Board of Park Commissioners

BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING MINUTES Monday, February 13, 2017 3:00- 5:00 P.M. � .1 1' v o • City Hall, ist Floor Board Room IJC HI JR! Wichita, Kansas 67202 Members Present: Cindy Claycomb, Bill Ramsey, Troy Palmer, Tori Deatherage, Ron Allen Members Absent: Hoyt Hillman, Chris Clark City Staff: Troy Houtman (Director, Park & Recreation), Elizabeth Harlenske (Assistant City Attorney), Penny Garding (Clerk), David McGuire, Greg Olmer, Larry Hoetmer, Matt Townsend, Troy Hendricks, Councilmember Jeff Blubaugh, City Manager Robert Layton Item Descrlt;!tion Call to Order Cindy Claycomb, President, called the meeting to order at approximately 3:01 p.m. Announcement Claycomb welcomed new Park Board member, Bill Ramsey. Ramsey stated he is an entrepreneur and technology guy. He was recently on the Planning Commission. Public Comments There were no comments from the public. 1 Approve Minutes Recommended Action: Approve, sign and file minutes of the January 6, 2017, Board of Park Commissioners Retreat Meeting. Motion by Palmer, second by Allen, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to approve, sign and file the minutes of the January 6, 2017 Board of Park Commissioners Retreat Meeting (5-0). Recommended Action: Approve, sign and file minutes of the January 9, 2017, Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting. Motion by Palmer, second by Deatherage, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to approve, sign and file the minutes of the January 9, 2017 Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting (S-0). 2A No Mow Zones - Houtman tabled agenda item to March meeting. 2B Open Streets ICT (Houtman) Houtman stated this event is coming on Sunday, September 24, 2017. Open Streets - Downtown will close 4.3 miles of Douglas, west of Delano, and east to Clifton Square to vehicles and be for bicycle and pedestrian use only for the event. There will be activities going on along the route including bands and special activity hubs. Website: openstreetict.org. We are looking for vendors, sponsors and other groups to display their activities. We are working with USO 259, Wichita Festivals, the universities and many other partners. 2C • New Park Board member orientation Claycomb stated during the Retreat, we came up with ideas for items to include in an orientation. Townsend will meet with Ramsey to give an overview of the Park Department and Park Board. She asked Ramsey to provide feedback. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page 1 of 11 3A Pawnee Prairie Park (Councilmember Blubaugh) Houtman introduced Coundlmember Blubaugh. CM Blubaugh stated about a year ago he approached the Park Board to have a policy discussion about opening up Pawnee Prairie Park for potential bicycle riding and running trails and updates to the existing horseback trails. The main theme of the discussion was everyone's concern for safety. We have worked with the Park Department over the past 12 months putting safety at the utmost priority and we have a good plan to roll out that addresses these concerns. CM Blubaugh shared a newspaper article from March 11, 1969, titled "Pawnee Prairie: A Park is Born." The article states the park was put together for picnicking, camping, horseback riding, hiking trails, soccer field, softball and baseball diamonds, tennis courts and boating on a proposed lake. 50 years later not all of thosethings have come to fruition, but we have a great park. It's the City's largest park at almost 625 acres. CM Blubaugh added safety has been the top priority and we want to ensure everyone gets to use the park, it is not exclusively for one group. We want everyone from the community to enjoy the park. Houtman stated the Park Department has developed a plan that is going to be open for everyone to use. The plan does not exclude bicycles or horses. Current use includes nature trails, equestrian trail, picnic area, parking, an ADA trail, a community center and Tex Consolver Golf Course. The proposal includes dedicated trails for different uses and all take into consideration the safety concerns. There are still situations in this plan that have bicycles and horses that cross paths. These are areas where they are going to cross the river, next to parking lots and areas getting from one trail to another. We want to talk about etiquette use of the trails and educating people on how to use trails. Multi-purpose trails are used across the country where people have horses, bicycle and hikers together. There is a lot of education behind that. Hoetmer stated last year we were approached to take a look at the park and expand its use. We are introducing the idea of a neighborhood green adjacent to the parking area off Pawnee Street. We also want to make a path connector from the neighborhood, off Carrwood Drive, to Prairie Sunset Trail and Air Capital Park. The equestrian trails are primarily or:i the east side of the Cowskin Creek. We are talking about expanding the trail use to the east side of the floodway. There are underutilized areas in this, area that could be expanded for equestrian use. There is an existing six foot path that reaches from the east parking lot to the west parking lot. We want to create a chipped limestone path that would provide additional pedestrian and bicycle use. There would be an added hiking only nature trail with no bicycles or horses. We are looking to do this in three phases. Area A would be the area around the main entranc/off Tyler, with an investment of approximately $300,000. Area B would be the neighborhood green area. It would include a playground and some existing ponds. We would like to create an additional loop so people could come into the park into the playground area only. Area C is the bicycle path connector from the neighborhood to the Prairie Sunset Trail. That is about $300,000 to do that. Houtman shared last year we talked,about bringing in a consultant to do master plan for this park. We opted to do this in-house and putthat money toward the park instead of paying a consultant. With direction we received from the District and CM Blubaugh, the Park Department put together the presented plan. It comes out to about $1.2M.. We still need to come up with resources to take care of that Claycomb inquired if where there are horse trails would hikers be allowed like they are now. Hoetmer responded we feel like keeping the equestrian trails just for equestrians is the best thing. As we expand the use of the park, this helps keep balance. The second questions is BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page 2 of 11 concerning the horse trails on the east side. She did not see them in the three phases presented. Houtman responded these trails are existing trails, there will not be any addition or changes other than signage. Hoetmer added the trail that is on the east side of the Cowskin is existing. The trails on the east side of the drainage channels are where we are looking at expanding. Palmer inquired how this land was acquired. Hoetmer responded the land was first acquired by our predecessors in 1965. It was through a series of land acquisitions that extended through 1976. Part of the land was purchased with Housing and Urban Development funding. Claycomb inquired if any of the land was donated? Hoetmer responded it was all purchased with Board of Park Commissioner funding, with the exception of some federal HUD program funds. Claycomb set ground rules for public speakers. She will call on those signed up to speak and allow up to two minutes to speak. Speakers: Michelle Raymond, 16810 S. Victory Rd, Haven, KS. The park's intended use was for equestrians and hikers. Irene Plumlee rode that park every day of her life. A monument was installed to the south of the park in her memory. She would be appalled at what the bicyclists are trying to do to the trails. By clearing out more trees, you are taking away deer habitat and for other animals. Bicycles and horses do not mix. The best broke horse, mule or donkey can spook. We don't want to see anyone get hurt. That has happened already on the trail between Garden Plain and Wichita. A bicycle came up behind some horse riders. The horse went sideways, the rider the fell off and got hurt and put into hospital. We should honor Irene's memory and keep it a horse park. Valerie Brunhoeber, 1172 S Springdale Rd, Caldwell, KS. Originally from the Cheney area. Wants to make sure everyone understands horses are animals of habit. They have the fight or flight instinct to keep them safe. We are trying to protect everyone, including bicyclists. We don't want to anyone to get hurt, accidents happen. They will bolt and escape the danger if need. Sue Lamberson, 9950 S 119th West, Clearwater, KS. It looks like you are pushing horseback riders out,of the trees. It's the only part where we didn't have toworry about bicycles scaring our horses. Recently encountered a baby stroller at blind intersection. It startled the horse and it spun around and kicked at the stroller. Hope that if you insist on bicycles being there, you take them around the outside and leave the trees and equestrian trails alone. Michelle Lasiter, 980 SW 100th Street, Augusta, KS. Understands both sides of the fight. Horses are not going to lose their trails. Wants Council to know the "green" trail is an existing horse trail and it is being taken away and given to the hikers. The "yellow" trail to the very north is a new trail in the past five years that has been cut by a bike. Bikers have been using the park illegally. It is not fair for them to benefit from their illegal use already. There are other ways they can stay completely out of the park on the north end. There is other access on the north that can be worked on to get access to Air Capital. Just wants to make sure Council knows, according to this proposal, ,the majority of the "green" trail is already in existence and is already a horse and hiker trail. We already ride the area to the east even though there are not existing trails. We also enjoy the tree line, if we want to ride a field we would ride our own yard. If you are going to go forward with anything, bring a council of us together to help modify this park or create another park. Tammy Halsey, 106 E 80th St S. Haysville, KS. After seeing the plans, we are losing trails. One of the things of concern is, especially on the west trails, they are ever changing. Horse riders have had to retreat from all the things going on in the park and continue to retreat. Now we BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page 3 of 11 are losing another trail. The creek is also ever-changing, our trails are never the same and we just modify as we go. If we are concreted in, when the creek bed continues to change, then where do we go? I don't want kids being hurt while riding in the park illegally. They are not educated in trail etiquette. Tom Naifeh, 7700 E 13th #114, Wichita, KS. Not sure of how many bicycle trail parks are in Wichita. There are a lot of miles of bicycle trails throughout Wichita. This is the only equestrian trail in Sedgwick County. It looks like you are taking all the trails out of tree area, the most popular area, and giving it to the pedestrians and bike riders. It is not fair that the equestrian people are being segregated into an area that is less enjoyable to ride. If you are going to make trails for the bikes, don't consume all the prime areas. Ruth Holliday, Secretary, Prairie Travelers, 330 N Rock Road, Wichita, KS. When she saw the proposition for the master plan she thought it would be a win-win for everyone. Bring us all together where we can work together. That is still our goal. Very glad the equestrians can bring their questions. We don't want to make you lose any of your ground. This is your trail and has been forever. As times change and the number of horses have dwindled, 55 registered in Sedgwick County. This is just the number heard. It needs to be a trail where it is used more for everybody concerned and make it more of a community trail. We could probably double the number of horses previously stated and multiply that by 100 for the bikers in the area. We do not have the amount of pathways needed to be able to ride. This could be something we can solve together. That is our goal. Glad for the feedback, it has opened their eyes to things they did not think about. This is something we can work together to solve. Lindsey Fry, 1530 Smith Circle #104, Wichita, KS. There are far more than the 55 registered horses stated earlier. A lot of people have to board horses outside the city limits so you are segregating an enormous amount of horses by that false number. Pointing out this park being underutilized, that would be underutilized by bicycle riders. You see people out there all the time hiking and horseback riding. I don't know where the idea was that we need to segregate the hikers and horseback riders. We have shared these trails for the entire history of the park. There are no issues with the hikers, they have been very thoughtful and kind. Don't know why segregation has come in. We were not involved in the master plan at all, but bike riders sure have. It is interesting that all this master plan came up for all the users of the park but horseback riders were not consulted in any way on this map. As for the ADA trail that is there that is needing to be repaired and expanded, that is not an ADA requirement, but as this park is changed and modified this entire park could be falling under the.ADA Guidelines. That is a huge expense and don't know if that has been taken into this. The shared trails and segregating others, you will ultimately, and I know that is your goal, drive horseback riders out of this park. A lot to be discussed yet. Linda Smith, chose notto speak. Donna Peery. 200 E Rock Road Court, Apt 101, Mulvane, KS. I have taken kids and grandkids there to learn about and appreciate nature. I go there because I can find peace in the woods. The first thing you want to do is wipe out a bunch of the woods. If you want to make it even, put a horse trail next to all the bike trails, then we have a lot of places to ride horses. We've got one place to ride horses and you want to make sure we don't have that. The whole fun of going there is you get to ride all terrain and woods. Bruce Gilder, 1722 E 2ndSuite 3, Wichita; KS. Put together an open letter of support. There you can talk about turning chipped limestone on green trails. It is better on knees to walk on dirt, grass or leaves than hard surfaces. Chapin Park is why we ended up here because there are no trees covering the trails and dog park area. We came here two and one half years ago sharing the trails and hiking them with the horseback riders, standing off. to the side and being polite. The other thing I've seen here that you are going to jeopardize is K-9 Search and Rescue of Kansas trains here. I've also seen Civil Air Patrol out here training. When you start BOARD OF PARK'COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page4of 11 removing the underbrush and getting everything trimmed back and making this a manicured park, you are going to destroy the training grounds and natural habitat these people use. That "green trail", we've seen people riding horses on, we can walk a five mile walk without having to cover the same territory twice. That is important. We've looked at other parks, Great Plains Nature Park, we can't take dogs there. Every other park you've got concrete paths to follow, where are we supposed to go. We are with the horseback riders. L Finch, no response. Bob Schrader, 4415 E 63rd St S, Derby, KS. Not a bicycle or horse rider. All I have to offer here is a little common sense. It has been an observation that there are a lot more facilities for bicycles than for horses. The Pawnee Prairie area is blessed by the trees as a wind block and make a nice day ride. Pawnee Prairie fills the bill of the day riders. Because there are considerably more facilities for the bicycle riders than there are for the horses in the local metropolitan area, feels like the council should weigh this heavily in favor of the horse riders. Safety is a serious concern. Common sense will tell you that people that walk are hot generally considered a predator by the horse. A bicycle is an unknown. Sheikh "Kel" Ibraham, 11411 W Birch Lane, Wichita, KS. One thing very firmly believe in is that you never put bikes and horses together. This has always been horses, bikes not allowed, they are not supposed to be there. It should stay that way. It's the only place like that in this community that has equestrian trails only. Cyclists have for bikes only. Air Capital does not allow horses. Fair is Fair; If you put a million dollars of improvements in to the park nature trails, how natural will it be after that? Would like his daughter to experience the park as it is without any improvements. Jana Reed, 6255 2nd Road, Douglass, KS. Internet look up lists parks in Wichita. Pawnee Prairie indicates it is the only park in the Wichita area for horse riding. It gives you a whole list of bicycle parks. Why take the only park for horses, why not take one of the others. The park is also referred to as a wildlife habitat area. If you take away the trees and get rid of the shelter, do you think you will see the deer, coyote, foxes, etc.? Everyone loves the trees, flowers, colors and wildlife. Would like the name of the equestrian who helped with the master plan. Would like you to consider the one and only horse riding area we can come for day ride in the area. Kelli Aerosmith, 17215 W 125th N, Sedgwick, KS. Speaking about a different aspect of the park, the ADA compliance area. Air Capital Park is not ADA compliant. She has called the Park Department and asked them that. She and several members of her family are physically handicapped. Requests at this time that Air Capital become ADA compliant. Pawnee Prairie Park, at this time, is grandfather claused in, it is ADA compliant. At the point any kind of major restoration, trail work, you have to go ADA compliant. ADA compliancy means you have to make all the trails for hiking and walking have to be wide enough to hold all electric scooters, all electric wheelchairs. They have to be heavy enough to hold all. This is 2010 ADA compliancy. They have to have ramps and accesses. You are well past your $1M. If you leave it alone you are perfectly fine. Also, I don't know if you can allow horses in the drainage ditch, that is a federal waterway. She will stated she will be calling the federal. Michael Dudek, declined to comment. Harriet Barber, Catholic Care Center, Wichita, KS. Helped Irene develop these trails. It was farmland and she had to help clear fences. There are many more bicycle trails than there are horse trails. When they go in and mow the trails that takes away from the trail. Matt Breeden, 10202 W Jewell, Wichita, KS. Trail runner with over 1,200 miles in the park last year. During that whole time he has probably seen one or two horses the whole time. The park would be put to better use by increasing hikers and walkers who do use it. They are the ones that live there, use it and pay for it. The trail improvements are a big improvement. Walking and hiking in the mud all the time is a problem. Horses are not the ones using it all the time. Would like to see more of the local people use it. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page 5 of 11 Angie Valentine, 9317 E Silver Lake Rd, Haven, KS. Mom was the one hurt badly riding the Prairie Sunset Trail. This was a shared trail with bicycles and horses. It was not intentional it was just a lack of the bicyclist knowing he needed to tell us he was coming up behind us. At that time the Prairie Sunset Trail was a shared trail. After the accident she reached out to the custodians of the trail, the Prairie Travelers, and start some etiquette education. The response was that their board of directors met in January, has decided to exclude horse riders as a user of the trail. That has not been published publicly yet. Finds it ironic that this group says these (Pawnee Prairie Park) trails can be shared safely yet that trail (Prairie Sunset) can't. Houtman added he has been in contact with Prairie Travelers. They have made a request to restrict equestrian use of that trail. At this point in time no decisions have been made. It is under the authority of the City of Wichita and the Park and Recreation Department. Although the Prairie Travelers have made that recommendation, it has not been enforced in restriction of equestrian use. They are coming next month to the Park Board to make that request. Megan Lee, 14950 SW 150th, Rose Hill, KS. District Commissioner for the Wichita area's only pony club. She brings children on horses to this park. As everyone has talked about the safety of bicycles and horses, you know that it is not safe for our riders, but no one has addressed the fact it is not safe for the bicyclists. The regulations not currently being respected. When you allow it, you will have pre-teens riding their bikes and not respect the regulations of segregation, they are not respecting it now. Horses are used to people walking up to them, they are not used to bicycles coming near them. There is also the concern of the horse getting their leg stuck in a bike and having to be euthanized in the park, in front of the kids. Also part of the student veteran organization at WSU. Veterans with PTSD like horse riding it is good therapy. Some with traumatic brain injuries cannot afford to hit the ground again and get another concussion. Carol Lambe, declined to speak. Aaron Daney, 8114 E Boston St, Wichita, KS. Here because not educated on horses. After listening to the comments would like to add, if we do go forward with shared park, there is going to have to be some type of compromise, but not safety. If the map could be redesigned with more of a north/south separation that would give equal access to that desirable terrain to both groups. Another suggestion is possibly having alternating days if practical. This is a start, thinking beyond and looking at ways to improve. Terry Fry, 1902 N Frederick, Wichita, KS. This is a stupid plan. The only effect this plan will have is to drive equine riders from the park. The park has 12-15 miles of trails. Most are along both sides of the creek. Cutting out the horseback riders from the west side of the creek will cut out at least eight miles of trails. If this plan is adopted it will cease to be a park for horseback riders. Tyler Stutsman, 11615 W May St. Wichita, KS. Applaud the horse community and their passion. Wants to offer a different perspective to some offered today. Over the last seven years has logged 5,800 miles on foot in this park. Your proposed trails already exist. This map only includes about 10% of the existing trails. There is a need to improve the creek banks and bridges in the park. No one likes concrete trails, takes away from the beauty of the park and no one likes that surface. Rode trails in Nebraska, on a mountain bike concurrently with horses. All groups got along just fine. You need published rules and no blind corners. This park can still be utilized by everyone. During those. miles in the park saw almost no bikers and three horses. Jerry Jones, 2038 N Gow, Wichita, KS. Speaking on behalf of the Kansas Single-track Society. They have worked with City over the last five or six years on a small piece of land, Air Cap Park. It was a junk yard before converting into single track park for mountain bikers and walkers and trail walkers. Inquired about how much acreage is in Pawnee Prairie Park. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page6 of 11 Hoetmer responded 600 total but the park is about 400, 200 is the golf course. KSS has not been engaged in this plan, there are no mountain bike trails. We have always been a proponent of trail use. Would welcome the opportunity to participate with the City as the master plan is developed. We do advocate for expansion of access for trails. It is a good idea to separate them. Laura Carlson-Humphrey, 2201 E Timberlane St, Derby, KS. Recently moved back to Wichita and had the opportunity to go to Pawnee Prairie Park and encountered a few hikers, but mostly were groups of young kids doing scavenger hunt, not paying attention. Also experienced extended families. Great experience for kids getting exposure to horses. Michael Gomm, 11903 W. Dora Ct, Wichita, KS. One of the move vocal members of the adjacent community regarding the shared use plan. Appreciate all the input on safety. Bear in mind, hikers, joggers, children, dogs are already allowed in the park it would be the same trails as horses. A short browse through and of the horse lobby forums, you will see stories about encounters with those same groups that are not so positive. If is truly about safety, where do we stop restricting the access with those or other groups. This draft plan is not perfect, not sure what groups were involved. If our biggest safety concern is the spontaneous mixing of these groups, then this plan dramatically reduces that with the segregated trail plan. The segregated plan is a safer option than the way the park operates today. Today it is everyone everywhere. With a segregated plan the equestrians have their place and all the other groups have their place. This has been about shared and equitable use since day one, no one has wanted to displace anybody. Appreciate the Councilman for listening to the adjacent community and taking this plan forward. Grant Delmar, 9606 Yosemite Drive, Wichita, KS. Back up to Wichita Wild Park Reserve area. Don't agree with some of the proposals today. Can see where something could be done to bring Air Cap down to the south some and put a divider to keep that separate and give them more trails. Proposing a camp site set up for a place to come in for the weekend. Improve the existing concrete trails for the handicap access. Asking the board to make motion to continue to do more research before anything is pushed through. Tom Ewert, 5820 N Legion, Wichita, KS. Not speaking for Audubon. List of 172 birds in the park. Air Cap Park is a wildlife desert. Would love to see the park maintained the way it is. The plan as it exists will not impact the wildlife too much, but if you start expanding use that will impact the wildlife there. Kim Neufeld, 1650 S Glendale, Wichita, KS. Agree we could come to the table and come up with a revised plan that would help everyone. Supportive of the shared use, we all pay the taxes and funding for this park. If the equestrians want to own the park, maybe that should be considered. Volunteer for Bike Walk Wichita, which was not involved in this plan, but would be excited to come to the table to see how we can make it work. They receive complaints and issues from neighbors that live in this area trying to make it into downtown Wichita for commuting. Would like to see this area worked out for the southwest area, there are not a lot bike routes or boulevards. Bikes and pedestrians have been increasing substantially, the 2016 annual bike and pedestrian count counts shows a 64% increase in usage since 2012. Larry DeBolt, 1102 N Forestview, Wichita, KS. On the board for Prairie Sunset Trail. Clarify about the closures on Prairie Sunset Trail. Concern the City had is on City property. Prairie Travelers owns from Garden Plain to outside of Goddard. The problem on the Prairie Sunset Trail is when the bikers and horses come together it is difficult to navigate. Education is difficult with so many people using the trail. In the master plan, there are only three places where bikers might cross the horses, it is parallel. This does a good job of separating those. Likes the idea of less concrete and more limestone. Like separating north and south. Should be open to all who like to use the park. A lot of those who spoke today for the horses were those from out of town. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page 7 of 11 Elizabeth Kanitz, 5480 S Gold, #200, Wichita, KS. You can have the best trained horse and someone comes up behind you and spooks the horse. Taking away the one place where horses can be ridden safely. Hikers are courteous, bikers don't pay attention. Our country was founded on horsepower. Your car is measured in horsepower. Claycomb brought the meeting back to the board. Claycomb asked Hoetmer to talk about how we 'decided east and west versus north and south? Houtman stated we went east and west to develop a continuous loop for the bicyclists, as well as the walkers and hikers. There is nowhere else where we could incorporate that with concrete sidewalk. It became difficult to do something north and south that has equitable space for everybody. Hoetmer added the creek is a natural east and west border. Houtman added we wanted to ensure there was access to the tree line on east of creek for the horse trails. Claycomb asked for clarification on clearing the brush and cedar. Houtman responded at the end of this plan, if it was executed, there would be hardly any trees removed that are not native to this area. The space in the yellow circle by picnic area would be an open area for people to come in and camp, picnic and play. Neighborhood people could come to the park and actually an open space and not have any effect on the rest of the park. It would keep them away from the trails. It is a small area and there would be trees around it. We would clear a few areas for open space so they could play. Palmer inquired why we have not got with all the groups to talk about this plan. Houtman responded we received direction from the City Manager and input from CM Blubaugh. We scaled this to the budget we have. One issue we have is that if we go into a bigger discussion we,are trying to accommodate a lot more groups we do not have the budget for. This is basically signage, education and segregating trails, which is the direction we received to make it as safe as possible. Palmer inquired if there is any talk of bringing in other groups. Houtman responded, this is draft, we can take some input and make changes if we need to. Claycomb inquired what are the options to get other input if that is what the board suggests. Houtman received input today and can ask for other direct input and incorporate those changes and bring it back to the board. Palmer stated he does notthink a horse and bike coming together is ever a good idea. There is a happy medium and this is not it yet. Houtman stated there is some areas where there will be bicycle and horse activity together. Tried to avoid that. Palmer inquired i1 the bike trails need to be as long. Houtman responded the bicycle trails are pretty limited. Claycomb is not sure of the distance of the loop. Houtman responded it is approximately 1.6 miles. Houtman stated this is not intended to be hard core bicycling. This is more for families, for the kids to ride their bikes and families to walk. Claycomb would like the staff to look at the idea of less concrete and more limestone. Houtman responded this plan does not add any more concrete, just limestone, Would like to make repairs to the concrete sidewalk. Claycomb asked CM Blubaugh if he had any additional comments. CM Blubaugh responded just happy to see the board looking at it and that families are able to use the park. - 1 Motion by Palmer, second by Allen, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to direct staff to revisit the plan with the additional input from this meeting and look .at other options, within budget. (5-0}. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page 8 of 11  Claycomb thanked guests for their input as they exited the meeting room. 3B Bicycles in Parks (College Hill Neighborhood Association) Houtman.stated the Park Department received a concern regarding College Hill Park. The City has an ordinance that restricts bicycle use in the middle of the park. That was put in place for the protection of the pedestrians in the park. We placed signs in College Hill Park based on that ordinance. He received input from College Hill concerning the use of the interior of park for bicycle use. Trish Hileman, 139 S Fountain, Wichita, KS, College Hill NA. We have a sweet family, neighborhood park in middle of College Hill. It does not have a bike path around it, the neighborhood does not have sidewalks. A lot of people bring their kids to the park to learn how to ride, to go to the pool and for normal park use. Currently the City Code is sidewalks are for multi-use (bikers and walkers). Within a park it is a walkway and you cannot ride your bike on it. She put out a Nextdoor post and received 11 pros, 4 cons and 3 others. We don't want signs in the park, we want to welcome people into the park. They are asking the Park Department to make the paved walkways into sidewalks so the park code and the City ordinance are consistent with each other so people are not confused. Shared examples of signs being used by other cities. Would like to consider maybe not signs but spray painted on the surface and not on a sign post. Houtman stated what we can do as Park & Recreation Department and with input from the Park Board, he can designate certain walkways or other sidewalks, as bicycle lanes. We can do that for a specific park, and have done that for several parks throughout the City. We are also talking about a larger ordinance change for all parks. This is a big endeavor that goes beyond the Park Board. ltwould have to be taken to City Council, with a recommendation from the Park Board. We did talk about using College Hill Park as a pilot for other parks in the City. Hileman stated she met with Mr. Houtman, Mr. McGuire and Mr. Billings, who is with the College Hill Park. We had a very collaborative meeting. We went back to our group and presented the ideas. The pec,ple who are the most passionate want to be able to ride bicycles on the sidewalk and walk on the sidewalk. The initial thought was to change the ordinance to make sidewalks and walkways the same. But, we also do not want to create work that is not needed. If we could say College Hill only, we would like to be able to have kids ride their bikes on the sidewalks, educate walkers and riders how to use it correctly and have everyone be able to use College Hill Park. Deatherage left meeting at 5:08 p.m. Claycomb inquired of Houtman, as Director of Park & Recreation, does he have the authority to do this? Houtman responded yes. Claycomb inquired about an issue in College Hill Park, in the last two or three years, where a cross-country team had come in and ran through the park, creating a trail. She inquired if that was not allowed in the park atthis time? Hileman responded yes it is, there are still cross-country teams in the park. Houtman responded just like any other park, if we do permitting and we have a group wanting to hold a special event or activity, we require them to have a permit. We have the ability to say "yes" or "no," a lot of the time we say "yes". McGuire added we have a number of cross country teams use the park. We do communicate prior to the season starting, asking them to be courteous to the neighbors. They do submit a permit when asking for permission for meets. Practices are sometimes a "free for all." BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page 9 of 11  Another issue is with a group of mountain bikers that cut the trail. Houtman added lacrosse as well. There is also a group that goes in and mows the park for kickball, without asking. Palmer inquired if they are asking for a change for just the park, potentially. Houtman responded the ideal solution for now is to do a pilot program at College Hill Park that will allow 'the designation of bicycle areas. He would like the support of the Park Board to do that. It will take more research and more interaction to change the ordinance that affects all parks. Allen asked for clarification if theywant the walkers and joggers and bike riders to use the same walkways as multi-use for the pilot. Houtman responded yes, with education and signage. Claycomb stated a pilot would be a great idea and would allow for discovery of unintended consequences. Neufeld added Bike Walk Wichita has several instructors and free resources to assist with education. Carey Hobart, Bike Walk Wichita Board Member, just moved to Kansas from California. We have had the multi-use signage for many years. It is a rough start, one of the things that can happen is you can get your volunteer neighborhood groups together when the signs go up and have stewards right there explaining to people. This is a new sign, this is how we are using it, and this is what you do. You yield to them and they yield to you. There is a learning curve. Fields commented Patricia has done a very good job with College Hill and Nextdoor, which is our main tool. That park means a lot to everyone that lives in the area. Harlenske inquired about the signage being recommended and would it be "post'' signage. Houtman responded that has yet to be decided. He would want input from the community. Harlenske added a statement on putting it on the sidewalks. The bicycle ordinances are part of the City Code, it is a misdemeanor to violate them with a $500 fine. If you want enforcement assistance from law enforcement, signage must be clearly visible. Houtman indicated another option discussed would be adding kiosks at entrances and throughout the park with information on expectations of riding and walking through the park. Motion by Claycomb, second by Allen, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED that the Park Board ask Director Houtman and Staff to work with the College Hill Neighborhood Association as a pilot project for allowing shared use of the walkways in the College Hill Park (4-0). 4 Recreation Update (Greg Olmer) Defer updates to March. 5 Golf Update (Troy Hendricks) Hendricks stated rounds up for January over last year by 19%. YTD expenditures are about the same. Expenditures and encumbrances were up 8%. Net position compared to last year is down 10%. Added a line to the report round per revenue. Houtman added they also added revenue per course per year. Revie� and bring questions to next month. Cindy Renard deferred comments to next month. 6 Golf Advisory Committee Update (Hoyt Hillman) Houtman stated the purchase of golf cards went through a long process of identifying funding. We went out to bid and received bids from three companies. We asked for both electric and gas. We got fuel injected gas and the recommendation is moving forward. It is in the auditor's office to make sure it was done correctly. It will be taken to Council for ratification in next few weeks. 7 Wichita Parks Foundation Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated the Foundation is working hard on fundraising and July 4. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page 10 of 11  8 OJ Watson Park Committee Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated everything is going great. 9 Aquatics Master Plan Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated part of the Aquatics Master Plan is to get support from the YMCA. He has had discussions with them and a draft Memorandum Of Understanding. It has not been ratified or signed yet. They are very supportive of taking over lessons and rentals. Hoping to move forward and take to Council in early March. Palmer inquired about a statement from the last meeting that we were going to coordinate with the YMCA to transport people and give them passes to use the YMCA. Why do we, as a City, feel we have to pay for that? They would be paying to come to our pool, why are we paying them to go to the YMcA? Houtman responded as part of the MOU it was capped at $10,000 and would be a 50/50 split. The idea is to help the YMCA as well as train everyone else to move from public pools and to using the YMCA pools. Also included in the MOU, we asked the YMCA to explore transportation options. We are not necessarily going to pay for that. The City has vouchers, capped at $5k per year per pool, so as one pool gets closed, that would to get those people accustomed to go from the neighborhood pool to the YMCA. Claycomb added it also came from City Council that there was some. concern about just closing a pool and having no way to transition people to this. It was how we can have transition time, not forever, and education to move people from the city pool to YMCA pool. Hineman added the College Hill Neighborhood Association advocates for Plan #1. She is asking the Board to endorse Plan 1 which keeps five pools open which allows the swim teams to keep functioning. Claycomb responded that is the plan the Board endorsed. 10 President's Update (Cindy Claycomb) Claycomb stated the Kansas Recreation and Park Association, on February 2, 2017, awarded 2 Councilmembers. Vice Mayor Janet Miller received the 2017 Distinguished Board Member Award and Councilmember Lavonta Williams was awarded the 2017 Distinguished Elected Official Award. Houtman added four other awards were received by the department: Bike Walk Wichita partnership, Jan Long was awarded for her long dedication and hard work, Alan Taber was awarded for Recreation Professional of the Year and Jim Mason for his contribution to parks. 11 Director's Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman has nothing additional to add. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:34 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, March 13, 2017. Cindy ClayC, President BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING February 13, 2017 Page 11 of 11