Session 04-01, a Regular Meeting of the Homer Parks & Recreation Advisory Commission was called to order at 7:37 p.m. by Chair Daugharty at the Homer City Hall Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

PRESENT:               COMMISSIONERS:         POORE, HAMIK, DAUGHARTY, MCCALLUM                                         

                                    ABSENT:                      TOLVA, LANGMAN (both excused)

 

                                    STAFF:                         DEPUTY CITY CLERK JOHNSON

 

AGENDA APPROVAL

 

The agenda was amended to add Items C. Parks and Recreation Reserve Project, D. Flower Supplies, and E. Robert’s Rules of Order for Commission under COMMISSION BUSINESS.  The amended agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

 

Chair Daugharty acknowledged the memo to the Commission dated January 15, 2004 from Tamara Hagerty, Parks Maintenance Coordinator regarding the minutes of the December 18, 2003 meeting. 

 

The Regular Meeting Minutes of December 18, 2003 were approved by consensus of the Commission.

 

Commissioner Poore asked to place an update of Dan Burden of Walkable Communities upcoming visit to Homer under Item B on INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.  Chair Daugharty suggested placing the memo from Ms. Hagerty as Item E on INFORMATIONAL ITEMS.

 

The Commissioners updated Chair Daugharty on last month’s meeting and the discussion of non-motorized and motorized trails pertaining to the RFP (Request for Proposal).  Commissioner Hamik reported that the RFP for the Non-Motorized Transportation and Trail Plan was awarded to DOWL Engineers of Anchorage.    

 

Commissioner Poore added that the Non-Motorized Transportation and Trail Plan works from the center of the city out and most cities do not have motorized vehicles on trails in the center of cities.  She believes people may be under the impression that the entire city limits will exclude motorized forms of transportation other than cars.  Commissioner McCallum said the intent of the RFP was not to exclude motorized transportation from the whole inter-connecting trail system.  Identifying the RFP as non-motorized was intended to bring the value of the pathway up to the worth of motorized pathways, as motorized pathways tend to receive greater priority access money and respect.  Chair Daugharty questioned where horses, mountain bikes and bicycles would be placed in the non-motorized plan as he would like to see multiple uses for non-motorized means of transportation available, rather than specifically for walkers and joggers.  The Commission clarified that multiple non-motorized transportation uses are included in the plan.   

 

The Commission expressed their desire to bring Anne Marie Holen to the February 19th meeting with plans from other Alaskan communities with trails.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

 

STAFF REPORT

 

VISITORS

 

PENDING BUSINESS

 

A.                  Recycling Program

 

The Commission is continuing to look at more recycling efforts.   

 

Commissioner Poore said she had talked with Tamara Hagerty, Parks Maintenance Coordinator about the 55-gallon painted drums used for trash cans and was advised that there are three of the drums remaining.  Ms. Hagerty said the City would be happy to have more of the painted drums to place around town and that Petro Marine may have some available to purchase.

 

COMMISSION BUSINESS

 

A.                  Election of Officers

 

HAMIK/MCCALLUM – MOVED TO RETAIN TIM DAUGHARTY AS CHAIRPERSON AND R. J. LANGMAN AS VICE-CHAIRPERSON. 

 

VOTE:  YES.  NO OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

 

Motion carried.

 

B.                  Trails Committee Report

 

MCCALLUM/HAMIK – MOVED TO REQUEST INFORMATION FROM ANNE MARIE HOLEN ON OTHER ALASKA COMMUNITIES SIMILAR TO SIZE AND POPULATION OF HOMER AS TO HOW USER GROUPS DESIGNATE MOTORIZED OR NON-MOTORIZED TRAIL USE.

 

VOTE:  YES.  MCCALLUM, DAUGHARTY, POORE, HAMIK

 

Motion carried.

 

Commissioner Poore reported that Dan Burden of Walkable Communities will visit Homer on February 20, 2004 with a presentation for the whole community.  On Saturday the 21st he will address various groups to speak more specifically to Homer’s needs.  A request was made to DOWL Engineers for a representative of their firm to attend Mr. Burden’s presentations.  Ms. Poore provided the Commission with handouts that included a Walkability Checklist and Creating Walkable Communities along with Walkable Communities website address of www.walkable.org. 

 

Dan Burden, Walkable Communities to be added as COMMISSION BUSINESS on February agenda.   

 

Commissioner Hamik commended Public Works for their great job this winter in keeping the city sidewalks consistently and beautifully cleared off.  It was noted that people have been walking everywhere with smiles on their faces despite the cold climates.  

 

            C.         Parks and Recreation Reserve Project

 

HAMIK/POORE – MOVED THAT THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION SEE THE RESERVE BALANCE IN THEIR BUDGET.

 

Commissioner Hamik said it would be helpful to see the reserve balance in the budget so the Commission could discuss helping Public Works with flowers and soil conditioners for their spring planting.  Chair Daugharty said the reserve fund accrues and money is added to it annually.

 

VOTE:  YES.  POORE, DAUGHARTY, HAMIK, MCCALLUM

 

Motion carried.

 

The balance of the Parks and Recreation Reserve Fund is to be available at the February meeting.

 

            D.         Flower Supplies

 

Spring Planting Supplies to be included on February agenda under COMMISSION BUSINESS.  The Commission would like to request the needs of Public Works for seeds, fertilizer, and soil conditioners from Tamara Hagerty, Parks Maintenance Coordinator.

 

            E.         Robert’s Rules of Order for the Commission

 

Deputy City Clerk Johnson reported that authorization was received to purchase several copies of the shortened version of Parliamentary Procedure at a Glance and copies would be available to the Commissioners upon request.

 

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

 

            A.         City Council Meeting Minutes of December 8 and 15, 2003 (unapproved)

 

            B.         Appropriation of Funds for Walkable Communities Presentation

                        (memo from Jo Johnson, Deputy Clerk, City of Homer)

 

            C.         Resolution 03-148(A) to Establish the 2004 Regular Meeting Schedule for Parks and Recreation Advisory                         Commission

 

D.         Plans, Funding and Community Involvement Ideas from Trails Advocates in Greenwood, Indiana

            (email   from Anne Marie Holen, Administrative Assistant/Project Development, City of Homer)

 

E.         Parks and Recreation Meeting Minutes of December 18, 2003

                        (memo from Tamara Hagerty, Parks Maintenance Coordinator, City of Homer)

 

COMMENTS OF AUDIENCE

 

COMMENTS OF COMMISSIONERS

 

Commissioner Hamik said she had followed up with the Kenai Peninsula Borough on their decision of the easement vacation for Sanford Beachy on Ocean Drive Loop.  The Borough followed the Homer Planning Commission’s recommendation not to vacate the easement.  Ms. Hamik said the Borough informed her that if Mr. Beachy wanted to build upon, expand or divide the lot at a future date he may again request a vacation easement.  The Borough would most likely follow the precedent that was set or work with him possibly requiring that a portion of the land be reserved for a trail or as greenbelt.

 

Commissioner Poore said she would like to see a motivated high school student representative to join the Commission.

 

POORE/HAMIK – MOVED THAT MAYOR CUSHING APPOINT A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE TO SERVE ON THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION.

 

VOTE:  YES:  NON OBJECTION.  UNANIMOUS CONSENT. 

 

Motion carried.

 

Commissioner Poore said the Commission had talked about raising their profile and devising ways to benefit the community.  She shared a photograph in the Anchorage newspaper with an article on the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Commission.  The Commission was gathering firewood for the Westchester skating lagoon and they were hot-mopping (glazing the surface with steaming water) the lagoon.  Ms. Poore said it would be great to have firewood at the gazebo off of Beluga Lake.  Additionally she noted that the trails the high school students prepared behind the high school lost a bridge in the fall floods.  She said it is a special project the Commission may be able to encourage, facilitate or coordinate for the well-used trail. 

 

In response to Commissioner Poore’s question of the trail behind the middle school, Chair Daugharty said the ropes course no longer exists although there is money secured to repair it.  He said some of the best cross-country skiing is at the middle school with a packed and groomed trail about a mile and a half long.  Earlier in the fall borough funding allowed a bulldozer in to push a wider trail.  In addition there are trails at the high school for public use.

 

The Commission agreed that Ms. Poore could write a letter to the editor on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Commission thanking the Nordic Ski Club for maintaining the trail and encouraging the club to advise the Commission of other existing problems on the trails.

 

Commissioner Poore said she researched the internet for on-line highways and did not find the City of Homer.  She showed the Commission Parks and Recreation listings for various Alaska communities and what they offer.  She said the Commission may want to consider getting on the radar.  Chair Daugharty said the listings mentioned are communities that belong to the Alaska Parks and Recreation Association.  The communities are designated as recognized Parks and Recreation Departments.  Homer has a Parks Coordinator and the Community Schools Program which fulfill the same functions as the other listed communities.  He said the internet has linked those places together to promote the communities through Parks and Recreation.  Chair Daugharty said coordinating with Michael Illg, the Community Schools Director, may enable the Commission to join the listings.       

 

Chair Daugharty said he has been working on a joint use agreement with Little League Inc. and the City of Homer for priority usage and the development of a maintenance plan.  He said it is great news that the Homer Hockey Association may get their rink.   

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

There being no further business to come before the Commission the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.  The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for February 19, 2004 at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

 

 

 

____________________________________

JO JOHNSON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

 

 

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APPROVED