CITY OF OAK CREEK PARKS, RECREATION & FORESTRY COMMISSION
Thursday, March 11, 2004
Present: Alderperson Ann Lampe, Sandra Herte (arrived at 6:11 p.m.), Janet Fluegel, Marianne Dickmann, Greg Lampe and Jennifer Wimmer
Absent: Dan Jahn and Paul Sigler.
The Oak Creek Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission meeting was held at the Oak Creek City Hall, Solarium Conference Room, 8640 S. Howell Avenue, Oak Creek, WI, on Thursday, March 11, 2004. Chairperson Janet Fluegel called the meeting to order at 6:06 PM.
The minutes from the February 12, 2004, meeting was approved on a motion made by Ann Lampe and seconded by Jennifer Wimmer. All aye; motion carried.
The financial statements and claims for the month of February 2004 were approved on a motion made by Marianne Dickmann and seconded by Greg Lampe. All aye; motion carried.
PROPOSED SKATE PARK UPDATE: INFORMATIONAL
The Director met with Skate Park Chairpersons Jeff Huber and John Finco and they want to solicit tentative proposals for the Skate Park. Jeff sent out requests to different vendors and is hoping to get a reply within 2- to 3-weeks. Once the information from the vendors is back, the next step will be to meet with the committees and develop a tentative proposal for the Council, have another Community interest meeting, and then the final proposal will be taken to the Council.
REQUEST FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY TO UPDATE HOWELL AVENUE FLOWER BEDS-REVIEW & TAKE ACTION
The Commission reviewed the Community Development Authority (CDA) interest in having the raised perennials and flowering shrub beds on the Howell Avenue medians to include “color flowers” like the beds near the airport.
The Director reviewed the Department’s Howell Avenue Median Enhancement proposal which included planting approximately 30 trees (some would be flowering trees) and possibly installing two additional shrub beds between Centennial Drive and Forest Hill Avenue. After discussing values of trees, winter road salting on Howell Avenue and tree replacements along Howell Avenue, Ann Lampe made a motion to plant trees from Groveland to Centennial in 2004. The median enhancement project can then be evaluated for possible expansion in 2005. Seconded by Marianne Dickmann. All aye, motion carried.
MILLER PARK POND FISH STOCKING-DISCUSS EARLY RAINBOW TROUT STOCKING & URBAN FISHING PROGRAMS: INFORMATIONAL
At the end of March or first part of April the Department of Natural Resources will stock 500 trout in Miller Park Pond. The Director stated that he had heard that the House of Correction fish stocking program is being funded through private donations. He will check into this.
PARK DEVELOPMENT-UPDATE 2004 CIP/CEP PROJECTS-INFORMATIONAL
The Director updated the Commission on:
● Chapel Hills Park: Someone keeps removing the timing mechanisms from the ice rink light pole. The Department is considering, replacing the ice rink light pole with security lighting. Options include not replacing the light and having ice skating only during daylight hours, keep the ice rink light pole and get another fixture and timing mechanism or install a security light. The cost for the electricity for either the light pole or security light would be about $6/month. Greg Lampe made a motion to mount a security light (without timer) at the Chapel Hills Park ice rink location. Seconded by Sandra Herte. All aye, motion carried.
● Abendschein Park: The Department is working with the Engineering Department to complete an Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water grant application for 700 feet of Oak Creek bank stabilization in the park.
MILLER PARK PAVILION FLOORING-RUBBERIZED FLOORING OR CARPETING?
The Director looked into rubberized flooring for the rest room area and the remainder of the pavilion. The estimated cost would be about $12,000 for rubberized flooring. The pros of this is once it’s down it would be easy to maintain by just mopping and maybe deep clean once a year. It is a nice surface for ice skating as well as other events like picnics, camps, weddings, etc. The rubberized flooring should last about 15 years and comes in squares that are replaceable if indoor/outdoor carpeting. The length of season for ice skating the past several years has averaged about two to three weeks. The rest rooms surface are currently concrete. The Commission wanted to know what was under the carpeting in the main area of the building. They felt that if it was concrete, that it could be painted (you could use the texture paint) and that no carpeting would be needed. They also stated that they felt that we should bring in mats for the short periods of time that ice skating is held at Miller Park. The Director has $10,000 in the CIP budget. Many of the windows in Miller Park Pavilion could use replacing. The Director will look at the Pavilion flooring further and got an estimate for window replacements.
This item will be back on the April agenda.
DEPARTMENT INVOLVEMENT IN 4TH OF JULY CELEBRATION ACTIVITIES-INFORMATIONAL
The Department plans to sponsor the youth baseball/softball games again during the 4th of July festivities. The Legion is planning on having a three-day Legionfest with bands, games, adult softball tournament, etc. The fireworks will be on Saturday, July 3. The Celebrations Committee will be in charge of the parade, fireworks, ice cream, various games for the kids and flag distribution. Legionfest is also going to have community organizations and business display booths during the festival celebration. The Department is considering setting up a display booth.
FACILITY RESERVATION REQUESTS: REVIEW & TAKE ACTION
A. South Milwaukee High School Girls Soccer at Kickers Creek. The Department is going to top soil and grass seed much of the Abendschein soccer field this spring. South Milwaukee will be using one of the soccer fields at Kickers Creek this spring. The other field would be open for other community groups to use. South Milwaukee will be using the field primarily for games because they don’t want to bus the team to Kickers Creek for all of their practices. Jennifer Wimmer made a motion to allow South Milwaukee High School to use Kickers Creek for their practices/games. Seconded by Greg Lampe. All aye, motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
a. Boards, Commissions & Committees Standard Appointment Procedures (handout)
b. Parks, Recreation & Public Heath article (handout). The Director asked Commissioners to read the article before the next meeting. Discussion pended to the April meeting.
ADJOURNMENT
At 7:03 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