City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

STUDY SESSION
MINUTES

April 21, 2008

ATTENDANCE

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

Absent:       Commissioner Rosenthal; City Council Liaison Navickas

CALL TO ORDER

Gardiner called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. at the Parks office, 340 S. Pioneer.

UPCOMING AGENDA ITEMS

Robertson reviewed agenda items for the upcoming regular meeting scheduled for Monday, April 28, stating that the primary topic would be a public hearing about a proposed land swap. He distributed information about the proposal, indicating that the two lands under consideration were located on Westwood and Clay Streets. He said the city proposed swapping four half-acre lots on Westwood valued at $415,000 each, along some cash, with a 5-acre parcel of land on Clay Street that would be used for neighborhood park land. He said each acre on the Clay Street parcel was appraised at over $300,000. He reported that the meeting would be held at the Ashland Community Center as the land swap proposal might draw a large crowd. He asked the commission to think about the issue in terms of whether it would be in the best interests of Ashland Parks and Recreation and said the topic would also be presented to the Housing Commission and the Ashland City Council for review.

UPDATES ON BUDGET AND UPPER DUCK POND

Upper Duck Pond Update

Gies reported on the progress made in draining and dredging the upper duck pond.

Budget Presentation Update

Robertson reported on the Parks Commission presentation to the Budget Committee on Thursday, April 17. He said the Budget Committee raised a number of additional questions on topics such as voluntary retirement or a reduced work week and the potential savings if Parks’ cost-of-living adjustment were set at 2.5%. Robertson distributed a chart showing COLAs for all city departments over a number of recent years. He reported that only two departments in the city were non-union, including the management group and Parks, but that some Parks employees had expressed interest in unionizing. He said the City Administrator suggested to the Budget Committee that non-represented City employees receive a 2.5% COLA, not including Parks employees. He said the final question from the Budget Committee called for a table of fees showing generated services, non-services, and the percentage of recovery, and Teige volunteered to forward her fees and charges research to the committee.

CALENDAR OF COMMISSION GOALS

Robertson distributed a list of commission goals and suggested using them as topics for study sessions beginning in May. The commission established the following schedule for study session topics:

§         Energy audit and greenhouse gas emissions – May 21

§         Ashland Creek Park—phasing and funding options – June 16

§         Ice rink contingency plan (if grant proposal not accepted) / Community Garden discussion – July 21

§         Golf course improvements – August 18

§         Recreation Master Plan – September 15

§         Non-native species removal – October 20

§         Strengthen relationships with Chamber and City (joint study session) – November date TBD

§         Review of fees and charges – November 17

Staff Reports

Robertson reported on recent matters brought to the attention of staff:

1.       Citizen request for free usage of the bandshell twice per month from June-August for community salsa dances requiring amplification

2.       Reports of threatening behavior and/or vicious attacks by dogs in Parks-managed areas

3.       Potential removal of funding by Ashland School District for Nature Center programs

Next Steps

Robertson said 1) he planned to meet with the salsa dance requestor to assess the request and 2) Teige would work with city staff to include dog rules and dog-friendly areas information in an upcoming City Source newsletter. For Nature Center school programming, Robertson reported 3) meeting with the School Superintendent, who assured him of the school district’s intention to assist with program funding.

ADJOURNMENT OUT OF STUDY SESSION - By consensus, with no further business, Gardiner adjourned the study session at 8:52 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION - By consensus, Gardiner adjourned into executive session at 8:52 p.m.

§         Executive Session: Employee Negotiations ORS 192.660 (1)(D)

ADJOURNMENT OUT OF EXECUTIVE SESSION - By consensus, with no further business, Gardiner adjourned out of executive session at 9:02 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, Gardiner adjourned the meeting at 9:02 p.m.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation