Minutes_Park and Recreation Commission 5 10 11PRESENT:
ABSENT:
OTHERS:
MINUTES
APPROVED;
VOTE:
MEMBERS OF
DUBUQUE
WATERSPORTS
CLUB PRESENT
TO DISCUSS
CLUB AND
LEASE:
PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
4:30 p.m., Snack Bar, Bunker Hill Golf Course
Bob Blocker, Paul Hoffmann, Karen Lyness, Evelyn Nadeau and Mark Noble
Tom Blocklinger and David Schlueter
Staff present: Marie Ware, Pat Prevenas, Bob Fritsch and Eileen Trimble
It was moved by Nadeau, seconded by Blocker, to approve the minutes of the
March 8, 2011, meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
At the request of the commission, three members of the Dubuque Watersports
Club (formerly Dubuque Water Ski Club) were present to discuss the club and
their activities — Jim Schumacher (President), Greg Kubitz and Jesse
Schekleton.
Mr. Schumacher said the club was first organized in 1958 and they have
partnered with the City of Dubuque for 53 consecutive years to take care of the
area. In 1965 they hosted their first water ski tournament with 200+
participants and spectators and continued to offer tournaments for twenty
years; in 1967 their volunteers removed old cars /trash left from the former race
track and trees and grasses were planted in cooperation with the Army Corps
of Engineers; in 1968 they held a ski marathon; 1988 hosted the first Dragon
Boat Races and have continued that event for twenty four years; host the polar
plunge in November. From 1958 to present they host picnics /boat rides for
area "challenged" children; sponsor Explorer Scout Ski Troop; annual river
clean up along leased property and partner with Leisure Services to offer
annual learn to ski day.
Club membership was down but is now building back up and there are
currently close to 70 members. A new logo has been developed and they will
be selling t- shirts, signs and hats etc with the logo to promote the area. In
2010 they launched a web site with Dubuque 360 and joined the Dubuque
Chamber of Commerce. The Club's mission is to provide the City of Dubuque
and surrounding areas with water sport opportunities that promote water
safety, social vibrancy, healthy living and environmental stewardship all within
a family- oriented club atmosphere. They ask that the City renew the Lease
Agreement.
Commissioners asked about the upkeep of the area — in a state of disrepair
and sometimes an eyesore; why are there no ski tournaments anymore? Mr.
Schumacher said the Club quit having tournaments because of the liability
involved with the jumps. They are dismantling some of the docks and keeping
the best ones. Getting rid of the older dilapidated docks has improved the look
of the area. Cash flow is limited because the Club survives exclusively on
memberships but they have identified projects that need to be done for
aesthetic improvements and plan on getting started as soon as the river
recedes from the area.
APPROVE SKI
CLUB LEASE;
VOTE:
NATIONAL KIDS
TO PARKS DAY;
VOTE:
RECREATION
DIVISION
REPORT:
May 8, 2011 meeting
page two
General feeling of commissioners was the club needed to demonstrate they
can offer things for the city or turn the area into a money maker; improve the
aesthetics of the area. Commissioners aren't sure what else could go there
since it is in a floodplain. Commissioners liked the direction presented by the
club but wanted to make sure cleanup continued to be addressed.
The Commission requested a work plan be presented at the July commission
meeting from the Club, on maintenance and improvements to the lease area.
It was moved by Lyness, seconded 12y Nadeau, to renew the Lease Agreement
with Dubuque Watersports Club to expire April 30, 2012. The motion passed
unanimously.
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware explained that the first "National Kids to
Parks Day" has been organized and launched by the National Park Trust for
May 21, 2011 to encourage children and adults to go to the park, hike on a
trail, play on a playground, have a pickup game of ball, et cetera. We would
like the City Council to proclaim it locally to encourage participation.
It was moved 12y Nadeau, seconded y Lyness, to recommend City Council to
proclaim May 21, 2011 as National Kids to Parks Day. The motion passed
unanimously.
PARK DIVISION Park Division Manager Bob Fritsch informed commissioners:
REPORT:
• Mississippi should be receding from Miller Riverview Park by Thursday
afternoon. Decisions will be made in the next week as to when Ken will put his
camper at the park, when to start taking reservations, et cetera. We also have
to make sure the new charge card system will be available and working
properly. Staff estimates it could cost almost $25,000 for cleanup. • Three
youth with barriers to employment will be working with the department for
twelve weeks this summer through the IDOT Urban Youth Corps Grant. They
will be building 20 handicap accessible picnic areas with concrete pads and
handicap tables; plant 500 roses on Highway 20; and help with various other
capital improvement projects. While they are working, staff will be training
them in safety skills, work skills, life skills, resume writing et cetera. •
Wednesday and Thursday the historic Whitewater Creek bridge will be getting
installed over the pond at Bergfeld Recreation Area. It is a historic span (the
last of seven sections) of the bridge that took trains over the Mississippi River.
It will eventually have a useable pedestrian walk when decking is placed on it.
• We have not found any hail damage at Eagle Point, Flora or Murphy Parks
from the hail storm of a few weeks ago.
Recreation Division Manager Pat Prevenas informed commissioners:
• Golf: This April had the worst golf rounds for April since 1993. The course
opened on March 17th but did not have a lot of good weather; offering a new
lunch special — play the first four holes from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for $5.00
May 8, 2011 meeting
page three
MANAGER'S Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware updated commissioners:
REPORT:
OTHER
BUSINESS:
plus $5.00 for cart - no tee time reservations accepted. • Winter report was
sent to commissioners and may be found as part of original minutes.
• Hempstead lessons shows a blank because pool was drained since it did not
meet federal VGB regulations and we had to give partial refunds to all swim
lesson participants; • after school track meet was held last Thursday with 450
children participating. It was held in cooperation with the School District. They
were in charge of the actual meet which was held at University of Dubuque this
year; • adult softball registration is down 25 teams from last year — from 162
to 137; • fifty -two page summer brochure went out in April and included
Multicultural Family Center programs, along with a special insert for
Neighborhood Recreation Programs. • We have several new partnerships
for programs this year — ice skating lessons with Mystique Ice Arena; classes
with Montessori School; kids' cooking with Finley Wellness Center; Iron Kids
Triathlon with Hy -Vee; and a personal trainer that is offering group physical
fitness training classes for adults. • Swimming pool roofs are being re-
shingled. • The department cooperated with Dubuque Community Schools to
apply for a 21st Century Grant, which was awarded. It will fund after school
programming for middle school age students. • The department also applied
for and received a grant for a summer VISTA position. The person will go to
parks and playground programs in target areas, let citizens know about
available programs and encourage them to register and also show up after
they register. They will also try to determine why people don't actually show up
for the classes once they register, which has been a problem in the past.
• Bee Branch project meetings are being held on the major look of the
landscaping, as it begins near Comiskey area. Planning Services, Engineering
and Leisure Services have talked about other grants, funds and fundraising
ideas for the project. • Full time Vista Volunteer Service Coordinator has
been hired and will start at the end of June. The position is a one -year full time
job that will focus on what we can do as a city to involve more volunteers and
then span out to city's partnerships. Over time the hope is that it will become a
community project not a project for only our department. VISTA is a service
position — they will get a stipend of $10,000 for working full time hours the
entire year. • AARP has awarded Dubuque a Cities of Service grant for
$5,000 to help set up a service plan and sustainable model. The grant pays to
send Marie and the Vista Coordinator to national conference on community
service in June. • Department is working on urban forestry evaluation final
draft to present to City Manager. • Final draft of Catfish Creek Feasibility
Study is almost complete.
• Commissioner Blocker asked about the expanded marina plans. Manager
Ware said the bids for docks have gone out separately from the
convenience building and plans are to begin construction on docks next
week. The area cannot be open until the grant is completely closed out.
Ms. Ware hopes to have this be a leased facility much the same as the
May 8, 2011 meeting
page four
Grand River Center or Five Flags. She and the Engineering Department
will be working on RFP's for that in the next couple weeks.
■ Commissioner Noble announced that he will be moving to Michigan so he
will not be reapplying for a position with the commission.
It was moved by Blocker, seconded by Nadeau, that the meeting be adjourned
at 6:05 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Attest
Chairperson