Session 04-02, a Regular Meeting of the Homer Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission was called to order on February 19, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. by Chair Daugharty at the Homer City Hall Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

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

                                                                                   

                                    STAFF:                                                 DEPUTY CITY CLERK JOHNSON

 

AGENDA APPROVAL

 

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

 

The Regular Meeting Minutes of January 15, 2004 were approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

 

Lou Stewart, city resident, questioned the City’s intent of the properties above the middle school.  Mr. Stewart said with Spruceview Ave. scheduled to open this summer the parcel of land has great potential for a ball park or a city park.  Chair Daugharty answered that the parcel is borough land and a contract allowed for clear-cutting of the trees in 1998 resulting in the loss of the climbing course and exercise trail.  With no one there to monitor the process the trees were limbed by pulling them through the area leaving chest deep slash throughout the property.  The foremost concern is drainage, as the one existing waterway is plugged with slash and has altered the stream bed.  Last Fall spruce bark beetle money allowed for the grinding of an acre and a half of slash and stumps with a bulldozer pushing the slash to both sides of the trail.  The trail was nicely groomed over the winter for cross-country skiing.   

 

Mr. Stewart said if the trail was developed north to south it would make a corridor for school children currently using Bartlett Street as well as tie the whole community together.  He said he had an interest in the area and would like to make himself available to do some foot work.  He has read there was grant money for engineering of local parks through Anne Marie Holen’s efforts.  Mr. Stewart would like to see more trail systems and bike paths throughout the downtown area.

 

Commissioner Hamik added that the Fairview trail that extends from Fairview Avenue to the base of the high school parking lot to Calhoun Street has room for horses.  Mr. Stewart said many people may not know about that trail although there is signage.  He uses the trail in the summer for running to avoid the main streets.  He said in the downtown area he would love to see more off-road types of trails that cut behind subdivisions and the main drag to get away from the noise and traffic.  He said it is nice to view local resident’s gardens and the work they have put into their yards. 

 

In response to Chair Daugharty’s question of what is included in the walkability of the community, Commissioner Poore answered that bicycles would be included in Dan Burden’s non-motorized vision.  DOWL Engineers has proposed canoe and kayak trails referring to them as non-land trails.  She said other towns have done this with marvelous possibilities.

 

Commissioner Hamik said Commissioner Tolva, Margaret Seeley and herself were part of the Trails Committee.  She said they had established a few trails with the first one beginning behind West Elementary School and extending to Homer Middle School.  A Boy Scout working on his Eagle’s project helped in clearing the trail and spreading sawdust chips.  She said recently she viewed the trail and found the area massacred with development everywhere.Ö  Originally there was 140 feet of trail but now the beginning of the trail is littered with oil cans and patches of dead trees, leaving no trail in sight. 

 

The Commission expressed a desire to transform the parcel into a park and Chair Daugharty suggested going through the City Council to request that the area be made an issue of the Parks and Recreation Commission.  He said there is an informal walking trail from Noview Avenue to the parcel.  Chair Daugharty said the borough gave the city 30 feet of the 17.5 acre parcel for street easement.  Commissioner Tolva said it would be a good place to draw the attention of Mr. Burden as it is a viable link to schools, the hospital and Hornaday Park.  

 

STAFF REPORT

 

VISITORS

 

PENDING BUSINESS

 

COMMISSION BUSINESS

 

.           A.        Dan Burden, Walkable Communities – Upcoming Visit on February 20

                        and 21, 2004, (News Release – Two Public Meetings to Address Trails,

                        “Walkability”

 

Lou Stewart said he had read of Dan Burden’s upcoming visit in the local newspaper but was unsure of what Mr. Burden intended to draw from the community.  Commission Langman explained that bringing Mr. Burden to Homer is a means of increasing public awareness as he is knows as the “trail master”. 

 

Mr. Stewart said it would be a great opportunity for our youth with too much time on their hands to pitch in for a community project such as building trails.  He said perhaps they could be compensated  for their efforts in addition to directing their energies to something positive.

 

Commissioner Poore explained that Dan Burden plans to arrive in Homer early to walk about town taking photographs for his Friday evening (2/20/04) presentation at the Pratt Museum.  The first two hours he will make a presentation and the third hour is for community discussion to be moderated by Deland Anderson.  Saturday morning there will be a breakfast at the Duncan House with a walkabout around town to hear Mr. Burden’s impressions and ideas for Homer.  The first public hearing is on Monday evening (2/23/04) at the Islands and Ocean Center with DOWL Engineers.

 

Chair Daugharty said years ago an idea was posed for a trail to circumvent around town.  It would start at Homer Middle School through the clear-cut area of Wright Street and continue up through Hornaday Park and down to Woodard Creek crossing the creek to the hospital.  The trail would then cut across to Bayview Park then to Bayview Avenue or Mountain View Drive to hook in behind the high school.  It would then cut through the high school and drop down onto Ben Walters Road and pick up Ben Walters Park.  You would then cross the road up to Oceans and Islands and through the trail to Bishop’s Beach, through Old Town and then back to the middle school.  The trail was to pull in outside and interior development with spokes to allow travel to other areas.  He said a trail to East Hill would join Paul Banks and go through Gist Field.

 

Beth Cumming said two devastating rainy falls altered the Woodard Creek trail, thus convincing her to give up on the idea of a trail at the bottom of the Woodard Creek area.  Ms. Cumming said a path could be easily created on the top edge of the creek to Karen Hornaday Park, separating it from the parking lot.  She said the path could be used and enjoyed by all individuals.    

 

TOLVA/POORE-MOVED TO RECOMMEND THE CITY INCLUDE A TRAIL IN THE NEW DRAFT PLAN TO SEPARATE THE KAREN HORNADAY PARKING LOT FROM WOODARD CREEK AND CONNECT TO HOSPITAL PROPERTY.

 

The Commission discussed the prospect of the Parks and Recreation fund as well as business owners in the vicinity providing money for the project.  Commissioner McCallum said by creating better access and crossing of the creek liability would be reduced to the businesses bordering the creek.

 

VOTE:  YES.  MCCALLUM, LANGMAN, DAUGHARTY, POORE, TOLVA, HAMIK

 

Motion carried.

 

HAMIK/TOLVA - MOVED THAT THE CITY OF HOMER RESEARCH THE LAND OWNERSHIP BETWEEN KAREN HORNADAY PARK, THE HOSPITAL AND THE NO TRESPASSING GATE SO PARK VISITORS CAN HAVE ACCESS TO ALL OF THE PARK.

 

VOTE:  YES.  POORE, LANGMAN, DAUGHARTY, HAMIK, TOLVA, MCCALLUM.

 

Motion carried.

 

Bill Baechler, city resident, said in listening to the Commission’s comments of the proposed trails he understands they are designated for non-motorized usage.  He said there is limited safe access for horse riders and asked that horses be accommodated as trails are developed.  Although Mr. Baechler realizes horses may sometimes leave manure on the trails he believes there may be provisions to include them within the city limits.  His daughter belongs to the Pony Club, an international organization that has twenty or more local members, and he plans to inform the group they may attend meetings to speak in favor of accommodating horse riders within the trail system.  Commissioner Tolva thanked Mr. and Mrs. Baechler for attending and agreed that all options for transportation needed to be kept open.

 

Commissioner Poore called attention to the City Council minutes of January 12, 2004 and the discussion of the Land Bank Reserve Fund.  The Commission agreed it tied in very closely with easements and made the following motion:   

 

HAMIK/MCCALLUM – MOVED THAT THE CITY OF HOMER GIVE A STATUS REPORT ON THE LAND BANK RESERVE FUND FOR THE NEXT MEETING PER MEMORANDUM 04-08.

 

There was brief discussion of the issue.

 

HAMIK/MCCALLUM – MOVED TO RESCIND THE ABOVE MOTION.

 

VOTE:  YES.  NON OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

HAMIK/LANGMAN – MOVED THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION IS SUPPORTIVE OF THE CONCEPT OF A LAND BANK RESERVE FUND PER MEMORANDUM 04-08 AND REPORT ON ITS CURRENT STATUS.

 

VOTE:  YES.  HAMIK, MCCALLUM, LANGMAN, DAUGHARTY, POORE, TOLVA

 

Motion carried.

 

Chair Daugharty presented a map outlining a city hub trail with spokes from the hub to the Commission.

 

            B.         Spring Planting Supplies – Memorandum from Parks Maintenance

                        Coordinator, Re: Ben Walters Park & Beautification Program

 

Upon viewing the Parks and Recreation Fund Reserves the Commission discussed different ways of contributing financial support to the Homer Beautification Project.  The prospect of a greenhouse/atrium in the Town Square was introduced.  The Commission decided input was needed from Tamara Hagerty, Parks Maintenance Coordinator, and Barb Seaman.  Chair Daugharty explained the fund reserves stating that the money was for capital projects rather than maintenance costs.  The Commission said Ms. Hagerty would be able to clarify many questions about fund raisers and supplies needed for the Beautification Project.  

 

TOLVA/LANGMAN – MOVED THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION INVITE TAMARA HAGERTY AND BARB SEAMAN AS VISITORS TO THE NEXT PARKS AND RECREATION MEETING FOR DISCUSSION ON PARKS AND RECREATION EXPENDITURES AND THE GREENHOUSE.

 

VOTE:  YES.  NON OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried. 

                                                                                                             

            C.         Memorandum from Deputy City Clerk, Re: Resolution 04-13(A) of the

                        City Council of Homer, Alaska, Providing Input to the Kenai Peninsula

                        Borough Assembly Regarding the Borough Comprehensive Plan 

 

Item 5 currently reads:  That the KPB require developers to construct roads to borough standards prior to subdivision.

 

LANGMAN/MCCALLUM- UNDER #5 CONSTRUCT ROADS TO BOROUGH STANDARDS AND TO PROVIDE PEDESTRIAN CONNECTORS PRIOR TO SUBDIVISION WITHIN THE DEVELOPMENT AREA.

 

VOTE:  YES. TOLVA, POORE, HAMIK, MCCALLUM, LANGMAN

 

NO:  DAUGHARTY

 

Motion carried.               

 

            D.        Memorandum from Deputy City Clerk, Re: Proposed Carter-Crescent Lakes

                        Area Winter Recreation Access Project

 

The Commission discussed the project and had nothing to add.                                                    

 

          E.       Trails Committee Report

 

There were no additional items to report.

                                                                    

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

            A.        City Council Meeting Minutes of January 12 and 26, 2004 (approved)      

                        and February 9, 2004 (unapproved)                                                                    

 

            B.         Memorandum 04-27 from Mayor Cushing, Re: Reappointment of

                        Tim Daugharty to the Parks and Recreation Commission                                    

                                               

            C.         Memorandum from Parks and Recreation Commission to Mayor Cushing,

                        Re: Request for             Appointment of a High School Student Representative to

                        the Parks and Recreation Commission                                                               

                       

            D.        General Fund Reserves for Parks and Recreation Commission

                        (Combining Statement of Reserved Balances, Capital Project Funds,

                        Fiscal Year 2004)                                                                                             

           

            E.         Memorandum from Deputy City Clerk to Parks and Recreation Commission

                        Chair and Commissioners, Re: Open Meetings Act                                             

                       

            F.         Email from Dave and Molly Brann to Commissioner Poore, Re: In Town Trails      

 

            G.         Letter to the Editor from Commissioner Poore for the Parks and Recreation

                        Commission, Re: Canine Conundrum                                                                 

 

            H.        Memorandum from Parks Maintenance Coordinator to City Manager, Re:

                        Management of Noxious and Invasive Plants in Alaska   

 

The Memorandum from Anne Marie Holen, Special Projects Coordinator, Re:  Other Trail Plans was received and the Commission thanked Ms. Holen for the information.                               

           

COMMENTS OF AUDIENCE

 

COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS

 

Commissioner McCallum requested to add the Trash Can Project to COMMISSION BUSINESS on the next meeting agenda.

 

Commissioner Poore requested a Follow-Up on Trails Walkability and Trails Plan to COMMISSION BUSINESS on the next meeting agenda.

 

Commissioner Langman requested to add Spring Planting Supplies and Fundraising as COMMISSION BUSINESS on the next meeting agenda.

 

All Commissioners stated it was a good meeting and they enjoyed having visitors.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 9:22 p.m.  The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for March 18, 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


Ö Ms. Hamik stated her intent of the statement was that the area was massacred with devastation everywhere.