MINUTES
Thursday, June 19, 2003
Alderperson Ann Lampe, Paul Sigler (left at 6:22 p.m.), Sandra Herte, Janet Fluegel, Marianne Dickmann and Jennifer Wimmer. Douglas Schachtner (Director of Parks, Recreation & Forestry), Mary Jane Trate (Recreation Supervisor), Debbie Lukasik (Secretary), and Rebecca Lane (City Forester) were in attendance. Del Nirode was a guest at the picnic.
Absent: Dan Jahn and Greg Lampe
The Oak Creek Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission meeting was held at Miller Park Pavilion, 315 E. Groveland, Oak Creek, WI, on Thursday, June 19, 2003, and was called to order at 5:56 p.m.
Paul Sigler made a motion to nominate Janet Fluegel as temporary chairperson for the meeting, seconded by Ann Lampe. Ann Lampe moved to close nominations, seconded by Paul Sigler. All aye; motion carried.
Paul Sigler made a motion to nominate Janet Fluegel as the Commission chairperson for the term of June 2003 to June 2004. Seconded by Marianne Dickmann. Marianne Dickmann made a motion to close nominations, seconded by Jennifer Wimmer. All aye to elect Janet Fluegel as the Commission chairperson for the 2003-2004 term.
Janet Fluegel made a motion to nominate Marianne Dickmann as the secretary for the June 2003 to June 2004 term. Seconded by Paul Sigler. Herte made a motion to close nominations, seconded by Ann Lampe. All aye to elect Marianne Dickmann as the Commission secretary for 2003-2004 term.
The minutes from the May 8, 2003, meeting were approved on a motion made by Ann Lampe and seconded by Paul Sigler. All aye; motion carried.
The financial statements and claims for the month of May were approved on a motion made by Ann Lampe and seconded by Marianne Dickmann. All aye; motion carried.
The Director introduced Jennifer Wimmer as the new commissioner on the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Commission.
The Director informed the Commission that the South Milwaukee School District has requested to use Kicker’s Creek Park for their Junior Varsity and Varsity High School soccer program during the fall and spring. The Director met with South Milwaukee City Attorney Joe Murphy, South Milwaukee Athletic Director Ralph Henning, and South Milwaukee Assistant Soccer Coach Robert Spangler. At this time, the Director is assuming that the request is for a three- to four-year period of time. They are requesting both soccer fields at Kicker’s Creek for August 18 to November 1 for fall and then from mid-March to June 1 on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursday from 3:15 to 6 pm and also on some Saturdays for tournaments. The South Milwaukee School District said that they would cut the grass and the lay out the fields and help with the restoration in the fall.
The Department intends to relocate our youth football program (from Shepard Hills ballfield) and our youth flag football program (from East Middle School ballfield) sites to Kicker’s Creek.
The Department intends to use Kicker’s Creek on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for these two programs. These days are needed for clinics, practices, games, make-up dates, soccer camps and program expansion.
In addition, there is a demand for soccer fields from other community groups such as the Oak Creek Soccer Club, St. Mathews, Grace Lutheran and the South East Kickers.
If the fields are made available to the South Milwaukee High School soccer program:
After much discussion and because of the anticipated amount of department and community use of the new site, and the large amount of time requested for use of the site by the South Milwaukee School District which would restrict program flexibility by the Oak Creek Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department, a motion was made by Paul Sigler to deny the Kicker’s Creek Access & Userequest by the South Milwaukee School District. Seconded by Marianne Dickmann. All aye.
Milwaukee County has passed an ordinance against feeding waterfowl and would like the other communities to adopt it as well. The only problem that the Department is aware of where feeding waterfowl is a problem in Oak Creek is at Miller Park. We are trying to address the problems through educating the community by posting signs, stenciling of the picnic tables and handing out postcards. We will be trying “Flight Control” (a spray that is applied and coats the grass with a naturally occurring compound that geese eventually avoid).
The Commission also discussed the dog litter ordinance and the difficulty in enforcement of such ordinances. The Director stated the department will continue the department’s education/informational and management practices regarding Canadian Geese. He will monitor Milwaukee County’s educational sessions and see how effective their ordinance is and will bring that information back to the Commission in fall.
Mary Jane Trate, Recreation Supervisor, explained the resident vs. non-resident registration guidelines and the current fees and charges for the adult softball program. They are confusing to people and result in continual player registration card falsification by participants. The Department spends a great deal of time contacting people and explaining to them the guidelines and questioning the validity of the registration card information. We are trying to come up with a plan that might be easier on us and less confusing for people signing up.
The player registration fee is averaging about $13 per person. We are recommending making player fees between $13 to $14 per person regardless of residency. The recreation supervisor discussed possible changes in registrations dates and how to determine a resident vs. non-resident team and elimination of the player registration cards.
Mary Jane stated that she would make up a survey and distribute to the players and managers of all softball leagues. The Director stated that he would bring the results back to the Commission in the fall.
Marianne Dickmann made a motion that meeting for the month of July and August would be a call of the chair. Seconded by Sandra Herte. All aye.
Not discussed-item tabled until September
Not discussed-item tabled until September
None at the time of the meeting
The Director handed out the following to Commissioners:
The City of Oak Creek is involved in the Milwaukee County Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG). The CDBG is for services for low income or Senior Citizens and for construction or renovation, part of which is for the handicapped. Miller Park pavilion renovation options for the construction to bring the rest room facilities up to ADA code were shown to the Commission by the Director. Bringing the pavilion restrooms up to ADA code would require the elimination of one urinal, the elimination of the toilet partition in the Men’s restroom and the elimination of one toilet and partition in the Women’s restroom.
Future plans are to upgrade the furnace in Miller Park Pavilion to a high efficiency furnace and to add a hot water heater.
Marianne Dickmann made a motion that we do not pursue the upgrades through the CDBG funding because of the loss of facilities in the rest rooms. Seconded by Ann Lampe. All aye.
Not discussed-item tabled until future meeting
At 6:58 p.m., Marianne Dickmann made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Sandra Herte. All aye, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Marianne Dickmann
Secretary
MD/dl