Parks and Recreation Committee - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call the August 4th, 2025 park board meeting to order. Everyone, please rise for the pledge of allegiance. All right, we're going to go on to roll call. Gary Johnson, excused absence. Kathy Ste. Mary Heinman, here. Jennifer Mueller, here. Thomas Bryan, excused absence. Mike Abbott

here. Jay Erenss here. We have a quorum. Up next on our agenda, we have the approval of minutes from our June 2nd meeting. If everyone wants to take a look and see if there's any revisions that they would like to make. If there are no revisions or additions required, I make a motion that we accept them as presented. I'll second. All in favor say I. I I.

All right. So, next up on our agenda, we have public comments. It looks like we do not have any public comments tonight. So, we'll move on to our old business. Um, currently, um, our first bullet point on our old business is the bid, um, regarding the move of the Oldtown Pavilion. heard the memo they were going to there was talks this week and depending upon if those talks were taking place we might have information or we may not. Uh Dan, were you able to meet with the the moving company today or is that later this week? Uh we're trying to set up for later uh later this week. Okay. Thank you.

Okay. So then looks like we'll put that um on next month's agenda. Um, our second point of old business is a discussion regarding the improvements on the Fabric Nature Preserve overlook and we have an uh memo from Nikki on that um in July. Just as an update, as you know, we have some invasive species removal that'll be occurring within that area um with a new contract we have with the forestry cutting service um that we've extended the originally it was just related to the grant, but the board did enter into an agreement with Homestead to continue with invasive species removal within Fabic Nature Preserve um as a whole. So, one of the items on that list is for him to be in that area with the the out um with the overlook. The staircase will begin as soon as the contractor can get on site. The holdup on that has been waiting for the Bud Wild pavilion to be completed so we can start the staircase. They're going to do both projects at the same time. We were able to get a a better cost by having the two projects located near each other. Um and then also the board has approved a contract for masonry repair to the wall. We are still waiting on bids for the fencing. We only received one bid. Um the board had a concern of just getting one bid for um the fencing material. The board did settle that we do want to see a steel fence, not aluminum. Um that will be placed up there. Most likely it'll be black and as you've seen it where you know it have the slats that you see through. Um but we're we're trying to obtain some additional quotes from other fencing companies just to make sure we're getting a fair price. So

I just have one question. Are they anticipating that they're going to put So the current fence is actually in the stone. Yep. So, are they anticipating that that fence will be in that same location? Are they going to in some It's a hybrid. There's some places where it has to be the way the way it's itight. But otherwise, and Dan, correct me if I'm wrong. In the other areas, we it will not it will no longer be in the stone. And I guess when they do the masonary work, if they're pulling out those poles, they'll just repair that.

Dan, do you want to add on to anything I just said? No, that's that's uh very accurate. There's a lot of places that it's going to be off the wall. Um but yeah, like Nikki said, there are some places that it has to be there. Yep. All right. Thank you. Do you want to do you want to continue this matter for additional to look at additional um improvements up there for this year or Yes, I believe that. Let's continue this matter. Oh, continue to next. Okay. And then are we we're probably anticipating by next month there'll be additional bids for the fencing with the with Yes. With the fencing, too.

All right. I believe that concludes our old business and under new business. We we So, if my memory serves me right, we put it out to the residents um to give us some suggestions for names. um we had a list um we had a situation where we didn't see anything jump out at us that we wanted to pass along to the board of alderman. So now we have collected additional names. And I guess our goal here tonight for us is to leave here with three possible names that we're going to put forward to the b forward of alderman.

You can if you I mean if you find that there's some that you like. though. But again, if you're in a I mean, and that is an answer that you can also tell the board that again, we just didn't find one that we want to recommend. Well, I am personally intrigued by number 15, which is because that's that's India. Oh. Apologies. Um, so we have some looks like 15, 16, and 17 are some some names in Osage.

Kind of reminds me of like Minihaha. I think might have a, you know, has that connection to the Indians that lived in this area. I think I like number one, two, or 13. My only problem with 15 is being able to pronounce it. Mini haha is pretty easy to say.

That's true. I also liked and and I'm assuming that we could pick apart and re reconfigure some of these names. I also like the name of grow like grove like stand of trees we could I mean again this is totally up to you and you are the ones choosing it. Um, we haven't even started on that park. So, it's not like this is a major like, oh, we got to decide right now again. I mean, we're we just keep putting it back out there because it's eventually going to have to have a name. We're going to have to have a sign made. It's going to have to have a name eventually, you know, but we haven't even started on it yet.

Construction will begin in the spring. I kind of like the Oage Park. Second was Overlook Park. The third was Hillside Crossing.

That was number six. Yes. Number 12. Yes. My first and 13. And 13. 13.

I do kind of like that hillside crossing. I mean it's kind of up there where you have these two parks are meeting and you know it's kind of like this intersection combine them to hillside grove or take oh just hillside crossing

on nine in the back there's hilltop crossing one's hillside one's one's hilltop We can, but I'm feel like I mean it I I feel like we can put forth names to the board of alderman and they might come back and say we don't like any of these. So, I just I'm just kind of at the point where like cut cut bait and move forward and and then and then and then and then and then and then and then and then and then and then and then and they may they may have something that they really like.

Jay, do you have anything that you would like to recommend? Uh, nothing really jumps out at me. Nothing. No, I I have nothing that jumps out.

The hillside crossing one, but I'm not sure the park like we discussed. Yeah, possibly or the hill We want to make a motion to move three names for Okay. I make a motion to move three names forward and it looks like Hillside Crossing is one. Uh, looks like Overlook Park was another. And then we'll let the alderman pick a third.

I'll second. All in favor say I. I. I. All righty. So, it looks like Hillside Crossing, Overlook Park. those two. And do we have a third? No. What do you like?

I think those words. Well, I would say like why don't we give the option of Hillside Crossing or Hilltop Crossing along with Overlook Park. Okay, I concur. Okay, so we probably need to vote again. All in favor say I. I. I. All right, so let's move on. So we have uh discussion regarding park projects for the 2026 budget. Um Nikki has given us a memo on that.

Um and just stated that it's that time of year that you know by the the second week in October we need to submit something to the board of alderman for consideration to forward you know for the budget hearing that would be coming up in November for the capital plan if there's any projects for 2026. Um I have provided a copy of the long-term capital plan as a reminder. any projects that are not completed um in 2025. Usually what funding needs to roll over to the next year will be rolled over some and usually most of the projects if they were not started if they're still desired those will also be rolled over to the following calendar year. Um and just to kind of start talking about some ideas of some additions. This doesn't necessarily need to be voted on this evening. I just want to give adequate time for the committee to come up with suggestions and any items that they'd want to add to forward to the board. And I think we've had discussion in the past about one possible item being um some monies for professional landscaping and maintenance in Fenon City Park. For sure.

Um we were um there I mean staff has had some discussion about a line item for that to you know engage a professional landscaping design um installation and then of course maintenance to follow. Um we're thinking a price t around for the first year about 50,000 and that's for Fenton City Park and I would you know within that uh heroes memorial and did I hear you just brought this up to put it for us to think about. Are you looking for line items tonight?

You can we I mean we can have discussion this even and I can amend the plan and we can put it and I'll bring back the revised plan or the revised next month for you guys for further consideration.

I'd like you know a nature trail in Fabic Park on the east side from the top down to the bottom through the woods. at this point in time. Do we have any additional ideas? Um, some items that may want to be considered is a new retaining wall in Westside Park. It's not in the greatest shape. to have that replaced either in 2026 or possibly 2027.

Where exactly is that retaining wall and all through along the path when along the pathway? Yeah. Like if you're walking I haven't been over there in quite some time. So if you're walking like past past the pavilion down through that way through the lake. Yeah. It's it's what they call like a versal lock and I think the suggestion would be we move to a solid wall even if it's stamp concrete. um so many trees and things in there it's pushed them and you know forward and that they're kind it's kind of crumbling.

Um staff did receive a quote from Davy Resource that did our survey our tree survey for the entire city. Um for approximately it was like I think $13,800 um if we would want to look at having a study done next year to start the arboritum. Um that would be to identify do additional surveying and then identify the trees themselves that would be you know need to be marked and named. This would be for both Westside Westside Park and Fabic because we've identified some areas in FA in Westside that we believe could potentially easily become an arboritum area. Um that is something that if we move forward with that we could apply for a grant through what we what used to we call the trim grant the forestry grant and it's a 2575 split and we could get that survey going next year to at least start to identify the trees to start getting them labeled which is kind of the category one that you need for an arburetum.

What is our status on because they did do a tree survey I know in Fenton City Park. What is the status on on tree because I know that they identified ongoing ongoing ongoing ongoing. Our contractor was pulled into North City the last few weeks um due to storm damage. So they've been but they are back in they are back in the Fenton area now. Correct Dan? That is correct.

Yep. So we did lose some time there. Um, and we there has been some discussion that we're looking at possibly getting some additional contracts going with other tree services because there's a lot of work to go around. We budget every year $100,000. I think we increased it to $150,000 now for just tree removal and stump grinding.

I don't see a line item on here about um fixing like the path in Fenton City Park with cracks. There's I know there's one that goes right from the basketball court area like the Riverside neighborhood into the park that big island that we just did all the planting on. I know like some of the edges of the kind of the black top are all broken and crumbling and then there's roots growing underneath that have split the walkway. So that might be something we need to put some money into is fixing paths in the park. And another idea I would have about Venice City Park is the basketball courts um have really bad drainage on the river side of that. So if it rains, they have standing water. I don't know if there's a way that they could I don't I it might be some something as simple as a curb cutout, but to install some sort of drainage system over there so that water's not sitting on those courts. And it's really not so noticeable during the summer, but definitely during the spring they get a lot of standing water that remains standing for a period of days. So, we have some ideas and we we're going to continue this in our next meeting.

I will amend I will amend it. We'll see if we can get some guesstimates put together on some costs on on those items and then bring it back and for some further discussion then in um September again. So hopefully we can move forward in October. Awesome. Okay. All right. So I guess now um 2026 you've got a playground in Fenton City Park. In 2028 there's another replacement or additions to the playground. Is that the same? Is didn't the alderman just add line items for playgrounds? They did.

They did during the long range plan when we talked about the long we take the long range plan to them every year midyear. Okay. Well, if there's no further discussion tonight, we'll continue that discussion in our September meeting. Um, we have pre-advisor advisory um board items. We do not have any old business, but we do have the new business of uh park be beautifification day this fall. And the proposed day is Saturday, October 12th. or the 25th or the 25th.

So, is Saturday, is it the 12th or the 11th? Oh, it says last year we had it on Saturday, October 12th. Okay. I'm just not Okay, I was Okay, I didn't read the whole thing by mistake. I'm clear both days.

I think I would propose the 11th just so that the weather, you know, may cooperate a little bit more, but I don't personally care. I'm free both days. Are there any are there any items that you want to focus on with the event? I know last year there was a landscape island that was picked, you know, and I hear so much positive about um probably weeding. We probably need to weed a lot in a lot of different areas. I I think we're going to try to um at least get the one tree removed. I know I think we had

Oh, down at the the one island that's down by and get that cleaned out. maybe try to get a plant because that would be a good time to do a tree. Not an not a arbor tree, but we'll actually purchase one similar to how we did with pickle ball courts. Um pick a maybe a red bud or something to go in that island. We can get the root system out deep enough because I think there's a Bradford pair right there right now, I believe. Yes. And so have that stuff and lots of suckers. I'll have to find out how long I know sometimes you have to wait. We'll have to talk to our

So, do we have a motion um for the October 11th date? Okay. I'll make a motion for the October 11th date to be the fall beautifification day. I'll second. All in favor say I. I. I. So, are we still are we still focusing on Fenton Park? Is that our intention for the fall? I mean, if you if there's a different park you would prefer to choose for that day.

So, maybe this is the discussion that we would have in September of what kind of like narrow down what the plan is. So, we have some ideas that I know the the burm the burm definitely needs some need some additional work on that. And then we have some suggestions about the the smaller burm up by soldiers memorial or and um and are they going to put some professional landscaping in at the one sign on Lark and Williams that they did on the off of River Road? Yes, we have a contractor, but um right now is just there may be some that disagree with me. The wrong time to do that with the rock. It's too hot. They probably I mean for the sake of plants it probably be more successful in the fall. It will I would think

it will be. So but we have hired a contract. The contract's already been signed. We're just waiting for the weather to break. Um I'm hoping to have that installed sometime in September. Okay. So it's just going to be a little unsightly because unfortunately especially with the one along the river road, we were delayed um because it was broken in transport. So we had to wait for it to be remanufactured. All good. Okay. I guess we're moving on to park reports. Um, we have Budw. Oh, I'm sorry. Everything looked fine. It's always in good shape, I think. So,

the new pavilions, the upgrade to the pavilion is almost finished. It looks really nice up there. They installed the railing and uh next is the concrete work and then I think it will be finished

and then we'll have a um we're working with um Missouri Native Stewardship name of the company now. Um we'll be working in in all of the parks with um invasive species removal. You'll start seeing a lot of that this fall in Budweis. You may have noticed on the hillside how it looks like it's burned. Um that was a chemical treatment that was done. They'll be redoing another chemical treatment in about a month. And then we'll be doing some seeding this fall for some native native ground for that cover to burn out that that very invasive items. The yucka plants will most likely remain. They're very they're very hard to get rid of. Um but then they'll also be doing an apron around the lake this fall. You'll see that work happening. You'll see it along Hook Drive. You're going to start seeing it in Fenton City Park next week where there's going to be a forestry cutter um in the repairarian areas as we like to call it, kind of the lower lying and that's an area that'll be planted this fall and then seated in the or in the winter um just to try to get some of the that massive overgrowth that has occurred in those areas. Um so you'll you'll west side Um the focus is going to be in the entrance area when you come in with all of that overgrown the honey suckle everything that's happening again with the intent though to turn it into kind of a prairie area to where it's not just more maintenance for the city and mowing. Um but at least it gets rid of what all that invasive that you have that and again along the lake. Um we're going to be meeting with the contractor that's going to be doing that work in Missouri Department of Conservation with all the different programs we have going on um next week. So there'll be more information to come. those those items for invasive species um is already in Q in and then of course in Fabic there's the grant that we're working on that that that those items are going to continue for this year what they call areas B and C which is going to be along the main Fabic drive when you're coming in onto the side

I couldn't hear what lakes getting clearcut do what what lake is getting clear cut no the aprons the aprons around them the honeysuckle west side budwe all of the the aprons Oh, okay. Around and it's what it's going to be is they're getting sprayed. You won't see the cutting occur until the fall, but what you will see is that they'll be sprayed. They have to wait for everything else to be dormant, just the honeysuckle. So, that'll happen. So, then what happens then we'll go back in next year with the with the tools to actually remove what how we've been doing it with Fabic. And Fabic's looking good. They're doing a good job up there.

Yep. And you should start seeing more of him on site soon. Again, the conditions of the soil up there have not been great with how wet it's been and that and the height. And come to find out that machinery also does not like the high temperatures. Um it will overheat quickly. So, um hopefully I think he's hoping to be back on site this week sometime. Excellent. All right. So, we have Riverside Park, Valiant. Uh, Valiant, the pavilion looks awesome and they've done the concrete work uh to it and the path to it and it looks really good and the I don't have it in the bathrooms were working well. So, it's all good news. All good.

And the contractor is um set to start. Hopefully, he's a little delayed because we're using it's Jeffco Roofing that's taking down the old one or doing the back. No, the old one um Dan is going to take down. So, I'll I'll let you guys know. bring wheel bring your lawn chairs um when that's going to occur and the and the pavement with it. Um no to redo the roof bathroom and then the aluminum wrapping on it. So um the colors have been selected. It's on order and we're just waiting for the contractor's statement to get on site. Fabulous. Yeah, looks Yeah. Good. Okay. Up next we have Jay with Westside Park.

So I don't know if anyone has been out to Westside lately. Um, I sent a picture to Nikki. I don't know if you want to share that picture or not, Nikki. Um, I saw that there was an approval for the recommendation for the um, floating green I forgot what it's called again. The green uh, floating wetlands. Yeah, that's it. Floating wetlands. Hey Dan, when is that going to take place? We're meeting with the Missouri Department of Conservation on the 14th and that's part of the conversation is when th that work is going to begin.

Okay, cool. Yeah. Um it's in pretty rough shape as y'all could all imagine. Um in addition, there are several uh tree limbs that are impending the walk paths, the walking paths. uh some large bushes and some large limbs that you have to either duck completely down about four feet or you got to walk off the path to get around them. Um so they could definitely use a there's a lot of trimming that needs to be done. Um there are several dead trees uh three to four large dead trees that are encircling the playground and big concern there if a big wind comes through they're going to come down directly on the playground. So, I would highly recommend getting a crew out there to have those removed because they could be lethal. That's my report.

Thanks, Jay.

Mike, we have um overall the park looks real good. Um there's benches at Presser Lake that have some erosion around the base. Kind of a trip hazard. trails through the um woods that are unpaved have ruts and roots and around the the ponds need some overseating for the bare dirt. But other than that, the the lakes look good. There's an installation of a new bathroom that's in progress. Uh the draken fountain works. Um the prairie area has been brushed out. It's coming along and they were able to get into the grass path on the east side and mow it. So, it's passable now.

Thanks, Mike. Um, up next we have uh Fen City Park. Um, they're doing I appreciate when I go there it's like trash is always and I walk there frequently. They're doing a good job. Trash is always picked up. I mean, whoever's whoever's canvasing that on a regular basis is doing a good job. Um, two things. I think this may have been mentioned before. Both of those water fountains have um I've heard low water pressure working at all.

Yeah. The the at the back one by the back pavilions, kid height and the dog have such low water pressure, they're unfunctional. And then at the one up by the old tennis courts, um the water dispenser works fine. The doggy bout doesn't work at all.

Okay. And the other thing that I put in my report, just that burm that we worked on that just I don't, you know, I don't know if the plan is if we're going to wait till the 11th, but probably putting a plan either to either pull weeds or chemically kill weeds. And it looks like the looks like it needs additional mulch. So the mulch is kind of, you know, through rain it's kind of there's some places that are sparse. Um and then maybe a consideration for for next year to come back and see what see what has survives the winter um down there and if we need to readjust any plannings would be Yeah, that's all I have. And I believe that is probably the end of our park reports. So if there's any additional updates from the city staff, we'd love to hear them.

You already did your pretty much. Um just the items that uh went through the board of alderman last month that were passed was the contract to do the masonary repair for the city parks project. And then also um um we were offered through Clarity who did the signs the the boulders that if we wanted to do all the rest of the parks they kind of gave us a a good price to do the rest of them. And so, um, Valiant Westside, Budwe, Favic Nature Preserve, and that was it.

Oh, yeah. The four. So, the Favic Nature Preserve will be on the corner down at Green Acres on Lark and Williams. And then Valiant and Budwe and Westside will all have those rocks that look just like the others. So, so I have a quick question. I think. Don't you when you come into Riverside, isn't it on one side, isn't there like a Riverside subdivision sign and the other side's a Valiant Park sign? Okay. Is that going to look odd? At Valiant Park, it's a stone sign and then we still have the same old redwood plank sign for River for Riverside. I not that I care, but I'm just thinking aesthetically.

There was a discussion about that. Um that is a subdivision sign and um I guess the thought was that not all the subdivisions in city fenton are are are getting replaced with the board is not spending that kind of money on all subdivision signs and they would probably those boulders would probably not look great and I mean most of the subdivisions probably wouldn't want them. Um so there was a discussion about that and if that's something you and the board approved four of them. Okay. And as Mike said, the bathroom, the restroom is uh waiting for the concrete work and then it will be open the one at the Fabic property and then the Budw Wild project and the forestry and everything that Nikki spoke of

and the mayor has asked that I just um inform I just again this is the YMCA and it's not really under the purview but just to remind people that the school will be closed uh for a week. Is that starting next week or the following week? They do this annually where they'll do so the indoor pool will be closed for the annual cleaning that they do so that people can utilize the outdoor 11th. Yeah. And um it will just be the indoor pool. The outdoor pool will still be open.

And then also we we did discover that if you've driven by the Riverchase sign, it's a little off. Uh we had some hail damage that occurred. So we had uh put that into our insurance company. We found out that the sign itself could not be repaired. So, it would actually have to be the replacement of the cabinet. That is something that is going to be going to the board of aldermen for discussion. Um because Riverchase has stated that they YMCA has stated that they're not necessarily um find that that that the electronic message is needed and maybe look at just going back to a pylon type sign in that area. If there's no additional information, um a reminder that we're going to have the next park board meeting on Tuesday, September 9th, which I think is pushed back a week because of Labor Day

and courts. There was we had to pick a day that So, is everybody good with that? Or or let me know in the next few days if you remember. But yeah, unfortunately it was a conflict with planning and zoning ports and the following Monday. What's that date again? You said uh Tuesday the 9th. Tuesday the 9th. Okay, no problem. Okay. And if we do we have a motion to adjourn.

Hey, can I do a quick shout out to Can I do a quick shout out to Dan Howard? Um, I just want to say congratulation on the flood plane manager of the year. That's a great award, Dan, and just want to say well done, bud. Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Welcome. I make a motion to adjourn. Second. All in favor say I. I. I. Wow.