Board of Park Commissioners

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING AGENDA City Hall, 11th Floor Park Conference Room 455 N. Main March 19, 2012 3:00 p.m. Present: Bryan Frye, Tom Roth, Cynthia Landers, Cindy Claycomb, Andy Solter, Jerry Warren Absent: Randy Brown Also Present: Doug Kupper, Director of Park and Recreation, Christina Butler, Clerk, Don Harrison, Golf Division Manager, Elizabeth Harlenske, Assistant City Attorney, Larry Hoetmer, Landscape Architect, Beth Hurst, Kim Lorg, Citizens. President Frye called the meeting to order at approximately 3pm. Frye welcomed and introduced Jerry Warren from District IV as the newest Park Board Commissioner. He stated that Warren was a neighborhood association president and a District Advisory Board (DAB) member and had attended several Park Board meetings. Kupper showed several new television commercials marketing the Park and Recreation Department including golf, spring activity guides, and Summer of Discovery Camp. PUBLIC AGENDA None. AWARDS Item 1A: RDG Presentation for Kingsbury Park ASLA Design Award Frye introduced Delores Silkworth (RDG Planning & Design) who worked with the Park and Recreation Department on the Kingsbury project. Silkworth presented the Park and Recreation Department and Kupper with an award from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA). She stated that the Kingsbury master plan had been completed two years ago and was submitted to the Great Plains Chapter of ASLA. The plan received a Merit Award which although not the highest award, was still prestigious and was one of only eight awards. The plan also received the Honor Award from the Prairie Gateway Chapter of ASLA which was the highest award given from this chapter. She noted she would also be presenting the two awards at the City Council meeting the next day, Tuesday, March 20. Frye thanked the Park and Recreation Department staff and the RDG staff and stated he would like to see the project finished in his lifetime. Solter also thanked staff and asked if the Park Board could we get a presentation on the Kingsbury project in the near future due to the new Commissioners on the Board. Kupper stated he would like to have it on the April Park Board Agenda. He also stated he hoped to create a new contract with RDG for the next step in the engineering/design aspect of the project moving to the next phase. Solter asked what the target plan was for the project. Kupper stated that it was created in 2008 and was planned to be a 10-15 year project. He stated the next phase would be shaping the hills for the shoreline and that a number of CIP issuances would be required. He stated that the active area being focused on now was getting it dredged for the lake. REGULAR AGENDA Item 1B: Approval of Minutes Motion by Claycomb, second by Solter, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE the February 13, 2012, minutes of the Board of Park Commissioners’ Meeting. The March 5, 2012 Special Meeting minutes were distributed for review and there was no vote taken on these. Item 2A: Kingsbury Name Change to Crystal Prairie Lake Frye stated he would like to see the name changed from Kingsbury to Crystal Prairie Lake to better identify the lake design, increase marketability and capture the spirit of the area. He noted there had been no donation of land therefore there were no ties to the Kingsbury name. He thought since the location would be across the river from the old Crystal Lake that it could bring fond memories to those who have lived in Wichita. Claycomb stated it would be a good time to make the name change before getting too far along with the project. Kupper agreed with Claycomb and noted that the Kingsbury name was acquired to separate the project from the landfill. He also stated that although he was not raised in Wichita, he had heard many stories about Crystal Lake. Frye asked if there was any public comment. Hurst (23510 W. 47th Goddard, KS) stated she thought it was a great idea. Harlenske read Policy 13 to the Board regarding the naming of a public facility. Motion by Frye, second by Solter, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO recommend changing the Kingsbury name to Crystal Prairie Lake in keeping with Policy 13 (6-0). Item 2B: Pawnee Prairie Park Name Change/Addition Kupper started by noting that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was created with the off-track bicyclists to use Air Capital Park for off-track use. Air Capital Park is located next to Pawnee Prairie Park and the equestrians using PPP had stated that PPP was being impacted by the off-track bicyclists. At previous meetings of the Board of Park Commissioners, the equestrian group had talked about changing the name of PPP to encompass “Equestrian or Horse” in the name. Landers asked if PPP was a multi-use facility or strictly an equestrian facility. Kupper replied that it is a multi-use facility and the County uses the horse barn. He stated that there were no playgrounds or ball fields there and that Tex Consolver Golf Course was a part of PPP. He noted that PPP was four times larger than Chisholm Creek Park and had only one paved path throughout. He also stated that PPP was currently listed as no bicycles allowed. Beth Hurst (23510 W. 47th Goddard, KS) stated that she was an equestrian constituent that rides at PPP because it is the only park that they’re allowed to ride horses. She stated she did not want to change the name, but would like to add “horse” or “equestrian” to the name. She stated she has come across bicyclists in the park and they could spook the horses. She stated she has shared the rules about no bikes being allowed in the park and has been met with rude responses from the bicyclists. She stated she thought it was the policy to name the park for its intended use and she thought the park should be named accordingly for riding horses. She stated she could get petitions to have the name changed or have “horse” or “equestrian” added to the name. She stated she did not see any negatives to the name change because most patrons did not know you could ride horses at PPP. Landers asked how a name change would change the situation at the park. Hurst said she did not think the name change would keep the bikes out of the park, but there were not many signs in the area. Frye noted there were no signs stating that bicyclists were prohibited in the park. Solter asked if they had requested that. Frye replied they had asked for the signs, but they may have been defaced or removed. Claycomb asked if the name change would change the behavior of the bicyclists. Hurst replied she did not feel it would change the bike riders’ behavior, but felt it could make the horse people will feel better. Warren asked if there was something in the past making horse people think there would be a chance of having the horse trails taken away from them. Kupper replied that in 2002 there was a petition from the bike groups for a design/layout which was taken to the DAB, was approved, but was later voted down. Hurst thanked the Board for their attention to the matter. Frye asked if there was more public comment. There being none, the issue was brought back to the Board. He noted there were supposed to be signs stating that bikes were prohibited in the park. Kupper stated there should be signs at the intersection of the two parks stating they were entering the horse trails’ area and bikes were prohibited. Frye stated there were no signs at the entrance to the park. He suggested possibly highlighting the Plumlee Equestrian Park and that could be a better option than changing the name of the park. Hurst asked what section of the trails were included in the Plumlee Equestrian Trails. Frye stated he thought it was all of PPP. Kupper stated there was nothing stating there were specific trails for the Plumlee Equestrian Trails. Frye stated he felt there should be more signage instead of renaming the park. Solter stated he disagreed with Frye and felt the Board should by celebrating the park amenity for the horses. He felt it made sense to consider the request to accommodate the inclusion of “Equestrian” or “Horse” in the park name so it is known as a horse park. He acknowledged that although it is not exclusively a horse park, it is the only park where horses are allowed. Landers stated she agreed with Frye and thought there was a need to add signs to make it clearer that it is a multi-use park with equestrian trails as a multi-use park facility. She stated this should be noted on the website as well. Hurst stated she would like to see the name as Pawnee Prairie Nature and Horse or Equestrian Park. Frye stated there were no other parks named like that. Kupper stated that they do not identify the multi-use of all the parks in the park name. He stated that he could appreciate the need to highlight horseback riding at PPP on the website. Landers stated she agreed with Kupper. Hurst asked what the negative would be to the name change. Frye stated he feared that it would be labeled as a one-use facility. He stated that is is a 640-680 acre park and it is being under-utilized and he does not want to limit the uses of the park. He also stated he felt the park needs to be better marketed. Solter stated he felt the DAB needed to look at the proposal and should pursue it. He did not think there should be a vote on it at this Board meeting. Frye asked the Board to put some thought into it, investigate it and it would be brought up in a future meeting. Lorg (14820 W. 47th, Clearwater) stated she had attended the 2001 meetings with Kupper and it was a large problem and became an emotional issue. She stated that since the bicyclists had received Air Capital Park for bicycling, the fear of the horse people is that the bicyclists will soon acquire the rest of PPP. She said there is still a major problem with bicyclists in the park every week. Frye stated there was no one on the board that would want to have the bicyclists acquire PPP. He asked if there were more questions. Warren asked if there would be a deadline for this request. Frye stated he would like an update on the signs before the April meeting. Kupper stated he would keep the Board apprised of the sign situation. He also noted he was working with Sgt. Bohen of Wichita Police Department to exercise the mounted police at PPP as often as possible. He also noted that he has had conversations with the Chief of Police to make them aware of the safety situation at PPP. Frye asked about Kupper about poaching at PPP. Kupper said that a man had been arrested after the airport police saw lights at night in the park. Solter asked that it be considered by staff to re-name the park by May and wanted the issue to stay alive. Frye stated he wanted the signage issue addressed by April and stated that May would be good for the re-naming issue to be brought back to the Board. Warren stated he would like to see closure for the issue. Frye stated he would like to see what the Board could accomplish by the April meeting. He thanked Lorg and Hurst for their comments. Item 2C: Golf Sustainability Frye stated he would be going before City Council on Tuesday, 3/20/12, to present the results of the last Board meeting on 3/5/12 where the Board agreed to change the green fee increases from $2,1,1 to $1,1,1,1. He stated he had meetings with each City Council member and the mayor and he would be recommending to form one (1) golf committee with Randy Brown as the Park Board member and seven (7) appointees appointed by a Park Board member with input from their respective City Council member. This committee would work as a sub-committee of the Park Board reporting to the Park Board and City Council. He would also be recommending a $1,1,1,1 green fee increase. He noted that Budget had put together a pro-forma handout showing the $1,1,1,1 increase with a 10% elasticity built into it including a 2% increase in rounds expected from increased marketing. Claycomb stated the Board had been charged with paying off the Golf debt and would incur more debt if there were no fee increases and the Board would again be faced with the prospect of closing a course. Frye stated that the Park Board had not taken on the debt, but they were committed to taking care of it. He stated this plan was the best way to deal with the debt potentially paying it off by 2020 assuming no capital needs. Solter stated he liked the plan. Frye asked if the Park Board Commissioners had appointees for the Golf Committee. Solter recommended Ron Marnell (District III) who is a golfer and former executive of Multimedia Cable. Claycomb recommended Trina Bauer (District VI) who is an assistant superintendent of Derby Recreation. Landers recommended Dr. Michael Williams, DDS, (District I), who is a golfer. Motion by Frye, second by Claycomb, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE Marnell, Bauer, and Williams as appointees to the Golf Committee. Kupper stated he would ask City Council to rescind their initial appointment of Schodorf and then they could allow Park Board to make the appointments. Roth stated he would like Frye to add that the Park Board owned the debt and was committed to take care of it and was also committed to not closing a golf course. Frye agreed with Roth and noted that Harrison had put together a progress report for 2011/2012 for their reference. He pointed out that the marketing and customer service as well as the weather had helped the numbers. He noted that the Golf Division had been proactive by using the public comments and suggestions. Landers commended Harrison’s staff and Stacey Hamm on a job well done. Frye stated that other golf courses had stepped up their advertising as well. He noted that the City’s Golf Courses’ Family Tees are not available at other courses. He noted there was a lot of community pride in our courses and citizens would play them due to the additional attention paid to our courses. Item 4: Updates from the Director and President Kupper stated he would initiate CIP projects at the April 3, 2012, City Council meeting for funding for creating new pathways for parks, design dollars for an interactive fountain at Buffalo Park, and Botanica new construction dollars for a special event and education center. Kupper welcomed the Board to visit the Ice center to see the 2nd floor fitness center. Kupper stated his staff would be reviewing numbers for Spring registrations. He noted that Winter numbers were up due to the direct mailings. Kupper stated that registrations for Summer of Discovery (SOD) & Summer Activity Camp (SAC) would start soon and that early bird letters had already been sent to previous campers. Frye asked Kupper about the Air Capital MOU. Kupper replied that they were still working on the details of the agreement. Roth asked Kupper about the restrooms for Chapin Park. Kupper replied that they were completed. He stated that they may not be de-winterized yet, but they were in place. Frye reminded the Board that the next meeting would be April 16, 2012. Item 5: Adjournment There being no further business, Frye adjourned the meeting at approximately 4:30pm. ______________________________________ Bryan Frye, President _____________________________________ Christina Butler, Clerk