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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-07-13 Beautification SummaryKENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE JULY 13, 1999 *** 5:30 p.m. Kenai Council Chambers ITEM 1' ITEM 2' ITEM 3: ***AGENDA*** CALL TO ORDER/~ ROLL CALL AGENDA APPROVAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- June 8, 1999 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5: a, ITEM 6: a, OLD BUSINESS Discussion -- Planting Update Discussion -- Airport Triangle Greenstrip NEW BUSINESS Discussion -- Volunteer Thank-You Discussion-- Plant Swap ITEM 7: REPORTS a, Committee Chair Parks & Recreation Director Kenai City Council Liaison ITEM 8: 0UESTIONS AND COMMENTS ITEM 9: a, INFORMATION Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of June 3, 1999. City Council Action Agendas of June 16 and July 7, 1999. ITEM 10: ADJOURNMENT CITY OF KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 13, 1999 - 5:30 P.M. KENAI CITY HALL CHAIRMAN MARILYN DIMMICK, PRESIDING ® ® ® ® CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chairrnan Dimmick called the meeting to order at 5'42 p.m. Members present: Dimmick, Rogers, Brown, Jung, Nord, Johnson Members absent: Hansen Non-voting members present: Overturf Non-voting members absent: Benedict Also present: APPROVAL OF AGENDA Bob Frates, Parks and Recreation Director; Councilwoman Linda Swamer; Deputy City Clerk Sheryl Padilla as recording secretary. Dimmick requested to discuss plantings at Left Hansen Park under New Business. Hearing no other changes or objections to the agenda and it was approved with the addition at New Business. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Hearing no corrections or changes to the minutes of the June 8, 1999 Beautification Committee meeting, Dimmick accepted them approved as presented. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD - None. OLD BUSINESS Discussion- Planting Update Dimmick reported she tried using "Preen" at the Visitors Center, but didn't think it worked. Others stated the same experience. Dimmick also said she was still working on gathering plants for the native bed. She had some plants at home she was bringing back to health before planting. Frates stated the sod cutter was now available for use. He noted, it would cut a swath of about two feet. Dimmick said he could use it to extend the bed at the Visitors Center. ® Overturf said planting at the Chamber was not finished as there was a window box, the space under it, and a barrel planter on the deck that had not been planted. Frates said he would take care of it. He said the hose rack seemed to be pulling the window box down and he suggested storing the hose under the box. Overturf suggested planting Lychnis there because it would always come back even if damaged or pulled out. Overturf also stated the island bed at the Fire Department was very dry last week. She set up a soaker hose herself. Frates said he would talk to the Fire Department personnel again about watering. Overturf told Frates she had quite a few extra annuals that could be used in the City beds if needed. Frates reported he was planning to plant more in the Remax bed and the "Welcome to Kenai' sign bed next year. Discussion followed about astilbe, salvia, trollius, Lady's Mantle, and other plants that would be suitable for those locations. Frates stated Feldman gave him a beautiful Lygularia that could be used somewhere. be Discussion - Airport Triangle Green strip Frates reported the spruce trees in the greenstrip were almost blocking the view of the jet and the terminal when driving toward the airport on Airport Way. He said he thought the trees' roots could be pruned this year and the trees could be moved next year to new locations. He would like to see roses and/or lilacs in the greenstrip. He said the lilacs could be pruned to stay short. Frates continued, he didn't know where he would move the spruce trees and suggested possibly to the softball strip near the new restrooms. It was noted this would also be a good time to replace the matting in the triangle. NEW BUSINESS Discussion -- Volunteer thank you Dimmick suggested the August or September meeting would be a good time to thank the volunteers this year. be Discussion -- Plant Swap Dimmick said she had the idea for everyone to bring plants they had good luck with (old or new) and tell the group how to grow them and then trade plants with each other. She suggested, if this event would be held in August (in good weather) the gazebo could be used. Dtscusston--Letf Hansen Park Plantings BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 13, 1999 Page 2 ® Dimmick said the center of one of the mounds was rather bare this year. The delphiniums stayed small so far (first year). She suggested finding taller plants to fill in the area. Dimmick said she had an Arnold Red Honeysuckle that was very nice and would do well there. Maltese Cross was also suggested because it would get tall and worked well in clumps. Overturf stated she had some that she could put in there. It was suggested the volunteer thank you and the plant swap be tied together and it could be done at the next meeting on August 10 or the decision could be made at the next meeting. REPORTS a. Committee Chair Dimmick said she located the soaker hoses for which she had been looking. She added, the dedication of the Erik Hansen Scout Park went well and was well attended. She told Frates the roses at that park were beautiful. Frates was asked if the parking curb would be fixed or marked to be more clear. He said it would. Dimmick also said she had talked to a manager at Carr's about them donating a sign for the Bernie Huss Trail. She was told to send a letter to management in Anchorage, which she will do. It was decided she would use Parks & Recreation letterhead. b. Parks/l~ Recreation Director Frates told the group he had visited Bobby Jackson who has a variety of roses for the planned Leif Hansen Park rose bed. Frates announced Industry Appreciation Day was scheduled for August 7, 1999. He said Parks & Recreation would be sponsoring a softball tournament and they were lootdng for players. He added, they also needed volunteers to run the tent, handing out information, etc. Frates said he would have someone call volunteers during the week before with reminders. Frates talked about the watering program. The weather had been very dry, he noted, and his crew had logged 406 hours planting and watering since early June. They used a 300-gallon tank to drag around town and do all the watering. He said it took 1,200 gallons and 1-½ days to water everything once. The regular schedule was Monday, Wednesday and Friday, he stated, but watering was done every day during hot, dry weeks; and they even worked on Saturdays sometimes. He said on Friday, June 9, a fire truck was used to spread 20,000 gallons of water; and on the same day the Street Department water truck was used for 30,000 gallons of water. Frates noted the flower boxes are left until last because they seem to hold the moisture longer. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 13, 1999 Page 3 ® The dead lobelia in the hanging baskets in Old Town will be replaced, Frates said. It was discussed that maybe next year the hanging baskets should be plastic instead of paper so they would hold water better. Frates said the wind seemed to blow right into the holes where the plants were. (Barb Nord left at 6:40 p.m.) Frates also said he talked to Trinity Nursery about the dead lobelia. He was told it could be over watered, as well. The dipnetting was going well, Frates reported. He said they would be putting a sand volleyball court at the end of Forest Drive. He also said the Parks & ' Recreation survey was coming back from the public now and it appeared people like the beautification efforts and would like to see more. Frates said he would report on the full results when the tally was final. There was a discussion about the feasibility of "Y' connectors being put on the spigots near all of the beds. Frates said he didn't know how much good it would do because of the decreased water pressure it would cause, but he would try it. c. Kenai City Council Liaison Swarner announced there would be four seats open for Council this fall. She said that hers and Bannock's terms would be up this year; Measles' seat will be open because he resigned and would be moving out of town; and Frazer's seat would be open because of the timing of Hal Smalley's resignation. She stated there would be a community party for Measles on Sunday, July 25 at the Offers field. Swarner also reported the groundbreaking for the Challenger center went well and was impressive. Also occurring recently were the re-dedication of Cunningham Park and the dedication of Erik Hansen Scout Park. QUF~TIONS AND COMMENTS Brown asked about the budget for the banners for next summer. Swarner responded that it had been approved. Overturf asked about the yard judging for this year. A discussion followed about when the judging should take place. It was decided Dimmick would talk with the new Chamber Director and see what ideas she had. Frates announced that Parks & Recreation won second place in the organization category for the 4th of July parade. (Brown left at 7:04) BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 13, 1999 Page 4 Overturf noted that the delphiniums in the Rotary bed need to be tied up right away before it rains any more. Dimmick stated the committee needs more volunteers for weeding. She thought that maybe she should call people more often to remind them. Dimmick also asked about turning on the water at the Chamber. She was told it is just a normal faucet with no lock. She said that from now on she would pay attention to the watering needs at the Chamber when she is at the Visitors Center beds. 9. INFORMATION 10. a. Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes- May 6, 1999 b. City Council Action Agenda- May 5 and 19, 1999 ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Rogers MOVED for adjournment and Jung SECONDED. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. The meeting adjourned at 7:12 p.m. Minutes transcribed and submitted by: Padilla, Deputy City Clerk BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING JULY 13, 1999 Page 5 of 5