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Park & Rec Board - MINUTES - 8/9/2004 MINUTES PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING CITY OF MUSKEGO August 9, 2004 Approved 9/13/04 Audio Recording Available Board President Toby Whipple called the monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board, City of Muskego, to order 6:35 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, August 5, 2004. Present: Mr. Eric Hetzel, Mr. Jerald Hubert, Mrs. Kelly Koble, Ald. Bob Melcher, Mr. Howard Schneider, Mr. Toby Whipple and Director Craig Anderson. Absent: Mr. Richard Manchester (excused) GUEST: Gene Kovacs, Mr. Fitzpatrick, Ald. Schroeder APPROVAL OF MINUTES: July 12, 2004 Mr. Schneider moved, Ald. Melcher seconded, to approve the minutes of the July 12 meeting. Upon a voice vote, the motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously. ALDERMAN'S REPORT Ald. Melcher gave his report on what recently transpired at the Council level. Nothing at the Council level on issues relevant to the Parks and Recreation Department or Board. PERSONAL APPEARANCES: Gene Kovacs—Conceptual Plan for the Fitzpatrick property. He wanted to know the interest level of the Parks and Recreation Board on this subdivision plan. He reviewed the conceptual plan recently approved by the Plan Commission. There are a lot of natural features on the site—woods, wetlands with a considerable flood plane on the southerly portion, making it difficult to design the property. This property is located south of Woods Road in the Tess Corners creek area. These would be sewered properties along with a private well. Mr. Hulbert said, based on what they have in the master plan, really what they would be looking at doing is active recreation trails in the out lot areas. With that in mind and the creation of the Conservation Committee, he recommended this plan should be forwarded on to that committee as the property is in an environmental area. Mr. Schneider stated that Tom Zagar and Jeff Muenkel had looked at the property and it is going to be going to the Conservation Committee. Mr. Hulbert said a recommendation from the Plan Commission for the areas designated as wetlands that it would be best if they would not be in the ownership of each lot, but be part of the out lots so the people would understand that there is no building in those areas. Mr. Kovacs said they had tried to revise the plan considering the wetland areas Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, August 9, 2004, page 2 and some of the lots would have odd shapes; however, they are still working on realigning the cul de sac. Mr. Hulbert asked assuming that the Conservation Committee is not interested in the plan, who would assume ownership of the out lots, a homeowners association if the city does not want it? Mr. Kovacs said they would create a homeowners association to maintain the lots. Mr. Hulbert moved to send the conceptual design on to the Conservation Committee for their consideration indicating that the Parks and Recreation Board does not have an interest in an active park at this time in this location. Mrs. Koble seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE: Schmidt Park—There was graffiti on the playground the week of July 18. It was removed that Tuesday by the parks staff. Water Bugs Ski Team, Inc. Email—For their information, Board members were provided a copy of the email received from Shelly Wohler relating to four different incidences. STATUS OF PROJECTS: Director Anderson advised the Board on the status of the following projects: Denoon Park—nothing to report. Idle Isle Launch Project—The new project scope was approved. This will be done when the bridge is done. Idle Isle will be closed September 15-end of November. Kurth Park— The work is scheduled to be done in September; however, depending on what is decided on the Old Town Hall, this project may be delayed. Moorland Park— nothing to report. Park Arthur— Mayor Slocomb had been approached by bridle clubs in regards to horse trails on the perimeter of Park Arthur and in the Ewald-Engle property. The Ewald-Engle property is under the Conservation Committee so the request was forwarded on to them. In regard to the horse trails on the Park Arthur property, the department will try to work with some of the private clubs in the area to see if they want to have involvement with the plan and contribute to the maintenance of the trail. Mr. Hulbert did have a concern about Park Arthur as in close proximity, there are two stables and by putting in the horse trails, they may be helping private entities. He thought that the Ewald-Engle property would be ideal with the 100 acres and room for parking for a much more extensive system. Also, the subdivision that is coming off of Racine Avenue, adjacent to the high school, they would be looking at some type of access through that subdivision to the Ewald-Engle property. This issue is scheduled for Public Works Committee on August 16. Land Acquisitions— nothing new to report on the Paepke property. This may end up being conservation property. Security Cameras—The cameras have been installed at Bluhm and Kurth. Friday Shield Security will be coming out to do the final hook-up. Recreation Trails—nothing to report. Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, August 9, 2004, page 3 MHS Athletic Fields—There is another meeting scheduled for August 10. Chairman Whipple inquired if the department had received any requests from the high school for use of the park fields this fall? Director Anderson said none. The high school will be using their own fields. Park Dedication Budget—This will be discussed as part of the Old Town Hall renovation. Old Town Hall—This issue will be discussed later in the meeting. Skate Park—He had a meeting with one of the sponsors. It wasn’t up to the amount somewhat wanted by the Board. The sponsor is reworking their numbers and preparing the contract. This may be available for the September meeting. No word received from the other sponsor that was contacted. Geese Program—Board members received another update on the number of geese at Idle Isle. The department has received no complaints. The parks staff, now and then, calls in and reports there is over a hundred geese at Idle Isle. People are using the park. The staff has been taking the goosepoopbuster out every Monday and Friday. It works wonderful. There is just a handful of geese at the park right now and normally, this time of year—end of July to first part of August, there was large numbers of geese at the park. Bye Bye Birdies program is in the operating budget for next year. Mr. Hulbert would like to have comparisons from other users before they would commit for another year. Mrs. Koble questioned if the low numbers of geese were in line with what WDNR recommended? Director Anderson responded that people are utilizing the park whereas last year no one would walk in the grass or laying out on the grass or using the playground. This year no one has called indicating they were not able to use the park. Evidently, the product is working and being complemented by the goosepoopbuster. Idle Isle Water Quality— On August 4, the water sampling tested at 2,420. This was after a large rainfall and the health department advised this is generally normal. The beach was closed. Signs were posted and information line updated. Department received a phone call on whether the water could be used on their garden. Another sample was taken and the results should be back on Tuesday. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Water Bugs Ski Team, Inc. Monthly Review—Board members were in receipt of the memo from the police department and the compliance checklist as part of their monthly review of the ski team activities. They had three complaints with two of them being loud music and the third being about one of the boats creating th a wake during a power turn. Mr. Schneider thought that the music on the 28 of July was pretty loud. Discussion on whether or not, the police use a decimeter when they check out the sound complaints. Director Anderson shared that the ski team has been very accommodating. They hang on to the boats for the people while they go and park their trailers. The ski team did win the State competition this year. They will go on to the National competition in Iowa. CONSERVATION COMMISSION REPORT Mr. Schneider had talked to Tom Zager briefly and they will be looking at the plan that was presented earlier in this meeting. On the Ewald Engle property, there was a program where he could get 100 percent of wetland restoration cost funded and seventy-five percent of the prairie restoration. This was through the Fish and Wildlife Service. Commission will be meeting in a couple of weeks. Mr. Hulbert asked what was the status of the wetland mitigation for the high school fields? Mr. Schneider said they are still working with the WDNR on this and he had no idea of the time limit. Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, August 9, 2004, page 4 DIRECTOR’S REPORT Recreation Fall Program Guide—The guide will be mailed out this week. It should be in the mailboxes Tuesday or Wednesday. Class Software Upgrade—The department will have the second upgrade up to Version 5.0 in October or November. Some of the changes will allow the registrants to know right away if their credit card has been charged. Also, the department will no longer experience a problem when using a client’s business card whereby it indicated the charge did not go through when it really did. It will also meet the Federal guideline encryption for credit card payments. The payment server will be updated next year and is an operating budget item for next year to accomplish all of the items listed. Version 5.0 is the first step. Custodian Meeting—On July 26, staff met with the head custodians. Everything had gone well for the summer. The department is able to email the custodians on class cancellations and facility schedules. Parks Parks Tour—Director Anderson and Parks Supervisor Peter Theis toured the lake accesses. They found three that had boats or buoys and those responsible will be receiving letters. Access #13, the survey is done. The split-rail fence will be installed. The majority of the trail on this access is on private property. Since the dock is no longer down there, the trail is almost overgrown. The dock was removed but it was placed in such a way that it still is infringing on the city’s water rights. They will be receiving another letter. Ald. Melcher reported there was a problem at Access #8. The police vehicle ended up in the ditch and damage was done to the culvert. Freedom Square Tennis Courts--The tennis courts have been completed. They are very nice. People have been using them, but we also have noticed that bikers have been on the courts. There is signage up. If it continues, some type of entrance may have to be designed to keep them out, yet allow tennis players access to the courts. The department has invested $36,000 in this project. NEW BUSINESS: Old Town Hall Director Anderson presented the Board members with a cost estimate of $135,824.33 to renovate part of the interior and all of the exterior of the Old Town Hall. Board members reviewed the scope of the work. The labor would be done by the Department of Public Works staff and the Superintendent indicated the best time to start the work would be September. The revenue generated from recreation programs at the facility will be placed in a separate account to reimburse the parks dedication account. Once the account has been made whole, the program revenue would then be placed in with general revenues. Mr. Hulbert inquired how this would affect the capital budget for improvements? Director Anderson said that the Idle Isle building is forecasted to stay in capital budget, $223,000, which is slated to start next year. If that doesn’t have to happen next year, it will be fine. In regards to the Idle Isle building, the department may be able to get some assistance from one of the schools and from the ski team, using the resources that they have available to them. One of the local schools is looking for worthwhile projects involving engineering and carpentry for their students. Mr. Hulbert stated that if they were going to invest in the project, then they need to take a look at the agreement the city has with the historical society. He wouldn’t approve this expenditure unless they had a revised agreement with the historical society. Chairman Whipple said there was some discussion about the Parks and Recreation Department taking control of the building. Director Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board Meeting, August 9, 2004, page 5 Anderson stated that discussion at the Committee of the Whole was that the Parks & Recreation Department would take control of the building if they were to pay for finishing the building. Also, discussed the possibility of partnering with the historical society to have the lower level flexible enough to run programs and also have a museum located there. He was recommending approval of the expenditure by the Board so that work could begin. Mrs. Koble would like to have a joint meeting with the Muskego Historical Society to discuss this project. Director Anderson felt the Board would work with the society. Chairman Whipple said the biggest concern was that if the Board was putting up the money, they would want first priority to use the building for programming. Ald. Melcher also indicated a desire to meet with the historical society on the issue so that there is some agreement to move forward on this project. Director Anderson did feel that a meeting between the two entities would have to take place and so they would understand that the Board took action tonight to take advantage of the personnel available to do the work and get the project started. Mr. Hulbert moved that the Board recommend the expenditure of the money listed in the cost estimate with use of 100 percent of the upper and lower levels of the building being priority usage of this Board with the understanding to negotiate with the Muskego Historical Society for secondary usage of the building. The $135,824.33 to come from the Parks Dedication Account and this account to be replenished from the revenue generated from the recreational usage of the building. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. (Mr. Schneider departed at 7:30 p.m.) Capital Budget Director Anderson presented the 2005 capital budget. The one item on the budget was approved last year. The purchase of this item, a 40 h.p. diesel tractor with front-bucket attachment for $22,850, was postponed. Mr. Hulbert questioned the warranties available on this tractor and would like the Director to check out any warranty and any extended warranty. Mr. Hetzel moved to approve the 2005 request for the 40 h.p. diesel tractor. Ald. Melcher seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. OTHER BUSINESS Subdivision Plans from Plan Commission—Fitzpatrick conceptual plan discussed under Personal Appearances. Next Meeting—September 13, 2004 COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW— Mr. Hulbert questioned if the recreation trail bridge on Loomis Road was still on target for this year? Director Anderson indicated it was per the city engineer. ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Hulbert moved for adjournment at 7:35 p.m. Seconded by Mrs. Koble. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Stella Dunahee, CPS Recording Secretary pc: Board Members, Craig Anderson email: Mayor, Alderpersons, Department Heads, Peter Theis, Tammy Dunn,