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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-11-21 Beautification SummaryKENAI BEAUTIFICATION November 21, 1989 - 1'30 P.M. Kenai City Hall Council Chambers Chairman Tim Wisniewski COMMITTEE AGENDA 1. ROLL CALL 2. PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD a. Councilman Measles, Councilwoman Monfor, Chairman Phil Bryson (Planning & Zoning Commission), Chairman Richard Hultberg (Parks & Recreation Commission), Mayor Williams 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA . APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF October 24, 1989 5. OLD BUSINESS a. Presentation by Gerry Sparks - New Banners Park Project Report Welcome to Kenai Sign on Sterling Highway 6. NEW BUSINESS , COMMITTEE COMMENTS & QUESTIONS 8. ADJOURNMENT KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 - 1:30 P.M. Kenai City Hall Council Chambers Chairman Tim Wisniewski 1. ROLL CALL · Present: McComsey, Selby, Sheldon, Sparks Also Present: Director McGillivray, Councilwoman Monfor, P&Z Chairman Bryson, P&R Chairman Hultberg, Mayor Williams As both the Chair and Vice Chair were not in attendance, the Committee elected Mrs. Sparks as Chairman Pro Tempore Absent- Wisniewski, Hakkinen, Jackson PERSONS PRESENT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD a. Councilman Measles, Councilwoman Monfor, Chairman Phil Bryson (Planning & Zoning Commission), Chairman Richard Hultberg (Parks & Recreation Commission), Ma~or Williams Councilwoman Monfor: I read your letter from the Mayor and what I perceive is that somewhere along the way there is a real lack of communication. All the things that have gone on at the meetings are not getting back to Council, only short reports are being given, -and that's part of the problem. Another part of the problem is that, this Committee is an arm of the Parks & Rec Commission so when it comes to money, I know that Beautification has a budget, but when it comes to money, the request comes directly to Council. Does it go through you first? (Indicating Director McGillivray). When it started it came through Parks & Rec and then when Mrs. Bailie became Council representative, a lot went directly from this Committee to Council. I think that's when it started and I think probably that's why it's continued to be that way. Councilwoman Monfor- And I think that's a part of the problem because Mrs. Bailie would come back with a much more detailed report than we've been getting. Personally, I don't have a problem with anything and the complaints that supposedly have come up I've never heard from anybody. With items like the banners that are pretty costly, those need to be discussed around budget time so we can put them into the budget. I really push banners, but I have a problem spending money that hasn't already been allocated to back into the General Fund because I think the Council has a tendency to do that too much and if you look at the end of our fiscal year and look at our original budgeted amount was for and then look at how much was taken out of the General Fund it becomes pretty scary because you lose control. KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 Page 2 The Mayor has gone so far as to say the money is there, but it's more of a procedural thing. Our budget usually starts around April or May and then runs until July. And I know it can be difficult following that order, but it works. This is only how I perceive it and that is from being on Council for 7 years. Committees and Commissions are brought by the Mayor and are appointed by the concurrence of the Council. Commissions have more clout than a committee does. The committees are usually an arm of a commission. I don't know how you work with Parks & Rec, if you have work sessions with them periodically or what. Chairman Pro Tempore Sparks stated that the group had never had a work session with Parks & Rec. Committee Member Sheldon that at the beginning the two groups did. Chairman Pro Tempore Sparks: A lot of times we don't have representation from Parks & Rec if Director McGillivray can't make it and we don't knoW if we have a representative from our group to go to Parks & Rec. We assumed it would be Director McGillivray. So we've been floating around on our own. Councilwoman Monfor: And that may be something you need to work out. It's difficult for Parks & Rec to come during the day. Director McGillivray- I know one time Parks & Rec asked for a representative from this committee to attend Parks & Rec Commission meetings and Tim indicated that he would and then he indicated that he couldn't. I know of one time that Parks & Rec did ask a representative from this group and they especially wanted it when something was being discussed that pertained to this group. Items like banners pretty muCh lies within this grouP"and Parks & Rec accepted that fact. Where the rub came in when this group started making recommendations on changes in parks and doing things in areas that they thought weren't necessarily of a beautification nature. Councilwoman Monfor: The two recommendations that I would make is first of all you need someone from this group attend a Parks & Rec meeting at least once a month. And that doesn't mean it has to be the same person every month. That you have a work session with Parks & Rec and you tell them what you've been doing and what your goals are so that they match with Parks & Rec. Then Parks & Rec and Planning & Zoning, and you all sit down together. You are in similar areas. Planning & Zoning has been working on a recreational zone plus Municipal Park should be something you all should be working on and there are problems with since we don't know if we own the property. There has been some discussion about how to develop Municipal Park now that there are some RV parks in town and I'm sure Director McGillivray has some ideas. Chairman Pro Tempore- I spoke to a person the other day about that if he thought it was competition and he answered no, that most of the people that camp in there he wouldn't want in his campgrounds. The kind of riff-raff in the Municipal Park he doesn't want. Director McGillivray- We've had some people like that in all the parks. Councilwoman Monfor- I'll say up front that some of the Council have been there for quite a while and we certainly aren't dissolving the Beautification Committee at all because if it weren't for you people the City wouldn't look as good as it does. Even though we tend to discuss KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 Page 3 streets and sewers more, and while they are important, but the first impression you get of any city is what it looks like when you approach it and the City of Kenai can't be beat. Chairman Pro Tempore- Looking at it this way, beautification is the only thing that Soldotna has followed Kenai in specifically. All the way. Councilwoman Monfor- Every one of us sitting up there have made a commitment to continue the beautification effort, not necessarily to expand it so that we ~can't maintain it, but to continue it so it doesn't go downhill. I sit on the Bicentennial Bureau too and its really important that for this year and the next year that the plans that are formulated, the City seems to be supportive that beautification has to be part of that. Whatever happens in this next year will be long term. Everything right now lies on whether we get the building. The grant has been through three stages and we are at the last stage. It will make a difference on what we do with the rest of the area. Director McGillivray- You mentioned budget, this posses a problem in that, as the director I'm told that we want no additions and this is what I come back to the Committee and Commission with. Councilwoman Monfor: As a Council person I realize that because I know how the City Manager is, he tells everybody the same thing, don't ask for another dime. I don't have a problem ever putting something like this into the budget. Committee Member McComsey- We were told this year that the budget was not to change. Councilwoman Monfor- And that's true, that comes from the City Manager and he is the manager but the Council is the final decision and if the Council wants to put it in there, they can do. that- Committee Member Sheldon: Well, that's right, and then we're told to go ahead because there's plenty of money for whatever we want. Chairman Pro Tempore Sparks- I think we need to go back and reorganize a little bit. I think we've gotten a little bit too straggly. I think this is good because big issues we dealt with Director McGillivray on and mostly because he's the mediator between the two and he could keep us in toe so we need to go back and if we have a money issue we can make sure he's here. Councilwoman Monfor: And you can tell the Council in advance that this will be coming to you in the future after discussions with the Parks & Rec. Even though department heads have told you not to put something in the budget, that's not realistic. We realize that there are needs and wants out there. To me, banners are a very important part of the Bicentennial and I've always felt that we need more than just going down the Spur Highway. It doesn't look finished. Committee Member Sheldon- Then the proper procedure is that we go through Director McGillivray to the Parks & Rec Commission. Councilwoman Monfor: You should. Chairman Pro Tempore Sparks: We have a problem with that. I've been scheduled to go before Council and it hasn't gone before Parks & Rec because their meeting is tomorrow. Councilwoman Monfor- Yes, you're on the agenda and don't ask for the money yet. Most of those people up there don't know. They only know from reading the minutes and the banners won't come as a shock because we've talked about them before. This way they will know the costs. It's not your fault the meetings got changed around. KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 Page 4 Director McGillivray- There's always a possibility and it has happened that Council has referred something back to Parks & Rec before making a decision. Chairman Pro Tempore Sparks- We've always stayed within our budget, I guess that's why we felt we didn't need to go to Parks & Rec. Mrs. Bailie- Beautification is a separate budget. Director McGillivray- Well, they're separate, but they all come under Parks & Rec. Mrs. Bailie: But beautification made out their own budget and you didn't have to worry about that. The Mayor's letter, I felt he gave the inference that this group needed to have Parks & Rec look at everything you did. And I don't think Parks & Rec really wants to be that involved in beautification. Director McGillivray- I don't think that really entered into everything because the minutes of Beautification go to Parks & Rec every time they have a meeting. Perhaps its just a matter of context or if something new came up to have someone there to explain. As far as budgets, they still come under Parks & Rec. All three are under Parks & Rec. Councilwoman Monfor: Does Beautification have goals and objectives. Answer yes. They had not been updated for a year or two. Councilwoman Monfor: And has Park & Rec seen these? Answer yes. Committee Member Sheldon: We have mentioned Municipal Park and Lawton Strip many times over the last two years. Councilwoman Monfor: I don't see the big problem with Lawton Strip. Committee Member McComsey- At first people were calling and asking what the City was doing over there and Bill Mussen said that after it was done the residents liked it. Director McGillivray- The big concern of the people over there is that it was going to go 'at~i the way through which would open the area and they wanted to retain the buffer for noise. Councilwoman Monfor: I guess once it was explained in the press that that was all that was going to be done they were happy. Committee Member Sheldon: We are leaving it as it is now, is that correct. Mrs. Bailie- You spoke about liaison going between this group and Parks & Rec. That may not always be possible because you obviously have reasons for holding your meetings during the day and Parks & Rec have their meeting during the evening since they work during the day. The logical solution to this would be having Director McGillivray or Bill Mussen attend both meetings. It makes a lot more sense when you have a member of administration attend these meetings because if you get off track they can bring you back, plus it makes it easier to explain whatever your project is. I can remember my very last decision as a member of Parks & Rec. We decided to go with wood siding on the gym instead of aluminum and Council had a fit. They thought we were cutting corners and playing favorites, all kinds of things. That is why someone who can go to both is ideal. Committee Member McComsey- What exactly is Councilwoman Swarner supposed to do. It appears that she doesn't take our part back to Council. Chairman Hultberg: I think the way Mrs. Bailie explained it is right, the liaison from Council has acted as just that. When it has been brought up from the minutes they relay to the Council exactly what has happened. I know when Art was with us and on Council, he would interpret to the rest of the Council members what we want and I would assume that would be Linda's roll also. Councilwoman Monfor- And if they feel real strongly about a project you are doing they can lobby the other Council members to KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 Page 5 support that project. As a Council person for the Library Commission, I go back and tell Council what is happening from their standpoint. They have to know they are not the only entity within the City of Kenai. It is an overall picture. As Mr. Hultberg says, when it comes time for the commission or committee report, you can sit there and say the minutes are in the packet and by the way if you look at item so and so you can relay what it was about. I always read the minutes, but you want to know what really happened. Director McGillivray- I think someone from this group attending a Parks & Rec meeting or vise versa is good because if there is a project that the Committee is strong for, it would be to their advantage to be at a Parks & Rec Commission meeting to sell that project. And then they in turn can make recommendations to Council. Chairman Hultberg- If it's a big project, Mrs. Sparks can get a hold of me or Director McGillivray and we'll get together. Councilwoman Monfor- I feel bad because you people are volunteers and you're giving of your time because you like the town you live in and want to make it better. Committee Member Sheldon- Personally, I like direction and a project. I like Mayor Williams' letter. We are to work on a sign and we spend our energies on a sign, we were given that assignment and we know specifically what to do. If we go through Parks & Rec with goals and objectives and they tell us these are things we'd like you to do, that would be great. Then we don't waste time like we did a couple years ago when we first started a sign project. Director McGillivray- I just want the group to know that the Mayor doesn't alWays--get his projects through either. Director McGillivray- I think what got the discussion going was the motion to request Mr. Kluge do a design for the Municipal Park. Mrs. Bailie- I agree. This summer we all took a tour over to Soldotna to visit a park that had been designed by Mr. Kluge and were impressed. Bill Mussen was with us and we discussed how to go about this. He informed us that the City wasn't charging for Municipal Park camping primarily because the facilities aren't up to snuff. If you're not even charging, with the Bicentennial coming up, and with other RV and camping facilities within the community, why not close it to camping so the people of Kenai can get in and enjoy that park along with visitors. We heard that Soldotna, with the assistance of Mr. Kluge had done their park with a grant and the City came up with $50,000 to $100,000. It is a real credit to Soldotna. We mentioned it to Linda and asked her about finding out about that property. Committee Member McComsey- We asked her first what Council was doing regarding the land. Mrs. Bailie- Linda's comment was for you to go and talk to them, I already mentioned it to Council and they won't listen to me. Chairman Hultberg- I wish someone from Beautification had come before Parks & Rec and told us about this Soldotna park. Mrs. Bailie- This is the case, I think in a situation like this Bill should be communicating with Kayo, which we assumed. Committee Member McComsey- Somebody needs to communicate with somebody. Mrs. Bailie- This is where administration has a responsibility to any group that is formed for the City. We are all volunteers and don't have the expertise and shouldn't be taking it upon KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 Page 6 ourselves. Director McGillivray- I was aware of the trip over and everyone liked the idea of that park, but I wasn't aware that this group wanted to start thinking in terms of designing a park of that type. Mrs. Bailie- We talked with Bill about it that day. He was the one that gave us all the information. Chairman Hultberg: Did it come before the group in the form of minutes and everything or was it informal. Mrs. Bailie- The trip was informal but it has been discussed at a couple of meetings. Chairman Hultberg- Going back farther than that, I can remember when Jerry Hanson wanted something done with Lawton and he had a petition he brought before Parks & Rec with 50 to 60 names on it requesting a park or something done with that area. We looked at figures, rights-of-way, and money at that time and it was the feeling of the Commission that the philosophy is that are we going to have a lot of little parks around and try to maintain them. You know we keep having more parks and can't hire new people to take care of them, sooner or later we're in trouble. Committee Member Sheldon- I think we were told that, so then we went back to the Municipal Park because it was ideal with the view and the swings. Chairman Hultberg- I think its a good idea and I think we need to work together. Mrs. Bailie- You speak of smaller parks, Soldotna and Anchorage have taken on the neighborhood park situation by letting the adjacent property owners take care of them. Living over in that area I see so much. One Sunday I counted 18 cars with kids sledding and having fun, its nothing to see tourists down there watching the fleet coming in. It has so much potential. Right now people are afraid of it. ~We'Ve had things stolen from our house. Chairman Hultberg: I agree. It's not uncommon during the summer time to hear chain saws going. It can be a great spot and we should look at developing something. Committee Member McComsey: Is this City land now? Answer no. Director McGillivray- You know this thing has been ongoing since 1979 when I came. Up until the last year or two there has never been any other camping facilities in the City. Council took the stand that there would be camping there. As far as charging, we never did because there were no facilities and trying to control to entrances it would be difficult. Now with the camping areas possibly this is the time to look at it. Chairman Pro Tempore Sparks: I was able to get the blueprints from Mr. Kluge of the park in Soldotna but I didn't bring them with me, however, a rough estimate is $200,000. The Committee discussed whether that was for everything or just the plan. Mrs. Bailie felt it was for everything because the Soldotna park was $120,000 for over 2 acres. Kenai has 13 acres. Mayor Williams: There is one thing you should be aware of, over a year ago I asked Mr. Bryson to do a preliminary design on a recovery program for the lower portion of Municipal Park including a salmon stream dam and walkway, some ski trails over the bluff, etc. I was going to combine Land & Water Resource grant money with JTPA funds and use the Summer Youth Employment people to help build trails. However, that is a long term thing and will require permits. I wasn't looking at anything at the top, only the bluff and stream areas. Perhaps you want to look further into this. KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 Page 7 Director McGillivray- When I first came we talked about putting that dam back in because it had washed out and in talking with the federal people they told me it was illegal and shouldn't have been there in the first place. Mrs. Bailie- We are targeting the bicentennial and probably it will be the biggest celebration in our lifetime. If anything could be done, it should be done this next summer because of the vegetation growth. Committee Member McComsey- Could we start at the top of the bluff and work with Parks & Rec in order to get something rolling? Answer, we'll set a work session. Mayor Williams- It appears that the biggest concern is the budget. The City will be spending some of the general fund next year for specific projects for the bicentennial so we need to get a handle on how much we need to spend. Committee Member Sheldon- Are there monies set aside for items to make the visitor more comfortable such as outdoor bathrooms, payphones, and extra facilities. Mayor Williams- We eXPect to appropriate a couple hundred thousand for a 50/50 matching grant for the boating facility. This is a part of an over all plan. We've got the boat ramp, motor home parks, perhaps the visitors center, the viewing area, and the senior center. We need the visitors center because if it goes, Mr. D's will expand. We're planning a viewing area on the bluff near the Senior Center with a gazebo and picnic tables. That should b~.~-about $1 million. If things were such that we could get into an urban renewal project in Old Towne, I would prefer that we do a condemnation, clean up Old Towne, and take over some property for for clean up. Director McGillivray' Some of the discussion here has been communications between groups and you mentioned some things just now that neither group has ever heard of. Is there a chance of getting that information to these groups. I think some of the things you mentioned, because we are going to be involved from the maintenance standpoint if nothing else, we need to know. Mayor Williams- Most of th,is is just ideas and a considerable distance off with even the best of permitting procedures. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Agenda approved as submitted. · APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF October 24, 1989 Minutes were approved as submitted. 5. OLD BUSINESS a, Presentation b~ Gerr~ S~arks - New Banners Mrs. Sparks reported on a meeting with the banner committee. The recommendation is to go with triangle shaped banners, smaller than the present banners, and all one design to get away from the cluttered effect. KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 Page 8 The designs are mostly red, white, and blue and very bicentennial or all- American looking. For Willow Street with a banner on every pole, we need 34 banners on 17 poles or $65/pole or $1,105 total including hardware, a triangle shape, and are from American Decorating Company. For the Spur Highway- Kalamazoo Banner Works- from Airport Way to Forest Drive has 56 poles. At $43 per banner and two banners per pole, are rectangular in shape and total $4,816. For Airport Way- American Decorating Company, a different shape with a point on one side, a single banner per pole with 12 poles at $65 each or $780. The existing banners would go into Old Towne with the flowers being used as a double banner. The church banner could be hung close by the Russian Orthodox Church. The brackets now in use would need to be transferred to Old Towne. The total cost of the banners is approximately $7,000. For the Airport Triangle Park- At the inside point of the triangle, we suggest putting up three flag poles for three different flags, the national, state, and city flag. Since we have a logo we could get a flag done with the logo. One of these banner companies specializes in flags. The total for the three flags comes to $3,200 i~ctuding the poles. These flags are plainly visible from the airport and Airport Way plus from Willow Street. Mayor Williams- I'm wondering if it wouldn't be better to appropriate that money as part of the Bicentennial package and let them handle the purchase of the banners and let them prevail upon the service clubs. I don't know how the mechanics of the two groups would work but its not so much the cost of the banners but the cost of putting them up and taking them down. Director McGillivra¥ mentioned that the cost of that alone is roughly $1,000 not including any repairs while they are up. Mrs. Bailie mentioned earlier efforts to obtain a used bucket truck. Committee Member McComse¥ answered that she had looked into one and it was $42,000. It certainly could be used. The number of banners we're looking at is 158 on 85 poles. That would certainly raise the $1,000 figure. The Committee discussed requesting the money for a bucket truck in the last capital improvements or revenue sharing period. The Committee decided that the Mayor could ride in the bucket truck for the next July 4th parade. b, Park Project Report This will be on hold pending a work session with Parks & Rec Commission. KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 Page 9 C. Welcome to Kenai Sign on Sterling Highway Committee Member McComsey mentioned a sign approaching Kenai from both the north and south. Mayor Williams informed the Committee that the Bicentennial group are looking into signage also and Mr. Braun should meet with the Committee to exchange information on some locations already chosen by them. That may be the biggest step, to find the location and getting it firm for a long time period. Mrs. Bailie stated that he has located three signs thus far, one is free, one is a trade-off and the third will cost $300 per year. Mayor Williams stated that one of the nicest additions to Kenai is the new sign at the dustbowl. Chairman Pro Tempore Sparks- The last thing we did regarding the sign was ask that Linda or someone was to draft a letter to the state about land available. Mayor Williams answered that we need to identify the location first. Committee Member Selby stated that we discussed one on the Sterling Highway and one near Kasilof plus one on K-Beach facing towards Homer. Mayor Williams went on to suggest some possibilities such as size, color, and price. The other way would be to get an idea of a package price first. It was agreed that since the Bicentennial group has been looking into this already, they can proceed. Mayor Williams cautioned the groups that the deadline for inclusion into the budget is February 15th. . NEW BUSINESS Mrs. Bailie- The Bicentennial and Visitors Bureaul has a meeting December 4th and any ideas you want to present or if you would like to attend you are welcome. Committee Members are reminded that the deadline for adding budget items is February 15th. That is the date the budget needs to be to the Finance Director. 7. COMMITTEE COMMENTS & QUESTIONS Set Date for Work Session The Committee discussed various dates and times with those present. The Parks & Rec Commission will get back with the Committee. b. Historical Markers Chairman Pro Tempore Sparks indicated a need for historical markers on Russian Church property. The Committee agreed that it was private property and Mayor Williams suggested that it could be a part of the Bicentennial budget. Bicentennial is deeply involved in these things and we're funding them with a major funding source and we will continue to fund them through the coming years and those are the responsibilities that they need to take on. KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE November 21, 1989 Page 10 8. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for Januar~ 9, 1990. Janet A. Loper Secretary to the Committee