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OSHKOSH ADVISORY PARKS BOARD AGENDA
ROOM 404 (4^TH FLOOR), CITY HALL
OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN
October 14, 2024
6:00 p.m.

If anyone requires reasonable ADA accommodations, please contact the Parks Department at emaertz@oshkoshwi.gov, or phone 920-236-5080.

CALL TO ORDER (6:00 PM)

ROLL CALL

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

September 9, 2024 Minutes

CITIZEN STATEMENTS (Items not listed on this agenda)
(Statements are limited to five (5) minutes; they must address items that are not listed on the meeting agenda, are limited to issues that have an impact on the City of Oshkosh and the Advisory Parks Board may address at a future meeting, and must not include endorsements of any candidates or other electioneering. If you require more time please inform the Chair at the beginning of your presentation.)

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

Discuss and recommend 2025 park shelter fees

Discuss and recommend Reetz Fields 2024 CIP allocation

Discuss and recommend additional funding for Pollock Community Water Park replastering project

Discuss discontinuation of Menominee Park Amusement Center

STAFF REPORTS

Park Director (Maurer)
- Update on Stevens Park and Rainbow Memorial Park play equipment projects
- Update on discussion regarding expanding no wake zone between Oshkosh Avenue bridge and Wisconsin Street bridge
- Update on Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan approval
Assistant Park Director (Dallman)
- Update on Pollock Community Waterpark plastering project
- Update on 44th Parallel Playground Reconstruction
Revenue Facilities Manager (McCollian)
- Update on Menominee Park Zoo programs including end of season report
- Update on Brews in the Zoo and Zooloween Boo

OTHER BUSINESS

ADJOURNMENT

NEXT MEETING DATE: November 11, 2024

TO:

Advisory Parks Board

FROM:

Ray Maurer

DATE:

10/14/2024

SUBJECT:

September 9, 2024 Minutes

Attachments

September 9, 2024 APB Minutes

TO:

Advisory Parks Board

FROM:

Ray Maurer

DATE:

10/14/2024

SUBJECT:

Discuss and recommend 2025 park shelter fees

BACKGROUND

As part of our annual departmental review of fees, the Board will review the fees for park shelter rentals. The current fees were last updated in 2021 and prior to that the last increase was 2014. When the 2021 fees were discussed by the Advisory Parks Board, the Board suggested review and possible adjustment of the fees again in 2-3 years to avoid large increases in the fees by waiting so long to review. Staff is recommending a $5 across the board increase, plus tax, in the rental fees (see attached proposed 2025 fee schedule) except for the Lakeshore Park 4 Seasons Building where staff is recommending a $50 across the board increase. With this year being the first year of operation for the Lakeshore Park building, we consistently heard from renters about how reasonably priced the facility is and many commented on how the fees should probably be higher based on their experiences with other facilities. Staff was given direction when setting the initial fees for Lakeshore Park to be sure to keep them reasonable so all citizens could afford to enjoy the facility. Staff believes based on the feedback received this past year that a $50 across the board increase is acceptable. Rental fees for all shelters is the daily rate for use of the shelter. The Board is being asked to make a recommendation to the Common Council for the 2025 park shelter rental fees.

Attachments

2025 Proposed Shelter Rates

TO:

Advisory Parks Board

FROM:

Ray Maurer

DATE:

10/14/2024

SUBJECT:

Discuss and recommend Reetz Fields 2024 CIP allocation

BACKGROUND

Included in the 2024 Parks Department CIP is $500,000 that was originally intended for design services for the entire Reetz Ball Fields and Miller’s Bay parking lot project which is estimated at nearly $5,000,000. Due to the estimated total cost of this project and the low likelihood that the city could fund the entire project all at one time, staff informed the Board and Common Council members earlier this year that a phased approach to the project will be considered so that at least portions of the project can begin to be completed. Due to the condition of the restroom/concession stand at the Reetz Fields, staff is recommending that the funding be allocated to design and construct a new restroom/concession building. We believe that since that facility is utilized by ball field user groups, boat launch users and the general public that a new facility is the highest priority. Staff will then prioritize the other phases of the larger project including the ball fields reconstruction and parking lot expansion as part of the CIP process next spring. The Board is being asked to make a recommendation to the Common Council to allocate the 2024 CIP funding for design and construction of a new restroom/concession building at Reetz Fields. If approved, staff would work with a firm to design the building this winter and commence construction late next summer following the 2025 softball/baseball season.

TO:

Advisory Parks Board

FROM:

Ray Maurer

DATE:

10/14/2024

SUBJECT:

Discuss and recommend additional funding for Pollock Community Water Park replastering project

BACKGROUND

The 2024 Pollock Water Park budget included $420,000 to replaster the leisure pool and diving well areas of the pool this fall. Funding for the project was anticipated to come from the pool maintenance endowment fund at the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation. This fund was created when the fund raising for the new pool was taking place back in 2005/2006 for future large capital costs at the pool. When developing the 2024 pool budget, staff had anticipated that the entire cost for the replastering project could be reimbursed to the city from the endowment fund at the Foundation. However, earlier this summer staff was made aware of a stipulation in the endowment fund agreement stating that the fund cannot go below a set amount. Withdrawing the funds that we had anticipated would take the fund below that threshold so staff is working on identifying funding remaining from other Parks Department capital projects that we will be recommending be used for a portion of this project. Staff will present further information to the Board and will be looking for a recommendation to the Common Council.

TO:

Advisory Parks Board

FROM:

DATE:

10/14/2024

SUBJECT:

Discuss discontinuation of Menominee Park Amusement Center

BACKGROUND

The Board will discuss the recommendation from staff to discontinue the Menominee Park Amusement Center operations. Following is information regarding the amusement center operations from Jenny McCollian, Revenue Facilities Manager, and Chad Dallman, Assistant Parks Director.

The Menominee Park Children’s Amusement Center has been challenged with staffing issues and operational increases in recent years that have resulted in negative budgetary impacts.

The Park Revenue Facilities Fund, where the Children’s Amusement Center operation is budgeted, has a goal of revenues exceeding expenditures to maintain operations and a positive fund balance. Since 2019, staff has modified operational dates, hours and staffing between Memorial and Labor Day as follows for the amusement area in attempts to maintain a positive fund balance:

2019: Open 7 days/week from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
2020: Closed due to COVID
2021: Open 4 days/week from 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
2022 - 2023: Open 3 days/week from 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
2024: Closed due to Pratt Trail reconstruction

Modifications to the operations shown above were determined as follows:

Reductions were made based on use during the weekdays versus weekends
Staffing availability and costs
Special Events the past few years scheduled in the amusements area helped increase exposure and use of train rides
Availability of the self-serve kayak rental lockers in Miller’s Bay

Due to program costs as well as staffing challenges, staff recommends discontinuing the amusement center and researching new programming and amenity concepts for the future in this area.

The attached Amusement Center financial information provides fiscal operation results for the past few years. In addition, in order to get the rides operational for 2025, staff estimates that approximately $50,000 in improvements would need to be completed.

Attachments

Amusement Center Operations Financials