Session 07-01 a Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Commission was called to order at 6:34 pm on January 18, 2007 by Chair Gann at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

PRESENT: COMMISSIONER BREMICKER, GANN, HOWARD, MCGREENERY, TOLVA

STUDENT: BAECHLER

ABSENT: COMMISSIONER POORE, STEWART (Both Excused)

STAFF: PLANNING TECHNICIAN ENGEBRETSEN

DEPUTY CITY CLERK JACOBSEN

CITY PLANNER MCKIBBEN

AGENDA APPROVAL

HOWARD/MCGREENERY MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Motion carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Parks and Recreation Commission Unapproved Minutes of November 16, 2006

MCGREENERY/HOWARD I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 16, 2006.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Motion carried.

PUBLIC COMMENTS UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

There were no public comments.

STAFF REPORT

A. Memorandum from Planning Technician Engebretsen dated January 9, 2007

There was brief discussion of Planning Technician Engebretsen’s staff report. There was consensus of the Commission to include Park Day on the February agenda.

VISITORS

A. Beth McKibben, City Planner - Comprehensive Plan

City Planner McKibben provided the Commission with copies of a power point presentation and advised them that the City has hired a consultant, Agnew Beck out of Anchorage, to update the Comprehensive Plan. She explained that the last complete update was done in 1989 with a revision completed in 1999. Points that Ms. McKibben raised in her presentation were:

· It is important that the areas that have been annexed are included in the City’s Comp Plan.

· The Comp Plan is a method for identifying and achieving the community’s value and vision, it is an inventory of existing conditions, forecast of future conditions, statement of goals, objectives and policies and recommendations for the future.

· The Plan is a tool to maintain and enhance the quality of life, create a blueprint for growth in the Community, manage and guide change, fulfill legal obligations and avoid potential costly mistakes.

· It identifies how the community wants to grow. It can be used as a device to solve problems, promote economic development, conserve resources, balance competing points of view and establish a degree of predictability and certainty over patterns and costs of development.

· The Plan can’t produce miracles; it can’t prevent change and can’t exclude newcomers.

· The Plan should be updated every two to five years or as policies and conditions change.

· It should include a method for updating the Plan.

Ms. McKibben explained that the contract for the consultant is thirteen months and at that time there should be a draft document prepared to go out for the public, the Planning Commission and City Council to review and then final adoption. There will be an open house in the near future for the community visioning aspect of the process. She said the City will be doing a public education campaign, hopefully through the radio and newspaper to get as many people involved in the process as they can. The Citizens Advisory Committee will meet January 29 at 6:30 pm, the EDC will meet with a sub-consultant at 10 am on January 30 and there will be a noon meeting on the 30^th with the consultants, the Planning Commission and City Council. Ms. McKibben encouraged the Commissioners to attend and help get information out that this process is beginning.

B. Steve Smith - HARP Policies and Procedures for New Local Non-Motorized Trails

Steve Smith, member of Transportation Advisory Committee (TAC), said that this is an exciting time with trails issue having been decided by the voters and added to HART[1]. He explained that the TAC has been tasked with implementation and a lot of that has to do with how the money can be used. This is a unique opportunity for the TAC and Parks and Recreation to have input and make something happen. He noted that Councilmember Heimbuch has been asking for more Committee involvement and has brought up several different scenarios for the TAC and would like to see the various issues have a public hearing. With regard to trails in the HART program, the TAC would like to have input from the Parks and Recreation Commission and have them be part of the process in the TAC’s recommendations to Council with what HART money can be used to develop trails. Mr. Smith said that members of the Committee are willing to attend the Parks and Recreation meetings and invited the Commissioners to attend the TAC meetings. There a lot of issues with the trails themselves including maintenance and standards.

There was discussion regarding the inadequacy of the sidewalk system in the City. Mr. Smith explained that the City is asking the State to reconstruct Main Street from the bypass up and include curb, gutter and sidewalk at least on one side. The TAC has recommended, as a modeled extension program, to reconstruct Fairview Avenue from the High School to West Hill and connect West Homer Elementary as well. This is a modeled extension to help relieve congestion in the peak hours, particularly for the schools. The City has asked the State to share that project and pay 50%. He mentioned there has been discussion of leveraging funds through a bond issue so as not to kill the HART fund.

Commissioner Tolva commented that a trail on Kachemak Drive to connect East Road to the Spit would bee a good project. Mr. Smith explained that Kachemak Drive is a state right-of-way and would not be considered for HART funds. Ms. Tolva mentioned the Trunk Trail that would connect the Jack Gist Park area with the neighborhood near McDonalds and Mr. Smith commented that anything in the City that is not on state right-of-way would be a prime candidate for HART funds.

Mr. Smith commented that this is a process that will probably require some special meetings to deal with specific issues. He encouraged that the Chair’s work together on specific tasks and decide what should be looked at first. Construction parameters, administering projects or maintenance of trails are items that need to be considered.

PENDING BUSINESS

A. Memorandum from Planning Technician Engebretsen Re: Resolution 06- Amending Bylaws to Include Beaches within the Commission’s Jurisdiction, Agenda Format and Meeting Guidelines

MCGREENERY/TOLVA MOVED TO OPEN DISCUSSION.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Motion carried.

Planning Technician Engebretsen briefly reviewed the process for the bylaw amendment and explained that the Council is looking at an Ordinance that changes the duties of Commission and the amendment was made that instead of looking at beaches, that the Commission looks at public beaches. Mrs. Engebretsen’s memo recommended that the Commission include public beaches in their bylaws to be consistent.

The Commission discussed concerns with the possibility of activities on private beaches that could adversely affect the public beaches and whether the amendment would preclude the Commission from taking action. Planning Technician Engebretsen commented that the Beach Policy is concerned with public behavior on public beaches. She speculated that amending it public beaches is due to concern about regulating activity on private property. The adopted beach policy addresses private property and a lot of the recommendations are already in code.

MCGREENERY/HOWARD I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO AMEND THE BYLAWS AND CHANGE TO PUBLIC BEACHES.

Discussion continued regarding the amendment.

VOTE: YES: MCGREENERY, GANN, HOWARD

NO: BREMICKER, TOLVA

Motion failed for lack of majority.

Commissioner Tolva expressed her desire to continue action of the bylaw amendments.

MCGREENERY/TOLVA MOVED TO CONTINUE THIS TO NEXT MONTH.

There was brief discussion both against and in favor of continuing.

VOTE: YES: MCGREENERY, BREMICKER, TOLVA

NO: GANN, HOWARD

Motion failed for lack of majority.

Chair Gann called for a recess at 7:45 pm to allow Commissioners to review the bylaw amendments. The meeting reconvened at 7:52 pm.

BREMICKER/MCGREENERY SO MOVED TO ADOPT THE BYLAWS.

There was discussion regarding the bylaws and meeting procedure. No further amendments were made.

VOTE: YES: TOLVA, BREMICKER, MCGREENERY, GANN, HOWARD

Motion carried.

COMMISSION BUSINESS

A. Memorandum from Planning Technician Engebretsen Re: WKFL Park Master Plan

TOLVA/MCGREENERY MOVED TO DISCUSS.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Motion carried.

Planning Technician Engebretsen commented that she has had some discussion with Parks Maintenance Coordinator Hagerty and there is more information than what is in the files. Mrs. Engebretsen said that Will Files has offered to help with the idea behind the park, but she has not been able to get in contact with him.

MCGREENERY/BREMICKER MOVED TO POSTPONE THIS TO MARCH.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Motion carried.

B. Memorandum from Planning Technician Engebretsen Re: Formation of a Beach Committee

MCGREENERY/TOLVA MOVED TO OPEN DISCUSSION.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Motion carried.

Planning Technician Engebretsen commented that there has been discussion of beaches. In looking at the beach policy that was adopted in 2001, a lot of the items of concern have been taken care of, but there are some things that have not been accomplished. She explained that in order to have a tool that is current and useful it would be beneficial to have a committee to go through the policy and take out items that have been completed and focus on what needs to be completed. She noted that there are only about four pages that need to be addressed.

TOLVA/MCGREENERY MOVED TO ESTABLISH A BEACH COMMITTEE.

Discussion ensued on the need for the group to do some clean up work in the Beach Policy and bring it back after a few months for the Commission to review. They talked about the importance of getting a head start on this so past problems can be addressed before the beach season is upon the City.

VOTE: YES: BREMICKER, MCGREENERY, GANN, HOWARD, TOLVA

Motion carried.

Commissioner Bremicker agreed to Chair the Committee, Commissioner Tolva agreed to take notes for the meeting and Commissioner Stewart was volunteered to participate. Planning Technician Engebretsen said she would participate in the meetings as well.

Chair Gann reminded the committee members of their responsibility to be in touch with the Clerk’s Office regarding meeting scheduling and advertisement of their meetings.

C. Memorandum from Kurt Marquardt, Transportation Advisory Committee Chair Re: HARP Policies and Procedures for New Local Non Motorized Trails

MCGREENERY/TOLVA I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION TO OPEN THIS UP FOR DISCUSSION.

There was no discussion.

VOTE: NON OBJECTION: UNANIMOUS CONSENT

Motion carried.

Discussion points included:

· The importance of this responsibility and the need to further review the HART policies in their packet.

· The project for the trail from Fairview to Reber would be a great start as the City has information on design, costs and a potential grant.

· At this point staff would prefer broad input regarding the plan rather than a committee.

· Utilizing the HNMTTP will provide good information for starting the discussion about what standards are needed in town.

· Another priority might be to link up some of the segmented trails in the City.

The Commission agreed to hold a worksession prior to their next regular meeting to discuss the policy. Chair Gann said he would contact Chair Marquardt regarding specific discussion topics for the worksession.

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

A. City Council Meeting Minutes of December 11, 2006 and January 8, 2007

B. City Council Meetings - Commissioner Attendance Schedule for 2007

C. Memorandum from Deputy City Clerk Jacobsen re: Making Motions

D. Memorandum 07-05 from City Clerk Calhoun re: Land Allocation Joint

Worksession with Council.

E. Resolution 06-160(A) Establishing the 2007 Regular Meeting Schedule

F. Resolution 07-06 Deleting Mariner Park Fishing Hole from the 2007-2012 Capital

Improvement Plan

G. Resolution 07-07 Adding the Project “Mariner Park Improvements” to the 2007-2012

Capital Improvement Plan

E. Article from Anchorage Daily News Regarding Street Design provided by Ginger Tornes

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

There were no audience comments.

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION

Commissioner McGreenery asked if any Commissioners would be willing to trade her Council meeting attendance date of April 23 for a later date. Commissioner Tolva agreed to trade her May 29 date. Mrs. McGreenery commented that she would appreciate some training on working with Roberts Rules. Deputy City Clerk Jacobsen said she would get some information together for the Commission before their next meeting. She said she would also let the City Clerk know and perhaps there could be a training done at some point for any Commissioner’s who would like to attend.

Commissioner Tolva thanked everyone.

Commissioner Bremicker requested that there be some discussion regarding the Town Center Development. He believes that Parks and Recreation should be working on the Town Center and he doesn’t see any other groups working on it. Planning Technician responded that there could be some brief discussion at the next meeting. There was no objection from the body regarding adding it to the agenda.

Commissioner Howard had no comments.

Chair Gann commented regarding Park Day. He noted that the first Park Day was the last weekend in May and last years was the first weekend in June. He suggested a committee to do some brainstorming to come up with ideas as the Council approved $1000 in the budget for Park Day.

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business to come before the Commission, the meeting adjourned at 8:36 pm. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for February 15, 2007 at the City Hall Cowles Council Chamber located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer Alaska. There is a worksession at 5:30 pm prior to the meeting.

MELISSA JACOBSEN, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

Approved:

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[1] HART (Homer Accelerated Roads & Trails Plan) is being recommended to replace HARP.