OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Waukesha Park and Recreation Board Meeting - July 20, 2026

Public Meetings — Monday, July 20, 2026
BodyWaukesha, Wisconsin
SessionPublic Meetings
DateMonday, July 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 29:01

Transcript — Verbatim
0:26

Alderman Camacho.

0:28

Sorry.

0:29

Steve Johnson.

0:30

Here.

0:31

Sarah Roth is absent.

0:34

John Schmitz is absent.

0:37

Alderman Wells.

0:38

Here.

0:39

Erica Jos here.

0:40

Jennifer Walner.

0:42

Here.

0:42

And Eric Hummer.

0:44

Here.

0:45

All right.

0:45

That completes roll call.

0:47

Great.

0:47

We will open it up to public comment.

0:49

And it doesn't look like we have anything today.

0:52

So we will move on to the approval of minutes from May 18th, 2026.

0:58

We have a motion.

0:59

I'll motion to approve.

1:00

Motion.

1:01

I'll say.

1:01

Motion from Eric Homer, second from Alden and Camacho.

1:04

Any further discussion?

1:07

We will take it to a vote.

1:08

All in favor say aye.

1:10

Aye.

1:10

Any opposed?

1:11

And that passes unanimously.

1:15

Moving on to discussion decision decision items.

1:19

We will review and possible action on 2026 fall season recreation program fees charges schedule.

1:28

All right, we have recreation staff here.

1:31

As we do three times a year, we review the fees and charges going into the upcoming season.

1:36

It's been a very helpful practice for us.

1:38

That way we can all stay on top of any changes that might be needed, etc.

1:43

And uh we have uh we got Logan Gala and Mark is in Thompson here tonight to go through the fees.

1:51

Take it away, Mark.

1:53

Thank you very much, Ron.

1:55

Um so in front of us we have our 2026 um or excuse me, that should be 2027.

2:01

I'm sorry, winter fees and charges.

2:03

We're not going off to our good start.

2:07

All right, so we're gonna have a total of 588 classes.

2:10

Um, youth classes, we have 281, 119 before and after school offerings to include day off programs, special events, um, and then early release programs with a day off as well.

2:21

99 adult classes, 71 adult all their class other older adult classes, and then 18 family classes.

2:30

So moving on next with our sports focus programming.

2:33

Um happy to share that this will be the last time that I will be presenting this, and our next will have our new recreation supervisor in charge of sports.

2:40

Um, but in front of us we have our instructional classes for uh winter spring.

2:45

Um so with regards to the the classes, this is going to be the same lineup of classes that we did have this last time around.

2:53

The only increase that we have with our offerings are going to be with our Skyhawks um contractual provider with a small increase on 4%.

3:01

Um the only league that you will see on uh the these fees and charges is going to be our men's basketball league as our soccer uh prices were all approved during summer, and that season will be starting here shortly.

3:13

Um are there any questions on the sports fees and charges?

3:18

All right, so next um we have some special offerings.

3:23

So we have our 55 plus uh paint opening studio and then also the trips that uh we will be experiencing here uh in fall with our older active adult programming, and then also some of the free classes that we've done.

3:35

Um, so trauma sensitive yoga and then also ballroom basic for balance, and a couple of those um have been started with initiatives through uh Waksha County Chip, and then we're continuing on with these classes being funded free of charge uh through grants through uh ProHelp for ballroom basics, and then trauma sensitive yoga is a continued partnership with the resilience center, offering those free of charge.

3:56

There are any questions on this page's fees and charges.

4:01

What is instant piano for busy people?

4:04

All right, thank you for asking.

4:06

Um, so instant piano for busy people is it's an online Zoom offering.

4:11

So you are going to be zooming with up to 50 other people and then one instructor.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Parks and Recreation█████████████████████████████████████████████80%
Public Engagement███████13%
Procedural████7%
Summary of Proceedings

Waukesha Park and Recreation Board Meeting - July 20, 2026

The meeting began with roll call and approval of minutes. The board reviewed and approved the 2027 winter/spring recreation program fees, heard updates on the park system master plan, summer programs, and budget preparations. Staff reported on recruitment for a new recreation supervisor, air quality challenges, and community engagement events.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of Minutes (May 18, 2026): Motion by Eric Hummer, second by Alderman Camacho. Passed unanimously.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

  • 2027 Winter/Spring Recreation Program Fees: Recreation staff presented the proposed fee schedule. Key details:
    • Total of 588 classes: 281 youth, 119 before/after school and day-off programs, 99 adult, 71 older adult, 18 family.
    • Sports programming: Only increase is a 4% rise for Skyhawks contractual provider. Men's basketball league included; soccer fees approved earlier.
    • Special offerings: 55+ paint studio, trips, free trauma-sensitive yoga (through Resilience Center) and ballroom basics (via ProHelp grants).
    • Youth Development (Logan Gala): Price increase of $1 per month for before and after school to cover staff wages and supplies. New adaptive class 'Friends and Fund' at Summit View starting fall 2026/27, priced at $5 per class. Hawthorne Elementary CLC grant moved to Lowell Elementary for its fifth year.
    • Fitness & Preschool (Staff): 8% increase for Foxtail 3K preschool due to staff wage increases (from $13 to $18/hour). Other fees remain the same. Tai Chi and Pickleball seeing high enrollment; Mahjong classes added (adult and senior versions).
    • Questions were answered regarding the difference in before/after school pricing (hours-based) and the reason for the 8% Foxtail increase.
  • Motion to Approve: Made by Jennifer Walner, seconded by Eric Hummer. Passed unanimously.

Board President Report

  • The board president summarized a successful workshop held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, focused on the park system master plan. The workshop was facilitated by Damon Farber. Further engagement opportunities are planned, including neighborhood meetings at Horb Springs Park and DOT Park. The goal is to have the master plan ready for board review in October 2026.
  • The 4th of July celebration went well despite weather concerns; flag dedication was a highlight.
  • Air quality challenges were noted, particularly due to smoke from wildfires. Staff managed program modifications effectively.
  • Budget season: Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) submittals will be reviewed at the August meeting, with adoption targeted for September 15, 2026. Operating budget adoption is scheduled for early November 2026.

Director and Staff Reports

  • Mark Schram (Admin): Provided updates on the park system master plan. A survey will be sent to board members who missed the workshop. Engagement opportunities at Tower Hill Neighborhood Association (July 24) and DOT Park (first week of August). An open house for the draft master plan is planned for late August at Rivers Crossing Beer Gardens. The redesigned jamboree website goes live July 21. The fall activity guide will be mailed the week before August 17, with registration opening August 17. Focus on CIP and operating budget for 2027.
  • Mark Thompson (Recreation):
    • New recreation supervisor search: 67 applicants, 34 with direct sports experience, top 9 interviewed, top 2 candidates to have second round interviews tomorrow. Expected start date August 11.
    • 'Remember Our Fallen' exhibit (August 19-23) fully funded through sponsors (in-kind and cash donations totaling at least $2,100 plus $600 from Sussex Service Club), free to taxpayers.
    • Pools: Cold June led to low attendance; July heat brought high attendance. Air quality forced temporary pool closures and event cancellations. Youth appreciation night rescheduled for July 23; jazz event also canceled and being rescheduled. Staff purchased mobile air conditioners for shelters.
    • 4th of July attendance was the highest in 10 years.
    • Staff praised for adapting to air quality challenges.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: 2027 winter/spring recreation program fees and charges (vote unanimous).
  • Upcoming: CIP review at August board meeting; operating budget review in September/October.
  • Next Meeting: Board will review CIP submittals in August.
  • Event: 'Remember Our Fallen' exhibit in August fully funded.
  • Recruitment: New recreation supervisor to be hired, starting August 11.

Meeting Transcript

Alderman Camacho. Sorry. Steve Johnson. Here. Sarah Roth is absent. John Schmitz is absent. Alderman Wells. Here. Erica Jos here. Jennifer Walner. Here. And Eric Hummer. Here. All right. That completes roll call. Great. We will open it up to public comment. And it doesn't look like we have anything today. So we will move on to the approval of minutes from May 18th, 2026. We have a motion. I'll motion to approve. Motion. I'll say. Motion from Eric Homer, second from Alden and Camacho. Any further discussion? We will take it to a vote. All in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? And that passes unanimously. Moving on to discussion decision decision items. We will review and possible action on 2026 fall season recreation program fees charges schedule. All right, we have recreation staff here. As we do three times a year, we review the fees and charges going into the upcoming season. It's been a very helpful practice for us. That way we can all stay on top of any changes that might be needed, etc. And uh we have uh we got Logan Gala and Mark is in Thompson here tonight to go through the fees. Take it away, Mark. Thank you very much, Ron. Um so in front of us we have our 2026 um or excuse me, that should be 2027. I'm sorry, winter fees and charges. We're not going off to our good start. All right, so we're gonna have a total of 588 classes. Um, youth classes, we have 281, 119 before and after school offerings to include day off programs, special events, um, and then early release programs with a day off as well. 99 adult classes, 71 adult all their class other older adult classes, and then 18 family classes. So moving on next with our sports focus programming. Um happy to share that this will be the last time that I will be presenting this, and our next will have our new recreation supervisor in charge of sports. Um, but in front of us we have our instructional classes for uh winter spring. Um so with regards to the the classes, this is going to be the same lineup of classes that we did have this last time around. The only increase that we have with our offerings are going to be with our Skyhawks um contractual provider with a small increase on 4%.

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