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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/24 REG MIN City of Ashland PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES February 24, 1997 A TIENDANCE: Present: Al Alsing, Bob Bennett, Teri Coppedge, JoAnne Eggers, La~rie MacGraw, Director Ken Mickelsen. Absent: None I. CALL TO ORDER Chair Coppedge called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Building at Hunter Park. II. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA Director Mickelsen reported that the Ashland Gun Club had brought some information to the department regarding completing work on the training facility on the site. Chair Coppedge placed the item under New Business. III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. Re2Ular Meeting - Januarv 28. 1997 Commissioner Eggers recommended several corrections to the minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 28, 1997: on page 1, last sentence, that the wording be changed from "Commission's endorsement to speak on their behalf when contacting people about grant opportunities" to "Commission's endorsement to contact people about grant opportunities"; on page 2, last sentence, the word "development" should be changed to "develop"; on page 4, mid-page, in discussion of utilizing a landscape architect related to flood damage, that it should be sPecifIcally noted that the Calle Guanajuato area was being discussed, not the entire area under the Commission's jurisdiction; also on page 4 regarding her preference that the Commission go out for a separate RFP for a landscape architect, that, included as part of her reasoning for having the opportunity to select a: local fIrm would be its accessibility to the community and familiarity with the project area; on 'page 5, within Commissioner Alsing's motion related to the landscape architect, the words "in Lithia Park" should be changed to "on Calle Guanajuato"; and, lastly, at the bottom of page 5, concerning the appointnient of Commissioner Alsing and Director Mickelsen as Commission representatives to the City's committee to review ~FPs to select a consulting fIrm, that the phrase "with the other Commissioners' approval" should be deleted. In discussing the corrections, Commissioner MacGraw indicated that she felt that the phrase was appropriate because no one objected to the appointment. Commissioner Eggers said she did not believe at the time that the item was up for discussion but that the Chair had made the appointment and did not need the other Commissioners' , Regular Meeting - February 24, 1997 Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Page 2 Approval of minutes - continued approval. Chair Coppedge indicated that the Chair did have the authority to appoint but that such appointments were routinely made by consensus approval among Commissioners. However, she said that it was also her recollection that she did just ask Commissioner Alsing if he would be willing to serve and that she did not ask for comment from other Commissioners. By consensus, Commissioners agreed to have the phrase deleted. Commissioner Bennett made a motion to appr-ove the minutes as corrected. Commissioner Alsing seconded. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no B. Soecial Meetin~ - Februarv 3. 1997 Commissioner Alsing made a motion to approve the minutes of the February 3, 1997 Special Meeting as written. Commissioner Eggers seconded. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no IV. REVIEW OF FINANCES A. Aporoval of orevious month's disbursements Commissioner MacGraw . made a motion to approve the previous month's disbursements as indicated by checks #15394 through #15704 in the amount of $641,309.65. Commissioner Eggers seconded. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no B. Aporoval of December 31. 1996 Ouarterlv Financial Statement . .. Commissioner MacGraw made a motion to approve the December 31, 1996 Quarterly Financial Statement as presented. Commissioner Alsing seconded. The vote was: 4 yes - 1 abstain (Eggers) Commissioner Eggers indicated that she chose to abstain as she was not serving on the Commission at that time. As the Public Participation portion of the agenda had been advertised to begin at 7:00 p.m., Chair Coppedge chose to proceed with other portions of the agenda prior to addressing the items specifIcally looking for public input. VI. OLD BUSINESS .....f None VII. NEW BUSINESS A. Aooroval to advertise for bids - tennis court resurfacing Director Mickelsen indicated that staff was requesting authorization to advertise for bids for resurfacing the tennis courts at Hunter, Lithia, and Helman School. The project has been budgeted for this year and should be completed by mid-June. Regular Meeting - February 24, 1997 Page 3 Ashland Parks 8nd Recreation Commission Aporoval to advertise - continued MOTION Commissioner Alsing made a motion authorizing advertising for bids. Commissioner MacGraw seconded. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no B. Aporoval to advertise for bids - maintenance equioment Director Mickelsen indicated that the specifIed equipment budgeted for this year is an aerator, a 4-wheel utility vehicle which would be used by the Forestry staff, and a seeder. He said that the dollar amount involved may not require the bidding process on all items, but that staff would like authorization to advertise for bids on those items which may be high enough to require bidding. MOTION Commissioner MacGraw made a motion authorizing advertising for bids. Commissioner Eggers seconded. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no C. Recommendation for ap,pointment to Ashland Parks Foundation Board Commissioner Alsing indicated that Celia Meese's term was expiring on the Ashland ~ Parks Foundation Board. He also indicated that the Foundation's hi-laws stipulated that . ~,~ _ an individual could serve a second teI'!!!J In a recent meeting, the Foundation Board ,~ chose to recouunend to tile CommISsion that it appoint Ms. Meese to a ~ond term. MOTION Commissioner Alsing so moved. Commissioner Bennett seconded. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no D. Pro,posal bv Ashland Gun Club Commissioners briefly reviewed a report submitted by the Ashland Glin Club for completing improvements to the leased site. As it was the fIrst opportunity Commissioners had had to see report, consensus was to table the item and to place it on the agenda for the next Regular Meeting. At 7:00 p.m., Chair Coppedge chose to postpone the remaining items under New Business to later in the meeting and to address the Public Participation portion of the agenda. V. PUBLIC PARTICIPATIO~ "'., A. Public in,put on Lithia Park flood restoration. Director Mickelsen presented a few slides related to the current status of the flood damage to Lithia Park on the east side of Ashland Creek, particularly the east side trail system. Following the showing of the slides, Chair Coppedge indicated that the Commission was seeking input from the community as to what it would like to have happen regarding re-establishing the east side trail within the park. Regular Meeting - February 24, 1997 Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Page 4 Public Participation - Flood Restoration - continued In response to a question from Commissioner Eggers, Donn Todt, Park Horticulturist, said that his best guess is that the red layer of soil about ~ee feet down is fIll brought in after the 1974 flood. Tom Foster 047 Nutley). Mr. Foster said that he felt it was important to re-establish at least a portion of the east side trail system for joggers, hikers, and those people who wanted to access the more natural area of the park. He said that he felt that some of the foot bridges should be replaced so as to create a multiplicity of routes through the park. He encouraged the Commission to contact community service organizations about funding rebuilding of the foot bridges. He also encouraged the Commission to coordinate another volunteer weekend. Jim Moore 0217 Park). Mr. Moore recommended that when approaching reconstruction that the Commission take advantage of what the natural forces have done. Referring to the last City Council meeting in which the Council restated its commitment to the Valdez principles, he recommended that the Commission commit itself to work with the environment and take advantage of what Ashland Creek has done rather than put it back to the way it was. He said that if we just put it back the way it was before, we will just have the same problem "because the creek doesn't like the way it was before. " Steve Koskella (Scenic Drive) said that he kind of likes what the creek has done; its invited a little wildness into the landscape of the upper park. Saying he aesthetically enjoys this wilderness look, he hoped that some of those features could be retained and that the Commission only put back what needs to be put back. Laurence Olsen (2365 Luoine) said that he felt the Commission should look at the advantages of what the creek did by opening up the channels so "things won't get so screwed up the next time." Should analyze where the problems were, get all the best input you can, total resource analysis, and take time before deciding what to do. Don't try to correct everything. Not always what we would like to have done but what can be done. Nola Katooothis (491 Lori Lane) said her primary question was about money and the bond issue which citizens were being asked to vote on. She said she would like to see restoration, but wanted "to know how much money was needed and where it was going to come from. :.,' In response to a request by the Chair, Director Mickelsen responded that it was his understanding that at the time the Council had had to write the ballot measure, an extremely rough estimate was that 2.6 million dollars would be needed to cover the cost of repairing damage related to the flood throughout the city. He said that his understanding was also that now that the various departments throughout the city had had the time to more thoroughly review the damage, that the actual cost would be much Regular Meeting - February 24, 1997 Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Page 5 Public Particioation - Flood Restoration - continued less and that the City would only sell bonds in the amount needed to cover the real cost of repair. Councillor Carole Wheeldon indicated that that was also her understanding and that she was going to encourage the Council to review all matters related to the bond measure at the upcoming Council meeting. She encouraged all those present who were interested to attend or view that Council meeting. Michael O'Brien 007 Fork). Mr. O'Brien said that fIrst and foremost he believed that it needs to be remembered that we are talking about a park which people will be using and that the health and safety of those people needs to be considered when deciding what will be done. He said that living just above the park he can observe people using the area now and he feels some concern about the stability of some places. Jim Youn2 (Talent). Mr. Young said that he was present as a representative from the Lithia Arts Guild which was very interested in restoration, particularly on Calle Guanajuato. In general he stated that he was supportive of diversity in use and design. He felt it would be important to use the community's interest and understanding of keeping diversity in a riparian area as it flows through an urban area. Mike Uthoff (633 Roca) indicated that the sooner we learn that we are "not in charge", the better off we will be. He said that he believed.repetitively recreating "what was before" after each flood has proved an .obvious. mistake. He recommended a minimum of structural fixing and mling. Likes it the way it is now. Llovd (Clav Street), Lloyd, a fIfty-year resident of Ashland, said that he and his family have used the park a lot over the years. He said he didn't know exactly how it should be done or how to fund it but please "do it." He s~id that he felt it was very important to the people of Ashland and its many visitors to have the park back in shape. Somehow, weneed to get a trail back on the east side. As it is now, you can't walk the entire length of the park without going into the street. Would like to see a complete trail on the west side of the creek as well! Lola Brosbe 098 N. Wi2htman). Ms. Brosbe inquired as to how quickly the . playground area would be repaired, and, whether or not the food tax monies could be used to help pay for the flood damage. Chair Coppedge responded that, as approved by the voters, the Prepared Food and Beverage Tax can only' be used for land acquisition, not for construction or maintenance. Director Mickelsen said that the playground will be repaired within about three weeks. Right now the department is waiting on the specially prepared sand which is used for safety purposes under the equipment. He also took the opportunity to let the audience know that he anticipates that the area of the park from the Bandshell to the plaza should be completely restored by early summer. It is the upper portion of the park which will require more study, time, and policy decisions prior to taking action. Regular Meeting - February 24, 1997 Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Page 6 Public Participation - Flood Restoration - continued Cate Hartzell (881 E. Main) encouraged the Commission to take into consideration as much as possible the cause and effect nature of what happened and why; to take the opportunity to understand what happened all along Ashland. Creek from the watershed down. Prior to making decisions about whether to fIll or not to fIll to look at the overall picture of what would happen next time. She said that she hoped we would take this event as an opportunity to learn and try something different. As to re-establishing jogging and hiking trails, she said that she hoped that a process would be used to ask people what they "really need" so that a plan could be made which would better fIt people needs with a more natural stream course. Phil Miller (Laurel St.) urged the Commission to act conservatively in the upper portion of the park. He. said that he had fIrst anticipated being depressed when he went to the upper park (ollowing the flood, but that his reaction was entirely different. He enjoyed the "wilder" look of the park; more like a river than a controlled stream. He suggested that the Commission put its money between the Bandshell and the plaza and focus on "wilderness" planning for the upper park; Le. keep the stream channel wider, don't re- establish all the trails on the east side. He also speculated that perhaps some of the slides in the upper park may have contributed to taking out some of the bridges in the lower park. Michael G. said that he used the park a lot and wanted the trail on the east side rebuilt in some form but that he did not believe it would be necessary to replace all the bridges. He also said that a park is not a wilderness. He is also an avid user of wilderness and felt if someone wanted a wilderness experience they should go to the wilderness. Lithia Park was created. He said .that the experience of walking the east side trail was very different than that of walking the west side; that he didn't necessarily want everything replaced the way it was, but wanted enough replaced so that the exPerience walking the east side would not be lost. He expressed concern that the widened creek channel would not be ecologically sound during summer months when the water flow has decreased substantially. Mike Parker (Tolman Creek Rd.) said that he was a fIsh biologist and that the only place within the park which does look somewhat natural at this time is that widened portion of the creek. He said that this summer the side channels would warm up some but over time, when the riparian vegetation grows back, water temperature should not be a problem. He said that the structures in the channel in the lower park currently prevent fIsh from reaching th{upper stream anyway. He said that he has used Ashland Creek in fIsheries class studies and when doing so has used it to demonstrate what is un-natural about the channel, such as the rip-rapping. He said that he felt that some access to the east side of the creek would be appropriate but felt it should be as minimally intrusive as possible. Regular Meeting - February 24, 1997 Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Page 7 Public ParticiDation - Flood Restoration - continued Susan Powell expressed her opinion that Ashland Creek as it flowed through the park was more a "water feature" for the .park rather than a natural waterway. She said that there is very little similarity betWeen a truly natural creek and Ashland Creek. She said that it will always be part of a managed watershed. She said she supported a healthy ecology to the stream but felt that to have it totally "natural" was not realistic. Scott Kurtz (Liberty St.). said that he loved .the east. side of the park and thought it looked great now. He said he would want a trail all along that side, but did not believe that we need as many bridges as we previously had. As to the front lawn area, he said that he felt that it would be okay not to replant the front lawn prior to "tourist" season if the engineering study which the City is undertaking is not yet far enough along to plant this spring. He recommended interpretive signs for the tourists and to hold off planting until fall. Indicating that he believed that the Commissioners were "stewards of the stream channel", he expressed concern for some of the work done by City contractors on upper Granite Street which appears to have damaged the stream channel. Several other persons also spoke who re-iterated ideas and comments previously stated; primarily, that Commissioners should take time in making decisions regarding the stream channel, the east slope and east side trail using whatever technical resources. available to them prior to making those decisions so that old problems aren't recreated, that the "new, wilder look" to the east side wasn't all bad and in many respects was more aesthetically pleasing and provided better access to the stream channel, that having a trail on the east side was important to people who wanted a less urban park experience but that it may not be necessary to have the path as wide as it was in the past,. and, .fInally, that some of the foot bridges should be replaced to provide access to the east side but not necessarily all the bridges. People encouraged the Commission to work closely with the City on the overall picture, to remember that "the flood will happen again", to try to work with the natural forces as demonstrated by the flood, and to plan for the future. B. Kari Tuck - Partners for Wildlife Kari Tuck reported to the Commission on a visit from Maureen Sullivan, Project Officer for U.S. Fish and Wildlife, regarding the $9,500 grant for the natural area development of N. Mountain Park. She said that Ms. Sullivan had indicated that although most of Fish and Wildlife's projects were more focused on floodplain restoration that she was excited about the project in that it was in a public park and would receive a lot of visibility. Ms. Sulliv~ had also expressed concern however that the planning process was still in a conceptUal phase and wanted to have a clearer understanding within the next six months as to how the monies would be used. In discussion with Commissioners, Director Mickelsen indicated that he foresaw no diffIculty in supplying Ms. Sullivan with the kind of information she needed within the . next six months. Regular Meeting - February 24, 1997 Ashland Parks and Recreation CommissiQn Page 8 C. Open Forum A young woman named Tammi was present in the audience with her fIanCe who addressed the Commission about the fee charged to reserve a place for a wedding in Lithia Park. She said that she felt that a fee of $200 was not reasonable. She felt that to charge local residents for use of their own park was not appropriate. In discussion, Commissioners and staff briefly reviewed the reservation policy and the fee amount which have been in effect for several years. By consensus, Commissioners chose not to change its- policy or waive the fee in this particular circumstance. Having completed the Public Participation portion of the agenda, Chair Coppedge returned to New Business. NEW BUSINESS - continued E. 1997 - 98 Deoartment Bud2et Director Mickelsen revieWed a fmal draft of budget worksheets which had been prepared following several Study Sessions in which the Commission discussed the various funds under its jurisdiction. He pointed out a few' changes which had been made after the last Study Session Clue to new information received from the City Finance Department. He indicated that as the City budget process moves along, some of the fIgures may change due to new infofmation on b~lot Measure 47. MOTION Following discussion, Commissioner Bennett made a motion to recommend the budgets as presented to the City Council and Budget Committee for approval. Commissioner Alsing seconded. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no VIII. COMMUNlCA nONS and STAFF REPORTS Director Mickelsen reported that this weekend would 'be the last of operation for the ice rink this year; , IX. ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS None X. UPCOMING MEETING DA TE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS The next Regular Meeting was set for Monday, March 17, 1997. The report from the Ashland Gun Club wOuld be placed on that agenda. XI. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, Chair Coppedge adjourned the meeting. R):J r:L- Ann Benedict, Business Manager Ashland Parks and Recreation Department