City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

STUDY SESSION
MINUTES

September 19, 2005

ATTENDANCE

Present:   Commissioners D. Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis; Rosenthal (via speakerphone); Superintendent Gies; Superintendent Teige

Absent:     City Council Liaison A. Amarotico; Director Robertson

CALL TO ORDER

Gardiner called the study session to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Parks Office, 340 S. Pioneer Street.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

N. MAIN / SCENIC PARK MASTER PLAN DISCUSSION

Gies reviewed the proposed labor and irrigation detail sheet prepared by staff. He invited Donn Todt, horticulturist/arborist, to speak to the commission.

Todt gave a presentation on the viability of using native grasses in a park setting. He referenced the grasses seeded at the Riverwalk subdivision on North Mountain Avenue in December of 2004, indicating that they usually require less water than non-native grasses but entail more initial maintenance.

Eggers reviewed the master planning process to date, outlining a number of possible project constraints, including city ordinances and city and parks policies.

Eric Setterberg, Irrigation Supervisor, discussed the volume and cost of water that would be required to irrigate the lawn as outlined in the master plan design. He projected the cost for 29 cubic feet of water to be $1,500 per year [based on current water prices].

Public Input

Rick Landt, 468 Helman Street, a water conservationist and former landscape designer, presented an alternative park design. He outlined his rationale for creating the plan, stating that the park site is important to him for a number of reasons, and he expressed that his plan might serve as a long-term solution for reducing maintenance costs at the site.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners expressed opinions about the original plan as well as the alternative park site design. Several commissioners agreed that the Lango plan was designed based on input from staff, commissioners, and neighbors, and that it served as a reflection of those thoughts and interests. Several commissioners expressed interest in various aspects of the Landt plan; however, some concern was expressed about the size of the lawn in the plan, which was estimated to be half the size of the lawn in the Lango plan. A few commissioners stated that neighbors in the areas surrounding the park live in apartments and condominiums without lawns, and the larger lawn would suit their needs more appropriately. Another commissioner reflected that the public was given four separate opportunities to provide ideas and feedback on the project and the Lango plan was an accurate compilation of that input.

Gardiner thanked staff and citizens for their contributions and the commission agreed to table the discussion until a future study session.

NEW BUSINESS

LINCOLN STATUE REPAIR

Commissioners and staff discussed the recent vandalism of the Lincoln statue in lower Lithia Park. Staff informed the commission about the money that was donated by citizens for the repair of the statue’s head and about the sculptors who expressed interest in the project.

Staff was directed to contact the Historic Commission to assess their interest in helping with the repair, both in terms of financing for the project and providing background information on the history of the statue.

RECREATION PROGRAM REFUND POLICY

Teige read aloud the draft refund policy prepared by staff, stating that recreation program refund policies are common in Oregon. She requested approval of the policy prior to the printing of the next recreation guide, or by mid-November.

Staff was directed to place the topic on the agenda for the regular commission meeting in September.

LITHIA PARK CONCESSIONS REPORT

Teige reported on revenues and expenses related to the Lithia Park Concessions operation from November 2004 through the present, stating that staffing was the most costly portion of the budget. She indicated that Marty Bryant, a sub-contractor at the concession stand, agreed to take over the lease in October and carry it through to the end of May, 2006.

OTHER ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS

§         Commissioners reviewed the postcard for the upcoming Vogel public meeting.

§         Commissioners reviewed dates for upcoming regular meetings and study sessions for the remainder of the year.

§         Commissioner Rosenthal informed the group that he will miss Monday evening meetings in the fall due to his enrollment in required courses for the completion of his master’s degree. He requested that commissioners consider scheduling study sessions for weekday evenings other than Mondays.

§         Commissioners agreed to bring their calendars to the next regular meeting and confirm meeting dates through 2005.

ADJOURNMENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION

§         Executive Session – Real Property ORS 192 660 (1)(e)

ADJOURNMENT OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Gardiner adjourned the meeting at 10:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation