Present: Commissioners Eggers, Jones, Landt, Lewis, MacGraw; Councilor Laws

Absent: None

Regular Meeting – August 26, 2002 Under the New Business item 'Trees on Knoll at North Mountain Park' (p.2), Commissioner Lewis corrected the motion to read "Commissioner MacGraw moved to move forward with the revised plan as presented." Commissioner MacGraw moved to approve the minutes as corrected. Commissioner Lewis seconded.

The vote was: 4 yes – 1 abstain (Eggers)

Open Forum - none

Landscape Architect Kerry KenCairn explained that feedback from Commissioners at the September 13 Study Session had been incorporated into the two conceptual designs presented tonight. The designs are substantially the same, differing only in the routing of the Granite Street pathway.

Public Comment - None

Motion Commissioner Eggers moved to accept the 'Alternate 2' conceptual design. Commissioner MacGraw seconded.

The vote was: 5 yes - 0 no

Superintendent Gies reported that the lower pond had met the terms of the first portion of the contract by the September 21, 2002 deadline. The second phase of the contract, in which the clarity must be maintained for a year, has begun.

Commissioner Landt reported that this document incorporated suggestions made since the August Regular Meeting, where it had initially been presented. He went on to detail some additional changes that he would like to see made to the document, and explained that he planned to affix this document to the actual map.

Public Comment - None

Commissioner Eggers proposed different language for the 'note' listed on page two of the summary and offered her suggested language.

Commissioner Lewis suggested including "conservation easement" to the 'trail connection in Willows area.'

Commissioner MacGraw expressed her support and approval of the document and the suggested changes. Noting that the open-space acquisition process is ever-evolving and the summary isn't meant to "limit," Commissioner MacGraw suggested adding some language to the summary to keep it open-ended.

Commissioner Landt agreed, saying, "We wouldn't want anything we've said or done to preclude an exceptional piece from being included in the future."

In light of all the changes, Commissioner Jones suggested tabling an approval vote on the document until next meeting.

Councilor Don Laws spoke about the complimentary letter recently received from a citizen regarding the "recent action of the Ashland City Council enabling the Parks Department to maintain the school grounds and playing fields of Ashland."