Miinutes: Park Board: September 2006

City of Evansville, Wisconsin
Park and Recreation Board Regular Monthly Meeting
Evansville City Hall Council Chambers
September 18, 2006

Draft Minutes

1. Call to Order at 6:0 PM and Roll Call: Chair Juergens, and Members Farnsworth, Jacobson, Krueger, Merritt and Sendelbach present. Staff members Anderson and Hamacher present. Member Carlsen excused.

2 Minutes of August 22, 2006 meeting approved on a voice vote.

3. The agenda for this meeting was approved without changes, on a voice vote.

4. Citizen appearances other than agenda items:
a. Jon Frey, of Evansville Home Talent Baseball, presented a report of the league's activities in Evansville, which for the first time included playing evening games under the lights at Lake Leota Park. Overall, playing in the park is an improvement compared to playing their games at the high school baseball field, which could only occur during daylight hours. Frey listed a number of short-term improvements to the Leota field, most of which can be done at little cost. Over the long term, the team would like an outfield fence installed; Evansville is one of only a few teams that plays on a field without such a fence. Other desirable improvements might include larger dugouts and and improved field lighting. Frey concluded that HTL would like to continue to play at the park on Thursday nights, and over the long term, play all their Sunday games there as well.
b. Randy Rinehart of S.O.L.E. reported that the project for V-notching the coffer-dam to further de-water Lake Leota is working its way through the approval process in the Public Works Committee and Finance & Labor Relations Committee. A final council decision is hoped for in October.

5. Board members reported on individual parks, which they had visited, for possible projects to include in the developing 5-year plan.
aA. Krueger for Brzezinski Park:
1. Picnic tables refurbished
2. More modern swing set with expanded safe area
3. Problem with ground-wasps in sand occurs every year. This should be addressed.
B. Krueger for Seminary Park:
1. Leave it alone, perhaps install some benches on the edges.
2. Make it a physical fitness park, with a climbing rock, rope ladder, balance beam, etc.; an organized course.
3. Develop a Community Vegetable Garden, maintained by volunteers, with results donated to Care Closet for the elderly.
4. Install a shade garden near the Church St. entrance.
5. Install a permanent grill, picnic benches, and trash receptacles
C. Juergens for Countryside Park:
1. Shrubs along south fence line, to make it harder for children and animals to crawl under fence; alternatively, lower
fence base to just at ground level.
2. Benches for ball diamond.
3. Increased bleacher seating, near soccer area.
D. Merritt for Franklin Park:
1. Additional landscaping on perimeter.
2. A small shelter and a "gateway" are already in proposed 2007 budget.
E. Farnsworth and Sendelbach for Leota/Leonard Park
1. Notch dam to dewater lake (likely in amendment to 2006 budget)
2. Restore lake to reasonable depth
3. Reduce upstream silt infiltration
4. Restore creek walls
5. Restore stone work in benches, bell tower, shelter, as needed.
6. Develop and institute a tree-replacement program and maintenance program for existing trees.
7. Build shelter in area of old shuffle-board court.
8. Install directional signage at both entrances
9. Outfield fence at upper diamond.
10. More solar panels for pool (in proposed 2007 budget)
11. Develop another park exit for safety
12. Screening/landscaping to block view from park to back of businesses such as car dealer and car-wash.
13. Develop off-road bike/walking path around lake
14. Add drinking fountains at appropriate locations.
15. Night-time safety illumination for walkers.
16. More dog-waste receptacles and recycling containers
17. Emergency 911 call-button of some kind
18. Speed controls for cars in park (speed bumps? signs?)
19. Move the entire lower ball diamond away from existing outfield fence to create more outfield space.
20. More skate park equipment
F. Jacobson for Westside Park
1. Pave current access road
2. Install Parking lot.
3. Install playground equipment
4. Build maintenance building for equipment storage
5. Create access and parking off Porter Road.
6. Install basketball courts
7. Install shelter and restrooms
8. Install baseball field with 300' fence
9. Add amenities to soccer field currently under construction
10. Landscaping
11. Signage
(Note: all the above is taken off the October 2005 plan approved by PRB and interested area residents.)
G. Carlsen for Wind Prairie Park (communicated through Chair)
1. Permanent benches along walking path through park
b. Other projects proposed by PRB members and staff: Find appropriate location and plan for creating Dog Park.

c. Possible criteria for evaluating the projects listed above were discussed and a final list developed:
1. Is the project necessary for safety reasons or to comply with ADA requirements?
2. How many people will the project benefit? (more is better)
3. How expensive is the project?
4. How much will the project add to continuing maintenance and staffing costs?
5. Will the project enhance the beauty of the city?
6. How urgent is the project? Will it cost a lot more if deferred until some later time?

d. These criteria and the complete list of possible projects will be distributed to each board member. Their evaluations will be
returned to the chair by October 13, and the results compiled by the chair in time for the October 16th regular meeting. The
plan is to select from this list the most viable projects to put into the new five year plan, given constraints of resources.

e. The board reviewed the 2nd draft of the proposed 5-year plan, to determine what else needs to be done to prepare a third
draft incorporating the project list mentioned above, other data, and source materials.

f. The board compared the 2nd draft of the proposed plan with the currently proposed City Capital Budget 5-year Plan. There was discussion about some park items which appeared in that plan without a vote from the PRB. The chair said he would report back on how that happened at the October meeting.

6. The Chair reported that Public Works Committee was expected to approve the cost of notching the coffer dam to further de-water Lake Leota. Further, the Skate Club has turned over the $5000 to the city to complete its agreement.

7. Updates on pending park projects:
a. Leota Park: Re-shingling the Boy Scout house is underway; old shingles are being removed.
b. Franklin Park: Equipment will be installed by week's end. New utility pole will be placed soon. Still waiting on SBC and cable company to move their services before old poles can be removed.
c. Countryside Park: slab is poured, and high school students are beginning work on the shelter/bathroom. Playground equipment installation will be finished soon.
d. Westside Park; seeding is almost complete; has been delayed by rain.

8. Aquatic Report: Rick Hamacher; pool director.
a. The pool director and board discussed a letter to the board from the 2006 park store manager. The director is not yet willing to implement some of the store manager's suggestions for changes. He reports that her figures for store expenses are incomplete, because not all bills have been paid.
b. The director presented a proposal for fee increases for pool usage in 2007. Sendelbach moved and Farnsworth seconded to
approve the fee increases. The motion passed unanimously, and will be incorporated in the 2007 budget.
c. There was a discussion of reduced fees for low-income families; the fee structure already incorporates this on an informal
basis. There will be a further discussion of this at the November board meeting.
d. The director will work with the city engineer to design the additional solar water-heating panels to be installed in 2007.
e. The director will institute a new photo-id season pass requirement for 2007, to eliminate problems experienced in the past
with people "lending" id cards to unauthorized people.
f. The director will purchase an inexpensive new computer with either funds remaining in the 2006 budget or from the 2007
budget to maintain accurate information and process the new photo-id passes.
g. Final touch-up painting and moving the propane tank will be done yet this year.

9. Park Maintenance and Improvements report: Ray Anderson; maintenance supervisor.
a. The supervisor reported he was disappointed in how those using the skate park are treating the facilities, including damage to signs and picnic tables, plus trash not placed in easily available containers. Considerable discussion ensued about how to handle the situation. It is felt that the skate club is not active enough in ensuring compliance with the rules. The chair will discuss this
with the parent heading the Skate Club. It is clear that things need to change if the skate park is to remain a viable feature of the
park system.
b. Two bids for resurfacing the skate-park were received by the supervisor. Both are under budget. Krueger moved and
Merritt seconded to accept the lower bid and get the work done as soon as possible. The motion passed on a 4-2 roll-call vote, with Farnsworth and Jacobson in the negative.

10. Old business: none.

11. New Business: The November 2006 meeting of the Park and Recreation Board is rescheduled to Tuesday November 28th at 6PM

12. There was a motion to adjourn at 8:31 PM.

Minutes drafted by Chair Juergens on October 8th, 2006 and sent to all board members and the city clerk for further distribution.