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Record of Proceedings

Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board Meeting – February 16, 2026

Public Meetings — Monday, February 16, 2026
BodyWaukesha, Wisconsin
SessionPublic Meetings
DateMonday, February 16, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:11:25

Original source
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0:00

All right.

0:01

We will call to order the Waukeshaw Parks Recreation and Forestry Board meeting on February 16th, 2026, with roll call.

0:12

Alderman Camacho.

0:15

Eric Hummer here.

0:17

Steve Johnson.

0:20

Sarah Roth.

0:21

Here.

0:22

John Schmidt absent.

0:25

Alderman Wells, absent.

0:28

Jennifer Walner.

0:29

Here.

0:30

And Erica Yoss.

0:31

Here.

0:32

And that completes roll call.

0:33

Great.

0:34

Thank you.

0:34

We will move on to public comment.

0:37

Does not look like we have any public comment this evening.

0:41

So we will move on to the approval of minutes for the board minutes from December 15th, 2026.

0:49

I'll make a motion to approve.

0:51

Second.

0:51

Motion by Sarah Roth and second by Eric Hummer.

0:56

Any further discussion?

0:59

All right.

1:03

Say aye.

1:04

Aye.

1:05

Opposed.

1:06

And that passes unanimously.

1:09

Moving on to discussion decision items.

1:13

Item A, review and possible action on special use request recheat received from the Waukesha Allied Veterans Council regarding the 2026 Memorial Day and Veterans Day events proposed for veterans and colour parks.

1:28

All right.

1:28

Joanna's here tonight.

1:30

Talk about both of these important events.

1:33

Every year we have this special use process.

1:36

And this year's no different except earlier, which is good.

1:42

Joanna.

1:43

Thank you, Ron.

1:44

So yes, this is an annual request by the Allied Veterans to utilize both Cutler Park and Veterans Park for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

1:55

The Memorial Day parade, they would like to host that again.

2:00

I understand the permit has been approved by the clerk's office.

2:04

So they'll do the riverside ceremony in at the plaza, and then the parade will start at the state office building.

2:12

That permit has also been approved by the state.

2:15

And then they'll conduct the parade and then use Cutler Park for the rest of the service.

2:19

On Memorial Day, uh Veterans Day, they utilize Veterans Park for a short service there.

2:25

So they are requesting use of the parks for both of the uh remembrances.

2:35

Any questions?

2:37

Right.

2:39

I will make a motion to approve.

2:41

I'll second.

2:42

Motion by Jennifer Walner, second by Eric Hummer.

2:45

Any further discussion?

2:47

All in favor say aye.

2:49

Aye.

2:50

Opposed.

2:51

And that passes unanimously.

2:53

Thank you.

2:53

Thanks, Duanna.

2:56

Item uh that takes us to item B.

2:59

Public Street Planting Program Public Hearing.

3:02

And we will this will be a vote to open the public hearing.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████49%
Tree Planting███████████████████21%
Public Engagement████████9%
Budget Equity Analysis██████7%
Technology and Innovation█████5%
Procedural██2%
Zoning Regulations██2%
Engineering And Infrastructure██2%
Personnel Matters██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board Meeting – February 16, 2026

The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Board of the City of Waukesha met on Monday, February 16, 2026, at 5:30 PM in Council Chambers. Six members were present (Rico Camacho, Eric Huemmer, Steve Johnson, Sarah Roth, Jennifer Wallner, Erica Yoss); two were absent (John Schmitz, Jack Wells). The board approved several items including a special use request for veteran events, a public hearing setup for the tree planting assessment, and discussed preliminary pool program changes.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of the draft minutes from December 15, 2025, was approved unanimously (6-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

  • Special Use Request (ID#26-03038): The board reviewed and approved a request from the Waukesha Allied Veterans Council to use Veterans and Cutler Parks for 2026 Memorial Day and Veterans Day events. The motion passed unanimously.
  • 2026 Public Street Tree Planting Program (ID#26-03039, 03040, 03056): The board opened and closed a public hearing with no public testimony. Subsequently, they voted to recommend that the Common Council set a public hearing to review and act on the proposed assessment of $397 per tree for the Spring 2026 program. The cost is based on an average tree cost of just under $200 and estimated labor of $229.72 per tree, with the city keeping the assessment flat. The board also discussed plans to contract out tree planting while purchasing trees directly from five nurseries to ensure quality and diversity. The motion passed unanimously.
  • Preliminary 2026 Pool Program (ID#26-03042): Mark and Logan presented the 2025 performance and proposed changes for 2026. Key changes include modifying the Horeb pool schedule: moving swim lessons from morning to evening (5-8 PM) and opening the pool for open swim from 11:30 AM to 5 PM, with extended hours in August. The change aims to eliminate low-attendance evening open swim (average 10 paid admissions costing $500 per hour in staff salaries) and double swim lesson capacity during peak demand. Buckner pool will maintain its current schedule. The board also reviewed cabana rentals as a new revenue source projected at $13,000. No action was taken; final approval is expected at the next meeting.
  • Board President Report: Jennifer Wallner reported on the Plan Commission’s work on zoning code revisions and the need to coordinate with the DNR on tree species recommendations.
  • Director and Staff Report: Ron Grall provided updates on the Miniola Pavilion project (target spring 2027), the upcoming Park and Recreation System Master Plan (contract with Damon Farber), and the 2026 citizen survey. Melissa Lipska reported on forestry operations, open positions, and capital projects including formal gardens renovation, prairie park pickleball/tennis courts, and Greenway Terrace playground. Mark Thompson (Recreation) reported on summer activity guide preparation, website redesign, keyless entry installations, and staff recruitment.
  • Mark Thompson (Recreation) Additional Report: Covered updates on birthday party packages, sponsorship naming rights policy, soccer season, rental commitments, and summer explorers program at Schutze Recreation Center. Also mentioned special events for the 250th anniversary.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved meeting minutes of December 15, 2025.
  • Approved special use permit for 2026 Memorial Day and Veterans Day events.
  • Approved recommendation to Common Council to set a public hearing for the Spring 2026 tree planting assessment at $397 per tree.
  • Review of preliminary pool program changes; no vote taken, staff to bring final proposal next month.
  • Noted ongoing projects and updates from staff reports.

Meeting Transcript

All right. We will call to order the Waukeshaw Parks Recreation and Forestry Board meeting on February 16th, 2026, with roll call. Alderman Camacho. Eric Hummer here. Steve Johnson. Sarah Roth. Here. John Schmidt absent. Alderman Wells, absent. Jennifer Walner. Here. And Erica Yoss. Here. And that completes roll call. Great. Thank you. We will move on to public comment. Does not look like we have any public comment this evening. So we will move on to the approval of minutes for the board minutes from December 15th, 2026. I'll make a motion to approve. Second. Motion by Sarah Roth and second by Eric Hummer. Any further discussion? All right. Say aye. Aye. Opposed. And that passes unanimously. Moving on to discussion decision items. Item A, review and possible action on special use request recheat received from the Waukesha Allied Veterans Council regarding the 2026 Memorial Day and Veterans Day events proposed for veterans and colour parks. All right. Joanna's here tonight. Talk about both of these important events. Every year we have this special use process. And this year's no different except earlier, which is good. Joanna. Thank you, Ron. So yes, this is an annual request by the Allied Veterans to utilize both Cutler Park and Veterans Park for Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The Memorial Day parade, they would like to host that again. I understand the permit has been approved by the clerk's office. So they'll do the riverside ceremony in at the plaza, and then the parade will start at the state office building. That permit has also been approved by the state. And then they'll conduct the parade and then use Cutler Park for the rest of the service. On Memorial Day, uh Veterans Day, they utilize Veterans Park for a short service there. So they are requesting use of the parks for both of the uh remembrances. Any questions? Right. I will make a motion to approve. I'll second. Motion by Jennifer Walner, second by Eric Hummer.

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