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Park & Rec Board - MINUTES - 2/11/2008 City of Muskego PARKS & RECREATION BOARD Monday, February 11, 2008 Approved 3/10/08 Board President Whipple called the monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board (Board), City of Muskego, to order at 6:00 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, February 7. 2008. Present: Mr. Gary Boisits, Mr. Jerald Hulbert, Mr. Brett Hyde, Ald. Tracy Snead, Mr. Toby Whipple, Director Craig Anderson and Department Intern Mark Genac Absent: Mr. Eric Hetzel (excused), Mrs. Kelly Koble (excused) GUESTS: Mr. Dave Burch of Bonestroo, Ald. Borgman, Ald. Werner, Citizens Aaron Robertson, Cindy Bridgeford, Patty Krupinski, Sharon Kust, Jody Montgomery, Jeannie Affolter, Paula Michlig, Kathie Skory, Mark Stoiber Board President Whipple advised the group that Mr. David Burch from Bonestroo would be making a presentation on the Park Arthur Master Plan. If anyone wanted to make comments on that issue, they would have to comment through their alderman. Ald. Borgman would be the only person from the audience allowed to speak. Board members would be listening to the presentation as well and would take time to make their comments APPROVAL OF MINUTES: January 14 Minutes Mr. Brett Hyde moved to approve the minutes of the January 14, 2008 meeting, seconded by Ald. Snead. Upon a voice vote, the motion to approve the minutes carried unanimously. PERSONAL APPEARANCES: Mr. David Burch of Bonestroo Park Arthur Master Plan Several easels displayed various aspects of the Park Arthur Master Plan. Mr. Burch presented the revisions to the Park Arthur Master Plan. These revisions were the result of the comments and concerns voiced by citizens at the hearing and the recent Board meetings. He did a brief overview of the process and the changes that were made since the hearing. He commented on some of the site characteristics of Park Arthur which allows for the blending of passive and active uses. He pointed out the wetland areas that were delineated on the plan and care needs to be taken for these areas when developing the park. The areas of active and passive recreation activities were depicted on the plan. Added to the plan was an access off of College Avenue with acceleration and deceleration lanes that will be required from a safety standpoint. The Martin Drive access was moved and provision was also made for acceleration and deceleration lanes. They moved the athletic fields around so the baseball is on the east side and the soccer on the west side. The buffer area Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, February 11, 2008, page 2 is now about three times what they had previously. There is still the full-size football field and open lawn area for picnics and casual play. A storm water facility in the area and any run-off from the parking lot will be treated by this or islands in the parking lot as well as within the park tributary. He touched on the playground, shelters and picnic areas and, also, plenty of hiking and nature trails. In regard to the lighting, what should be at the back property line is .3 fc, almost dark. There are standards for new athletic facilities, poles and luminaries that are on the market. The new ones only light the field and safety zone around it. For the buffer, they are looking at a mix of conifers and deciduous, a mix of plant material so that it is also a winter season buffer as well as a visual and sound buffer. Ald. Snead inquired as the park will be done in phases, what phase of the project would be first? Mr. Burch stated the first thing they look at are the grading, utilities, storm water management and maybe some of the active recreation areas as well as the naturalized buffers. The seeding of the turf for the athletic fields would need time to become established for use. Then, they would look at some of the parking lots being installed. Later phases would involve the recreation field amenities and buildings. Some of the phases would depend on the funding available. The stewardship program may have funding available for parking and passive or nature base recreation areas. They will entertain funding a portion of the building cost. Looking for funding, from an acreage standpoint, there is more passive than active recreation in this plan which is a benefit to the city. Alderman Borgman stated the plan looked like just too much athletics and not enough open area. The woods makes up most of the passive area and not conducive to picnics. He would like to see more picnic area. His constituents also had real concerns about the lights. Another thing from the lake district people is the growing concern about the number of people that access the lake on weekends continually. In checking with the WDNR (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources), they have permission to limit the number of cars with trailers that can park. Seeing the overflow parking area adjoined to the parking lots that are four blocks away and knowing that they want to restrict cars with trailers to keep track of the boats, they would like to isolate the parking lot that’s for the overflow trailers. He said there was also talk about changing the direction of traffic on Lentini and Shagbark, making them one-way streets but his constituents would like to have the streets left the way they are. He again stressed that most people that look at the plan see an athletic park; a multi-plex sports arena. The city does have an obligation to provide active recreation areas, but he did not know to what extent. There is a reason why the State is more interested in passive recreation than active. People in active recreation should provide infrastructure on their own and not necessarily be paid for by the taxpayers. Ald. Werner questioned parking, if there was enough parking available to support if all the fields were being used at the same time. Mr. Burch said the 365 spots is based on 30/field and there should be 65 stalls left over for general use. He did not foresee all the athletic fields in use simultaneously. When they do a final engineering design plan, they can look at that as it will also be a function of grading as to how many stalls. Mr. Hulbert moved to approve the revised Park Arthur Master Plan. Ald. Snead seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. WRITTEN CORRESPONDENCE: None. NEW BUSINESS: 2008 Baseball Facility Requests Director Anderson presented the baseball facility requests for 2008. There were a few additional requests for Bluhm III and IV on Tuesdays and Fridays. The number of games for Monday is 13, Tuesday is 17, Wednesday is 14, Thursday is 16 and Friday is 13. Saturday and Sunday are the same.There are increases in the number of teams which corresponds to the increase in number of games. There were no conflicts with the requests. Mr. Hyde moved to approve the 2008 baseball facility requests. Mr. Hulbert seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, February 11, 2008, page 3 Hwy 36 Recreation Trail/Franklin Director Anderson shared that a representative from Franklin had contacted him regarding getting the Board’s position and support of the proposed recreation trail. The trail that Franklin has been going to install for the past 10 years. They are now running into some opposition from their residents. He informed the representative that they had assumed the trail was going in and that is why they have pushed for the bridge and the continuation of the trail from Muskego Dam Road to the Racine County line and it should be accomplished by the end of this year. Mr. Hulbert moved that the position of the Parks and Recreation Board is to complete the Highway 36 portion of the trail running the entire length of the city from Racine County through Waukesha County portion (that’s us) up to the Milwaukee County line. It has always been the intent of the Board doing this based on information from the City of Franklin that this would be a continuous trail hooking through St. Martins up to the 76 trail and then becomes a regional trail. Mr. Hyde seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Lake Access Use for Weed Harvesting As no one from the lake district was present, this was deferred until next month’s agenda. ALDERMAN’S REPORT: None. STATUS OF PROJECTS: Muskego High School Softball Field Director Anderson emailed George Haynes at the district office. Their conversations with Schneider Excavating have them wanting the excavation to be done by June 1. He expected the committee to then start up again discussing the other amenities to the softball field. Highway 36 Trail Director Anderson sought a response from the Board members regarding a grant application from the stewardship fund. The application is due May 1 with awards being issued typically after July 1. Did the Board want to delay the timeline for the bridge installation/trail completion by applying for the grant or go ahead and put the bridge and trail in this year. Mr. Hulbert inquired what kind of weight was given to this type of request, what chance of getting the grant? Director Anderson said that Tom Blotz could not give him a percentage on receiving the grant not knowing what other projects would be submitted by other communities. He continued, that the Board could wait on the bridge and have DPW (Department of Public Works) do the grubbing of the trees, the excavation and stone. A total of $15000-$18000 could be received if the application was approved. Mr. Boisits stated that by not applying for the grant, they could potentially lose between $15000-$18000. By applying for the grant, they are waiting another year for the bridge. Director Anderson thought potentially the bridge could be installed this year with the trail not going in until 2009. Mr. Hulbert asked if they could apply for the bridge and put the trail in themselves. Why couldn’t they put the majority of the trail in during the grant process and then the bridge? Discussion ensued on this possibility. Mr. Hulbert moved that they apply for the grant for the bridge and in the meantime, contact DPW to start on the trail up to the bridge abutment. Mr. Boisits seconded. Mr. Hyde thought it was a good plan. If they don’t get it, at least they tried. Mr. Hulbert commented it is better odds than Vegas gives. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried unanimously. DIRECTOR’S REPORT: Year-end Report 2007 The report was included in the Board packets. It was a review of what the department did the past year. Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, February 11, 2008, page 4 Intern Introduction Mark Genac, the department’s intern, from LaCrosse, Wisconsin, attends The University of Wisconsin— LaCrosse. He will be graduating in May and out searching for jobs. With the department, he is hoping to gain as much experience and whatnot to assist with his future plans. Portable Toilet Quotes Director Anderson reported that two quotes were received for portable toilet facilities. The lowest quote from #1 Portables for $6,328 was selected. Port-A-John quote came in at $6,650. Intern Mark Genac checked on the references of #1 Portables. They are out of Brookfield and set up for the Parks and Recreation Department in Brookfield. There were no deficiencies. Jensen Furnace With the cold weather, the furnace at the Jensen building needed repair. The water lines are right next to the block wall, freezing occurred and there was some minor damage. He added, with the upcoming budget process, the department will be looking at the age of the amenities in the park buildings and presenting this information to the Board. The Board should then have an idea over the next five years what needs to be replaced. Mr. Hulbert asked if that would include taking a look at the lower level of the Old Town Hall as there is no heat in that area. Director Anderson said they could take a look. Volleyball Courts Parks Supervisor Theis did research on volleyball court materials. It would cost about $22,000 for the two courts. These figures were passed on to Ald. Schaefer to bring it up to the Teen Advisory Board. They will be contacting DPW for excavation and pea gravel to see what they can do to trim the costs. Baseball Committee Committee members will be contacted about meeting Tuesday or Wednesday of next week. He had not heard from anyone that they did not want to attend. The meeting will last probably about an hour. Any type of change would occur in 2009. OTHER BUSINESS Subdivision Plans—none. COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW: None proffered. ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Hulbert moved for adjournment at 6:55 p.m. Seconded by Mr. Boisits. 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,