City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

STUDY SESSION
MINUTES

March 20, 2006

ATTENDANCE

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

Absent:     None

CALL TO ORDER

Rosenthal called the study session to order at 7:00 p.m. at the Parks Office, 340 S. Pioneer Street.

NORTH MAIN / SCENIC PARK MASTER PLAN DISCUSSION

Rosenthal reviewed the process to date, stating that this would be the 6^th public meeting regarding the North Main / Scenic Park site.

Robertson expressed that a matrix staff prepared for the September 2005 study session was not suitably helpful to the commission in terms of furthering their understanding of maintenance and irrigation issues regarding the park site, so he prepared a more comprehensive presentation for the evening’s meeting.

During his 45-minute presentation, Robertson outlined, in depth, maintenance and irrigation issues within the City’s parks system, specifically indicating their potential affect on the North Main / Scenic Park site.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners asked staff a number of questions, including matters relating to irrigation and plantings. Commissioners then outlined their wishes for the park site, based on the existing draft master plan. Robertson stated that the Lango Hansen Landscape Architects contract had a remaining balance of $500 and he suggested several options the commission might consider before moving forward with completion of the plan. Options included asking Lango Hansen to do any of the following:

A.      Make minor adjustments to the plan, including tightening the path around the park to reduce lawn area by 10%;

B.      Add trees and shrubs in the area specified for native grasses;

C.      Adhere to existing plan and provide final copy.

Robertson also suggested possibly forwarding the commission’s requests [with respect to the existing plan] to a local architect for implementation of the more extensive changes.

Public Input

Julia Sommer, 573 Scenic Drive, a neighbor of the park site, noted that straighter paths within the park could potentially cause injuries, as skateboarders would not be required to slow down for turns and could gather speed, shooting through the park and onto Maple Street. She also requested the consideration of additional fruit trees for the park site.

Rick Landt, 468 Helman, stated that the plan he presented in September 2005 [a variation on the Lango plan] was based on permaculture principles, which he hoped to see addressed in the final master plan.

Further Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioners reviewed the elements they wished to see within the park plan, including:

§         Trails/footpaths

§         Lawn footprint concerns / balance between lawn and shrubs

§         Community garden / number of plots

§         Site for future restroom

§         Tree selection

Commissioners agreed to move forward with a vote on the plan at the March 27 regular meeting.

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Rosenthal adjourned the meeting at 8:45 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation