Minutes Park & Rec 5 8 07PARK AND RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
4:30 p.m., Snack Bar, Bunker Hill Golf Course
PRESENT: Tom Blocklinger, Kim Daykin, Chuck Duggan, Paul Hoffmann, Karen Lyness
and Evelyn Nadeau
ABSENT: Gary Harjehausen
OTHERS: Staff present: Gil Spence, Bob Fritsch, Pat Prevenas and Eileen Trimble
MINUTES It was moved by Blocklinger seconded by Lyness, to approve the minutes of
APPROVED; the April 10, meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
VOTE:
REQUEST TO Paul Andresen (2535 Mineral Street) and his daughter (1830 Jackson Street)
CHANGE HOURS were present to request a change in park hours for Orange Park, due to the
FOR ORANGE following: noise is really loud in the evening, and they would like to keep the
PARK: area quiet for neighbors that go to bed early; can't have windows open for air
TABLE REQUEST flow because of the noise level; kids are loitering; children are chasing balls
TO JUNE from the park into the alley and it's not safe; police have had to be called and
MEETING; VOTE: neighbors fear repercussions if they call the police or yell at the children.
They would like to see a fence along the alley; have the park closed at 8:00
p.m. instead of 10:00 p.m. to allow quiet time for the residents that have to go
to bed early because of work, and also so they can keep their windows open in
the evening when it's hot and not have to shut them because of noise level
from the park.
Leisure Services Manager Gil Spence explained that a fence is to be put up
before July 1st. He will talk to park rangers and police about going by the park
and making sure people are gone when the park is closed. Mr. Spence will
also get input about changing hours from the Washington Neighborhood
Association since they were instrumental in every aspect of the park.
Commissioners discussed the situation but decided to table any action until the
June meeting to allow each of them to stop by the park at various times and
judge the situation.
It was moved ~ Hoffmann, seconded ~ Nadeau, to table the request to
change Orange Park closin hour until the June 2007 meeting The motion
ap ssed unanimously.
PARK DIVISION Park Division Manager Bob Fritsch updated commissioners:
REPORT:
• Volunteers helped to put down bark mulch at Jackson Park. We are putting
large tree rings around individual trees and groups of trees which is more
mower friendly and less maintenance. • Mowing is going well -workers are
grouped and move around the city in zones. Nobody leaves the zone until
work in the entire zone is done; there are more areas to mow this year than last
year. • Painting work on the Gazebo is completed. • A.Y. McDonald Park is
crowded all the time; will be putting in more garbage cans. • GIS Department
May 8, 2007 meeting
page two
completed the map of all city parks/locations - it looks great (copy may be
found as part of the original minutes).
RECREATION Recreation Division Manager Pat Prevenas updated commissioners:
DIVISION
REPORT: • Volunteer Explorer Scout is doing a project at the disc golf course.
Softball started last week with 174 total teams, same as last year, but no fast
pitch; volleyball has 33 teams registered which is one less than last year;
volleyball courts are being used for pickle ball when not used for volleyball.
Staff is working on the pools; filling Sutton now; Flora had some touch-up paint
work and should be filled next week. • April golf rounds are down fifteen
percent due to snow and rain, but down overall anyway. • Two extra
playgrounds have been added this summer, Prescott in the morning and
Comiskey in the evening. There will be free lunch offered at the Comiskey and
Prescott playground sites, in cooperation with The Boys' and Girls' Club of
Dubuque. • Greg Crowley from Asbury Family Chiropractic has offered to
give free sport physicals to low income athletes.
OTHER Golf meeting: nobody showed up for the May 3rd open meeting. The next
BUSINESS: meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5th.
C.I.P. projects: Schmitt memorial work is close to being completed. The
planting will start tomorrow on Highway 20. We are starting to haul dirt to
cover old landfill site at Heron Pond area and restoration plan has been
submitted to the Corps of Engineers. Valentine Park rest room project will
start after this week. Eagle Point fee collection booth project coming along
well; underground work is done.
Pet Park: Mr. Spence told commissioners he is looking at a couple sites for
possible pet park: old A.Y. site off 12th Street by Pape Transfer, Bluff and
Dodge Streets and four acres along the flood wall.
Sunday couples golf league: Commissioner Duggan reported that there are
14 teams signed up for the Sunday couples league at Bunker Hill, playing
every other Sunday.
ADJOURN; It was moved by Lyness, seconded by Duggan, that the meeting be adjourned
VOTE: at 5:15 p.m. The motion passed unanimously.
Chairperson
Attest