Minutes: Park Board: February 2007

City of Evansville, Wisconsin
Park and Recreation Board Regular Monthly Meeting
Evansville City Hall Council Chambers
February 19, 2007

Draft Minutes

1. Call to Order at 6:05 PM and Roll Call: Chair Juergens & members Carlsen, Farnsworth, Jacobson, Krueger and Merritt present. Staff members Anderson and Hamacher present. Member Sendelbach excused.

2. Minutes of January 15, 2007 meeting were unanimously approved on a voice vote.

3. The agenda for this meeting unanimously approved without alteration on a voice vote.

4. Citizen Appearances.
a. Ryan Ammerman appeared to request support from the Park Board on a “project of benefit to the community” to complete his Eagle Scout rating. After discussion, it was moved and seconded to support a project in the park under the general supervision of Park Maintenance Supervisor Ray Anderson. The project will likely have to do with improvements to the press-box and concession stand at the upper diamond in Lake Leota Park. Motion passed unanimously.

5. Presentation from Relay-for-Life Committee.
Kelly McCarren and Karen Aikman discussed their plans for using Lake Leota Park for the annual Cancer Society Fundraiser on Friday/Saturday, June 15-16, 2007. The upper diamond area has been reserved through City Hall, and the park will remain open all night. They requested DJ music through the night, knowing that this had been denied last year, based on a survey of area residents. The chair declined to re-survey this year. Because the restrooms have been completed, no porta-potties will be required this year. Camping will be permitted. There will be an 11 PM curfew for young kids participating without parents. Ray Anderson reported he will be on vacation the week preceding this event, so plans must be well in place before then. The organizers requested that a team from the PRB participate in the event. The organizers will report again to the PRB in coming meetings.

6. SOLE Committee Report.
Gib Wiedenhoeft of SOLE reported that the group continues to work on a budget for the dredging project. The hoped-for near-by site for dumping the dredged material is unavailable. He has three contractors interested in the project, and because the material will have to be hauled farther than originally thought, the estimated cost is likely to be approximately $1.4 million.
He also reported that the next SOLE meeting would take place on Wednesday, February 28th, 6 PM at the Library. He invited PRB members to attend.

6. Development of the "2007 Park and Outdoor Recreation Plan".
a. The final draft of the plan was reviewed by Patrick Sheahan of the DNR and found to be in accordance with their standards. If adopted by City Council, it will be accepted as adequate to support applications for future grants of financial assistance from DNR. Mr Sheahan said, informally, that the plan was very well done.

b. The Plan is scheduled to be presented to the Plan Commission on March 5, when a public hearing will be held. If the Commission so recommends, the Plan will be presented to Common Council on March 13 for adoption by resolution.

7. Chair’s report on any actions of Public Works Committee, Finance & Labor Relations Committee, and Common Council on items of interest to PRB:
a. Council passed a resolution supporting SOLE applying for an earmark federal grant through Congressional Representative Tammy Baldwin’s office.
b. The final bike path plan has been completed and approved by Public Works Committee; it will be proposed as an amendment to the city’s Smart Growth Plan later this Spring.

8. Reports/Updates on Pending Park Projects & Maintenance: Park Maintenance Supervisor Ray Anderson
a. Lake Leota Park: nothing.
b. Franklin Park: It is unlikely that the school construction class can take on the project of constructing a new shelter/gateway structure there.
c. Countryside Park: Restroom construction still on hold because of weather.
d. West Side Park: none
e. other projects, if any: none

9. Aquatic Report: Pool Director Rick Hamacher
a. Report on solar-panel project for 2007: The city engineer is in contact with the supplier of the solar panels in order to design the necessary panel supports adequate for the weight of the panels. Project is lower priority than engineer’s work on Main Street reconstruction.
b. AWARE is set to offer some free pool passes and lessons to qualifying residents.
c. Pool staff will be running park store in 2007. Director is interviewing applicants for staff positions now.

10. Old Business
a. Discussion of how to proceed with the Franklin Park project.
b. Review of Community Service Work so far: CSW’s have completed majority of their work during move of City hall, but still “owe” hours. City Hall is expected to move back in the week of April 9th, and youths will complete their hours during that time.

11. New Business
a. The PRB completed its annual review of its action items from the Smart Growth Plan, evaluating whether it is implementing the plan as passed. Some items have a target date for completion and others are labeled as continuous. All the individual items are listed below.


Land Use 1. Make green space an integral part of residential neighborhoods, including access to nearby parks and the creation of tree-lined streets. Park Board NA Continuous

We are making adequate progress on this.


Intergovernmental Cooperation 1. To capitalize on its proposed proximity to the Ice Age Trail and potential regional trails, Evansville should coordinate with Rock County, the Town of Union, Town of Magnolia and the WDNR to pursue trail connections between the Ice Age Trail and the City of Evansville and the development of other regional trails. Park Board
WDNR Recreational Trails Grant Program 2009

With a target date of 2009, it is time to begin to talk with the surrounding towns and WDNR to develop a framework for implementing this.


Intergovernmental cooperation 2. Coordinate with Rock County and WisDOT so when improvements/reconstruction of county and state roads are scheduled, appropriate consideration is given to the development of bike paths and trails in accordance with adopted plans. Public Works Dept.
&
Park Board WDNR Recreational Trails Grant Program Continuous

The major decision on this was in conjunction with the proposed re-build of County Highway M south of 14 to the new Biodiesel plant. Since truck traffic will be heavy on this road, it was decided that, for safety reasons, no bike path should be part of the plan for this project.


Utilities & Community Facilities 3. Consider widening the roads in Leonard-Leota Park so that bicycle and jogging lanes can be striped on the roads. Public Works Dept. &
Park Board WisDOT Transportation Enhancement Program 2009

This will be addressed only during planning for the Lake Leota Restoration project.


Land Use

Intergovernmental
Cooperation 1. Provide trail access points to the downtown to connect the downtown with other areas of the City, as well as, regional trail networks. Park Board, Evansville Redevelopment Authority (ERA), and Civic Groups WDNR Recreational Trails Grant Program 2012

As part of the Main St. Enhancement project to be completed this year, a new bike path plan was adopted, and will be proposed to Plan Commission for a Smart Growth Plan amendment later this year.


Land Use 1. When the City updates the Evansville Park and Outdoor Recreation Plan, update the population projections to reflect those figures provided in this plan, or new figures accepted by the City. Park Board City Budget As required by WDNR to maintain grant eligibility

Completed plan with new population figures. Plan is expected to be adopted by City Council in March 2007.


Transportation

Agricultural, Natural & Cult. Resources 2. Consider natural and man made features, such as Allen Creek and major streets, that may act as barriers for certain portions of the population when locating parks. Provide pedestrian access that is separate from vehicular traffic as needed. Park Board NA Continuous

No new parks are planned for the next five years, so this is likely to be moot. Consideration of pedestrian access to the West Side Park will occur later, as roads are
paved and parking lots placed in the park.


Land Use 1. Preserve wetlands in their natural state through the adoption and enforcement of the wetland preservation ordinance. Park Board City Budget 2008

The PRB will begin learning about and writing a proposed wetland preservation ordinance later during 2007, for presentation to Common Council in 2008.


Agricultural, Natural & Cultural Resources

1. Complete development of the park on the City’s West side to maintain the City’s balance of recreation choices for the growing population.
Park Board City Budget, WDNR Grants, and Private Donations Continuous

Construction of the park began in 2006. The soccer field area was leveled & seeded. The grass area will be allowed to develop during 2007, for use in 2008. The City Capital Budget for 2007 allows for further monies to be spent on other development of this park during 2008 and following years.


Transportation

Intergovernmental Cooperation 2. Develop trail/bicycle way/sidewalk connections between downtown Evansville, city parks and to recreation facilities beyond Evansville (e.g. Evansville Country Club and Rock County Park Facilities). Park Board City Budget, WDNR Grants, and Private Donations Continuous

The new bike path plan was mentioned above; downtown enhancements will be largely funded by grant monies already received. The plan connects downtown, city parks, and schools. The map for this plan shows potential off-road trails that may surround Evansville, running through Union Twp. Building of these may occur in the future.

The Board concluded that it is up-to-date on its part of implementing the Smart Growth Plan. All the items and associated comments above will be forwarded to the Chair of the Plan Commission as the PRB’s Smart Growth Plan annual report.

12. Motion to Adjourn (Jacobson, Farnsworth) approved at 6:58 pm.

Minutes drafted by Fred Juergens on March 13, 2007. Minutes are not official until approved at a subsequent meeting of the PRB.