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Parks director outlines Mineola Pavilion pitch to finance committee; council approved Saratoga Lake study contract 12-3
Summary
Parks staff told the board they will present Mineola Pavilion and other capital projects to the finance committee; the Common Council approved a contract 12-3 to study Saratoga Lake options, and staff reported steady operating budgets, successful beer gardens and more than 320 before‑and‑after‑school registrations in August.
Rob, the parks director, briefed the Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board on Sept. 8 about several capital and operating items ahead of an upcoming finance committee meeting.
Rob said the department will present the Mineola Pavilion project and related budget components to the finance committee the following night as part of the Community Investment Program (CIP) review. He said the presentation will include building components, draft budget figures and proposed concessions that could generate revenue; he told the board “Bathrooms, it's hard to argue bathrooms” when describing revenue-generating concessions and overall facility uses.
Rob also said Prairie Park is on the CIP docket for possible tennis court replacement and potential pickleball conversion and that the department met with Alderman Mannion, who provided questions and feedback that staff will incorporate into the finance committee presentation.
On a separate item Rob reported that the Common Council recently approved, by a 12–3 vote, a contract to conduct a study of Saratoga Lake. Rob clarified the council did not approve dredging; rather it approved a contract to study options, including “life with the dam, life without a dam,” and methods for sediment removal. He said the study will be led by a consulting engineering firm and a kickoff meeting is expected in the coming weeks.
From an operating perspective, Mark, a staff member, said the operating budget process has begun and that the city administration’s initial guidance seeks to hold changes near 2 percent; department leaders have met with the city administrator and finance director and Rob said there is not a large change expected in the near term.
Mark reported two recent beer gardens—at Rivers Crossing in August and Merrill Crest in September—ran smoothly from an administrative perspective. He also said registrations for before‑and‑after‑school programs remain strong: “in the month of August, I want to say we had over 320 kids get registered for before and after school, between the various sites,” Mark said.
Joanna noted fall events ahead, including Tribute Tuesday and Oktoberfest next weekend, and encouraged attendance. The board was reminded its next regular meeting is scheduled for Oct. 20.
The board did not take formal votes on the CIP projects or the Saratoga Lake study; the Saratoga Lake action reported by staff had been taken earlier by the Common Council.
