Board of Park Commissioners

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES City Hall, 11th Floor Park Conference Room 455 N. Main December 17, 2012 3:00 p.m. Present: Bryan Frye, Cindy Claycomb, Andy Solter, Tom Roth, Jerry Warren, Ron Allen Absent: Randy Brown Also Present: Doug Kupper, Director of Park and Recreation, Elizabeth Harlenske, City Assistant Attorney, Christina Butler, Clerk, Scott Wadle, Jennea Noel, Don Harrison, Golf Division Manager, Sandra King, citizen. Frye brought the meeting to order at approximately 3pm. PUBLIC AGENDA None. REGULAR AGENDA Item 1: Approval of Minutes Motion by Frye, second by Claycomb, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO approve the minutes of the November 19, 2012, Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting (4-0, Warren and Allen absent for vote). Item 2A: Wichita Transportation Enhancement (TE) Funding Applications (Scott Wadle) Wadle noted that there had been an update to the report with some projects being removed from the list and some estimates changed due to revised cost estimates for re-painting one-way streets. He noted that three (3) projects had been removed from Tier II recommended projects. He stated they were proposing to use a 25% match and noted that the funding does not include design work or environmental cost. He stated that the application information needed to be to the Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WAMPO) by 1/7/13 and the completed project application was due by 2/15/13. He noted that the issue would go to City Council at the 2/5/13 meeting if the Park Board approved. He stated that City Council had allocated $500,000 of CIP money every other year for bicycle enhancements and that the Health and Wellness Coalition Grant would fund the design work. He noted that they used guidance from the PROS plan and the draft bicycle master plan. Other projects that were being considered were bicycle parking, educational activities, K-96 path wayfinding signs, and path and roadway intersection signing. Claycomb asked if any projects had been removed from Tier I. Wadle responded no. He noted that the Park Board had Delano as the #1 Priority, but stated this was a problem due to the library and they were unsure where the path would be. He stated that the K-96 to Harry Street path was a good opportunity. And he noted that the Arkansas River to Haysville path was removed due to building out of the network. Claycomb asked if Redbud was #1 and South Central #2. Wadle responded yes and noted that Redbud had received 52 votes while South Central received 35 votes. Frye asked why Redbud was so expensive. Wadle responded it was due to the materials and for pouring concrete further away from the roadway. Warren asked about maintenance expense and who would be responsible for it. Wadle responded that the green sheet would name explicitly what maintenance will cost and Public Works and the Park Department would request funding. He stated in the agreement there is a resolution that PB recommend to pass a resolution and identify which projects they recommend and that the City will maintain the projects. Warren asked if the funds will come from the Park Board, City and Public Works. Kupper noted that Public Works has most of the maintenance expense due to higher extended pavement maintenance while the Park Department has landscaping, irrigation and watering. Warren asked if the maintenance would be $200,000 annually. Wadle responded yes. Warren asked if it was fair to say that maintenance could cost $500,000 annually if all projects are completed. Wadle responded yes. Claycomb asked what the resolution would do. Wadle responded that the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) looks for City approval. Harlenske stated that the City has title for easements and property. Claycomb noted she was also concerned about maintenance because they are really good about doing things and not maintaining them. Wadle noted that the funding will cover approximately 75% of the expenses. He also noted they could possibly put down a different type of marking to see if it would last longer and could help reduce maintenance cost. Frye asked for public comment. Sandra King (155 S. Fountain Street) asked what percent of Wichitans used the bike path. Wadle responded around 1%. King stated that she was concerned with the 1st and 2nd street paths because the parking and bike paths have narrowed traffic from three (3) lanes to one (1) lane. She also noted that the bike lane is scary because it was being used by mothers walking babies in strollers, old ladies walking, skate-boarders and young kids on tricycles and bikes with training wheels. She stated she had witnessed drivers turning the wrong way on 1st & 2nd Streets and using the wrong lane to make left hand turns. She felt this was a very dangerous situation. Frye asked if it was just this area. King responded it was the College Hill and Crown Heights area. She also noted that the liability the City may incur could be dangerous. Frye asked if there were questions for Ms. King. There were none. Frye thanked Ms. King and brought the issue back to the Board. There were no further questions or comments. Motion by Claycomb, second by Frye, IT WAS VOTED TO recommend to City Council to pass and adopt the resolution and authorize the Mayor to sign the resolution (4-1, Warren opposed, Allen absent for vote). Item 2B: Park Board Meeting Date Conflicts for January and February 2013 Frye stated that once again there was a conflict with the January meeting scheduled for January 21, 2013, which is a holiday. Motion by Frye, second by Solter, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO move the January Park Board Meeting to January 28, 2013, (6-0). Frye stated that there was also a conflict with the February meeting scheduled for February 18, 2013, which is a holiday. Motion by Frye, second by Claycomb, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO move the February Park Board Meeting to February 25, 2013, (6-0). Item 3: Continuation of Prior Business None. Item 4A: Golf Update (Don Harrison) Harrison stated that the Golf Advisory Committee (GAC) had recommended that golf operations stay with the City employees and the City Council concurred. One of the GAC’s recommendations was to move the Golf Division into another department and this will be discussed further. The City Manager will weigh in on it and will make a recommendation to the City Council. He stated that his staff would continue to perform as well as they had in 2012. Frye stated that being a part of the GAC had been a positive experience and that the decision was made easier by the great job done by the City golf staff. He distributed copies of the recommendations for the Board to read or suggested they could watch City 7 for the discussion. He stated that the GAC would continue to work and its status may be elevated as to be determined by the City Manager and staff. He stated that some challenges had been identified and there were companies that could help the Division improve. He noted there was a lot of support for Kupper and Harrison. Claycomb asked about the recommended change in structure from Park to Finance as she felt it would affect the Park Board and it would helpful to know what had happened. Frye stated that the Park Board owns four (4) of the five (5) courses and the GAC suggested that the Division move back under Finance as it was several years ago thinking it would make it less challenging to make changes in the Division. He stated it would have to be City Manager Layton’s decision. Claycomb stated that if the Board felt strongly about the subject, they should probably talk to their City Council member. Harlenske noted there could be legal issues involved as well because the Board has authority over the courses. Frye asked which golf course the Board did not own. Kupper replied Auburn Hills. He acknowledged that things may get bought quicker under Finance, but Park and Recreation started golf and it should stay with Park and Recreation. Solter asked if the Finance department had decided to build the 5th golf course on its own. Kupper responded that this had already been put into motion so the golf course was built on time as planned. When Mayor Mayans was elected, the golf courses were brought back to Park and Recreation. Frye stated that there was a lot of talk about the momentum of the Golf Division and the GAC did not want to change gears on the Division after the fantastic year. The GAC felt that this was not the time for a change in leadership. The GAC was aware of opportunities in food and beverage sales and customer service. The GAC also wanted to maintain and reward staff to continue momentum. Kupper noted that three to four (3-4) years ago, there had been 38 positions in the Golf Division and it had been cut to 33. He stated of those 33 positions, only 25 were currently filled, so the improvement in the Golf Division was accomplished with eight (8) less bodies and he was proud of his staff. Frye stated that another recommendation of the GAC was to use one of the open positions for a dedicated golf marketing person. Kupper suggested they could look for a Golf Professional with a marketing background. Warren asked what the amount would be to carry over. He stated the Golf Division had started with $455,000 in reserve, had $100,000-$120,000 in debt and would lose a little in December. There was $688,000 at the end of November and they would have $900,000 to start the year. Harrison stated the Division would roll it into the following year and would pay back the debt service fund. Frye added that the Division is not projecting an increase in the golf fees. Kupper stated that in 2003 he was asked if he wanted to take over the Golf Division. The Division was at an all time low. He stated that things had fallen into place in 2011 with the hiring of a marketing person for the Park and Recreation Department and the golf staff taking over the hiring of part-time staff rather than using a staffing service. Harrison thanked the Park Board for their support. Item 4B: Recreation Update (Jennea Noel) Noel discussed the Night with Santa that had been held on December 4, 2012. She stated that they had an estimated 6,000 people in attendance which was 2,000 more than the previous year. They had expanded to the Convention Hall and Exhibition Hall in Century II this year. She noted this program was held in conjunction with the Mayor’s Tree Lighting and fireworks display. They had partnered with Entercom to reach a larger listening audience. There were several event activities including a bike and tree give-away, pine tree planting activity, portable games, a prize wheel, toddler play area and pictures with Santa. She named the following partners: Prairie Pines donated 15-20 live trees, several organizations adopted 14 trees and decorated them, two (2) bikes were donated by Academy Sports, Small Smiles Dentistry, Sedgwick County Sheriff, Sedgwick County EMS, Wichita Police Department, Serving Communities Grant, JT Enterprises, Sedgwick County Zoo, Exploration Place, restaurants and 290 volunteers. She noted that they had collected non-perishables for the Kansas Food Bank, raised approximately $9900 in donations, $1355 in cash revenue from Cargill for Kids, the Optimists Club and Golden Age Clubs, and $3500 in Adopt-a-Tree donations. Frye asked if all donations and volunteer hours would go through the Park and Recreation Community (PARC) Fund. Claycomb asked if this would be counted as part of the $500,000 goal for the PARC Fund. Kupper responded yes. He also noted that he would like to see the PARC Fund take over this event along with the Easter Egg Hunt. Noel stated that surveys had been taken and many participants noted they had attended other free events. Item5: Issues on the Horizon Frye stated he had attended his DAB meeting and had seen the Aquatics presentation. He thought they may need to have the subject on the January agenda. Kupper stated there was a survey on Wichita.gov for the Aquatics program. Frye stated he would like to have the Aquatics presentation for the Board to see. Warren stated they may have to look at closing two (2) more pools before February. Kupper stated they need to do a full blown community outreach. He noted they had presented the Aquatics presentation to Districts IV, V, and VI. Frye stated he had received a request for an update from Steve Anthimedes regarding the Finlay Park proposal. Kupper stated he had received comps from Waterwalk and noted that the Board would have to look at the proposal again. He stated they discussed having Scott Knebel advise what was to happen at the corner in question. He stated they would have it on the agenda in January. Frye stated that Botanica’s attendance at Illuminations was up significantly. Kupper noted that Botanica was at $125,000 this year as opposed to $95,000 last year this time. He stated Illuminations would run through December 30, 2012, and encouraged the Board to attend if possible. Item 6: Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:30pm. ______________________________________ Bryan Frye, President _____________________________________ Christina Butler, Clerk