Minutes; Evansville Park Board: February 2006

DRAFT Park & Recreation Board Meeting Minutes
Tuesday February 28th, 200 6at 6:00 p.m.
Council Chambers, City Hall


1 The Chair called the meeting to order at 6:05 pm. Present: Chair & Alderperson Fred Juergens, Members: Jerry Krueger, Sue Merritt, Lauren Scott. Staff: Rick Hamacher, Ray Anderson. Absent: Members Ron Carlsen, Barbara Jacobson, Karla Sendelbach. Quorum present. Public Works Director Dave Wartenweiler and four members of the Evansville community were also present.

2. Minutes of the January 16, 2006 meeting were approved as printed.

3. Citizen appearances (other than agenda items)

a. Ms. Nancy Grieve-Shannon, a 3rd Grade teacher in the Evansville schools, requested further guidance on the project she’s working on with her students to place more (and more attractive) recycling containers in Lake Leota Park. Mr. Ray Anderson assured her that his staff could empty new smaller recycling containers into the large one that Onyx empties on a regular basis. Ms. Ayn Steinlein commented that it would be good to have signage to indicate which waste containers were for recyclables and which for trash.

4. Lake Leota Draw-down update. No report

5. Franklin Park Design Update

a. Chair Juergens distributed a copy of the section of the 2006 Capital Budget and 5-year projection for the City relevant to the PRB. A short discussion of the relevant items ensued.

b. Chair Juergens stated that an email had been received from John Rasmussen of Water and Light, estimating that the cost to remove and/or relocate the two light poles could run on the order of $5,000. Rasmussen had walked Franklin Park with Juergens a few days earlier, and in response to a question, said that he did not know if there were any easements in place to allow the light poles to be there in the first place. Rasmussen also said that W&L chose to put a new pole well into the park area last summer because they couldn’t find the property line separating the Hay property from the Park. Since telephone and cable lines are also on one of the poles, further costs may be incurred when they are asked to move their facilities

c. There was no detailed plan presented as to what equipment should be purchased to replace the obsolete swing set, though Member Krueger and Citizen Steinlein had general ideas as to what they wanted to see where. There was further talk about a small shelter for a picnic table. The general consensus seems to be that a fence is not necessary for the park. Existing cracks in the new sidewalk were brought to the attention of the Public Works Director. Chair Juergens requested that a definite plan, including what equipment should be purchased immediately and its cost, be presented at the next PRB meeting in March.

6. Skate Park Update.

a. Bill Alt, representing the Skate Club, reported that the club has raised approximately $4200 towards its $5000 commitment. He assured the PRB that the remaining $800 will be raised by the time phase one of the park is completed.

b. Given the above-mentioned commitment from the Skate Club, Chair Juergens requested a motion to reduce the additional dollar amount the PRB is allocating to the Skate Park, out of its unallocated fund of $14,000, from $11,000 agreed to in January to $10,000. Member Merritt so moved, second from Lauren Scott. The motion passed unanimously. Chair Juergens will meet with the City Administrator to learn what steps are necessary to request Council approval of the necessary budget amendment at its March 2006 meeting.

7. Initial Discussion of West-side Park work for 2006.

a. Chair Juergens distributed a proposed plan for the West-side park dated 10/8/05 and an estimate of costs prepared by Dave Sauer, the City Engineer in January 2004.

b. A wide-ranging discussion ensued. Citizen Mason Braunschweig objected to the name of this agenda item, saying it was well past time for initial discussions, that they had been held years ago. The chair pointed out that this was the initial discussion of the actual work to be done in 2006. The budget contains $70,000 for work this year, including $10,000 for engineering studies. In the course of discussion, it was discovered that the 10/8/05 plan had never been officially approved; no PRB vote appeared in any recent minutes. Further, the plan could not be approved at this meeting, because such a possible motion was not included on the agenda. PRB will formally vote on the plan at its March 2006 meeting.

c. PRB will ask the City Administrator to request that the City Engineer begin survey work that will allow some grading to take place, once this plan is approved. Such work should take into account likely locations for utilities, roads, parking lots, etc., and give guidance to Public Works so that grading and initial grass seeding can occur in 2006, in the area where the soccer fields are likely to go. Mr. Braunschweig was insistent that work must begin this year, even though the major work on the park isn’t scheduled for several years, in 2009. This is the PRB’s intent; there’s no difference of opinion here.

8. Initial Discussion of Countryside Park Improvements for 2006.

a. a document from the City Administrator listing the fees received from developers over the last five years, in lieu of Parkland Dedication, was distributed to all members and staff. This indicates that approximately $140,000 is available to the PRB through such fees. It was mentioned that funds from several east-side developments were earmarked for Countryside Park.

b. Chair Juergens reviewed an email from Bill Connors, writing as a private citizen, describing the need for more swings, other playground equipment and possible restroom facilities at Countryside Park.

c. Discussion followed, including ideas to remove some of the existing fence, at least on North Water Street, building a shelter in the Park, installation of more playground equipment in a suitable location. Mr. Anderson and Mr. Wartenweiler are concerned about possible vandalism of any permanent restroom facilities in the park. It was proposed that the removed fencing might be recycled by using it to separate the Skate Park from Tennis Court #2. Mr. Anderson said it wouldn’t be cost effective to reclaim the support structure, but that the chain-link fabric could be re-used.

d. Public Works will investigate where sewer and water lines are on the periphery of the Park so as to get a rough idea of what would be necessary to install restroom facilities, perhaps as part of a shelter.

e. It was proposed that the Chair begin to try to form a neighborhood group to come up with some more definite plans for improving Countryside Park. Such plans should not interfere with the existing soccer fields. The Chair will do so.

9. Aquatic Report:

a. Aquatic Director Hamacher commented on a memo he had earlier distributed to members of PRB. In it he outlined two options for staffing the park store, and recommended Option #2. Further discussion of this will be on the agenda for the March PRB meeting. Loose ends are being tied up; pool painting and striping will be done when weather permits; brochures are being printed. Ads for Staff are in the Review.

10. Improvements and Maintenance Report: Mr. Ray Anderson

a. Bathroom construction in the upper park is coming along with the cooperation of the high-school students. Most work should be complete by March 15th.

12. Old Business: None

13. New business: None

14. Adjourn: Motion made at 7:32 pm. seconded and approved without dissent.


Minutes Drafted by Chair Juergens 3/4/06. These are not official until approved at a subsequent meeting.