MINUTES

CITY OF OAK CREEK PARKS, RECREATION & FORESTRY COMMISSION

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Present:  Dan Jahn, Patricia Glatch, Janet Fluegel, Pete Wagner & Ann Lampe

Absent: Paul Sigler, Alderman Tom Michalski & Marianne Dickmann

The Thursday, August 9, 2007, Oak Creek Parks, Recreation & Forestry Commission meeting was called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Chairperson Janet Fluegel.

The Commission feels the June 14 meeting discussions regarding facilities rental and permit policies were misinterpreted. Ann Lampe made a motion that this topic be placed on the next agenda for review and discussion.  Seconded by Patricia Glatch.  All aye; motion carried.

Ann Lampe made a motion to approve the minutes from the June 14, 2007 meeting except for the section where the Commission took action on the facilities rental/permit policies.  Seconded by Patricia Glatch.  All aye; motion carried.

East Middle School Park Facilities - Update

The Director was informed by the School District that outdoor athletic/park facilities development options for the East Middle School site would be reviewed beginning sometime in July. Hopefully, more information will be available by the end of August. The only park facilities remaining on the site is the play structure and a segment of the bike trail. The Commission discussed other park site locations for the play structure if it needs to be relocated but prefer the play structure remain at the East Middle School site if possible. This item will be placed on the September meeting agenda.

Abendschein Community Park – Concept Plans - Review

Several master plan update concept plans provided by Vandewalle & Associates were reviewed. Pete Wagner made a motion recommending Concept Plan E with the following changes. A future road (connecting Forest Hill Avenue and Drexel Avenue) and park entrance along the west side of the park as shown in Concept Plan F would be added to Concept Plan E.  The skate park size in Concept Plan E is to be reduced to 130’x150’ while allowing potential future expansion to the north. The proposed softball field on the south side of the park is to be a baseball field at least the same dimensions as the current baseball field in the park. The south parking lot should be expanded to accommodate 80 parking stalls while allowing for possible future expansion. Relocate the proposed picnic area from the south side of the park to north side of the park just north east of the pedestrian crossing near the multi-use soccer field area. Connect the trail segment from the south parking lot to the pedestrian crossing on the south side of the park.  The existing disc golf course needs to be relocated off site to accommodate other community park facilities development. Seconded by Ann Lampe.  All aye; motion carried.

The Director will forward the recommended changes to Concept Plan E to Vandewalle & Associates for revision of the preferred plan. He will bring the updated plan and any comments from Vandewalle and Associates back to the Commission at the September meeting.

The Director informed the Commission that the Commissions request to eliminate the Clement Avenue Extension thru the community park will be on the August 14th Plan Commission meeting agenda. The recommendation would be to change the official map to show the potential future road developed along the west side of the community park.  He also informed the Commission that the Abendschein Park stream bank stabilization grant and land acquisition grant will not be awarded until the State Budget is finalized.

Five Year Park & Open Space Plan Draft - Review

A partial draft of the Five Year Park & Open Space Plan was mailed to the Commission for their review.  The Commission stated that they were satisfied with the direction taken in the design of the Five Year Park & Open Space Plan draft. Staff will attempt to finalize the plan for the September meeting.

2008 Budget Calendar -

The schedule for the budget and budget review sessions was distributed to the Commission.

Park Development-Update 2006/2007 CIP/CEP Projects-Informational

The Director updated the Commission on the following projects:

  1. Miller Park Pavilion Addition Renovation: Ann Lampe attended the Council meeting and the bid came in at $179,200.  The project will include renovation of the rest rooms, a 9 foot addition to the west side of the building, additional fixtures in the rest rooms, new inside/outside entrances, and the counter will be adjusted at one end for handicap accessibility.  Most of the alternate items in the bid were not accepted do to the higher than expected bid. The Council approved an additional $38,349 that was needed for the project.  The project started Tuesday, August 7, 2007 and will hopefully be completed by mid October.
  2. DNR Grant Applications: The City, County and School District were not awarded “The Safe Route to Schools” grant. 
  3. Wood Knoll/Oak Creek Manor Park site:  The Department of Community Development sent out letters to some property owners west of 13th Street, north of Oakwood Road, and west of the Interstate inquiring into land acquisition for a neighborhood park site.  Two of the property owners contacted planning and might be interested in further discussion.  This will be a CIP item for 2008. 
  4. Riverton Meadows Park Tennis Courts/Play structures: The installation of the tennis court and additional play units was completed.
  5. Others: Haas Park- The wetland mitigation project east of Haas Park was started. The softball backstop was removed and the park drainage problems should be addressed shortly.  We hope to get a backstop back up this fall and cut out the infield for the softball field next year.

Communications

  1. Pickle Ball Court Information: The layout for a pickle ball court was sent to Commissioners.  There was a request by a resident to use the volleyball court at Willow Heights to lay out a pickle ball court. Since a pickle ball court would not affect the volleyball court layout, parks staff painted lines for a pickle ball court and the residents will use their own pickle ball net and equipment.
  2. Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Fund Approval: There was a decrease in available funds allocated to eligible groups requesting funding. This included the Senior Citizen Services funding.

ADJOURNMENT

At 7:38 pm, Pete Wagner made a motion to adjourn the meeting.  Seconded by Patricia Glatch.  All aye; motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

 

Janet Fluegel
Chairperson
JF/dl