Session 10-01, a Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission was called to order by Chair Bremicker at 6:35 p.m. on May 20, 2010 at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

PRESENT: BREMICKER, DICKERSON, HARRALD, GARVEY

STAFF: PLANNING TECHNICIAN ENGEBRETSEN

COMMUNITY RECREATION COORDINATOR ILLG

PARKS MAINTENANCE COORDINATOR OTTESON

DEPUTY CITY CLERK JACOBSEN

APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA

DICKERSON/HARRALD MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING ITEMS ON THE AGENDA

There were no public comments.

RECONSIDERATION

There were no items scheduled for reconsideration.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

A. Meeting Minutes for Regular Meeting on September 17, 2009

HARRALD/GARVEY MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES.

The minutes were approved by consensus of the Commission.

VISITORS

There were no visitors scheduled.

STAFF AND COUNCIL REPORTS/COMMITTEE REPORTS/BOROUGH REPORTS

Community Recreation Coordinator Illg welcomed Commissioner Garvey to the group, and made the following comments:

· Community Schools has been renamed to Community Recreation as this title more appropriately fits the service to the community. There are no certifications or credits for classes offered.

· This summer he will be working with Parks Maintenance. Some duties will include field scheduling, fine tuning MOU’s with user groups, and hands on projects as well.

· Some funds have been allocated, and pending the Governor’s review, for community recreation to go towards Hornaday Park improvements.

· There are stimulus funds for work at Jack Gist Park.

· Input from the Commission and public at large is needed to determine what things to provide.

· Develop a recreational needs assessment for the community then with that information pursue a Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

· The Alaska Recreation and Parks Association Annual Conference will be held in Seward September 23-25. It touches on all areas of Parks and Recreations and is attended by Commissioners from other areas in Alaska. It is a good networking and training opportunity.

· 2 of the 3 fields at Jack Gist park are being played on this year. They have some volunteers to roll the fields once the equipment is out there.

There was discussion of the needs assessment and the Commission expressed its agreement that it is an important first step to an over all master plan. Planning Technician Engebretsen said she would work with Mr. Illg and Ms. Otteson and bring information to the next meeting.

Planning Technician Engebretsen commented that in the past the Commission has done a spring and fall park walk through and also park day.

Discussion ensued and the Commission agreed to schedule a park walk through at 5 p.m. June 17, prior to their regular meeting. Regarding park day there had been previous discussion of have a park clean up rather than food and games, noting that food is definitely an incentive to attend. It was requested that it be added as an agenda item for discussion at the next meeting.

Other items for the June agenda will include the Spit Comprehensive Plan, and elections for Chair and Vice Chair.

PUBLIC HEARINGS

No public hearings were scheduled.

PENDING BUSINESS

No pending business was scheduled.

NEW BUSINESS

No new business items were scheduled.

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

A. Council Meeting Schedule

B. PR Annual Calendar

C. Current Strategic Plan

D. Current Commission Bylaws

E. Current Homer City Code

F. Letter dated May 11, 2010 from Mayor Hornaday Re: Appointment of Elias Garvey

The Council meeting schedule was discussed briefly.

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

Tom Kizzia from the Homer Soccer Association commented to the Commission regarding the association’s field needs and challenges. He explained that they have about 150 kids for the summer soccer program but are limited to the school fields. Because of Borough maintenance scheduling they are limited to one field at a time, and it has to be shared with the adult pick up soccer, women’s soccer, recreational and 4 competitive teams, and also ultimate Frisbee. Last year they tried to schedule friendly games with Kenai but could never schedule an evening because the one field available was always in use. More attention needs to be focused on development of the recreational infrastructure and get a little more tuned in. He explained that the City of Kenai has opened a nice 4 field soccer complex on the North Road, and Anchorage hosts most of the tournaments on City fields. Mr. Kizzia said that he has heard some comments about turf on the High School football field which could open it up for other user groups like soccer. That is the biggest dream.

There was brief discussion about the possibility other locations but point was raised that there really isn’t one right now. There really isn’t a short term solution other than gaining more access to the school fields, which the Soccer Association is going to continue to work toward.

Mike Illg, city resident, commented that he recalled at the Hornaday Park Plan meetings there was talk about a soccer field, and mentioned in the plan as well. He said Jack Wiles, retired park planner, helped with the park plan and thinks Mr. Wiles would be interested in participating in a sub committee. Mr. Illg said he would like to envision down the road with the parks and rec infrastructure an artificial turf field through a joint funding effort with the City, Borough, School District, and even the College. It could be played on 10 out of the 12 months of the year, with a 20 to 30 year shelf life, and minimal maintenance.

There was further discussion of the current situation with the fields.

Parks Maintenance Coordinator Otteson commented that she is looking forward to working with the Commission and doing the park walk through. There are a lot of great parks and trails, and we could use a lot more, so the Commission seats need to get filled and the public needs to make comment so we can get the ball rolling. She reported that she has 7 seasonal workers and they are busy getting restrooms opened, parks cleaned up, the campgrounds have opened up. She said it is working out great having Mike on board.

COMMENTS OF STAFF MEMBERS

Planning Technician Engebretsen commented about funding that may be coming to the City for Parks and Recreation and hopes to have more information when they meet again.

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION

Commissioner Harrald commented that this week is bike to work week and she hopes that someday when we have a Parks and Recreation Division it can be adopted as a City sponsored event. She said there is a Homer Bike Club forming and the first meeting is Friday.

Commissioner Garvey commented that it was a good meeting and he is glad to be here.

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

Chair Bremicker commented that he would like to participate in bike to work week but he is working up East Hill and doesn’t want to bike up the hill with all his tools. It does make him think about if there was a way to store bikes in town. Maybe it is something that could tie in to the master plan.

ADJOURN

There being no further business to come before the Commission the meeting adjourned at 7:34 p.m. The next regular meeting is Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers. There will be a park walk through prior to the meeting at 5:00 p.m.

MELISSA JACOBSEN, CMC, DEPUTY CITY CLERK

Approved: