Present: Commissioners Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Rosenthal; Interim Director Gies

Absent: None

Chair Lewis called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM at Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main.

Regular Meeting – September 22, 2003 Vice-Chair Gardiner moved to approve the minutes as written. Commissioner Rosenthal seconded the motion. The minutes were approved by consensus.

Open Forum

Phil Selby, 283 Idaho Street, spoke about the need to eliminate, or better control, the use of Lithia Park trails for high school and college-level cross-country meets and training sessions. He said that such running endangers park users and asked that the Commission actively discourage runners in the park or, at the very least, uphold its previous agreement to post signs prior to training sessions and meets.

Vice-Chair Gardiner spoke in defense of runners in the park and asked that the matter be tabled until such a time as the matter could be formally brought before the Commission. Commissioner Eggers agreed and suggested holding a future study session to discuss the matter at greater length.

Interim Director Gies informed the Commission that Ms. Leslie Hunter again asked permission to use the Upper Siskiyou Mountain Park trails for her horse trail rides business. He stated that this area could be accessed from the Forest Service area and that Ms. Hunter would need to obtain the appropriate Forest Service permits for use of the trails. He recommended using the same set of guidelines that were developed the last time the issue came before the Commission.

James F. Moore, Jr., 1217 Park Street, spoke on behalf of the Southern Oregon Land Conservancy in regard to the SOLC easements in the Oredson-Todd Woods and the Siskiyou Mountain Park. He clarified that the restrictions on the easements are unchangeable in perpetuity, except to make them even more restrictive. He reminded the Commission that any decisions made (that could affect the easements) must be made with those restrictions in mind and that the SOLC must be given 30 days’ notice about any changes in the use of the easements. He asked for a future meeting with the Commissioners and the new Parks Director to educate the group about easements and how they work.

Commissioners asked Interim Director Gies for clarification on the Upper Siskiyou Mountain Park trail terrain and length, as well as questions relating to potential damages to the trails, repair to trails, and possible negative impacts on other trail users.

MOTION Vice-Chair Gardiner moved to approve Ms. Hunter’s commercial horse trail rides on the Upper Siskiyou Mountain Park trails only for those areas shown on the map – with the exception of steep trails containing switchbacks and any property containing Southern Oregon Land Conservancy easements – with the conditions that, during inclement weather, Ms. Hunter will contact the Trails Supervisor for approval for the use of the trails and that, during the trial period, she will submit a monthly log of total trips to Parks staff who will monitor the trails for damage from the rides and report back to the Commission, which will revoke approval if there is any damage to the trails. Commissioner Rosenthal seconded the motion.

The vote was: Commissioners Amarotico, Gardiner, Lewis, Rosenthal – yes / Commissioner Eggers – no

Interim Director Gies updated the Commission on their need to approve the intergovernmental agreement – between the Parks Commission, the Ashland School District #5, and the City of Ashland – which is associated with the 5-year Youth Activities Levy that was passed by the citizens of Ashland in May of 2003. He clarified that the money will be allocated in the same manner as for past YALs.

Commissioners asked questions about the Funding Committee’s allocations to programs and for clarification on the details of the intergovernmental agreement contract. Interim Director Gies agreed to ask City Attorney Paul Nolte for answers to the questions before the next Regular Meeting of the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission.

Interim Director Gies reported receiving a call from a citizen interested in opening up the Vogel Property to the general public, and not to limit its use to Community Garden participants.

Commissioners Eggers stated that she believes park property should be made available to everyone, if possible, and reiterated her concern about protecting the riparian area from people and animals. If the park were to become available to all citizens, Commissioners discussed the need to post standard park signage warning against dogs, alcohol, and overnight sleeping.

Interim Director Gies directed the Commissioners’ attention to the report issued by Mr. Tom Foster, lead volunteer guide of Lithia Park walks, showing the overall statistics for tours conducted from May through September of 2003. This was the 15^th year the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department has sponsored these popular walks, and in 2003 the volunteer guides enlightened and entertained 733 visitors and residents about Lithia Park history, vegetation, and folklore. Commissioner Rosenthal volunteered to draft a letter of thanks to Mr. Foster and his guides for their wonderful contribution to the community.

Interim Director Gies referenced his memo regarding the Department’s first quarter financial report and stated that the Department is in excellent financial shape for this period of its budget year. Vice-Chair Gardiner asked about the possibility of landscaping the area around the Hunter Park tennis courts and Interim Director Gies assured him that Parks staff would begin that work immediately.

Commissioner Rosenthal distributed the Oak Knoll Golf Club marketing proposal developed by Mr. Tom Kohler, Golf Club Pro, which formalizes one of the many discussions conducted at the Golf Course Sub-Committee meeting in August. The proposal is a first step toward developing a marketing strategy to attract more golfers to the course.

Commissioner Eggers updated the Commission on the approval of the Fire Reduction Plan for the City’s forest lands.

MOTION By consensus, the Commission approved the property donation discussed in its executive session, Real Property ORS 192.660(1)(e), if all of the terms are met.