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Park & Rec Board- MINUTES - 4/9/2007 City of Muskego PARKS & RECREATION BOARD Monday, April 9, 2007 Approved 5/14/07 Board President Whipple called the monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board (Board), City of Muskego, to order at 6:03 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, April 5, 2007. Present: Mr. Brett Hyde, Mrs. Kelly Koble, Mr. Richard Manchester (6:20 p.m.), Mr. Toby Whipple and Director Craig Anderson. Absent: Mr. Eric Hetzel (excused), Mr. Jerald Hulbert (excused), Ald. Tracy Snead (excused) GUEST: Rick Henneberry APPROVAL OF MINUTES: March 12, 2007 Mr. Manchester moved to approve the minutes of the March 12, 2007 meeting, seconded by Mr. Brett Hyde. Upon a voice vote, the motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously. PERSONAL APPEARANCES: Horn Field Improvements On behalf of the Muskego Impact team, Mr. Rick Henneberry, presented a proposal for improvements at Horn Field. They would like to take part in seeing the following improvements:  short-term and long-term renovations to the batting cage facility  renovations to both dugouts  addressing the drainage of the playing field (short term and long term), dugouts and batting cage area  adding a warning track to the field  improvements to storage facility that doubles as a concession stand He said the field is playable, but could use some improvement in the field quality. Director Anderson noted that for some of the improvements, the drainage problem would need to be addressed first. The surface drainage/run-off from the rains goes toward the dugouts, through a pipe into the creek. The field is adjacent to wetlands and with the developments in the area, the wetlands have encroached on the park area. Board members discussed with Mr. Henneberry the short-term and long-term proposals. Mr. Henneberry acknowledged that funding was a concern and their organizations are willing to contribute but would like to do it on a cost-sharing basis. For some of the funds, they will be approaching city businesses for donations. Board President Whipple would like to see some estimates on what various items will cost and how they can Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, April 9, 2007, page 2 work on these improvements. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE: U-13 Junior Warriors Baseball Team Concessions Board members reviewed Mr. Ambrose’s request for approval for selling concessions at Horn Field during the U-13’s home games. The team would be responsible for cleaning up the area after each game. Mr. Brett Hyde moved to approve U-13 Junior Warriors baseball team’s request for selling concessions at Horn Field only during their home games and to clean up after themselves and keep the park clean. Mr. Manchester seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. NEW BUSINESS: City of Muskego/Muskego Historical Society Agreement Director Anderson distributed the draft of the City of Muskego/Muskego Historical Society Agreement to the Board members. Copies will be mailed to the members not present. This agreement will be discussed at the May meeting. He advised that the Parks and Recreation Board is the conduit between the Muskego Historical Society and the Common Council as in years past. The society will be invited to the May meeting. Any concerns will be discussed at the May meeting. Then, the Board would make a recommendation to the Finance Committee for approval. As Mr. Roman of the Muskego Historical Society and Ald. Snead served on the committee, he did not foresee any big issues. Richard Manchester’s Resignation After 33 years of serving on the Parks and Recreation Board, Mr. Richard Manchester tendered his resignation. The Board presented a plaque to Mr. Manchester commending his years of service to the Board and the community from February 18, 1974 to April 9, 2007. Board President Whipple stated that previously a park had been named in his honor, Manchester Hill Park. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Park Arthur Construction Estimates Director Anderson shared that he had received the construction estimates from Ruekert/Mielke for the east portion of Park Arthur—Phase I. However, he needed to meet with Ruekert/Mielke on how the numbers were derived. At the May meeting, he will then go over the numbers with the Board. ALDERMAN'S REPORT: No report. STATUS OF PROJECTS: Muskego High School Softball Project Director Anderson reported that approval from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) had been received. The school district is working on a plan for a new access coming off the subdivision behind so there will be a wait for that addendum to go to the WDNR to get approval for that access. Once the WDNR signs off on it, the committee will be started up again. Because it is taking longer than anticipated, he said the actual development of the field possibly wouldn’t happen until spring of 2008. Hwy 36 Trail Director Anderson reported that Ruekert/Mielke has approval to work on the bridge design. He has met with them. Once the design is done, it will go on to We Energies to get their approval for the bridge and trail, then Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, April 9, 2007, page 3 on to the WDNR for the clear span bridge permit. He stated the bridge over the Muskego canal would be installed this year. DIRECTOR’S REPORT Summer Program Guide Summer Program Guide is being worked on. It is scheduled to go to the printer on Friday with it being mailed out on April 23. Department Web Site The newer version of the department’s web site was posted on the Internet last Monday. The secretary accomplished this with the help from Sean in Planning. Highway 36 Trail Thru Racine County Board members were in receipt of an update on this portion of trail. The trail will be interrupted for a short period of time during the development of the bypass around Burlington. InPro Skate Park Litter Director Anderson had received emails and phone calls on the litter at InPro skate park. The parks crew was sent out to clean it up. Since then, Director Anderson has spoken with Ald. Schaefer from the Teen Advisory Board (TAB). They came up with the idea that at the next TAB meeting, the teens would be coming up with a system whereby two members on a rotation basis would clean up this park area once a week. The department will also install signage “Please help us to keep this skate park open by discarding your trash in the provided dumpster. For those not willing to help us, anyone caught littering will be fined (with the ordinance) and anyone seen littering will be denied use of the skate park.” next week. Mr. Hyde shared his experience with the bikers which aren’t allowed using the skateboard park recently. He advised them that the park could be closed on the litter issue alone. He did make a call to Ald. Schaefer that this was not expected when the skateboard park was opened. Under the Adopt-a-Park program, Director Anderson stated the girl scouts would be picking it up once in the fall and once in the spring. Mrs. Koble suggested that a message perhaps be placed in the local schools’ newsletters that go home. Would they want someone from the Parks and Recreation Board to be a liaison to the PTOs. Director Anderson said the TAB represents every school and they could put a message of the time and effort they put in getting the skateboard park developed and as they are having to clean it up, to please stop. Mr. Hyde felt that pressure from the kids themselves might work in keeping the park clean. Field Maintenance Fees Director Anderson addressed the field maintenance fees for the leagues for 2007. He had advised the Board members earlier and also the leagues that the department would be addressing full-time staff rates for the ball field preparation prior to June 9. In doing the calculations for 2007 based on schedules, most of these costs were increased 100% compared to 2006. These costs are substantially higher for 2007. He did think though the leagues had been told about the full-time rates, they may not have realized the amount. Discussion ensued on increased fee structure, did the Board want to cover some of the costs and the options that the ball leagues could take relative to these fees such as starting games later, eliminating some of the preparation of the fields, etc. The field maintenance fees will be on the May meeting agenda. Mr. Brett Hyde moved to have the Parks and Recreation Department absorb one-half of the cost for field maintenance prior to June 9 for this year only. Starting in 2008, the leagues would have to cover the full cost for their field maintenance fees. Mrs. Koble seconded. Board President Whipple commented that the Board should show the leagues the numbers and indicate to them that if they want this level of service next year, this would be what they need to be prepared to pay. They would have to adjust their registration fees, etc. accordingly. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried 3-1 with Mr. Manchester opposed. Mr. Manchester was opposed to subsidizing the leagues. Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, April 9, 2007, page 4 OTHER BUSINESS Subdivision Plans—None. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW Board members and Director Anderson thanked Mr. Manchester for his years of service and that it had been a pleasure to work with him. Mr. Manchester stated he had enjoyed it and after 33 years, he thought he should be moving on. ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Manchester moved for adjournment at 7:09 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, Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, April 9, 2007, page 5