City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

September 26, 2005

ATTENDANCE

Present:    Commissioners D. Amarotico, Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis; Director Robertson; Superintendent Gies; Superintendent Teige; City Council Liaison A. Amarotico

Absent:     Commissioner Rosenthal

CALL TO ORDER

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

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Regular Meeting – August 22, 2005 Under Approval of Minutes, Eggers asked that the correction from the previous month’s minutes read: ‘recommending a community garden policy, knowing that it is the commission’s responsibility to adopt policy.’”

MOTION Eggers moved to approve the minutes as amended. D. Amarotico seconded the motion.

The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Open Forum

Tom Scott, P.O. Box 1140, Jacksonville, proposed an art-based fundraising activity to coincide with the 2006 Earth Day celebration at North Mountain Park, for the purpose of sending donations to an orphanage in Zimbabwe. Staff agreed to invite Mr. Scott to the Earth Day organizational meeting in November.

Greg Weston, 620 Sherwood Avenue, thanked the commission, on behalf of the baseball community, for approving the installation and use of baseball lights at North Mountain Park.

D.D. Shook, 425 Liberty Street, urged the commission to do everything possible to protect the Lincoln School playgrounds and fields from real estate developers and to preserve the quality of life for the citizens of Ashland.

Katira and Makela Anderson and Clara Shook, 861 Clay Street and 425 Liberty Street, expressed their appreciation for the Lincoln School grounds, stating that they worth protecting.

Mike Sturgill, 477 N. Laurel Street, encouraged the commission to work with the school board regarding the preservation of the Briscoe and Lincoln School grounds within the community.

Melissa Mitchell-Hooge, 271 High Street, speaking on behalf of “Save our Schools and Playgrounds,” updated the commission on the recent work of the volunteer group. She thanked Parks staff for supplying hoses for the watering of the Monterey cypress tree at the Briscoe School yard, and also thanked community members and local businesses for supporting the volunteer school ground cleanups. She reported that the next cleanup session is set for Saturday, October 1. Finally, she asked the Parks Commission to work cooperatively with the Ashland School Board to preserve the Briscoe and Lincoln School grounds as parks.

Nancy Seward, 115 Church Street, reported that she helped with the August SOSP cleanup effort and was encouraged by the large number of people who participated and also impressed with the improved appearance of the school grounds. She expressed that families with young children are moving into Ashland and using the grounds as parks, and she asked the commission for their support in preserving those areas.

Wayne Rolle, 311 High Street, stated that he has lived in the neighborhood with his family for years. He encouraged the commission to continue to work with the school board on preserving the playgrounds as neighborhood parks.

ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

None.

AWARD RECOGNITION

Robertson reported that two Ashland residents received awards at the annual Oregon Recreation and Parks Association conference in September: Tom Foster, volunteer park walk guide coordinator, won ORPA’s “Volunteer of the Year” award; and Rachel Teige, Recreation Superintendent, won ORPA’s “New Professional” award. Robertson congratulated both recipients for their achievements and thanked them for their service.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

RECREATION DIVISION REFUND POLICY

Teige reviewed the packet memo and attached refund policy, which was discussed in detail at the September 19 study session.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners spoke favorably of the draft policy. Eggers requested one minor change, which was to include the wording “for unattended classes in a series.”

MOTION Lewis moved to adopt the Recreation Division Refund Policy, to be used for programs operated through the Ashland Parks and Recreation Department, and to include the phrase “for unattended classes in a series.” D. Amarotico seconded the motion.

The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no

PUBLIC ARTS COMMISSION PRESENTATION

Robertson welcomed back Bruce Bayard of the Public Arts Commission, inviting him to speak to the commission.

Bruce Bayard provided information about the recommendations of the selection panel for the Calle Guanajuato Staircase Project – Phase II / Arnold Krigel Memorial Sculpture Garden. He reported that the panel chose two works by artist Steve Jensen entitled “Kelp Dancer” and “Oyster.” Bayard indicated that Jensen agreed to display his art in the sculpture garden for two years. He finished by updating the commission on the mosaic at the top of the staircase overlook. Gardiner called for a motion.

MOTION D. Amarotico moved to adopt the recommendations of the Public Arts Commission for the selection process and funding for the art pieces associated with the Calle Guanajuato Staircase Project – Phase II. Eggers seconded the motion.

The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no

NEW BUSINESS

GREENWAY AREA PICNIC SHELTER

Gies outlined the request by the Greenway Foundation to donate a memorial picnic shelter to be placed at the Greenway node by the Dog Park. Tom Foster gave further background information on the shelter, stating that it would be a memorial for Jean-Marie Chin and asking the commission to consider allowing a plaque to be placed at the shelter listing those who contributed to the shelter and the Greenway project. Staff asked for permission to move forward with the project, stating that they would supply the labor to assemble the shelter and reporting that delivery of the structure could be made within six weeks following placement of the order.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners spoke favorably of the project and requested that the Signs and Plaques Subcommittee work with Gies and Foster to ensure that the proposed plaque would fit within the established policy.

MOTION Eggers moved to approve the placement of a memorial picnic shelter at the Greenway node by the Dog Park, donated by the Greenway Foundation, with Parks staff supplying the labor. Lewis seconded the motion.

The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no

SUB-COMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS

Teige reported that the annual Salmon Festival, scheduled for Saturday, October 1 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM at North Mountain Park, would be open to the public and free to all participants.

ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS

§         Robertson gave a brief report on the status of the baseball lights for North Mountain Park.

§         Commissioners agreed to place “N. Main / Scenic Park Site Master Plan Review” on the agenda for the October study session, with the expectation that a decision could be made at the regular meeting in November.

§         Commissioners were asked to consider alternative placement options for the CERT container in the region of the N. Main / Scenic Park site.

UPCOMING MEETING DATE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS

§         Public meeting on Vogel property park site set for October 11 at 6:45 PM – Ashland Christian Fellowship Church, Upper Room Coffee Shop (basement) – 50 E. Hersey Street.

§         Study session set for October 13 at 7:00 PM – Parks office, 340 S. Pioneer. Topics to include:

§         Recreation report

§         Ashland Gun Club update

§         N. Main / Scenic park site master plan review

§         Regular meeting set for October 24 at 7:00 PM – Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main

§         Joint study session with Ashland City Council and Ashland School Board set for November 17 at

7:00 PM – Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main

§         Regular meeting set for Monday, November 21 at 7:00 PM – Parks Office, 340 S. Pioneer

§         Regular meeting set for Monday, December 19 at 7:00 PM – Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Gardiner adjourned the meeting at 9:55 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks & Recreation Department