Minutes_Park and Recreation Commission 5 9 17 Copyrighted
June 19, 2017
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 1.
ITEM TITLE: Minutes and Reports Submitted
SUMMARY: City Council Proceedings of 6/5, 6/12; Civil Service
Commission of 5/30; Library Board of Trustees Report
#161 of 5/25; Park and Recreation Commission of 5/9;
Zoning Advisory Commission of 6/7; Zoning Board of
Adjustment of 5/25; Proof of publication for City Council
Proceedings of 5/15, 5/12
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
City Council Proceedings of 6/5/17 Supporting Documentation
City Council Proceedings of 6/12/17 Supporting Documentation
Civil Service Commission Minutes of 5/30/17 Supporting Documentation
Library Board of Trustees Report#161 of 5/25/17 Supporting Documentation
Park and Recreation Commission Minutes of 5/9/17 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Advisory Commissin Minutes of 6/7/17 Supporting Documentation
Zoning Board of Adjustment Minutes of 5/25/17 Supporting Documentation
Proof of Publication of City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
5/15/17
Proof of Publication of City Council Proceedings of Supporting Documentation
5/22/17
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, May 9, 2017
4:30 p.m., Enclosed Shelter at Murphy Park, 1700 N. Grandview Avenue
PRESENT: Paul Hoffmann, Robin Kennicker, Richard Kirkendall, Ken Klinge,
Kate Larson, Karen Lyness and Jennifer Tigges
STAFF PRESENT: Marie Ware, Steve Fehsal, Dan Kroger and Eileen Trimble
MINUTES APPROVED; VOTE:
It was moved by Lyness, seconded by Kirkendall, to approve the minutes of the
April 11 , 2017 meeting. Unanimous.
BEE BRANCH AND RELATED ORDINANCE RECOMMENDATIONS; VOTE:
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware said Bee Branch would be adding a new
park into the system so need to add to ordinances. There are two places in
Title 10, Public Ways and Property where changes need to be made. Meetings
were held with City Manager and staff from other city departments to prepare
draft.
The draft was given to the Bee Branch Advisory Commission which includes
representatives from the Northend, Washington and Point Neighborhood
Associations. Initially there was concern about allowing alcohol but since public
intoxication laws would still be in effect it was acceptable. There are two
overlooks, two open spaces at 24th and an amphitheater that can be rented. If
someone rented for a small wedding or gathering, they may want to have
alcohol.
A fee policy is being drafted for the rental areas and will be presented at next
meeting. Parking will be for 24-hour maximum unless authorized. It is the
recommendation of the group to name the entire area Bee Branch Creek
Greenway.
Commissioner Larson asked if paddle boards were allowed because she felt it
needed to be clarified. The recommendation for pets is to allow leashed pets
on the entire greenway. There are dog bowls on all the water fountains. There
will be cameras all along the Bee Branch Creek Greenway.
Manager Ware said the ribbon cutting for Bee Branch is July 19 so
recommendations for ordinance revisions need to go to City Council for
approval to have finalized before ribbon cutting.
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It was moved by Larson, seconded - Kirkendall, to approve the recommended
changes to citV ordinances with clarification regarding paddleboards. Motion
passed 6=1 with Hoffmann voting no.
DISCUSSION AND INPUT FOR CITY COUNCIL:
Discussion at previous commission meetings include the following proposed
items to have on list of recommendations for City Council:
• Keep accessibility items and increased mobility
• Legalize leashed pets in additional parks
• Increase accessibility and ADA compliance in more parks
• Fully fund staff positions that are frozen with the Park and Recreation
Divisions
• Allot additional funds for increased staffing to reflect increased maintenance
responsibilities, at least to levels of 1980 or above
• Redevelopment of Comiskey Park
• Additional pet park
Commissioners will come to June meeting prepared for discussion and addition
of other potential recommendations.
PARK DIVISION REPORT:
• Tom Kramer was promoted to the position of Urban Forester. He has
worked with the tree crew the last fifteen years. Within six months of hire
date he must get arborist certification, pesticide application license and
electric hazard training.
• Kramer was a Maintenance Worker so that leaves another vacant position
along with the three frozen positions. The first step for vacancy is to look at
position and write or edit job description
• Approval has been received to fill the vacant Maintenance Worker position
created by Hedley retirement.
• Campground was open for five days and then closed due to flooding; hope
to open for Memorial Day weekend.
• Security cameras were placed at Eagle Point Park toll booth and at Miller
Riverview Park office as part of internal controls.
• Boy Scouts are having pancake breakfast at Eagle Point on Sunday; Kids to
Parks Day is May 20.
• Hanging baskets will be placed before Memorial Day and annuals will be
planted next week or the week after.
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RECREATION DIVISION REPORT:
• Pools are being filled this week. Two major issues at Flora were identified.
Staff fixed the main water leak and found two large valves in water slide
section that needed repair.
• Marina opened early — the last week in April.
• Golf revenue is about the same as last year even though golf rounds are
down, due to increase in sales in snack bar and pro shop.
• The artwork on the "Rec 'n Roll" trailer was designed by Kelli Buchenau in
the Public Information Office. The trailer will be in front of the Historic
Federal Building for the City Council meeting. The trailer will be used for
playgrounds and is also scheduled for fourteen events. Three of those
dates are with COPS where they will shut down the street and bring street
games to play with neighborhood residents.
• The city will find out June 16th who the winners of the All America City
Awards are. This year the award is based entirely on grade level reading.
MANAGER REPORT:
• Nomination to have Eagle Point Park placed on the National Register of
Historic Places was filed.
• When the roundabout is constructed at Grandview and University, the bus
transfer station will have to be relocated. Transit and Engineering have
been working with Leisure Services on a design that would move the station
to the Grandview side of the park nearest the Allison-Henderson building.
The construction would include building up the hillside area, adding an
accessible rest room at the other end of the building, accessible walkway
and improvements to bus shelters. Transit has applied for a grant to pay for
construction.
• The area designated for park space in the Tymber-Hurst Subdivision had
power lines running over the top of the donated area. Developer Marty
McNamer offered to donate another lot to add to original donation but there
was a 50' strip of land between the two lots owned by Reimer family.
Reimer family agreed to swap their 50' piece of land between the two lots
with 50' section from the original donated lot which allows the city to have a
larger and better area to develop. Once all transfers are done and
transaction completed the department will develop Creek Wood Park.
• Leisure Services Manager Ware attended a Children and Nature
Conference in Canada. The focus was on getting children more active and
into parks and nature.
• Ware is working on the Miracle League Agreement and the Arboretum lease
so those items will be coming to Commission in the future.
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COMMISSION COMMUNICATIONS:
Commissioner Larson was approached by two young boys that play at
Waller Cooper Park and they told her they would be willing to have a
lemonade stand to pay for wood chips to be replaced at the park.
ADJOURN; VOTE:
It was moved by Hoffmann, seconded by Klinge, to adjourn the meeting at 5:56
p.m. Unanimous.
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