PARKS AND RECREATION ADVISORY COMMISSION UNAPPROVED

REGULAR MEETING

SEPTEMBER 17, 2009

Session 09-03 a Regular Meeting of the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission was called to order at 6:35 p.m. on September 17, 2009 by Chair Bumppo Bremicker at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers located at 491 E. Pioneer Avenue, Homer, Alaska.

PRESENT: COMMISSIONER BREMICKER, GARAY, DICKERSON, HARRALD, AND KIRSIS

ABSENT: COMMISSIONERS STEWART AND GUNTHER

STAFF: PLANNING TECHNICIAN ENGEBRETSEN

DEPUTY CITY CLERK KRAUSE

AGENDA APPROVAL

The agenda was approved by consensus of the Commission.

MINUTES APPROVAL

A. Meeting Minutes for June 18, 2009.

GARAY/HARRALD – MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS WRITTEN.

There was no further discussion.

VOTE. YES. NON-OBJECTION. UNANIMOUS CONSENT.

Motion carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT ON MATTERS ALREADY ON THE AGENDA

None.

VISITORS

None.

STAFF REPORT/COMMITTEE REPORT

A. Staff Report for September 2009

Planning Technician addressed two topics.

1. City Council proposed revising the meeting schedules for the commissions to every other month. This commission had already discussed and submitted a proposed ordinance reducing the meetings to eight per year. The Council proposed six meetings per year but requested feedback from the Commissions.

2. The travel plans over the winter season of the commissioners.

There was a brief discussion about reducing the scheduled meetings and the affect to the budget it would have; attendance requirements; it was noted that a Commissioner not attending three meetings in a row without notification can be voted off the commission.

Commissioner Kirsis mentioned that Commissioner Gunther would not be in attendance for the next several meetings as he was going out of state. It was noted by the Commissioners present and Planning Technician Engebretsen commented it was not reported to them.

There was no further discussion.

B. Jack Gist Master Plan Committee

There was no discussion.

PUBLIC HEARING

There were no public hearings.

PENDING BUSINESS

A. Park Walk Through Reports

Commissioner Garay visited the following parks:

Pier One RV Park –

- There are no hook-ups.

- Tables available for every other spot.

- Very clean, and in good shape.

- Logs are much deteriorated.

- Many garbage cans.

Mariner Park

- Very few tables, one for every four spots.

- Clean

- Bathrooms

- Many garbage cans available.

Seafarers Memorial

- Very clean, well kept.

- Popular spot, there were lots of eating lunch.

- Garbage cans.

- Only one table available.

Commissioner Bumppo visited the following:

Millers Landing – near Redden Marine Supply

- Trail not difficult

- Not ADA accessible

- Impression of Private Access could use signage designating it as Public Access.

- Good rest area when a bike path is installed along Kachemak Drive.

- Rocks allow natural steps to beach.

Homer Public Library –

- Gardens are just gorgeous. They have done wonders and just beautiful.

Comments were made that it is known by special interest such as birders and it would be nice to have signage indicating it as a public access. It is not common knowledge. The City has available information on all the local trails, parks and local beach accesses.

Commissioner Dickerson reported on the following:

Crittenden Access –

- Clear-cut of shrubbery.

- Very well used.

- Would be nice in the future to develop a stairway for access.

Reber Trail –

- Great comments received.

- Complaints on the steepness of the trail at the end.

- Highly used by walkers and runners alike.

- Horse traffic is tearing up the trail.

- Trail was not built to accommodate horse traffic and they should not use the trail.

Baycrest Hill –

- Well taken care of this year.

- Lots of work done on the gardens.

Commissioner Kirsis commented on Karen Hornaday Park:

- Telephone Pole in parking lot that presents a hazard to drivers parking in lot.

Chair Bremicker asked if a recommendation to Public Works to remove this pole.

Planning Technician Engebretsen stated that these comments would be forwarded to council.

There was no more discussion.

NEW BUSINESS

A. Annual Elections

Discussion on having the elections for the vacant vice chair position and chair is normally conducted in October but it was commented that the commission may not have a meeting in October and they currently do not have a vice chair.

Further discussion covered the membership and attendance status of Commissioner Stewart and Gunther. General discussion over the responsibility of the Commissioners to resign from the commission was likened to taking a class and if you could not attend the class, you dropped it.

The discussion evolved to the possibility of not having a quorum on a month then having to wait an additional two months before making a decision it. That does not serve any purpose and causes more problems. Chair Bremicker acknowledged that point.

Further discussion or elections were postponed at this time pending City Council decisions on the meeting schedule.

B. Capital Improvement Projects 2010

a. Project Nomination Form – Use this to assist in deciding

which projects to recommend.

Planning Technician Engebretsen explained the process for the benefit of the new commissioners present. Each Commissioner was to recommend their top five or six projects and then the top five projects form those recommended would be submitted to City Council.

A brief discussion ensued on the projects that have been funded for construction and that the city has not funded any capital projects for 2010 budget. Some of these projects are State projects but the city shows support to have these State projects completed. It was noted that without a show of support from the City the likelihood of these projects being completed is very limited.

Commissioner Harrald recommended:

- Karen Hornaday Park Improvements

- Jack Gist Park Improvements Phase I

- Downtown Restrooms

- Kachemak Drive Rehabilitation and Pathway

-

Commissioner Garay recommended:

- Karen Hornaday Park Improvements

- Jack Gist Park Improvements Phase I

- Kachemak Drive Rehabilitation and Pathway

- Downtown Restrooms

- Fishing Lagoon Improvements

Commissioner Bremicker recommended:

- Karen Hornaday Park Improvements

- Jack Gist Park Improvements Phase I

- Kachemak Drive Rehabilitation and Pathway

- Fishing Lagoon Improvements – Dredging and Rip Rap

- Beluga Slough Trail Reconstruction

Commissioner Kirsis recommended:

- Karen Hornaday Park Improvements

- Jack Gist Park Improvements Phase I

- Downtown Restrooms

- Kachemak Drive Rehabilitation and Pathways

Discussion was entertained regarding the projects that should be included on this wish list be projects that will be built.

Commissioner Dickerson recommended:

- Karen Hornaday Park Improvements

- East Boat Harbor

- Kachemak Drive Rehabilitation and Pathway

- Downtown Restrooms

- Jack Gist Park Improvements Phase I

The top five projects selected were in priority order:

- 1. Kachemak Drive Rehabilitation and Pathway

- 2. Jack Gist Park Improvements Phase I

- 3. Karen Hornaday Park Improvements

- 4. Downtown Restrooms

- 5. Fishing Lagoon

The five projects were approved by consensus of the Commission.

A. Budget Requests for 2010

The period to address this topic was during the July and August meeting.

There was no further discussion.

INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS

A. Council Meeting Schedule

a. Please review and a volunteer is needed for September.

The Commissioners reviewed the remaining scheduled meetings compared to the City Council Meetings. Chair Bremicker will speak at the next meeting. He will mention the Commissions recommendations with the Karen Hornaday Park, Jack Gist, and Kachemak Drive getting five votes each. He will comment on the two new members but that they are looking for more.

Commissioner Dickerson mentioned that a new representative was needed for the November meetings.

It was agreed that Commissioner Kirsis will do December and Commissioner Dickerson will attend the November Council meeting.

B. PR Annual Calendar

The Commission held a brief discussion on obtaining new members and conducting the elections at the November meeting.

C. Parks and Recreation 2008-2009 Strategic Plan

Chair Bremicker requested the Strategic Plan be on the next agenda for discussion and review.

There was no further discussion.

COMMENTS OF THE AUDIENCE

None.

COMMENTS OF THE STAFF

Planning Technician Engebretsen thanked Teena Garay for her service.

Deputy City Clerk had no comments.

COMMENTS OF THE COMMISSION

Commissioner Garay commented it was a pleasure and after seven years, it was time to move on. She hoped the Commission would be able to recruit the members needed to continue and stated that parks and trails were equally important. She believes it is a great purpose and cause. She hopes they can find the money.

Commissioner Dickerson commented on a resolution going through the Borough regarding an area near the Lookout ski trail that the area be subdivided into residential, the ski club and other individuals are encouraging the Borough it should be kept as recreational.

Commissioner Kirsis commented that someone did an awesome job lining up the chairs. He asked if the Skate Board Park would be closed along with the building.

Planning Technician Engebretsen stated it is a separate park so should remain open.

Commissioner Harrald did not have any comments.

COMMENTS OF THE CHAIR

Chair Bremicker welcomed the new commissioners. He thanked Commissioner Garay for her service on the Commission. They will keep plugging away. The budget is tight, but they need to keep pushing for parks and recreation; there are many big issues - the Community Schools, and Boys and Girls Club are big recreational outlets, and do a lot to promote the No Kids left Inside Program. Great Idea. Promotes recreation.

ADJOURN

Due to the installation of the new generator for City Hall the power was turned off and the Commission meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for November 19, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. and will be at the City Hall Cowles Council Chambers, Homer, Alaska.

Renee Krause, Deputy City Clerk I

Approved: