At tonight’s Board of Park Commissioners meeting, the following events were approved:

• A request from Christina Salinas on behalf of the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to place the stand for three non-consecutive days in Veteran’s Memorial Park on the corner of 52nd Street and 6th Avenue.  Salinas stated that they were able to raise over $1,000 last year.  She also requested permission to make use of a 10 x 10 tent to provide shade, and the commission gave its approval on that as well.
• A request from the Kite Society of Wisconsin and Gift of Wings to hold their Outta Sight Kite Flight in Kennedy Park on June 2-3, 2012; and for full sponsorship.  Scott Fisher stated that this was the society’s 11th annual event.  “It’s a fun, free, family event,” said Fisher.

• A request from the Wisconsin Marathon, LLC, to hold their event in HarborPark and the surrounding streets on Saturday, May 5, 2012; to utilize park equipment; and for permission to sell fermented malt beverages.
• A request from the Kiwanis Club of Western Kenosha to hold their Taste of Wisconsin event in HarborPark and Celebration Place on July 27-29, 2012; to request to utilize park equipment; permission to sell fermented malt beverages; to extend the closing hour to 11:00 pm; and for full sponsorship.
• A request from the Kenosha Band Booster, Inc., to hold their Ice Cream Social at Simmons Island on Tuesday, July 17, 2012, with full sponsorship.
• A request from KUSD to close MLK Drive in Lincoln Park for the Cross Country Meet with a waiver of fee for use of the picnic shelter.

The following items were deferred for two weeks:

• A request from the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha to hold their Juneteenth Festival in Pennoyer Park with the Bandshell (1st choice) or HarborPark and Celebration Place (second choice) on Saturday, June 23, 2012 (rain date of Saturday, July 7, 2012); to utilize park equipment; and for full sponsorship.  No representative from the Urban League was present at the meeting.  Chairman Michael Orth stated that he wanted to discuss the change of venue from Lincoln Park with the organizers before approval.  Alderperson Anthony Kennedy made the following statements:  “This is not an event that belongs in Lincoln Park.  It’s not an African American event, and it’s not an inner city event.  It’s open to all residents of Kenosha.”
• The service agreement with Applied Ecological Services for Anderson Park rain garden maintenance.  Orth had a lot of questions on this issue.  “Did we know that there were going to be maintenance costs three years ago when we approved this?” he asked.  “I guess we thought that there was no maintenance with the rain gardens.  We thought they would magically take the water away.  Now, we need $4,000 to maintain them.  Wouldn’t the gutters have been cheaper?”  Shelley Billingsley, city engineer, stated that 2010 was the first year of maintenance.  “The first three years of a rain garden’s installation are the most critical.  It takes three years after planting the native plants for the natives to ‘out-survive’ the weeds.”  Plus, Orth wanted clarification on whether or not a non-union shop was going to be used with prevailing wage rates, and whether or not the sales tax item was included or not.  The item is, therefore, being deferred to get answers to these two questions.

The following item was received and filed:

• Requests from Stephanie Poska for her wedding and reception to be held along the lakefront on a date to be determined:  Park site:  Eichelman, Pennoyer or Simmon’s Island; to allow fermented malt beverages; to allow a DJ; and to extend the park closing time to 11:00 pm or midnight.  These requests were received in the form of a letter to the commission.  Orth stated that there is no policy on this type of request, and the committee needs time to put a policy in place.  Ed Antaramian, city attorney, stated that the proper method of handling would be to receive and file the requests.  Once a policy is put in place, Poska can then apply.

The following other business items were approved:

• The fireworks display agreement by and between the city and MIAND, Inc., dba Mad Bomber Fireworks Productions, in the amount of $41,300.  Jeff Warnock, parks superintendent, stated that this company worked well.  “We heard nothing but compliments,” he said.  The County is paying $12,000 to $14,000, and $10,000 was received from Walgreen’s to help cover the costs.
• The lease between the city and New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, and the Joint Parkland and Communications Facility Development Agreement, for property located at 1613 Washington Road.  Antaramian stated that several changes were made to the lease agreement since its initial review at the Common Council meeting several weeks ago.  The five-year initial term was changed to a guaranteed ten-year term.  The purchase price was lowered to equal the assessed value of the property (it was decreased $17,000).  He stated that he thought it was a good deal for the city.  Kennedy said that he didn’t read every page of the contract; therefore, he requested a compare and contrast analysis, and Orth told him that it would be sent out tomorrow.  Kennedy is “trusting that it’s a good deal.”

The commissioners also accepted a donation in the amount of $10,000 from Western Kiwanis Baseball to be placed in the Nash Park Account.  Warnock stated that any proposed park improvements would have to come before the commissioners for authorization.

Informational items included:

• 2012 special events approved by the Parks Administration, which do not have to come before the commission for approval.
• Poerio Park enhancements near the Nature Center.  Billingsley stated that the DNR requirement of filling the pond has been completed.  Next steps are grading, seeding, and fertilizing.  The costs for these items have not been included in the 2012 CORP Plan.  She stated that they are looking for options for the area.  Possible ideas are a nature-themed playground and an ice rink area.  She is looking for input and direction from the commission.  Orth asked, “So does this mean that we are admitting that the crayfish have won?”  Billingsley stated that “no pond is coming back.”  Orth stated that this was not an urgent item.  “It’s a battle lost to the crayfish,” he said.
• Project Status Report.

John Christensen spoke during the Citizens’ Comments portion of the meeting.  He believes that the tree-trimming and tree-removal city contracts should be revised to include storm language.  If the company is hired to do storm damage, the rates included in the contract should be declared null and void.  He also believes that work permits should be applied for through City Hall for any vendor wanting to do business with the city, as they do in the Village of Williamette.  Also, a company needs to have workers’ compensation insurance.  Another request he had was to include an aerial truck in the parade this year.