City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

May 21, 2007

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Employee Negotiations ORS 192.660 (1)(d)

ADJOURNMENT OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

ADJOURNMENT INTO REGULAR SESSION

ATTENDANCE

Present:    Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Noraas, Rosenthal; Director Robertson; Superintendent Gies

Absent:     City Council Liaison Navickas; Superintendent Teige

CALL TO ORDER

Eggers called the meeting to order at 7:10 PM at the Parks office, 340 S. Pioneer Street.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Study Session – April 16, 2007

MOTION Gardiner moved to approve the minutes as written. Noraas seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

Regular Meeting – April 23, 2007

MOTION Noraas moved to approve the minutes as written. Lewis seconded the motion.

     The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Open Forum

None

ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

MUNCHIES RESTAURANT REQUEST

Robertson reminded the commission of the request by Michael Cooke, owner of Munchie’s Restaurant, for outdoor seating along the Calle. He referenced photos showing proposed table placements and a 2001 staff memo and map reviewing the conditions and rules for outdoor restaurant seating. He noted that the conditions and rules outlined in the 2001 memo and map exist to the present day.

Public Input

Michael Cooke, 479 Euclid, requested outdoor seating for his restaurant patrons, stating that it would allow him to remain competitive in the Ashland marketplace, since restaurants offering outdoor seating generally serve more patrons than those without such seating. He listed a number of advantages to his proposal, including the creation of more jobs within the community and the beautification of the area behind his restaurant, and expressed hope that the commission would make a quick decision.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners asked a number of questions, including: the location of the serving cart; whether the 8-foot clearance required by the Fire Marshall could be maintained; whether the additional seating would compromise the artisans’ marketplace; the number of tables to be used by patrons; and how quickly the tables would be set up if the request were to be approved by the commission. Cooke and staff responded that the serving cart would be located near the railing; the artisans were aware of the request and supportive of it; the market would not be compromised; six tables would be set up initially; and the tables could be placed on the Calle as early as the following weekend.

Motion    Noraas moved to grant Munchie’s Restaurant outdoor seating as proposed. Lewis seconded the motion.

     The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

NEW BUSINESS

BEAR CREEK GREENWAY MAP PROPOSAL

Robertson reported that the Bear Creek Greenway Committee planned to place maps along the Greenway, at designated intervals, to provide visitors with a quick reference and assistance for its use. While the comment period had expired, he assured the commission that all comments and suggestions would be delivered to the committee at their next meeting, which was set for the following day.

Gies reported that the committee planned to place mile markers along the trail, starting at Emigrant Lake, and mount the markers on angled posts.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners spoke in favor of the maps and mile markers. Eggers asked that the committee cluster the signs and consider the aesthetics of their placement.

Eggers requested an update on the Ashland Gun Club lease extension request and Robertson stated that he was working on a draft lease extension/agreement, which he planned to forward to the City Administrator and club managers. Robertson reported that he was scheduled to tour the club with some city councilors the following week.

SOU POOL RESEARCH REPORT

Robertson updated the commission on SOU pool maintenance issues, reminding them that SOU proposed closing its pool by June 30 unless the community could raise $86,000 plus $25,000 in reserve. He reported that he and Gies volunteered to research the pool’s maintenance issues, met with pool experts, and conducted tests on the pool. He stated that they toured the pool with a certified pool operator (CPO) instructor and also looked at the Bend municipal pool, as it is covered by a bubble and Ashland community members had requested consideration of placing a bubble over the Daniel Meyer Pool. He indicated that pool bubbles can create unsafe conditions for staff due to long-term exposure to higher-than-safe levels of chlorine within the enclosed areas.

Robertson reported that he, Gies, and the experts with whom they met agreed that the SOU pool would not suffer a catastrophic failure in the near future. Robertson presented four options to SOU staff and the local swimming community in early May:

1.       Do nothing and close the pool on June 30

2.       Remodel pool – at a cost of $500,000 - $750,000

3.       Cover Daniel Meyer Pool – at a cost of $250,000 - $350,000

4.       Operate current pool “as is” – if the community could raise $86,000 plus $25,000 in reserve

Robertson recommended operating the SOU pool “as is” and suggested the following:

§         Dig test wells at miniumum of 20 feet outside natatorium to determine water table in May

§         If water table is deep enough, drain pool in mid-May

§         Inspect and replace hydrostatic valves on main drains

§         TV inspect main drain lines and all return lines possible

§         Remove and service sump pump, main pump, and auto fill valve

§         Have tile repaired where needed per Robertson/Sherwood report (volunteers)

§         If return lines prove unserviceable, replace with temporary system similar to Sheldon High School pool

§         Reopen pool in mid-September and reduce operating cost by 30% because of closure

In terms of funding, he reported that the Ashland School District pledged money from the 2008 YAL and Phoenix-Talent School District also pledged funds. He indicated that Parks staff trained in pool operations—CPOs Gies, Teige and Farquhar—could provide pool maintenance expertise and advise SOU pool maintenance staff if requested, but that the SOU pool would not become a budget item for the Parks Department in the new fiscal year. Robertson provided the commission with an updated lap swim schedule for the Daniel Meyer Pool, indicating that it was purposely altered, in light of the potential SOU pool closure, to provide additional lap swimming hours for community members prior to its official, seasonal opening on Monday, June 25.

Commissioners thanked Robertson and Gies for assisting in working toward a solution to the potential pool closure at SOU.

SUBCOMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS

Robertson reported on the dates and locations for the 2007 ORPA and NRPA annual conferences and welcomed commissioners to consider attending either or both events. Eggers requested a future opportunity to discuss whether the value received by attending the conferences justified the cost to Ashland taxpayers. Other commissioners expressed that value could be found in “networking” and that Parks staff might find the conferences more useful than commissioners.

ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS

Gardiner reported that recent golf course improvements were appreciated and utilized by the golfing community.

Commissioners discussed their budget process and expressed appreciation for the direction provided by staff and the support of other entities within the community.

Eggers requested more rigid enforcement—by the CAP Officer, CSO Officer, and Park Patrol—of the bans on dogs and bikes in parks.

UPCOMING MEETING DATE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS

§         Study session set for June 18 at 12:00 PM—Oak Knoll Golf Course, 3070 Hwy 66. Topic to include:

§         Tour and review golf course facility

§         Regular meeting set for June 25 at 6:30 PM—Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main. Topic to include:

§         Executive Session: Employee Negotiations—ORS 192.660 (1)(d)

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Eggers adjourned the meeting at 8:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation Department