Minutes_Park and Recreation Commission 7 15 15 PARKAND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
4:30 p.m., Screened Porch, Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, Marshall Park
PRESENT: Paul Hoffmann, Robin Kennicker, Ken Klinge, Kate (Lydon) Larson, Karen
Lyness, David Schlueter and Jennifer Tigges
OTHERS: Staff present: Dan Kroger, Steve Fehsal and Eileen Trimble
ADMINISTER OATH Newly appointed commissioner Jennifer Tigges read the Oath of Office for her
OF OFFICE FOR three-year term and signed the paperwork. Chair Ken Klinge witnessed the
JENNNIFER oath with his signature. Everyone welcomed Ms. Tigges to the Commission.
TIGGES:
ELECT OFFICERS; It was moved �y Schlueter, seconded by Lyness, to elect Kate Larson as
VOTE: Chairperson, elect Robin Kennicker as Vice-Chairperson, and elect Jennifer
Tigges as Secretary. The motionap ssed unanimously.
MINUTES It was moved by Schlueter, seconded by Klinge, to approve the minutes of the
APPROVED; VOTE: June 9, 2015, meeting. The motion passed 6-1 with Hoffmann, Kennicker,
Klinge, Larson, Lyness and Schlueter voting yes; Tigges abstaining.
COMMISSION Commissioner Larson asked if anyone had suggestions for department
PRIORITIES FOR facilities or projects that they would like to forward to City Council for
CITYCOUNCIL: consideration during their upcoming goal setting session.
A few projects that were mentioned include the Aquatic Center, Port of
Dubuque Park, Skate Park and Emerald Ash Borer Plan. Commissioner
Larson said they are already included on the Council priority list.
Commissioner Hoffmann said Petrakis Field needs to be upgraded / updated —
it is in bad shape and it gets a lot of usage. Ms. Larson would like to add
including more pet friendly amenities in our community. Pet owners need more
places to run dogs off leash.
Commissioner Schlueter asked if staff is ok with the current Council priority list.
Mr. Kroger said Leisure Services Department is involved in a lot of the City
Council priorities. He said Petrakis Field is not specifically mentioned but it
would be part of the infrastructure and it is part of the Chaplain Schmitt Master
Plan.
It was decided to ask City Council to consider adding more pet friendly
amenities to our community and upgrading Petrakis Field to their list of goals
and priorities at their upcoming goal setting session. Commissioners asked
staff to prepare a draft memo to City Council and send it to commissioners for
approval so it could be sent to City Council via the City Manager.
continued
July 14, 2015 meeting
page two
PARK DIVISION Park Division Manager Steve Fehsal shared the following park information:
REPORT: * Three bids came back for the skate park RFP. The committee is meeting
next week so that hopefully a recommendation for the company can go to City
Council. After City Council approves the recommendation for the company, the
goal is to have all the information compiled by November 1 st so the community
group can start fundraising and we would be able to break ground next spring.
There will be a kickoff meeting and multiple public meetings and use of
Facebook and Twitter to get feedback and input from the public.
Commissioner Tigges asked if the RFP included upgrading the current skate
parks. Mr. Fehsal said evaluating the two current skate parks is part of the
RFP. ♦ Park Division is working with Planning Services on an RFP for the
Archeological Survey at Eagle Point Park so we can try and get Eagle Point
Park on the National Register of Historic Places. ♦ Staff is trying to keep up
with general maintenance. ♦ We had a good July 4th weekend — campground
did really well. ♦ Work continues on the EAB Plan. Tree crew has injected
some trees and will start to remove some of the infected trees. ♦ Staff is
working with the Engineering Department to move forward the project to install
concrete pads at some of the campsites at Miller Riverview Park. ♦ There will
be a ribbon cutting ceremony before the City Council meeting on July 20th for
the USS Dubuque Bell display which is located outside the Council Chambers.
♦ There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony August 3rd for the E.B. Lyons
Addition Project.
RECREATION Recreation Division Manager Dan Kroger shared the following recreation
DIVISION REPORT: information:
♦ Information for the Fall brochure is due July 24th; brochures will be mailed
and viewable online August 21st with online registration starting on August
24th. ♦ July 18th is the first pop-up park. It will be set up in the parking lot at
Eagles on Elm Street from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. AmeriCorps members have
been walking through the neighborhoods handing out invitations. Aaron's is
providing a full living room setting of furniture so neighbors can sit in a
comfortable setting and feel like they are having a discussion; Eagles is
donating hot dogs and buns. The idea is to get information from neighbors
about where the gaps in service are — is it the fees or transportation problems,
etc. If it goes well, the plan is to schedule these events a few times a year in
different parts of the city. ♦ As of 2:00 p.m. today we have 4,667 class
registrations compared to just over 4,000 at the same time last year. ♦ The
budget year ended June 30th and the Recreation Division is up $134,000
compared to last year. A lot of that has to do with the golf course. ♦ The
Boys' and Girls' Club had an anonymous donor that wanted to provided funds
for 10 kids to learn golf. They called Mike Sullivan, Golf Pro, and he worked
with them on a program. The first lesson was held today. ♦ The golf course
operation is up $70,000 compared to last year. To this point FY 2012 was the
best year for golf course and it was $50,000 less than this. ♦ The Marina is up
almost
continued
July 14, 2015 meeting
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$40,000 compared to last year. The lighted boat parade is August 1st. Mr.
Kroger said judges were still needed and invited commissioners to participate.
Ben Alden, Facilities Manager started selling apparel for the first time this year
and it has been selling well — he already has to reorder. ♦ Swimming pool
attendance is about same as last year. Revenue is up because of the increase
in fees. Lifeguards have received many complements this year. ♦ Funding is
in the CIP for assessment of pools next year.
COMMISSION ♦ Commissioner Lyness asked if EAB has progressed in Dubuque, and how
QUESTIONS OR many Ash trees are in Dubuque? Mr. Fehsal said it is probably in Dubuque but
COMMUNICATIONS: has not been identified yet. There are 1 ,750 street Ash trees. Staff has
injected 300 and soil drenched 200 so far.
♦ Commissioner Klinge said he camped at Miller Riverview Park over the
weekend and people shared concern that there should be more port-a-potties
placed in the middle of the park for the fireworks.
♦ Commissioner Schlueter commented on the article in the Telegraph Herald
on Sunday, July 5th regarding parks and recreation. It was a really nice article.
ADJOURN; It was moved by Schlueter, seconded by Lyness, that the meeting be
VOTE: adjourned at 5:13 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairperson
Attest