MINUTES

CITY OF OAK CREEK PARKS, RECREATION & FORESTRY COMMISSION

Thursday, May 8, 2003

Chairperson Del Nirode, Ann Lampe, Dan Jahn, Sandra Herte (arrived at 6:05 PM), Janet Fluegel and Greg Lampe.  Douglas Schachtner (Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry) and Jeff Wendt (Parks Maintenance Supervisor) was in attendance. 

Absent:  Paul Sigler and Marianne Dickmann

The Oak Creek Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission meeting was held at Oak Creek City Hall, Solarium Conference Room, on Thursday, May 8, 2003, and was called to order at 6:05 p.m.

The minutes from the March 13, 2003, meeting was approved on a motion made by Ann Lampe and seconded by Greg Lampe. All aye; motion carried.

The financial statements and claims for the months of March & April were approved on a motion made by Janet Fluegel and seconded by Ann Lampe. All aye; motion carried.

PARKS, RECREATION & FORESTRY COMMISSION APPOINTMENTS-RECOGNIZE APPOINTMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS

The Director introduced Dan Jahn as the new commissioner replacing Jodi Nelson. The Commission welcomed Dan.  Ann Lampe was reappointed as the Aldermanic Representative for one more year.

CANADIAN GEESE CONTROL/MANAGEMENT AT MILLER PARK

Parks Supervisor Jeff Wendt was at the meeting to discuss various management and control practices regarding Canadian geese with the commission. Jeff and the Director discussed our current Canadian geese situation at Miller Park, various management and control methods available, as well as what the Department is currently doing in regards to minimizing the number of Canadian geese that visit the park, particularly around the pond area.  The Department has posted signs requesting that park visitors do not feed the waterfowl.  We have stenciled that same request on two of the picnic tables that are used near the pond and we are also handing out “Please Do Not Feed the Waterfowl” postcards to park visitors that are observed feeding the geese.  The Parks Supervisor attempted to locate nests for egg addling but was not successful in spring. The Department tried to frighten geese away with a starter’s pistol which was unsuccessful.  The cost for the use of Border Collies to chase the geese is cost prohibitive at this time.  The Department plans on using a chemical called Flight Control that will be sprayed around the pond area to deter geese from feeding in the area.  The Commission acknowledged the Department’s attempts to manage and control the Canadian geese in the area and liked the idea of trying the Flight Control method as well. The Department will keep the Commission informed on this project.

5-YEAR PARK & OPEN SPACE PLAN UPDATE

The Director briefly reviewed with the Commission a proposed outline indicating the proposed scope and content for the 5-Year Park and Open Space Plan for the City of Oak Creek.  The Director will be developing a request for proposal for the plan process.  He is requesting that the Commission be involved in the selection of the consulting and planning firm. It is assumed that the process will proceed much like the Abendschein Community Park Master Plan process regarding incorporating public review and input into the plan.  Once the request for proposal process is completed and a firm has been chosen, the request for hiring the firm would be forwarded to the Common Council for approval.  The Commission concurred.

Ann Lampe informed the Commission that the Common Council is considering authorizing the Director of Community Development to negotiate an agreement with Ruekert and Mielke for the provision of supplemental plan review services.  Could the 5-Year Park and Open Space Plan be included in that supplementation of services?  The Director will look into this possibility.

KICKERS CREEK ACCESS & USE AGREEMENT RELEVANT TO FUTURE USE BY SOUTH MILWAUKEE SCHOOL DISTRICT

The Director informed the commission that he was contacted by the City of South Milwaukee City Attorney regarding the possibility of allowing the South Milwaukee School District to use the Kickers Creek Park soccer fields.  A meeting has been set up for May 14 between the Director, South Milwaukee City Attorney, the Athletic Director of South Milwaukee School District and their soccer coach.  The Director will put this item on the June Commission meeting agenda.

JUNE MEETING-CONFIRM PICNIC/MEEETING DATE/LOCATION

The Commission decided to have the June picnic/meeting on Thursday, June 19 starting at 5:15 PM.  The Commission has decided to invite the new mayor, Richard Bolender, to the picnic and meeting.  A motion was made by Janet Fluegel, seconded by Ann Lampe and passed unanimously.

The picnic/meeting will be held at the Miller Park Pavilion.

WPRA TICKET SALES PROGRAM/TICKET FLYER

The discount ticket program flyer was briefly reviewed by the Commission.

MILLER PARK POND FISH STOCKING. DISCUSS EARLY RAINBOW TROUT STOCKING AND URBAN FISHING PROGRAM.

Once again this year the Department of Natural Resources stocked approximately 500 Rainbow Trout in Miller Park Pond.  The special fishing season for persons under 16 years or those with a resident disabled persons fishing license was from Saturday, March 8 through Friday, April 25.

PARK DEVELOPMENT-REVIEW 2003 CIP/CEP PROJECTS

The City Administrator has informed the Director that he wants the Skate Park Conceptual Plan and Preliminary Cost Estimate request to go to the CIP Committee for review.  He also would like the encroachment on City property issue to be reviewed by the CIP Committee.  As of this date, he has yet to schedule a CIP Committee meeting.  The Director will encourage the City Administrator to do so as soon as possible so these two projects may proceed.  The Director briefly reviewed other park development projects that are scheduled to be completed in 2003 with the Commission.  These included the Abendschein parking lot, the picnic shelters are Meadowview and Riverton Meadows parks and the Chapel Hills Park renovation.  He also reviewed the Street Tree Program briefly with the Commission.

RECREATION PROGRAMS

Teen Adventure flyer.  The Director briefly reviewed the flyer with the Commission.  The Director informed the Commission that there is a lot of interest being generated registration-wise regarding the Teen program.  The Commissioners commented that many of the trips and activities looked very interesting.

BALLFIELD RESERVATION & MILLER PARK RESERVATION REQUESTS

There were no items for discussion regarding this agenda item.

COMMUNICATIONS (distributed to Commissioners)

The Director handed out a revised Commission Polices and Procedure manual.  There was no discussion regarding the manual at this time.

ADJOURNMENT

At 7:13 p.m., Janet Fluegel made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Seconded by Greg Lampe. All aye, motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Janet Fluegel

Secretary

JF/dl