Board of Park Commissioners

A Board of Park Commissioners w Regular Meeting Minutes Monday, September 13, 2021 CITY OF 3:00 - 5:00 P.M. WICHITA City Hall, pt Floor City Board Room Wichita KS 67202 Members Present: Eddie Fahnestock, Chris Pumpelly, Philip Simon, Members Absent: Tori Deatherage, Alejo Cabral, Troy Palmer City Staff: Troy Houtman (Director of Parks & Recreation), Elizabeth Harlenske (Assistant City Attorney), Penny Garding {Clerk), Warren Mccoskey, Mark Elder, John Philbrick, David McGuire, Emma Li- Wormington, Eric Houghton (Assistant City Attorney) Public: Armando Minjarez, Anthony Joiner, Jeff Best Item Descri�tion Call to Order Eddie Fahnestock, President, called the meeting to order at approximately 3:07 p.m. Announcements Elizabeth Harlenske's last meeting, with Eric Houghton replacing. Public Comments No Public comments 1 Approve Minutes Recommended Action: Approve, sign and file minutes of the August 9, 2021, Board of Park Commissioners Regular Meeting. MINUTES ARE NOT AVAILABLE FOR APPROVAL AT THIS TIME. VIDEO RECORDING IS AVAILABLE HERE: htt�s:Lfroutu.beLJZ2z-lHlrao 2A Chester I Lewis Park Troy Houtman: Almost 2 years of work has been put in and many contractors have been hired. Iconic lunch counter will be moved to another park and will include more history. Goal is to have construction done by summer of next year. Larry Hoetmer: Online survey was done, asking for input as to what was wanted. Seating examples, permanent versus movable, groundplane, turf, decorative paving, woodwork, lighting is a critical part of this project, visibility is important, can make it special and illuminate artwork. Ideas are conceptional. Jeff Best: Looking at alley updates, to include pedestrians and food trucks. Dynamic lines, flexible greenspace. Entrance to school would be an internal stairway to an overhead bridge. Anthony Joiner: Most dedicated parks are minimally narrative, one-liners, plaque with very little information. Wants to make sure this is an informative park based on the history of Lewis' life in all aspects. Matt Mazzotta came up with a couple designs, as well as the public design, all while communicating with the family. Seating designs range from turf covered to metal. Augmented reality could help educate visitors, symbols could be used, all being synonymous with Lewis. Hoetmer: Budget $1.7M -- $300K for property acquisition and demolition, $900K for construction, and $SOOK for artwork. Pumpelly: Very impressive piece! Do we have a plan for restrooms or other public amenities? Houtman: Very small park. Amenities would take away from the park, so at this time, no plans to include. BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING September 13, 2021 Page 1 of 3  Fahnestock: How would the food truck flow work? Best: One truck would come in from the West due to the walkway bridge. Houtman: We want to keep the alley very pedestrian friendly. Fahnestock: Very thankful that we included the Lewis family. Will this be more directed to the students of the DO school or open to the public? Houtman: Definitely open to the public. We will be working with The Kansas African American Museum, library and other communities. Fahnestock: NAACP, stakeholders, and family - are they ok with the location and were other locations considered? Houtman: Everyone is very excited for this park and onboard. No other locations were considered. Fahnestock: Strongly recommend we move forward with the plans, Pumpelly second. 2B NoMar Mural Signage Armando Minjarez: Large grain elevator mural at 21st & Broadway. Would like interpretative signage to explain the story behind the mural, as well as the 19 other nearby murals. NoMar Plaza is perfect iconic place to have the sign. You can see the elevator from the location. Possible acrylic or transparent sign with images, story, and map. Empower Evergreen has been reached out to and is onboard. Houtman: From staff perspective, we're onboard and would need to do an MOU. Minjarez: Minimal installation process, we would pay for all expenses of production and installation. Everything is paid for and would be completed by end of year. Fahnestock: Everything looks good to move forward. 3 Continuation of Prior Business No new updates 4 Finance Update Emma Li-Wormington: 50% of revenue has been reached. Revenue from 2020 to 2021 has increased 60%, budget for expenses has been 62% met, $3.4M revenue for golf with $2.SM for expenses. Golf personnel expenses under 2019 due to vacancies. 5 Communication Update No updates 6 Recreation Update No updates 7 Golf Update & First Tee Houtman: We have received 7 companies with interest after putting RFP out to the public. Financial information/proposals will be due by early October for review. Fahnestock: Cody Hollister has joined GAC. Philip Simon: What are GAC thoughts - more power to management? Fahnestock: It is a matter of information with everyone. Houtman: Some members thought we'd do good with a 3rd party. 8 Park Maintenance & Forestry No updates 9 Wichita Parks Foundation Update Houtman: Installation of art benches coming in this month 10 President's Update No update 11 Director's Update Houtman: Excited for all our art projects being done, especially with new name - Cultural Arts, Parks & Recreation BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING September 13, 2021 Page 2 of 3  Fahnestock: Renderings are inspiring. Houtman: RFP for ice rink has been put out. Preproposal meeting next week with proposals due by October 15th• Fahnestock: Are we working with baseball for parking lot? Houtman: Parking on the west side of baseball stadium. Adequate parking currently. Peak time for baseball and ice rink is opposite of each other. Houtman: Tree Policy was designed partly due to the construction of parking lot at Botanica. A lot of questions were brought up regarding tree removal. More trees will be planted. Is the Park Board interested in adopting a tree policy? Pumpelly: This is an issue that people have a strong feeling about. Believes communication will be the best policy. People want opportunity to have voices heard. Would like to see more information on a tree policy. Houtman: Virtual attendance for meetings? Elizabeth Harlenske: No other boards have bylaws, still need room for public with audio and visual, the interaction with face-to-face is lost if virtual meetings continue. Fahnestock: What happens if people call to vote: Harlenske: It has to be able to be heard by the public and satisfy the Open Meeting requirements. If you stay/go all virtual, you still have to allow the public to see and hear. Pumpelly: I believe it should be ok, due to quorum. Harlenske: I suggest it be put into the bylaws under exceptional circumstances, maybe with maximum number of absences, exceptions for work travel, and number of virtual meetings you can attend. Pumpelly: Any provisional for interim board members? Houtman: Can email Council, what intentions are to fill spot. Houtman: Still hiring for staff. Adjourned There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at approximately 4:53 p.m. The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, October 11, 2021. C(? Edd�ahnestock, PF� BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING September 13, 2021 Page 3 of 3