Session 04-04, a Regular Meeting of the Homer Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission was called to order on April 15, 2004 at 7:38 p.m. by Chair Daugharty at the Homer City Hall Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:                         COMMISSIONERS:  MCCALLUM, WEAVER, POORE, HAMIK, TOLVA, DAUGHARTY

 

ABSENT:                           LANGMAN (EXCUSED)

 

STAFF:                             DEPUTY CITY CLERK JOHNSON

                                      PARKS MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR HAGERTY

 

AGENDA APPROVAL

 

The agenda was amended to add Item H – Playground Equipment, Item I – Appointment of Student for Parks & Recreation Commission, and Item J – Entrance to Karen Hornaday Park, all under COMMISSION BUSINESS.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

 

The Regular Meeting Minutes of March 18, 2004 were approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

 

STAFF REPORT

 

Tamara Hagerty, Parks Maintenance Coordinator said she has been planting in the greenhouse like crazy and more volunteers are needed.  She said it is a nice, warm place to work inside with the cold temperatures outside. 

 

In regard to projects for this summer, Ms. Hagerty said part of the materials for the East End Road construction project will be used for rebuilding Jack Gist Softball Complex.  Chair Daugharty said the ditch at Hornaday Park now has snow plowed into it.  He questioned the cost of the culvert at the park and Ms. Hagerty answered that she has the project costs and a drawn plan of the project.  Ms. Hagerty said the project would extend from the road to behind the ball fields and a trail on top would qualify the project for a trails grant.  The culvert would help the erosion problems as well, knocking the bank down would allow drainage off the hill.  A trail to join the proposed T-ball field on the back side is planned.  Ms. Hagerty said a grant was not obtained but it is not such a big cost project that it couldn’t be put back on next year’s CIP (Capital Improvement Program).  Chair Daugharty said Parks and Recreation Reserve Funds with a match from the Little League could be pooled together to complete the project.  

 

Commissioner Poore stated that the Karen Hornaday Park Ballfields Upgrade was slated for 2004 on the CIP report.  Commissioner Weaver explained that the CIP list is a typical five to six year list although there is only funding for specific projects in an annual budget.  Commissioner Poore questioned what was needed to show what projects would happen the current year, and Chair Daugharty answered the budget was what was needed and explained the budget process.

 

Parks Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty said throughout the year a wish list is compiled and modified by the Public Works Director, the City Manager and finally by the City Council. [1] For the 2004 year the Ramp 2 restroom furnace was the only item budgeted for Parks and Recreation. 

 

Commissioner Hamik said Barb Seaman had visited the Parks and Recreation Commission’s meeting and talked about a community greenhouse.  Ms. Seaman is very supportive of the idea and said part of the Poopdeck property could be used.  Ms. Hamik said the greenhouse is on the CIP list, and it is a project that needs to be pursued.  Ms. Hagerty agreed that the greenhouse would be a terrific idea and fashioning it much like the Anchorage greenhouse would allow an arboretum facility large enough to accommodate both Barb Seaman’s office and her own.  She added that currently there is no money available for a greenhouse.  

 

Commissioner Hamik said Playground Equipment is listed on the CIP list and she would like to see the Commission purchase and place new equipment.  Commissioner Hamik said she has talked with kids and business people in the Jeffery Park neighborhood and confirmed there is a real need for new equipment.  Ms. Hamik said since there is money in the Parks and Recreation fund, she would like to see the Commission act quickly.  Chair Daugharty said the funds have sat for a long time and maybe now was the time to spend it on worthwhile projects.

 

The Commissioners discussed the idea of providing funds to help with spring planting supplies for the City.  Ms. Hagerty said now would be the time, as vermiculite and top soil were needed to repair the beds that are full of sand and salt from snow removal.  The Commission reiterated their desire to help with costs associated in the City’s spring planting supplies. 

 

TOLVA/HAMIK – MOVED THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION PROVIDE $1,000 THROUGH THE RESERVE FUND FOR PURCHASE OF SPRING PLANTING SUPPLIES FOR THE CITY FLOWERBEDS.

 

VOTE:  YES:  MCCALLUM, POORE, TOLVA, HAMIK, WEAVER

NO:  DAUGHARTY

 

Motion carried.

 

Commissioner McCallum said previously the Red Hot Mama’s found cans to clean, primer and paint as garbage containers.  Parks Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty said she has three of the original ten cans in various places throughout town.  The City maintains the cans by placing them in secure areas and dumping them routinely.  Ms. Hagerty currently has over two hundred cans and will provide twenty cans to the Commission for painting.  Commissioner McCallum volunteered space within her facility for preparing and painting the cans.  Additionally, Commissioner Hamik stated she has a suitable work area and has paint to donate for the project.  The last two Saturdays in May, the 22nd and 29th are slated work days to prepare and paint the cans. 

 

Commissioner Weaver asked Parks Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty if there was a stump removal strategy for Jeffery Park or any of the other parks, as he believes the stumps look tacky.  Ms. Hagerty responded that at the rate of $250 per stump for removal by grinding it is not feasible.  She added there are differing views on the trees depending on the beholder; some wanting the beetle-kill trees to remain standing and those enjoying the stumps as seating.  The City’s liability of dead trees remaining upright within the parks is too great, therefore the infested trees must be falled. 

 

Commissioner Hamik questioned if Ms. Hagerty had any information on unique bike racks like those at Oceans and Islands.  Ms. Hamik stated that she intends to donate one percent of her business profits to the planet and her first project is for new bike racks.[2]  Parks Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty said she would provide the information to Commissioner Hamik.

 

The Commission thanked Parks Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty for her presence at the meeting and for the great job she does for the City.  Ms. Hagerty encouraged the Commissioners to contact her anytime with any questions or concerns.         

 

Lou Stewart prepared and presented a draft Parks and Recreation Long Term Goals Survey.  He said it is clear that the City does not have money and asked if the group could start soliciting for sponsors that may have ideas or money for playground and parks ideas.  Mr. Stewart said Mike & Michele Gordon own property on the hillside by Karen Hornaday Park and although he doesn’t know their relationship with the City, it may be worthwhile to approach them and other nearby property owners to help with Karen Hornaday Park.

 

Chair Daugharty called for a recess at 8:35 p.m. and reconvened the meeting at 8:40 p.m.

 

Deputy City Clerk Johnson reported that City Manager Wrede has assigned Anne Marie Holen, Special Projects Coordinator as the staff support person for the Parks & Recreation Commission.  Ms. Holen is unable to attend tonight’s meeting, however she will begin as staff support for the next meeting.

 

VISITORS

PENDING BUSINESS

 

COMMISSION BUSINESS

 

A.                 Trails Committee Report

 

Commissioner Hamik said Clotho Spinner from DOWL Engineers believes the Parks and Recreation Commission can share in implementing the Non-Motorized Transportation and Trails Plan.  Commissioner Tolva pointed out that Ms. Spinner said the trails plan designed in 1984 was used as a blueprint for the current design and those who worked on the 20-year old plan deserve a pat on the back.    

 

B.                 Spring Planting Supplies/Fundraising

 

This item was addressed under STAFF REPORT.

 

C.                 Neighborhood Park Survey

 

Lou Stewart’s survey was discussed and the Commission agreed that he spent considerable time on it.  The Commission decided to review the survey and refine the questions to discuss at next month’s meeting.

 

Neighborhood Park Survey continued to next month’s agenda under COMMISSION BUSINESS.

 

D.                 Three-Month Agenda Plan

 

Commissioner Poore reported that at the April 8th Worksession Commissioner Weaver had suggested defining a year’s worth of work ahead.  Agenda items for the next three months were sketched out.  There will be a Long-Term Survey, Categorizing of Parks (whether regional, regional, community, neighborhood or pocket parks) and Existing Parks Amenities.  It has been policy to complete an annual walk-thru of the parks and although the visits have been made, not every park has been viewed.  Commissioner Poore defined the parks, when the walk-thru’s were last completed and projected three years of visits to the various parks.  After questioning how to get a community to buy into a park, she came up with the idea of inviting those people interested in certain parks to the Parks and Recreation meetings.  She suggested different parks could be advertised on the meeting agendas, with the May agenda to include the Spit parks (six pocket parks).  Commissioner Weaver said he would like to continue with the walk-thru’s, not as a maintenance thing, but to see what the public sees.  By consensus the Commission decided to visit the parks on their own prior to the regular meetings.

 

Prior to the next regular meeting Commissioners Weaver and Poore will visit Special Projects Coordinator Holen to discuss the Land Bank Reserve status and Categorizing Parks.  Commissioner Tolva will talk with Derotha Ferraro at the Chamber of Commerce to let her know of the Spit Park meeting.  Commissioner Weaver suggested inviting the Chamber of Commerce to the May meeting. 

 

Continued to May agenda:

 

*                    LONG TERM SURVEY DISCUSSION WITH SPECIAL PROJECTS    COORDINATOR HOLEN. 

*        CATEGORIZED PARKS WITH PUBLIC NOTIFICATION SPECIFICALLY TALK ABOUT SPIT   PARKS.

*        LAND BANK RESERVE STATUS.

*        PRIORITIZE EXPENDITURES FOR RESERVE FUND.

*                    STATUS OF NON-MOTORIZED TRAIL PLAN.RAILS COMMITTEE.

*        DEVELOP SCHEDULE FOR COMMISSION REPRESENTATION AT THE   CITY COUNCIL           MEETINGS.

 

          E.       Statement of Support for the Non-Motorized

                   Trail Plan

 

WEAVER/HAMIK - MOVED THE COMMISSION RECOMMEND TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THE NON-MOTORIZED TRAIL PLAN BE ADOPTED AS AN AMENDMENT AND REVISION TO THE 1984 PLAN.

 

WEAVER/HAMIK – MOVED TO RESCIND THE MOTION. 

 

VOTE:  YES.  NON OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

MCCALLUM/POORE - MOVED THAT THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE CURRENT DRAFT OF THE NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION AND TRAILS PLAN AND WOULD LIKE TO BE UPDATED ON THE FINAL DRAFT PRIOR TO ITS IMPLEMENTATION BY THE CITY COUNCIL.

 

Chair Daugharty said he has not read the plan to make a decision on his support.  Commissioner Hamik said she read the plan page by page and found no disagreements.  She asked for a right-hand turn lane on Bartlett Street and for the harbor overslope trail that runs the circumference of the boat harbor to be identified and maintained.  Ms. Hamik added that Port and Harbor Director Abbott is an advocate for trails and is a person who gets things done.  

 

Commissioner Hamik said someone was ticketed for traveling 95 mph on Kachemak Drive and that City Manager Wrede is a proponent for slowing down traffic on the street.  Kachemak Drive is on the CIP list for a separated bike trail, but the road is narrow and crowned with 52 driveways and commercial business on both sides of the road.  Ms. Hamik said the road would need to be reconstructed before a trail could be placed. 

 

VOTE:  YES:  HAMIK, MCCALLUM, DAUGHARTY, POORE, TOLVA, WEAVER

 

Motion carried. 

 

          F.       Trash Can Project, Memorandum from Commissioner McCallum

 

This item was addressed under STAFF REPORT.                                           

 

G.       Playground Equipment

 

Playground Equipment was deferred to next month’s agenda.

 

          H.       Gate at Karen Hornaday Park

 

The Commission needs a more specific map than provided in the packet.

 

WEAVER/TOLVA - MOVED THE COMMISSION REQUEST INFORMATION FROM STAFF RELEVANT TO THE SITE PLAN FOR KAREN HORNADAY PARK FOR THE SPECIFIC LOCATION OF THE GATE.

 

VOTE:  YES:  POORE, MCCALLUM, HAMIK, TOLVA, WEAVER, DAUGHARTY

 

Motion carried.

 

          I.        Appointment of Student Representative to the Parks and Recreation Commission     

 

POORE/HAMIK – MOVED TO REPEAT THE REQUEST TO THE MAYOR FOR A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO BE ASSIGNED TO THE PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION.

 

VOTE:  YES.  NON OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

        A.       City Council Meeting Minutes of March 8, 2004 (approved) and March 22, 2004 (unapproved)                                

          B.       Memorandum City Clerk Calhoun, Re: Parks and Recreation Reserve Fund and Land Bank         

 

          C.       Map Showing Property Owners Adjacent to Karen Hornaday Park            

 

          D.       Memorandum to Mayor Cushing and the Homer City Council, Re:  Opposition to Ordinance 04-12,           Stocking the Fishin’ Hole                

 

          E.       Resolution 04-24(A), Approving the City of Homer 2004 Land Allocation Plan

 

Commissioner Weaver asked for clarification on the Land Allocation Plan and Chair Daugharty explained that the list is parcels of land that the City obtained through various means including foreclosure.  Periodically the Commission is asked what the land might be best used for. 

 

WEAVER/POORE - MOVED THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION REQUEST CITY STAFF TO PROVIDE THE COMMISSION WITH A LIST OF PARK PROPERTIES THAT ARE OFFICIALLY DEDICATED AS PARKS AND THE MEANS OF DEDICATION.

 

The Commission discussed W. R. Bell’s land that needs to be dedicated as a park. 

 

VOTE:  YES:  WEAVER, HAMIK, TOLVA, POORE, MCCALLUM, DAUGHARTY

 

Motion carried.

 

          F.       Capital Improvement Program 2004-2009

 

COMMENTS OF AUDIENCE

 

Dawn Fitzpatrick was present for the meeting and said she attended as a class project. 

 

COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS

 

Commissioner Hamik said she wanted to compliment City Manager Wrede for allocating Anne Marie Holen as staff support, and Mary Calhoun for putting together the memos to Dean Baugh.  She said it feels like the Commission is on the trail and moving forward and that feels great.  Ms. Hamik said she appreciates the great Commissioners and the Chairman who runs the best meetings.

 

Commissioner Poore welcomed Anne Marie and said it is a huge step in the City, showing appreciation to the Parks and Recreation Commission. 

 

Commissioner McCallum is thankful to the Commissioners that are taking extra time to go to various meetings and gather additional information that she finds very helpful.

 

Commissioner Weaver said the Commission can promulgate some good plans.

 

Commissioner Tolva thanked Commissioner Poore for the extra work she had done and her wonderful way of analyzing things so distinctly.  With the addition of Commissioner Weaver and his experience in government, the Parks and Recreation Commission has a good thing going.  Icing on the cake is Anne Marie.  Commissioner Tolva thanked the City Manager and the City Council for their support.  She also thanked Chair Daugharty for putting up with the Commissioners. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.  The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for May 20, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

               

 

_____________________________________­_____

JO JOHNSON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

 

 

_____________________________________

APPROVED


[1] Special Projects Coordinator Holen stated that she compiles the CIP list and circulates it to all commissions and departments heads.  Additionally, various non-profit organizations within the community are encouraged to submit any ideas for capital projects in excess of $25,000.

[2] Commissioner Hamik added that the profits would be donated to the organization called One Percent for the Plant