City of Ashland
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
September 24, 2012

ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Eggers, Landt, Lewis, Seffinger; Director Robertson; Superintendents Dials and Dickens
Absent:  Commissioner Rosenthal; City Council Liaison Silbiger

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 – August 20, 2012
MOTION Landt moved to approve the minutes as presented. Lewis seconded the motion.

The vote was: All yes

Regular Meeting – August 27, 2012
MOTION Landt moved to approve the minutes as presented. Lewis seconded the motion.

The vote was: All yes

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
None

ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
ENDERS SHELTER UPDATE
Robertson said the June 11 Parks Commission study session included a review of the Enders Shelter and staff was subsequently directed to seek engineering and architectural input on restoring the structure. Dickens said staff met with architect Jerome White and engineer Alan Goff and also attended a pre-application planning meeting on August 8. During that meeting, he said significant issues were considered such as flood plain development, historical review, erosion control, and public comment opportunities. Eggers said the shelter was viewed by the commission as a valuable, historic, much-used amenity in need of refurbishment.

Architect Jerome White spoke about the preliminary design plan prepared by Kistler, Small and White Architects and said it contained a review of the construction and design elements. He said input on the plan was sought from Commissioner Lewis and Historic Commission chair Dale Shostrom.

Commissioners spoke favorably about the draft plan and said they preferred retaining as much of the historic original structure as possible. Lewis said the shelter was one of the more historic elements in Lithia Park and using Parks funds to restore key features could extend its lifespan.

John Enders, 1502 Talent Avenue in Talent, thanked the commission, on behalf of the Enders family, for valuing Ashland history. He said the shelter provided lithia water, respite, and shelter to park patrons for a century. He asked for the restoration of historic elements and said he would contact Ashland service organizations for donations, as his family had belonged to them for generations.

Staff was directed to obtain an estimated project cost from a contractor.

NEW BUSINESS
CALLE GUANAJUATO RESURFACING PRE-APPLICATION UPDATE
Robertson said staff met with the Planning Department on September 5 to review the submitted pre-application for the repaving project on the Calle Guanajuato. He said Calle resurfacing was a difficult project in terms of identifying property lines and issues related to historic preservation, creek protection, and utilities.

Dials said she worked on the pre-application with Dickens and project manager Steve Ennis and they attempted to determine existing utilities on the Calle that did not appear on maps. She said commission direction was not required at this time as the project would probably move forward in FY 2013-2014 rather than FY 2012-2013.

Commissioners thanked staff for their update on the Calle resurfacing pre-application process.

SUBCOMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS
Park Project Updates

Dickens reported on current and future park projects:

· Garfield Park parking lot – resurfaced and restriped in August; ADA parking space added; new playground equipment installed in spring 2013;
· Hunter Park parking lot – seal coated and crack sealed;
· Hunter Park sidewalks – all sidewalks will be replaced, including those at the Senior Center;
· Hunter Park tennis courts – resurfacing underway;
· Hunter Park Ping Pong Table – scheduled for installation in mid-October;
· Lithia Park lower duck pond arched bridge – replaced with similar size / dimension granite bridge;
· Lithia Park tennis courts – resurfacing underway; pickleball lines to be drawn on one court; pickleball lessons offered in spring timeframe;
· Oak Knoll Golf Course – trees thinned; parking lot seal coated and crack sealed;
· Oak Knoll Golf Course greens - #7 and #8 undergoing reconstruction;
· Parks office sprinkler system – retrofitted and brought up to code;
· Senior Center Door – replaced with ADA-compatible commercial door;
· YMCA parking lot – seal coated and crack sealed.

Commissioners expressed appreciation for the work of staff and said they received positive feedback from community members.

Annual Bear Creek Festival
Dials said the annual Bear Creek Festival was set for October 6 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at North Mountain Park.

Nature Center Remodel
Dials said North Mountain Park Nature Center remodel bid proposal packages would be available from September 25 at 8:30 a.m. through October 23 at 4 p.m.

ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS
None

UPCOMING MEETING DATES

• Regular meeting set for October 22 at 7:00 p.m., Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main Street. Proposed topics:

  • Hunter Park Memorial Light Proposal

  • Annual Dogs in Parks Review

ADJOURNMENT
By consensus, with no further business, Eggers adjourned the meeting at 8:13 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation