BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING Park and Recreation Department 11th Floor City Hall Monday, March 12, 2007 3:30 p.m. Present: Glen Dey, Janet Miller, Dennis Brunner, Nalini Johnson, Andy Solter, and Mick Tranbarger* Absent: Doug Leeper Also Present: Pat Villa, USA Boxing Team; Doug Kupper, Director; Karen Walker, Assistant Director; Tim Martz, Park Maintenance Supervisor; and Myca Bunch (staff). President Miller called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. PUBLIC AGENDA No Items. REGULAR AGENDA Item 1: Approval of Meeting Minutes Motion 1: On motion by Dey, second by Solter, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED that the Board approve the February 12, 2007 regular meeting minutes after the recommended edits by Johnson are made. Item 2A: Use of Evergreen Maintenance Building for USA Boxing Organization Kupper informed the Board that the maintenance building at Evergreen was vacated to allow El Zocolo to prepare for building their new facilities. The building is currently empty and the USA Boxing Organization is interested in using the facility for their practices. Kupper said that the maintenance building is slated for demolition, so any agreement between the Park Board and USA Boxing Organization would be temporary. He said that he has discussed with them the option of using the building at no cost except for utility fees. Mr. Pat Villa, 1508 E 16th St. N., provided the Board a handout that outlined the USA Boxing Organization and its purpose and benefits to the community. He said that to become involved in the program, kids must maintain good grades and strict work ethics. Villa said they teach their boxers self-confidence, good sportsmanship and instill quality life skills. He also told the Board that the boxing organization they are affiliated with covers all incidents that happen during practices and any tournaments or competitions, as long as they are registered with the USA Boxing Organization. Mr. Villa then introduced his assistant coach, Mr. Louis Hernandez. Louis Hernandez, 501 W. 31st St. North, spoke to the Board about the quality of the boxing program and its success at keeping kids out of the streets and off of drugs. He said that by keeping these kids occupied within the program it helps them stay out of trouble. He said the USA Boxing organization has decided to let Wichita host a state tournament in December in which over 100 out of town teams will participate. Solter asked Villa, "What happens if a kid gets kicked out or drops out of school?" Villa said that he needs to come up with a solution and that he does not want to kick them out of the program, however if they display attitude and discipline programs they will be kicked out of the program. Solter encouraged Villa to ensure that these kids are not lost and are still given the opportunity to participate. Hernandez said that they would only be holding the practices in the Evergreen Maintenance Building and that any tournaments or competitions would be held at an alternative location due to size constraints. Mr. Villa introduced several of the members of the USA Boxing Organization and Miller invited them to say a few words regarding the program and how it has changed their life. *Mick Tranbarger joined the meeting. Jose Lara, 2237 W. 24th St. said he would like to see USA Boxing Organization use Evergreen maintenance facility because it is close to his house and would provide a bigger place for training. He said the program has helped his grades go up since he joined last year. Julio Hernandez, 1655 E. Estate, said that the program has helped keep him busy and his mind off of gangs and drugs. Tony Losey, 2418 N. Marigold, said he would like to see the program moved to Evergreen Recreation center because it would provide a larger facility for their practices. Andrew Azzarito, 2555 N. Meridian, said he would like to use the Evergreen Recreation Center because it would be one of the only facilities available on the North side of Wichita. He said it may only be a garage, but it would at least be a nicer facility then what they are currently using. He said the Boxing Organization has helped him lose 40 pounds since he joined. Miller returned the discussion to the Board. Kupper stressed to Villa and the other members of the USA Boxing Organization that, if the Board approved the item, they must ensure that each boxer is continually covered by the required insurance for this type of sporting event. Villa explained that he understood and reassured the Board members that he would obtain the proper insurance. Motion 2: On motion by Solter, second by Dey, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED by the Board that the USA Boxing Organization be allowed to use Evergreen Recreation Center Maintenance Building. It was also ordered that staff create a lease and present it to the USA Boxing Organization for signature. Item 3A: Review of Criteria for Evaluating/Prioritizing Park and Playground Requests Walker briefed the Board that the proposed process was designed for use as an evaluation tool for any incoming park requests. Johnson questioned how the criteria would be used when rating side-by-side proposals. Kupper said that the Board and the Park Department would have to evolve into that process, but right now he does not see it being an issue. Johnson also said that she would like to see Item 8 deleted because she feels that if funding is not an issue, then the percentage of service area categorized as low-moderate income households by HUD, would not be an issue either. She said she feels there is no need to have this item on the criteria sheet. Motion 4: On motion by Miller, second by Solter, the Board recommended using the policy as presented for the next twelve (12) months and requested that the PROS consultant team, MIG, evaluate it for efficiency. Miller also requested that the Board add the topic to the Park Board tracking sheet for March 2008, for a second evaluation. Motion passed 5-1. Johnson -No. Item 3B: Presentation of Pawnee Prairie Storm Water Drainage Box Miller reminded the Board that they first heard this item last year and that they were bringing it back to the Board for discussion. Kupper said that the area is called a bar ditch and that the water comes off of the neighborhoods into an open ditch. He said there is cleaning of the water as it goes through the bar ditches. He said the Storm Water team would like to encapsulate the rainwater into a tube, which will cause a loss of some of the filtration, but it will carry a little more capacity in the tube. Kupper said that Park Staff has been working with the Storm Water and Engineering teams to determine the best outfall of that park into the Cowskin Creek to prevent as much erosion as possible. Miller said that the Board had originally asked Martz, Gress and Hoetmer to review this and come up with the best possible design. Martz said that there are two 8x6 boxes that will flow into there. Right now there is a problem with erosion and tree branches falling off into the area. Right now there is an articulating concrete block reventment system at the end of the outfall. Their proposal system is 5 times more expensive than the traditional structure. The new structure does have several more advance features that will help the native grasses grow within the system and slows the pollutants within the water. Solter asked what the cost of the project was and Martz replied that he did not think the project had been sent out for bids as of yet. Kupper said that he does not think the project will get rid of all of the erosion in the Cowskin Creek and Pawnee Prairie, but it will definitely not add to the problem. Item 3C: PROS Plan and Speaker Series Update Miller briefed the Board about the recent Wichita Eagle newspaper article featuring the PROS Plan. She also informed the Board that the first focus group meetings were held in February with the PROS Consultant, MIG, and they were all successful meetings. Miller went on to say that the Speaker Series is coming together and that tentative dates had been set. They were: March 29; April 12, and 26; May 10 and 24. She said that so far they have raised $47,000 out of their $49,000 goal and they have also gained partnership with WSU for use of the Metroplex to hold the Speaker Series meetings. Item 4: Review of Pending Issues Miller reviewed the Park Board Suspense Sheet and discussed the items with the Board and Staff members. Item 5: Updates from the Director and President Kupper informed the Board that renovations to portions of the Bike Path from Central to 13th St were finally approved by City Council. Kupper also advised the Board that he had met with the WAMPO staff to discuss priorities based on the new WAMPO alternative transportation plan. Kupper said that Scott Wadle, Planning Department, is putting together a priority list of the six connectors they identified and he will include the costs of each. Kupper said this would help Park staff determine which ones we should work on first. Kupper said he would challenge anyone who wants him to build additional bike paths before the current 33 miles of bike paths are connected. Item 6: Issues on the Horizon Miller informed the Board that they had expressed interest on learning more about the Urban Tree Canopy. Johnson said that she and Martz would be ready to present this topic at the April Park Board Meeting. Miller said that they would be inviting Mr. John D'Angelo to the April Park Board meeting to discuss the issue of Arts and Culture in Parks. Miller asked that Walker develop criterion for evaluating memorials to be placed in Veteran's Park and various other parks throughout the city. Miller asked if there were any further items for discussion. No items. Item 7: Adjourn Miller adjourned the meeting at approximately 5:30 p.m. ___________________________________ Janet L. Miller, President ATTEST: _______________________________ Myca J. Bunch, Recording Secretary 1