Parks & Recreation Board

CITY OF OCONOMOWOC PARKS AND RECREATION BOARD MEETING MINUTES – DECEMBER 13, 2021 I. CALL TO ORDER – ROLL CALL A. The meeting was called to order by Vice President, Jimi Hall at 6:30pm in the Upper Hall at the Community Center. Confirmation of appropriate meeting notice was made by Staff. B. Members Present: Jimi Hall, Scott Antonneau, Katie Miller, Charles Schellpeper, Matt Mulder and Chad Brown. Quorum present. C. Members Excused: Lauren Wittnebel D. Staff Present: Craig Hoeppner – Director; Paige Brunclik – Community Outreach and Services Assistant, Bryan Spencer, Parks and Forestry Superintendent. E. Others Present: Mayor Bob Magnus, Mark Frye, Jane Owen and members of the Lake Country Pickleball Club. II. RECOGNITION OF RETIRING BOARD PRESIDENT JOE MORONI Joe Moroni is retiring from the board after serving 16 years, 15 as President. J.Hall thanked J.Moroni for his selfless service and for being a good role model. K.Miller thanked Moroni for being welcoming and positive. III. BOARD ELECTIONS Bruce White was sworn in to fill the board vacancy left by Moroni retiring. A new Board President and Vice President were elected as well. B.White nominated J.Hall for Board President, second by C.Brown. No opposition, motion carried. M.Mulder nominated S.Antonneau for Vice President; second by J.Hall. No opposition, motion carried. IV. COMMENTS FROM CITIZENS None V. CONSIDER/ACT ON MINUTES FROM THE NOVEMBER 2021 MEETING K.Miller moved to approve the minutes from the November 2021 meeting; second by M.Mulder. No opposition. Motion carried. VI. CONSIDER/ACT ON PLAYGROUND EQUIPMENT FOR WHITMAN PARK Parks and Forestry Superintendent Bryan Spencer gave background on the replacement of a 23-year- old playground in Whitman Park that coincides with the reconstruction of Thackeray Trail which connects to the park. B.Spencer said 11 proposals were received for a new playground. He reviewed and scored each proposal selecting Northland Recreation based on design and that it came within budget. Funds from the Thackeray St construction project will support the playground replacement. Spencer said parks staff will prepare the site in spring of 2022 and the new playground installed by summer of 2022. M.Mulder asked about the size of the playground in relation to the nearby retention pond area. B.Spencer said there is 10,000 square feet available for a playground site and the selected playground is 75 by 40 feet leaving plenty of room. C.Hoeppner added the retention pond has a slope and depth design to avoid any safety concerns. He said the new playground will also be placed further from the retention pond than its predecessor. C.Schellpeper said he is glad the city is replacing the playground because neighborhood playgrounds are a great amenity for families who live nearby. C.Hoeppner agreed noting he appreciated the support the department received from Common Council and the Department of Public Works to include the playground project within the Thackeray Trail street project. C.Schellpeper moved to approve the Whitman Park Playground; second by C.Brown. No Opposition. Motion carried. W:\Administration\Parks & Recreation Board\Meeting Minutes\2021 12.docx VII. CONSIDER/ACT ON PICKLEBALL COURT COMPLEX AT NORTHEAST REGIONAL PARK Judy Berghoefer with the Lake Country Pickleball Club gave a presentation which included information about the history and formation of the club. She said the club has teamed with the Friends of Oconomowoc Parks and Trails, a 501c3 organization, for the launch of a fundraising campaign to build 10 pickleball courts in the Northeast Regional Park. She said the fundraising goal is $400,000 and the group has verbal commitments for $250,000 so far. J.Berghoefer said the club would charge for membership and give 25% of the membership costs to the city to use for maintenance of the facility. There would be scheduled time for members only to play and the rest of the time the courts would be open to the public. The club also envisions hosting tournaments and doing outreach opportunities with the public as well as schools. The club is requesting the existing pickleball courts at Westover remain as well. B.White asked about restrooms to serve the facility. J.Hall explained restrooms would be part of the long-term plan to serve the entire park development. M.Mulder asked about parking. J.Hall said a shared parking agreement exists with the adjacent lot at Meadowview Elementary School. C.Hoeppner shared a map of the Northeast Regional Park site identifying where the pickleball courts are proposed as well as other potential amenities in the park based on original proposals. He said the park facility will include a lift station, restroom and small shelter that could be rented slated to be constructed in 2022. C.Shellpeper asked about the long-term maintenance of pickleball courts. C.Hoeppner said maintenance is minimal with an 8-10- year lifespan until the courts would need to be resurfaced. C.Hoeppner said this agenda item is to get the board’s approval of the overall concept for the courts. Next it will go to the Committee of the Whole for additional discussion. M.Mulder and C.Schellpeper congratulated the group on successful fundraising so far. C.Schellpeper said the park land is a premium and he is fine with the pickleball courts but extra amenities the group is seeking are not a priority to him. He added he’d like to see tennis courts included in the overall park design. B.White made a motion to approve the Lake Country Pickleball Club’s preliminary plans for courts in the Northeast Regional Park. Second by C.Brown. No opposition, motion carried. VIII. CONSIDER/ACT ON DESIGN/ENGINEEERING FOR VILLAGE GREEN RESTROOMS C.Hoeppner said the department received three proposals from design firms which were reviewed by a five-person selection committee. Aro Eberle Architects scored the highest as well as price quote under the anticipated project budget for design and engineering. The firm has done similar projects in Wisconsin communities. The city has $300,000 in impact fees to use toward the project. The design firm will help with project cost estimates. The firm will produce two options for restrooms at Village Green. He said the board’s recommendation of the firm will be considered by Common Council at its Dec. 21 meeting. K.Miller moved to recommend Common Council approve hiring Aro Eberle Architects for design and engineering of Village Green Park restrooms. Second by S.Antonneau. No opposition, motion carried. IX. CONSIDER/ACT ON 2030 PARK & OPEN SPACE PLAN C.Hoeppner presented the board with a draft document of the 2030 Park and Open Space Plan. He said he is looking for feedback from the board on the plan. C.Hoeppner added there will be a public information meeting Jan. 20 to share info and gather public feedback. He said having a current plan allows the department to apply for Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources grants. K.Miller asked about including new baseball fields in the Northeast Regional Park and in effect, re-thinking improvements to Champion Fields baseball fields. C.Hoeppner said that was the type of forward thinking and discussion he hopes to have for this updated plan. C.Schellpeper said he would like another month to review the draft plan. C.Hoeppner invited board members to contact him with questions and changes during the next month of review. The draft plan will be brought back to the next meeting on Jan. 10. W:\Administration\Parks & Recreation Board\Meeting Minutes\2021 12.docx  X. DEPARTMENT REPORTS FOR NOVEMBER 2021 A. DIRECTOR’S REPORT – CRAIG HOEPPNER  Tyler Ryan was hired for the Parks and Forestry Department.  Thank you to staff and board for hard work and support through a busy 2021. B. PARKS AND FORESTRY SUPERINTENDENT REPORT Written report included in packet. C. RECREATION MANAGER’S REPORT Written report included in packet. D. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTAL REPORT Written report included in packet. XI. CONSIDER/ACT ON NOVEMBER 2021 VOUCHERS M.Mulder moved to approve vouchers from November 2021; second by S.Antonneau. No opposition. Motion carried. XII. COMMENTS FROM BOARD MEMBER J.Hall said it was good to see Parks and Forestry Superintendent Bryan Spencer at the meeting adding he appreciated the work he does for city parks. XIII. ADJOURNMENT C.Brown moved to adjourn; second by K.MIller. No opposition. Motion carried. The meeting ended at 8:30pm. W:\Administration\Parks & Recreation Board\Meeting Minutes\2021 12.docx