Session 07-06 a Regular Meeting of the Parks and
Recreation Advisory Commission was called to order at 6:37 pm on July 19, 2007
by Chair Stewart at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E.
Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.
PRESENT: COMMISSIONERS
STEWART, GARAY, MCGREENERY, TENHOFF, BREMICKER
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER
TOLVA (EXCUSED)
STAFF:
PLANNING
TECHNICIAN ENGEBRETSEN
DEPUTY CITY CLERK KRAUSE
AGENDA APPROVAL
Commissioner Bremicker would like to amend the agenda to
reflect a change under Pending Business, by moving Beach Policy to Item C. and
Non Motorized Vehicles on Beaches to Item D.
MCGREENERY/BREMICKER – MOVED TO APPROVE THE AMENDED AGENDA.
There was no discussion.
Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
A.
June
21, 2007 Regular Meeting Minutes
MCGREENERY/TENHOFF– MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS
WRITTEN.
There was no discussion.
VOTE: YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT UPON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA
Anne Marie Holen, private citizen and city resident, encouraged the Parks and Recreation Commissioners to support the Mayor regarding Non-Motorized Vehicles on the Beaches. She stated it is not the issue of whether motorized vehicle users can be persuaded to abide by existing rules and restrictions; the issue is that motorized vehicles are fundamentally incompatible with quieter non-motorized recreation especially with the increasing number of ATV users. Walking is her number one recreational pursuit and exercise. Hearing the ATV’s disrupt her peace and quiet and feeling of safety while walking the beaches. ATV’s, beach buggies, and trucks are so much bigger, and powerful than pedestrians that they dominate the beach. The beach is one area where parents should feel that their children are safe and not have to worry that they will be run over, imagine a three year old crouched down looking at a pretty rock is no match for a 15 year old looking over his shoulder while riding his ATV watching his friend behind him. As more and more vehicles are on the beach there is more chance for a tragedy. Accommodation and courtesy are nice concepts and words; nevertheless, decisions need to be made on what is appropriate on Homer beaches. Homer is growing. It becomes more important that the City designate where people can get away from the noise.
STAFF REPORT
A.
Memorandum from Planning Technician Engebretsen Re: July
Staff Report
Public Works Director Meyer commented that at the June meeting the Commissioners requested information on what does the Parks & Recreation Department do and what can the Commission do to help.
Public Works Director Carey gave a listing of what the Parks Department handles, he listed twenty- one parks and recreational facilities, five miles of trails and the two cemeteries is maintained. Seven seasonal employees working seven days a week starting in April and ending in September plus one full time employee, Parks Maintenance Coordinator Tammy Hagerty try to keep up with the workload. Three employees are focused on campground fee collections, four employees focus on maintaining the parks, restrooms, approximately five miles of trails, and City landscaping. The Parks Department spends the majority of their time and expense repairing the vandalism done to the various park restroom facilities. There are no more than two employees working each day. The department also provides daily service to the public restrooms on the Spit and the more heavily used City parks.
Commissioner Bremicker commented that the restroom maintenance apparently takes up most of the staff time. Public Works Director Meyer responded that it was time spent mostly cleaning and repairing vandalism.
Commissioner McGreenery asked if Camp or Park Hosts were ever considered. It would address the vandalism issue and plus relieve the employees the task of collecting camp fees. This is something that is done in every state owned park. Public Works Director did not believe that concept had ever been formally considered. He acknowledged that it is an acceptable practice done just about everywhere.
Commissioner McGreenery asked how much of the expense of maintaining the cemeteries come from the $25,000.00 allotted budget. Public Works Director was unable to state the approximate expense but did mention that there are fees charged for interments that counter some of the expenses related to maintaining the cemeteries.
Chair Stewart asked if the Director of Public Works Meyer felt that there was enough staff to properly maintain and be proactive as far as the current parks and trails inventory.
Director of Public Works Meyer stated that the first real need for the Parks and Recreation Department is money. Additional funding would allow for repair and replacement of equipment, fences, etc. Additional monies would allow outside companies to be hired to perform such things as digging a hole, or a task that requires the use of large equipment, as an example even simple tasks that require the use of equipment must be scheduled with personnel from other areas of Public Works and sometimes those departments are stretched to the limit too. Personnel would be the second priority; two additional people to take care of maintenance and projects would be good. Now whether the City budget could sustain that would be questionable. He would like to see a seasonal 4-person construction team that would provide the additional support to complete the various projects that Parks & Rec Department need.
As for designating how much money would depend on what you want to accomplish, a couple hundred thousand dollars per year over a ten-year period add up to performing two million dollars worth projects. The other City departments do not pay for projects or new equipment out of their budget. Large or capital projects are funded separately or from reserve accounts.
Commissioner Bremicker asked for more clarification on the summer construction crew and if they would work for the entire City or just the Parks Department. Public Works Director Meyer commented that his intention was not to create additional projects that require mandated scale wages, etc and he is not against anything like that but he does feel there are certainly projects that the City should be able to self perform.
VISITORS
Anne Marie Holen – Special Projects Coordinator
The Capital Improvement Plan for the City is a six-year
plan that lays out community priorities for capital projects. A capital project is valued at twenty-five
thousand dollars or more and is typically land acquisition, construction
projects, equipment purchases, playground, or swimming pools. Newspaper
articles describe the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) as a wish list; this is a
very accurate description. The current CIP contains fifty nine projects
totaling over 158 million dollars, no one expects these to be built in six
years or that all of them to be funded at some time. Many funding sources
require that projects be in the CIP. Some sources give additional points if the
project is the community’s number one priority. It helps keep attention on that
project as it can take many years to attain the funding for a project. It took
twenty years for the new Library to come to fruition. A short list or priority list is comprised of up to fifteen top
projects that the Mayor and City Council use to lobby the legislature for
money.
Commissioner Tenhoff left the meeting at 6:52 pm.
Commissioner Bremicker asked if the project can only be
city projects or can be state roads too. Ms. Holen explained how even a state
road can be on the CIP. Any comments or suggestions in Memorandum form from the
Commissioners are welcome and she will make sure that it is submitted to the
Council. The City Council will have a worksession in September and start
discussions on the fifteen projects to be selected.
MCGREENERY/BREMICKER – MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO ALLOW
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CAREY TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION UNDER STAFF REPORTS.
There was no discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
PENDING BUSINESS
A.
Capital
Improvement Plan
BREMICKER/MCGREENERY – MOVED TO BRING THE CIP TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
There was no discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
Motion carried.
Planning Technician Engebretsen
stated that the goal tonight was to list each Commissioners top five projects
and then they would vote on each project. The top five projects would then be
submitted to City Council.
Commissioner Bremicker and
McGreenery clarified if choices must be from the existing CIP listed projects
or if new projects could be added.
Projects selected by the
Commissioners were as follows:
Karen
Hornaday Park
Kachemak
Trail
Main
Street
Mariner
Park
Jack
Gist Park Upgrades
Planning Technician Engebretsen
will produce a Memorandum to City Council showing their submissions for the
2008-2013 Capital Improvement Plan.
B.
Park
Day
MCGREENERY/BREMICKER – MOVED TO BRING TO THE FLOOR FOR
DISCUSSION.
There was no discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
Discussion ensued regarding recommending the Mayor make a
proclamation about Park Day for August 18, 2007. Planning Technician
Engebretsen stated that Mike Illg with Community Schools informed her that they
had permission to use the stage however the Commission had to arrange
transportation. Commissioner Tenhoff was in charge of the music and she had to
leave the meeting early so they would have to contact her later regarding the
status of the music.
The Commissioners discussed the items needed for the picnic
and defining who was in charge of providing grills, coolers, storage of food
items, etc. Chair Stewart checked on power options and availability at the
park, he did not see availability in the section at the back of the park. He
will check on the area near the front of the park. There was further
clarification on the area selected for the event. The Commissioners decided to
keep it simple as possible and provide hotdogs, condiments, chips, and bottled
water for 200 persons. It was decided that more could be done next year.
Commissioner McGreenery clarified the date of August 16, 2007 to relay to the
Manager of Save U More when they will pick up the food. Chair Stewart offered
his residence as a staging area for the others to drop off coolers and
additional items. Planning Technician Engebretsen will coordinate with Chair
Stewart. Commissioner McGreenery will not be in town on for the next meeting or
for Park Day. Planning Technician Engebretsen will pick up the food items and
store at her home, she will also pick ice up the day of the event.
A worksession will be held prior to the next meeting to
finalize all plans for Park Day.
C.
Beach
Policy
MCGREENERY/BREMICKER – MOVED TO
SUBMIT THE AMENDED AND APPROVED BEACH POLICY TO CITY COUNCIL.
Commissioner Bremicker wanted to
thank Planning Technician Engebretsen for the work and time she put into this
document. He acknowledged the hard work and efforts of the Beach Committee
members. He knows that the current issue before City Council is binging out
many residents on this topic. He has heard both sides. All the rules that apply
to Homer roads apply to the Beaches and should be enforced. He feels that in
regards to that topic that the regulations written into the Beach Policy should
be applied before implementing something else. Planning Technician Engebretsen
interjected into the discussion by stating the Beach Policy must be updated
regardless of the non-motorized vehicle issue before Council now. If the
Commission votes no on submitting to Council, it dies right now or the
Commission can postpone until the outcome of the issue of the non-motorized
vehicles. If the Beach Policy is submitted to Council now and the Non-motorized
vehicles on beaches is approved by Council then the Beach Policy will have to
be amended to reflect that decision.
VOTE. YES. MCGREENERY, BREMICKER,
STEWART, GARAY
Motion carried.
D.
Motorized
Vehicles on Beaches Allowed Only by Permit
Chair Stewart gave a brief history on the discussion, the
testimony received from the public and decided at the last meeting of the Beach
Committee to forward to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission their
recommendations to implement the following before enacting a more prohibitive
action. The recommendations were additional signage, public relations and
education, and barricades. It was agreed by the Commissioners that this will be
a contentious issue and taking a more moderate approach may be more
appropriate.
Commissioner Bremicker commented that there are many
details to the proposed ordinance and recommends to withhold Commission
recommendation to City Council at this time. There was ensuing discussion to
vote the recommendation down or to postpone any actions until a full Commission
is in attendance and more discussion regarding the proposed ordinance.
MCGREENERY/GARAY – MOVE TO POSTPONE FURTHER DISCUSSION
UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING.
There was no further discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
A. Budget Staff Report
MCGREENERY/BREMICKER – MOVED TO
BRING TO THE FLOOR FOR DISCUSSION.
Discussion ensued regarding the
difference between Capital Improvement Plan and Capital Projects. Planning
Technician clarified the differences for the Commissioners. There are not
defined budgets for individual projects and it will not be determined by the
Commission. The actual budgets are determined by staff. This represents a more
reasonable “wish list” The approval of this budget is to see completion of the
projects listed below within the next year.
CAPITAL PROJECTS
1.
Karen Hornaday Parking Lot Funding – finish/cap the eastern
parking lot adjacent to Woodard Creek with enough staff to complete the
project.
2.
Jack Gist Park -
continued funding toward the goal of completed baseball fields, and seasonal
rental of port-a-lets if needed when fields are ready to play on.
3.
Construct the Senior Access Trail with the funding from the
state.
HART PROJECTS
1.
Construct West Homer Elementary School Trail Phase I –
Forest Glen Drive to school grounds.
2.
Create a capital project of the Fairview Reber Trail and
budget seventy-five hundred dollars ($7,500.00) as matching funds toward
completion. If sufficient grant money is not awarded to complete this project
then additional HART funds could be allocated in 2008 for completion.
3.
Create a capital project for the Beluga Slough Trail,
allocating Twenty-five Thousand dollars ($25,000.00) for this project.
Additional funding sources needed to complete this project. Additional funds
could be could be allocated in the 2009 budget.
WITHIN PARKS AND RECREATION
BUDGET
1.
Recommend increasing staff funding for additional permanent
employee or seasonal employee in order to complete necessary tasks.
2.
Funding to contract out the creation of a Trail Design
Criteria Manual. Funding amount is approximately Thirty to Fifty Thousand
Dollars, ($30,000.00 – $50,000.00).
3.
Mariner Park Kiosk – Construction of a larger information
kiosk at Mariner Park to include space for Beach Policy brochures and maps
showing where vehicles are allowed. This kiosk is recommended to be similar in
design to displays found at state parks or along the Seward Highway.
Construction should be subcontracted out for expediency of construction.
4.
Park Day Funding for 2008
5.
Beach Policy Funding for advertising and public relations
efforts. Amount recommended is One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00).
GENERAL PUBLIC WORKS BUDGET
1.
Replacement of missing signs at the following locations:
a.Bishop’s
Beach
b.Airport
Access Road
c.Mariner
Park
Public
Works Department to verify the amount needed to replace, repair and install
signage at these locations.
2.
Funding of the Beach Policy maintenance as an annual
expense. Funds to be allocated for the yearly expense of replacement signage at
various locations.
MCGREENERY/GARAY – MOVED TO
APPROVE THE 2008 PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION BUDGET PRIORITY LIST.
There was no additional discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
Motion carried.
B. Pioneer
Creek Park Alleyways
Planning Technician Engebretsen explained why the property was divided by these alleys in the first place. That is was a direction that the early City Planners had for Homer; Homer did not evolve with alleyway property as Seward has done. She explained that normally the property involved in vacating where the City is involved is usually split fifty-fifty. In this, case the owners want one hundred (100%) percent. There was further discussion on the best solution or compromise.
MCGREENERY/GARAY – MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE CITY OF
HOMER THE EAST-WEST ALLEYWAY AND THAT THE NORTH-SOUTH ALLEYWAY BE VACATED BY
THE FETTERHOFFS.
There was no further discussion.
VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.
Motion carried.
C. Beach
Committee Report
Commissioner Bremicker commented that there was no further
information or comments to add. All information and issues were discussed
earlier. The Beach Committee tasks are complete. There will be no further
meetings.
D. City Hall
Town Plaza Review Committee Report
Commissioner McGreenery gave an update on the progress the
Committee has made and where the Committee was at on the action items requested
from them by City Council. She pointed out on a large map in Council Chambers
what areas are to be recommended to City Council. She reported a sampling of
amenities to be included in the Town Plaza. Of course, there is a disclaimer
that not all amenities may be included.
Commissioner Bremicker gave a detailed report on the site
selection process used and the reasons for the selections chosen for the New
City Hall and Town Plaza location.
INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS
A.
Labor of Love article from the June 2007 Parks & Rec
Magazine
B.
2007 Council Meeting Calendar
C.
Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission Annual Calendar
COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE
Larsen Klangel, a Homer resident, commented and voiced his concerns regarding Motorized Vehicles on the Beach. He believes it would be a nightmare to enforce, adding only more work and confusion to the Police Department. He does not drive himself and rarely walks the beach, when he does it is like open season. He would like to see a total ban of vehicles from the Beach. He understands that Mayor Hornaday wants to appease all groups. He strongly recommends that the Parks & Rec Commission support the no vehicles on beaches ordinance.
Beth Cummings, a Homer resident, wanted to deliver to the
Commissioners a summary of her proposal that Commissioner Tenhoff had requested
a copy of it. She wanted to thank the Commissioners for the emphasis on the
Karen Hornaday Park within the 2008 Budget and on the Capital Improvement Plan.
Since the commission has recommended removal of the fill materials she is not
sure her proposal would make any sense. Ms. Cummings believes that funding for
a trail should come from private sources. She also has recommended reviewing the
Master Plan for Karen Hornaday Park. She has proposed funding alternatives also
in her proposal. Ms. Cummings acknowledged the many tasks before the
Commissioners.
Commissioner Bremicker stated that it is not too late to
have more discussions since the Commission has put the park as a top priority.
He recommends that the Commissioners review Ms. Cummings proposals and put it
on for more discussion.
Commissioner Garay asked how Ms. Cummings came up with the
cost of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00) to remove fill materials. Ms
Cummings stated you had to start a discussion somewhere.
COMMENTS OF THE STAFF
Planning Technician Engebretsen stated when asking for money for projects you need to ask for it now. You can always modify the plan when needed. She can relate to Carey Meyer and Tammy Hagerty that the Commission still has a few concerns.
COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION
Commissioner McGreenery was not
aware of a Master Plan for the Karen Hornaday Park and wanted to know if their
decision can be revisited.
Commissioner Bremicker apologized
for is his approach on ending the commentary by Ms. Cummings but he felt the
diatribe had lasted a long time and it was getting late in the evening.
Commissioner Garay had no
comments.
Chair Stewart would like to add
review of the Karen Hornaday Master Plan to the agenda for August or September.
He would also like to add creation of a Woodard Creek Park Master Plan to the
agenda August. He would also like to perform a site visit as soon as possible.
Chair Stewart recommended keeping Karen Hornaday on the list as is and wait to
review the Master Plan.
Chair Stewart thanked everyone
for his or her assistance and work, it was another long and difficult meeting,
and there was a lot to go through.
There being no further business
to come before the Commission, Chair Stewart adjourned the meeting at 9:15
pm. The next Regular Meeting is scheduled for August 16, 2007 at 6:30 pm
in the City Hall Cowles Council Chamber located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer
Alaska.
Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I
Approved: