Dane County

Minutes - Final Unless Amended by

Committee

Park Commission

Consider:

Who benefits? Who is burdened?

Who does not have a voice at the table?

How can policymakers mitigate unintended consequences?

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

5:30 PM

Virtual Zoom Meeting: See top of agenda for

instructions

A. Call To Order

Chair Ripp called the Park Commission meeting to order at 5:30 PM.

Youth Governance Member Present: Emily Cai.

Staff Present: Joleen Stinson, Chris James, Lael Pascual, Sharene Smith, Ryan Schwab

(by phone).

7 -

Present:

ANALIESE EICHER, DAVE RIPP, TOM THORESEN, GRACE MORAN, KRISTIE

GOFORTH, STEFANIE BROUWER and NANCY BOGUE

B. Consideration of Minutes

Minutes of the Wednesday, April 27, 2022 Park Commission

2022

MIN-035

Attachments: 2022_MIN-035_PC_MINUTES_4-27-22

PC Registrants 4-27-2022

A motion was made by GOFORTH, seconded by MORAN, that the Minutes be

approved. The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0, YGP 1-0.

C. Fund Transfers - None

D. Referrals (Resolutions & Ordinance Amendments)

1. 2022

RES-027

AUTHORIZING ACCEPTANCE OF A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT

AND PHEASANT STAMP FUNDS FROM THE WI DEPARTMENT OF

NATURAL RESOURCES FOR WALKING IRON WILDLIFE AREA

RESTORATION

RIPP, CHAWLA, DOOLAN and RITT

Sponsors:

Attachments: 2022 RES-027

2022 RES-027 Fiscal Note

A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by MORAN, that the Resolution

Requiring 2/3rds Vote be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a

voice vote 7-0, YGP 1-0.

2. 2022

RES-028

AUTHORIZING SUBMITTAL OF A GRANT APPLICATION TO THE

WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES FOR

DEVELOPMENT OF THE WAUCHEETA CONNECTOR TRAIL

RIPP, HUELSEMANN, CHAWLA, EICHER, BARE and RITT

Sponsors:

Attachments: 2022 RES-028

2022 RES-028 Fiscal Note

A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by THORESEN, that the Resolution

be recommended for approval. The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0, YGP 1-0.

E. Items Requiring Committee Action

1. Renaming Waakikizu Natural Resource Area

The Waunakee Community Middle School shared a video with the Park Commission

discussing how the project was incorporated into their curriculum:

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFAUUQFdqg/tiTsHjJTN26q4yayYFTLEQ/watch

Renaming Waakikizu Natural Resource Area

2022

ACT-009

Attachments: Renaming Waakikizu Natural Resource Area

A motion was made by BROUWER, seconded by THORESEN, to direct staff to

prepare a resolution to rename this parcel to the Waakikizu Natural Resource

Area. The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0, YGP 1-0.

2. Approve Endowment Distribution Requests from the Madison Community Foundation

MCF Endowment Distribution Request

2022

ACT-008

Attachments: MCF Endowment Distribution Request

A motion was made by GOFORTH, seconded by BROUWER, to authorize the

Parks Director to make a grant disbursement request from the Madison

Community Foundation's Friends of Dane County Parks Endowment for

$23,380.76 and the Stephen D Morton Fund for Morton Forest for $15,676.25.

The motion carried by a voice vote 7-0, YGP 1-0.

F. Presentations

1. Property stabilization at Indian Lake County Park - building demo

Dane County purchased this 295 acre property in early 2021 and added it to Indian Lake

County Park. The house, barn and smaller outbuildings were removed this spring.

Several area fire departments participated in training exercises in the house before the

final burn. Staff discussed the permitting process, the testing and removal of hazardous

materials, and the recycling process for salvageable building materials.

Dane County Parks has started a property planning process for Indian Lake County Park

and Halfway Prairie Wildlife Area located in the Northwestern part of Dane County,

Wisconsin. The planning process will include inventorying significant cultural, historical

and natural features as well as provide future land management and park development

recommendations through a consensus building process.

G. Reports to Committee

1. Update on access and equity projects

Last fall, the County Board Office contracted with Keen Independent Research to

conduct a program evaluation of equity and access in Dane County Parks and Henry

Vilas Zoo to gain a better understanding of the demographics of who is currently using

our Parks and Zoo, who is not visiting and what the barriers are, and provide

recommendations. Keen Independent has conducted virtual internal stakeholder

interviews and is planning to hold on-site surveys with parks and zoo users on June 3, 4

and 5 at Law Park, Indian Lake County Park, the Henry Vilas Zoo, WG Lunney Lake

Farm Park, and the Lower Yahara River Trail.

Madison Metro Transit is going through a route update. In our analysis of Dane County

Park access, we found the following regarding the redesign: Access to Mendota County

Park remains the same. Access to Cherokee Marsh and the Ice Age Junction is

somewhat improved with closer proximity, but still some distance away, and only during

peak hours for Cherokee. Access to Lake View Hill park is somewhat reduced. Access

to the Jenny and Kyle Preserve which explicitly serves youth and people with disabilities

has been removed. The disconnect of this important park should be reconsidered.

Access to Tenney Park Lock and Dam has also been removed with no direct service.

Dane County Parks is working with the Sierra Club Wisconsin Chapter and YWCA to put

together a pilot shuttle service that will include WG Lunney Lake Farm Park, the Alliant

Energy Center and the Henry Vilas Zoo.

H. Future Meeting Items and Dates

May 16 - Indian Lake Property Plan PIM at the Heritage Center / hybrid virtual

May 19 - Anderson Dog Park Ribbon Cutting

May 25 - Park Commission Meeting at Walking Iron County Park (Beckman Rd

entrance)

May 27 - Waakikizu Natural Resource Area Renaming Press Event with Waunakee

Middle School

June 6 - Indian Lake Property Plan PIM at the Town of Berry Town Hall Shelter

June 8 - Park Commission Meeting at the Heritage Center / hybrid virtual

I. Public Comment on Items not on the Agenda