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

Absent: None

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

Regular Meeting – February 23 Under Unfinished Business item "Gun Club Lease Extension Request," Vice-Chair Eggers asked that a portion of a sentence be amended to read, "the Ashland Gun Club has a membership of 400 families, 80% of which are Ashland residents [not area residents]."

MOTION Commissioner Rosenthal moved to approve the minutes as amended. Commissioner Lewis seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

Open Forum - None

Director Robertson referenced the packet memo regarding the 2004-2005 Parks Commission budget and described the process employed in its creation.

Commissioners asked various questions and made comments about the budget and Director Robertson’s presentation. Chair Gardiner praised Director Robertson and Staff for their efforts with the budget process and expressed his excitement about formally presenting the Parks budget to the Budget Committee.

MOTION Vice-Chair Eggers moved to adopt the 2004-2005 City of Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission budget. Commissioner Rosenthal seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

Director Robertson welcomed back Evan Dahlquist, Ashland High School senior, and invited him to speak to the Commission.

Evan Dahlquist, 797 Windemar Drive, reminded the Commissioners about his senior class project – a design for an 8-hole Frisbee golf course in Lithia Park – and presented a drawing of the proposed course. He reported that citizens already play the game in the park and spoke of the need to prepare a course to establish regulations and avoid damage to features in the park, such as the Japanese Garden. He stated that markers could consist of posts secured in the ground, and that a map of the course would be provided at the beginning and end of the course to instruct players about boundaries and rules.

Commissioners asked questions about the proposed course and spoke favorably of the proposal. Chair Gardiner noted that the topic would be relevant for inclusion in the April 19 Parks Commission Study Session regarding signs, memorials, and plaques in Lithia Park. Commissioners and Staff agreed to invite the young men to the upcoming study session.

Director Robertson introduced Bruce Bayard of the Public Arts Commission.

Bruce Bayard, 621 A Street, spoke of the role of the Public Arts Commission (PAC) in placing artwork along the Calle Stairway. He discussed the three stages the PAC identified as significant to the project: the overlook at the top of the stairs at Granite Street; the "Arnie Kriegel Memorial" sculpture garden, which consists of two pedestal works and a niche at the lower part of the stairs; and the stair railing. [Mr. Bayard asked the Commission to consider retaining the name for the sculpture garden.] With respect to fundraising, the PAC would establish a bank account into which they would donate collected funds for artwork. The estimated budget for the artwork is $34,000, which is expected to cover all three sections of the project. That figure would be subject to final review prior to the "call for entries." In terms of the selection process, Mr. Bayard proposed a collaboration between the PAC and the APRC in selecting artwork for the project. The PAC would recommend artwork to Parks, based on the selection panel’s decision. A Parks Commissioner would be included in the PAC selection panel, as well as other artists and design professionals. The panel’s recommendations would be presented to the Parks Commission for approval.

Vice-Chair Eggers asked about the theme for the project and questioned whether the PAC planned to include Ashland’s "sister city" (Guanajuato, Mexico) into the project. Mr. Bayard replied that the tentative theme for the project is "Water" and that the PAC has strong interest in finding artists from Guanajuato who might wish to have their art considered for inclusion in the project.

Director Robertson introduced the request by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission for APRC co-sponsorship of the 14^th Annual Ashland Bike Swap.

Lexi Delgado, a Bicycle and Pedestrian Commissioner and the swap’s organizer, gave a brief history of the swap. This event has been sponsored by various organizations through the years, including the Ashland Schools Foundation. Community members are invited to bring their used bicycles and associated equipment to sell, and others are invited to buy equipment whether or not they have anything to sell. Various clinics are conducted during that day, including family bike riding, safety, and tire changing classes. Entertainment is provided, food is sold, and local bike shops display their wares. Ms. Delgado formally asked the APRC to co-host the event and to run the money through the Parks Department. She stated that the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission would be interested in starting a summer bicycle safety education program for children with the money raised from the event. 

David Chapman of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission described the monetary arrangement of the event. He stated that the day begins when event participants pay a small fee to enter their equipment, pay an entry fee, and perhaps buy raffle tickets for equipment donated by local bike shops. Attendees later buy the equipment. At the end of the day, the organizers tally the amount collected, retain a small percentage of the purchase price, and write checks to the bicycle owners for their sales, minus the small percentage. He asked the Parks Department to manage the money from the event.

Commissioners asked a number of clarifying questions and expressed their excitement about the proposed partnership.

MOTION Vice-Chair Eggers moved that the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission co-sponsor the 14^th Annual Bike Swap with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission. Commissioner Amarotico seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

Director Robertson requested the Commission’s approval to finalize the date for the Ashland Gun Club tour. He confirmed the time and date as 4:30 PM April 22, 2004, at the gun club.

Commissioner Lewis reported on the March 18 Trail Master Plan Committee meeting. At that meeting, trail survey results were reviewed and subcommittees were formed for vision plan, map, public meeting, and document.

Chair Gardiner appointed Commissioner Amarotico as the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission liaison to the Public Arts Commission while the Calle Guanajuato Stairway project is underway.

Commissioner Rosenthal reported that he received feedback from a Dog Park patron who expressed concern that the parking lot in front of the Dog Park at the Greenway node is usually full. The patron wondered whether adequate parking would be available following the completion of the BMX Park. He particularly was concerned that, without adequate parking, park and Greenway patrons would resort to parking on the newly established landscaping. Staff assured him that, between the Dog Park lot and the Helman Elementary School lot, adequate parking would be available.

Vice-Chair Eggers, speaking as the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission liaison to the Ashland Forest Lands Commission, as well as a member of some environmental groups, asked Staff to provide a fire hazard reduction and management report at a future Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission meeting, prior to the next Parks Department fire hazard reduction/management project.