
worse scenario would be cancellation of the carnival and this would be done by Scott or Jack. Director
Anderson inquired if they were aware of the improvements to be made to Pioneer Drive. Mr. Lago said that
Ald. Snead had informed them. Director Anderson added that there will be an apron that has a thicker asphalt
to allow the trucks to get in and they have to stay on that apron. There will also be a walkway path along
Pioneer to Racine. It is believed this will occur before the event. Director Anderson also requested they provide
adequate security on the boardwalk. Also, any damage to the park or amenities will be the responsibility o f the
festival committee for restoration. Mr. Hyde moved, Mr. Hulbert seconded, to approve their use of
Veterans Memorial Park for the festival with the same caveats as last year:
They need to meet with Mr. Hulbert regarding use of historical grounds.
The bathrooms are open by staff on Thursday and then it is the responsibility of the festival to
close/open, clean and stock the bathrooms until the festival is over. Notify the Parks and
Recreation Department when they would be opening the shelter bathrooms for the festival.
The carnival people cannot come into the park until the Monday of the festival.
Trucks have to stay on the thicker asphalt apron if it is in place at the time of the event.
They are to provide adequate security on the walk way and adequate lighting in the area.
Any damage to park facilities or amenities, including turf, restoration will be the responsibility
of the festival committee.
and for dates and times, including extension of hours, as outlined. Upon a voice vote, the motion
carried
Lake Fest at Idle Isle
Mr. Lago presented the Lions Club’s request for use of Idle Isle Park for their Lake Fest event. The eve nt will
be Friday and Saturday. June 16 and 17. They are looking for control of the park from 1:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m. on
Friday and Saturday with the bands playing from 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. They will strive to be out of the park by
10:30 p.m. With a conflict of setting up on Wednesday due to the Waterbugs, they will set up the ir tent on
Tuesday night and return on Thursday to do the final set up. For the setting up, they usually have 12 people
handling this task. Mr. Hulbert questioned who had the license to sell beer at the park. Mr. Lago stated it was
his license. Mr. Lago would also request approval to park on the grass, seven rows. The actual start time on
Friday would be 4:00 p.m. and they would be shutting down the beach and pulling in the buoys which will be
put out again that night. This same procedure would occur at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. They will have the
signage out a week ahead of time. They will be using the picnic tables, unchaining them and putting them back
when the event ends. Director Anderson advised them to make sure they check the channel on their rounds
for any tables in the water. Ald. Harenda moved to approve, Mr. Hulbert seconded, for the Muskego
Lions Club to use Idle Isle Park for their Lake Fest with the same caveats as last year:
Signage be posted that the park will not have supervision after 1:00 p.m.
Signage when the beach will be closed.
Signage posted at least a week in advance of the event.
The launch will be left open.
Provide their own roll-off dumpster with the garbage being picked up and gone right after their
event.
Replace and lock up the tables so they don’t end up in the lake.
Music will end at 10:00 p.m. and the speakers will face towards the lake.
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, March 12, 2012, page 3
They are responsible for cleaning the bathrooms and stocking the bathrooms.
Any damage to park facilities or amenities, including turf, restoration will be the responsibility
of the Muskego Lions Club.
and including seven rows of parking on the grass, weather permitting and extension of park hours.
Upon a voice vote, the motion carried with Mr. Boisits abstaining.
Lions Club Waiver of Fees for Easter Egg Hunt at Veterans Memorial Park
Director Anderson presented the Lions Club request for waiver of fees for the use of Veterans Memorial Park
for their Easter Egg Hunt event. The event is scheduled for April 7 and the concern was on whether or not the
bathrooms would be open for the event. Director Anderson could not promise that the bathrooms would be
open. If it is cold, the bathrooms would not be open as the pipes could freeze. Mr. Hyde moved to approve
the request with the understanding that the department could not promise that the bathrooms would
be open due to weather conditions; if it was too cold, the bathrooms would not be open. Ald. Harenda
seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried with Mr. Boisits abstaining.
Lake Denoon Middle School Musical Cast Waiver of Fees for Old Town Hall
Board members were in receipt of the school district’s request to waive the usage fees for their use of the Old
Town Hall for their musical cast party. Director Anderson advised that the school district does waive usage
fees on their facilities for the department; however, not the cleaning fees. He did recommend waiving the
usage fee but not the cleaning fee. Mr. Hulbert moved, Mr. LeDoux seconded, to waive the usage fees,
but not the cleaning fee for the school district’s use of the Old Town Hall. Upon a voice vote, the
motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS: None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None
ALDERMAN’S REPORT: Ald Harenda shared with the Board members the resolution he put forth on the
Lake Park issue. The Board took serious issue with his proposed Ad -hoc committee replacing the Parks and
Recreation Board’s authority, granted by state statute, to govern, manage and care for the parks.
STATUS OF PROJECTS:
Park Arthur:
Director Anderson stated they would be going through the punch list with the contractor. One item to be
discussed will be the cost of mowing. The contractor is responsible for mowing until the park is released to the
department. Once released back to the department, it will be the department’s responsibility to manage the
park, including the mowing. The department will be deciding if the mowing will be done in -house, hiring
seasonals or contract it out. There is a significant acreage of no mow zones. The sledding hill will be on its
own with the sides being no mow areas. The baseball fields will remain the responsibility of the leagues except
for the spring and fall work done by staff.
DIRECTOR’S REPORT:
Director Anderson provided the Board with a report on the following:
Recreation
Summer Program Guide
On April 11, the program guide is scheduled to be sent to the printer with April 19 forecasted for mailing .
Age Demographics
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, March 12, 2012, page 4
Director Anderson shared that the department keeps statistics on almost everything that occurs within the
department. To this end, he presented a report on age demographics that the department serves
recreationally. Using census data, the younger age group has declined and the older age group has
increased. It’s an aging population that is residing in Muskego; therefore, the department may need to offer
more programming or services for this group. The department may start up a senior committee to identify
different opportunities and one may be to invest in a senior center. Right now, the city does not have a place
for seniors to gather for all seasons.
Parks
Parks Statistics
In response to some of the misinformation that is being distributed, Director Anderson prepared a report on
park statistics relative to funding sources, revenue and expenses. The biggest thing that he wants understood
is that the park development dollars that are spent are no tax dollars. The expenditures have been covered by
grants, development fees, and landfill funds. Due to past state legislation in 2007 that affected development
fees, the department’s main source of revenue for park development is from the landfill tipping fees which is
10%. From 2007 and on, the department has been limited to landfill funds. It takes a while for the funding
dollars to accumulate to cover the development of a park. He would like to receive a higher percentage of the
landfill funds, such as 20%. For the upcoming 2013 budget session, he will be proposing some of the items
requested as capital budget items. Other municipalities treat their park projects as capital expense.
He further addressed the misconception about the department’s net loss. He stressed that the department has
always been under budget during the time he has been on staff. If the expenses are over revenue, that is
without tax dollars. Over the last four years, the department has saved the city $95, 418 because the
department has been under budget. The money goes back into the general fund. He added that there are
items in the parks budget that are not parks related such as removing snow from the library, the police
department and also mowing of the library and the police department, the city’s boulevards, city’s share of the
high school athletic fields, the historical society. He is considering taking these out of the budget and assign a
separate GL to these non-park items.
Park planning principles now call for no-mow zones in areas of parks that are not going to have active use.
These have prairie plantings to keep the operational costs down. Under Mayor Johnson’s administration, the
department looked at areas that were contractually mowed which amounted to 16 acres distributed over 5
parks and killed the grass and put in prairie plantings. This amounted to about $4200 in savings which is
compounded annually; a cost that will never come back to the city. This is occurring in other cities to a void
operational costs.
In regard to the surveys being done in the parks, Idle Isle will continue to be surveyed annually. One reason
why the surveys were started was to find out if something was lacking or could be improved and to garner
more dollars from the aldermen to get things done. Concerning Idle Isle Park, roughly 90 percent of the
people stated it is good to excellent which means you’re meeting the customer’s expectations on aesthetics,
landscaping, cleanliness, bathrooms, all the amenities within the park. With the advent of the Lake Park
discussion, comments of those opposed to the park are that the parks are not being maintained. The surveys
are being done by either people that live immediately around the park or use the park. In the case of I dle Isle,
the survey was handed out to the people that used the park on two weekends. The surveys show how the
people perceive the parks. The response rate on the surveys is roughly 50 percent. In his opinion, someone
who comes into a park and fills out a survey has more ownership than someone who states you don’t take
care of it.
Truck Bids
Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, March 12, 2012, page 5
Director Anderson announced that the highest bid for the truck was $6,500. This was between the trade -in
value of $2000 and the Blue Book of $8,000. The bids will be given to the Common Council for their action.
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND OTHER BUSINESS:
Mr. Hulbert announced that the only subdivision development at this time is the DeBack property along Racine
Avenue. It went in with larger lots and there is a pond known as Crystal Lake as part of the subdivision.
Given what has been going on with the Lake Park and the allegations that have been made of potential conflict
of interest, depending on what transpires with the resolutions pending before Council on Tuesday, to avoid any
appearance of impropriety as he is representing the seller of the property, Mr. Boisits said he will most likely
be tendering his resignation from the Board. He stated it has been a pleasure serving with everyone on the
Board and the first time being on a government board, he found it very interesting. Board members thanked
him for his service.
ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Hyde moved for adjournment at 6:52 p.m.
Seconded by Mr. Hulbert. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried.
Stella Dunahee, CPS
Recording Secretary
pc: Board Members, Craig Anderson
email: Peter Theis, Tammy Dunn
posted: www.ci.muskego.wi.us