MINUTES
CITY OF OAK CREEK PARKS, RECREATION & FORESTRY COMMISSION
Thursday, February 27, 2003
Chairperson Del Nirode, Alderperson Ann Lampe, Paul Sigler (arrived at 6:40 p.m.), Sandra Herte, Janet Fluegel, Marianne Dickmann, Greg Lampe (left at 8:15 p.m.) & Douglas Schachtner (Director of Parks & Recreation) were in attendance. Also in attendance were John Finco (Skate Park Site Location Chairperson) and Jeff Huber (Chairperson for the Skate Park Design Committee).
The Oak Creek Parks & Recreation Commission meeting was held at Oak Creek City Common Council Chambers, Oak Creek, on Thursday, February 27, 2003, and was called to order at 6:34 p.m.
The minutes from the January 9, 2003, meeting was approved on a motion made by Marianne Dickmann and seconded by Greg Lampe. All aye; motion carried.
The financial statements and claims for the month of December 2002 and January 2003 were approved on a motion made by Marianne Dickmann and seconded by Sandra Herte. All aye; motion carried.
PARKS, RECREATION & FORESTRY COMMISSIONER RESIGNS
It was acknowledged that the Commission did receive the resignation e-mail from Commissioner Jody Nelson. The Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry along with the Commission will try to compile a list of recommended potential commissioners and forward it to the new mayor sometime in April.
ABENDSCHEIN COMMUNITY PARK
The Skate Park Location, Clement Avenue Collector Street and the woodland acquisition were all discussed. These three items were discussed in great length by the Commission as well as the Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry, and the Chairpersons of the Skate Park Committees. John Finco (Site Selection Committee Chairperson) reviewed the Skate Parks locations spreadsheet in great detail. John explained the various sites that were considered for the Skate Park as well as the criteria in which each site was measured. Abendschein Community Park was by far the more ideal site for the proposed Skate Park. The Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry reviewed the Abendschein Community Park Master Plan diagram with the Commission. The proposed parking lot that is to be developed this year was discussed as well as the proposed Clement Avenue collector street which runs through the northwest section of the Community Park. The specific site location in the Community Park for the Skate Park was discussed in great detail as well as distances from nearby residential areas and the woodland area adjacent to the Community Park and ownership of the woodlands.
Ann Lampe made a motion to approve the Abendschein Community Park site as the location for the proposed Skate Park. The specific site in the Community Park would be the southwest corner of the park, north of the existing woodland area. The motion was seconded by Janet Fluegel. All aye, motion carried.
The Clement Avenue collector street agenda item was held for future discussion.
Janet Fluegel made a motion to inquire with the property owner about acquisition of the woodland area south of the Abendschein Community Park. Seconded by Ann Lampe. All aye, motion carried.
CHANGE COMMISSION MEETING DATE-Fourth Thursday of the Month
The Commission held this agenda item to be discussed at the March 13, 2003, commission meeting.
CANADIAN GOOSE SYMPOSIUM
The Director informed the Commission that Park Maintenance Supervisor, Jeff Wendt, will be attending a Canada Goose Symposium March 19 – March 21 in Madison, WI. The symposium will encompass all aspects of Canada goose biology and management and include special sessions devoted to resident Canada goose issues. The Commission recommended that Jeff attend an upcoming Commission meeting to report on the symposium.
2003 URBAN TREE PLANTING & PRUNING/REMOVAL PROGRAM
The Commission briefly reviewed parts of the annual forestry budget/capital improvement program sheet that was handed out in the Commission packets as well as the proposed 2003 spring tree planting bids which will be opened on Wednesday, March 5, and will be forwarded to the Common Council at their March 18 meeting for review and approval.
The Director also informed the Commission that the City of Oak Creek will receive a 2002 Tree City USA Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation presented at a recognition banquet in Madison on March 27, 2003. Alderperson Elizabeth Kopplin, City Forester Rebecca Lane and the Director will be attending the award presentation that day as well as attending three pre-reception workshops. The award is proof of the Community’s commitment to an enhanced quality of life through the planting and care of trees.
PARK DEVELOPMENT-2003 CEP/CIP PROJECTS
Portable Bleacher Inspection Report
The Director handed out the Common Council report that was submitted for the March 4, 2003, Common Council meeting recommending that Council concur with the Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department and approve the bid of $15,920 from Miller & Associates for the purchase of five new transportable aluminum bleachers. The Director discussed with the Commission the updated International Building Code regarding bleachers that was recently adopted by the State of Wisconsin. Photos of existing bleachers as well as the proposed new bleachers were included in the packet as well as a bleacher inspection report regarding the condition of our existing bleachers and the bid specifications for the new bleachers. The Commission discussed the importance of having bleachers and the need to replace some of the older bleachers with newer bleachers that meet the current codes.
Five Year Park & Open Space Plan
The Director briefly discussed the upcoming planning process with the Commission. The Commission held this agenda item for future discussion at another meeting.
Camelot Park
The Director reviewed with the Commission the proposed park site plan drawing. The Engineering Department finalized development specifications for advertisement. The Commission discussed the possibility of holding this project. Ann Lampe made a motion that for economic reasons and to be fiscally responsible, she recommended delaying the bidding of the project until a clearer direction is given by the State relevant to shared revenues. Janet Fluegel seconded the motion. All aye, motion carried.
Terminate Previous Site Lease
The Director reviewed the original site location for Camelot Park. The original park site was to be located southwest of Montana Drive cul-de-sac. The City exchanged the wooded area north of the proposed original park site (which was City woods) to Milwaukee County as part of the land swap for the new police station. Because the Camelot Park site location has been relocated to the north part of the subdivision, northwest of Chapel Drive. The Director recommended that the lease for the original Camelot Park site be terminated with the County. Paul Sigler made a motion to terminate the previous site lease. Seconded by Marianne Dickmann. All aye, motion carried.
REZONING OF SCHMIDT PROPERTIES IN CAROLLVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD
Commissioner Ann Lampe, the Aldermanic representative on the Park, Recreation & Forestry Commission, reviewed with the Commission a recent Common Council meeting agenda item that called for rezoning of portions of the David and Doreen Schmidt properties in the Carollville neighborhood. The Common Council did approve the rezoning of the properties which designates certain areas of the site as park property. However, the park property would be under the property owner’s control. When and if this property is developed as single family residential and multi family residential along with the park area, it would mean that the current Carollville Neighborhood Park would be eliminated with no current plans for redeveloping a city neighborhood park in that area.
RECREATION PROGRAMS
Discuss Winter/Spring programs
There was no discussion on this agenda item.
Sanction Adult Softball Teams with United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA)
The Director discussed with the Commission the possibility of having the adult softball teams and its umpires sanctioned by USSSA for the upcoming season. The primary benefit to the Department would be that the Association’s involvement in the recruitment, training, scheduling, and evaluation of the umpires would eliminate time spent by our recreation supervisor and softball coordinator performing these duties. The Department expects to see improved performance by the umpires regarding knowledge and enforcement of Department and Association rules and regulations.
After some discussion, Greg Lampe made the motion to approve the sanctioning of our adult softball leagues and umpires with USSSA for the 2003 softball season. Motion seconded by Janet Fluegel. All aye, motion carried.
BALLFIELD RESERVATION REQUESTS
No discussion.
MILLER PARK FACILITY RESERVATION REQUESTS
No discussion.
COMMUNICATIONS
Wisconsin Open Meetings Law Compliance Guidelines
The Commission decided to put this item on the March agenda for discussion.
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:44 p.m., Janet Fluegel made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Sandra Herte. All aye, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Janet Fluegel
Secretary
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