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City of Ashland
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Rosenthal; Director Mickelsen
Absent: None
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Regular Meeting – February 24, 2003 The minutes were approved by consensus.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Open Forum
Janet Bierbower. Stated that the Grower’s Market is not pursuing the conditional use permit for the skating rink parking lot by Lithia Park. Market members are opposed to the site because it is not large enough to adequately accommodate all market vendors. The market is researching other
Ryan Navickas. Asked the Commission to help the Grower’s Market find a suitable location in Ashland.
ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA
PERMISSION TO SELL IN GARFIELD PARK
Director Mickelsen asked that "Permission to Sell in Garfield Park" be added to the agenda.
Public Comment – None
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioner Eggers expressed concern about the fact that this item was not on the published agenda.
MOTION Vice-Chair Gardiner moved to add "Permission to Sell in Garfield Park" to the agenda. Commissioner Rosenthal seconded the motion.
The vote was: Commissioners Rosenthal, Gardiner, Lewis, Amarotico – yes; Commissioner Eggers – no
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
USE OF PARK PROPERTY ALONG BEAR CREEK FOR WATER QUALITY ENHANCEMENT WETLAND PONDS
Director Mickelsen reminded the Commission that, at the January meeting, Staff presented Commissioners with a proposal about working with the City on donated land along Bear Creek (next to North Mountain Park). The land was designated for use as wetland water quality improvement ponds. Commissioners encouraged Staff to look into the project further, specifically focusing on the size and location of the ponds, and the development of a maintenance agreement for the project.
Public Comment
Kerry KenCairn, a landscape architect working on the project, explained that the purpose of the ponds is for storm water cleanup. Three wetland ponds would utilize between one-half and one acre of land.
Maintenance of the sediment traps would be the sole responsibility of Public Works, which has helped in designing the project.
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioners thanked Ms. KenCairn for her presentation.
MOTION Commissioner Rosenthal moved to approve the use of the land for the purpose indicated in the Staff memo of March 18, 2003, which would include a maintenance agreement that would be approved by Staff. Vice-Chair Gardiner seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no
NEW BUSINESS
REQUEST BY ROGUE VALLEY GROWER’S & CRAFTER’S MARKET FOR USE OF NORTH MOUNTAIN PARK SITE
Director Mickelsen reported that the Department received a request from the Rogue Valley Grower’s & Crafter’s Market to use North Market Park for the market every Tuesday from April through October. He informed the Commission about construction work that is scheduled for North Mountain Avenue this year and indicated that market traffic could be affected.
Public Comment
Janet Bierbower, the market’s manager, spoke on behalf of the market vendors. She asked for the Commission’s permission to use North Mountain Park to operate the Grower’s Market from 8:30-1:30 every Tuesday between April and October. The market would pay the Department $130 per week, which averages out to $2 per booth per week. The main market would be set up in Area 2, with spillover into Area 1. She emphasized the need to expedite the process.
Bill Walker, 1159 Village Square Drive, is a citizen whose property borders North Mountain Park. He voiced his support for the market and expressed concern about holding the market at North Mountain Park, citing potential congestion and parking conflicts.
Bonnie Moody, 511 E. Hersey, voiced similar traffic concerns and suggested that the Grower’s Market contact the City of Talent about permanently relocating the market to that city.
Eric Navickas, 711 Faith Avenue, asked the Commissioners to support the North Mountain Park site and encouraged them to ask the City Council to schedule a study session to research a permanent location for the market within Ashland.
Discussion Among Commissioners
Director Mickelsen clarified that the Planning Department would be responsible for all matters relating to traffic and parking for the market. Commissioner Eggers asked the Commission to consider reserving parking Area 1 for North Mountain Park program attendees.
MOTION Vice-Chair Gardiner moved to approve the use of North Mountain Park for the Grower’s Market with the following conditions:
Commissioner Amarotico seconded the motion.
The vote was: Commissioners Amarotico, Gardiner, Lewis, Rosenthal – yes; Commissioner Eggers – no
PROPOSAL FOR ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY GARDEN ON PARK PROPERTY LOCATED AT WATER AND HERSEY STREETS
Director Mickelsen reminded Commissioners that the project was brought to their attention at a budget study session. A community group, working in conjunction with Staff, found a site
Public Comment
Carol Kale, 23 W. Hersey Street, and Carol Carlson, 509 N. Mountain Street, said that, at a recent meeting with neighbors close to the proposed community garden site, it was agreed that the best location for the garden is near the road. That particular section of the property has been impacted least by the creek and it would provide maximum visibility to the community. Water conservation, mulching, composting, and cover cropping would be taught and encouraged by master gardeners involved with the project. Carol Carlson recommended testing the soil, to ensure its viability.
Philip Gager, 555 Oak Street, is the person who proposed the front pasture for the community garden at the neighbors’ meeting. He chose that pasture to showcase the garden to the general public and because the land contains good soil and has been sprayed less than other parts of the property.
Sylvia Thomas, 603 Oak Street, voiced concerns about potential problems relating to parking/accessibility to the garden area, accessibility to bathroom facilities, and storage areas for gardeners’ tools and equipment. She also mentioned that the soil at the site could be toxic.
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioner Eggers asked that the horses on the property be kept 50 feet away from the creek, to protect the riparian zone. Director Mickelsen stated that a field fence easily can be relocated, as needed, to allow for that separation once the horses are in the pasture area. Commissioner Rosenthal recommended testing the soil before moving forward with the project.
MOTION Commissioner Eggers moved to approve the location for the community garden, with the stipulation that a 30- to 50-foot protection of the riparian zone be maintained. Vice-Chair Gardiner seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no
APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE FOR PARKS, TRAILS, AND OPEN SPACE FUNDING
Chair Lewis proposed reconvening a sub-committee for Parks, Trails, and Open Space Funding. He spoke of his desire to serve on the sub-committee, and asked Vice-Chair Gardiner to join him, indicating his intention to ask at least two city councilors for their participation.
MOTION Chair Lewis moved to reconvene a sub-committee for Parks, Trails, and Open Space Funding. Commissioner Amarotico seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no
PERMISSION TO SELL IN GARFIELD PARK
Director Mickelsen stated that he received a request from the Non-Traditional Student Center at Southern Oregon University to hold a carnival at Garfield Park on May 10. Event organizers requested the Commission’s permission to sell tickets to carnival attendees to offset costs of materials, prizes, and publicity associated with the event.
Public Comment – None
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioner Eggers voiced her disappointment that a University representative did not attend the meeting to speak to the request. In the absence of a representative, and because selling in public parks is prohibited in the City, the Commissioners agreed they could not approve the request.
MOTION Vice-Chair Gardiner moved to deny the request from the Southern Oregon University Non-Traditional Student Center to hold a carnival at Garfield Park and charge a fee to recover costs of materials, prizes, and publicity. Commissioner Eggers seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no
SUB-COMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS
Commissioner Eggers requested that a member of the Golf Sub-Committee present a list of responsibilities and charges at the next Commission meeting.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS
Vice-Chair Gardiner asked the Commissioners to consider April 21 as a potential date on which to hold a study session regarding naming and recognition for parks contributions.
Upcoming Meeting Dates
ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Chair Lewis adjourned the meeting.
Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Administrative Secretary, Ashland Parks and Recreation Department