Agendas and Minutes

City Council (View All)

Joint Meeting

Agenda
Thursday, November 17, 2005

 

 

Ashland City Council, Ashland School Board,

and Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission

Joint Special Meeting Minutes

November 17, 2005, 7:00 pm

Civic Center, Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street

 

 

Attendance:                City Councilors A. Amarotico, Chapman, Hardesty, Hartzell, Jackson, Silberger, and Mayor Morrison were present.

                        School Board Members Alexander, Amrhein, Marr, Parker, and Patton were present.

                        Parks Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, and D. Amarotico were present. Commissioner Rosenthal was absent.

 

Staff:                           GINO GRIMALDI, CITY ADMINISTRATOR

                                    JULI DI CHIRO, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT

                                    DON ROBERTSON, PARKS DIRECTOR

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Morrison called the City Council Special Meeting to order, Park Commissioner Gardiner called the Park Commission Special Meeting to order, and Chair Parker called the School Board Special Meeting to order at 7:03 pm at Council Chambers, 1175 East Main Street in Ashland, Oregon.

 

II.        INTRODUCTION AND AGENDA REVIEW

There were no changes to the agenda.

 

III.       APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Eggers moved to accept the minutes as presented; Jackson seconded. The minutes were accepted as presented.

 

IV.       PUBLIC INPUT

There was no public input.

 

V.        JOINT RESOLUTION

Robertson referenced his written statement, explaining that, at the last joint meeting of the Ashland School Board, Ashland City Council, and Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission, each elected body appointed a representative to develop a long-term agreement for the disposition of the playgrounds at Lincoln and Briscoe schools.  On October 28th, Alex Amarotico, Amy Amrhein, and JoAnne Eggers met to begin discussions on the agreement.  It was realized that an agreement will take several meetings to accomplish.  It was also recognized that an intermediate step may be useful to assure the community that the Lincoln and Briscoe properties are not in danger of redevelopment in the near or foreseeable future.  In order to assure the community, the committee developed a resolution pledging to work together to develop an agreement that would protect those properties for the foreseeable future.  Further, the resolution recognizes the need for the three elected bodies to work together in the planning and funding of long-term capital needs.  Finally, the resolution sets a goal of completing the agreement by July 1, 2006.

 

Mayor Morrison read the following proposed resolution for the record.

 

Whereas the citizens of Ashland have expressed their desire to maintain Briscoe and Lincoln Schools playgrounds as parks;

 

Whereas the city has a comprehensive plan goal of providing a neighborhood park within a quarter mile of each residence, and school grounds are factored into that format as neighborhood parks;

 

Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council agree that all the school grounds, including Briscoe and Lincoln, shall remain as public open spaces;

 

Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council agree that they all have large capital needs that should be addressed as a consolidated effort;

 

Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council recognize that each of their constituents is also the others’ constituents, and that proper use of tax dollars is critical to each entity’s mission;

 

Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council recognize that time is limited and that a goal of implementation of any plan will occur on or by July 2006;

 

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council shall preserve the playgrounds at all the current Ashland School District facilities, including Briscoe and Lincoln, as open spaces; that all three elected boards shall identify their major capital needs and work together to coordinate funding in a manner that is beneficial to the taxpayers of Ashland; and that the three jurisdictions will develop a maintenance plan that properly distributes the costs and liabilities of maintaining all of their publicly owned facilities.

 

Silberger declared a potential conflict of interest due to his being a shareholder in Plexis Health Care.  Group members accepted his declaration and agreed that he could participate in the discussion.

 

Jackson asked for clarification of the definition of playgrounds.  Robertson clarified that schools define playgrounds as the playing fields or spaces where recesses might normally occur; parks defines playgrounds as the open play areas which would preclude aesthetic areas or front lawns of schools.  This definition could be more fully developed in the actual agreement.  Jackson asked that this particular area be dealt with in the agreement. 

 

The group revised the resolution to read as follows:

 

Whereas the citizens of Ashland have expressed their desire to maintain Briscoe and Lincoln Schools playgrounds as parks;

 

Whereas the city has a comprehensive plan goal of providing a neighborhood park within a quarter mile of each residence, and school grounds are factored into that format as neighborhood parks;

 

Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council agree that the school playgrounds, including those at Briscoe and Lincoln, shall remain as public open spaces;

 

Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council agree that they all have large capital needs that should be addressed as a coordinated effort;

 

Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council recognize that each of their constituents is also the others’ constituents, and that proper use of tax dollars is critical to each entity’s mission;

 

Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council recognize that time is limited and that a goal of implementation of any plan will occur on or by July 2006; space around the schools will be preserved as playing fields;

 

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council shall preserve the playgrounds and playing fields at all the current Ashland School District facilities, including Briscoe and Lincoln, as open spaces; that all three elected boards shall identify their major capital and maintenance needs and work together to coordinate funding in a manner that is beneficial to the taxpayers of Ashland.

 

Public comments were received as follows.

 

Bill Street, 180 Mead Street, expressed concern that the public needs to understand what this resolution means.  Many are concerned about school playgrounds and preserved parks.  Would you consider having affordable workforce housing on school property at some time to attract families with children to our schools.  Mr. Street cited statistics of the percentages of Ashland public employees who live outside of Ashland.  At the current rate, we won’t have enough families with income to pay for the aging population on Medicare to support the Ashland Community Hospital. 

 

Melissa Mitchell-Hooge, 271 High Street, supported the proposed resolution.  She expressed concern about workforce housing.  Sue further explained that playgrounds portray playground structures, and playing fields are extremely important to parks.

 

Jackson asked that the resolution address Briscoe and Lincoln playgrounds as well as bond issues.  She would rather pursue and participate with the Housing Commission to discuss workforce housing.

 

Alexander hoped that playing fields would be interpreted as sporting fields.

 

Hartzell suggested that the resolution designate a minimum amount of land that would be playing fields. 

 

Jackson moved that the Ashland City Council approve the resolution as amended with wording changes. A. Amarotico seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Marr moved that the Ashland School Board adopt the consensus resolution as amended.  Alexander seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

Eggers moved that the Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission adopt the resolution as amended.  D. Amarotico seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

VI.       SOSP JOINT-USE RECOMMENDATIONS

Melissa Mitchell-Hooge highlighted the Save Our Schools & Playgrounds Task Force Recommendations for Preserving Schools & Playgrounds and responded to questions.  The recommendations were:

 

1.)  Enter into a formal joint-use agreement between the Ashland Parks Department, City of Ashland, and the Ashland School District regarding school grounds maintenance.

 

2.)  Share maintenance equipment and maintenance facilities yards between the City of Ashland, Ashland Parks & Recreation Department and Ashland School District, to the extent that is feasible, in order to save money, share resources, and possibly open up available land for workforce housing.

 

3.)  Explore the idea of workforce housing on public land that does not currently house a playground or playing field, and encourage the donation of alnd to the City or School District for the purposes of workforce housing.

 

4.)  Market Ashland to families.

 

VII.     SET AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING

The group discussed next steps.  It was agreed that the maintenance steering committee would continue to operate with Amrhein, Eggers and A. Amarotico as members.  Patton volunteered to serve on the committee as a resource, since she did research for the SOSP report. 

 

Jackson requested clarification on the task of the maintenance steering committee.  She expected the committee to work with staff on the resolution to determine what would be financial workable.  She further felt this large group should start receiving information from finance directors of the school district and the city, as well as from Dan Ross regarding different levy options any of the entities can use as a special fundraising tool.

 

Hartzel supported the resolution with the understanding that more definitions would be developed and more clarification regarding the playing fields would be provided. 

 

Alexander felt the three entities are specifically tasked with discussing the maintenance of the playing fields and the parks of the schools, and questioned how the bond issue becomes involved.

 

Jackson explained that the resolution indicates that we want to develop a long-term arrangement for maintenance and playgrounds. 

 

Gardiner pointed out that the cost recommendation of the SOSP is to shift $190,000 to the Parks & Recreation Commission to take care of the maintenance, and he is not sure where that money will come from.

 

Hartzell reminded the group that the subcommittee needs to provide public notice when it meets.  Hartzell further recommended that a subcommittee on the funding goal be appointed that is separate from the resolution.

 

Eggers stated that she is committed to discussing dedicated parkland in the future and issues that are shared by the three entities, not just maintenance of school grounds.

 

Amrhein understands the task of the maintenance subcommittee and would like to meet with staff so the subcommittee can further define what will be done and when.  The subcommittee will then develop a plan that can be presented to the large group.

 

Hartzell moved to appoint Patton to the maintenance subcommittee.  Gardiner seconded and the motion passed unanimously.

 

The group confirmed that the Housing subcommittee consists of Kate Hartzel, Jim Lewis and Ruth Alexander.

 

Hartzell proposed that the large group meet in mid-January and the maintenance subcommittee report on its recommendations.  The subcommittee can request feedback from the different entities prior to the January meeting.

 

The next agenda was set as follows:

  • County Assessor Local Option Levy presentation.
  • Updates from city and school financial officers.
  • Update from Maintenance Subcommittee.
  • Update from Housing Subcommittee.
  • Update from Transportation Subcommittee.
  • Meet again on Thursday, January 19, at 7:00 pm—Council Chambers.
  • The City will do the minutes of the meeting.

 

VIII.    ADJOURNMENT

Morrison adjourned the City Council, Parker adjourned the School Board, and Gardiner adjourned the Parks Commission at 8:58 p.m.

 

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