#7	
									               
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING

Monday, July 10, 2000

Present:	June Bailey, James Johnston, Joe McLeland, M.S. Mitchell, Trix Niernberger, 
Leon Robinson and William Sanders	
	
Also Present:	Richard Lopez, SER; Carmelita Lane, H.O.P.E. Services; Keith Koontz, North 
Riverbend Neighborhood Association; Lola Howard, North Riverbend 
Neighborhood Association; Wendell Turner, North Chisholm Creek 
Neighborhood Association;  Teri Dozal, Neighborhood Assistant – Evergreen 
Mini City Hall; and Doug Kupper, Janice McKinney, and Maryann Crockett 
(Staff)

President Mitchell called the meeting to order at approximately 3:30 p.m.  The minutes of the 
Regular Meeting of June 12, 2000, were reviewed and approved.  

1. City Council Request – Review Proposal for the Facility located at 25th and Arkansas.  
Director Kupper briefly reviewed the item stating that the City Council had requested that the 
Park Board review the alternative proposals for the facility and receive citizen/neighborhood 
input.  He stated that the Council had previously approved $75,000 for roof repair; however, 
there were other cost factors involved with rehabilitating the building.  He referred board 
members to Council Proceedings dated June 27, 2000.  Mitchell requested that board 
members be furnished a copy of the lease with SER. 

Richard Lopez, SER, stated that SER and eight other agencies had formed a coalition to 
provide various community services at the site.  He said when the City leased the building to 
SER, they requested that at least 2,000 square feet be reserved for a community/ 
neighborhood meeting room and an office for the Community Police.  Lopez stated that the 
building consisted of 14,300 square feet.  He said SER needs at least 6,000 square feet, Head 
Start needs 5,000 square feet, ACTS needs 2,000 square feet and with a community meeting 
room and Police office consisting of 2,000, there simply was not enough square footage to 
accommodate all the agencies.  He commented that the architect had provided four different 
alternatives and cost estimates including:  constructing an addition on two levels at $2.8 
million; constructing a pre-engineered metal building at $2.1 million; constructing a new 
facility at $3.1 million and constructing a smaller pre-engineered metal building at $1.9 
million.

Lopez said the coalition felt that the most cost effective, economical and efficient proposal 
was construction of a new facility.  He said the current facility was an old building, 
constructed of cinder block, with a leaky roof and outdated HVAC and plumbing systems.  
He said the coalition was willing to fund two thirds of the cost of a new facility, and 
explained that they had applied for grant/foundation funding.  He said grant funds could only 
be accessed based on an initial lease of ten years with a ten-year renewal option.  He said the 
coalition was seeking the Park Board’s recommendation on what was best for the 
community.  He said the coalition felt a new facility would be an asset to the surrounding 
neighborhood and community.

Mitchell asked if board members had any questions.  Johnston asked if the building has been 
occupied since it was leased in February, 1999.  Lopez responded no, because the roof 
leaked.  Johnston referred to a comment in the June 27, 2000, Council Proceedings where it 
was suggested that a more practical option was for the City to utilize its funds to preserve the 
existing facility and encourage the coalition to construct a building at a different location.  He 
questioned how the coalition was going to fund two thirds of the cost of a new facility.  
Lopez explained that Head Start had  $1 million budgeted over the next two years and that 
SER and ACTS could leverage monies they had designated for rental payments to come up 
with additional funding.  

Wendell Turner, North Chisholm Creek Neighborhood Association, commented that the 
neighborhood had also submitted a proposal for use of the building with the Boys and Girls 
Club being the primary tenant.  He said at that time the Boys and Girls Club National 
Organization was willing to provide a $70,000 grant for building renovation.  He made 
comments concerning the fact that even though the lease was revised, the building has 
remained empty since February, 1999.  He added that the City was still paying utility and 
maintenance costs.  He asked why the coalition leased the facility if it was too small for its 
intended use.  

Johnston asked if the neighborhood association had presented its proposal to the City 
Council.  Turner responded yes.  Niernberger asked if the neighborhood proposal had been 
voted on by the neighborhood.  Turner responded yes, that a committee of three different 
neighborhood associations (North Riverbend, North Chisholm Creek and North-End) had 
provided input into the proposal.  There was discussion concerning the fact that SER was the 
only agency that responded to the “Request for Proposal” (RFP) for use of the facility.  
Turner explained that the neighborhood associations did not exist at the time the RFP was 
developed.  

Keith Koontz, North Riverbend Neighborhood Association, requested that the building be 
renovated and used by various community agencies.  Lopez commented that the existing 
building is not large enough to accommodate the needs of the various agencies.  

Carmelita Lane, H.O.P.E. Services, stated that people in the neighborhood are concerned 
about the building being torn down.  She said there are numerous vacant and abandoned 
buildings in the area that need to be either torn down or rehabilitated.  She suggested that the 
coalition might be able to utilize one of those buildings.  She mentioned that the 
neighborhood was also interested in a park to honor Patrick Garcia.  She said there is a 
definite need for the building in the neighborhood and that she would like to see a 
compromise solution.  She concluded by saying that she was not against anything the 
coalition was trying accomplish and that H.O.P.E. Services was originally part of the 
coalition; however, H.O.P.E. Services found another location from which to provide their 
services because of the delay in renovating the facility.  Lopez commented that the coalition 
was not interested in an old building.  

McLeland asked if the Boys and Girls Club was still interested in occupying the building.  
Turner commented that they had requested a cost per square foot.  Lane stated that there was 
a need for a meeting room for the District Advisory Board (DAB) and various neighborhood 
associations.  She also commented on the scheduling conflicts occurring at the Evergreen 
Mini City Hall, due to space requirements of various user groups. 

Mitchell asked Teri Dozal, Neighborhood Assistant, to give a brief summary of the various 
groups utilizing Evergreen Recreation Center/Mini City Hall and the services they provide.  
He also asked her to list the agencies that could utilize the existing facility.  Dozal 
commented that one group provided English speaking classes, that there was a free clothing 
store, that Azteca provided sports clinics for soccer, softball, baseball and basketball for 
children ages five through high school youth, and that H.O.P.E. Services provided various 
community services.  She said that many times the groups have to work together and shuffle 
schedules to accommodate each other.  She suggested that the building at 25th and Arkansas 
could be utilized by several agencies providing various services including Azteca, WICK, 
Community Policing, Office of Central Inspection, medical services and family counseling.  
She said the building could also be used for various association/agency meetings such as the 
DAB, neighborhood and 21st Street Task Force.  

Bailey asked if SER was a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) agency?  Lopez responded yes.  She asked 
if they had explored the possibility of acquiring other land in the area.  Lopez stated that the 
original concept was to locate the facility in the center of the Hispanic community.  He added 
that the school district was also interested in leasing space in the facility.  There was 
discussion concerning constructing a basement to the facility, which would provide another 
14,300 square feet.  

Mitchell asked about the possibility of constructing a new facility on park property.  Director 
Kupper said staff could explore that option.  Mitchell poled the Board to see if anyone  
supported tearing down the existing building.  The general consensus of the Board was that 
the building not be torn down.  Bailey commented that she would like to have input from 
DAB #6.  She also asked how renovation or new construction would be funded.    McLeland 
agreed and asked how each proposal would effect the Park and Recreation Department’s 
budget.  Director Kupper commented that none of the proposals should have any impact on 
Park and Recreation funding.  Staff mentioned that land might become available through 
acquisition for the 21st Street Corridor.  Lopez mentioned that no Capital Improvement 
Program (CIP) monies were scheduled for Evergreen Park within the next seven years.  

On motion by Bailey, second by Johnston, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED to 
recommend that the building not be torn down. 

Niernberger stated that if the coalition was not interested in the facility as is, and since the 
facility had not been occupied, that the lease could be terminated.  She said she had run 
several not-for-profit organizations that delivered human service, and she didn’t see where 
the City had any obligation to provide the coalition space, other than the terms of the lease 
agreement.  Lopez commented that the coalition simply requested additional space.  There 
was discussion concerning the various proposals for construction and renovation of the 
facility.  Bailey mentioned the agreement with Hoop City for construction of a facility at 
Grove Park.  She said if the coalition or SER was interested in using parkland for 
construction of a new facility, they needed to develop a proposal for Board review.  
Niernberger said it would be nice to receive a joint proposal from the neighborhood 
associations and the coalition.   

It was further voted that any action to construct a new building or add on to the existing 
building be subject to a new application and processing through the DAB and other agencies 
involved.          

2. Status Report on Lincoln Park Water Feature.  Requested by Joe McLeland.  Director 
Kupper reported that construction was scheduled to begin on July 16.  He said demolition of 
the swimming pool, construction of the water feature and renovation of the bathhouse should 
be completed within 180 days.  He said the City was currently letting a bid for the 
playground equipment.    

Mitchell asked about the status of the program to transport children to Linwood Swimming 
Pool.  McKinney said approximately fifty children per week were taking advantage of the 
service.    

3. Status Report on Fairmount Park Shelter Renovation.  Requested by M.S. Mitchell.  
Director Kupper reported that Mitchell had asked him to check on the availability of funding 
to renovate the enclosed shelter at the park.  He said the neighborhood association had asked 
about installation of restrooms, floor replacement and installation of heating and air 
conditioning.  He said a cost estimate had been provided previously but that he was waiting 
for additional information from Public Works.    

INFORMATIONAL ITEMS

? Financial Report for April, 2000.  Mitchell referred board members to the April Financial 
Report.  Mitchell commented that revenues looked good.  Kupper stated that it can be 
attributed to Janice McKinney’s leadership in Recreation.  He said Summer of Discovery 
(SOD) was running smoothly, that the City would collect 100% of the Community Services 
Block Grant (CSBG) monies and that expenses/bills were being paid in a timely and proper 
fashion.    

? Copy of correspondence dated 6/13/00 to Capital Federal Savings regarding donation to bus 
children from the Lincoln Park neighborhood to Linwood Park pool.  A similar letter was 
also sent to Jay Russell Construction.    

? Article from the 7/4/00 Wichita Eagle entitled “Community Heroes” featuring board member 
June Bailey.   

OFF AGENDA ITEMS

On motion by Bailey, second by Johnston, IT WAS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED that the rules be 
set aside and that an item be taken up off the agenda concerning the Riverside Park System 
Master Plan.

Lucy Burtnett asked for a status report on hiring the architectural consultant.  Director Kupper 
reported that the committee would be reconvening to re-verify the selection.      

The meeting adjourned at approximately 4:55 p.m.



						____________________________________	
						M.S. Mitchell, President  



ATTEST:


_____________________________
Maryann Crockett, Clerk






		Park Board 07/10/00 (Contd.)	
3

5