Lake Wichita Revitalization Committee Minutes - 04/14/2015N
MINUTES
LAKE WICHITA REVITALIZATION COMMITTEE
April 14, 2015
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Stephen Garner, Chair ■ Members
Penny Miller, Secretary
Sam Bownds
Daniel Fitzwater
Donna Rust
Larry Scott
Tom Lang, Ex- Officio
Jack Murphy, Director Parks and Recreation ■ staff
Kinley Hegglund, City Attorney
Davis Powell, City Engineer
Jeff Hill, City Engineer
Brian Hooker R Council Liaison
Pete Gill, Lakeside City Homeowner's Association 2 Guests
Katherine Smith, Wild Bird Rescue, Inc.
Kathie Forehand- Chaddick
ABSENT: Michael Chapman, Clayton Lane
I. Call to Order and Introductions
Stephen Garner called the meeting to order and all members and staff introduced
themselves.
ll. Approval of Minutes
Action on the minutes for the March meeting were tabled until next month as approval
was not part of the agenda.
III. Presentation —Wild Bird Rescue, Inc.
Katherine Smith, President of the Board of Directors of Wild Bird Rescue, Inc., made a
presentation to the committee. Wild Bird Rescue leases its property from the city.
Currently they are housed in an older building with many issues. They would like to
construct a new building on the property but feel they are constrained without a long-
term lease on the property. The location is accessible and being on the shore of Lake
Wichita, it is also an excellent location for release of rehabilitated birds back into the
wild.
LAKE WICHITA COMMITTEE April 14, 2015 Page 1
The current building has s. Smith indicated indoor classroom space wound their great
educational programs. Ms.
addition to their programming.
Steve Garner stated he felt this
be wonderful complement �e Wichita
project. It would appeal to donors and provide additional grant opportunities.
Smith provided photo of the property with a proposed layout
improvements. Midwestern
improvements. Steve a Garner suggested there may be
State University, which is looking for classroom space i an opportunity with n the area.
Dennis Powell indicated the trail will be north of the lakeside. Tom Lang stated that if
parking an issue, it will bigger first pr ority for plans. He suggested wo ki g
Jack Murphy stated parking g s hould be a
closely with Pat Hoffman in Property Management.
Mr. Hegglund stated that the city could do a 30 -year lease if City Council approved
IV. 404 Permit
Davis Powell reported four companies have submitted a response
There will be a Request
for Qualifications to prepare a successful 404 permit application.
meeting on April 10 to discuss the RFQs. Steve Garner reached out to references and
received responses (so far) from only one company. He also reached out to two
dredging companies to see if they have worked with any of the companies submitting
RFQs and got a good report on one of the companies. TXDoT also had good things to
say about one of the companies. Mr. Powell will arrange one -on -one interviews with the
companies. A decision should be made by the end of the month. A selection will need
City Council approval.
Tom Lang asked about background work the companies may need to prepare the
permit application. Mr. Powell indicated the city staff hasn't worked on the Lake Wichita
project much in the past month due to other demands. However,
the city will help as the
more the contractor has to do, the higher the cost. The contractor will not be selected
on cost. The best qualified company will be chosen and the cost negotiated.
V. Publicity /Fundraising
Tom Lang introduced Jackie Hoegger of Hoegger Communication. Ms. Hoegger
showed the project logos. The project logo ties in the city blue and gold theme.
Tom Lang and Hoegger Communication worked together to put together booth
materials and the new
Currently, website red rects to he Fa ebook page while
upcoming public event Y
the actual page is finalized.
There are several events coming up where the committee will have a booth. Tom Lang
asked that committee members help by signing up to man the booth and talk to people
about the project.
The committee discussed purchasing the domain name LakeWichita.com. Ms. Hoegger
felt it was important to have the domain for protection, if for no other reason, but the
price tag is $2000. Daniel Fitzwater also felt having the .com domain was important.
The group discussed purchasing the domain through the Friends of Reservoirs chapter.
LAKE WICHITA COMMITTEE AP
1201
VI. Other Discussion
Tables 7, 8 and 9 on the agenda were tabled
Tom Lang reminded committee members of the business luncheon on May 14 at the
Wellington from 11:30 -- 12:50. Invited guests include business owners, potential
donors and media representatives. We anticipate 200 — 300 attendees. The event will
be underwritten. We will be soliciting donations and asking businesses to help us
advertise the project to the community at large. The Chamber of Commerce is on board
with the project.
Brian Hooker stated that personal phone calls and personal invitations will ensure
people come. Kathie Forehand - Chaddick asked committee members to spread out and
sit and different tables to answer questions. Tom Lang thanked Ms. Forehand- Chaddick
for her work putting this event together.
Tom Lang will be meeting with Teresa Pontius Caves of the Community Foundation to
discuss fundraising and pledges. The committee discussed the utility of pledges.
Pledges may provide some surety for matching dollars for grants.
Tom Lang and Daniel Fitzwater discussed crowdsourcing as a way to raise money.
Daniel Fitzwater has some experience in this area and will pursue the idea. Brian
Hooker said donation needs to be easy. If it is too hard, the donation won't be made.
Being able to donate by cell phone would be a great benefit.
Tom Lang sent committee members an invitation to Google Drive so everyone will have
access to documents related to the project.
Tom Lang discussed a site visit by representatives of Ducks Unlimited and Texas Parks
and Wildlife. Ducks Unlimited has an interest in projects in Texas. He believes the site
visit will take place on May 27. Tom Lang told Ducks Unlimited we are looking for $2
million for a boat ramp off Barnett Road and an aquatic plant nursery in Lakeside City.
He also reported that $18 million in federal duck stamp monies have been tied up in
Texas and have to be spent.
The committee again has two vacancies. Encourage interested people to apply.
Davis Powell said that as part of the application for the trial project, the city needs some
sort of statement of public support. Tom Lang volunteered to write it. Kathie Forehand -
Chaddick asked that the letter be put into Google Docs in case it can be used in future
grants.
Committee members who have pictures or videos of the lake, especially historical ones,
please send to Tom Lang for use on the website.
VII. Adjournment
p.m.
02 ) 4 I5
Date/
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