#12 BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS REGULAR MEETING Monday, November 9, 1998 Present: June Bailey, Lucy Burtnett, Bob Martz, M.S. Mitchell, William Sanders Absent: Pat Consolver and Leon Robinson Also Present: Maryann Crockett, Pete Frandsen, Vince Kendrick, David McGuire, Janice McKinney, Mark Schimming, Rod Tanner, and Tim Vanatta (staff) AGENDA President Burtnett called the meeting to order at approximately 3:30 p.m. The minutes of the regular meeting of October 12, 1998, were approved. 1. Annual Election of Officers. President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President. On motion by Mitchell, second by Sanders, IT WAS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to retain the current slate of officers for the next year. President - Lucy Burtnett; 1st Vice President - M.S. Mitchell; 2nd Vice President - June Bailey. 2. Discussion of Proposed Golf Fee Increases. Director Vanatta referred board members to his correspondence dated 11/4/98 and provided a handout that reflected projected revenues generated per rate increase. Staff indicated that there was some confusion among the public concerning the golf course system being an “enterprise” fund that was self-supporting and paid for itself. There was general discussion concerning long and short-term indebtedness and progress on Auburn Hills Golf Course. Burtnett requested that all future golf fee increases be presented to the Park Board for input and recommendation prior to being presented to the City Council. Staff clarified that there would be no fee increase for junior golf or student play. On motion by Martz, second by Mitchell, IT WAS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to recommend the City Council approve the proposed golf fee increases as presented. 3. Discussion of Schraft Third Addition Acquisition. Mitchell provided board members a copy of a Kansas quit claim deed for the Schraft Third Addition. He said the parcel, which was located at 35th St. South and I-235 was just less than one acre in size and, and was a gift to the City from William G. Schraft of the Schraft Corporation. Mitchell briefly reviewed events leading to the property donation. He also mentioned that Mr. Schraft needed the tax write off. Mitchell stated that the idea was to preserve the land and stand of trees for passive recreation. He proposed that the Board send the deed to the City Council and recommend that they accept the donation. Staff commented that the quit claim deed would need to be reviewed by the Law Department, and the Property Management Office would complete the land transaction. On motion by Mitchell, second by Sanders, IT WAS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to recommend that the City Council accept the Schraft Third Addition land donation and close the land transaction prior to the end of the year. 4. General Discussion of Facility Consultant Report. Director Vanatta introduced Mark Schimming, Rod Tanner and David McGuire from the Recreation Athletic Office. He commented that the situation in Wichita was unique in terms of which groups handle/sponsor the various sports activities including football, softball, baseball and soccer. Schimming began the presentation by providing board members a handout entitled “Athletic Field Survey”. He commented that in the past very few dollars have been invested in repair, renovation or replacement of athletic field facilities and equipment. He briefly reviewed the history of the largest athletic complexes including when they were built and when the last repairs, renovations or improvements were made. David McGuire gave an in-depth review of participation in youth programming including boys baseball, girls slow pitch softball and junior football. He also reviewed demographics by school boundaries for grades K-5, 6-8 and 9-12, and youth programs outside the Department of Park and Recreation. He referred to a map of Wichita that depicted the location of various City sports fields as well as the location of other non-City related sports facilities. Rod Tanner reviewed adult softball programs and leagues for women, men and co-ed including number of participants and income and expenses. He concluded by reviewing adult softball tournament play. Burtnett mentioned that there appeared to be a need for larger complexes with multiple fields. Staff said the national trend was moving towards larger sports complexes. Staff said there were several advantages to providing that type of sports facility including staffing and maintenance issues. There was discussion concerning fees, the need for practice fields and the addition of lighting at many fields. Recreation staff briefly reviewed twelve of their recommendations for improvements to athletic fields including, but not limited to, completing four additional softball fields at South Lakes Sports Complex and construction of a maintenance facility at the complex; completion of the Northeast Baseball Complex as scheduled; continued development of football fields; renovation of football fields and baseball and softball diamonds including exterior lighting, irrigation systems, bleachers, fencing and expansion of parking lots at several locations; identification of additional land for a future sports complex northwest and development of four multi-court in- line hockey facilities. Vince Kendrick, Recreation Director, gave a brief summary on tennis court conditions and provided a handout entitled “Tennis Courts Condition Survey.” He said there were 79 tennis courts located throughout the City, the majority of which were in a state of disrepair. He said $80,000 had been allocated annually in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for tennis court repair/renovation which clearly was insufficient. There was brief discussion concerning the need to remove tennis courts in various locations and instead establish several large complexes such as the Ralph Wulz Riverside Tennis Center. Staff provided the Board a handout entitled “Park Board Facility Ratings” that contained recommendations from the facility consultant on various facilities studied. Staff requested that board members rate each recommendation on a scale from 0-5 in order to provide a more definitive rating on each study recommendation. It was also recommended that the Board devote one entire meeting to discussing the facility study or have a workshop session. It was the general consensus that the Board needed to further clarify and prioritize study recommendations. It was agreed that board members would return their completed rating forms to staff by Friday, November 20, 1998. On a related matter, Mitchell asked what it would take, other than City Council action, to put maintenance of park facilities back under the jurisdiction of the Park Department. Staff explained that both personnel and budget were transferred to Public Works during the consolidation several years ago. Mitchell said he would like to see a rough estimate. He said he thought it was important to look at that issue as part of the whole process of evaluating park facilities. Staff commented that they believed that overall Public Works was doing a good job because they have more dollars budgeted; however, there have been some problems coordinating custodial services, which are part of building maintenance, with Park programming needs. Mitchell said he would like to see why there isn’t better park facility maintenance. Burtnett commented that one of the problems was adequate funding. She mentioned receiving a copy of the “UPDATE News” newsletter from the Wichita-Sedgwick Country Metropolitan Area Planning Department (MAPD). She said it reported on results of a survey conduced by MAPD that indicated the majority of citizens felt better park maintenance was an important issue. There was discussion concerning consolidation of the Park Department and Public Works. Burtnett said she felt if the Park Department was given enough budget, they could do an adequate job of maintaining the park system. Mitchell said he felt the Park Board was against any further consolidation of Park/Public Works. He further stated that the Board should be allowed to participate in any discussion of the issue before they were told that consolidation has already taken place. Burtnett agreed. On motion by Mitchell, second by Bailey, IT WAS VOTED UNANIMOUSLY to request that staff provide a report on what the Park Department gave up when park facility maintenance was taken over by Public Works and what the Park Department would need in terms of personnel and funds to take facility maintenance back and do an adequate job. OFF-THE-AGENDA ITEMS 1. Grove Park Plan Update. Mitchell said he would report on volunteer surveying and engineering activities on the project in the near future. Staff provided a copy of the Grove Park Coalition Progress Notes dated 11/9/98 submitted by Fran Crowley. Bailey said there has been a very positive response to development of a partnership of the various groups interested in participating in the project. 2. Removal of Soccer Goals at Schell Park. Mitchell requested clarification of correspondence from Jaime Lopez, Hispanic/Native American Coalition, concerning removal of the soccer goal posts at Schell Park. Kendrick explained that spectator activities at soccer games at the park have gotten out of hand in terms of general rowdiness, disturbance of park neighbors, consumption of alcoholic beverages and other illegal activities during games. He said in addition, the park was not designed for the large number of spectators who have been attending games. He said he and other City staff have met several times with both soccer and neighborhoods groups in an effort to resolve what he believes to be a potentially dangerous situation. He said moving one set of goal posts to another location was one step agreed to by all parties involved in negotiations. He said staff will continue to work with both groups to help resolve the situation. 3. Maintenance Issues at Swanson Park due to Overflow of Cowskin Creek. Mitchell stated that private fencing abutting the park was in a state of disrepair due to lack of maintenance/ cleanup of the debris caused by flooding of the Cowskin Creek through the park. Director Vanatta said maintenance staff would review/correct the situation. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at approximately 5:55 p.m. ________________________________ Lucy Burtnett, President ATTEST: ______________________________ Maryann Crockett, Clerk Park Board 11/12/98 (contd.) Park Board 11/12/98 (contd.) Park Board 11/12/98 (contd.)