MINUTES

CITY OF OAK CREEK PARKS, RECREATION & FORESTRY COMMISSION

Thursday, May 10, 2007

Present:  Dan Jahn, Paul Sigler, Patricia Glatch, Janet Fluegel (arrived at 6:27 p.m.), Ann Lampe, Marianne Dickmann & Pete Wagner

Absent: Alderperson Tom Michalski

Ann Lampe was nominated by Marianne Dickmann to be the Chairperson for the meeting. Paul Sigler moved to close nominations; motion carried. Ann Lampe was unanimously voted the Chairperson for the meeting.

The Thursday, May 10, 2007, Oak Creek Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission meeting was called to order at 6:09 p.m. by Acting Chairperson Ann Lampe.

Welcome new and reappointed commissioners

The Director and Commission welcomed reappointed commissioners Pete Wagner and Patricia Glatch. Ann Lampe was appointed to replace Greg Lampe on the commission.  The Director informed the Commission that Alderperson Tom Michalski is the new Common Council representative on the Commission.

The minutes from the April 2, 2007, meeting was approved on a motion made by Paul Sigler and seconded by Patricia Glatch.  All aye; motion carried.

The financial statements and claims for April 2007 were approved on a motion made by Marianne Dickmann and seconded by Paul Sigler. All aye; motion carried.

East Middle School Park Facilities - Update

The Director informed the Commission that all park facilities, except the play structure and a portion of the bike trail, have been dismantled to make room for the new middle school at the East Middle School site.  The skate park components are currently being stored at the city garage complex. The School District and Milwaukee County have worked out an agreement to temporarily reroute the bike trail while construction is taking place and to extend the bike trail further south east along the Oak Creek when the construction is completed. The Director has not met with the School District to discuss future park facilities at the East Middle School site but hopes to meet with them soon.

Abendschein Community Park – Prioritize Park Facilities for Phase 1 Development – Review

The Director informed the Commission that Vandewalle and Associates will be updating the Abendschein Park master plan for $4,200.

The future location of the skate park was discussed.  With the uncertainty of the skate park being reinstalled at the East Middle School site, the possibility of putting the skate park at Abendschein Community Park was revisited.  Abendschein Park was the original preferred site for the skate park before the East Middle School site became available. If the skate park was put at Abendschein, a portion of the disc golf course would have to be relocated or the course could be relocated to a different site. The Abendschein Park location would make the skate park more visually and public accessible. The installation of the skate park could possibly be accomplished in late 2007 or early 2008 if authorizations and approvals could be acquired.

Relocation of the disc golf course to the Oak Creek Parkway east of Howell Avenue was discussed. As previously requested by the Commission, the Director did contact Milwaukee County and met with county park representatives at the site. Milwaukee County is receptive to the potential development of a disc golf course at that location. Rather than relocate some of the disc golf course at Abendschein Park and possibly create a conflict with other park facilities proposed for development in the park, the Commission preferred to relocate the course to the Oak Creek Parkway site if possible.

The Commission discussed other proposed park facilities for Abendschein Community Park and once again reiterated their desire to have the Clement Avenue Extension eliminated from the park site plan. The Director will continue to pursue that possibility.

A motion was made by Marianne Dickmann and seconded by Janet Fluegel to relocate the skate park to Abendschein Community Park with pursuit of development to occur in 2007. All aye; motion carried.

A motion was made by Paul Sigler and seconded by Marianne Dickmann to pursue the relocation of the disc golf course from Abendschein Park to the Oak Creek Parkway owned by Milwaukee County. All aye; motion carried.

Park- Development-Update 2005/2006 CIP/CEP Projects-Informational

The Director updated the Commission on the following projects:

  1. Miller Park Pavilion renovation and addition project schedule change.
  2. DNR Grant Applications for land acquisition for the woodlands adjacent to Abendschein Park and the Oak Creek bank stabilization in the park.
  3. Wood Knoll/Oak Creek Manor Park site options
  4. Wood Ridge Park site was not discussed
  5. Riverton Meadows Park Tennis Courts/Play structure installation schedule.

Recreation Programs-Information

  1. Recreation Report- no discussion.

June Meeting-Confirm Picnic/Meeting Date & Location: Review/Take Action

The June picnic meeting will be held June 14th as scheduled.

Park Facilities Permit/Rental Requests-Review & Take Action

  1. Disc Golf Course Rental & Pig Roast- The request was withdrawn by the applicant.
  2. Senior Baseball League-Use of Abendschein Baseball Diamond-  A motion was made by Paul Sigler and seconded by Patricia Glatch to approve the request per the proposed fees and charges and risk management policies. All aye; motion carried.

Communications

  1. 2007 Summer “Acorn” Recreation Guide & City Newsletter
  2. Family of The Year Newspaper Article

ADJOURNMENT

At 7:25 pm, Pete Wagner made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Seconded by Patricia Glatch.  All aye; motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Marianne Dickmann
Secretary
MD/dl