City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

January 31, 2008

ATTENDANCE

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

Absent:     None

CALL TO ORDER

Eggers called the regular meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at The Grove, 1195 E. Main Street.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Study Session – December 4, 2007

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

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

Study Session – December 10, 2007

Under “Discussion on Recreational Fees, Charges, and Policies,” Noraas asked for the inclusion of her suggestion regarding differentiating the goal for recovery rates (i.e. for weddings, from 60-80%). On page 3, Gardiner asked that the term “Darex family” be changed to “Bernard family” to correctly identify the family expressing willingness to relinquish their name on the ice rink.

MOTION Rosenthal moved to approve the minutes as amended. Lewis seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

Regular Meeting – December 17, 2007

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

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Open Forum

Jackson Cuevas, 278 Idaho Street, said he was organizing the first annual March for the Homeless on May 24 (in conjunction with the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, DC). He expressed interest in beginning the march in Lithia Park and said the goal was to raise funds to build homes for the homeless.

Jana Carole, 1655 Peachey Street, speaking as a volunteer for the Aquatics Foundation of Southern Oregon (AFSO), said her non-profit organization works with aquatics programs in the Rogue Valley and they hoped to conduct a fundraising event in mid-July 2008 and utilize Ashland Creek through Lithia Park. She indicated that the event would be called “The Great Duck Race” and the raised funds would support operations and maintenance of the SOU pool. She asked to speak about the proposed event at an upcoming study session.

Cyndi Mathews, 1655 Peachey Road, speaking on behalf of AFSO, said the SOU pool is important to many families and community members and asked the commission to consider their fundraising request.

Mark Moeglein, 144 Sunnyview, speaking as the President of Ashland Ice, a non-profit organization, thanked the commission for their commitment to the Darex Family Ice Rink and said he understood that they wanted to provide a better skating solution within Ashland. He asked to speak about long-term options and said there was a strong demand for a larger rink in the city.

Peter Kirkpatrick, 10950 Corp Ranch Road, said he played hockey in high school and college and continues to play in “old men’s” leagues. He praised the commission for opening the first rink in the valley and said the community needed a full-sized rink.

Michael McLaughlin 737 N. Main, speaking on behalf of the Rogue Valley Youth Hockey Association and Ashland Ice, talked about the value of a full-sized rink versus a half-sized rink such as the Darex Family Ice Rink. He said hockey was popular in the area and a larger rink would be used by many skaters.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

MOTION Lewis moved to nominate Gardiner as chair for 2008. Rosenthal seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

MOTION Lewis moved to nominate Eggers as vice chair for 2008; Eggers declined.

Rosenthal moved to nominate Noraas as vice chair for 2008. Gardiner seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

FEES AND CHARGES RECOMMENDATIONS

Teige presented information about fees and charges for all programs and facilities provided through Ashland Parks and Recreation. For each program or facility she outlined total revenues, expenditures, and recovery rates. She suggested raising fees and charges in most categories to meet a higher rate of recovery.

Public Input

Art Clemons, 175 California Street, said fees should remain nominal and subsidies continue for community programs such as folk dancing and suggested that the commission discontinue subsidizing private events such as weddings in the park.

Jan Waitt, 147 Manzanita Street, a folk dancer, said she understood the commission’s budget concerns but indicated that facilities users are taxpayers. She said fees were raised last year and asked that the commission not raise fees year after year.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners discussed the following rates of increase and asked staff to prepare a proposal for the February 25 regular meeting:

1.       Facilities: weddings and ballfields: 50-80% recovery; rental facilities: 40-50% recovery

2.       Daniel Meyer Pool: raise fees up to 50% recovery

3.       Darex Family Ice Rink: no changes recommended

4.       Calle Guanajuato: 3-5% with the possibility of 10% recovery

5.       North Mountain Park: shared cost with school district: 50%

6.       Oak Knoll Golf Course: wait for golf subcommitee recommendations; interested in raising power cart rental fees

7.       Adult Recreation Programs: no changes recommended

8.       Youth Recreation Programs: raise fees to 40% recovery

9.       Ashland Senior Center: no changes recommended

10.   Summer Park Program (Garfield Park): discuss during budget planning. No fee increase associated with this program.

SOU STUDENTS’ DUCK POND PRESENTATION

Three SOU students – Calvin Cho, Nickolas Stevenson, and Helena Verduyn – presented their final proposal for the cleanup of the upper duck pond in Lithia Park. Their proposal called for the draining and dredging of the pond followed by the construction of the new system, including bioswales, and the placement of signs around the pond educating park patrons about the ecosystem and asking them to refrain from feeding the ducks.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners questioned the timeline for the project and staff reported that the work could begin in the spring pending budget approval. Commissioners spoke favorably about the report and applauded the students’ efforts.

MOTION Lewis moved to accept the report. Noraas seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no (show of hands)

BEAR CREEK GREENWAY JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT

Robertson reminded the commission of their previous review of the draft JPA and said the agreement would ensure the long-term stability of the Greenway’s management and maintenance. He recommended approval of the agreement.

MOTION Gardiner moved to approve the Bear Creek Greenway Joint Powers Agreement. Lewis seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

NEW BUSINESS

PROPOSED SENIOR CENTER DOG RULE CHANGE

Commissioners reviewed the staff proposal and guidelines for potentially designating the Ashland Senior Center as a “dog friendly” area. Several comments and suggestions were made, including Noraas’s comment that the proposal made sense and would be easy to follow and Eggers’s suggestion that dog owners be responsible for cleanups and repairs. Staff agreed to change item 2 to indicate that dog owners would clean up after and repair damages from dogs and item 5 to reflect that a review would be conducted in one year or less.

MOTION Noraas moved to accept the proposal with amendments. Rosenthal seconded the motion.

                 The vote was:   Gardiner, Lewis, Noraas, Rosenthal – yes

                                         Eggers – no

2008-2009 BUDGET PREPARATION SCHEDULE

Robertson presented the city’s Budget Committee meeting schedule and asked the commission to make note of the April 17 Parks Commission budget presentation.

SUBCOMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS

Signs and Plaques Subcommittee Report

Gardiner reported that the Signs and Plaques Subcommittee met on January 15 to review the current policy, with the goal of updating and clarifying it based on feedback from staff. Eggers asked commissioners to direct their comments and suggestions by email and said a revised draft would be presented in the coming months.

ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS

None

UPCOMING MEETING DATE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS

§         Study session set for February 11 at the Parks Office, 340 S. Pioneer Street—7:00 p.m. Topic to include:

§            Budget issues

§         Regular meeting set for February 25 at 7:00 PM, Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street—7:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Eggers adjourned the regular meeting at 9:45 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation Department