City of
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
May 18, 2009
Present: Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, Noraas, Rosenthal; Director Robertson; Superintendents Dials and Gies
Absent: City Council Liaison Silbiger
Gardiner called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Council Chambers,
Study Session – April 20, 2009
MOTION Noraas moved to approve the minutes as written. Rosenthal seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no
Regular Meeting – April 27, 2009
Under “New Business” item Ashland Schools Foundation Run Requests in Lithia Park, Eggers said the motion did not include the run location of
MOTION Rosenthal moved to approve the minutes as amended. Eggers seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Open Forum
None
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
PARKS AND RECREATION BUDGET REPORT
Robertson said the Budget Committee recommended approval to City Council of the FY 2009-2010 City of
NEW BUSINESS
LITHIA
Robertson said Andy Cochrane of the Ashland Tennis and Fitness Club requested the use of two
Andy Cochrane requested the use of two
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioners discussed charging Cochrane a rental fee and staff suggested $10 per hour or a total of $15 per week. Eggers expressed unwillingness to reserve the courts, as that would limit access for other park patrons. Other commissioners discussed allowing Cochrane to reserve the courts on a one-year trial basis, with the commission reviewing the matter in a year and deciding then whether or not to approve future court reservations.
MOTION Noraas moved to grant approval, on a one-year trial basis, for the rental of two
The vote was: Gardiner, Lewis, Noraas, Rosenthal – yes
Eggers – no
CLARIFICATION OF RETIREE BENEFIT PROGRAM
Robertson said the Parks Commission developed a retiree benefit program for its management team in the year 2000 in lieu of cost-of-living adjustments. He said the plan provided limited compensation for health care expenses during a portion of the employees’ retirement years. He said the City Attorney’s office had raised concerns about the cutoff date for coverage of benefits. He indicated that staff believed the benefits were intended for termination when the original recipients reached the age of 65; however, that detail had not been adequately outlined in the 2000 commission memo. He said the City Attorney’s office requested that the commission clarify its intended action on the matter.
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioners discussed and clarified that the original intention was to provide the benefit to age 65.
MOTION Noraas moved to approve clarifying the retiree benefits package—previously approved by the commission in the year 2000—to designate that all benefits would end upon the recipient’s 65th birthday and that the benefits would terminate at the conclusion of the Park Superintendent’s benefits package at age 65. Lewis seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no
REQUEST CLARIFICATION OF LIVING WAGE ORDINANCE
Robertson said the Living Wage ordinance section 3.12.020 A(2) did not adequately clarify the definition of a “twelve-month period.” He suggested recommending to council that the ordinance be revised to replace “twelve-month period” with “calendar year.” He said staff also requested clarification that would allow employment to continue after 1,040 hours during the calendar year (at the Living Wage and without a retroactive clause) as outlined in the ordinance.
Discussion Among Commissioners
Commissioners discussed paying the Living Wage of $12.96 per hour for longer term temporary employees. Robertson stated that salaries were restricted by budgetary constraints. Dials reported that most of the lower wage employees were hired for seasonal recreation facilities like the ice rink and the swimming pool, with returning employees receiving higher wages each successive year. Robertson said City Council would review the matter if the commission chose to request the clarification, as the Living Wage was implemented by city ordinance.
MOTION Noraas moved to approve requesting that City Council clarify the Living Wage ordinance so that the phrase “any twelve-month period” would be changed to “calendar year” and, once an employee exceeded 1,040 hours during the calendar year, they would become eligible for the Living Wage from that point forward for the remainder of the calendar year. Rosenthal seconded the motion.
The vote was: 5 yes – 0 no
SUB-COMMITTEE and STAFF REPORTS
Announcement of FY 2009-2010 Study Session Calendar
Robertson said the commission set goals each year during the budget planning process and last year published a schedule of study session topics associated with each goal. He announced the goals / study session topics for FY 2009-2010:
§ June 15 – Food and Beverage Tax renewal
§ July 20 – Environmental evaluations and audits / Golf course issues (at golf course)
§ August 17 – Non-native vegetation removals / Pesticide policy review
§ September 21 – Fees and charges for all Parks facilities and fields
§ October 19 – Preliminary steps for
§ November 16 – Financial and business plan / community communications
§ December 14 – Begin goal setting process
§ January 11 (date to be confirmed) – Goal setting /
§ February 15 (date to be confirmed) –
§ March 15 – Goal setting and budget planning
§ April 19 – Goal setting and budget planning
§ May 10 (date to be confirmed) – Goal setting and budget planning
§ June 21 (date to be confirmed) – Topic to be determined
Report on Food and Beverage Tax Open House Sessions
Robertson said the city scheduled three open house sessions on Monday, May 1, at the
ITEMS FROM COMMISSIONERS
Commissioners questioned the outdoor seating status for Sesame Restaurant and staff said they were working with Sesame while also trying to accommodate access issues for neighboring Websters.
Robertson distributed a chart showing golf revenues for FY 2007-2008 versus FY 2008-2009. He said Rosenthal requested that the information be compiled and distributed as a reminder that the golf course is a business enterprise.
UPCOMING MEETING DATES
ADJOURNMENT– By consensus, with no further business, Gardiner adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Susan Dyssegard,