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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-09-12 Beautification SummaryKENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE September 12, 1995 *** 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers Chairperson Susan Hett ***AGENDA*** 1. ROLL CALL 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES al July 11, 1995 July 25, 1995 Work Session August 8, 1995 Work Session 4. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD 5. OLD BUSINESS 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Bulbs b. Winter Meeting Schedule c. Kenai Signs 7~ REPORTS a. Chairperson b. Parks & Rec c. Council 8. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS 9. ADJOURNMENT IF YOU CANNOT ATTEND PLEASE CONTACT MARILYN AT 283-7933 SO WE CAN ESTABLISH A QUORUM. KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE September 12, 1995 *** 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers Chairperson Susan Hett ***MINUTES*** (Approved) 1. ROLL CALL Members present' Susan Hett, Sylvia Johnson, Nina Selby, and Jeanene Benedict. Marilyn Dimmick arrived at approximately 5'35 p.m. Members absent: Barb Nord and Linda Overturf. Also present: Councilwoman Linda Swarner; Bob Frates, Parks and Rec; and, Marilyn Kebschull, Administrative Assistant. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Susan Hett asked to remove items b and c from Approval of Minutes. asked if anyone had any other changes or additions to the agenda. Susan Hett Agenda approved as read. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES July 11, 1995 Chairperson Hett asked if anyone had any changes or additions. Discussion as to why Council minutes included. Members agreed the informatiOn was appreciated and asked if Parks and Rec minutes could also be included. Also requested that Beautification minutes be included with the Parks and Rec packet. Marilyn Kebschull noted that requests would be accommodated. Minutes not formally approved. 4. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD 5. OLD BUSINESS 6. NEW BUSINESS a. Bulbs Kenai Beautification Committee September 12, 1995 Page 1 be Susan Hett stated the commission had talked about bulbs for Bob's flower bed and that Jeanene was to purchase bulbs. Open discussion involving bulbs for next year. Jeanene Benedict brought bulbs she had purchased for $53.00 to the meeting and shared information about the various types she had chosen. She stated some of them were expensive, as much as $7.00 per bag but that they were quality bulbs. In addition, she purchased bulb dust which is supposed to protect the bulbs from insects. Jeanene stated she had attempted to get a discount but instead had been given a free bag of bulbs. Members debated when to plant the bulbs. In addition, her daughter is sending some peony roots so need to decide where to plant them. Susan Hett asked if we need to get more bulbs and Bob Frates stated he felt there would be a need for additional bulbs. General consensus that it may be too wet to plant and that it may be best to wait a few weeks. Bob Frates wanted to know if they could be planted inside. Susan Hett stated it is necessary for bulbs to be chilled for several months. Marilyn Dimmick stated that there is a catalog selling baskets to plant bulbs in; however, she is not sure if they would be compatible with Alaska's climate. Ms. Dimmick also stated that there were inexpensive bulbs available at Fred Meyer now and that perhaps the committee should consider purchasing some of them to try. Susan Hett suggested this was a trial with the bulbs and that the committee should try various types and spread them around in a variety of beds and see what happens. Sylvia Johnson noted that she had just taken a class with Boyd Schaffer who says don't wait, just try it. Marilyn Dimmick moved that the committee spend a little money on inexpensive bulbs to see how they perform in comparison with the more expensive bulbs. Seconded by Sylvia Johnson. Passed unanimously. Committee proceeded with open discussion. Susan Hett said before planting someone should check with Merle Dean Feldman to see where she would recommend. Susan Hett asked if they recommended bone meal to be placed around the bulbs. Jeanene Benedict said they didn't mention bone meal and offered information about bulb dust. Nina Selby read bulb instructions. "Apply to give complete coverage when plants are about 6 inches high and repeat at 7 to 10 day intervals. Not for the bulbs but the plants." Linda Swarner wondered about the plants in the large circular pots. Discussion regarding when to remove the plants from those pots. Winter Meeting Schedule Susan Hett stated that two decisions needed to be made by the committee. First, whether or not to continue the meeting time at 5:30 p.m. and second, which months should they meet or not meet for the winter. Kenai Beautification Committee September 12, 1995 Page 2 O. Discussion on meeting time. Bob Frates stated 1 or 1:30 p.m. was more convenient for him but it is only once a month. Susan Hett stated she thought Linda Overturf was the only one who could not attend during the day. Nina Selby stated 5:30 p.m. was fine for her. Linda Swarner stated 5:30 better for council members. General consensus was that the 5:30 p.m. time should be continued. Susan Hett stated one more meeting should be held to determine goals and objectives for year and a review of the season or would the committee prefer to wait and do that in January. Ms. Hett suggested an informal Work session could be held next month. Bob Frates agreed with the idea to keep it informal and have a discussion instead of a meeting. Susan Hett stated the committee could hold an informal work session in October and hold no meetings in November or December. Marilyn Dimmick moved that the committee hold a work session in October and then adjourn until January. Motion seconded by Nina Selby. Motion passed unanimously. Susan Hett stated she would draft a letter to the Council requesting the committee's decision be approved. Bob Frates recommended that committee members have a list of their ideas before the next meeting. Susan Hett reminded the committee that they are an advisory board to Parks and Rec. and to keep that in mind when planning. Discussion followed regarding the committee's goals and objectives and role in the city. Jeanene Benedict stated that the Beautification Committee is just a committee of Parks and Rec. and not that we advise them but we have to ask them if we may or may not do certain things. Susan Hett stated the committee's focus has really changed as time has gone on. Not into developing but into maintaining and maybe we need to change our definition in the city. Susan stated she didn't know if that could be done. Nina Selby asked if the committee would know if they could do anything in old town when they meet in October. Susan Hett said they could discuss that during the October work session. Kenai Signs Bob Frates stated that Trinity used to grow the flowers for the City and since they haven't done it it has been difficult to find flowers to plant. He had spoken with the proprietor of the Sterling Greenhouse and that they were willing to place an order for and grow the plants for the Kenai Airport sign. Mr. Frates stated this was just a recommendation and that he didn't feel it would cost any more. Kenai Beautification Committee September 12, 1995 Page 3 Question asked by Jeanene Benedict if using the Sterling Greenhouse would be in place of the city greenhouse. Bob Frates stated it is his intention to grow some plants. Discussion regarding size of plants used in the sign. Nina Selby wanted to know if small plants were always used. Susan Hett stated that Merle Dean Feldman did have some medium sized plants but not enough. Bob Frates stated the committee should keep Merle Dean in mind for future plants. Nina Selby questioned if a motion was needed. Susan Hett advised that since the committee was holding a work session in October that they couldn't vote on it then. Jeanene Benedict stated she would probably place an order before October and Bob Frates said that would probably be fairly soon. Nina Selby moved that Bob Frates, Parks and Rec, look into cost of obtaining plants from the Sterling Greenhouse. Motion seconded by Jeanene Benedict. Discussion followed regarding the orange marigolds. Jeanene Benedict asked for description of the marigolds. Were they yellow or gold. Sylvia Johnson stated that they had turned to mush and wondered if it was just the orange colored plants. General consensus was that the summer weather had had an influence on the plants. Motion passed unanimously. Linda Swarner commented about the airport sign and wondered about planting something in the sign to cover the dirt. Bob Frates stated that access was needed to maintain the plants. General discussion was that it may be worthwhile to try planting some ground cover that wouldn't be harmed during maintenance. 7. REPORTS a. Chairperson Susan Hett reported to the committee that volunteers had spent 228 hours for planting. No accounting was kept for weeding. It is Ms. Hett's recommendation that next year volunteers be encouraged to keep track of all hours worked so that committee can show council total hours volunteered. Susan Hett reported that a small nursery has been started that the city plot with all kinds of perennials. She also reported that the volunteer reception was a success. The Beautification Awards were presented at the Chamber Meeting. Kenai Beautification Committee September 12, 1995 Page 4 Business people were not there, the Kipps and Ron Yamamoto. But, Peggy Arness did accept her award and she had tears in her eyes. Ms. Hett stated she had put letter in the newspaper to the editor thanking other individuals. Suggestion might be to develop new categories next year and our own judging. Jeanene Benedict felt that the way it was done was a good way to do it and one of the most successful ever. Susan Hett also stated that the Fire Department island is supposed to be dug up and will need to start all over again. Discussion as to why (too many weeds) and who is supposed to do work (Fire Department). Consensus that it was a bad year for weeds. Susan Hett asked Bob Frates if he had heard anymore about the project and he responded no. Susan stated that it could be done in the spring. At approximately 6:10 p.m. Marilyn Dimmick asked if any further business as she needed to leave. No further business noted, Ms. Dimmick left. Discussion continued on Fire Department plot. Bob Frates wanted to know what would be done with the flowers that were dug up. Susan Hett suggested that they be stored in the nursery or put off until spring. Jeanene Benedict said if plants are dug up in the spring it may interrupt the seeding process. b. Parks & Rec Bob Frates reported that it is the end of the season and they are winding down and working back inside. Mr. Frates extended a thank you to the Beautification Committee for a good job and planning. He stated that they are now busy planning for Christmas decorations, hauling in boxes. Plan for Street Department to hang the decorations. Sylvia Johnson asked about the three dead trees by the service station. Ms. Johnson stated they would look nice with lights on them. Bob Frates stated they were put there by a businessman in the strip mall and that they had died. Susan Hett asked Bob Frates what he felt had happened with the flower boxes this year. Discussion ensued about weather, no truck watering, fertilizer, and if lobelia were planted. Mr. Frates stated that the lobelia were planted; however, they hadn't done very well. Bob Frates stated he wanted to touch on the new greenhouse but saw that Linda Swarner had that information in her report. Jeanene Benedict asked Mr. Frates if it would be helpful to his department for committee members to prune and fertilize roses in the spring. Sylvia Johnson stated that Boyd Schaffer recommends to stake Kenai Beautification Committee September 12, 1995 Page 5