Board of Park Commissioners

Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, February 10, 2020 3:00-5:00 P.M. CITY OF 455 N Main WICHITA City Hall, 1st Floor Boardroom Wichita, Kansas 67202 Members Present: Ty Tabing, Hoyt Hillman, Troy Palmer, Eddie Fahnestock, Alejo Cabral, Tori Deatherage (3:10) City Staff: Penny Garding (Clerk), Troy Houtman (Director, Park & Recreation), Reggie Davidson, Gentry Thiesen, Shana Appelhanz, Bruce Goodwin (PWU), Captain Chester Pinkston (WPD) Absent: Bill Ramsey Guests: Dale Goter Item Description Call to Order Fahnestock called the meeting to order at approximately 3:04 p.m. Announcements - There were no Announcements. Public Comments Houtman requested to have The Kansas African American Museum on the March agenda • Signage and site markers Loretta Buckner, Orchard Breeze Neighborhood Association • Working as a neighborhood to raise funds for Party in the Park. ■ There Is nothing outdoors in the park, they have the indoor shelter - Kiwanis Park ■ Want to use south part of park which is an underutilized area for a small shelter with 2-4 tables and a light. ■ What is the process to continue to move forward to put on CIP or steps needed? • Has spoken to Cindy Claycomb who is supportive. • Met last year at park with David McGuire and Mark Lowry to walk around. • What can be done to move forward to get the shelter? Houtman responded. • Typically he receives a request from Councilmembers to put something on the CIP. He will get with Cindy Claycomb. • Understands you have raised funds. • We get more leverage on projects if there is opportunity for people to bring in their own dollars. • He would get a request from Park Board, staff or from a Councllmember. That would be put into list of CIP projects. It would go through a scoring process with a matrix. • He will try to put in CIP scoring process this year for next year. • it is determined by budget process. • Council has the final vote. Buckner expressed her thanks. She will continue to work with Claycomb for more support. Dale Goter stated he will reserve comments for Golf Advisory Committee discussion. 1 Approve Minutes Recommended Action: Approve, sign and file minutes of the January 13, 2020, Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting. Motion by Hillman, second by Fahnestock, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to approve, sign and file the minutes of the January 13, 2020, Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting (6-0). 2 Riverfront Legacy Master Plan Houtman asked If anyone had questions. • More information was rolled out after our last meeting. • Talked with Jason Gregory, more information will be coming at end of month. • They are interested in coming to March meeting. Palmer asked if this is going to be a standing item on our agenda. Houtman responded yes. Cabral stated at the last coffee with Councilmember Johnson, there was concern surrounding A Price Woodard Park. It calls for revitalizing the river front and new greenspace. The community is concerned there would be disregard for A Price Woodard Park. What does that process look like for us and the existing parks? Houtman responded it looks like A Price Woodard Park will expand. We will have more greenspace to manage and program, with the location connected to new convention center and performing arts center. It is all theoretical, still in early planning stages. Reflection Square, Naftzger Park, will be the same names. This is just A Price Woodard Park expanding. Fahnestock, the price tag on total project starts with a "B". Regarding the parks it is just over $330,000,000. Is there any underground parking or infrastructure that goes into the park section. Houtman responded yes, there would be underground parking to support the convention center and the performing center. 3 New Items for Consideration There were no new items for discussion. 4A WPD East Substation/ Cypress Park Bruce Goodwin, Public Works & Utilities•Facilities. The last time the Park Board met on this was in early fall 2018. It was decided the Board would be involved with having input into the project at Cypress Park with the location of the police station that serves the east quadrant of the city. An architectural firm was selected in early fall 2019 and contracted in December. An additional site plan was created that was further restricted from original thoughts. It has been developed as well as it can, but looking for additional input. Overall characteristics of park: • Just over 11 acres. • WPD Building is to be just over 20,000 square feet. Some things have been value engineered out. • Building with dedicated WPD parking will be 2.3 acres. Total footprint is just under 3 acres, including the drive. • Zoning is residential. Specific to the site: • Generic area for playground, east ·of the creek, close to· Edgemoor but not too close. As you enter from Edgemoor to park or police, option to turn left into parking. • Gated access for WPD secure parking.  • Trying to conserve as many trees and natural landscape. Including a grove of Lace Bark Elm. As part of site design, conserve trees and provide barrier between playground and the building. • Access to fire station. • Added since RFP is a 27" buried sanitary sewer line. No building structure can be put above. Police wants all their parking behind building. Close access to Edgemoor. Prominent public entrance visible from Edgemoor. • Neighborhood supportive. • Buffer between east and north will remain as greenspace with probably berm. • Expressed that Parks may not want to consider that to Park Board land due to additional maintenance challenges. If it goes to WDP, their footprint goes to 3.5 acres. Key components WPD wanted to maintain: • Entrance to Edgemoor and to Lexington. • Keep any part of building out of 100 year flood plain. Palmer stated he thought the Police Department was concerned about having playground in front of the building. Is there a reason it was moved? Goodwin responded the center of the new building is where the playground is currently. Originally they looked at areas to the north. In discussion with Engineering, with that being so far away from parking or sidewalk access, it might be preferable to have it close to the public parking. Chief Ramsay and Captain Pinkston have said if it works out well for the park, it works for them, as long as the primary entrance into the building on the southern corner, is still visible from Edgemoor. Chester Pinkston, Captain, Patrol East Bureau. He was not aware of concern with the playground being in front of the building and cannot address that. Citizens have told them it is a long walk to get there, there is limited parking and there those concerns. The new site layout shows they can park by the park and walk in. The only people who don't have concern about walking through the area are the people who bring their dogs. Would love to have children and families in front of the station. Palmer stated it was Chief Ramsay who expressed concern. Sometimes it is not the best people coming to the station. Pinkston responded the Chief is right in that regard, but his experience at this station, we do not have a lot of disturbances at this station. One trend in family courts is they want custody exchanges at police stations. Typical disturbances at the east station is involved with this. Houtman added always in the past the desire was to put the playground smack dab in the middle. Parents don't always have the opportunity to walk that far. Having the parking lot nearby is what people want to have. New playground design is happening closer to the parking lots. If it is not a concern for the Police Department, it is not a concern for staff. We would be supportive. Tabing asked what the elements of the playground are. Houtman responded not yet, we are going to recycle most of the playground. If there are things not within the specs we will work with the Police Department with the project budget. Goodwin stated the area has not been determined yet. The design only allocates area for it. The playground equipment looks to be in good shape. The surface matting around the playground is not salvageable. Fahnestock inquired when they want to be operating in this facility. Goodwin responded the plan is to break ground in late July, with operations to. begin a year after that. Motion by Palmer, second by cabral, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to accept the design changes (6-0). 48 Subcommittee - Golf Advisory Committee Houtman stated at the last meeting, each board member was to contact their Golf Advisory Committee member to see if that individual was still interested. We would then move forward to find what representation we wanted. ■ Fahnestock talked to Debbie Burch. She said still wants to be a part, as long as it does not get contentious and political. Wants to feel llke making a difference. • Palmer stated his appointee retired. He has a new person interested depending on what the structure looks like. • Hillman stated his appointee remains active. • Deatherage stated her appointee remains active. • Houtman asked who appointees are. • Deatherage - Cory Rainwater • Tabing thought Debbie Burch was his appointee. • Tabing stated she added she has confidence in staff and the committee could come together as needed. No reason to meet with regularity. • Houtman stated to Hillman his appointee is going to be on Park Board. Are you going to replace that person? Hillman responded no he will leave it as Is for now. Houtman stated there will be a vacancy. Palmer added they can't be on Park Board and Golf Advisory Committee. Houtman responded we don't need to figure it out right now. Hillman sees no problem at this time. • Cabral stated he reached out to Dr. Williams and has not heard back yet. After speaking to council member he is still interested in serving. Dale Goter stated he has done research on our golf system and will make some presentations going forward. There are serious budget challenges that require input from policy makers. There is a half million dollar deficit projected for 2021. There needs to be a strategy in place to deal with that. Thought the GAC could be the genesis of a solution that goes beyond staff creating a solution of its own. He hopes the GAC could be a knowledge base to help staff. He was not aware he would not be able to serve on Park Board and the GAC. Houtman stated he didn't want to insinuate that he would not be able to be on it. Just that Hillman would have a vacancy to flll. Goter added if the Park Board continues the GAC, he anticipates they will have more involvement in budget discussion. He anticipates next month making a presentation that may help clarify where we are. By Charter it states the GAC meets every 6 weeks; it has not met In probably 6 months. Deatherage asked whose decision is it to coordinate the meetings. Fahnestock responded he is not sure. Harlenske stated it also states there is supposed to be one combined meeting with the Park Board every year. Fahnestock stated we just learned we have new numbers and predictions coming out. Houtman stated Mr. Manning is presenting the quarterly report, wrapping up the 2019 budget and providing some projections for 2020 and 2021. Mr. Hillman presented to him a document regarding what Mr. Manning has put together. It is not a very positive outlook for golf. He is doing that presentation on February 18 to Council. Motion by Fahnestock, second by Deatherage, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to delay conversation until after presentation ls made-Council at February 18 meeting (6-0). 5 Recreation Update (Gentry Thiesen) Gentry Thiesen stated Davidson and other staff are attending KRPA in Topeka. Linwood Recreation Center • Partnered with Wichita Shooting Stars for indoor archery classes.  • Filled at capacity with 12 • $384 revenue • Weight Training for Women • At capacity fourth straight session • $300 revenue Recreation Center broken into on January 28 • Vending machine vandalized. Tennis Center • Currently operating at capacity. • Interest from USTA to expand the facility passed Council last Tuesday. Houtman stated we were able to bond $1.5M. • Tomorrow is pre bid meeting for construction. • Renovatlon will be 13 tennis courts. Over minimum on hosting large regional tournaments. Not adding any additional overhead, no additional staffing or utilities. Just more capacity. Palmer inquired if it was just refreshing courts or adding courts. Houtman responded it is refreshing/repairing current courts and adding three more tennis courts. Hillman stated if it were an enterprise fund it would be showing a profit. We should expand. Houtman stated the demand is there, the demand for golf is not there. Tennis Center Director was nominated for multiple awards last year. Woodard Rec Center • Ninja warrior class (3-5 y/o) high demand, second class offered. • 23 participants w/wait list of 11 • $345 revenue Junior Climbers class added. Two more classes were added February. • 20+ participants • $300 revenue • Open climb program and expansion of climbing wall was added in the spring. Evolve Video was shown. Rec Trac went live today and the Evolve guide will be distributed on Feb 18-19. Can create account and register today. Houtman recognized Jessica Jones who has done incredible work on this. This is a game changer for the City. Has never been done before. Hillman stated this is a marvelous system for enrolling. What kind of events can you put into the system? Mostly for just enrollment purposes? Houtman responded it is based on Evolve magazine. All classes online go into the brochure. Changed fundamentals of how we do marketing. • No longer mailing to households • Available at recreation centers, libraries, CityArts, rack stands at grocery stores • Can do it all electronically online Did an email blast to all customers Facebook page • Last brochure had information Palmer asked if it could be tied into golf. At least golf classes. Appelhanz responded we are running Wichita Junior Golf Foundation classes through. Houtman added also working with First Tee once they open.  Deatherage asked is this for one off events, free activities as well or classes only? Houtman responded it will be both. One off classes and special events will be there. If there are limit, can do that. It promotes everything we do, including events at Library, CityArts, and we expect to add Cowtown and Mid-America All-Indian Center. Fahnestock asked if able to see that statistics. Appelhanz responded the software has a dashboard for staff to see analytics live. 6 Golf Update (Shana Appelhanz) Appelhanz stated Hendricks on furlough. City Manager's Office contracted Greteman Group to create a new City of Wichita logo and department logos. The Golf Division was Included. Each course has been given a new logo that is a more modern, classic, cleaner look. The Auburn Hills logo does not have a lot of change, added the words Golf Course. Also got a new Division logo. The Division was previously branded as Wichita Public Golf Courses. Now rebranded as Golf Wichita. Easy transition since website and mobile app are Golf Wichita. Score cards and the golf guide are print pieces that will be seen right away. Scorecards will be rolling out to courses in March. The Golf Guide goes to print Friday. It will be available at the job fair at the end of the month. Anticipate 1,000 attendance. Will be distributed to local business and City facilities the first week of March. Offering three new tournaments in 2020. • Queen Bee Bash, June 11, Auburn Hills • 150th Celebration, July 18, Auburn Hills • Folds of Honor, Labor Day, Auburn Hills Driving range at MacDonald opens mid-May. Two movies on the course this year. ■ Tin Cup, Auburn Hills, April • Happy Gilmore, Sim, September Furlough schedule concludes February 22. All courses will open for remainder of year. Fahnestock asked how to find tournaments and is there a way to send a link to buddies. Appelhanz responded go to Golfwichita.com and click on Tournament page. On the app Home page is a Tournaments button. 7 Wichita Parks Foundation Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated they met last week. Updating mission and goals. Trying to find more board members. There is about $80,000-90,000 collected for Plates for Parks. Work to finalize the decision making tool to determine how to spend that money. Cabral asked how many board members are needed. Houtman responded they typically have about 10. There are a few transitioning off so they will need 4-5, plus additional hands to get things done. 8 OJ Watson Park Committee Update (Troy Houtman} Houtman stated tomorrow big day, presentation to Council to initiate funding and bonds. Then next week starts bids on construction of 4-season shelter. 9 Aquatics Master Plan Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated in December received bids over budget Looked at value engineering. Some of the ideas have an impact on the outcome of the swimming pools. A second idea is to see what can be done with the money have and create a Phase Ill. Phase Ill would include the last two splash pads at Harrison and Planeview in the third year using CIP dollars. Talking to  Council and updating them on the idea. With their support we hope to go to bid in next two to three weeks. 10 President's Update (Eddie Fahnestock) None 11 Director's Update (Troy Houtman) Houtman stated we have had two fires. One at Osage that impacted their operations for a couple days. The other was at Linwood North Shelter. It totaled the shelter at about $250,000 in damage. Homeless encampment used the poly cart for a fire. It spread to roof and damaged the entire roof. We will have to tear it down. Naftzger Park Grand Opening is March 12 at 5:00 p.m. West Side Athletic Field project should complete this weekend. The First Pitch February 18 at 2:00. Tomorrow at Council also Pawnee Prairie Park $500,000 to finish the master plan. 150th Celebration will have a couple signature events. One is July 18 at the Wind Surge stadium doing a multicultural event. It will finish with fireworks. The game will start at 2:00 p.m. Chalk Art, July 19, world record attempt. Another 150th Celebration, partnering with Together Wichita and Chamber of Commerce. They worked on project of putting two Keepers in each district, plus one for Mayor at City Hall. Met and figured out some of the artists who will be working on this. Cabral added in March all the artists will be meeting with Council members. Hillman stated doing a lot of good things. Suggest at next Park Board meeting we invite our GAC representatives for discussion. Deatherage stated they are always welcome to attend, but unless have something specific to discuss wouldn't want to have them take off work. Fahnestock added we can get more answers after the presentation on February 18. Adjourn There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:19 p.m. The next regularly s heduled meeting will be held on Monday, March 9, 2020. Eddie Fahnestock, President