Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-07-08 Beautification SummaryKENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE July 8, 1997 *** 5:30 p.m. Kenai Council Chambers Chairperson Susan Hett ***AGENDA*** ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL ITEM 2' AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3' APPROVAL OF MINUTES- June 10, 1997 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5: OLD BUSINESS o Beautification Judging ITEM 6' NEW BUSINESS ao Volunteer Reception ITEM 7: REPORTS ITEM 8: QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ITEM 9: INFORMATION ao Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - June 5, 1997 City Council Action Agenda (6/18/97) ITEM 10: ADJOURNMENT KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE July 8, 1997- 7:00 p.m. Kenai City Council Chambers Chairperson: Susan Hett *** Minutes *** 1. CALL TO ORDER & ROLL CALL Chairperson Susan Hctt called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Voting Members Present: Susan Hett, Jean Rogers, Barb Nord, Nina Selby, Karolee Hansen (arrived at 5:45 p.m.) Non-Voting Members Present: Linda Overturf, Jeneane Benedict Voting Members Absent: Marilyn Dimmick, Sylvia Johnson e Other Present: Councilperson Linda Swamer, Parks & Rec Director Bob Frates, Contract Secretary Barb Roper APPROVAL OF AGENDA: The agenda was approved by unanimous consem. e APPROVAL OF MINUTES' The minutes for the June 10, 1997 meeting were approved by unanimous consent. 4. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: None 5. OLD BUSINESS a® Beautification Judging: Chairperson Susan Hett stated that the procedure will be thc same as last year. Thc results need to be to the Chamber by August 1. The bus tour of the locations will be held on Wednesday, July 30, the group will meet at Lief Hansen Park at 7'00 p.m., judging can be done anytime prior to that date. Those members that are unable to make the bus tour are asked to have their comments forwarded to Chairman Hett before July 30. Ms. Hett handed out street maps of the areas the members will be judging. After a group discussion, the members were assigned specific locations and were told that judging needed to be done by July 30. Barb Nord pointed out that the city limits on Strawberry Road to Carver is on the left-hand side, Carver is not in the BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MINUTES JULY 8, 1997 PAGE 2 city limits. Ms. Hett asked members to contact her if they had any questions on any of the locations and/or areas. During this discussion it was pointed out that 511 Ash will be judged this year. Ms. Hett requested that members also keep an eye out for business that look nice. Ms. Hett talked to Lori about the Library getting an award and she didn't seem to have a problem with that. Bob Frates asked about advertising for the event. Ms. Hett stated that a notice will be in the next newsletter that is due to come out shortly. Additionally articles will appear in the newspaper. Bob Frates asked whether the nominations were going to go through Laura or through Ms. Hett. Ms. Hett stated that they did not do nominations last year that they just judged everyone and plan to do the same this year. e NEW BUSINESS ao Volunteer Reception' A group discussion was held on where the volunteer reception was going to be held. The options are Lief Hansen Park or Merle Dean's home. Ms. Hett will talk to Ms. Dean to see if she still wanted the reception at her home. Ms. Hett will notify members of the location as soon as possible. The reception will be held on Tuesday, August 5 at 6:30 p.m., members are asked to bring cookies, vegetables and dip, sodas, and coffee. Ms. Hett stated there is probably only one new volunteer this year and it is anticipated that approximately 20 people will attend the reception. Karolee Hansen stated that a new volunteer helped her do some weeding this past week and will help with the sign in a few days. Ms. Hansen asked how often things got watered and whether or not she can use the sprinkler. Mr. Frates said that she can use it whenever she would like. Ms. Swamer has a broken sprinkler in the back of her truck that she will get to Mr. Frates for repair. Linda Overturf noted that she uses milk jugs to water those areas that don't have a sprinkler. 7. REPORTS Jeneane Benedict wanted her new phone number noted in the minutes, it is 262-5025. Ms. Hett didn't have anything to report other than that the beds look good, however, there is a couple that need work and the circle planter at the Visitor Center needs to be weeded. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MINUTES JULY 8, 1997 PAGE 3 Bob Frates stated that everything was planted except for the bed at the Chamber near the highway. Mr. Frates said that he will talk to the Chamber and if they don't do it, Parks and Rec. will. Linda Overturf asked if she could have the 2 flats of Dianthus to plant in the mounds and the remaining Purple Waves for the circle planters. Mr. Frates told her she could have them. Mr. Frates noted that the fire station looked excellent. Karolee Hansen asked if she could use English Daisies in some of the other mounds. Linda Overturf will ask Merle Dean about using them since she planted them in the other areas. Ms. Hett stated that the edging at Dan's and along the north wall at the Fire Station is a mess and needs some attention. Mr. Frates stated that his crew will look at these areas. Councilwoman Swamer was unable to get with Frank Hicks with the Mormon Church out north. They wanted to volunteer a group of people to work either at LiefHansen or other garden areas. Their main thrust was going to be July 19 where they would put in so many hours but they were going to break it up to other times as well. Mr. Frates asked how many hours they were planning to donate. Councilwoman Swamer didn't remember but thought it could be as many as 150 hours. Mr. Frates stated that there is some work that remains to be done at LiefHansen Park and he's been holding offwaiting for this group. He further stated that it's a big job and Parks can do it but it would be a good job for them. Mr. Frates stated that the dead rose bush in front of City Hall will be replaced. Ms. Hett asked about the Bernie Hess Trail, stating there was a lot of grass growing there and perhaps the volunteers could work that area too. Mr. Frates stated there are many high maintenance areas that are going to be eliminated and that particular area on the Bernie Hess Trail will be one of them to be tom out. Councilwoman Swamer stated that she told Mr. Hicks that there will always be someone with the volunteer group to tell them what to do. She further stated that by having someone with them, we would know what was done and where. Ms. Benedict asked why they would volunteer so many hours. Councilwoman Swamer stated that the church is required by Salt Lake City to do volunteer work in their community. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MINUTES JULY 8, 1997 PAGE 4 Children's Garden Contest: Mr. Frates handed out flyers to all members regarding the Children's Garden Contest. He requested that members pass the flyers out to friends or anyone they might know that have children doing a garden. He pointed out that the cut- off date is July 31 as between then and the next Beautification meeting on August 12 several of the members can go out and look at the areas to judge them and perhaps invite them to the next meeting. Mr. Frates suggested handing out certificates or some seedling trees. Mr. Frates asked Ms. Hett to make some phone calls to ask for volunteers. Ms. Hett agreed to make the calls. Mr. Frates stated that a PSA went to the newspaper last week regarding the contest. Parks, Trails, and Litter Patrol Program: Mr. Frates handed out a flyer regarding this program and explained that it is underway and advertisements have been sent out. Mr. Frates stated that there were probably 4 people that stopped by the booth on July 4th that signed up to participate. The forms are at the Rec Center for people to some in and sign up for a particular area, he's got people signed up for the FAA field and Cunningham Park. There are probably 70 to 90 bags left so he encouraged the members to get people to stop by the Rec Center to sign up. It was suggested that copies of the flyers be made and handed out. Mr. Frates stated that benches worked on by the Care Center have been placed at Memorial, Municipal and Fourth Street Parks. He stated that he had two more benches left and he will wait to place them. There are approximately 6 to 7 more benches being finished by the Care Center and on top of that the Moose Lodge is donating a number of benches as well. Mr. Frates indicated that the Mayor had the idea of placing some of these benches along the bike paths. These benches will be installed in a way where they can be easily removed in the winter time. Mr. Frates stated that the Committee needs to be thinking about the extension plot and our little garden. The place is a mess and the 5 or 6 plants there should be dug up and ti- par laid down the plants replanted. There are a lot of weeds fight now.. Mr. Frates suggested that the Committee be thinking about another trip to Anchorage to visit the greenhouse or to Bobbie Jackson's as well. If they decide to go he can make the necessary arrangements. Ms. Hett suggested visiting Homer as well and referenced an article in the paper recently regarding their garden. Linda Overturf stated they have a Garden Club in Homer and suggested that someone contact them for more information on tours, etc. Mr. Frates stated that Council has a discussion on Goals and Objectives in BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MINUTES JULY 8, 1997 PAGE 5 August and suggested that Ms. Hett put this on our Agenda under New Business in order to be considered by Council. A group discussion was held on when the trip should be made. Ms. Hett will get the garden tour on the agenda for the next meeting. Mr. Frates stated that rain was needed very badly as some of our lawns are in real bad shape, especially at the softball green strip where they had the 4th of July activities the lawn got trampled. The big sprinkler is down at the moment and may not be going until later on in the week. Mr. Frates stated for the record that he may be looking at budgeting for another large water wheel which will be used on the large number of areas to be watered, these include the ballfields, Middle School field, etc. Councilwoman Swamer suggested that the flower beds and planters be soaked rather than just using the sprinklers. Mr. Frates suggested they be watered twice, once in the morning and once in the afternoon. Councilwoman Swamer stated that wouldn't help as you would just be watering the top and they need to be soaked. A group discussion was held on various types of watering techniques. Councilwoman Swamer also suggested that perhaps the water truck can be used on off days to sprinkle the flower beds. Mr. Frates stated that Parks and Rec should start looking at the possibility of getting another vehicle as the vehicle they use now to water is the supervisor's truck and it's tied up almost all day watering. ge QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS' Barb Nord asked Mr. Frates if he had been called regarding the landscaping at the new animal control shelter and wanted to know if there was going to be something more than just grass and blacktop. Mr. Frates stated that whoever gets the contract will dd just a minimal amount of landscaping but he was asked about the possibility of Parks & Rec going in and planting flowers and coming up with designs for trees, etc. Mr. Frates further stated that he doesn't object to it, it will just be added to his list. Mr. Frates was asked whether Parks would be asked to do any landscaping at the fire training school and he did not think so. Barb Nord stated that she personally felt that the money that they spent on the design for the various types of grasses that they were going to have at the animal shelter was outrageous. The worse thing about the whole thing was there was just grass in there and would only be in the back of the building where no one would see it. She stated the general public would only see the natural vegetation and the blacktop parking area and BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MINUTES JULY 8, 1997 PAGE 6 the only the employees would see the grassy area. She further stated that unfortunately this plan meets the 5% role so it's really difficult to work with. She suggested that something needs to be done in front for the general public. Councilwoman Swamer asked if the Care Center people can make more wooden flower boxes over the winter as the old ones are in bad shape with the bottoms rotting out. Mr. Frates will check with Marilyn to see if it would be possible. Councilwoman Swamer stated that some of these boxes can be used at the animal shelter to spruce it up. Mr. Frates stated that hanging baskets and flower boxes will be considered for that area. Barb Nord noted that hanging baskets and flower boxes were stolen from in front of the Senior Center. Mr. Frates stated that the fuchsias at the airport have been taken down and are in the greenhouse to be wintered over. Ms. Hett stated that the Kenai sign looks beautiful. Councilwoman Swamer suggested that Little Gem or LuLu Marigolds be planted at the sign, they are easy to grow and are spreading. Councilwoman Swamer stated that she saw some double petunias somewhere in Anchorage and they were very beautiful, she also saw vegetables (zucchini and cabbage) at the Fairbanks airport and thought perhaps we can plant vegetables somewhere here. Councilwoman Swamer suggested that blue salvias (Klarissa Blue) be used next year. 9. ADJOURNMENT: Karolee Hansen MOVED to adjourn, SECONDED by Nina Selby. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Roper