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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-10 Beautification SummaryKENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AUGUST 10, 1999 *** 5:30 p.m. Kenai Council Chambers ITEM 1: ITEM 2: ITEM 3' '"AGENDA'" CALL TO ORDER/k ROLL CALL AGENDA APPROVAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 13, 1999 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5: a, OLD BUSINESS Discussion- Volunteer Appreciation ITEM 6: a, NEW BUSINESS Discussion -- Chamber of Commerce Beautification Contest ITEM 7: REPORTS a, Committee Chair Parks & Recreation Director Kenai City Council Liaison ITEM 8: QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ITEM 9' a, INFORMATION Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of July 1, 1999 City Council Action Agendas of July 7 and 21, 1999. ITEM 10' ADJOURNMENT KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE AUGUST 10~ 1999 ~ 5:30 P.M. KENAI COUNCIL CHAMBERS CHAIRPERSON MARILYN DIMMICK~ PRESIDING ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER/1~ ROLL CALL The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Dimmick at approximately 5:40 p.m. The roll was called as follows: Members Present: Members Absent: Non-Voting Members Present: Others Present: Dimmick, Jung, Johnson, Rogers and Brown Hansen and Nord Benedict, Overturf City Clerk Carol Freas, Parks & Recreation Director Bob Frates and Councilwoman Linda Swarner ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL There were no changes to the agenda and Dimmick declared it approved as presented. ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES - JULY 13~ 1999 There were no changes or corrections to the minutes of July 13, 1999 and Dimmick declared them approved as presented. ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD- None. ITEM 5: OLD BUSINESS Discussion - Volunteer Appreciation The Committee discussed the possibility of a volunteer appreciation gathering as they did at their previous meeting. The event would be to say thank-you for the help given and to get feedback from the participants. After a lengthy discussion, the Committee decided to hold their September meeting as usual, but adjourn by 6:00 p.m. and then go to the Leif Hansen Memorial Park (arriving by 6:15 p.m.) for a volunteer thank-you gathering. Refreshments were planned for the gathering, and the event is to include a tour of the park, a plant and seed swap, a general clean-up of the beds (if weather permits), review and discussion of future needs (creating a perimeter for the park including low shrubs at the south end, additional sidewalks/marker spaces), etc. The Committee requested the Parks & Recreation Commission members and City Council be invited as well as advertise the event through public service announcements, etc. Committee members were urged to take pictures of the flower beds around the city for Frates' scrapbook. ITEM 6: NEW BUSINESS Discussion -- Chamber of Commerce Beautification Contest A general discussion followed regarding the previous night's judging of individual and business flower gardens for the Chamber of Commerce Beautification Contest. Dimmick noted she did not have names for some of the addresses they had chosen for awards. Clerk Freas stated she could cross-search them through the voter registration list. Concern was voiced the businesses would not be acknowledged for their beautification efforts. It was decided the contest was the Chamber's and they recognize the businesses through their office. Some of the awards were stated to be Forence Munger, third; Anita Myerson, honorable mention; Pat Porter, greenery; Plagge, greenery honorable mention; McCartan's, McLeod's, and Padilla's, honorable mention. A complete list of the award winners was given to Frates to submit to the Chamber office. The members chose the first through honorable mention for businesses as follows: MOTION: Committee Member Rogers MOVED to award National Bank of Alaska for first place and Member Brown SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. MOTION: Committee Member Brown MOVED to award Veronica's for second place and Member Jung SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. MOTION: Committee Member Brown MOVED to nominate Park Terrace Apartments for third place and Member Rogers SECONDED the motion. There were no objections. $O ORDERED. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 10, 1999 PAGE 2 It was decided Carlisle Freight would be awarded honorable mention. Frates is to forward the findings to Kenai Chamber of Commerce. It was also decided the beautification judging would begin earlier next year, possibly the third week in July. Frates is to request this information be included in the newspaper article that will announce the winners of the awards this year and also request the information be included in the Chamber Chatter in the spring. ITEM 7: REPORTS 7-a, Committee Chair KVCC Flower Bed- Dimmick requested some assistance in placement of flowers in the beds at the KVCC. It was suggested treated timbers be placed to keep grass from growing in around the sidewalks and foot-high flowers be placed in order for the name tags to be more visible. The flower bed around the gold mining sign was also discussed and it was suggested Leah Spaulding at the Kenaitze Indian Tribe be contacted in regard to native flowers and plant acquisition and placement. Another suggested contact was Mr. Baldwin for purchase of wildflower seeds. The members were requested to give some thought to what to be planted and seeds needing to be purchased for next spring. 7-bo Parks/k Recreation Director Roses -- Frates reported the rose asked about at the Leif Hansen Memorial Park was called Rugosa Morlend Blush. He also reported all the roses had been planted at the Park, as well as some at the shelter on the ballpark strip. Cemetery- Frates reported a lot of work had been done at the cemetery. He suggested railroad ties be placed along the front fence area and roses be planted there. Frates stated the roses would require little maintenance for the Parks crew. Oilers Park- Frates reported work had begun in front of the Oilers Park. They took out a dead tree and cleaned the area. He added, the area looked much better. Airport Triangle - Frates reported lots of plant material had been removed at the airport triangle. He noted the dying potentilla was replaced with roses and lilacs. He also noted the marigolds at the airport sign were sprayed for aphids. Summer Crews - Frates reported a number of the summer-hired crew had terminated due to their returning to school. Beautification Contest - Frates suggested more categories be created for the contest and have a traveling award to go from yard to yard during the summer. ^ type BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 10, 1999 PAGE 3 of award-of-the-week which could then be noted in the newspaper in order to make the program recognized throughout the community. A moose silhouette was suggested for the traveling award with wording to signify the award. Frates was requested to put the discussion on a spring meeting agenda. Kenai City Council Liaison Vice Mayor Election- Councilwoman Swarner reported she had been elected vice mayor by the council. She also reported she had taken out petitions to be a candidate for the October election. Weeds- Swarner stated her concerns about the amount of weeds in the city flower beds and boxes. She noted, she discussed the matter at a council meeting and with the city manager, acknowledging that if it was desired to have a beautiful city, · additional workers will be needed to do the work {weeding, watering, etc.). Dimmick suggested finding flowers used in other drier climates that could take Kenai's dry summer weather. Frates added he had also been involved in discussions regarding watering strategies and the need for additional employees. ITEM 8: QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS Johnson - Questioned whether the city could keep the property formerly leased for a proposed assisted living facility in city hands. She was concerned the area in front of and along side the senior facility would be developed instead of keeping it a park for everyone's enjoyment. She added, she was concerned building on the property could de-stabilize the bluff and that the downtown area of Kenai needed all the green space it could keep. Johnson added, she was told the Beautification Committee could be the grass roots start of a campaign against development of those properties. Swarner stated she had heard no statements of interest to make more land into parks. She explained, if the property were to be designated as a park, it would first have to be purchased from the Airport Fund and the price would be very high. She added, she didn't believe there would be four votes of the council to purchase the property from the Airport Fund. Frates added, the Shkituk' site was in that area and the proposed coastal trail/bluff restoration project may have an entrance to the trail in that area. Swarner also noted, there was no solid proposal for use of the property and nothing had been received in writing. Overturf- Asked if Frates was taking pictures of the flower beds and boxes. Frates answered, he was taking slides. Overturf suggested the members keep lists of varieties of flowers, names, colors and heights for use when it comes time to order seeds, etc. Overturf also suggested crocus (various colors) bulbs and grape hyacinth blubs be ordered and placed at Memorial Park. She noted, their bright colors would be BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 10, 1999 PAGE 4 a nice addition to the area in the spring and they don't seem to be a choice of food for moose. Dimmick suggested bulbs be considered for in front of the Bernie Huss Trail as well. Johnson - Reported the senior van would be taking people on a tour of wildflower gardens in Homer on Thursday. ITEM 9: a. INFORMATION Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes of July 1, 1999. City Council Action Agendas of July 7 and 21, 1999. ITEM 10: ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at approximately 7:03 p.m. Minutes transcribed and prepared by: Carol L. Fre~.d, City Clerk BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING AUGUST 10, 1999 PAGE 5