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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-0523 Parks & Rec Packet IMPORTANT: Any citizen attending a Commission meeting may speak on any item on the agenda. If you wish to speak, please fill out the Speaker Request form located near the entrance to the Council Chambers. The Chair will recognize you and inform you as to the amoLnt of time allotted to you. The time granted will be dependent to some extent on the nature of the item under discussion, the number of people who wish to be heard, and the length of the agenda. CITY OF ASHLAND PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Regular Meeting Agenda MAY 23, 2005 @ 7:00 PM COUNCIL CHAMBERS @ CIVIC CENTER 0 1175 E. MAIN STREET CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES Regular Meeting-April 25, 2005 Study Session-May 16, 2005 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION . Open forum ADDITIONS or DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA UNFINISHED BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS . Request by Lithia Motors . Trespass Approval . Vogel Property Design Parameters SUBCOMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS UPCOMING MEETING DATE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS · Trail Master Plan Meeting - May 26, 2005 at 1 :00 PM - Parks Office · Public Meeting on N. Main StreeUScenic Park Site at 6:30 PM - June 1, 2005 _ Mountain View Retirement Home, 548 N. Main Street · Public Meeting on Vogel Property Park Site - June 11, 2005 at 11 :30 AM -- Ashland Christian Fellowship Coffee House (The Upper Room), 50 E. Hersey Street · Study Session - June 20, 2005 at 7:00 PM - Parks Office, 340 S. Pioneer · Regular Meeting - June 27,2005 at 6:30 PM - Ashland Senior Center, 16H9 Homes · Approval of N. Main Park Site Design · Joint Study Session - June 27,2005 at 7:00 PM - Ashland Senior Center, 1699 Homes · Meet with City Council and Ashland School Board to discuss: · The future of Lincoln and Briscoe Elementary School playgrounds . Open space ADJOURNMENT In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the City Administrator's office at (541) 488-6002 (TTY phone number 1-800-735-2900). Notification 72 hours prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility to the meeting (28CFR 35.102-35.104 ADA Title I). City of Ashland PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES April 25, 2005 ATTENDANCE Present: Commissioners D. Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Rosenthal; Director Robertson; Superintendent Gies; Superintendent T eige; City Council Liaison A. Amarotico Absent: None CALL TO ORDER Gardiner called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Reaular Meetina - March 28. 2005 Under Unfinished Business item "Capital Budget DisclJlssion,. Eggers asked that a sentence be clarified to read: 'Eggers advocated for land acquisition and development noting the importance of shifting budget funds beginning with the upcoming fiscal year, because Jand prices are increasing at a much greater rate than the overall cost of living. n MOTION Rosenthal moved to approve the minutes as amended. Eggers seconded the motion. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no Study Session - April 18. 2005 Under Old Business item uS-Year Capital Improvement Plan,. Eggers requested that the first sentence be changed to read: "Robertson presented a 5-year capital improvement plan, which was based on suggestions he received from commissioners, staff, and the :general public throughout the 2005-2006 budget planning process and on an existing 5-year plan found in departmental archives. JJ MOTION Lewis moved to approve the minutes as amended. Rosenthal seconded the motion. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OPEN FORUM Julia Sommer, 573 Scenic Drive, speaking on behalf of the Scenic Condo Association and neighbors in the surrounding area, expressed concern about the large tractor trailer container containing CERT supplies that was deposited on the N. Main I Scenic park site approximately one month ago by the Ashland Fire Department. She conveyed her overall disappointment with the condition of the park site, including the lack of maintenance, the dearth of "No Parking" signs, and the generally unsafe and unclean conditions at the location. Susan Rust, 42 N. Wightman Street, spoke of her appreciation for the work of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission and the department, and especially for the work of the staff at N. Mountain Park in terms of their Environmental Stewardship Program. She also expressed gratitude for the fire reduction efforts in the Siskiyou Mountain Park area, the management of forest lands, the trails work around and within the city, and the public meetings regarding the development of a linked trails system in Ashland. ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA None. Page 2 of 4 Regular Meeting Minutes - April 25, 2005 Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission UNFINISHED BUSINESS LITTLE LEAGUE BATTING CAGE REQUEST Robertson reminded the commission about the request by the Ashland Little league to add a permanent batting cage structure at Hunter Park. He suggested placing the permanent structure closer to the baseball field [than where the temporary cage is currently located] to allow for future growth of the tree canopy. Jack Opgenclrth, 575 Elizabeth Avenue [Ashland Little League vice president], and Matt Small, 385 Cherry Lane [design architect], reiterated their desire to install a permanent batting cage facility at Hunter Park and responded to the concern expressed at the March meeting regarding lighting the proposed batting cage. Opgenorth and Small agreed with the staff suggestion to move the cage closer to the baseball field. Discussion ArnonQ Commissioners Commissionerrs discussed avoiding the drip lines of trees and deliberated about whether the structure would require lights. Gardiner called for a motion. MOTION Lewis moved to approve the installation of a permanent batting cage structure at Hunter Park, including lights, on the condition that staff would oversee and approve adequate setbacks. Rosenthal seconded the motion. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no BUDGET APPROVALS Robertson read aloud the packet memo entitled "Adoption of Proposed 2005-2006 Budget" and thanked staff members and the commission for their efforts throughout the budget preparation process. He recommended the approval of the proposed 2005-2006 APRC budget. Susan Rust, 42 Wightman Street. asked staff to post the Parks Department budget on the City's Web site for the benefit of the citizens of Ashland, and she spoke of her appreciation for the funds allocated toward open space acquisitions in the coming fiscal year. Greg Weston, 620 Sherwood Lane, spoke on behalf of the local baseball community in requesting the inclusion of North Mountain Park baseball field lights in the 2005-2006 budget. Discussion AmonQ Commissioners Commissioners reviewed the memo and Eggers offered some clarifying points, specifically with regard to the support the department would provide to the senior community in Ashland. Commissioners reviewed the Parks budget spreadsheets and asked questions relating to a number of items, including potential cost savings for tennis court lights. Eggers again expressed her uneasiness with the inclusion of funds for baseball field lights and reiterated her desire for a renewed effort with regard to the acquisition of open space property. Rosenthal asked the commission to consider developing a long-term capital improvHment plan for the Oak Knoll Golf Course in the upcoming fiscal year. Eggers asked a number of additional questions relating to details within the spreadsheets and staff provided feedback. Commissioners expressed appreciation for the information provided during the budget process, and Gardiner called for a motion. MOTION D. Amarotico moved to approve the proposed 2005-2006 Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission budget. Rosenthal seconded the motion. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no Page 3 of4 Regular Meeting Minutes - April 25, 2005 Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission NEW BUSINESS UTILITY EASEMENT REQUEST Robertson reported that two citizens requested a utility easement across Parks-owned land at 752 Terrace Street. He welcomed the property owner and the developer and invited them to speak to the commission. Dallas Hymans, 752 Terrace Street [property owner] and Tom Bradley, 700 Terrace Street [property developer] requested a utility easement at the top of a 5-acre lot between Terrace Street and Ashland Loop Road, at the forest interface but within City limits, that would be sufficiently wide to enable the placement of a natural gas line for a private residence. Discussion Amono Commissioners Commissioners asked about the history of the property and staff provided background information. Robertson informed the commission that utility easements are common in many places. When asked whether utility equipment could damage the land, the commission was told that the small equipment used for such purposes generally does not harm the landscape to any significant degree. Lewis asked that the easement be limited to a single-service easement [gas only] for a single residential unit so as to minimize potential damage to the land. He also asked that staff review the project and approve it in terms of potential impacts on the surrounding trails and plant life. Gardiner called for a motion MOTION Eggers moved to approve recommending to the City Council the request for a utility easement across Parks-owned land, on the condition that it would be used solely for a single residenoe and a single utility, and contingent upon staff review and approval in terms of environmental impacts. Lewis seconded the motion. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no SIGNS, PLAQUES APPROVALS Gies reported that the Signs, Plaques, and Memorials Subcommittee and staff toured lithia Park with the intention of locating areas within the park that might accommodate benches with plaques, and that they found three sites that could accommodate a total of four benches. He reported that the subcommittee reviewed all existing requests for benches with plaques and found four that clearly fit the criteria outlined by the subcommittee. Judy Kettler, 488 Lori Lane, requested the placement of a memorial bench with a plaque in Lithia Park in honor and memory of her husband, Jake Kettler, who was deceased more than one year ago. Discussion Amona Commissioners Commissioners voiced appreciation for the work of the subcommittee and Gardiner called for a motion. MOTION Lewis moved to approve the placement of four benches with plaques in Lithia Palrk. Rosenthal seconded the motion. The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no SUB-COMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS Robertson reported that the Ashland City Council proposed a series of joint study sessions with the Parks Commission and the Ashland School Board in June and July to discuss topics of mutual interest or concern, including the lease on the Ashland Gun Club, open space funding, the future of the Briscoe and Lincoln Elementary School playgrounds, and any other issues of mutual concern. Commissioners agreed to the proposed meetings and requested notification of specific dates and times in the near future. Robertson thanked North Mountain Park staff for their outstanding work in creating a successful 2005 Earth Day event on Saturday, April 23, at which approximately 4,000 people attended. Page 4 of 4 Regular Meeting Minutes - April 25, 2005 Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS Eggers updated the commission on the outcome of the recent goal setting study session of the Forest Lands Commission, on which she serves as a regular voting member. Eggers asked staff for an update on the landscaping at the Meadowbrook Park II subdivision. Commissioners discussed the request from the Ashland Chamber of Commerce for the use of Lithia Park; specifically, the Butler Bandshell and the lawn area between the playground and the lower duck pond, on July 3 and 4, for the purpose of staging and conducting the annual 4th of July events in the park. Eggers asked that vendors be instructed not to d~ve their vehicles on the vegetation and not to dump their wastewater into the gutters, and that Chamber organizers provide an alternative receptacle for the wastewater. UPCOMING MEETING DA TE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS · Public meeting set for April 28, 2005, at 6:30 PM, Pioneer Hall, 73 Winburn Way, for the purpose of receiving public input toward the development of a master plan for the N. Main I Scenic park site. · Study session set for May 16 at 7:00 PM - Parks Office, 340 S. Pioneer. · Regular meeting set for May 23 at 7:00 PM - Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main. ADJOURNMENT -, By consensus, with no further business, Gardiner adjourned the meeting at 8:55 PM. Respectfully submillted, () . () n I~ cY~ j Susan Dyssegard Ashland Parks and Recreation City of Ashland PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION STUDY SESSION MINUTES May 16, 2005 ATTENDANCE Present: Commissioners Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Rosenthal; Director Robertson; Superintendent Gies; Superintendent T eige Absent: None CALL TO ORDER Gardiner called the study session to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Parks Office, 340 S. Pioneer Street. OPEN FORUM None NEW BUSINESS DISCUSSION ON OPEN SPACE FUNDING Robertson reviewed funding options discussed in previous years and invited the commission to provide feedback and suggestions for generating additional funding sources for open space acquisitions. Discussion Amonq Commissioners Commissioners discussed the short-term and long-term open space plans, which were previously approved by the City Council, and reviewed current funding sources, including the one-cent Ashland meals tax and Systems Development Charges. Robertson provided an updated accounting of monies collected to date from these sources, with a projection for totals collected through 2010. Commissioners talked about methods for generating additional funding for open space purchases, including increasing the meals tax and SDCs, and they also discussed assigning dollar figures to proposed properties on the short-term open space plan. The commission asked staff to have the SDC worksheet updated. Once it is updated, the commission agreed to submit the worksheet to the SDC Committee, with the intention of requesting an increase in the percentage Parks receives from those charges. The commission also asked staff to request from the SDC Committee a timeline for when they will review the updated Parks SDC workshel3t. ADJOURNMENT - With no further business, Gardiner adjourned the meeting at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~~. ~~L----. Susan Dyssegard Ashland Parks and Recreation ASHLAND PARKS AND RECREATION COMMI~;SION 340 SO. PIONEER STREET ASHLAND. OREGON 97520 COMMISSIONERS: Don Robertson Director Diane Amarotico JoAnne Eggers Michael Gardiner Jim Lewis Rich Rosenthal TEL.: (541) 488-5340 FAX: (541) 488-5314 MEMORANDUM TO Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Don RObertso~ector FROM DATE May 17,2005 SUBJECT Request by Lithia Motors Action Requested Provide staff direction Backl!round Staff received a request from Alison Durkee of Lithia Motors asking for permission to serve alcohol at an event in Lithia Park on August 15th. Staff explained that alcohol is prohibited in Lithia Park, as in all our parks. Ms. Durkee will be on hand to formally present her request. Staff recommends against allowing for an exception to the no alcohol rule at this time. Alcohol use requests are regularly denied by staff for all events ranging from reunions to wedding receptions. Home of Famous Lithia Park ~ LITH 1ft i\I\1ERICA.'S CAR & TRUCK STORE May 4. 2005 Since 1946 Don Robertson Director Ashland Parks & Recreation 59 Win Bum Way Ashland, OR 97520 Dear Mr. Robertson, I am writing to obtain a recommendation from the Ashland Park Commission to the Ashland City Council in support of the following request Lithia Motors has madt~ below. Your support for our request to the Ashland City Council would be greatly appredated. Lithia Motors, America's Car & Truck Store, is one of the largest, fastest growing auto retailers in the nation. Lithia Motors is named after a natural mineral spring in its hometown of Ashland, OR. Lithia started as a single, family owned and operated dealership in Ashland in 1946 and has since grown to 88 dealerships in 12 Western states. Every year Lithia Motors hosts an annual General Managers meeting in Ashland. We center all activities around the town where it all started from staying at the local hotels, having the meeting in the Ashland Armory, going to Mt. Ashland and of course visiting many of Ashland's famous restaurants. This year our annual meeting is August 14-16. Over 100 of our company's leaders are coming and staying at the Plaza and the Bards Inn. On August 15 which is a Monday we have reserved the Cotton Memorial Picnic area in Lithia Park to enjoy a "Taste of Ashland." We are having several Ashland restaurants join us to offer a variety of choices for an upscale sit-down dinner in a setting that is considered the show-piece of Ashland. To compliment the wonderful cuisine we will be enticing our out of town guests \vith, we ask to be able to serve local wine and beer with our meals for a strict two hour tinle period. Ashland can boast that it is home to many fine beer and wine makers and we would like to give our guests the full experience of what Ashland has to offer. Thank you so much for your time and consideration for our request. Ashland is directly tied to the Lithia Motors History and we feel very proud to show it off every year at our annual General Managers meeting. We also enjoy hearing how our managers can't wait to come back and share the beauty of Southern Oregon with there families. I hope to hear from you soon. s~~ Alison Durkee Meeting Coordinator Lithia Motors 360 E. Jackson 8t. Medford, OR 97501 (541) 864-1726-adurkee@lithia.com General Offices 360 East Jackson 51. . Medford, Oregon 97501-5892 . Phone (541) 776-6401 . Fax (541) 776-6897 ASHLAND PARKS AND RECREATION COMMI:SSION 340 SO. PIONEER STREET ASHLAND, OREGON 97520 COMMISSIONERS: Don Robertson Director Diane Amarotico JoAnne Eggers Michael Gardiner Jim Lewis Rich Rosenthal TEL.: (541) 488-5340 FAX: (541) 488-5314 MEMORANDUM TO Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Don ROberts~irector FROM DATE May 17, 2005 SUBJECT Trespass Notice Approval Action Requested Authorize the chair to sign a trespass notice for the use of the Police Department Back2:round Historically the AsWand Parks and Recreation Commission has granted the authority of issuing trespass notices to the AsWand Police Department. This notice has not been updated for several years. In order to make rule enforcement easier and to allow for more discretion, staff recommends changing the wording to "up to 30 days". Home of Famous Lithia Park NOTICE To: Date: APD Case No. Effective immediately, you are prohibited from entering any and all parks in Ashland, Oregon. You have been excluded by the Parks Commission under authority of Ashland Municipal Code 10.68.350 which provides that any person may be excluded j~or violation of park rules. You are in violation of park rule: This notice is effective for ten days from the date you receive it. To enter a park in this ten day period may result in your arrest for criminal trespass in the second degree. According to Oregon Revised Statute 164.245, a person commits the crime of criminal trespass in the second degree if such person enters or remain unlawfully in 01'" upon premises. d~dJ~~ Laurie MacGraw, Chair Ashland Parks and Recreation Comnnission I certify that the above notice was delivered personally by me to the individual first named above on the _ day of , 20_. AB: Misc \ Forms \ Trespass Notice for APD ASHLAN,D PARKS AND RECREATION COMMI~SSION 340 SO. PIONEER STREET ASHLAND, OREGON 97520 COMMISSIONERS: Don Robertson Director Diane Amarotico JoAnne Eggers Michael Gardiner Jim Lewis Rich Rosenthal TEL.: (541) 488-5340 FAX: (541) 488-5314 MEMORANDUM TO Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Don Roberts~irector FROM DATE May 17,2005 SUBJECT Design Parameters for the Vogel Property Action Requested Provide staff direction Backeround David Lewis, the landscape architect hired to design a master plan for the Vogel park property, has requested a review by the commission of the attached questionnaire. David is seeking input from the commission about any design parameters that the conlmission would like to declare prior to the public process. The design parameters, or decision space [as it is sometimes called], establishes any constraints - either physical or program- related - that could be placed on the property plan being designed. By declaring these decision spaces, it allows the architect and public to more accurately define what will go into the space. An example might be whether formal athletic fields should be considered for this park, or if athletic space in the park could be designed as informal space for pick-up games. Home of Famous Lithia Park DRAFT - General Questions for Community and Stakeholders Rate the following possible park features for importance: Item Important 1. A beautiful, picturesque park 2. Enhanced/restored Ashland Creek 3. Enhanced/restored riparian zone 4. Supports/defines neighborhood character 5. Structured play area(s) 6. Picnic area(s) 7. Multi-purpose, open grass area(s) 8. Informal sports fields 9. Basketball court 10. Tennis court 11. Walking/jogging paths 12. Cycling path or route 13. Outdoor music or theatre space 14. Restrooms 15. Plaza or neighborhood square 16. Off-street parking 17. Community gardens 18. Community c4~nter 19. Covered facility or shelter 20. Public art or sculpture 21. Ornamental garden 22. Nursery and demonstration garden areas 23. Adapted or healing garden 24. Children's garden 25. Meditative space 26. Other 27. Other Somewhat Not Which statement below best describes the image of the park you want? Best 1. A nature park~1 with habitat and native ecosystems 2. A farm park, focused on food growing and related activities 3. A public garden, with flowers, a fountain, and formal pathways 4. A traditional park with open grass, winding paths, play areas 5. A combination of 2 or more of the above 6. Something else? Okay Poor Any additional issues or suggestions? Would you like to be on a contact list for park planning related events? Yes Name: Address: Phone: Email: No Return to: Park Staff or Ashland Parks and Recreation 340 S. Pioneer Street, Ashland, Or 97.520 For additional information contact: Ashland Parks at 541.488.5340 I Don Robertson -Joint Meeting with School District and Parks Commission _~ Pa~_!J From: To: Date: Subject: Gino Grimaldi Ci~f Council Man, May 9, 2005 1 :55 PM Joint Meeting with School District and Parks Commission 'r.;"j,!'!.... . ; \. /.. - ./ Several weeks ago Councilor Hartzell suggested that the City Council meet with the School Board and the Parks Commission to talk about issue that all three governing bodies share in common. I have met with Juli DiChiro and Don Roberston to discuss a date for the meeting and possible topics for discussion. We have tentatively identified June 27th at 7:00 p.m. as a possible date and time. The location has yet to be determined. This is after the School Board elections but prior to new board members taking office. Newly elected school board members will be invited to attend. The proposed agenda is open ended and designed to provide information that will stimulate some thought and discussion. It is also open ended so that the three governing bodies can explore a variety of topics of mutual concern and identify those that the group may want to address. It is felt that a good starting point for the discussion would be to get an overview of the demographic trends of the community and a presentation of the" Now X 2" effort being coordinated by coordinated by the Rogue Valley Council of Governments. Wrapping up the evening will be a discussion about future meetings and topics. Fran will be contacting you shortly to determine if the June 27th meeting date will work for you. Juli and Don are in the process of checking with their elected officials. If you have any comments or questions about this, please let me know. Gino cc: Don Robertson; Fran Berteau; juILdichiro@ashland.k12.or.us