Regular Meeting

CITY OF DELAFIELD MEETING AGENDA PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION Chair: Ald. Mark Schaefer Vice-Chair: Leslie Donavan Members: Andrew Hillmann, Dan Cahalane, Sherrie Flemming, Tim Turnock, Louise Crowley March 23, 2026 6:00 PM City Hall, Council Chambers 500 Genesee St. Office: (262) 646-6220 - E-Mail: clerksoffice@cityofdelafieldwi.gov – https://www.cityofdelafieldwi.gov/ 1. Call to Order 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call 4. Minutes Discussion and possible action on the following minutes: A. Minutes of the January 26, 2026 Regular Meeting 5. Citizen Comments 6. Unfinished Business Discussion and possible action on the following items: A. Proposed signage for St John’s Park public pier B. Memorial Bench Request Process - Review proposed locations for memorial bench requests 7. New Business Discussion and possible action on the following items: A. Wildlife Protection – education article for Delafield Communicator – Schaefer B. Clearwater Outdoor – St John’s park rental & sign placement request 8. Review Monthly Financials 9. Monthly updates on conditions of parks and trails Parks and Trails in the City of Delafield Crowley Turnock Donavan Hillmann Flemming Cahalane Schaefer Lake Country Recreation Trail VMR Trail Cushing Memorial Park Lois Jensen Nature Preserve Fish Hatchery Oakwood Park Liberty Park Ice Age Trail Paul Sandgren Recreation Trail St. John’s Park Bostrom Park Fish Hatchery Sports Complex Bleeker Street Boat Launch Fireman’s Park Cushing Memorial Park Cedar Valley Park Oak Street Park 10. Requests for Future Agenda Items Note: No discussion on requested items 11. Correspondence 12. Park & Recreation Commission A. Next Park & Rec meeting is scheduled for April 27th 13. Adjournment Office: (262) 646-6220 - E-Mail: clerksoffice@cityofdelafieldwi.gov – https://www.cityofdelafieldwi.gov/ All meetings of the Park & Recreation Commission are public meetings. The meeting of the Commission is a working session for the Commission itself, and discussion by those in attendance is limited to Commission members, staff and others that may be a par ty to the matter being discussed. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT NOTICE: Upon reasonable notice (at least 72 hours in advance) the City will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services when necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in and to enjoy the benefits of a service, program or activity provided by the City. NOTICE OF POSSIBLE QUORUM : It is possible that members of and possibly a quorum of members of other governmental bodies of the municipality may be in attendance at the above-stated meeting to gather information: no action will be taken by any governmental body at the above-stated meeting other than the governmental body specifically referred to above in this notice. Clerk: CC Posted: 03/19/2026 X City Hall Bulletin Board X Website X Notified Media CITY OF DELAFIELD MEETING MINUTES PARK & RECREATION COMMISSION Chair: Ald. Mark Schaefer Vice-Chair: Leslie Donavan Members: Dan Cahalane, Louise Crowley, Sherrie Flemming, Andrew Hillmann, Tim Turnock January 26, 2026 6:00 PM (Or immediately following the Tree Board) City Hall, Council Chambers 500 Genesee St. Office: (262) 646-6220 - E-Mail: clerksoffice@cityofdelafieldwi.gov – www.cityofdelafieldwi.gov Minutes DRAFT 1. Call to Order Chair Schaefer called the Park & Recreation Commission meeting to order at 5:50 p.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Roll Call Members Present: Dan Cahalane Leslie Donavan Andrew Hillmann Mark Schaefer, Ald., D2 Tim Turnock Members Absent: Louise Crowley Sherrie Flemming Also Present: Sally DuPont, Recording Secretary 4. Minutes Discussion and possible action on the following minutes: A. Approval of Minutes of the November 24, 2025 Regular Meeting Motion by Mark Schaefer, seconded by Dan Cahalane, to approve the minutes of the November 24, 2025 regular meeting. All in favor. Motion carried. 5. Citizen Comments Mary Daniel, 309 Wisconsin Avenue, Delafield, WI, questioned the return on investment for the Riverwalk pedestrian safety lighting. Mary said it might be putting the cart before the horse with regard to tax dollars. The seasonal ice-skating rink has the right amount of temporary lighting for after dark and that type of lighting could be explored. Mary said there should be a collaboration between Park & Rec, Lake Welfare, the Police Department, and Fire Department to present a united message to the public in regard to the St. John’s Park public pier. Seeing no one further who wished to comment, citizen comments were closed at 5:56 p.m. City of Delafield Park & Recreation Commission Minutes January 26, 2026 Page 2 of 4 Office: (262) 646-6220 - E-Mail: clerksoffice@cityofdelafieldwi.gov – www.cityofdelafieldwi.gov 6. Unfinished Business Discussion and possible action on the following items: A. 2026 Liberty Park Live Music Series The city approved the 2026 Liberty Park Music Series with eleven weeks of stage rental, three portable toilets, and a wash station. The series is scheduled to run June 4 – August 13, 2026 and the Delafield Arts Foundation already has the acts booked. Schaefer met with Public Works and they will make arrangements for the installation of the temporary stage, the portable toilets, and work with the electrical contractor for the music series. B. St. John’s Park Kayak Launch This was approved by the city and Schaefer suggested to Public Works that the kayak launch be subject to the final pier installation for the public pier which may dictate where to put the launch. C. Riverwalk Pedestrian Safety Lighting – St. John’s Park Extension to Footbridge This will extend the lighting along the Riverwalk to connect the busiest part of the Riverwalk. It is the same lighting that is used in St. John’s Park, which is down lighting, and was designed to be minimal lighting. There will be seven of them from Genesee Street down to the foot bridge. D. Signs for Riverwalk Boardwalk – Pedestrian Traffic Only The pedestrian signs for the ends of the boardwalk will be installed by Spring. E. Riverwalk – Gulf Wars Monument Maintenance Halquist Stone will fix the monument by grinding the face, they will match the texture and re-engrave the monument with the proper information. It will cost about $1,000 and will come out of the maintenance budget. Public Works said they will deliver, pick-up, and place the monument back when the work is completed. 7. New Business Discussion and possible action on the following items: A. Identify Possible Locations for Memorial Benches Instead of city staff having to come to Park & Rec for locations each time they receive a memorial bench request, it was decided Park & Rec will come up with a list of approved sites for the memorial benches. Schaefer asked the members to look at their assigned parks and report back with any good locations so they can make a list for the city. Schaefer said until the permanent stage is built, they should not put anymore memorial benches in Liberty Park, but he did see possible sites in Cushing Park on top of the hill by the memorial (obelisk), the river entrance at Cushing Park, Cushing Park where the Gulf Wars Memorial is by the flagpole, the Riverwalk east of Cushing Park, the Riverwalk by the Vietnam Memorial, Fireman’s Park by the pickleball/basketball court, and Oakwood Park. Hillmann said Bostrom Park has possible locations. Turnock said the berm at Nagawicka or across from St. John’s Plaza on the north side of the river were sites that were suggested. Donavan suggested possible locations near the water at St. John’s near the new boat launch and maybe along the new path with the Oakwood Park tree plantings. City of Delafield Park & Recreation Commission Minutes January 26, 2026 Page 3 of 4 Office: (262) 646-6220 - E-Mail: clerksoffice@cityofdelafieldwi.gov – www.cityofdelafieldwi.gov B. St. John’s Park Public Pier – Rules, Guidelines, and Signage Some considerations for signage at the boat pier will be hours of operation, parking regulations, and enforcement. There was talk it will need to close at sunset for safety purposes. There was agreement there should not be exact times but rather based on sunset. It was suggested that Schaefer speak with the Police Department regarding parking enforcement. There was discussion about a parking limit of two hours due to the number of spots. It was also suggested Schaefer speak with Mike Hausman from the Lake Welfare Committee. 8. Review Monthly Financials Additional funding for St. John’s Pier had been approved and the city received the state matching grant, additional funding for Oakwood Park had been approved and the city received the matching grant, St. John’s Park kayak launch was approved as submitted, the price for the Riverwalk lighting had been adjusted, and Cushing Park staining was reclassified as maintenance/repair. 9. Monthly Updates on Conditions of Parks and Trails The Fish Hatchery Sports Complex received a citizen request to keep the lighting on in the ice rink area until 9:00 p.m. and Schaefer said they will check on the hours to see if a change makes sense. Parks and Trails in the City of Delafield Crowley Turnock Donavan Hillmann Flemming Cahalane Schaefer Lake Country Recreation Trail VMR Trail Cushing Memorial Park Lois Jensen Nature Preserve Fish Hatchery Oakwood Park Liberty Park Ice Age Trail Paul Sandgren Recreation Trail St. John’s Park Bostrom Park Fish Hatchery Sports Complex Bleeker Street Boat Launch Fireman’s Park Cushing Memorial Park Cedar Valley Park Oak Street Park 10. Requests for Future Agenda Items Note: No discussion on requested item(s) A. Identify Possible Locations for Memorial Benches B. St. John’s Park Public Pier – Rules, Guidelines, and Signage 11. Correspondence 12. Park & Recreation Commission Future Meeting Dates A. Next Park & Rec Meeting: February 23, 2026 13. Adjournment Having no further business, Chair Schaefer adjourned the meeting at 6:38 p.m. City of Delafield Park & Recreation Commission Minutes January 26, 2026 Page 4 of 4 Office: (262) 646-6220 - E-Mail: clerksoffice@cityofdelafieldwi.gov – www.cityofdelafieldwi.gov Respectfully submitted, Sally DuPont Recording Secretary PUBLIC PIER CLOSED 10 P.M. TO 6 A.M. Bostrom Park – Bench Sites Site 1 – Northeast side of park, along trail Site 2 – East side of park, along trail Riverwalk – Bench Sites Site 5 and Site 6 – Between river and Fish Hatchery Sports Complex Site 7 – Cushing Park parking lot area Site 8 – Cushing, along North side of river Site 9 - Cushing, along North side of river Site 10 – Vietnam War Memorial (East end of river boardwalk) St John’s Park Bench Sites Site 1 – Middle of berm, facing lake or pond Site 2 – Between the pond and the river, East of Genesee Street Site 3 – Between Genesee Street and the pond shoreline Cushing Park – Bench Sites Site 1 - Cushing Memorial Hilltop Site 2 – Near river Entrance Steps Site 3 – Gulf Wars Memorial Oakwood Park – Bench Sites Site 1 – First Tee Site 2 – Seventh Tee Firemens Park – Bench Sites Site 1 – End or Side of Basketball Court / Pickleball Court From: Hase, Michelle M - DNR <Michelle.Hase@wisconsin.gov> Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2026 3:01 PM To: Tom Hafner <thafner@cityofdelafieldwi.gov> Cc: Mark Schaefer <mschaefer@cityofdelafieldwi.gov> Subject: RE: Proposed Bench Locations Hey Tom, The preference would be to not put any kind of ‘other material’ on or within the embankment. This creates points that are more susceptible to erosion if the dam were overtopping, or create a seepage path under the concrete slab, especially if the slab spans the crest of the embankment. DNR does not have the explicit authority to deny the proposal, there are benches and trails and monuments on dams all across the state. With that being said, it is still strongly recommended to keep the dam homogenous and not install anything on the embankment. If the City wishes to pursue placement, it looks like the location on the map provided is an area the crest is wider in this area compared to the rest of the embankment (less risk). In addition, the City should put inspection of this area in the IOM and as a potential erosion point to investigate if the dam is overtopping in the EAP . You can provide me with plans (similar to when the fishing pier was installed) and I can provide feedback, but no approval is needed to install. Michelle Hase, P .E. (she/her) 262-282-0447 Our core values include professionalism, integrity, and customer service. Please visit our survey to provide feedback on your experience interacting with any DNR employee. From: Tom Hafner <thafner@cityofdelafieldwi.gov> Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2026 4:39 PM To: Hase, Michelle M - DNR <Michelle.Hase@wisconsin.gov> Cc: Mark Schaefer <mschaefer@cityofdelafieldwi.gov> Subject: FW: Proposed Bench Locations CAUTION: This email originated from outside the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Hi Michelle, Would there be any issue with the city installing a concrete pad and a bench on the earthen berm portion of our dam? See what’s labeled as Site 1 on page 6 of the attachment for the proposed location of the bench on the dam. Would there be any approval that we would need to obtain? It would be a 4” or 5” thick concrete slab set flush with the surrounding grade and then a decorative metal bench would get bolted into the concrete slab. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks ~ Tom Thomas J. Hafner, P .E., ICMA-CM City Administrator/Director of Public Works 500 Genesee Street • Delafield, WI 53018 Phone: (262) 303-4626 Fax: (262) 646-6223 thafner@cityofdelafieldwi.gov cityofdelafieldwi.gov • LinkedIn Delafield Communicator – “Let Wildlife Be Wild” In Delafield we are lucky to be surrounded by wildlife, some common, some unusual. Wild turkeys cross the road, white-tailed deer graze in fields, nocturnal opossums and raccoons co- inhabit our neighborhoods. And an abundance of large birds benefit from local lakes: Great Blue Herons, Sandhill Cranes, Great-Horned Owls, Red-Tail Hawks, and even Bald Eagles. It’s a dizzying array of critters. Sometimes folks, with good intentions, want to feed or “help” wildlife. But this can do more harm than good. Most wildlife are opportunistic feeders. If it looks edible, they will ‘go for it’. Ducks and other migratory birds are a good example. It’s hard to resist tossing some bread at them, right? They eagerly eat it and seem to love whatever is tossed their way. The problem? Our good intentions could kill them. Human food like bread, crackers or other snacks provide ZERO nutritional value for birds. It leaves them feeling “full” so they don’t eat their natural nutrient-dense foods. Birds have a very fast metabolism and can die overnight with a stomach full of bread that provides none of the nutrition they need. Consuming carbohydrates can cause aquatic birds, like ducks and geese, to develop a fatal deformity known as “Angel Wing Syndrome”. This irreversible affliction happens when they don’t get not enough proper nutrition like Vitamin E, calcium and magnesium. They become unable to fly and they die. Usually, the best way to help our wildlife neighbors is to avoid disturbing them. Often a young bird that is learning to fly will have a watchful parent nearby. Children, dogs and cats can accidentally disturb nests of raccoons, opossums, rabbits and other small mammals. If you see an active nest, or baby wildlife, the best way to help is to keep your distance so the parents can return to care for their young. Keep pets away and isolate the area. Turtles are very active in late spring and early summer. In May and June female turtles head back to the pond where they hatched. This often involves crossing roads. Please watch out for them. There are 11 species of turtles native to Wisconsin. We see most of them around Lake Country. When you spot a turtle crossing the road, if possible, stop and let it pass. DO NOT TRY TO SEND IT IN THE DIRECTION FROM WHICH IT CAME. She will simply try to cross again. Let her go home. NEVER pull any turtle by its tail. This causes severe spinal damage. The Wisconsin DNR site gives great suggestions for protecting turtles to safely cross the road https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/WildlifeHabitat/orphan/Turtle If you see a wild animal that you think is abandoned or injured, the Wildlife In Need Center (WINC) in Oconomowoc is an excellent resource. Their website offers advice on what to do if you find an injured or orphaned animal: https://www.helpingwildlife.org/ And staff is usually available during business hours, at 262-965-3090. If you see something, say something – if someone is harming wildlife, politely intervene or call authorities. Clear Water Outdoor | 803 Genesee Delafield, WI 53018 Attn: City of Delafield / Parks and Recreation Department Clear Water Outdoor is proudly celebrating 13 years in The City of Delafield! We would like to continue offering kayak and Stand-Up Paddleboard rentals in St. John’s Park for the 2026 Summer Season. With no changes from previous years, we are requesting the ability to stow our kayak rental trailer/kayak rack in the park. Kayaks will be stowed from May through September on the grounds of St. John’s Park. The trailer will be located on the Northeast side of the park near the water. This will allow rental traffic to park downtown near our store (803 Genesee St), and walk down to the park to paddle. As requested, we will submit a sign permit fee for our banner the same as last year. Launching is from the public non-motorized craft launch in the park. Rentals will be available as demand/weather permits. Our insurance renews each April and we will issue the City a new certificate upon renewal. Thank you for your time and continued support of small business and outdoor recreation within the city of Delafield. Sincerely, Brian Waspi, Chief Enjoyment Officer Clear Water Outdoor Delafield, WI Office: 262-348-2420 ext. 1001 Email: waspi@clearwateroutdoor.com Mary Biedrzycki, Store Manager 262-303-4206 Email: maryb@clearwateroutdoor.com www.ClearWaterOutdoor.com City of Delafield - Active Projects OnlyCapital Projects Summary 2026-02 2.28.26 PRCCIP YearProject Project Budget Total Expenditures to 02/28/2026 Under / (Over) Budget Status 2022 Cushing Memorial Park - Fort Cushing - Maintenance and Repair as of 1/1/26 15,000.00 - 15,000.00 Active2024 Oakwood Park Tree Planting - Grant 20,000.00 - 20,000.00 Active2026 St. John's Park Kayak Launch 10,700.00 - 10,700.00 ActiveVeterans Memorial Riverwalk Lighting 97,014.00 - 97,014.00 ActiveForce Infield Rascal Pro Multi-Use Attachment 6,000.00 - 6,000.00 Active148,714.00 - 148,714.00 https://cidelafieldwius.sharepoint.com/sites/Sharepoint/Documents/General 2/Capital Improvements Program/Capital Projects Summary 2026-02