Board of Park Commissioners

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING AGENDA City Hall, 11th Floor Park Conference Room 455 N. Main Wichita, KS 67202 April 11, 2016 3pm Present: Ron Allen, Chris Highfill, Cindy Claycomb, Hoyt Hillman Absent: Chris Clark, Troy Palmer, Tori Deatherage Also present: Troy Houtman_{Director of Park and Recreation), Elizabeth Harlenske (City Assistant Attorney), Matt Townsend, Larry Hoetmer, Troy Hendricks (Staff), Michelle Haun (Clerk), Claire Willenberg (Fresh Air Baby Camp), Anne Maack, Carrie Van Sickle, Terry Wiggers, Vincent Hancock (Citizens) Hillman called the meeting to order at approximately 3:03 p.m. PUBLIC AGENDA Delano Plans REGULAR AGENDA Item 1: Approval of Minutes Motion· by Claycomb, second by Highfill, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to approve, sign and file the minutes of March 14, 2016, Board of Park Commissioners Regular meeting. (4-0) Item 2A: Fresh Air Baby Camp Roof 'Illes - Claire Willenberg Willenberg gave a presentation showing the original building. The roofing project started in 2013. During the course.of researching the best approach to replacing tile, a new geothermal heating and cooling system was also installed. Along the way this became a green building project. They opted to go with new Ludowici clay roofing field tile. They were able to salvage approximately 2,100 pieces of the old field tile for resale. Asking the Park Board to support the resale of the tiles to benefit Fresh Air Baby Camp. The price per piece for the new field tile is $9.35. Based on a conversation with Ludowici,the value of the salvaged tile is about 75% of the current price. We won't get that, but we have talked to some auction companies and tile suppliers; there is a market for that salvaged tile .. The Camp is located in North Riverside Park. Hillman asked if the Board would like to vote for the funds of the resale of the tiles to go back to Fresh Air Baby Camp. Houtman stated the Park Department supports the Fresh Air Baby Camp and the proceeds going back to the Camp. Allen supports the direction they are going. Highfill made a motion to sell the tiles and put the funds in the Fresh Air Baby Camp account housed with the Parks Foundation. Allen seconded the motion. Hillman asked to clarify the motion to sell for the best possible profit. Motion carries 4-0 Motion by Highfill, second by Allen, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to approve the selling of roof tiles BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEETING April 11, 2016 �age"i of 5 and the proceeds being placed into the Fresh Air Baby Camp account currently being housed with.the Wichita Parks Foundation. (4,0) f Item 2B: Of Street Pathways Originating in Delano Vincent Hancock, 406 S Vine St., Delano United has combined with Poe & Associates and put together a plan that now includ_es the Chisholm Trail ParkwaySystems. This is a combination of four new off.street paths along with two parks. The KDOT " Rails to Trails" map shows a big gap in the. middle. A new park would be created at the west end of the abandoned line on the site of the old railroad junction. Perfect time to revitalize the Delano greenspaces with 2017 being the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail. Cost projections include a new Delano park (city owned) and Chisholm Trail parkway costs up to $486k, junction town·park $150k, Zoo Blvd. connector up to $899k, university connector up to $439k, Prairie Sunset Trail extension up to $2i3k. There is more information available. at historicdelano.com. Hillman asked what they hoped to get out of today's presentation. Hancock stated that first and foremost they are wanting to make sure everyone·on their list knows what their plans are and has the opportunity to provide feedback. And; they would be interested in a possible motion of support from the Park Board on a portion or all oftheir plan concept. Houtman stated that Scott Rigby will be speaking to the Park Board aboutsome of these properties in May. The Park Department is already exploring some design ideas for this "triangle park" _and has applied for design grants. There are additional jJlans beyond just greenspace. Claycomb asked who owns the property for the junction town park Hancock stated they are not sure at this point. It currently has a Weigand sale sign on it. Houtman stated that another question was regarding funding for these projects. We currently do not have any capital funds set aside for these trails and parks. Claycomb asked who else Hancock has talked to. Hancock stated that they have spoken to about a third of the list, including Dist�icts 4 and 6. Funding is the biggest issue. Item 3A: Wichita Community Rowing Center Anne Maack, 1130 Bitting, Chair of the Development Committee for the Board of the Wichita Rowing Association. Here today, asking for approval for a partnership between the WRA and the City of Wichita Park &. Recreation and where WRA would.build a Wichita Community Rowing Center on public land. WRA would hold a 99 year lease and t_he City of Wichita would sponsor-grant applications to the Land and Water Conservation Fund so that matching funds could be obtained for the. construction. W RA is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, founded in 1974, The Little Arkansas River is the best water for rowing. This year is the 25 year anniversary of the Frostbite Regatta. City Parks allowed us to use the handball court area in South Riverside Park until 2012 when the Tennis.Center expanded. Parks allowed them to set up a temporary location just east of there. The new building design.will cost approximately $400k, WRA has raised about $125kto date. Upon approval ofrequest today they would like.to seek a $200k matching grant from the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Building design has been approved by their design committee. Stakeholders have provided letters of support.. WRAis asking for a.permanent lease for the new center and spCJnsorship for the matching f_unds grant application. Houtman stated that the Park Department has met with W RAon a number of occasions and fully support the new rowing center. Design Council approved the design as well. Highfill asked how long will it take. Maack stated the grant process takes approximately two years, which is longer than what they have left on their current lease. Hillman asked if the building will be heated and cooled and include restrooms. Wiggers stated that itdoeshave restrooms, a simple.heating system and very little cooling. Highfill asked if there were.any other plans for the area. H_outman stated that the plan is for this area to be a rowing center. There are no plans to expand the Tennis Center into this area and there is currently plenty of parking for both. It is·a win-win for BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEnJNG Aprill, 2016 Page 2 of 5 everyone. Claycomb made a motion to sponsorthe grant application, allow for the building to. be constructed and provide. the 99 year lease. Allen seconded the motion. Hillman asked what cost for the leasewould be. Houtman stated that there is no cost and we would work with Legal to refine the agreement. Motion passed 4--0. Motion by Claycomb, second by Allen, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to sponsor the grant application, allow for the building to be constructed and provide the 99 year lease. (4-0) Item 3B: PROS Plan Hoetmer stated that the PROS plan was originally done in 2008. It has been recently redone to make it more valid for where we are today. Townsend stated that staff has been reviewing the PROS plan since the end of 2015. It is time to focus this as a long-term strategic documentthat would incorporate what the current view of the City is. A lot of data came from surveys and community engagements that took place .in 2015. This would now be a shared plan between all the Divisions, In addition to our parks and open spaces we want to emphasize the· availability of recreation and leisure opportunities available in the City. We have revised the goals to include this additional focus. We are also adding a focus on promoting golf, which was lacking from the original 2008 plan.. As we propose new parks and trails, we are .focusing on the outlying areas where Wichita is experiencing the most growth. We are focusing on building on existing partnerships. We are focusing·on the recreation·centers because they provide specialized services.that are not found elsewhere in the City. We wiUcontinue to provide and enhance the specialized centers such as Great Plains Nature Center and the Wichita Ice Center. Hoetmer stated that we want to continue to improve and invest in our existing parks. We want to develop new parks and update.our existing parks to meet a specific set of standards and coordinate the locationswith other public facilities and amenities. We need to rethink our approach to park maintenance priorities and practices with our limited resources. We have·even looked at volunteer efforts, such as Boy Scout troops going into parks and removing bush honeysuckle and such. Even continuing to invest in our sites, fleet and equipment, and staff. Options for capital and development, we obviously wantto maintain what we.have.· Some possible new sources of capital include increasing our CIP, special assessments or dedicated general taxes. We have made strides.in our City Pathway Connections, Arkansas River Corridor Access.Plan, Dog•Parks, and existing Park expansion like Buffalo Park, Watson Park and Pracht Wetlands. Future Park Development:includes Crystal Prairie lake Park. We think thiswill be a regional attraction for the City and also the Region. Where do we go from here? We have to be flexible and ready for economic needs and national trends. Work on redevelopment and ·revitalization of downtown corridor district, trails and connectivity. The Park Department is a vital part of the success of the .Downtown revitalization. Special events, like Fourth ofJuly and Open Streets, are becoming a greater area of focus adding vibrancy to our City. Houtman stated that the original PROS plan cost $250k. The new document is being worked on in­ house and will cost $25k. We will provide the board drafts. We would like to adopt this plan by June. The steps needed to make that happen include a vote from the Park Board, Hoetmer will be making presentation to Planning and MABCD. We will incorporate their changes and hopefully get that adopted ih May and take to Council in June for final adoption. He offered to set up a workshop for the. board if they would be interested. Hillman asked if he would send out a meeting request to do a workshop. Houtman asked when would be a good time. He is willing to come host the workshop when it is convenient for all to attend. Highfill and Claycomb indicated late afternoon during the week would be best. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS M.ErnNG April.11, 2016 Page 3of 5 Item 4A: Recreation Update (Dimer) Olmer stated that Watson held an Easter Egg Hunt event on March 19th. We had about l,000 people attend. There were three differentage categories in three different sections in the Park, which was new this year. New format this year with egg hunts every 10 minutes. We had over 18,000 eggs to.hand out along with prize baskets donated by local businesses. Cost was $5 per carload, we took in revenue of about $730. Concessions took in a couple hundred dollars more. Our bounce houses were very popular, we had Easter egg balls they could kick into the goals, and touch-a-truck was there. Next year we will meet on April 8, the week before Easter. Our new train is almost complete. Should be completed this week and. delivered toward.the end of the week. The inspector will be out to look over the rails and railroad tiesto ensure compliance. Mayor's media briefing will be:at Watson on April-28th • Ribbon cutting will be at the same time we do OK Kids Day, on April 30. We are.in the process ofgetting the Haunted .Island back up and running again for October. We have three. groups that have submitted bids. Staff has reviewed and the consensus is to interview all three groups. Hillman asked if we have any projected income for the park with all the improvements and increased activity. Olmer stated that we will have a Strategic Plan presentation next month to look at cost recovery. Hillman stated that he.and Greg attended the KRPA meeting last week. Dimer stated one of the groups in th.e area is looking to d.o.a matching grant for the State of Kansas. It would be broken up into three separate regions. They have a million dollars in a matching grant available for up to six individuals or groups. This group has a rapidly approaching deadline. It would be a great opportunity for improving playgrounds. Hillman stated that information was provided for adult fitness as well, encouraging family engagement. Item 4B: Golf Update (Troy Hendricks) Hendricks stated that rounds were up 3% year to date. Revenue was up 9%. Net income is down due to the timing of our chemical orders. Sold 51 players cards so far. We have bridge repairs in process at LW Clapp. The main work should be completed in May. Item 4C: Golf Advisory Committee Update (Troy Henilricksl Rounds were up year-to-date by 3% over last year. Revenues are up 9%. Expenditures and encumbrances are up 19% and our net inco_me is down at little bit at 59%. The big difference is the timing on our chemicals. If you take that off we are at about $41k difference. That is due to the nicer winter and our seasonal staff was working more hours. And then there were,some additional.expenses this winter aswe are trying to get some of our aging equipmerit put back into worki.ng,order, Snow on Easter was not a big impact. We had the same number of rounds of foot golf this year,. as we had last year. We have sold 51 players cards, which should pick up as the season progresses. At Clapp, last fall we talked about issues with a bridge. Repair costs are estimated at $4lk. We have.CIP budget dollars set aside to repair bridges so we have the money to pay for that. Timeframe for these repairs is May and take about 4 weeks. Item 4D: Wichita Parks Foundation Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated that they are getting more organized and working on their fund raising. The big focus right now is on the July 4 event Still needing sponsors. Item 4E: OJ Watson Park Committee Update (Hoyt Hillman) Hillman commented that Olmer covered the upcoming activities at Watson Park. Item 4F: Aquatics Committee Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated that we presented a workshop to Council three weeks ago. It.received mixed feedback. We will go back.to Council with more .information on May.10. This will be one of many items we are bringing to Council. Also bringing encroachments and the riverordinance. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEETING Aprilll,2016 Page 4of 5 r Item 4G: President Item 4H: Director Houtman stated we have a lot of things going on next month. Buffalo Park is going to be opening up next month, League 42, the McAdams ball field should be completed. We have a couple other ribbon cuttings going on as well. We have the train at Watson. We are planning on completing our accreditation packet this week and submitting to the NRPA. Thanks to Chris for working with the Park Foundation, thanks to Cindy for always being available to answer questions, thanks to Ron for helping with football and being a voice of reason. And Hoyt for being involved and keeping us on our toes. Hillman asked if there was anything else. eeting was adjourned at approximately 4:50 pm. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MEETING April 11, 2016 Page 5 of 5