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Park & Rec Board - MINUTES - 1/14/2013 City of Muskego PARKS & RECREATION BOARD Monday, January 14, 2013 Approved 2/11/13 Board President Whipple called the monthly meeting of the Parks and Recreation Board (Board), City of Muskego, to order at 5:30 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, January 10, 2013. Present: Mr. Jerald Hulbert, Mr. Brett Hyde (excused at 6:00 p.m.), Mrs. Kelly Koble (5:37 p.m.), Mr. “Butch” LeDoux, Mr. Paul Peardon, Ald. Dan Soltysiak (5:34 p.m.), Mr. Toby Whipple, Director Anderson and Intern Donovan Winter. GUESTS: Jim Mortle, Belle Mortle, Ald. Bergman, Mayor Chiaverotti, Denise Konkol, Pat Nakumura, Dan Salton, Donnie Jackson, Dan Maas, Elayne Maas, Robert Maas, Donna Ferguson, Mike Ferguson, Dennis Kaminski, et. al. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: November 12 Minutes Mr. Hulbert moved to approve the minutes of the November 12 meeting, seconded by Mr. LeDoux. Upon a voice vote, the motion to approve carried. COMMUNICATIONS: Lake Access 12—Jim Mortle Director Anderson refreshed the Board members on what had transpired at the November meeting. Since then, Mr. Mortle, Mayor Chiaverotti, and he have had discussions on the issue. A letter from Mr. Mortle’s attorney had been received and the removal of this letter would allow discussions to take place to come up with some alternatives that would satisfy the Parks and Recreation Board, the city and Mr. Mortle in regards to Lake Access #12. Mr. Mortle now brought forth a proposal to delineate the boundaries and also request an easement to his property. The Board members were in receipt of this written proposal with proposed easement. Mr. Mortle addressed the Board on the rationale behind his proposal and what actions he would take if his proposal met with the Board’s approval. After a lengthy discussion with Mr. Mortle, Mr. Hulbert moved to deny granting an easement on this park property. Mrs. Koble seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Director Anderson will work with the city attorney on some of the issues brought up including whether or not accessing the property through the lake access would be considered grandfathered. Use of Lights for Evening Soccer—Muskego Kickers Mr. Jackson and Mr. Salton presented their request for lights at Denoon and Kurth parks for evening soccer practice. Their practices are Monday through Thursday from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. They would use the lights from dusk until 8:45 p.m. These would be generated-powered lights temporarily during the soccer season. They have used them in New Berlin this past season and there were no issues. They are looking at having the practices under the lights in the Fall season at Muskego. They would be rotating practices using fields at New Berlin, Franklin and Muskego sharing the space that the regions have to offer. Board President Whipple inquired how many teams would be involved in using the area. Mr. Salton said about 23 teams with kids from Muskego on each team. The teams are blended with children from different areas. He explained the changes that have occurred with the Muskego Kickers as some Board members questioned how they fit into the priority usage for the soccer fields and the impact on the fields. In that regard, Board members would like the regional director to Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, January 14, 2013, page 2 attend a Board meeting so they could gain a better understanding of the current status of the Muskego Kickers organization. Getting back to the issues of lights, Board President Whipple and Mr. Hulbert’s concern was not so much the lights at Denoon as at Kurth. They had big concerns at Kurth. Board President Whipple had no concern with putting temporary lights at Denoon in the Fall only and could not see the need for the lights in the Spring. If they were granted permission to put temporary lights in the park, Board President Whipple inquired what the lock-out would be on the lighting units so that someone else doesn’t come in to the park and put the lights on. Mr. Salton stated it was the same type of lockout system that is at construction sites and the control is within the lock area. Director Anderson advised that they would have to go before the Plan Commission for the actual approval for lights placement. Mr. Hulbert moved for approval of the temporary lights at Denoon Park for the Fall season pending Plan Commission approval. Mr. Peardon seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Splash Pad Project—Donovan Winter Department Intern Donovan Winter gave a power-point presentation on the results of the splash pad feasibility study. His splash pad project was to determine if there was enough recreational demand to explore further the possibility of adding a splash pad in the community. Key objects were to evaluate community interest, to gather cost estimates and to identify possible park locations. At the conclusion of his presentation, Board members thanked Mr. Winter for the outstanding job and wished him well in his future endeavors. Mr. Mortle’s Attorney’s Letter Board members were in receipt of the attorney’s letter as referred to earlier in the meeting. Lake Access #12 Tree Status Director Anderson shared that a lot of the trees on the access are just garbage trees. They need to be removed. Trimming done by people in the area was not done correctly, limbs being just cut off as they protruded over the lot line. Board members questioned what the timeline would be for the tree work. Director Anderson indicated it should not take much time as they are not like the trees at Idle Isle. DPW and Parks’ staff could take down the trees. He also advised that the other side of the lot line needs to be addressed and the fence area needs to be cleaned. He proposed to accomplish the work this year. NEW BUSINESS: Muskego Icetronauts’ Use of Denoon Park and LML Access #17 Director Anderson stated the Muskego Icetronauts requested the annual use of Denoon Park and Lake Access #17. As they had forgotten to make the request in a timely fashion, Director Anderson gave them verbal approval advising that the request would come before the Parks and Recreation Board for formal approval. There was no damage or issues with the prior year. Mr. LeDoux moved to approve the Icetronauts request. Ald. Soltysiak seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Trail Prioritization Director Anderson stated that he and Dave Simpson had looked at the trail plan that was originally done. They tried to break out the trail sections by year noting what was doable after doing the trail sections this past year. Experience this past year revealed how time consuming the trails are from a planning and building standpoint. They reviewed the trail sections on the six foot versus the eight foot. He was requesting the Board members to review the document and to give their input. As in past years, the trail sections selected for installation will go to the capital budget for trail funding. Once the Board gives their input, the document will go to Director Simpson for the Public Works Committee’s input. Then it will go forward to capital budget request and people will know what trail sections are going to be done and when. Mr. Hulbert questioned the issue of the six foot versus the eight foot. Director Anderson thought it was the width of the trail and trying to design around trees and ditches. With the Tess Corners trail, people became upset with the trees that had been around for years marked for removal; thus, it is a six foot trail. Other arterial trails remain at eight foot. Mr. Hulbert stated the eight-foot trail was based on federal standards for two-way traffic. He further said the six-foot was a political compromise in the Quietwood Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, January 14, 2013, page 3 subdivision. He was concerned about going down to six foot on the trails. Also, discussed was the width of the trails as relates to snow removal and the equipment available. Once the trail priority list is approved, it will be published and forwarded on to other relative entities. This item will be on a future agenda. Horn Brothers Parking Agreement at Park Headquarters Director Anderson reported that nothing had changed. Mrs. Koble moved to approve the agreement with Horn Brothers for another year. Mr. Peardon seconded. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried with Mr. Hulbert abstaining. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Park Vandalism Since the November Board meeting, there were three acts of vandalism. Two at Park Arthur and one at Idle Isle Park and the parties were caught by the police. He has had conversation with Captain LaTour about extra patrols at Park Arthur and Director Anderson has noticed squads at the park entrance. There were snowmobiles in Park Arthur and a black truck that did vandalism off the parking lot. At Idle Isle, it was someone driving on the grass; no damage was done. He shared with the Board members his conversation with Captain LaTour as it relates to citations. Director Anderson provided and reviewed literature to the Board members on the FlashCam. Having a remote camera is appealing and worthy to explore. He may be coming forth to purchase one during budget time. He had received information relative to cattle gates and an email from Ken Ward on installation of gates in a park in Kenosha County. Mrs. Koble had reviewed the information and it was not what she had in mind for the park entrances. She provided a sketch of a gate to Director Anderson. He will get the cost estimate and bring it back to the Board. He did say that the new police chief is willing to have officers open and close the gates. ALDERMAN’S REPORT Ald. Soltysiak had no report relative to parks and recreation issues. STATUS OF PROJECTS: Park Arthur At Park Arthur, the fence posts are in. With installation, the warming track was torn up a little which the vendor will be restoring. The fencing is black with red fence guard which matches the high school colors. The department has received positive comments on the sledding hill and any complaints were to the lack of snow. Director Anderson shared his personal experience with using the hill. DIRECTOR’S REPORT We Energies Recreation Trail Safety Bollards There were two bridges along the We Energies trail where the underneath portion is starting to fail and deemed unsafe for vehicular traffic. Instead of redoing the bridges, We Energies installed safety bollards on the Sandy Beach Drive bridge which was the worse one and the cost was shared with the department. Equestrian Trail Map A rough map was provided showing the proposed equestrian trail for Park Arthur as laid out by 4Js. Director Anderson and Bob of 4Js had walked the trail to see if it was feasible. He also has sent an agreement to 4Js relative to their usage and maintenance of the trail. Once the agreement is returned, it will be provided to the Board for their review and approval. Status of Goose Abatement Grant The goose abatement grant was received and the department will be going through the process again in 2013. Minutes, Parks & Recreation Board, January 14, 2013, page 4 Tree Trimming at Idle Isle Park The staff has been doing the tree trimming at Idle Isle Park. One individual, living near the bridge, was concerned about the unsightly beach line visible once the invasive vegetation was gone and the trees trimmed and this will be addressed in the Spring. This individual was invited to provide input to us in the Spring. OTHER BUSINESS Subdivision Plans from Plan Commission None ADJOURNMENT - There being no further business, Mr. Hulbert moved for adjournment at 8:02 p.m. . . . Seconded by Mrs. Koble. Upon a voice vote, the motion carried. Stella Dunahee, CPS Recording Secretary pc: Board Members, Craig Anderson; email: Peter Theis, Tammy Dunn; posted: www.cityofmuskego.org