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PRB091100minutes PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES CITY OF MUSKEGO September 11, 2000 Approved with Clarification 10/9/00 Chairperson Toby Whipple called the monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board, City of Muskego, to order at 6:30 p.m. The meeting notice was posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law on September 7, 2000. Present: Mr. Toby Whipple, Mr. Richard Manchester, Mr. Craig Anderson (Director of Parks & Recreation), Ald. LeDoux, Mrs. Debbie Carlson, Mr. Jerald Hulbert, Mr. Tom Zagar (Lakes Project Coordinator). Mr. Howard Schneider and Mrs. Kelly Koble were excused. GUESTS: Kevin McCoy, Marv Weisner APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Rich Manchester moved to approve the minutes of the August 14, 2000 meeting. Seconded by Jerald Hulbert. Motion carried by all COMMUNICATIONS: Personal Appearances: Muskego Athletic Association (MAA)– Bluhm Ball Field Improvements – Mr. Kevin McCoy was present to discuss the outcome of the recent MAA Board meeting. Their Board agreed to split the costs of improving the fields 50/50 with the Parks and Recreation Department. This cost sharing also includes the higher upgrade of field #2. The total cost of improvements is $20,475. The remainder of the funds will come from the Parks Dedication Fund budget. Jerald Hulbert moved to approve the cost sharing at Bluhm Park with MAA. Seconded by Debbie Carlson. Carried by all. Discussion continued with the backstop area and the amount of improvements necessary to make those areas safe. Jerald Hulbert requests that options and cost estimates for backstop and bleacher improvements be placed on the October Parks and Recreation Board Agenda. The Board th discussed with Mr. McCoy MAA’s interest in a 4 ball diamond at Bluhm. At this time, MAA does not have the funds available to cost-share in this endeavor. Jerald Hulbert stated that he feels that th the initial cost for a 4 ball field would be paid for in its entirety by the city and if MAA or any other entity is heavily using the field, they would be asked to participate in the maintenance costs of that th field. Craig stated that he has received a call indicating that if a 4 field would be put in at Bluhm, this individual would be interested in hosting tournaments at the park. The cost of constructing an additional field would be in the neighborhood of $20,000. The Board directed Craig Anderson to obtain firm costs for this additional field. Muskego Lion’s Club – Veterans Memorial Park Pavilion – This item was deferred until next month’s meeting. Tom Zagar – A Park and Open Space Plan (Plan) - Tom was present to discuss the recent input received on this project at the open hearing on the Plan. Suggested changes were as follows: Change recommended improvements for Park Arthur to include up to three softball/baseball diamonds. Jerald Hulbert moved to approve amending the Plan to include the wording “up to three softball/baseball diamonds” for Park Arthur. Seconded by Debbie Carlson. Carried by all. Minutes, Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Page 2 September 11, 2000 Inclusion of rest rooms was a recommended improvement for the Old Muskego Settlement Centre. Craig stated that the Old Town Hall conceptual plan has rest rooms in their proposal. Ald. LeDoux moved to amend the Plan to include “adding rest rooms to Old Muskego Town Hall” in their conceptual plan for improvements. Seconded by Rich Manchester. Carried by all. Updating playgrounds was recommended for Bluhm. Craig stated that this improvement is already slated to occur. Debbie Carlson moved to amend the Plan to include the wording “updating playground equipment for Bluhm.” Seconded by Rich Manchester. Carried by all. The Denoon Park portion of the plan had suggested additional verbiage concerning playground equipment as well. Debbie Carlson moved to amend the Plan to include the wording “playground equipment to be updated.” Seconded by Rich Manchester. Carried by all. The public hearing participants had the requested addition of Freedom Square, Schmidt Park and Kurth Park with recommended improvements for the “resurfacing of tennis courts.” The Board inquired as to the cost to resurface the courts at Denoon? Craig stated that the cost would be approximately $40,000-$50,000. Craig recommends removing the courts due to the cost to rehabilitate them. The Board was concerned over the apparent lack of usable tennis courts in Muskego. Discussion regarding the number of courts and steps necessary to rehabilitate them. Jerald Hulbert moved to amend the A Park and Open Space Plan for the City of Muskego to include the wording “resurfacing of tennis courts and fencing/post repair” for the three tennis court areas (Freedom Square, Schmidt Park and Kurth Park). Seconded by Rich Manchester. Carried by all. Debbie Carlson stated that she would like to see replacement courts for the Denoon Park courts that are to be removed. There was considerable discussion by the Board with respect to the lack of equestrian paths in the area where a horse rider would be able to go on a lengthy ride. According to Tom Zagar, WEPCo (Wisconsin Electric Power Company) limits the trail use. The trail can be used for equestrians, though the control of the trail is under WEPCo. Discussion also regarding the amount of animal waste that could be left on the pedestrian paths by the horses. Ald. LeDoux stated that the riders do not need an asphalt path, only a 10-foot swath mowed for the horses to walk on. Droppings on the grassy area should not be a problem for foot or bike traffic. The Board with respect to Veterans Memorial Park discussed the leash law and inconsistencies in the law. Due to dog training that occurred in the park in the past, the Board had lifted the leash requirement for dogs in this park for the training that occurred there. The Board would like to see that loophole closed for Veterans Memorial Park. Ald. LeDoux moved to remove the statement in the A Park and Open Space Plan for the City of Muskego where dogs are allowed to be in Veterans Memorial Park without a leash. Seconded by Debbie Carlson. Carried by all. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE Police Department Incident Reports – Craig reported only one incident at Denoon Park on August 26, 2000. Both Port-o-lets were burned to the ground. The cost of each portable toilet is $490.00. Due to the burning of the two previous portable toilets, the cost to replace these may not be absorbed by the provider. The Board indicated that once parking lot improvements occur at the park, the Port-o-lets will be moved closer to the road. OLD BUSINESS Park Arthur Conceptual Plan – Craig provided the Board with the most recent iteration of the plan. Craig will be meeting again with the city engineering staff regarding some additional changes with regard to the rest room placement and water availability. Craig will have the plan revised and will provide it to Minutes, Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Page 3 September 11, 2000 the Board at next month’s meeting. There will be a public hearing scheduled once this Board makes the final review of the Plan in October. Cruelty to Animal Signs – Craig has had discussions plus some press coverage on the situation regarding individuals causing harm to animals in the area parks. In a letter, Debra Weisner gave her personal story regarding her care and rehabilitation of such injured wild animals. She is strongly in favor of the posting of such signs and citing those who do intentionally harm animals in the parks. The cost per sign is $18.55 and the size of the sign is 24” x 18”. Mark Weisner was present on behalf of his wife. He again, urged this community to be persistent in the reporting of such incidents. Muskego is a wonderful place to live because of the wildlife in the city. Rich Manchester also suggested that area neighborhood watch groups could be alerted to the recent situations and increases their presence at the parks. Rich Manchester moved to post signs at Idle Isle Park, Big Muskego Lake launch, Denoon Park boat launch and Manchester Hill Park. Seconded by Jerald Hulbert. Carried by all. The fine for cruelty to animals is $153.00. Debbie Carlson suggested that in the next Parks and Recreation Department flyer a suitable “discussion topic” for parents to their children would be this subject. DEPARTMENT REPORTS Recreation Year-end Statistics – Craig will be providing this Board with a user-friendly booklet which will document all of the statistics that have been gathered during the year. This booklet will be produced and disseminated at year-end. Parks Parks Tour – Due to the lack of any new members on this Board, the need for a parks tour was deemed to be unnecessary. Parks Dedication Project (2001) – Craig supplied the Board with a listing of proposed projects for the 2001 budget year. At the October Board meeting, Craig will have the costs associated with the projects. Of those projects listed, the Board discussed the installation of a drain tile at Horn Park baseball field. The Board decided to wait on this project until the Muskego Historical Settlement Centre improvements are made. Tennis court renovation will occur with Kurth Park being done this year, Freedom Square in 2001 and Schmidt Park in 2002 (tennis courts at Denoon Park will be removed). No new playground will be done in 2001 at this time as well as a skate rink at Veterans Memorial Park. The Kurth Park improvements are awaiting HEC II study. Park Arthur will have the fill project, grading/seeding, 2 parking lots, hockey rink, pavilion, playground and archery range slated for 2001. Discussion by the Board regarding the boardwalk for Veterans Memorial Park. A Stewardship Grant has been submitted, if no funds are forthcoming from the grant request, the Board suggests doing the project anyway. The Highway 36 bike trail (south of Muskego Dam Road) will allow the city to connect to the existing trail from Racine County. If a span-crete bridge could be constructed to go over a small canal, it would cost approximately $2,000 for this ¼ mile connection into Racine County’s trail. Capital Budget – The Parks Department received their requested capital expenditures. A riding Minutes, Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Page 4 September 11, 2000 lawn mower, copy machine and a snowplow. The Board thanked Rich Manchester for his involvement in the budget process on behalf of this Board. NEW BUSINESS 2001 Operating Budget – The Board received copies of the proposed 2001 Operating Budget for the Parks and Recreation Department. Wages will be increased $.25 for the seasonal staff and the full-time staff will see 5%-6% salary increases, which includes a cost of living adjustment. The Parks and Recreation Department sees its fees up $52,000. At this time, the biggest increase in the recreation portion of the budget is for conference attendance. Due to the need for additional course offerings and the need to network with other individuals in this field, conference attendance is very important in order to keep Muskego’s very successful recreation program fresh to its participants. Craig stated that in 2 ½ years, the recreation revenue has increased from $6,500 to $67,000. Craig also stated that they will need to generate $112,000 in revenue within the next 4 years. Debbie Carlson moved to approve the Parks and Recreation Department budget for 2001. Seconded by Ald. LeDoux. OTHER BUSINESS Subdivision Plans from Plan Commission - None Next Meeting – The October meeting will occur on October 9, 2000. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Jerald Hulbert moved for adjournment at 9:10 p.m. Seconded by Ald. LeDoux. Motion carried by all. Respectfully submitted, Linda Gulgowski Linda Gulgowski, Recording Secretary pc: Board Members, Craig Anderson email: Mayor, Alderpersons, Department Heads, Peter Theis, Irene Schuder, Tammy Dunn,