Board of Park Commissioners

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES City Hall, 11th Floor Park Conference Room 455 N. Main April 15, 2013 3:00 p.m. Present: Bryan Frye, Cindy Claycomb, Jerry Warren, Tom Roth, Andy Solter Absent: Randy Brown, Ron Allen Also Present: Doug Kupper, Director of Park and Recreation, Elizabeth Harlenske, City Assistant Attorney, Christina Butler, Clerk, Don Harrison, Golf Division Manager, Karen Holmes, Recreation Superintendent, David McGuire, Forestry Superintendent, Gary Farris, Arborist, Craig Beaver, James Mason, Lee Ann Sack, Great Plains Nature Center, Sam Bushnell, Nancy Boewe, Dee Roll, Gwynne Bonifield, Carol Graham, citizens. The meeting was called to order at 3:03pm. PUBLIC AGENDA None REGULAR AGENDA Item 1: Approval of Minutes Motion by Claycomb, second by Roth, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO approve the minutes of the March 18, 2013, Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting (5-0). Item 2A: Arbor Day Proclamation (David McGuire/Gary Farris) Kupper stated that the City of Wichita has been recognized as Tree City USA for 27 years and this will be the 28th year. He asked the Park Board President to read the proclamation. Carol Graham, 9218 Peppertree Circle, stated that the celebration would be Friday, April 26, 2013, at Kiwanis Park from 10am 12pm. She stated that 3rd grade students from Dodge Elementary will be in attendance with trees for sale and activities such as leaf rubbing. Westar, Asplundh, and Master Gardeners from Sedgwick County will also be involved with the day’s activities as well as City of Wichita employees and other organizations. Westar, Asplundh, & City of Wichita departments will bring in equipment. Doubletree Hotel is involved as well. Gary Farris, City of Wichita Arborist, stated they will have climbing and equipment demos for visitors. Danny Oliver will be the honoree with a planted tree in his honor for his service of 30 years to the City of Wichita Forestry Division in the Park and Recreation Department as a General Maintenance Supervisor. Frye read the Proclamation for Arbor Day for April 26, 2013 and signed the proclamation. He thanked the Project Beauty members in attendance for their dedication and work in the community. Nancy Boewe, 3127 Aloma, noted that she had distributed copies of various projects and monies awarded. Item 3A: City Manager’s Response to Golf Committee’s Report Harrison stated that the Golf Advisory Committee reviewed the City Manager’s response to their recommendation and had some discussion whether the Golf Division should report to the Finance Department instead of the Park and Recreation Department. It was decided to support the City Manager’s recommendation to keep the Golf Division under the Park and Recreation Department. Motion by Frye, second by Claycomb, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO approve the City Manager’s recommendation as well (5-0). Frye stated that Randy Brown had asked to step down from the Golf Committee. Frye asked if any other Park Board Commissioner would like to lead the Golf Committee and noted that there were no regular golfers on the Park Board. He then noted he would agree to step back in unless Ron Allen (not present) would like to lead the Committee. Claycomb asked if all of the members of the Golf Committee wanted to continue on the committee. Kupper responded that at the last Golf Committee meeting they had all agreed to continue. He did note that Williams and Ferris were not in attendance at that meeting. Claycomb asked if it would be a joint appointment or come directly from the Park Board if someone needed to be replaced on the Golf Committee. Frye stated the Park Board Commissioner should consult with his/her City Councilperson, but the recommendation should be from Park Board. Item 3B: Golf Update (Don Harrison) Harrison distributed rounds numbers. He noted that he had reviewed Golf Pro contracts with the Golf Committee and they agreed to continue in the present form and review with Finance throughout the year. He noted they want to see if there is a better way to handle pro shop services. The Golf Committee had also asked for marketing updates and Stacey Hamm and Lauragail Locke will present at the Golf Committee’s April 30, 2013 meeting. Kupper stated that the $50,000 the City Manager had allotted for the additional marketing effort had already been spent. Harrison noted that rounds had been stunted due to the weather, but it is picking up again with the sun out. He noted that encumbrances are $92,000 due to ordering chemicals and fertilizers early to get better pricing. They also ordered utility vehicles for five maintenance facilities. Solter asked if the comparisons were for the same time period. Harrison responded yes. Claycomb asked if the utility vehicles were in encumbrances or expenses. Harrison responded in encumbrances. Frye asked if the weather in the first quarter was the same as first quarter 2011. Harrison responded he was not sure, but it was very cold in 2011. Frye asked if the twilight specials were offered in 2011 and 2012. Harrison responded they had offered them in 2012, but not 2011. In 2011 there were comparable rounds, but revenue is up due to the fee increase. In 2012 there were expenses for architectural purposes at Tex Consolver for requests already in place prior to the CIP. Frye asked for an update on current projects. Harrison stated that at Tex Consolver the soil in front of the clubhouse was unstable. Kupper added there was a marsh under the patio making it unstable to pour new concrete. Harrison added that the recent rain and snow had not given it time to dry up. He stated they had geotech people out there to look at it. He noted the pre-bid for Clapp is Wednesday, April 17, 2013. Frye noted that 13th Street near MacDonald is still torn up. Solter stated that it is turning out beautiful. Harrison thanked Frye for volunteering again for the Golf Committee. Item 3C: Recreation Update (Karen Holmes/James Mason/Lee Ann Sack) Kupper introduced James Mason and LeeAnn Sack as the Naturalists from Great Plains Nature Center (GPNC). Mason handed out the GPNC flyer and butterfly pocket guide. He noted that Connie Storrie worked with them for two decades at the Riverside Park Kansas Wildlife Exhibit. He noted they promote stewardship of the natural resources and habitat, oversee prescribed burns and offer a variety of programming. The programming consists of over 1,300 programs for 32,684 people in Chisholm Creek Park as an outdoor classroom. Some programming requires donations and any revenue goes to the Friends of the GPNC. Sack noted that they started offering new programming in Fall 2012. She noted they have offered some programs during the day in the summer and they are learning what types of programs are needed. Revenue during the winter was tough due to weather related issues. Spring 2013 classes have not happened yet and there is big potential for Summer 2013 classes. She noted that burns were completed on seven properties for the Park Department in February and March. They burned in five locations and for the most part completed them to keep the invasives at bay and for habitat restoration. She noted that Oak Park had a lot of work done. She noted that they had success with chemical application and cutting red cedars back so they do not grow back. Mason stated they are continuing outreach for environmental discovery. They are offering kite flying in Pawnee Prairie Park and Hike Wichita for a medallion using walking paths in the community. Sack and Mason brought an American Kestrel which is a native falcon to Kansas that nests in tree cavities, and hunts mice, small snakes and grasshoppers. Mason noted that their old name is a Sparrow Hawk and in the winter they may take on smaller birds when grasshoppers and other prey are not available. He noted this particular bird was an orphan and was hand raised. Frye asked if all classes offered are at GPNC. Mason responded no and they are offered at different locations such as Pawnee Prairie Park and Park Villa. Item 4: Updates from the Director and President Kupper gave an update on the Southlakes project. He noted that Harlenske had done a legal opinion on entering into negotiations. The City Manager had asked Kupper to put together the original project from Mr. Brand and minutes from the Park Board meeting. He noted he had no response yet from him on the process of it and Property Management had not been given the assignment yet from the City Manager. He said it was moving forward. He noted they have communicated with Phil Meyer, Brand’s representative, to keep him in the loop. Warren noted he did not think Brand would be successful in getting the corner piece on Seneca and noted this may give the Park Board more of a buffer. Kupper updated the Board on the CIP dollars and projects: A pre-construction meeting for the creek bank restoration at Pawnee Prairie Park at the southern most footbridge where it is exposed and there is concern with it falling. He had an historic stream geologist to help design the remediation for the bank to preserve the bridge noting this is one of two bridges used by the equestrian people. Engineers and a stream bed expert approved the re-opening of the bridge and that it would not collapse. It was re-opened in mid October. The Single Track at Air Capital Park would be ready for a dedication possibly in May. He noted they will use physical barriers to prevent the deer from tracking through there. They have put in a request to add a bicycle lane to the outside of the retaining wall of the southern edge of the service road bridge across the Cowskin Creek. They could canilever this to the bridge to access the park from the west and keep the bikers out of Pawnee Prairie Park. The remaining money for bike paths and walkways will be set aside in anticipation for a federal grant to add to Chisholm Creek Park resources and they should hear from them in the summer of 2013. If the grant is received, the remaining funding will be used to match. If not, it will be used for other projects. The fitness center at Linwood should be under construction soon. There have been numerous break-ins and they will be bumping up the priority for security for the recreation centers. Linwood was broken into with items stolen from the library, recreation office and senior center. Evergreen had two break-ins as well. Frye asked if it was unusual for break-ins at the recreation centers. Kupper responded yes. He also noted that Clapp had also been broken into, along with the maintenance facility at Linwood where equipment and tools were stolen as well as 250 gallons of fuel from maintenance. 130 gallons of fuel were stolen at Clapp. Item 5: Issues on the Horizon May agenda – Kupper noted the May Agenda would probably include oil leases and land deals. He noted the budget process has begun for Park and Recreation. He noted they will probably share the SOP and budget circumstances for 2013-2015 and noted they are putting in program options for recreation: personnel needs for the tennis center and athletics. Park maintenance program option would be requesting additional resources, $50,000, for tree planting. Both of these would be for the 2014 revised budget. He noted he would like more resources for cleaning bike paths. Frye asked if there was tree loss with the ice storm. Kupper stated there was not much breakage on ROW trees and the parks were ok. Willows and Bradford Pears were affected most. Kupper stated there was a land deal with Richard Doughty near Riverside Park where the new owner wants to purchase the land adjacent to his property. The lots adjacent to Riverside were not corrected in GIS on platte maps and are not showing up as a green area. Frye stated the next meeting is scheduled for May 20, 2013. Item 6: Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4:10pm. ______________________________________ Bryan Frye, President _____________________________________ Christina Butler, Clerk