City of Ashland
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
January 27, 2003
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Rosenthal; Director Mickelsen
Absent: None
CALL TO ORDER
Vice-Chair Eggers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main, and welcomed new Commissioners Diane Amarotico, Mike Gardiner, and Rich Rosenthal.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Regular Meeting – December 16, 2002 Commissioner Lewis moved to approve the minutes as written. Commissioner Eggers seconded. The minutes were approved by consensus.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Open Forum
Len Eisenberg (223 Granite Street) spoke regarding his proposal to sell Oak Knoll Golf Course to provide affordable housing and reduce City debt. He referenced the letter he had sent to the Commission and noted that with the planned development of the Billings property as a golf course, Ashland would still have local golf facilities available. Mr. Eisenberg asked the Commission to pursue this idea further by putting it on a future agenda as a formal item.
ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA - None
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Motion Commissioner Rosenthal nominated Jim Lewis for Chair. Commissioner Gardiner seconded.
The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no
MOTION Commissioner Amarotico nominated JoAnne Eggers for Vice-Chair. Commissioner Lewis seconded.
The motion was withdrawn.
Discussion of the Motion
Noting that she had been Vice-Chair for 2002, Commissioner Eggers wondered if another Commissioner might wish to serve in that capacity. Commissioner Gardiner concurred, suggesting that it would be beneficial for one of the new Commissioners to gain that experience. There was general agreement among Commissioners, and the motion was withdrawn by Commissioners Amarotico and Lewis.
MOTION Commissioner Rosenthal nominated Michael Gardiner for Vice-Chair. Commissioner Lewis seconded.
The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no
Speaking to newly-elected Commission Chair Lewis, Commissioner Eggers said, "I'm happy to continue in my role since I helped put the agenda together, or I'm happy to hand the gavel over to you at this point." Chair Lewis deferred to Commissioner Eggers, who ran the rest of the meeting.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
REVIEW AND DISCUSSION OF USE OF PARK PROPERTY AT HERSEY, WATER & OAK STREETS
Director Mickelsen reminded the Commission that they decided at the January 2002 meeting to review this topic again in one year. Currently, two horses are boarded on the property.
Public Comment
Ellie Read (398 N. Laurel Street) owns one of the two horses on the property. The other horse is owned by Ms. Rose Thorpe and her daughter, Gail, who were not present at the meeting. Ms. Read spoke for herself and the Thorpes in expressing her gratitude for being able to keep horses on the property. They all would like their horses to remain on the property.
Carol Kale (23 W. Hersey Street) lives by the property and strongly advocated for a community garden at that location. She and others have met with the North Mountain Park officials, who have agreed to place the community garden under their umbrella. Ms. Kale will meet with Director Mickelsen on February 5th. Ms. Kale will present a formal proposal to the Commission at the February meeting.
Carol Carlson (509 N. Mountain Street) concurred with the previous speaker regarding the community garden. Ms. Carlson hopes to see the garden project move forward by summer of 2003.
Philip Gager (555 Oak Street) lives adjacent to the property and asked for background information on the project. Director Mickelsen and Commissioner Eggers gave brief overviews of the plans for the property. Mr. Gager requested notification of future plans as they become available.
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioner Rosenthal noted that horse boarding on the property generates approximately $2,000 per year in revenue. He recommended adding another horse to increase revenue to be used for funding a community garden. Commissioner Eggers and Director Mickelsen reminded the group about the history of the horse boarding issue.
Motion Commissioner Lewis moved to extend the lease one more year for boarding horses at Hersey, Water and Oak Streets, with a three-month notification should the agreement need to be changed or terminated for any reason. Commissioner Rosenthal seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no
LOWER DUCK POND CONTRACT WITH URSA
Director Mickelsen reported on the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission's study session regarding the possibility of terminating the contract with URSA Consulting, but allowing URSA to continue using the lake restorer at the lower pond until September 21, at which time the lake restorer's effectiveness will be re-evaluated.
Public Comment
Paul Kay (1234 Strawberry Lane) expressed a desire to continue to refine the design of the lake restorer for optimum benefit.
The Commission acknowledged Mr. Kay's contributions and thanked him for his comments.
Motion Commissioner Gardiner moved to cancel the contract with URSA Consulting dated July 2, 2002. Commissioner Lewis seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no
Motion Commissioner Gardiner moved to allow URSA to continue to refine the lake restorer at the lower duck pond in Lithia Park until September 21, 2003, at which time the Commission will evaluate the effectiveness of the lake restorer. Commissioner Amarotico seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no
NEW BUSINESS
ASHLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUEST FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES LEVY
Director Mickelsen reported that, since 1994, the Department has been the conduit through which the levy has been administered. The Department receives $119,000 a year from the levy. The money is spent for pool expenses, senior programs, staff salaries, track meets, and other recreational activities provided by Parks and Recreation.
Public Comment
Chuck Keil, Ashland School Board member, thanked the Parks and Recreation Department for its support over the last nine years. He asked the Commission to include the levy in its budget, as it will expire at the end of the 2002-2003 school year. He stated that the Ashland City Council must also agree to place the issue on the ballot in the May election. The ASB will be asking for a five-year renewal of the levy.
Julie DiChiro, Ashland School Board Superintendent, stated that the activities funded by the levy are outside of the core curriculum for the students in the Ashland School District.
Discussion Among Commissioners
No discussion
Motion Commissioner Lewis moved to include the Youth Activity Levy budget in the Park and Recreation budget. Commissioner Rosenthal seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no
DISCUSSION OF REQUEST TO USE FUTURE PARKLAND ALONG BEAR CREEK FOR STORM DRAIN WATER QUALITY PONDS
Director Mickelsen reported that a request has been made for a portion of the six acres to be used for storm water quality ponds. Staff is supportive of this because it will improve the quality of water in Bear Creek and allow some additional amenities on that property.
Public Comment
Paul Kay (1234 Strawberry Lane) represented the Bear Creek Watershed Council as chairman and stated that the Council supports the development of riparian areas for storm water detention and treatment. He invited the meeting attendees and the public to attend a meeting on February 10 at 7:00 PM in the Ashland Springs Hotel Ballroom. The meeting will be sponsored by the Bear Creek Watershed Council and others and will involve discussion about these matters.
Carol Carlson (509 N. Mountain) has property located near the area and is in favor of the project. She asked whether the development water will be exempted from the requirement to be retained.
Discussion Among Commissioners
An environmental report is tied to the acceptance of future parkland. Commissioner Eggers stated that acceptance of this property as parkland is conditioned on receiving a clean environmental report, since the Commission will be responsible for any potential future cleanup stemming from past activities on this property. She also stated that she fully supports this project.
Director Mickelsen noted that Staff will report back to the Commission about such things as the environmental assessment, City funding for the project, and maintenance, as that information becomes available.
Motion Commissioner Amarotico moved to have staff pursue with the City the use of the property as discussed in the January 21, 2003, memorandum for storm drain water quality ponds, and to bring a plan back to the Commission for approval. Commissioner Gardiner seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no
DISCUSSION OF LOCATING PUBLIC ARTWORK AT NORTH MOUNTAIN PARK RESOURCE CENTER
Commissioner Eggers outlined the background on the matter, stating that there is a new Public Arts Commission that meets the first and third Wednesday of each month in the Public Works and Planning building. She asked for a recommendation from that Commission with a rationale behind it before bringing the sculpture up for a vote before the Parks Commission.
Commissioner Gardiner agreed but asked for a deadline from the Arts Commission, after which the Parks Commission would move forward on its decision with or without further input.
Kari Gies, Parks staff member who works at the Nature Center at North Mountain Park, stated that the art piece was offered to them last year as a full donation to be placed near the Nature Center. At that time, because the Commission didn’t have an art policy in place, the request was denied. The piece has become available again. It is a sculpture with brown bears and some have suggested that it should be situated behind the Nature Center. Ms. Gies expressed her desire for permission to accept the donation in a timely manner.
Public Comment - None
Discussion Among Commissioners
Director Mickelsen stated that he and Ms. Gies would make a presentation to the new Public Arts Commission and ask for their recommendation about the art piece and report back.
DISCUSSION OF APPROVING A STANDING SUB-COMMITTEE ON GOLF
Referencing the January 21, 2003, memo on this topic, Director Mickelsen noted that for several years there has been an ongoing unofficial sub-committee for golf; however, this sub-committee has never been formally approved by the Commission. The idea of formalizing it as an ongoing standing sub-committee of the Commission had been raised at the January 16 Budget Study Session where two Commissioners had expressed interest in volunteering for said sub-committee.
Public Comment - None
Discussion Among Commissioners - None
MOTION Commissioner Rosenthal moved to formalize the sub-committee on golf as an ongoing standing sub-committee of the Commission. Commissioner Gardiner seconded.
The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no
Commissioners Rosenthal and Gardiner volunteered to serve on the golf sub-committee and were duly appointed by Commissioner Eggers on behalf of Chair Lewis.
SUB-COMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS
YOUTH ACTIVITIES LEVY ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Director Mickelsen explained that historically, one member of the Commission has been assigned to the Youth Activities Levy Advisory Committee. Former-Commissioner MacGraw had been serving on that committee, but as her Commission term has ended, a current Commissioner will need to take her place.
Commissioner Rosenthal volunteered to serve on the Youth Activities Levy Advisory Committee and was duly appointed by Commissioner Eggers on behalf of Chair Lewis
HOSLER DAM WARNING SYSTEM LOCATION - information purposes only
Superintendent Gies reported that a pole on which to mount part of the Hosler Dam warning system will be installed above the Cotton Area Restroom.
POTENTIAL ONGOING STUDY SESSION TIME
Director Mickelsen reminded Commissioners that they had been considering setting an ongoing study session time to streamline scheduling. After discussion among Commissioners, there was general agreement that the best time is the evening of the third Monday of the month, unless the entire session could be completed in the half-hour immediately preceding the regular meeting.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS
Commissioner Gardiner drew Commissioners' attention to the letter received from Dick Streng, Varsity Tennis Coach, supporting maintenance work on the Hunter Park Tennis courts.
For the benefit of new Commissioners, Commissioner Eggers noted that she is the appointed APRC representative to the Forest Lands Commission, with a term running until 2005.
UPCOMING MEETING DATE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS
Upcoming Meeting Dates
ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Commissioner Eggers adjourned the meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Dyssegard, Administrative Secretary
Ashland Parks and Recreation Department