The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1995-10-10 Beautification Summary - Work SessionKENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE October 10, 1995 *** 5'30 p.m. Council Chambers Chairperson Susan Hett ***WORK SESSION*** TOPICS: . 2. 3. 4. Review of 1995 Season Goals & Objectives for 1996 Season Theme for 1996 Season Leif Hansen Memorial Park Policies & Procedures C: \I4PDOCS\BEAUTY\I4RKSES10.10 MEMORANDUM TO' THROUGH: THROUGH: THROUGH: FROM: DATE: SUBJECT: FOR: Kenai City Council Carol L. Freas, City Clerk Dan Morris, Acting City Manager~TC¢~ Keith Kornelis, Public Works Director~ Marilyn Kebschull, Administrative Assistant Planning~[~ September 13, 1995 BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION MEETINGS FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER City Council Meeting of September 20, 1995 At the Beautification Commission's meeting September 12, 1995 the members voted to hold a work session in lieu of their regularly scheduled meeting on October 10, 1995. In addition, they voted to not hold meetings in November and December and to resume meeting again in January 1995. The Beautification Commission seeks your approval for this schedule change. ~PPROVED BY COU~JCIL DATE C~~' ~. ~;~"-'< C:\WPDOCS\BEAUTY\SCHED.MEM KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE October 10, 1995 *** 5:30 p.m. Council Chambers Chairperson Susan Hett ***WORK SESSION MINUTES*** MEMBERS PRESENT: MEMBERS ABSENT: OTHERS PRESENT: Sue Hett, Linda Overturf, Sylvia Johnson, Barb Nord, and Council Person Linda Swarner Nina Selby, Marilyn Dimmick, Jeannene Benedict Bob Frates of City of Kenai Parks & Recreation Department; Marilyn Kebschull, Administrative Assistant WORK SESSION DISCUSSION: Leif Hansen Memorial Park Policies & Procedures: General discussion on Leif Hansen Memorial Park policies and procedures. Comments included' Determine on a case-by-case basis. A shame not to welcome people. Memorial parks can also be used for a celebration of life. The tree damage is more a result of moose and chipping may be caused by mowers. Suggestion to allow use but encourage larger groups to use the facilities which can better accommodate them. Group consensus as recommendation to Parks and Recreation Commission was: Recommend that the city continue to allow groups to use Leif Hansen Memorial Park but recommend that larger groups use other park facilities which are better able to accommodate them. In addition, tents and other items should be set up away from the memorial plaques, shrubs, etc. Review of 1995 Season: Review of goals and objectives from 1995. These included' Banners and signage fro Old Town area; flower beds and boxes in Old Town; information kiosk with hanging planters for Old Town; participation in beautification awards with the Chamber; Clarion and Dispatch articles regarding "Citizens for a Beautiful Kenai" theme; leanto structure for early plant protection; task force for volunteer organizations; develop city owned gulch areas for parks, green strips, or walking trails; utilize Dobenspeck properties for recreation purposes; continue developing volunteer pool; and improve park frontages. Chairperson Hett stated that as time had passed the group had realized that some goals were not really in their area of expertise. In the future, plan for projects that the group is able to accomplish, Beautification Committee Work Session Minutes October 10, 1995 Page 1 Review of accomplishments for 1995' Volunteer orientation; 220 hours of planting by volunteers using specified days and times; volunteer appreciation garden tour; greenhouse purchase; nursery started; Chamber awards; Arbor Day tree planting; changed meeting times; planted all bulbs from Lynden; and planted fall bulbs. Objective for next year to have each volunteer track time spent so a full accounting of volunteer time can be kept. Remove signs for Old Town from objectives as the project has been taken over by Rotary and Historic District Board. Suggestion for next year to prioritize goals and objectives. Goals & Objectives for 1996 Season' Chairperson Hett suggested that the group brainstorm and in January bring ideas back to the table to prioritize, define, and assign goals. Linda Overturf asked if the greenhouse be included in goals such as planting seedlings? Chairperson Hett listed her ideas: Garden tour pamphlet; library gardens; volunteer program (tracking hours); development greenhouse/education for greenhouse use including sending Bob Frates to Anchorage to meet with Anchorage greenhouse employees to learn from them; and possibly redefinition of the committee to perhaps changing to a gardening committee or club as opposed to an advisory to Parks & Rec which is more in line with what the group does now. Discussion on the feasibility of this change in focus. Unsure if the council would support the idea. Change would make it possible for persons outside of the city to participate in group. Group discussion about what change may mean. Bob Frates stated he felt it may be possible to have both the Beautification Committee and a Garden Club. The club would allow volunteers who did not want to participate in the meeting process. Stated as a representative of Parks and Rec that the Beautification Committee very important in providing direction and an added voice to the council. In addition, Bob feels the Beautification Committee had a direct impact on the council funding the greenhouse. Group could sponsor gardening meetings for those who are interested in learning more. General discussion about possibility of having someone write down list of all the plants and make that information available to the public. Suggestion that someone may be available during activities in the parks to answer questions. Chairperson Hett stated that it may be as simple as redefining the Beautification Committee's mission statement in city code. Group stated they were unsure how they were even defined. Request a copy of code be provided to the group in their January packets. Bob Frates listed his ideas for next year. These were: Documenting volunteer hours; flower garden brochures; Fire Department flower bed; face lift of the airport sign (plant grass around sign); residential garden tour (Two ways to accomplish. One being a moving sign which would travel to people's houses who wanted to participate. Or, a stationery sign with a map and list of gardens people could tour.); more continuity with the selection of flowers for boxes; and, the flower garden at the municipal park past the Armory needs to be addressed. Beautification Committee Work Session Minutes October 10, 1995 Page 2 General discussion on greenhouse. Bob Frates stated it was 24 X 36 feet, with heat and water. It should be completed in approximately 3 weeks. This year the plan is to start with plugs on a trial basis. Bob stated he hoped to have a five year plan and in five years do what Anchorage does which is provide all of the city's floWers. The police have donated confiscated grow lights, fans, buckets, pails, etc. Bob stated he felt the boxes could be started in the greenhouse this year. Sue Hett asked if group members would be able to go to the greenhouse and water or if that would be a problem. Hett continued asking how the greenhouse would be operated. Frates stated there would have to be a city employee present. Barb Nord stated that you can't have two people watering at the same time. Sue Hett informed the group that Tom Johns will be teaching a master gardening course in the area. If interested, call him and let him know you are interested. Tentatively scheduled during the day, one day a week. He can be contacted at the Cooperative Extension Office under UAF in the phone book. Bob Frates stated that the group may want to include in the goals is to keep in contact with the Historic District Board to keep abreast of where they are in their planning. Frates stated the Beautification Committee may be called upon to do some gardening in that area. Sue Hett suggested inviting the HDB chair person to a meeting to brief the group. Discussion on source of good potting soil and plants that may need to be dug. Theme for 1996 Season: Chairperson Hett suggested that theme from last year be used. That was, "Citizens for a Beautiful Kenai." Hett added that Merle Dean Feldman had a theme something like, "Give one for the city." Past themes have been, "City of Roses and Lilacs." Bob Frates suggested if interested in keeping the same theme, a statement could be attached. "Come Grow With Us." This was used for the Alaska State Conference a few years ago. Group consensus: "Citizens for a Beautiful Kenai, Come Grow With Us." Sylvia Johnson added that she felt the group should encourage early lighting, Christmas lights, like Anchorage is doing. ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:50 p.m. Next meeting January 9, 1996. Re~c,~lly Submitted' M~tril~tn Kebschull Administrative Assistant C' \I4PDOCS\BEAUTY\t4KSESOCT. M I N Beautification Committee Work Session Minutes October 10, 1995 Page 3