Minutes: Park Board: July 17, 2006

Evansville City Hall Council Chambers

July 17, 2006, 6:00 PM

DRAFT Minutes

1. Call to Order @ 6:07 PM & Roll Call: Chair Juergens, and Members Carlsen, Farnsworth, Jacobson, Krueger, & Sendelbach present. Staff members Anderson & Hamacher present. Member Merritt absent.

1a. Request to modify agenda: Item 12b to within Item 3. Approved on voice vote.

2. Minutes of June 2006 meeting. Approved with minor modifications (Dennis, not Doug, Wessels; Lynn Donahue, not Johnson) on voice vote.

3. Citizen appearances other than agenda items:

a. Alderperson Dennis Wessels made a presentation and offered a handout concerning a Dog Park. The presentation included the benefits of a Dog Park, history of the effort to create one for Evansville, space requirements for small, medium and large parks as being 2 acres, 3 acres, 10 acres. Such a park needs to be fenced 5 feet high chainlink. Benches, trash disposal and parking facilities would be nice. Wessels requested that the PRB move a Dog Park up on its list of priorities for future development. He suggested that since the City will no longer be able to accept fees in lieu of parkland development, that a new subdivision be required to donate land for a Dog Park. Resident Ayn Steinlein also supported a new Dog Park.

b. This is Item 12b on the Agenda. Municipal Judge Tom Alisankus made a presentation to the PRB relative to the Community Service Worker program. He noted that it has been in place since 1993, but that the Public Works Department is unwilling to take on such workers. The Police Department and EMS currently do. He asked if the PRB might be able to do so, if volunteer supervisors from PRB might be found. CSW are non-violent first-offenders, mostly age 14-16, who can work off fines at the rate of $10/hr. Alisankus says there is less recidivism from CSW than from offenders who (or whose parents) pay fines. He usually has one or two potential CSW’s per month. The PRB will defer discussion of this possible program until a later meeting. If there is interest then, PRB will consult with DPW to identify possible tasks that their paid staff prefers not to do, but that can be supervised by a PRB member.

4. “Fees in Lieu of Parkland Dedication”. Chair Juergens reported on the current balance and estimated future income for the fund. The current balance is $139,218.60. Estimated future income from development agreements signed in the past but not yet collected are: Westfield Meadows: $47,547 in 2007 and an equal amount in 2011. Estimated future income from Capstone Ridge: $21,132 in 2007 and $36,981 in 1008. The sum of these future estimated fees is $153,207. No fees are expected for 2006, 2009 or 2010. Grand Orchard Estates paid their total fees in 2005. No further fees can be collected from future developer agreements, due to Act 477 signed into law by Governor Doyle several months ago. Juergens reported that this “Act 477 prohibition” may make it difficult to complete the financing of the new West Side Park.

5. West Side Park

a. Bids were received by the City Engineer for grading and seeding of the soccer fields, approximately four acres: R&K Excavating for $48175, and Frank Silha & Sons for $63,034. Although R&K carelessly failed to sign its bid, its representative almost immediately produced a letter affirming that the bid was good. The City Engineer recommends accepting the bid from R&K. The City Attorney also recommends accepting the R&K bid. The budget for grading and seeding was $70,000 including engineering fees, and the engineering fees are estimated to be $10,000-$15,000. Thus the low bid plus the engineering fees come in under budget. Jacobson asked why grading/seeding the entire West-Side Park area (approximately 15 acres) was not put out for bids, although it’s clear from the bids that the budget would not allow for doing a much larger area. Jacobson also objected to grading/seeding soccer fields as opposed to putting in a playground, but that decision had been made by PRB four or five months ago after consultation with representatives of the Soccer Club. Jacobson warned that some residents would be unhappy with this decision.

Farnsworth moved and Krueger seconded that PRB recommend to the Public Works Committee acceptance of the R&K bid, assuming there are no legal problems associated with their initial failure to sign it. The motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

b. Discussion on Public Works Committee’s suggestions for future work on West Side Park. At the PWC meeting on June 26, after some discussion, this was their proposal for West-Side Park:

2007: purchase new field mower: $60K

2008: Build shelter/bathroom and install playground: $200K

2009: Install ball field and maintenance shed: $475K

2010: Complete Landscaping, parking lot paving, basketball courts, etc.: $500K

c. This plan was discussed by PRB as not meeting the needs of the area residents for a playground soon enough. It is clear that installing a playground will be expensive. Farnsworth moved and Krueger seconded that PRB will recommend to Public Works and to the Finance Committee that a playground and grading/seeding of the remainder of the park be included in the 2007 capital budget, and that purchase of a field mower be deferred. Motion passed 6-0 on a roll-call vote.

6. Leota Park Update:

a. After discussion with Mr. Gransee, Public Works has decided to remove a blown-out and weakened tree near the stone shelter, not the tree closer to the lake.

b. SOLE reported they’re ready to build the information kiosk describing the plans for Lake Leota and requested that the Chair contact Nelson-Young Lumber to authorize SOLE members to purchase materials there.

c. Kendall Wethal has been contacted to supply the remaining plant materials to complete the planting at the 2nd St. Entrance to the park.

7. Skate Park Update.

a. Staff reports that sealing the current surface will cost $4920. No new estimate was obtained on completely redoing the asphalt because DPW Director Wartenweiler thinks it’s a waste of money. It was decided not to seal the current surface, and to carry forward any money left in the 2006 skate park budget to 2007.

b. Bill Alt, representing the Skate Club, is willing to place the equipment on the current surface. He thinks it’s worth waiting to see how the current surface holds up before deciding if a further improvement is necessary. He will call True Ride and ask for prompt delivery of the equipment.

8. Franklin Park Update.

a. Following a pre-meeting gathering at Franklin Park of the PRB members, it was decided to locate the new playground equipment so that no trees along the east side of the park will be cut down. PRB members also looked over the areas where the utility poles are to be moved and removed, the plantings at the Main St. Entrance, and the sidewalk, some sections of which are cracked. Staff will discuss the sidewalk issue with contractors and report to August meeting.

b. Kendall Wethal has been contacted to supply the remaining plant materials to complete the planting at the Main St. entrance to the park.

c. Chair has contacted W&L to authorize moving the poles as soon as cost estimates for cable and phone service moving are received.

d. W&L reports that costs to move cable service are $795 and to move telephone are $1093. They have already reported that pole-moving costs are $2113. Farnsworth moved and Carlsen seconded to authorize all of this activity, at $4001. Passed 5-1, Jacobson in the negative. Chair will request that W&L to contact cable and phone company to authorize the work.

e. There was discussion about carrying forward to 2007 any moneys budgeted for 2006 for Franklin Park, but not yet spent. One suggestion is for a decorative fence, as earlier suggested by Kendall Wethal, similar to, but not as large as, the new one on the Nelson Young property across the street.

8. Countryside Park Update.

a. Staff reports that equipment installation is being delayed by lack of city workers to do the work promptly. Installation by the equipment manufacturer will cost about $3500 for both Countryside and Franklin. After discussion, it was informally decided that this cost was excessive and cannot be covered within the current budget. Installation will take place when city staff has time to do so.

b. A resolution has been drafted by former City Administrator Bill Connors to construct the bath/shelter facility and run utilities to it. It will go to Finance and Council at their August 2006 meetings. The funding source will be “Fees in Lieu of Parkland Dedication”.

c. Fence removal along Water Street side of park will occur as soon as possible, and the removed fabric will be used to fence off the new skate park area from the adjacent tennis court.

9. Aquatic Report: Pool Director Rick Hamacher

a. Sale of family passes rose from 56 in 2005 to 90 in 2006. Single passes from 79 to 130. Daily passes & Walk-ins are down as a result. Lessons are up but not much. In general, there’s good attendence at the pool this year.

b. On full-sun days, it appears that the solar panels raise the pool temperature about 3 degrees. It appears that graffiti and vandalism around the pool are down this year. Things are running smoothly.

10. Park Maintenance and Improvements Report: Park Supervisor Ray Anderson.

Graffitti and vandalism in parks are down. All other items in report already covered.

11. Old Business.

a. Further discussion of 2007 Capital Budget. Krueger moved, Farnsworth seconded this priority list: 1. More solar panels at pool: $10K. 2. Small shelter and “Gateway to Evansville” at Franklin Park: $10K. 3. Playground equipment at West Side Park: $20K. Passed unanimously.

b. Review of interim 2003 5-year plan from Park and Recreation Board to learn what has been done and not done in that plan. (This plan has not been updated since 2003.)





Project listed in 2003 plan: Budget Year Year Actually Completed

Replace shingles on park store 2003 2003

Seal Park Roads 2004 not done

Recondition Tennis Courts 2004 2004

Skate Park Phase 1 2004-5 2006

Replace Pool Boiler 2004-5 2005

Complete Franklin Park 2005 2006

Bleachers (lower Diamond) 2005 2006

Lawn Mower 2005 2005

Skate Park Phase 2 2005-6 not done

Upgrades to Pool and ADA Compliance 2006 2005 (early)

Shelter at Countryside Park 2007 2006-7 (expected)

Car Bridge Access to Madison St. 2007 not done

(This was shot down by State DOT recently.)

Lake Leota Historical Marker 2008 not done

Dog Park ???? not done

West Side Park (grade, seed, landscape) 2005 2006 (expected, partial area)

c. Review of 1999 Comprehensive 5-Year Plan: deferred. Updating this plan is overdue; it should have been done in 2004. Chair Juergens gave “homework” to all PRB members: study this plan and be prepared to discuss it at the August 2006 meeting. The Chair’s intent is to have a new Comprehensive 5-Year Plan in place by December 2006. The State DNR requires a full update every five years in order to stay eligible for matching government funds for park-land acquisition and facility improvements. This item will appear early on the August 2006 agenda for discussion when members are fresh.

12. New Business

a. “ownership” of parks by Park Board Members; this discussion was deferred.

b. CSW discussion was moved to within item 3 earlier.

13. Motion to adjourn by Farnsworth, seconded by Krueger, at 8:13 PM.

Minutes drafted by Fred Juergens, 7/ 24/ 2006. Minutes are not official until approved at a subsequent PRB meeting.