Session 05-06, a Regular Meeting of the Homer Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission was called to order on June 16, 2005 at 6:35 pm by Chair Daugharty at the Homer City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS DAUGHARTY, MCCALLUM, TOLVA, HAMIK, GANN

 

ABSENT:            COMMISSIONERS POORE, STEWART (All Excused)

 

AGENDA APPROVAL

 

The Agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

A.                  Unapproved minutes of May 19, 2005

 

The minutes were approved as written by consensus of the Commission.                                                                                                                                                     

STAFF REPORT

A.            Memorandum from City Manager Wrede to the Parks and Recreation Commission,

            Re:  Karen Hornaday Park Improvements

 

Planning Technician Engebretsen had no comment regarding the memo from the City Manager.  Ms. Engebretsen suggested the Commission update their work list.  She also reminded the Commission that the City Council had passed a Resolution about ten months ago asking for a specific recommendation on the Adopt-a-Park program.  Ms. Engebretsen presented the Commission a copy of information provided by Parks Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty.  The information was offered to assist the Commission on their park walk-thru on Saturday June 18. 

 

The Commissioners commended Planning Technician Engebretsen for all of her work on Community Park Day.

                                               

VISITORS

 

A.                  Hope Finkelstein – Community Garden

 

Hope Finkelstein spoke to the Commission regarding the Homer Community Garden.  She advised them that the Community Garden program is recognized nationally and globally and is an important part of a cities infrastructure.  She has been involved in the program, nationally, for about 15 years.  Ms. Finkelstein informed the Commission that the garden was initially started by several community organizations including Choices for Teens, the Pride program, Head Start, Community Mental Health, Family Learning Center as well as family members and individual members.  The Homer group wanted to have a private site and everyone pointed to the Poopdeck site.  It is located down on Klondike by the Land Trust building.  The Land Trust was very supportive in starting the garden.  The Community Garden was the first action of the Town Center.  It has been in for three years.  Ms. Finkelstein shared the idea of community being different levels, the people gardening, the family and friends, the Land Trust as well as people walking along the Poopdeck path.  The different levels grow the idea of community.  Ms. Finkelstein explained that Community Gardens got their start in the 40’s after the war with Victory Gardens.  People felt it was their civic duty to take care of the land and each other through gardening.  It started with the need to produce food for the families in the community.  In the 70’s it moved into Community Greening.  She pointed out the article that was provided to the Commission as a laydown and continued that in Homer we have the opportunity to preserve green spaces.  It is critical to have these spaces in the Business District, not only for economic purposes, but also for social impacts.  Having the community greening programs and connected job training programs has helped reduced crime rates with young people.  Part of their five-year plan, which is consistent with the Town Center, is having a green house and a structure for having parties, weddings and so forth.  Ms. Finkelstein suggested that the Commission might want to recommend some type of policy statement that the City supports Community Gardens.  A problem is that some think of the Community Garden as being temporary and with the Town Center plans it may have to be moved.  She pointed out that many cities outside support their Community Gardens in many was, some have them as part of their city structure.  Ms. Finkelstein gave informational brochures to the Commissioners.  She informed the Commission that currently the Community Garden organization is insured under the umbrella of an organization that supports Community Gardens nationally, but ideally it would be considered a park in years to come and come under the City. 

 

There was discussion about how the Commission could go about making a request to the City Council for the Community Garden.

 

B.                  Pat Cue - Former City Councilmember and Beach Policy Committee Member

 

Pat Cue did not attend. 

 

            C.            Rich Kleinleder – Jack Gist Park

 

Mr. Kleinleder did not attend.

                                   

PENDING BUSINESS

 

A.                  Homer Beaches and Parks – A United Commission

 

After a brief discussion the Commission agreed to take this up at the next regular meeting in hopes that Pat Cue would attend.  They asked Deputy City Clerk Jacobsen to contact Ms. Cue. 

 

C.                  Fireworks

 

There was discussion about fireworks at the Winter Carnival to celebrate its 50th Anniversary.  Derotha Ferraro had brought this up during her report on the Chamber of Commerce at the last City Council meeting.  Commissioner Tolva said she would talk with Ms. Ferraro and report back at the next meeting.

 

D.                 Trails Committee Report

 

Commissioners Tolva reported that she is continuing to work on the list of action items from the Non Motorized Transportation and Trails Plan.  Commissioner Hamik reported that Ian Laing, who works with Representative Paul Seaton, doesn’t think the developers should be required to put sidewalks and trails into their subdivisions.  He thinks it would be more positive to offer incentives and will be in attendance at their next meeting to offer some ideas.  Mrs. Hamik spoke about a letter she received from Kyle Moore, a boy scout, who wants to help build signs for trails.  She said she would talk to him to find out more specifically what he is interested in doing. 

 

E.                  Roundabouts

 

Planning Technician Engebretsen reported that there are two things going on, one is the Transportation Plan for the City, which talks about what streets should connect over the next 20 years and the other is the State Transportation Plan that addresses the Central Business District’s intersections.  The State is taking comments through July 20, 2005 based on the presentation they did for the community earlier in the week.  She believes the City’s Transportation Plan is up for public hearing and final reading at the next City Council meeting.  She gave the Commissioners a brief overview of what is entailed in the City’s plan.  There was discussion about the design of roundabouts and Ms. Engebretsen spoke about a demonstration she saw about how they were designed to accommodate large trucks and how they work.  Commissioner Tolva commented that she is scheduled to attend the next City Council Meeting and the Commission agreed that she would thank them on behalf of the Commission and encourage them to continue to consider roundabouts as an option for the City.

 

            E.            Worklist                                                                                               

               

The Commissioners discussed the items on their work list.  It was pointed out that:

ü      Playground equipment is going in at Jeffrey Park.

ü      Commissioner Stewart has been contacting local business encouraging them to provide bike racks.

ü      The signs aren’t up on the Poopdeck Trail, but the arches appear to have been fixed.

 

Discussion ensued regarding the need for bike racks.  Planning Technician Engebretsen mentioned that other communities have Beautification Plans.  Having one for Pioneer Avenue that could include things like signs, interpretive sites, sidewalks, bike racks so it would all go together and look really nice.  They discussed the need for bike racks at City facilities.  They agreed to discuss this further at the July meeting. 

 

The Commissioners discussed writing thank you letters.  Commissioner Gann stated that he had given a letter to the people who provided the tents, on behalf of the Commission.  They agreed to compile a list of names and have a draft letter for review at the July meeting. 

 

There was discussion regarding the activity sheets and scavenger hunt being placed at the Chamber as a marketing tool for the City’s parks.  Ms. Tolva said she would discuss that with Ms. Ferraro when she meets with her about the fireworks.

 

COMMISSION BUSINESS

 

Chair Daugharty left the meeting at 7:15 and Commissioner McCallum took over as Acting Chair.

 

Planning Technician Engebretsen explained that she had information for the Commissioners that she needed to copy for the next agenda item and excused herself.  The Commissioners briefly discussed the route for the park walk through until she returned.

 

A.                  Adopt-a-Park, Adopt-a-Trail, Adopt-a-Bench

 

Acting Chair McCallum pointed out that benches have been donated for the Seafarers Memorial and that the Commission needs to come up with a plan to present to City Council.  They reviewed discussions that have occurred at previous meetings regarding concerns that volunteer interest wanes if the interest isn’t supported, and the Appalachia Trails plan they looked at was too complex for Homer’s needs.  The Commissioners agreed to do research and bring ideas back to the July meeting.

 

B.                  Ben Walters Park and Beluga Lake Area Parking

 

Acting Chair McCallum reviewed that at the last meeting it was discussed that any further development of this area would allow for better parking and incorporating the parking for Ben Walters Park also.  Planning Technician Engebretsen added that a Parks Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty had listed a capital project to replace all the floats at Ben Walter and parking could be included with that project.  Ms. Engebretsen suggested it is something they could recommend on the CIP list next month. 

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

            A.            City Council Meeting Minutes of May 24, 2005 – Special and Regular

                       (unapproved)                                                                                         

B.            Memorandum from Parks and Recreation Commission to Mayor

            Hornaday, Re: Land Allocation Plan Recommendations                              

C.            Memorandum 05-101 from Parks and Recreation Commission to Mayor

            Hornaday, City Councilmembers and City Manager,

            Re: Karen Hornaday Park Improvements    find out how gap will be addressed.        

D.            City Council Meeting Attendance List  

 

It was requested that Lou Stewart be added in place of Ken Weaver.             

 

COMMENTS OF AUDIENCE

 

COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS

 

Commissioner Tolva commented that she, with the help of Commissioner Hamik, will email a letter out to the Commissioners for their approval. 

 

Commissioner Hamik commented it was a great meeting and thanked Mrs. McCallum for all her work for Park Day. 

 

Commissioner Gann commented that since the Adopt-a-Park has come back up the Commission should put in some personal time and come back with ideas of where to go with it. 

 

Acting Chair McCallum said she will not be at the next meeting but will get her information together and get it to Mr. Gann.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.  The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for July 21, 2005 at 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska

 

 

                                                                                   

Melissa Jacobsen, Deputy City Clerk

 

                                                                                   

Approved