Also Present: Parks and Recreation Director Dan Wick, Parks Supervisor Mark Hanson, Buildings Manager Brian Babiash, Ald.

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1 The Meeting of the Parks & Recreation Board was called to order at 5:15 p.m. on. It was noted that the meeting had been announced and a notice posted at City Hall. Roll call was taken with the following members present: Ald. Jim Binash, Andrea Benco, Victor Hill, Steven Nott. Ohbe Johnson arrived with the meeting in progress. Also Present: Parks and Recreation Director Dan Wick, Parks Supervisor Mark Hanson, Buildings Manager Brian Babiash, Ald. Harvey Bertrand Excused Absences: Gretchen Newhouse, Brian Udermann Item 2 Approval of minutes from the previous meeting Motion by Ald. Binash, second by Andrea, to approve the minutes from the previous meeting as printed and on file in the City Clerk s Office. On voice vote, motion carried. Item 3 Public Input (Limited to 3 minutes/individual) Steven called for anyone wishing to provide public input. Harvey Bertrand, Third District Alderperson 3334 Augusta Lane Onalaska We re studying the possibility of a sculpture on the plaza on Main Street. This is my own cause. I ve asked Mike Martino maybe you know him; he s a sculptor to put together a number of sketches indicating some possibilities. I m trying to inform and engage all the stakeholders I can think of. I started out with Dave Skogen, and the people from his park are going to have to look at this. Andrea asked Ald. Bertrand where the sculpture would be located. Ald. Bertrand said it would be placed at the end of Main Street in the plaza. Dan said it would be located at the Great River Landing. Ald. Bertrand reiterated he is attempting to engage all the possible stakeholders and said, The plan is to gain a consensus and then get line drawings of three possibilities, and then have three

2 renderings that will be put in City Hall somewhere for public comment and to inform [the public]. I think this is probably going to be in the $150,000 to $200,000 range, so it s going to be a lot of money. But I will lead the effort to have it funded, and I am very confident that we can make it work. Ald. Bertrand shared with board members copies of sketches of possible sculptures. Andrea inquired about the size of the sculpture. Ald. Bertrand said it will be as big as practical and told Andrea the planter has an inside dimension of 11 feet by 18 feet, adding he hopes the sculpture will be somewhere between 8 and 10 feet across. Dan told board members they cannot ask questions at this time and said this item may be included on the September 25 Parks and Recreation Board meeting. Steven called three times for anyone else wishing to provide public input and closed that portion of the meeting. Consideration and possible action on the following items: Item 4 Capital Improvement Projects a. Parks Dan said he and staff have compiled a list of items off the Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, which identifies different projects. Dan said staff s goal is for the proposed projects to total $200,000, and he told board members that the Board of Public Works likely will have close to $15 million worth of project requests for the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget. Dan also reminded board members that number will have to be reduced to approximately $3.5 million, and he noted that in the past board members have prioritized items. Dan shared with the board the following items: Rowe Park parking lot for Shelter No. 1 ($50,000): Shelter No. 1 has a gravel lot, and there is a substantial elevation change that comes down. Dan said Mark has been working with contractors on putting in a parking lot; however, Dan also said, We don t have a good budget number. Therefore, this item will be placed toward the bottom of the list of priorities until a price may be obtained. Community Center redesign plan ($10,000): A consultant would be hired to examine the Community Center, which was constructed in the early 1970s, and determine what

3 needs to be done at this location. Dan said some exterior work has been performed on the building, and he complimented Mark and staff for cleaning and painting the facility. However, Dan also said the time has come to explore different options due to the facility s age. Andrea asked if perhaps a new community center could be constructed if a new plan is created. Dan said he believes it would put us in a much better situation if there are plans or the city looks to solicit donations. Dan told Andrea there are occasions when individuals offer to make significant donations toward projects and said it is difficult to approach them with a project and not have a set of plans. Meier Farm playground outdoor fitness equipment ($20,000): This item is a cost split with the Park Fund. Dan said the individual who is developing a large complex at this site wishes to install a pod of outdoor fitness equipment. Dan said $20,000 would come from the Park Fund, and $20,000 would come from the Capital Improvements Budget. Siding and roof for waterfront building ($50,000): Dan said this building has received very little care since the Parks and Recreation Department assumed control of it in Dan noted there has been an increase of bicycle traffic due to Phase I construction of the Great River Landing and asked if perhaps the structure should be repaired and rented out by the week, or if perhaps primitive campsites should be constructed. Currently, four or five windows are boarded up because they were broken with rocks, and shingles have blown off during windstorms. Andrea noted the building has both water and electricity and said it may not be reconstructed if it is razed. Dan told Andrea she is correct, noting that the building is located in the floodplain. Dan also told board members the building had been redone prior to the department assuming control of it. Playground surfacing ($50,000): Dan admitted that staff struggles with this item, noting that the department budgets for two semi loads and stating, We can t keep up with that. Dan said staff has not made a determination whether to utilize rubber or wood mulch. Victor asked Dan to repeat what will be done at Meier Farm. Dan said outdoor fitness equipment would be installed, adding it would be similar to the four pieces of equipment at Community Park.

4 Victor suggested installing a smaller unit for smaller children, noting that a basketball court has been installed at Meier Farm. Andrea noted there is an active aging complex located across the street and said its residents might be interested in the exercise equipment. Dan told Victor the developer had met with both himself and Mark and said the developer s vision is to install the exercise equipment due to the presence of the senior citizen complex. Victor noted that there is a larger slide present that might not be appropriate for a toddler to utilize. Dan told Victor the board possibly can add funding for additional playground equipment. Playground replacement at Hilltopper Heights ($75,000): Dan noted there are approximately 20 playground sites around the city and said they are approaching their life expectancy. Dan said both he and Mark believe the Meier Farm playground equipment must be a high priority because there is funding for this item in the Park Fund. Dan said he ranks the playground surfacing is the next item that should be prioritized. Dan also said he believes both the Sandalwood and Holiday Heights parks need to be reanalyzed due to flooding that occurs at both sites, adding that only sand would be utilized at those parks. Ohbe asked how utilization of the parks is gauged. Dan said staff can determine park utilization from a standpoint of swings and slides. Mark said there only are a couple that do not see much use, adding that a lot of them are heavily used due to the wear under the swings and slides, as well as the presence of refuse. Dan said he would rate the waterfront building as the next item to be prioritized. Andrea asked why that item is in the Parks budget and not in the Waterfront budget. Dan said that while the Great River Landing looked at different projects, the waterfront building is an area the Parks Department has been maintaining prior to the creation of the Great River Landing. Mark noted he had solicited three contractors to perform the repairs at the waterfront building, but only one had submitted a quote and only two had come on site to provide a price. Mark said

5 the project only would address repairs to the exterior of the building (roof, siding, windows, facia, soffit), adding that the interior only requires flooring and paint. Water service also needs to be reconnected, and it is possible the toilet or the hot water heater will need to be replaced. Mark said the apron on the bottom also would need to be repaired. Mark also noted he had obtained prices for vinyl siding as well as a type of siding that is a lot more heavy duty and weather-resistant. Dan ranked the playground replacement at Hilltopper Heights as the fourth most-important project, followed by the Community Center redesign and the Rowe Park parking lot. Dan said he believes Rowe Park can be delayed until 2019 until staff obtains a solid price. Dan also reminded board members they can allocate more funds toward Meier Farm. Victor said that while he understands what the developer is attempting to do, he also said he sees families with younger children utilizing Meier Farm. Victor said advocating for that area has always been one of his objectives because of a deficit of equipment for smaller children. Dan asked Victor if he would like the playground equipment to target 2- to 5-year-olds. Victor said he would like to see a similar setup to that of Van Riper Park, which he described as having a universal type of configuration that fits a variety of age ranges. Victor said he would like to see one more, small segment of equipment such as lower slides. Dan said it would be a 2-to-5 playground. Andrea said she typically sees individuals who are closer to her in age or older when she visits this area and stated, Everybody knows about [the proposed equipment], so everybody is very excited about that. Dan said he believes the developer has made people aware of the equipment and stated the developer wishes to proceed with installing it. Andrea said the children she sees playing at the park are 10 to 14 years old, and she inquired about the additional cost associated with installing playground equipment for smaller children. Dan said doing so would cost an additional $10,000. Andrea said she would like to see the playground more expansive due to the variety of ages of individuals who utilize the park. Dan said he does not object increasing the amount budgeted for the Meier Farm playground from $20,000 to $30,000.

6 Andrea said she believes repairing the waterfront building should be a high priority because the city will lose a lot of opportunity if it is no longer there. Dan said he will be content if the top three items are included in the 2018 CIB, and he also told board members that the waterfront building is not a high priority for a lot of people. Ohbe inquired about the long-term plans for the building. Dan said, There s been a lot of discussion, and I think now that we see the quantity of people that are down [at the Great River Landing] and using it, there are a lot of ideas that can come up. Do you turn that into a rentable show that we can rent things? Do you make it into a [building] that you rent it by the week type of cabin? Those are two options that have been discussed. I think Andrea brought up the critical piece to this. If it goes by the wayside, we can t rebuild there. Ohbe asked how the board can convince the city that the building needs to be repaired. Andrea said the building could provide housing for campers and that it seems there are opportunities for the city to turn a profit. Dan said staff had prioritized the items in the following order: Meier Farm playground Playground surfacing Waterfront building Playground replacement at Hilltopper Heights Community Center redesign plan Rowe Park parking lot for Shelter #1 Andrea said she would rank the waterfront building second and the playground surfacing third because doing so will show how important the building is to the board. Andrea added she finds it difficult to believe the playground surfacing will not be approved. Ald. Binash said he could discuss this topic Wednesday when the Room Tax Commission meets. Dan noted that in the past room tax has had additional funding and said a number of Omi Center projects have been funded this way. Ohbe asked if the waterfront building will last another year if repairs are not made in 2018.

7 Mark told Ohbe he believes it will, but he also noted the building has wood shaker siding that is falling off. Steven asked what else will need to be added if the waterfront building is not repaired until Mark said there will be nowhere to store the kayaks that are currently housed in the building if it is utilized for income property. Mark noted there is another small, garage-like building located to the left of the waterfront building and said that while there currently is insufficient space to store the kayaks, a rack of six to eight kayaks or paddleboats could be stored in there if the structure is extended 6 feet. Doing so would allow the city to rent the waterfront building or utilize it for programming. Ald. Binash asked if it becomes an Enterprise Fund if the building is rented out. Andrea said there are no guarantees that the budget will allow the building to be repaired in 2019, adding, If you put it off for a year and then we don t get to it, at some point it s just going to melt. Steven said the project, for which $50,000 is budgeted in 2018, likely will become a $52,000 project in 2019, or it might become a $152,000 project. Steven noted that the roof is in disrepair and said water can cause extensive damage over the course of a year. Mark said he does not believe anyone would want their homes presented in the current condition the waterfront building finds itself, and he noted that the building is being presented as part of the Great River Landing. Mark said, I think if we re going to be good stewards of what we have, you have to invest in something for the future. Steven said he agrees with Andrea about making repairs to the waterfront building the secondhighest prioritized item, stating he believes repairs need to be made if there are issues with the roof. Dan noted there have been years where the Board of Public Works has removed all of the Parks and Recreation Board s items from the Capital Improvements Budget and said it will be difficult for him not to do the playground surfacing as the only item. Dan then referred to the tentative 2019 Parks Capital Improvements Projects list and said he anticipates having to spend another $50,000 for playground surfacing. Dan told board members he understands how they feel about the waterfront building, and he supports what they are saying. However, Dan noted the Board of Public Works must delete $15 million worth of projects from the 2018 CIB and said the Board of Public Works members might ask him to choose one project. Dan said, We have to look at the current safety of the people, and that s the direction we re probably going to go.

8 Mark said playground surfacing either could be rubber or wood chips, noting that $50,000 would only cover one or two playgrounds if rubber is utilized. Mark also noted that the city could cover several playgrounds if it had 10 semi-truck loads of woodchips at $2,000 per semi load, which would cover 110 yards. For clarification, Steven asked if the playground surfacing is a safety concern. Dan said yes. Steven asked why it is not ranked first. Ohbe said he believes the playground surfacing should be ranked first. Andrea said she believes the Board of Public Works will approve the playground surfacing regardless of what order the Parks and Recreation Board puts forth. Mark said the first three items all are high priority. Dan said he feels very confident the Board of Public Works will approve the first three items. Andrea suggested ranking the playground surfacing first, repairs to the waterfront building second, and the Meier Farm playground equipment third. Andrea asked if there are funds for Meier Farm that must be spent soon. Dan said yes and told Andrea, That s why we can split that up. Dan asked board members if they want to increase the amount budgeted for Meier Farm from $20,000 to $30,000, or perhaps from $20,000 to $35,000. Victor said he believes a $10,000 increase will be sufficient. Dan noted that $10,000 was spent for the equipment that was part of the Thomas Farm addition. Motion by Andrea, second by Victor, to recommend prioritizing the following Parks items as Capital Improvements Projects in the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget: Playground surfacing ($50,000) Waterfront building repairs ($50,000) Meier Farm playground outdoor fitness equipment ($30,000) Playground replacement for Hilltopper Heights ($75,000) Community Center redesign plan ($10,000) Rowe Park parking lot for Shelter #1 ($50,000)

9 On voice vote, motion carried. b. City Hall Dan said the following items have been identified: Boiler replacement to high efficiency ($40,000): Brian noted there currently are two large boilers for heat in the City Hall basement and said they operate almost as much in the summer months as they do in the winter months just not at as high of a temperature. It is common that the boilers, which are for heat, still are making 140-degree water in late August. Brian said installing a high-efficiency boiler will allow 90- and 100-degree water to be run so that 90- to 95-percent efficiency is achieved. The two large units would be on, but they would not run. Brian said the two units already in place are as long as the table in the room, and they also measure 5 feet high. By comparison, the highefficiency boiler would perhaps be the size of two of the chairs in the room. Brian said that 99 percent of the time the high-efficiency boiler would be the only unit operational from the end of March through the end of October. Brian also said that cooling the building will become more efficient due to the presence of the high-efficiency boiler. Brian said 10 percent is a conservative estimate of the savings the city would see when the high-efficiency unit is the only one running, adding that the return on investment would come in approximately four years. Brian also said there is a 25-year life expectancy for the high-efficiency boilers. First floor carpet in the Police Department ($26,000): All of the offices, conference rooms and hallways would receive new carpet. LED light replacement ($25,000): This would be an upgrade from fluorescent lighting to LED. LED lighting on STH 16 and in front of City Hall ($3,500): This would include new LED lighting for the Welcome sign located by Buffalo Wild Wings. LED lighting also would be installed on the sign outside City Hall. Dan said he and Brian believe the addition of the high-efficiency boiler and the LED lighting both for the Welcome sign on STH 16 and City Hall should be prioritized. Dan said he believes the carpet for the Police Department is the third-most important item, and LED light replacement is the fourth-most important item. Steven asked Dan, Even though the LED light replacement is also a cost savings? Dan said it is difficult to determine what can be anticipated, noting there is not an LED replacement for all of the bulbs at City Hall. Dan said there is not yet a sufficient replacement for some of the smaller fluorescent bulbs, noting that Brian told him if sufficient funding is not

10 available, replacements can be installed once the bulbs start burning out. Brian said the $25,000 budgeted for LED lighting at City Hall might address this half of the building. Brian also said the technology to replace some of the current lightbulbs is not yet available. Ald. Binash inquired about the cameras. Dan told Ald. Binash that Information Technology is working on the cameras around City Hall. Motion by Andrea, second by Ohbe, to recommend prioritizing the following City Hall items as Capital Improvements Projects in the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget: Boiler replacement to high efficiency ($40,000) LED lighting on STH 16 and in front of City Hall ($3,500) First floor carpet in Police Department ($26,000) LED light replacement ($25,000) On voice vote, motion carried. c. Omni Center Dan said the following items have been identified: Sport Court covering and racks ($40,000): Dan said it is not uncommon for events utilizing the Sport Court to be held Monday through Thursday. The floor is removed Friday for a Saturday event, and then reinstalled Sunday. Dan said he is seeking flooring that can be placed over the top of the Sport Court. Dan told board members that two years ago UW-La Crosse had purchased a product to put over its main floor. Dan also noted the Onalaska School District has a covering that the city has utilized in the past. The school district s product is lighter and must be taped down. Dan said staff wishes to purchase a heavier product. Dan also said spilled beverages would not penetrate the covering. Ald. Binash said he is concerned about weight and storage of the covering. Dan showed Ald. Binash the product, which comes on large rolls. Steven asked how many employees will be required to cover the Sport Court. Brian said two employees could perform the work in approximately 30 minutes.

11 Mezzanine in Arena No. 1 ($16,589): The mezzanine is located above the chiller room. Dan said an inspector believed wood flooring had been installed above where some items are stored. However, a wood floor was not installed. The floor on one side of the air exchanges is metal-graded, but the floor in another area is made of wood. Dan said the Omni Center cannot have a wood floor because it is a commercial building. Dan said the State of Wisconsin inspector gave the city a three-year leniency to replace the floor, and the new mezzanine must be completed in Dan said this item must receive top priority. Portable basketball standards (one set) ($36,000) Portable volleyball standards (two sets) ($13,796) Water cooler with bottle filling station (two) ($4,800) Arena roof for Arena No. 1 ($90,000) Dan noted that over the last few years funding for some of the Omni Center projects has come out of the Equipment Capital Improvements Projects, and some funding has come out of the Room Tax Commission. Andrea said she believes the water cooler with bottle filling station should be a high priority. Dan addressed the arena roof for Arena No. 1, noting that a spray-on product had been utilized on the lower portion in 2016 and telling board members he believes staff has been extremely satisfied with it. Dan said he is not aware of any major problems with the roof. Brian said there are two locations that present issues when it rains, adding, We probably could sneak through a year on both spots. However, Brian also reminded board members the roof was installed when the building was constructed in the early 1990s and asked how the trouble spots can be repaired before further problems arise. Steven noted that costs could increase significantly if the roof falls into disrepair over the next year. Dan said he believes the time has come for the board to have serious conversations about the roof. Andrea and Ohbe asked Dan to prioritize the projects. Dan prioritized the projects in the following order: Mezzanine in Arena No. 1 Arena roof for Arena No. 1

12 Water cooler with water bottle filling station (funding could be taken from a different account) Portable volleyball standards Sport Court covering and racks Portable basketball standards Ohbe asked why the volleyball standards are being placed ahead of the Sport Court covering. Steven said the volleyball standards would be profitable for the Omni Center. Andrea said she believes the floor covering will save costs. Dan said, I can very easily go the other way, noting that the Omni Center had hosted an eightteam high school volleyball tournament a few days ago with the units that already were present. Dan noted there currently are enough standards to do four courts and said, We re anchoring off the walls and creating all these things to have a third court when six matches are being played simultaneously. Steven asked why the water cooler would be included if funding from another source can be secured. Dan said the board could make a thought to take funding for the water coolers and the volleyball standards out of the Room Tax Commission because it is directly related to bringing in groups to the city. Ald. Binash said it has come to his attention that this is an Enterprise Fund and utilizing Room Tax Commission funding to do something at the Omni Center could affect the bond rating. Ald. Binash said he cannot be certain as to whether or not the bond rating would be affected and stated, If we re using money to pay for an Enterprise Fund, the question becomes from whomever is doing the bond rating, if you have to supplement the Enterprise Fund, it may have an effect on the bond rating. Brian noted the Onalaska School District also utilizes the volleyball standards and said they have a dual purpose in the community. Andrea suggested that perhaps the cost of the volleyball standards could be split with the school district. Dan said the Parks and Recreation Department runs programs at school district facilities and the district does not charge the city. Dan noted the volleyball standards are utilized at Onalaska Middle School because there are no inground standards there.

13 Andrea asked Brian if he believes the volleyball standards are more important than the Sport Court covering. Brian admitted he has a bias toward the volleyball standards because of the 18-team tournament Onalaska High School had hosted a week ago at the Omni Center. Brian noted that a majority of the teams had spent two evenings at hotels, and he told board members Onalaska High School Activities Director Charlie Ihle had told him Onalaska had not hosted a volleyball tournament in 18 years. Brian said he has received positive feedback about the tournament, both from Onalaska High School and the schools that participated in the tournament. Ald. Binash said volleyball is a popular sport that attracts a lot of people. Brian said his goal is for the Omni Center to host junior volleyball state tournaments in 2018 and stated there must be six courts in order to do so. Motion by Andrea, second by Ohbe, to recommend prioritizing the following Omni Center items as Capital Improvements Projects in the 2018 Capital Improvements Budget: Mezzanine in Arena No. 1 ($16,589) Arena roof for Arena No. 1 ($90,000) Water cooler with water bottle filling station (two) ($4,800) Portable volleyball standards (two sets) ($13,796) Sport Court covering and racks ($40,000) Portable basketball standards ($36,000) On voice vote, motion carried. Item 5 Approve Job Description Additions and Wage Grade Increase a. Recreation Coordinator b. Building Coordinator Dan said there was an attempt through a reorganization process to utilize a Concession Specialist who would oversee operations at the Aquatic Center and the Omni Center. It would be a permanent, part-time position. Dan referred to a copy of a memo from Human Resource Director Hope Burchell included in board members packets and said it has been difficult to retain employees for this position (there have been three employees for this position between June 6, 2016 and July 22, 2017). Dan said the turnover has placed additional pressure on Recreation Coordinator Tyler Ketterhagen and Buildings Coordinator Andy Nauman. Dan said he is recommending to change the wage grade and give back the responsibility to the Buildings

14 Coordinator and the Recreation Coordinator. The Recreation Coordinator would be responsible for concessions at the Aquatic Center as well as at Van Riper Park Shelter No. 1 during the summer. The Buildings Coordinator would be responsible for concessions at the Omni Center. Dan noted the increase would be $2, per person, and also noted that the Concession Specialist is currently budgeted to work 1,200 hours at $12.25 per hour for a total cost of $14,700. Dan noted that the respective job descriptions with the changes have been included in board members packets, and he asked if the job descriptions need to specify concessions at the Aquatic Center or concessions at the Omni Center. Dan said he has taken the approach to leave it general because Tyler and Andy must work close together and provide support to each other in scenarios where assistance is needed at different events. Ald. Binash said he believes the job descriptions should specifically state which individual is in charge of concessions at the Omni Center and the Aquatic Center. Dan said he would not object to doing so. Ohbe asked if there is language in the job description stating that the Recreation Coordinator will back up the Buildings Coordinator at the Omni Center. Dan said that language can be added. Ald. Binash noted that the salary of the last individual who held the Concession Specialist position will be incorporated into the new positions and asked, What about somebody who would be replacing him to work those hours? Dan said, With the $4,000, we do have some remaining that we will have to have staff lead workers or other things working that. They are working some of those shifts. We re going to need some of that for additional staff because they can t be as available as some of the other staff. Ald. Binash noted the $12, remaining in the budget for 2017 could be utilized for additional staff and asked about what will occur in Dan said the budgets that were presented had the $14,700 for the Concession Specialist position and told Ald. Binash that those hours must be reallocated both to the Recreation Coordinator and the Buildings Coordinator. The other hours likely will be absorbed in concessions, meaning the current employees will be working more hours. Steven asked Dan if he had spoken with Tyler and Andy. Dan said he had spoken to them first.

15 Motion by Andrea, second by Ald. Binash, to approve the job description additions and wage grade increase to the Recreation Coordinator and the Buildings Coordinator positions, with the suggested edits made by the Parks and Recreation Board. On voice vote, motion carried. Item 6 Report from La Crosse County Bluffland Steering Committee No report. Item 7 Report from Onalaska Enhancement Foundation Ald. Binash asked if there should be a Common Council representative on the OEF. Dan said yes and told Ald. Binash he is waiting for Mayor Joe Chilsen to appoint someone. Item 8 Report from Great River Landing Committee Victor referred to the proposed sculpture Ald. Bertrand had mentioned during public input and said a couple of the Great River Landing Committee members expressed concern over having an eagle sculpture as there already is one at Riverside Park in the City of La Crosse. Victor said he believes more discussion must take place, and this will occur at the committee s next meeting. Victor also said Onalaska resident Joyce Diveley is interested in pursuing private funding for the sculpture, which some committee members believe should be something with which the City of Onalaska can identify. Victor also said the committee had discussed which items should be included in the 2018 CIB, public art, and maintenance for the sundial. Andrea said the sculpture Ald. Bertrand had discussed seems out of scale for the trailhead facility, adding she hopes the building would be the first feature individuals notice. Andrea also said she hopes whatever is installed can be utilized by the public. Ald. Binash said it is possible the La Crosse County Convention and Visitors Bureau may place an interactive kiosk at the Great River Landing. Victor said there are other individuals who want to be involved in the process for public art, adding he would not be surprised if a separate group becomes involved. Andrea asked that any public art be in scale and interactive. Ald. Binash said he had heard some individuals question why there should be an eagle sculpture

16 at the Great River Landing when there already is one at Riverside Park. Victor reiterated that committee members had expressed their desire to focus on something that is unique to this area. Dan told board members he had photographs from the Great River Landing s grand opening ceremony held August 26. Andrea asked why board members were not informed of the grand opening. Ald. Binash and Victor both noted there was a press release about the event, and Victor said he had received an last week informing him about the event. Dan said that he would take some of the blame, but he also told board members he was on vacation last week. Dan also said he thought the press release would make the committees aware of the ceremony. Item 9 Director s Report a. Parks Update Mark reporting the following: The summer employees have departed. Weather permitting, staff will attempt to stripe the basketball courts and the Community Center parking lot. Refuse and debris has been removed from Holiday Heights, and most of the sand has been moved back following the flooding that occurred in the area. More sand will be needed both at Holiday Heights and Sandalwood. There now is a wide-open dirt trail to the spillway. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and city staff have performed some trimming on the Great River State Trail. There also might be funding available to widen the trail. b. Recreation Update Dan reported the following: Volleyball and flag football programs begin today. The tackle football program began earlier in August. A winter and spring guide will be created. Dan noted that a lot of participation is either

17 at levels seen in the past or exceeding them thanks to and social media. c. Aquatic Center Update Dan reported the following: The Aquatic Center closed for the season on August 27. The Diggity Dog Dip will be held September 2. Dan estimated that 300 dogs will participate. d. Omni Center Update Brian reported the following: The user groups were given a chance to provide input before the winter ice was installed. Brian said the ice schedule will get more involved over the next two weeks. Dry floor events are scheduled in September. The boards will be installed and ice will be made after the completion of the craft show on October 15. A state high school hockey tournament is scheduled for the third weekend in October. The 18-team volleyball tournament hosted by Onalaska High School was successful. Dan said both Brian and staff have compiled sponsorship information. The Omni Center sponsorship information letters are being printed and will be sent soon. Dan said 120 to 130 businesses will be contacted about placing a logo on the side of the Zamboni, advertising on the outside of the boards, or advertising on the glass coming into the facility. Dan noted he had distributed to board members a draft document entitled, 2017 Omni Center Economic Impact Plan & Stage 1 Analysis. Dan noted that StriveOn is working with the city on the Omni Center app and said the facility s schedule can be found there. Dan said the Omni Center template is up and can be found by searching for StriveOn at Google Play. Dan said individuals who come to the Omni Center will be able to engage with the site, and he also said the app will include all the city s parks, amenities and photographs. Staff members have been directed to determine what they want users to experience when they download the app. Scanalytics allows staff to see the traffic entering the Omni Center for different events, and Scanalytics also has been on site for four or five events to gather data. Dan said Scanalytics has compiled an economic impact study for the Omni Center in 2017, and this data shows that the economic impact is more than $800,000. Adjournment Motion by Andrea, second by Ald. Binash, to adjourn at 6:43 p.m.

18 On voice vote, motion carried. Recorded by: Kirk Bey