Board of Park Commissioners

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES City Hall, 11th Floor Park Conference Room 455 N. Main April 16, 2012 3:00 p.m. Present: Bryan Frye, Cynthia Landers, Cindy Claycomb, Andy Solter, Jerry Warren Absent: Tom Roth, Randy Brown Also Present: Doug Kupper, Director of Park and Recreation, Christina Butler, Clerk, Don Harrison, Golf Division Manager, Elizabeth Harlenske, Assistant City Attorney, Hoyt Hillman, Citizen PUBLIC AGENDA None. REGULAR AGENDA Item 1A: Approval of Minutes Motion by Claycomb, second by Landers, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE the minutes of the March 5, 2012, Park Board Special Meeting and March 19, 2012, Regular Meeting (5-0). Item 2A: Dock Donation Hillman addressed the Board regarding the status of various projects along the river. He stated he had been working on access points to the river and discussed various events for the river and offered recommendations for access points to the river throughout the city. He stated that Woodland Park and North High school on the east bank would be good places to put docks. He also stated that although the Troll’s Rain Garden was created, he would like to clean up the Troll area and rotate the troll 180 degrees in order to provide better lighting for the Troll. Frye asked if it would be Public Works’ or the Park department’s responsibility to work on the Troll project. Kupper stated that the artist would need to be contacted to see what his vision was for the Troll. Hillman then stated he would like to install a boat dock to include four (4) stalls for kayaks constructed of the same material as Wichita State University’s (WSU) boat dock. He stated the dock could be bought in pieces and could be taken apart for storage in case of flooding. He stated that the dock would have railing to ease entering the boats. He noted they would like to do landscaping north of the Lincoln Street Bridge once construction was completed on the bridge and he presented a list of projects to drive the public to the river. He stated that a floating dock would be in place at Gander Mountain provided with funding from Gander Mountain LLC, WaterWalk Inc. and GreenWay Alliance Inc. to be donated to the City of Wichita Park and Recreation Department. Solter asked if there was a written proposal. Hillman responded yes and that he would email it to the Board. Solter stated that there were numerous discussions regarding the river and would prefer to see a written proposal rather than a presentation of the projects. He stated that this was part of the PROS plan for development of the river area. He stated he thought some of the projects would be easy and doable, but would like to see the layout, formal proposal with anticipated costs and what would be provided by Hillman and his supporters. He stated he liked the plan. Frye asked if there were any questions about the dock donation. Hillman stated they would like to install the dock in the second or third week of May. Claycomb asked approximately how much money would be set aside for maintenance of the dock. Hillman stated that WSU had only spent approximately $25 for maintenance. Frye asked Kupper if he had any concerns. Kupper stated he did not remember where the anchoring points would be to keep the dock stable, but he did not think the anchor points would affect the river flow. He stated he could be supportive of the motion if the Board chose to recommend City Council accept the donation of the dock. He felt it to be a generous donation and a well-planned concept. Motion by Frye, second by Solter, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL ACCEPT the dock donation from Gander Mountain LLC, GreenWay Alliance Inc. and WaterWalk Inc. upon the dock meeting city requirements (5-0). Item 3A: Golf Committee Member Nominations Frye submitted Richard Schodorf, a former district attorney, as the appointee for his District V. Warren submitted Leon Lungwitz, owner of Printsource, for District IV. Frye noted that there was still no one nominated for District II and noted that Roth, Park Board Commissioner for District II, was not present at the meeting. Claycomb asked how the committee would come together. Kupper stated that Brown could call a meeting and start meeting with the committee. He could also send letters to the committee members to let them know they were approved to serve on the committee. Motion by Frye, second by Warren, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE Richard Schodorf (District V) and Leon Lungwitz (District IV) as appointees to the Golf Committee (5-0). Item 3B: Wichita Junior Golf Foundation Harrison noted that the current rate being charged to the Wichita Junior Golf Foundation (WJGF) was $3 which had increased from last year’s charge of $2. He stated that 450 kids were served last year and the foundation provides lessons and clubs are made available for kids who do not have them. He noted that all workers are volunteers. He stated that $1.50 was to go to the golf pro and $2 was for the green fee to be paid to the City of Wichita. He stated that representatives of WJGF had communicated to him that they did not want to pay the additional $1 increase, nor were they willing to lower their payment to the golf pro. Landers asked if there would be another group that may want to take over the program. Harrison stated that most of the various golf associations had junior events and paid approximately $5-6 per child. Kupper stated the only reason most of the other courses dropped this program was because it takes place in the summer on Monday mornings from 8am-12 noon. Solter asked how much the City was losing by dedicating the courses to this program. Harrison replied approximately $5,000-$10,000 was lost in green fees. Solter stated he would not want to have all the other golf associations approach the Park Board for junior events for their groups as well. Kupper noted that it was brought up during the green fee conversations. Harrison suggested that the Board not approve the request of the WJGF. He that suggested that they could possibly hold off on making future fee increases to the Foundation. Kupper stated that the golf pros were already paid a salary and therefore would not need the $1.50 payment per child. Claycomb suggested that the foundation raise money from golfers to fund the Junior Golf program. Harrison stated the WJGF charged $10 per child for the eight (8) week program and they did not want to raise their fee for the program because they want it to be affordable for all youth interested in golf. He stated they had not raised their fee for the program in over 30 years. Warren suggested that some could pay on a sliding scale. He also stated the Park Board should keep the $1 fee increase across the board. Frye stated the issue should be addressed by the Golf Committee. Kupper stated the reason it was presented to the Park Board was because registrations were due to start on 5/7/12 and it needed to be resolved prior to the date. Motion by Solter, second by Frye, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO DENY the request of the Wichita Junior Golf Foundation to be exempted from the $1 fee increase and bring the issue before the Golf Committee for review and future recommendation (5-0). Frye asked for a list of the board members of WJGF. Claycomb stated that she supported the WJGF, but noted that 30+ years was a long time to maintain the program fee. Harrison noted he would distribute the list of the members of the WJGF. Harrison then reviewed the year-to-date and month-to-date numbers of rounds of golf played at the City courses. He noted there was a 45% increase in rounds and a 56% increase in revenues. He explained the 30% increase in expenditures was due to purchasing chairs for Auburn Hills’ special events, buying replacement cart batteries, and ordering chemicals for the courses. He also noted they struggled slightly with the rain in April. Frye noted that Clapp Golf course was quite a bit higher in rounds. Harrison said Clapp had a new maintenance person who had increased the quality of the course. Solter asked about the scheduled improvements at Clapp. Kupper stated the funding from the CIP would be requested from City Council soon, but they probably would not start on the new roof until June. Harrison noted there was an architect looking at it. Kupper stated they might rent a portable clubhouse instead of remodeling the current club house. Harrison also stated that the golf pro at Clapp would be retiring on April 27, 2012. Solter asked why they were not hiring someone to replace the golf pro. Kupper replied they could not hire a new golf pro for Clapp until it had proven that the Golf division was profitable. He stated that an assistant pro would be managing Clapp in the interim. Solter stated he did not want Clapp to flounder due to not having a golf pro on hand. Harrison stated the asst golf pro is very knowledgeable and capable of running the course and that he would be supported by City part time help. Kupper noted that someone had shared with the City Council members that they felt there should only be three (3) pros running all five (5) courses with the assistance of assistant golf pros. Solter stated that he was extremely concerned. Frye noted that the Park Department staff had a vested interest in the golf program. Claycomb noted that the rounds this year were close to the 2006 numbers and was most likely due to the weather. Item 3C: Pawnee Prairie Park Name Change/Addition Kupper distributed a handout showing locations of bicycle signs and bridges stating “no bicycles” at Pawnee Prairie Park. He stated there were three (3) signs near the parking lot as well. Frye inquired about the stickers and decals that had been removed from the poles. Kupper stated the decals had been peeled off. He also noted that the signs needed to be updated due to new ordinances. He noted that he had been pushing police administration to have mounted police exercise their horses in the park. He suggested that Park Commissioners talk to their City Council representative directly about the issue rather than writing a letter to the chief of police. The police captain in that zone had instructed officers to ticket anyone riding bicycles in Pawnee Prairie Park, no questions asked. Frye asked where the Police Officers board their horses. Kupper stated they board them somewhere on the east side of Wichita and would like it to be a special assignment for the mounted police. Frye stated there would be no motion on the name change. Kupper stated Hurst asked to come back in May because she would not be available for the April Park Board meeting. Solter asked what the cost would be to change the name of Pawnee Prairie Park. He stated he would like to see the issue brought up for discussion at the May Park Board meeting. Claycomb noted that they were in the process of adding signs and updating them as well. Landers asked why the name change was being tabled. Frye stated there was no motion at the last meeting. Motion by Landers, second by Frye, to deny the request to change the name of Pawnee Prairie Park. Warren stated he did not necessarily want to change the name of the park, but could support adding a line on the park sign referring to the Plumlee Equestrian Trails. Frye suggested the horse people come back to the Park Board with names of other parks to which they would like to have horse access and the ability to ride. Solter requested to amend the motion by adding “equestrian trails” to the website information about Pawnee Prairie Park. Landers concurred. IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO DENY the request to change the name of Pawnee Prairie Park, but to add “equestrian trails” to the Pawnee Prairie Park website information (5-0). Kupper stated they would ensure that the equestrian trails would be added to the website. 4. Updates from the Director and President Kupper distributed Kingsbury designs to the Board for their reference. Frye stated that on Friday, April 13, 2012, he, Delores Silkworth of RDG, City Manager Robert Layton, & Kupper had briefed Council Members Meitzner and Clendenin on the Kingsbury project. He noted that O’Donnell did not attend, but Layton was to bring O’Donnell up-to-date on the project. He stated the Kingsbury project would be brought to Council on Tuesday, April 17, for approval and he felt it would be supported on Tuesday. Solter noted he had talked with Council member Clendenin about the project as well. Frye stated the Board had talked about the Kingsbury project being a sustainable and self-sustaining project and that it could be a revenue producing concept as well. The $300,000 being requested at City Council would be for the next phase of the lake design. Kupper described the outlay of the project for the newer members of the Park Board. Kupper noted that there was CIP money approved for Buffalo Park design, bike trails, snack contract and Botanica expansion. Frye noted the Miracle League dedication would be May 5, 2012 at 9am and invited Board members to attend. Landers asked about cracks on the newly re-surfaced Riverside tennis courts; specifically court 2 and court 4. She noted she had seen the cracks herself because she plays there. Kupper stated he would check into the cracks as he was unaware of a problem. Claycomb asked if the new downtown park by the Ambassador hotel would be a public park. Kupper stated it would be maintained by the hotel as a public space. Claycomb asked if they could see a picture or artist rendition of the park since they were going to spend $800,000 on the project. Kupper replied he would try to supply the Board with renditions of the park project. 5. Issues on the Horizon None. 6. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:50pm. ______________________________________ Bryan Frye, President _____________________________________ Christina Butler, Clerk