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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAshland Woodland Trails MINUTES FOR THE JOINT STUDY SESSION ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL and the PARKS COMMISSION May 8, 2002 -12:00 p.m. Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street CALL TO ORDER Mayor DeBoer called the meeting to order at 12:16p.m. ATTENDANCE Councilors Hartzell, Jackson, Morrison, and Heam. Reid and Laws were absent. Parks Commissioners Lewis, Landt, Eggers, Jones, and McGraw. Commissioner Rick Landt gave a report on the Parks Commission's draft Open Space Plan proposal and the vision of a two-tiered plan, with both long-term and short-term goals. The short-term plan includes the creation of two neighborhood parks, two athletic fields, five open-space areas and trails along Bear Creek, Wright's Creek, Upper Liberty Street, Nevada Street to North Main, and the Willows area trail connection. The long-term plan includes properties currently used as open space but that are ear marked for other kinds of development. Acquiring these properties would be a monumental effort but would be of tremendous value to the community. Included in the long- term plan are a number of creek corridors, Talent Irrigation Ditch (TID) segments, and Grizzly peak. Landt noted that the two-tiered plan has potential for gain without a lot of cost. Areas with higher density have a higher priority in the plan with a goal of achieving the greatest benefit for the greatest number of people. The council asked if the owners of properties indicated on the long-term plan know that their lands are included in the plan. It was clarified that those owners have been contacted and that the owners who are not interested in selling have been indicated on the map. The reasoning for keeping the properties on the map is because there may be different owners and opportunities for acquisition in the future. Hartzell suggested getting together with the Housing Commission to explore possibilities of working together in acquiring lands with compatible uses which might serve both parks and affordable housing needs. Hearn expressed his pleasure with the Parks Commission's process and vision, and noted that identification of Master Trail Systems is a council goal. Eggers mentioned that tours have been conducted for people interested in learning about various properties and how these properties might add to our parks or trails system. The difficulty on obtaining conservation easements and amount of staff time was considered, and where development might fit into the acquisition plan. It was clarified that the short-term plan has four properties requiring significant development and five requiring minimal development. At this point, obtaining ownership is important. Director of Parks & Recreation Ken Mickelsen noted that there are limited resources available for park development. Landt explained that there is increased demand for trails, but that acreage previously accessible for walking is being lost due to housing development, changes in community values, and landowners closing off access to trails. He noted that there currently is no legal pedestrian access to TID traits, but that the goal is to open up, legally, as much of this trail system as possible. Hearn noted that this is a reason to address the Master Plan so that when development occurs, the Planning Department has opportunity to address parks needs during the process. He noted the creation of a private entity called, "Ashland Woodland Trails," meeting for the first time on May 20, and whose mission includes assisting in raising funds to benefit parks. Hartzell suggested moving the acquisition of TID segments from the long-term plan to the short-term plan in order to keep it higher profile for staff. Landt noted that it originally was on the short-term plan but had been moved due staff time constraints. He stated that it could, at the council's direction, be moved to the short-term plan. Landt agreed to provide to the council both the criteria list and the Commission's rating information. The Mayor agreed that the TID system should be moved over in order to keep it in focus for staff. He suggested that Grizzly Peak be removed from the plan due to the distance from the city limits. He also noted that the city has a long history of sharing park space with schools and suggested that the city explore maintaining school park space in Council Study Session Pagel of2 May 8, 2002 oRccwv SJ4~~ A N 76.:t, Office of the Mayor Alan W DeBoer MEMO TO: City Council Members FROM: Mayor Alan DeBoer DATE: January 2, 2004 RE: Council Liaison Appointments January 6, 2004 Council Meeting Listed below are the City Boards and Commissions. At the January 6, 2004 City Council meeting council liaison appointments will be confirmed and will be effective immediately. Airport Commission Mayor DeBoer Ashland Fiber Network Programm Comm Alex Amarotico Audit Committee Mayor DeBoer Band Board Don Laws Bicycle & Pedestrian Commission John Morrison Conservation Commission Alex Amarotico Forest Lands Commission Chris Hearn Historic Commission John Morrison Hospital Board John Morrison Housing Commission Kate Jackson Parks & Recreation Commission Cate Hartzell Planning Commission Alex Amarotico Public Arts Commission Kate Jackson Senior Program Board Chris Hearn Traffic Safety Commission Don Laws Tree Commission Cate Hartzell City Liaisons to Other Boards (Ashland): Ashland Community Land Trust Mayor DeBoer Woodland Trails Association Chris Hearn Parks & Trails Committee Chris Hearn Realonal Boards: Medford/Ashland Air Advisory Kate Jackson Bear Creek Greenway Committee Chris Hearn Bear Creek Valley RPS Committee Kate Jackson Chamber of Commerce Board Mayor DeBoer Metropolitan Planning Mayor DeBoer Rogue Valley Council of Govt. Mayor DeBoer RVACT Mayor DeBoer So Or Regl Econ Dev Inc (SOREDI) Chamber (Sandra Slattery) City of Ashland • 20 East Main Street • Ashland, OR 97520 • (541) 488-6002 • Fax: (541) 488-5311 Email: awdb@aol.com lie MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL. September 2, 2003 Civic Center Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street CALL MEETING TO ORDER Mayor DeBoer called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers. ROLL CALL Councilor Laws, Amarotico, Hartzell, Morrison and Hearn were present; Councilor Jackson arrived at 7:30 p.m. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the Regular Council Meeting of August 19, 2003 were approved with clarification on page 2 in reference to AFN quarterly report, that there is just one meeting that will be on the 18'h of September. In addition, on page 4 under Ordinance/Resolutions public testimony by Eric Navickas, it was suggested that the minutes show that he expressed concern over the potential for larger lots. It was noted that Councilor Hartzell had requested a little more detail on issues when minutes are prepared. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS & AWARDS Mayor read statement regarding "Students Returning to School," taking particular care when driving and showing support of student in all their activities. Mayor's Proclamation of September 2003 as "National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month" and Mayor's Proclamation of September 11, 2003 as "Always Remember September 11 Day" were read aloud. Presentation of Bicycle & Trail Route Map. Interim Parks Director Steve Gies explained that this is a long overdue project and has been a group cooperation effort. He introduced Robert McLellan of the Ashland Woodland Trails Association. McLellan presented Ashland's first trail and bikepath map. He explained who the Ashland Woodland Trails Association (AWTA) is, how they were formed and what they have accomplished. AWTA is a private non-profit group, focused on raising money through grants and donations to buy open space and easements to build trails and to create a connecting trail system Their vision is a comprehensive system of trails and open space encircling Ashland, connecting neighborhoods and the town down "emerald necklace." He explained the reason AWTA formed as group: 1) Preservation of small open spaces that are disappearing due to the popularity of our area, growth and development, 2) Need for funding sources to acquire open space and building trails, and 3) Realized opportunity of leaving something of lasting value for the community. He shared the accomplishments as I) Forming board and realizing non-profit status, 2) Building partnerships with Ashland Parks and Recreation, National Parks Service, City of Ashland, Southern Oregon Land Conservancy, 3) Built list of 200 community volunteers and 100 paid members, and 4) Have raised over $100,000 in grant money toward trails and easements for the community. MCCullom passed around to the council for their viewing the first trail map. He noted that this would provide the residents with a valued resource. Fellow member Michael Donovan stated that these maps will be first distributed through the Chamber of Commerce and Ashland Parks & Recreation and then through the natural outlets. There will be a nominal charge of $1.00 for these maps. Gies explained that all indicated trails on map are legal developed routes. Hearn voiced his appreciation of this group and their success at securing grants. He also noted that this is a "hands on" group and no matter of age or physical condition all can participate in building these trails. Donovan noted the upcoming project that will be on September 20 which is to work on connecting the trail from the Dog Park to North Mountain Park. PAGE 1 OF 1 I CITY COUNCIL_ MEETING 9/02103 L.~7 Y VF -AS H LA N D Council Communication Acceptance of Trail Easements Meeting Date: August 16, 2005 Primary Staff Contact: Don Robertson, 552-2251 Department: Parks and Recreatio Email: robertsd@ashland.or.us Contributing Departments: Legal, City Record Secondary Staff Contact: Mike Franell, 552-2090 Approval: Gino Grimaldi E-mail: franellm@ashland.or.us Estimated Time: Consent Agenda: Ze Statement: The 2002 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan, recommends acquiring public right-of-way along the Talent Irrigation Ditch (TID) for trail purposes. These proposed easements are within that targeted area. Background: For over two years, the Ashland Woodlands and Trails Association (AWTA) has identified and worked with private property owners along the TID to survey property lines and to identify possible trail connections. In that time, five property owners have offered pedestrian easements over their property for use as trails. Each of these easements will allow legal public use of the ditch trail by the public. The easements are in compliance with the spirit of the Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan adopted in 2002. The proposed easements have been reviewed by the Parks Commission and recommended for approval at their regular meeting on July 25. Related City Policies: The policy of the Parks Commission has been to actively seek agreement or purchase of land as identified in the 2002 Parks, Trails, and Open Space Plan. Council Options: 1) Accept trail easements - 2) Refuse trail easements Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends approval and acceptance of the proposed trail easements. Potential Motions: Consent Agenda Item. Or: "Move to approve the pedestrian access easements provided by Alton and Patricia Perrin, J.L. Sneider/Brown, Thomas and Jean Keevil, Peter and Betty Westigard, Oscar and Gail Johnson." Attachments: Proposed easements.