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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1993-04 04/27 REG MIN I r-'-, ---. CITY OF ASHLAND PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR. lW.a:!a:!.-...- ING MIN1.JTES April 27, 1993 Chair Adams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at 340 S. Pioneer Street. A'lTENDANCE : Present: Absent: Pat Adams, Al Alsing, Tom Pyle, Teri Coppedge, Wes Reynolds, -Ken Mickelsen, Councillor Hauck - None I. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO TIlE AGENDA None II. APPROVAL op, MINUTES A. Re2Ular Meetin2 - March 29. 1993 _ Co~ssioner Alsing made a motion to approve the minutes of the March 29, 1993 Regular Meeting. Commissioner Reynolds seconded. The vote was: 4 yes - 1 abstain (Adams) III. BILLS AND PIHANCES A. Approval of previous month's disbursements Commissioner Reynolds made a motion to approve the previous months disbursements as indicated byPayables checks #7555 - #7639 in the amount of $51,803.22 and Payroll checks #6096 - #6151 in the amount of $32,460.86. IV. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION ON THE AGENDA None V. AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION NOT ON TIlE AGENDA None VI. OLD BUSINESS A. Ashland Gun Club - lease a2reement Bill Lamb, President of the Ashland Gun Club, was present in the audience to answer any questions the Commission might have regarding extending the Gun Club's lease on the Lithia Springs site; -::. .In discussion, Chair Adams said that the City Administra~or had indicated -that the City would prefer that the existing arrangement continue whereby the City leases the land to the Commission because the land is being used for "recreational" purposes; the Commission could then sub-lease to the Gun Club if it chose to do so. She stated that , Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Reaular Meetin2 - April 27. 1993 Page 2 Ashland Gun Club - continued she felt very strongly that the Commission did not need to continue to act as intermediary stating that it has enough to do at this time. Commissioner Alsing said that he felt that the actual property owner should be the one involved with the lease, particularly when improvements to the property are being considered. Different Commissioners stated varying opinions as to whether or not the Co~ssion should remain in a lease agreement with the City. All Commissioners supported the concept of having the Gun Club continue to lease the property whether or not it was leased directly from the City or sub-leased by the Commission. David Pine, attorney for the Gun Club, suggested that perhaps the Commission would prefer to assign the lease to the Gun Club rather than enter into a sub-lease agreement. He indicated that an assignment would take them out of the capacity of acting as intermediary stating that in an assignment the Commission would give up all rights. The Co~ssion asked the Director to check with the City Attorney on the advisability or legality of an assignment. MOTION Co~ssioner Pyle made the Co~ssion's lease the current expiration a motion to request that the City Council extend of the Lithia Springs site for 10 years beyond date in 1998. Commissioner Coppedge ,seconded. The vote was: 3 yes - 2 no (C\..i'i't=d~, Adams) ~ VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Request for croquet tournament Director Mickelsen reported that Dale Swire is requesting to hold the Third Annual Croquet Pestival and Tournament at Triangle park on June ,12th and 13th. In previous years the Commission has approved the tournament in which funds are raised to support the State Ballet of ,Oregon. Mr. Swire reported that last year's tournament donated $500 to the ballet. Director Mickelsen indicated that department staff has had no difficulties regarding the tournament in previous years and that the tournament would be designed along the same guidelines as previous' years. MOTION Co~ssioner Coppedge made a motion to approve the request. Commissioner Pyle seconded. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no VIII. CORRESPONDENCE, COMMUNICATIONS, DIRECTOR'S REPORT A. Central Area Patrol Officer Director Mickelsen introduced Officer Lisa Brooks who has been selected as the Central Area Patrol officer and who will be coordinating and supervisiQg the Park Patrol. Officer Brooks spoke briefly to the . Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Reaular Meetin2 - April 27. 1993 Page 3 CAP Officer - continued , Commission about her views on acting not only as Park Patrol supervisor but as Police Department liaison with the Parks Department. B. Mute Swans nestiIU!: Staff reported that the mute swans at the lower pond were again nesting with the female sitting on four eggs. Best estimate'is that the eggs will hatch sometime near the end of May. Because both cygnets hatched last year did not survive due to a naturally occurring parasite in the lawn which weakened them, staff has been investigating various means to assure the survival of the offspring this year. Eric Setterberg, Irrigation Specialist and resident "birder" on staff, has been researching various means to give the cygnets the best chance of survival. Eric reported that Dave Holderread of Corvallis, a swan breeder, has indicated that the best option for survival is to allow the eggs to hatch with the parents but then to remove them immediately to be raised in a protected environment. The breeder cautioned that it takes time, effort and knowledge to be surrogate parents to cygnets because-they will imprint on the person raising them rather than on their natural parents. In considering the department's other obligations, staff does not believe that raising the cygnets in house would be advisabl~ due to the time and expertise it would require. In looking for another option, Wildlife Images in Grants Pass was contacted and they have agreed to raise the cygnets if the Commission concurs with this option. ' In discussion, the Commission concurred that having the cygnets raised at Wildlife Images would be the best immediate solution and directed staff to pursue that option. Details as to whether the offspring would be brought back to Lithia Park when they were old enough would be decided at a later date. MOTION C. Dedication of Railroad Park property Having reviewed a memorandum from the Director indicating that the final de~dfor the Railr~ad Park property had been recorded by the City, Commissioner Reynolds made a motion to request that the City Council pass a resolution dedicating that city-owned land between 6th and 8th Streets on "A" Street as park property. Commissioner Alsing seconded. ' The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no > , D. Assessment for Tolman Creek at YMCA City Park The Commission reviewed a memorandum from the Director and a letter from City Hall which indicated that the Commission would be responsible for its portion of the assessment fees related to street improvements on Tolman Creek Road adjacent to the YMCA City Park. The memorandum indicated that althouah historically the department had not been separately assessed for improvements adjacent to park property, that, due to th~ size of the park frontage on Tolman Creek the City would not be able to absorb the cost of this improvement without assessing parks. .. Ashland Parks and Recreation commission Regular Meetin~ - April'27. 1993 Page 4 Tolman assessment - continued Coumissioners voiced strong complaint that they were rece1v1ng this information after the fact. Particularly Conmissioner Reynolds indicated that if the Coumission had known up front that it would be charged .for these improvements that it would have been able to participate in the decision making process as to the kind and quality of improvements for which it would be paying. IX. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS A. Use of Garfield Park by unsupervised children Co~ssioner Pyle mentioned a letter to the editor in the Tidings which commented on the vandalism occurring at Garfield Park, particularly a portion of the fence being bent over. He inquired as to whether or not an additional entrance should be created between the apartments and the park. Superintendent Gies said that the Police Department had reported that the particular incident referred to was malicious vandalism, not just someone trying to take a short-cut into the park. He also said that it would not be practical to have an entrance at our fence at the spot since the apartment complex also has a fence at that point. In further discussion, the Coumissioners expressed concern about the level of juvenile vandalism occurring at Garfield Park and the fact that it appears that many, very young children are using the park unsupervised. It was suggested that park ordinances be reviewed to determine whether or not any age limit is set or could be set for unsupervised use of parks. Staff was also requested to work with Officer Brooks to devise a manner in which the public might become better informed on safety issues as well as vandalism issues regarding park usage by uns~pervised children. X. NEXT MONTH'S AGENDA The next Regular Meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, May 25, 1993 at 7:00 p.m. XI. ADJOURHMBNT With no further business, Chair Adams adjourned the meeting. Respectfully submitted, LJ~ Ann Benedict, Management Assistant Ashland Parks and Recreation Department \