MARATHON COUNTY PARK COMMISSION AGENDA
ADDENDUM
Date Tuesday, November 7, 2017 Conference Room 3 Time 3:30pm 212 River Drive, Wausau, WI 54403
Gary Gisselman (President), Jacob Langenhahn (Vice-President) Commissioners: Connie Conrad, John Durham, Joe Gehin, Pat Peckham, Rick Seefeldt
Marathon County Mission Statement: Marathon County Government serves people by leading, coordinating, and providing county, regional, and statewide initiatives. It directly or in cooperation with other public and private partners provides services and creates opportunities that make Marathon County and the surrounding area a preferred place to live, work, visit, and do business. (Last updated: 12-20-05)
Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department Mission Statement - To provide a park and forest recreation system that will meet the needs of our current and future generations, preserve and protect the County’s open space, water, historical, cultural, and natural resources; and provide recreation opportunities that are designed to enhance the County’s quality of life.
Agenda Items:
I. Call to Order
II. Public Comment Period – Not to Exceed 15 Minutes
III. Approve Minutes of the September 5, 2017 Park Commission Meeting
Policy Discussion and Possible Action
IV. Humane Society Outdoor Kennels - Discussion and Possible Action Concerning Humane Society Proposal to Install Outdoor Kennels at their Facility Adjacent to Sunny Vale Park and Softball Complex
V. Motor Bicycles on the Mountain-Bay State Park Trail – Discussion and Possible Action on Allowing Motor Bicycles on the Mountain-Bay State Park Trail
Education
VI. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Update – Report and Discussion on the Implications of EAB Being Found in the Wausau Area
VII. Department Director Position – Report and Discussion on the Retirement and Subsequent Recruitment of the Department Director Position
VIII. Report and Discussion of Current Programs and Events
IX. Project Update
X. Future Agenda Items
XI. Next Regular Meeting – Tuesday, December 5, 2017 at 3:30pm
XII. Adjournment Signed______Presiding Officer or His Designee
FAXED TO DAILY HERALD THIS NOTICE POSTED AT THE COURTHOUSE (Email/Fax City Pages, Marshfield News, Midwest Radio Group) Date______Time______Date______Time______By______By______Any person planning to attend this meeting who needs some type of special accommodation in order to participate should call the County Clerk’s Office at 715-261-1500 or e-mail [email protected] one business day before the meeting. DRAFT MARATHON COUNTY PARK COMMISSION WAUSAU, WI Regular Meeting Tuesday, September 5, 2017 212 River Drive, Wausau WI 3:30 pm
Present: Connie Conrad, John Durham, Joe Gehin, Gary Gisselman, Pat Peckham, Rick Seefeldt Excused: Jacob Langenhahn Staff Present: Bill Duncanson, Peter Knotek, Dan Fiorenza, Greg Freix Others Present: Media-Channel 7 WSAW
Posting of the Agenda: President Gary Gisselman called the meeting to order. Official notice and the agenda for this meeting were posted publicly in accordance with the State statutes.
Public Comment Period – none brought forward
Motion by Durham, second by Conrad to approve the August 1, 2017 Park Commission and Joint Park Commission/Fair Board minutes. Motion carried by voice vote, no dissent.
2018 Budget - Discussion and Possible Action on the Proposed Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department 2018 Budget – Duncanson said the 2018 budget is coming together more slowly than in previous years. It may be a good thing because material and supply costs can be expected to increase because of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Personnel costs include wage increases of two percent. Benefit cost increases are currently budgeted at 5% for health insurance and 0% for dental. The Department is proposing to increase seasonal wages by at least $1.00/hour depending on the difficulty in recruiting various positions and how critical those positions are for delivering various services. Some may be increased a bit more based on scarcity and that will probably occur more on the City side than the County side. There were some revenue increases in 2017 in a number of areas but it doesn’t reflect a lot in the routine base budget a whole lot because some of the greatest revenue increases were in areas where there are specialized budgets like Nine Mile and the Eastbay Sports Complex. Staff is proposing a 5% increase in shelter fees because the shelter fees are low compared to other park agencies in central Wisconsin. These fees would apply to the 2019 shelter rates because the 2018 fees are already set. Staff is proposing to eliminate the words boat launch from the boat launch violation and create a violation notice that covers launches and other fee areas like Nine Mile. Currently if someone doesn’t pay the posted fee at boat launches they are given a $25.00 violation notice. If they were to be given an ordinance citation for not paying the fee it would cost them $200.50 including the legal and court costs. Violation notice revenues stay in the Department while ordinance citation revenues do not. The Department is going to increase the violation notice fee to $50.00 because significant administrative time is spent on dealing with many of them. Duncanson explained that a new fee is being instituted for opening a shelter prior to 8:00 a.m. which will cover the overtime expense of bringing in an employee to do that. A MPB#1 and MPB#2 compromise rate was negotiated between hockey and figure skating, and there is a fee for private sector demonstrations of bicycles or other equipment at Nine Mile. Non-commercial and commercial livestock event fees were clarified for Seefeldt. Motion by Conrad, second by Seefeldt to approve the Marathon County comprehensive fee schedule for 2018 and into 2019. Motion carried by voice vote, no dissent.
Program and Event Report – Report and Discussion on Current Programs and Events – Fiorenza said some upcoming events include a power boat racing event at Bluegill Bay Park, the 1st Annual Ginseng Festival, Artworld/Art in the Park, Ragnar Running Race, United Way Community Fest, Stable
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Hands fundraiser, and a ride for Jason Weiland. An Ultimate Frisbee Tournament will be held at Eastbay Sports Complex and the final event there will be the Fall Mountain Bay Cup with 60 teams from around the State. A week from today the ice gets going in Marathon Park and will be well utilized. The Riverwolves will be starting in October.
Project Update - Hockey Locker Room – The Youth Hockey Locker Room project has been approved by the Fair Board, CIP Committee and Employee Resources and Finance Committee. We expect approval by the County Board. - 45°N, 90°W Geographic Marker – Trail construction is complete and the concrete marker has been poured as well as four of the five bench pads. Fencing and four benches will be installed this week. Restoration work is needed along the trail and parking lot. Temporary signage has to be printed and installed prior to Ginseng Fest on Sept. 15-16. Additional site work and permanent interpretive signage will be in place for summer 2018. - Marathon Park Stage – The preliminary estimate to remove the stage, relocate water and sanitary lines, construct a new electrical shed and relocate electric services and switch gear, and restore the site comes to about $70,000.
Future Agenda Items – nothing brought forward
Next Meeting – Regular Meeting Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 3:30 pm at 212 River Drive, Wausau WI 54403
Adjournment – Motion by Durham, second by Conrad to adjourn at 4:30 p.m. Motion carried by voice vote, no dissent.
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Marathon County Park Commission November 7, 2017
AGENDA SUMMARY (WITH ADDENDUM)
IV. Outdoor Kennels – Discussion and Possible Action Encouraging Humane Society Proposal to Install Outdoor Kennels at Their Facility Adjacent to Sunny Vale Park and Softball Complex
May 29, 2017 the Marathon County Board approved a lease agreement (attached) with the Humane Society to lease 4.49 acres of park land to develop and operate an animal shelter. The lease agreement specified that “… the general exterior appearance of all such buildings and additions shall be subject to the approval of the Park Commission, such approval not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.”
Within the last couple of years, the State revised its requirements on keeping dogs to require daily exercise (ATCP 16.22 enclosed) and the Humane Society does not have indoor space available. Subsequently, the Humane Society has developed a plan to create an outdoor kennel/exercise area to comply with the State statute and Wausau Municipal Code 8.08.200 Dangerous Animals (enclosed). PRF staff had input into their plan including mitigating noise from boarding. This plan (attached letter and site plan) required a zoning variance from the City of Wausau which was recently approved. The outdoor area will be utilized between 8 am and 7:30 pm daily. The majority of use will occur between 8 AM and noon when dogs are rotated outside while the indoor pens are being cleaned.
At this point, the Humane Society has obtained cost estimates and raised the necessary funds for the project at current material costs. Staff recommends approving the Humane Society’s plans for an outdoor kennel and exercise area which includes 2 banks of 13 kennels and 1 bank of 5 high security kennels. All are on concrete pads and have partial roofs for weather protection and sound attenuation and all have the required security fencing and gating.
V. Motor Bicycles on the Mountain-Bay State Park Trail – Discussion and Possible Action on Allowing Motor Bicycles on the Mountain-Bay State Park Trail
On August 1, 2017 the Wisconsin Statute NR 45.05(3)(em) Motor bicycles (enclosed) went into effect. The statute allows bicycles with electric motors (E-bikes) at speeds less than 15 MPH while the motor is engaged on State trails. It also allows bicycles with non-electric motors, however, the non-electric motors cannot be operated. State trails that are operated by cooperative partners may “opt out”. Accordingly, the Mountain-Bay State Park Trails cooperative partners (Marathon, Shawano, and Brown County) need to decide whether they wish to allow motorized bicycles or not. Brown and Shawano Counties have already approved this use although Brown County did it on a 12 month trial basis.
Staff review finds that permitting E-bikes on bicycle trails with a 15 MPH limit on motor assisted speeds is becoming the norm on a national basis. Typical muscle powered bicycle travel speeds on bicycle trails are 10-12 MPH and serious cyclists can easily sustain 15+ MPH on unpaved trails and road bikers can sustain 20 MPH+ on paved trails. Staff recommends not “opting out” of NR45.05(3)(em) Motor Bicycles.
ATCP 16.22 Dogs kept indoors. The following requirements apply to an indoor facility at which a person keeps dogs pursuant to a license under s. ATCP 16.02 (1): (e) Each dog kept in the primary enclosure shall have access for at least 30 minutes each day to an indoor or outdoor run or area for exercise that is large enough for the dog's size and temperament, considering the number of dogs that may use the run or exercise area at the same time. The run or exercise area shall be large enough so that the dog can achieve a running stride. Note: A primary enclosure may also function as a run or exercise area if it complies with par. (e).
Wausau Municipal Code 8 - 1 Title 8 ANIMALS Chapters: 8.08 AnimalsCCare and Control 8.08.200 Dangerous animals. (a) Prohibitions. (6) Duty to keep animal under restraint while on owner's or caretaker’s property. While on the owner's or caretaker’s property, a dangerous animal must be securely and humanely confined indoors or when outdoors, kept in a secure enclosed and locked pen or structure, suitable to prevent the entry of young children, and designed to prevent the animal from escaping or as set forth in subsection (d)(7). (A) Indoor confinement. No dangerous animal may be kept on a porch, patio or in any part of a house or structure on the premises of the owner or caretaker that would allow the animal to exit the premises of its own volition. No dangerous animal may be kept in a house or structure when the windows are open or when screen windows or screen doors are the only obstacles preventing the animal from exiting the structure. (B) Outdoor confinement. All owners or caretakers of a dangerous animal must maintain on the property a pen or kennel as provided in this subsection. The pen or kennel shall be child proof from the outside and animal proof from the inside. A strong metal double fence with adequate space between fences (at least two feet) shall be provided so that a child cannot reach into the animal enclosure. Such pen or structure must have secure sides and a secure top attached to all sides. The pen or structure shall be locked with a key or combination lock when the animal is within the structure. If it has no bottom secured to the sides, the sides must be imbedded into the ground no less than two feet. The enclosure must also provide protection from the elements for the animal. All structures erected to house dangerous animals shall comply with all city building and zoning regulations and be adequately lighted and ventilated and kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
Jodi Luebbe
From: William Duncanson Sent: Wednesday, November 1, 2017 10:38 AM To: Jodi Luebbe Subject: FW: ACTION REQUIRED: Electric Bikes
Jodi,
For November Park Commission
Bill
From: Raleigh Moses, Kelly L ‐ DNR [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, October 31, 2017 5:02 PM To: William Duncanson
Hi Bill,
I apologize for the delay in my response. When we discussed the e‐bike issue you have a couple of questions regarding the use, below is some additional information.
E‐bikes are allowed on projects that were funded with FHWY moneys (i.e. Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, TAP, TE or other similar programs). There is specific language related to this “When permitted by State or local regulations, electric bicycles may be used on federally‐funded trails and pedestrian walkways.”
Statewide information on which trails have decided to allow or prohibit the use. Statewide, Brigit Brown, is still receiving information and working to compile the information. The information will be posted on the DNR webpage. I have a spreadsheet for the cooperative state trails that I managed, see below.
Property Name County E-Bike Allowe
DEVIL'S RIVER STATE TRAIL Brown Yes
FOX RIVER STATE TRAIL Brown Yes
MOUNTAIN-BAY STATE TRAIL Brown Yes FRIENDSHIP STATE TRAIL/FOX CITIES TRESTLE C.Menasha/Fox Pending TRAIL Crossing FOX RIVER STATE TRAIL Calumet Yes FRIENDSHIP STATE TRAIL Calumet Yes AHNAPEE STATE TRAIL Door Pending NICOLET STATE TRAIL Florence Yes EISENBAHN STATE TRAIL Fond du Lac Yes
1 MASCOUTIN VALLEY STATE TRAIL Fond du Lac Yes WILD GOOSE STATE TRAIL Fond du Lac Yes NICOLET STATE TRAIL Forest Pending 10/31 WOLF RIVER STATE TRAIL Forest Pending 10/31 MASCOUTIN VALLEY STATE TRAIL Green Lake No AHNAPEE STATE TRAIL Kewaunee Pending 11/14 WOLF RIVER STATE TRAIL Langlade Yes DEVIL'S RIVER STATE TRAIL Manitowoc Yes Pending 11/7 w MOUNTAIN-BAY STATE TRAIL Marathon meeting MOUNTAIN-BAY STATE TRAIL Oconto Yes NICOLET STATE TRAIL Oconto No OCONTO RIVER STATE TRAIL Oconto No MASCOUTIN VALLEY STATE TRAIL Outagamie Yes NEWTON BLACKMOUR STATE TRAIL Outagamie Yes WIOUWASH STATE TRAIL Outagamie Yes GREEN CIRCLE STATE TRAIL Portage Yes TOMORROW RIVER STATE TRAIL Portage Yes MOUNTAIN-BAY STATE TRAIL Shawano Yes NICOLET STATE TRAIL Shawano Yes WIOUWASH STATE TRAIL Shawano Yes TOMORROW RIVER STATE TRAIL Waupaca Yes WIOUWASH STATE TRAIL Waupaca Yes FRIENDSHIP STATE TRAIL Winnebago No MASCOUTIN VALLEY STATE TRAIL Winnebago No WIOUWASH STATE TRAIL/TRIBAL HERITAGE Winnebago No CROSSING
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thanks, Kelly
We are committed to service excellence. Visit our survey at http://dnr.wi.gov/customersurvey to evaluate how I did.
Kelly Raleigh Moses Phone: (920) 662‐5138 Cell: (920) 366‐5095 [email protected]
______From: Raleigh Moses, Kelly L - DNR 2 Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2017 8:23 AM To: '[email protected]'; Dan Peters ([email protected]); '[email protected]'; 'Keith Marquardt'; Tobias, Sam ([email protected]); '[email protected]'; Butzine, Kristine A. ([email protected]); 'David Myers'; '[email protected]'; '[email protected]'; 'Way, Rob ([email protected])' ([email protected]); Pete Tarnowski
Hi All,
As of August 1, electric bikes are allowed on our NR 51.73 – Designated State Trails that allow bikes. Below is the entire administrative code language.
NR 45.05(3)(em) Motor bicycles. 1. A motor bicycle as defined in s. 340.01 (30), Stats., may be operated on trails listed in s. NR 51.73 (1) and subject to this chapter that are otherwise open to bicycles under any of the following conditions: a. When equipped with an electric motor: at speeds of less than 15 miles per hour while the motor is engaged. b. When equipped with a non-electric motor: without the motor engaged, running or otherwise in operation. 2. The department may allow operation of motor bicycles on specific trails or sections of trails not listed in s. NR 51.73 (1) that are all of the following: a. Open to nonmotorized bicycle use. b. Specified in a department master plan under ch. NR 44. c. Posted as open for such use. 3. The department may prohibit operation of motor bicycles on specific trails or sections of trails by posted notice. No person may operate a motor bicycle on a trail open to bicycles and posted closed to motor bicycles. Note: Any motor bicycle capable of speeds greater than 30 miles per hour is a motorcycle per s. 340.01 (32), Stats. and may only be operated by the public off of public roads where authorized and under the conditions of s. NR 45.05 (5).
However, as a State Trail Cooperative Partner you may prohibit motor bicycles on State Trails that you manage (“by posted notice”). This “opt out” provision was added into the proposed code changes specifically to accommodate our trail cooperators.
Please let me know by October 6th if any of your cooperative state trails will be prohibiting electric bicycles. If you prohibit motor bicycles, you are required to post notice of the prohibition on the trail. A simple sign(s) at trailheads along the lines of “Electric bicycles not allowed” would work.
DNR Please let me know if you there been any changes on the state trails that would not allow winter bicycle use? I believe there are a couple of state trails that do not allow winter bicycle use in my work area.
Finally, please take a moment to review the Wisconsin State Park System Bicycle Trail webpage ‐ http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/activities/bike.html. The page includes basic information, including winter/fat biking and electric bikes. Please let me know if there are any needed changes or suggestions.
Thanks, Kelly
We are committed to service excellence. Visit our survey at http://dnr.wi.gov/customersurvey to evaluate how I did.
Kelly Raleigh Moses Northeast District Trail Coordinator 3 Bureau of Parks / Fisheries, Parks, and Wildlife Division Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Green Bay Service Center 2984 Shawano Avenue Green Bay, Wisconsin 54313‐6727 Phone: (920) 662‐5138 Cell: (920) 366‐5095 Fax: (920) 662‐5413 [email protected]
dnr.wi.gov
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Emerald Ash Borer Confirmed in Marathon County
Release Date: 10/12/17 Contact: Donna Gilson 608-224-5130, [email protected] Bill Cosh, Communications Director 608-224-5020, [email protected]
MADISON – Emerald ash borer has been confirmed in Marathon County, and the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) will quarantine the county as a result. A tree care service found infested trees on private property along the Wisconsin River in the Town of Rib Mountain, adjacent to the city of Wausau. Specimens were identified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Tuesday, Oct. 10. "Although we have now found EAB in well over half the counties in Wisconsin, much of the area in those counties remains uninfested. Human activity has caused these scattered infestations, not natural spread of the insect. So, it's still important for people not to move firewood out of infested areas, even within their own quarantined counties," said Brian Kuhn, director of the Plant Industry Bureau within DATCP. That precaution can delay introduction to new areas of quarantined counties for years. For private citizens, the quarantine means that they cannot take firewood from quarantined counties to non-quarantined counties. For businesses handling wood products that could carry EAB, it means that they must work with DATCP to assure that their products are pest-free before shipping. Kuhn recommends that property owners in quarantined counties: Watch ash trees for signs of possible EAB infestation: Thinning in the canopy, D-shaped holes in the bark, new branches sprouting low on the trunk, cracked bark, and woodpeckers pulling at the bark to get to insect larvae beneath it. Consider preventive treatments if their property is within 15 miles of a known infestation. Whether to treat depends on several factors: the age of the trees, the size of the trees, and the number of trees. Treatment costs vary depending on size of the tree and whether you do the treatments yourself or hire a professional. Consider planting different species of trees that are not susceptible to EAB. Contact a professional arborist for expert advice, and visit emeraldashborer.wi.gov for detailed information. Emerald ash borer is native to China and probably entered the United States on packing material, showing up first in Michigan in 2002. It was first found in Wisconsin in 2008 in Washington County. Marathon County joins 46 other Wisconsin counties where EAB has been found: Adams, Brown, Buffalo, Calumet, Chippewa, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, La Crosse, Lafayette, Manitowoc, Marinette, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Portage, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, Trempealeau, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago and Wood. Kewaunee County is also under quarantine because of the proximity of infestations in neighboring counties. ###
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PARK COMMISSION NOVEMBER 7, 2017
PROJECT UPDATE
Marathon Park Hockey Locker Rooms Work is progressing on the two new locker rooms on the north side of MPB#2. Concrete and block work is complete. Roof installation should begin this week.
Marathon Park Grandstand Stage Removal Park staff has met several times with representatives of the Fair Board. A renovation plan has been completed and is in final review. All demolition and renovation to be completed prior to the 2018 Fair.