Board of Park Commissioners

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES City Hall, 11th Floor Park Conference Room 455 N. Main Wichita, KS 67202 November 10, 2014 3pm Present: Bryan Frye, Steve Hieger, Hoyt Hillman, Ron Allen, Cindy Claycomb, Tom Roth Absent: Chris Highfill Also Present: Troy Houtman, Director of Park and Recreation, Arline Sokolowski, Deputy City Attorney (for Elizabeth Harlenske, City Assistant Attorney), Christina Butler, Clerk, Marty Miller, Karen Holmes, Stacey Hamm, Connie Storrie, Brent Thomas. The meeting was called to order at approximately 3:00pm. PUBLIC AGENDA None. REGULAR AGENDA Item 1: Approval of Minutes Motion by Allen, second by Hillman, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to approve, sign, and file the minutes of the October 13, 2014 Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting (6-0). Item 2A: Introduction of New Park Director, Troy Houtman Frye introduced Houtman as the new Director for Park and Recreation. Houtman stated he moved here from Texas as the Assistant Director for San Antonio in charge of the Riverwalk and downtown area. He worked on the CIP projects and special events in downtown. He spent seven years in the Austin Parks and Recreation Department. His wife also joined him. Frye thanked Marty Miller for the great job he did as the Interim Director of Park and Recreation. Miller noted it was an honor and pleasure to step in. Frye noted that Arline Sokolowski is filling in for Elizabeth Harlenske due to her vacation. Item 2B: Board of Park Commissioners Retreat Date Frye stated the Board had waited for the Director to begin before scheduling the Retreat. He would like to have the regular meeting date on December 8, 2014 and add the retreat on December 13, 2014 in the BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEETING November 10, 2014 Page 1 of 5 morning. At the retreat, they will review the goals for this year, plan for 2015 and have a joint meeting with the Golf Advisory Committee. He suggested having the meeting at Auburn Hills Golf Course and asked Butler to check availability. Motion by Frye, second by Hieger, IT WAS VOTED to schedule the Board of Park Commissioner’s Retreat on Saturday, December 13, 2014 (5-1, Nay: Roth). Item 3A: Verizon Wireless Tower Proposal in Orchard Park Frye asked Hoetmer if the light poles function at Orchard Park. Hoetmer responded they are not functioning. Frye noted they are not aimed in the right direction and they conceivably could move the lights. Holmes stated the library is pulling out by 12/31/14 and that space could be used for recreation programming. Frye asked about the square footage of the area. Holmes responded she guessed approximately 1000 square feet. Hieger stated he has experience with this and it becomes a convoluted mess of who you deal with and who has liability when the tower is sold and the bandwidth is sold several times. Sokolowski stated the Board should ask if there are things they seek to put around it. There are owners of towers, but the owners can rent it out. If there are refurbishments done, all renters have to be contacted. If the park has interest in using some space or having control, that language needs to be in the contract. Frye stated Verizon is not in a rush for this so there should be time to review it. He added that there had been an approval several years ago with another company, but they did not do anything with it. Claycomb asked why the USD259 poles are not compatible. Frye responded they have no capability to co-locate. Claycomb added that light poles are not attractive. Hoetmer stated he objects to using the towers because it will negatively affect the aesthetics of the Miracle Field and the park. He suggested finding a corner of the park for placement if the Board is strongly encouraged to accept the tower. Claycomb stated the Board could use the funds to remove the current light poles. Hoetmer added there was a possibility that they could re-utilize those poles, but they could be removed with no objection from him. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEETING November 10, 2014 Page 2 of 5 Claycomb stated if the Board decides to go forward with the proposal, they need to look at another location that is not close to the Miracle Field. Sokolowski noted that previous negotiations include working with them on placement. The Board could create a wish list and some things may be able to be done and others may not. Frye stated that hopefully by next month’s meeting staff will be able to have a recommendation and the Board may be able to vote on it. Houtman stated they need to look at it and how it fits into the mission and goals of the Department. Sokolowski stated it would be helpful to have the mission and goals in mind during review of the contract. Item 4A: Recreation Update (Karen Holmes/Connie Storrie) Holmes introduced Connie Storrie who is the Animal Display Attendant at the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit in Riverside Park and has been with the City for 30 years. Storrie gave a brief history of the exhibit and noted it had changed from a zoo to an exhibit of Kansas native animals. Frye asked if all of the habitats are occupied. Storrie responded they need another possum. Houtman asked if the animals were injured and ended up at the Exhibit. Storrie responded that most were injured, however many were found through rehab centers. If the animals cannot be placed, they will be euthanized and that is how they end up at the Exhibit. Some of them are considered non-releasable. Frye noted that from a budget standpoint, the Exhibit continues to be a target. Holmes noted that the Exhibit is funded for 2015 and is off for review in 2016. The City Manager and Holmes did three community engagements regarding the Exhibit. People like the exhibit because it is free and all of the animals are from Kansas. A group of supporters has been formed, the Friends of the Kansas Wildlife Exhibit. She stated that food and vet care is funded by the Great Plains Nature Center (GPNC), but $76,000 is still needed. Frye added it will be $76,000 minimum assuming the GPNC will continue to fund food and vet care. Storrie stated that memorial bricks are available and continue to be sold. Holmes stated the funds go to the Friends of the GPNC to cover food and vet care. She thanked Storrie for the presentation. Frye stated that he did not recall receiving the October Recreation Report. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEETING November 10, 2014 Page 3 of 5 Butler stated she had not sent it to the Board yet and will send it after the meeting. Holmes reminded the Board about the Night with Santa on 12/2/14. Frye noted that the Board contributes for sponsorship of a decorated tree to be raffled off at the Night with Santa. The cost of a tree is $75. Holmes stated that Prairie Pines will donate 15 trees this year. Item 4B: Golf Update (Troy Hendricks) Hendricks reviewed the rounds report and noted they are up 3200 rounds year-to-date compared to last year. Revenue is up and expenditures are down. Net income is better than last year. October was a good month. When comparing to the PGA September numbers, all courses are ahead of the average rounds for municipal courses in Kansas except Clapp which is about 2,700 rounds behind. He stated that overall it has been a good year so far. He was advised if the Golf Division has the funding to make the debt service payment, then make it. But, if they do not it is ok too. Hillman asked what they would use the money for if they did not make the debt service payment. Hendricks responded they would purchase new equipment such as mowers. He noted fairway mowers cost approximately $60,000 each, but they could look at smaller ones. They also could use rough mowers. Claycomb asked how many mowers they need. Hendricks responded they could use four fairway mowers and one rough mower. They also need carts because there are some in the fleet that are 11-13 years old. Hillman commended Mike Solomon at Clapp stating he heard many people talk about the very good condition of the greens there. He noted there was a 4% increase at Clapp which was significant and this was before Braeburn closed last week. He noted it will most likely increase more now that Braeburn closed. Hendricks stated that David Buschschulte has done a great job on the greens at Clapp and Solomon has done a good job at the Clapp clubhouse. Item 4C: Updates from Director and President Houtman stated that Stacey Hamm is working on the next Recreation Activities Guide and will probably insert a picture of the City Council and Park Board members with a short letter for each one. He will have more information for the next meeting. Frye stated he will try to keep the December meeting agenda light, so they can focus on the retreat. Hillman stated he is working with the Library on the west bank to see if they can get some green space off of McLean Boulevard to allow people to see the new library and to develop the Chisholm Trail. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEETING November 10, 2014 Page 4 of 5 Houtman stated he has met with the City Council members who did not go to China. He is meeting with the YMCA, WSU, and Boys and Girls Club folks. Frye reminded the Board the reception for Houtman will be Friday at 5:30pm. Item 5: Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 4pm. ______________________________________ Bryan Frye, President _____________________________________ Christina Butler, Clerk BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEETING November 10, 2014 Page 5 of 5