City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

ATTENDANCE

Present:    Commissioners Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis and Rosenthal; Director Robertson; Superintendent Gies; Superintendent Teige; City Council Liaison Amarotico

Absent:     None

CALL TO ORDER         

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Regular Meeting – December 20, 2004

MOTION Eggers moved to approve the minutes. Amarotico seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Open Forum

Sandee Kensinger, 995 Suncrest Road in Talent, requested the use of the North Mountain Park baseball fields for AAA American Legion Baseball games in June and July. The request was prompted by the sudden loss of adequate playing fields in the Medford area for the 2005 season.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners and staff expressed interest in supporting the request but stated that additional information, such as numbers of games and parking needs, would be required. Staff was directed to determine the scheduling needs for the local baseball community and to accommodate the teams when possible.

Mary Gardiner, Director of the Schneider Museum of Art at Southern Oregon University, announced that two public art events at SOU in February, including a public art lecture and a public art forum, were open to all interested staff members, commissioners, and members of the public. She handed out information and registration forms for the events.

ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA - None

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Gardiner voiced appreciation for the opportunity to serve as chair in 2004 and expressed interest in serving as chair again in 2005.

MOTION Rosenthal moved to nominate Gardiner as chair in 2005. Amarotico seconded the motion.

        The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

Eggers voiced appreciation for the opportunity to serve as vice chair in 2004 and expressed interest in serving as vice chair again in 2005.

Rosenthal expressed interest in serving as vice chair in 2005.

MOTION Lewis moved to nominate Rosenthal as vice chair in 2005. Gardiner seconded the motion.

MOTION Amarotico moved to nominate Eggers as vice chair in 2005. Eggers seconded the motion.

            By a show of hands: Rosenthal was elected vice chair for 2005.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS  - None

NEW BUSINESS

SHERWOOD PARK RESTROOMS

Robertson reminded the commission that reconstruction of the Sherwood Park restrooms was scheduled for 2005 but that expansion of Fire Station #2, which is adjacent to Sherwood Park, might interfere. He invited Fire Chief Woodley to speak to the commission

Woodley reported that the City’s Capital Improvement Plan calls for the reconstruction of the fire station, with an expected bond initiative slated for the November 2006 election. Preliminary planning has begun, and Woodley is looking at all the vacant parcels of land along the Ashland Street corridor between Walker Street and Tolman Creek Road, with the intention of providing the City Council with an inventory of available parcels and interested sellers. An option might be to expand on-site, but it could pose problems for surrounding areas.

Staff was directed to postpone any restroom renovations until after the City Council has made its decision with regard to the proposed expansion. A decision about land acquisition is expected by summer of 2005.

NEW BUSINESS

NORTH MOUNTAIN PARK AMPLIFICATION REQUEST

Teige reported that North Mountain Park staff requested amplification for their annual Earth Day event scheduled for Saturday, April 23, at North Mountain Park from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Amplification would be used to announce events and to allow musicians the opportunity to amplify their voices or musical instruments. Without amplification, staff has found that the range of sound is limited, which negatively affects the approximately 2,000 event attendees.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners remembered that staff requested amplification for the 2004 event and asked how it worked out. Staff reported that it was appreciated and well received. In terms of where the amplification would best be used, commissioners learned that it would be targeted predominantly in the shelter where the musicians perform. If approved, staff agreed to direct the speakers away from the creek and to designate a staff person to monitor the sound level throughout the event.

Staff was directed to use sound amplification for the 2005 Earth Day event.

DOG LEASH RULES

Gies referred to the packet memo recommending exceptions to the current dog ordinance. Proposed changes to the ordinance would allow leashed dogs in more remote sections of the parks system. Staff recommended the change to the ordinance due to the increase in open space and trails in the forest interface as well as the number of present users currently toting dogs. Gies indicated that, if the change were allowed, staff would be able to properly sign the areas and possibly include dog waste disposal bags at certain trailheads. The areas under consideration include Hald-Strawberry, Siskiyou Mountain Park, Oredson-Todd Woods, the Cottle property, Liberty Street area, Greenway trails, Granite Street property, Burnson property, Lawrence property, and the TID easements currently in place. An additional incentive for allowing dogs would be that enforcement of the dog ordinance would become easier in closed parks such as Lithia Park.

One exception would be to allow dogs on the southern-most trail at North Mountain Park so that an alternate route could be signed up the sidewalk on North Mountain Street. The trail could be used to gain access back into the neighborhood and users would have a route to the future trail along Bear Creek.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners suggested a one-year trial period to assess the success or failure of the dog ordinance change and to determine future action with regard to permanent changes to the ordinance.

Staff was directed to create simple signage, or to change existing signage, and to write a note to the Ashland Police Department informing them about the change to the rules. The commission agreed to review the situation in one year’s time.

MOTION Eggers moved to allow dogs on leash in the park areas designated by staff, as well as the alternate North Mountain Park route. Lewis seconded the motion.

The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no

SUB-COMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS

Quarterly Project Update

Gies updated the commission on the projects underway, or recently completed, within the parks system, including the North Mountain Park knoll, Lithia Park pond water quality improvements, the Calle Guanajuato stairway project, the BMX Bike Park, and the RFP process for master planning for two park sites in Ashland.

ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS - None

UPCOMING MEETING DATE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS

·     Trail Master Plan Committee meeting set for February 17 at 1:00 PM – Parks Office, 340 S. Pioneer. [Note: The meeting was later cancelled.]

·     Study session set for February 24 at 7:00 PM – Parks office, 340 S. Pioneer. Topics to include: selection of firm to create master plans for two park sites; 2005-2006 goals; and executive session in preparation for the Director’s evaluation.

·     Regular meeting set for February 28 at 7:00 PM – Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main.

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Gardiner adjourned the meeting.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation