City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

STUDY SESSION
MINUTES

March 7, 2007

ATTENDANCE

Present:  Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Noraas, Rosenthal; Director Robertson; Superintendents Gies and Teige

Absent:    City Council Liaison Navickas

CALL TO ORDER

Eggers called the study session to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Parks office, 340 S. Pioneer Street, and explained the meeting process to those in attendance.

BUDGET GOALS

Robertson distributed a draft goals list for FY 07-08, indicating that it was a compilation of feedback received from the previous commission meeting. Draft goals included:

§         Park development – North Main / Scenic and Ashland Creek / Vogel park sites

§         Oak Knoll Golf Course – Improvements

§         Darex Family Ice Rink – Improvements

§         SOU pool – Participate in regional solution for maintenance issues / possible pool closure

§         Community gardens – Possible additional sites

§         Recreation master plan – Possible development

§         Continuing budget goals from FY 06-07, including:

o       Department logo

o       Succession planning

o       Evaluating energy consumption

o       Non-native vegetation removal

o       Participation in workforce housing

Robertson asked for feedback from the commission. Commissioners expressed thoughts and opinions about the goals and reached consensus about moving forward / continuing discussions about all items listed. Commissioners also agreed to continue discussing unfinished FY 06-07 goals and requested the following minor changes:

o       Evaluating energy consumption – include greenhouse gas consumption and a tour of facilities in the spring, focusing on energy consumption

o       Participation in workforce housing – change to “consideration of… in the event that Parks purchases properties listed on Open Space Plan”

Public Input

Sue Parrish, 201 S. Mountain Avenue, speaking as the Executive Director of the Siskiyou Field Institute, requested FY 07-08 funds, in the amount of $3,000, for the Ashland High School / Siskiyou Field Institute Summer Outdoor Program. She stated that the program is a positive experience for students and that participants receive academic credit for their work. [Other members of the public also spoke about the value of the program, including the dean of students at Ashland High School and a grandparent of a former participant.]

Linda Thomas, P.O. Box 563, requested funding for the creation and placement of no smoking signs in Lithia Park. She indicated her awareness of a smoking ban in all city parks and reported observing many smokers in Lithia Park since the ban took effect. She read aloud three letters from citizens in support of no smoking signs—Angelika Thomas, Mary Yount, and Dominiqe Brown—all of whom could not attend the meeting.

Ron Corallo, 805 Indiana, spoke in support of the Oak Knoll Golf Course. He reported that he circulated petitions within the community [regarding the Housing Commission’s proposed use of the golf course property for affordable housing] and obtained nearly 2,000 signatures from citizens opposed to the concept. He stated that he plays golf year-round at Oak Knoll and requested improvements at the course; specifically, cart paths. He thanked the Parks Commission for their time and effort in serving the community.

Ron Tracy, 1138 Augusta Court, representing the Oak Knoll Homeowners Association, asked the commission to support the suggested improvements outlined in Commissioner Rosenthal’s SOU Capstone Study. He indicated that the FY 06-07 golf course improvements were appreciated by golfers at the course and said that a wood-chipped pathway around the course, if implemented, would be much used by nearby residents.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners thanked the public for their input and stated that the study session was a time to collect information but not to make decisions.

Robertson talked about the upcoming study session on March 14 in which commissioners would be given the opportunity to look at FY 07-08 budget spreadsheets and consider funding allocations.

ADJOURNMENT – With no further business, Eggers adjourned the meeting at 9:20 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation