City of Ashland
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
SPECIAL MEETING
MINUTES
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Rosenthal; Councilor Don Laws; Director Ken Mickelsen
Absent: None
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. at the Parks and Recreation Department Office, 340 S. Pioneer Street
NEW BUSINESS
PRESENTATION AND DISCUSSION ON GROWER’S MARKET IN LITHIA PARK
John McLaughlin, Community Development Director, gave an overview of the proposal for relocating the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market (Ashland Farmer’s Market) to Lithia Park. Two site alternatives were outlined.
Public Comment
Citizens spoke in support of allowing the Grower’s and Crafter’s Market to conduct itself in Lithia Park:
Janet Bierbower, 4290 Foothill Blvd., Grants Pass, the market’s manager, asked the Parks Commission to make an exception to their "no selling" rule by allowing the Rogue Valley Grower’s and Crafter’s Market to operate in Lithia Park. Both site alternatives were proposed.
The Commission also heard from the following market supporters:
Paige Morse, 746 Cambridge Street
Michael McKenzie, 746 Cambridge Street
Alex Forrester, 47 Union Street
Lorey Myers, 2528 Siskiyou Blvd.
Diane Taudvin, 47 Nutley Street
Rob Cain, 279 Granite Street
Bill Francis, 40 Van Ness
Danielle Platia, 885 Clay Street, Apt. 155
Alan DeBoer, 2260 Morada Lane
Kate Geary, 111 B. Street
Kiah Bosy, 500 Ashland Loop Road
Elizabeth Bretko, 130 Graham Street
Carol Carlson, 509 N. Mountain Avenue
Megan Lebov, 698 Ashland Street
Leslie Belew, 345 Alta Street
Mark Bassik, Williams, OR
Jean Crawford, 923 Harmony Lane, cautioned that allowing the Grower’s Market to operate on Park property could precipitate many more requests in the future that might be hard to justifiably deny.
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioner Rosenthal proposed granting a one-year, conditional acceptance to the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market for usage of Winburn Way between Nutley and the parking turnaround near the bandshell in Lithia Park on Tuesdays from April to November, as stipulated in the CUP application. He outlined important terms and conditions and overall CUP guidelines related to the proposal.
Commissioner Eggers expressed her appreciation for the valuable ways in which the Grower’s Market contributes to the local community. She also outlined her concerns about allowing the market to operate in Lithia Park. Commissioner Amarotico and Vice-Chair Gardiner voiced concerns relating to parking problems and future potential issues with denying other groups’ access to commercial activities in the park. Chair Lewis discussed the potential viability of using Market Alternative #2 (the "skating rink" lot on Winburn Way) for the Grower’s & Crafter’s Market. Vice-Chair Gardiner proposed using North Mountain Park, despite its distance from downtown Ashland.
MOTION – Commissioner Eggers moved to deny the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market’s Alternative #1 (Winburn Way beginning north of the Nutley Street intersection, stopping short of the turnaround at the bandshell) for the weekly market. Vice-Chair Gardiner seconded the motion.
The vote was:
Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, and Lewis – yes
Commissioners Rosenthal and Amarotico – no
MOTION – Chair Lewis moved to approve the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market’s Alternative #2 (the "skating rink" lot on Winburn Way) for the weekly market. Commissioner Rosenthal seconded the motion.
The vote was:
Commissioners Rosenthal, Lewis, and Amarotico – yes
Commissioners Eggers and Gardiner – no
ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Chair Lewis adjourned the meeting at 8:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Dyssegard, Department Secretary
Ashland Parks and Recreation Department