The Parks and Recreation Committee met 02/12/2024. They had 5 action items on the agenda including a contract for shoreline work at Lutz Part and updates to three pool-related policies. All of these action items were discussed over the course of slightly more than 10 minutes and approved unanimously by the committee.
I’ve prepared a transcript of the discussion for download:
ITEM 24-0162 Request to award contract to AECOM for Phase II design and construction management services for Lutz Park shoreline redevelopment and trail in the amount of $88,400 with a design contingency of $5,000 for a total contract not to exceed $93,400
The total cost of the overall shoreline redevelopment and trail project for Lutz Park was budgeted at $900,000. Alderperson Sheri Hartzheim (District 13) was concerned that the city was spending 10% of that budget on design and construction management services. Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Tom Flick said they shoot for 8-10% and agreed this was on the higher end of what they liked to see for engineering design services; however, the shoreline redevelopment was complicated and involved getting permits from the Corp of Engineers and the DNR, which was why staff found the 10% number of be acceptable.
Alderperson Alex Schultz (District 9) wondered if the permitting issues they were facing with this project were similar to what they experienced when they updated the pier and added the walkway out into the river at Lutz. Deputy Direct Flick was not employed by the city during that previous project, so could not speak to that.
The item was approved by a vote of 4-0.
ITEM 24-0163 Request Approval of Aquatic Program Fees and Charges Policy
Recreation Manager Niki Wendt told the committee that the policy changes they were proposing updated the policy’s verbiage and added a new tot swimming time for children 6 and under. The tot swimming time would take place once a week on Friday mornings, and the entrance fee would be 50% of the regular open swim entrance fee.
Additionally, they wanted to increase the annual youth swim pass by $5. All of the other passes had been increased by $20 in 2022, but the Council had voted to not adjust the youth pass. However, due to the increase in staff wages and the effects of inflation, staff now wanted to increase the cost of the youth passes as well but only by $5 this time.
This item was approved by a vote of 4-0
ITEM 24-0164 Request Approval of Recreation Program Fee Waiver Policy
Staff was updating the language of the policy, increasing the fee waiver stipend to $100 from $75, and also removing the family punch card option. Per Recreation Manager Wendt, the family punch card wasn’t working in the way they wanted. It had been intended to encourage families to come to the pools together, but sometimes they would bring friends instead.
This item was approved by a vote of 4-0.
ITEM 24-0165 Request Approval of Pool Rental, Reservation, and General Use Policy
This update changed some verbiage, clarified that if a private rental was over 236 people an additional fee would need to be paid to cover the cost of an additional life guard, outlined regulations regarding outside food and beverage during private parties, and provided the option for party package rentals during twilight open swim times.
Recreation Manager Wendt said that in the past the city had not allowed people to buy party packages during Twilight Swim times, but they did want to start doing that. The price would be half of what a party package during regular open swim times would be because the time was only 1.5 hours during Twilight Swim times versus 3 hours during regular swim times.
Alderperson Patrick Hayden (District 7) wanted to make sure that that there would be adequate time to clean up between two parties if two parties were held on the same day. Ms. Wendt said that there would be.
This item was approved by a vote of 4-0.
ITEM 24-0099: Award the City of Appleton’s “2024 Green Meadows Park Playground Equipment Project” contract to Lee Recreation in an amount not to exceed $85,000
This item was approved by a vote of 4-0 with no discussion.
View full meeting details and video here: https://cityofappleton.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=1167638&GUID=3E8F2A54-5CE3-415E-922D-FA8AF70624B4
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