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City of Ashland
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
June 25, 2012
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Eggers, Landt, Lewis, Rosenthal, Seffinger; City Council Liaison Silbiger; Director Robertson; Superintendents Dials and Dickens
Absent: None
CALL TO ORDER
Eggers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Study Session – May 14, 2012
MOTION Rosenthal moved to approve the minutes as presented. Lewis seconded the motion.
The vote was: All yes
Regular Meeting – May 21, 2012
MOTION Lewis moved to approve the minutes as presented. Rosenthal seconded the motion.
The vote was: All yes
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Marcus Scott, 1205 Talent Avenue, manager of the Lithia Artisan’s Market of Ashland, asked for a market expansion at the entrance to Lithia Park. He distributed an expansion plan and said it would allow for the market’s increased economic viability, create family wage jobs, and be in line with the City’s Economic Plan calling for the creation and growth of local businesses and products. He asked why several artists were allowed to show art for sale at the park entrance when other artists were denied that opportunity.
Eggers thanked Scott and said the community appreciated the market. Landt said he did not want the topic to appear on an agenda at present. He asked for a staff report listing pros and cons of an expansion before including the topic on a commission agenda. He said it was a commission issue as well as a City Council issue.
Robertson said staff prepared a correspondence to artisans who were observed displaying unauthorized wares on the front lawn of the park. He said law enforcement officers would deliver the letters to the artists, as they were violating Ashland Municipal Code and risked being cited if apparent sales activities continued.
ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
MOU FOR BEAR CREEK GREENWAY VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
Dials said the commission, the designated City of Ashland representatives on the Joint Powers Committee, was asked to consider an MOU for the Bear Creek Greenway Volunteer Program.
Bicycle & Pedestrian Program Manager and Jackson County Parks Planner Jenna Stanke said the contract, which had been under development for at least four years, was the final step before implementing the volunteer work program. She said no financial contributions were required from the commission and the contract simply allowed all participating members—including Jackson County and the cities of Central Point, Medford, Phoenix, Talent, and Ashland—to work cooperatively in providing working volunteers for the Greenway.
Robertson said the commission was responsible for the Greenway from the Ashland Dog Park to Valley View Road. He said the agreement required minimal coordination or effort by Parks staff.
MOTION: Landt moved to approve the MOU for the Bear Creek Greenway Volunteer Program as presented. Rosenthal seconded the motion.
The vote was: All yes
COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS
Robertson said staff met with a Parks employee group and the City of Ashland HR Manager to discuss COLAs for Parks staff. He said the commission previously agreed to a three-year commitment with its regular employees for COLAs equal to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the west coast at the end of March. He said CPI west coast on March 31 was 2.9% and temporary seasonal employees would be excluded from the COLA as their wages were set relative to the State of Oregon minimum wage or the City of Ashland Living Wage, which increased by 3.2% in 2012.
Robertson welcomed City of Ashland HR Manager Tina Gray and said she could address any questions from the commission.
Discussion Among Commissioners
Landt said the commission previously outlined a COLA for Parks employees ranging from 1-5% based on west coast CPI and were obligated to uphold their commitment. He said the motion needed to stipulate that the COLA was for both management and non-management regular employees of the Ashland Parks Commission.
MOTION: Landt moved to approve a cost-of-living increase of 2.9% for management and non-management employees of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission, excluding temporary seasonal employees. Seffinger seconded the motion.
The vote was: All yes
SUBCOMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS
Robertson reported that at 3:30 PM that day, two large trees fell over near the upper duck pond in Lithia Park and no one was injured. He said each tree was about seventy feet in length and one, a cedar, fell across Winburn Way while the second tree, a large pine, fell across the upper duck pond. He said the two trees shared the same space and the root ball of the cedar apparently had rested on top of the root ball of the pine but there was no indication as to the cause of the trees falling. He said Parks staff shut down Winburn Way and quickly removed the cedar from the roadway and the pine was in the process of being removed. He asked park patrons not to walk across the fallen tree for safety reasons.
Eggers remarked on the quick and effective response of Park staff in dealing with the situation.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS
None
UPCOMING MEETING DATES
ADJOURNMENT
By consensus, with no further business, Eggers adjourned the meeting at 7:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation