City of
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
June 25, 2007
Executive Sessions
Employee Negotiations
ORS 192.660 (1)(d)
Real Property Acquisition
ORS 192.660 (2)(e)
Present: Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, Noraas, Rosenthal; City Council Liaison Navickas; Director Robertson; Superintendents Gies and Teige
Absent: Commissioner Lewis
Eggers called the regular meeting to order at 7:15 PM at Council Chambers, 1175
Study Session – May 10, 2007
Under “Budget Review,” Eggers requested that the sentence referring to documentation be rephrased as: “Eggers requested clarification about whether documentation existed for that arrangement and Bennett stated that the City honored the agreement despite lack of documentation of a formal arrangement.”
MOTION Rosenthal moved to approve the minutes as amended. Noraas seconded the motion.
The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no
Special Meeting – May 15, 2007
Under “Proposed Budget Recommendations,” Eggers requested that the sentence referring to her disclosure of meeting with public officials regarding the Parks budget read, “Eggers disclosed that she met with Mayor Morrison and spoke with Councilor Hartzell [who previously spoke with Hardesty].”
MOTION Gardiner moved to approve the minutes as amended. Rosenthal seconded the motion.
The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no
Regular Meeting – May 21, 2007
Under “Subcommittee and Staff Reports,” Eggers requested that the sentence referring to commissioners attending state and national conferences more accurately reflect that: “Eggers expressed reservations about the value of the NRPA conference compared to the cost to
MOTION Gardiner moved to approve the minutes as amended. Noraas seconded the motion.
The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Open Forum
None
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
PROPOSED LAND SWAP,
Robertson reported that local property owners Greg and Valri Williams requested a land swap between the City of
Robertson emphasized that the commission’s responsibility was to consider whether the proposed swap would benefit or hinder the
Discussion Among Commissioners
Noraas asked about maintenance requirements for the potentially swapped land and Robertson said it would be a low maintenance area but would require sensitivity in the riparian area as well as some non-native vegetation removal.
Eggers invited commissioners to ask questions of Kerry KenCairn, landscape architect for the project, who was in attendance and spoke briefly about the project.
Gardiner disclosed his friendship with landowner Williams and said he had reviewed the project many times. He stated that access to the
Motion Noraas moved to recommend approval of the proposed land swap to the Ashland City Council. Gardiner seconded the motion.
The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no
ULTIMATE FRISBEE REQUEST
Robertson reported that Derek Volkart requested the use of the
Derek Volkart,
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioners asked Volkart a number of questions about the game and the tournament. Volkark provided an overview of the game and stated that the tournament typically draws up to 300 participants. Robertson said that if Volkart required both the softball and baseball fields in May, a fence would stand between them and pose an obstacle to tournament play. He reported that high school spring baseball was the commission’s first priority with field scheduling during that time. Rosenthal asked about the game’s impact to turf, especially in rainy weather, and Volkart stated that players wore turf shoes or soccer cleats and field impacts were similar to those of soccer games.
Commissioners directed staff to work out the scheduling details with Volkart for the
RVTV CABLE TELEVISION CONTRACT RENEWAL
Robertson reported that the existing two-year contract with Rogue Valley Television was set to expire. He reminded the commission of the services provided under the $5,150 contract, including broadcasts and tapings of the regular commission meetings and archiving of meeting tapes, as well as 14 additional hours of programming, and said that the contract had not changed from previous years. He talked about highlighting various Parks Department recreational and trail maintenance activities and said that the new Promotions Coordinator would be able to work with RVTV to fully utilize their resources for the benefit of the department.
Motion Gardiner moved to renew the contract with RVTV in the amount of $5,150 over the next two years. Noraas seconded the motion.
The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no
07-08 COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS
Robertson stated that in June of each year the commission typically reviewed Parks salaries and determined whether to provide cost-of-living increases for all regular Parks staff members. He said that COLAs were generally tied with West coast CPI figures and indicated that the figure in May was 2.8%. He reported that Parks staff requested that a portion of their COLA, if granted, be placed in an HRA VEBA program [long- or short-term pre-tax deferment for medical expenses].
Motion Noraas moved to approve a 2.8% cost-of-living adjustment for the regular employees of the
The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no
SUBCOMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS
Teige reported that all summer recreation programs were in full swing, including tennis and swimming lessons, and the first “Movie on the Range” of the season was scheduled for Friday, June 29.
ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS
Eggers asked that Parks staff reinforce to the Fourth of July Committee the parking / food and liquid waste requirements within
UPCOMING MEETING DATE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS
§ Study session set for July 16 at 7:00 PM—Parks office, 340 S. Pioneer. Topic to include:
§ Climate Change Presentation
§ Regular meeting set for July 23 at 7:00 PM—Council Chambers, 1175
§
ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Eggers adjourned the meeting at 8:50 PM.
Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard,