City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING

MINUTES

September 17, 2007

ATTENDANCE

Present:    Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Noraas; Director Robertson; Superintendents Gies and Teige

Absent:     Commissioner Rosenthal; City Council Liaison Navickas

CALL TO ORDER         

Eggers called the regular meeting to order at 7:05 PM at the Parks office, 340 S. Pioneer Street.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Study Session – August 20, 2007

MOTION Gardiner moved to approve the minutes as written. Noraas seconded the motion.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Under “Tour of City Parks – Sherwood Park,” Eggers questioned the sentence referring to Robertson’s statement about the proposed curb line extension “greatly reducing the size of the park.” Robertson clarified that the proposal called for pushing out the curb line and extending the fire station [into the expanded area], resulting in a smaller park.

In the same section under “Clay Street Park,” in the sentence referring to community gardens, Eggers asked that her suggested wording of a sign be rephrased as, “If you are interested in working in a community garden in your neighborhood, please call Ashland Parks and Recreation.”

Gardiner withdrew his motion.

MOTION Noraas moved to approve the minutes as amended. Lewis seconded the motion.

The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no

Regular Meeting – August 27, 2007

Under “Petition for Use of PA System at AHS Sporting Events, North Mountain Park,” Eggers asked that the first sentence more accurately reflect that she expressed concern about “sound amplification,” not about “the request.”

MOTION Lewis moved to approve the minutes as amended. Gardiner seconded the motion.

The vote was: 4 yes – 0 no

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Open Forum

None

ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA

None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

CITIZEN REQUEST TO SWIM IN ASHLAND CREEK BY SOUTH PIONEER STREET BRIDGE

Robertson invited commissioners to walk to that section of the creek, located near the Parks office.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Following a review of the area, commissioners expressed their thoughts. Lewis stated that the City’s new riparian ordinance might be useful to review in considering this request. He questioned whether the commission wanted to develop a creek wading policy rather than consider one isolated request. Eggers suggested inviting Nature Center staff and SOU experts to provide information about Ashland Creek’s ripiarian and habitat elements for the sake of ecology and environmental protection. Noraas suggested reviewing the entire creek and its potential uses and inviting community members to provide input. Gardiner expressed the importance of including “local science” in matters concerning the creek.

Public Input

Eric Dusenbury, 343 Granite, said he was disheartened at the conclusion of the last meeting [at which the topic was discussed] and looked forward to hearing the commission’s decision about his request.

Cliff Culmer, 501 Liberty, said he grew up in Ashland and, in 66 years of “playing in the creek,” had not observed any significant erosion. He stated that the main issue to consider would be the City’s liability if someone suffered an injury by jumping off the bridge into the creek.

Commissioners directed staff to ask a representative from the Planning Department to speak to the commission about the new riparian ordinance, and to ask Nature Center staff and SOU environmental experts to provide additional information about Ashland Creek.

REVIEW OF FEES AND CHARGES SCHEDULE

Teige reminded the commission of their 2006 decision to review recreational and facilities fees and charges every November and suggested conducting the review during study sessions over a period of two months. She proposed the following schedule:

§         November study session – review of golf course, facilities, and Calle fees and charges

§         December study session – review of recreation program fees and charges, including Nature Center, swimming pool, and ice rink

Robertson suggested preparing a questionnaire and distributing it to user groups in advance to allow the commission to prepare for public input prior to the study sessions. Eggers asked that the questionnaires provide space for respondents to outline both a request and its rationale. Teige said she would post a notice at the golf course and direct staff to notify golfers about the questionnaire and the upcoming study sessions. She further indicated her plan to obtain updated information about regional golf course fees.

NEW BUSINESS

DISCUSSION ON UPPER DUCK POND ISSUES

Robertson reported that the SOU students were not available for the evening’s discussion, but that staff wished to provide the commission with potential solutions for the upper duck pond water quality. He outlined several proposals, including:

§         Bioswales

§         Portable pumping / filtration system

§         Conversion of pond into irrigation facility

Gies talked about pond cleaning methods and the importance of carefully removing the fish living in the pond. He offered to check with the Department of Fish and Wildlife for suggestions about removing them without causing injuries.

SUBCOMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS

Lewis reported on the proposed fuels reduction logging scheduled to begin in the watershed in April 2008. He said that the Forest Lands Commission submitted a letter to the Forest Service outlining their concerns about the proposal.

ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS

None

UPCOMING MEETING DATE(S) and PROPOSED AGENDA ITEMS

§         Study session set for October 15—Parks office, 340 S. Pioneer. Topic to include:

§         Parks pesticides policies presentation

§         Regular meeting set for October 22—Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main. Topic to include:

§         Student presentation on upper duck pond issues

ADJOURNMENT – By consensus, with no further business, Eggers adjourned the regular meeting at 8:15 PM.

Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard, Ashland Parks and Recreation Department