Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-10-12 Beautification SummaryITEM 1' ITEM 2' ITEM 3' KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE OCTOBER 12~ 1999 *** 5:30 p.m. Kenai Council Chambers ***AGENDA*** CALL TO ORDER/k ROLL CALL AGENDA APPROVAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES -- September 14, 1999 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5: OLD BUSINESS ITEM/5: NEW BUSINESS Discussion -- Airport Property Fronting Kenai Senior Center Discussion -- Main & Spur Highway Beautification Discussion -- Flower Boxes Discussion -- Summer Events/Multi-Purpose Facility ITEM 7: REPORTS a. Committee Chair Parks & Recreation Director Kenai City Council Liaison ITEM 8: QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS ITEM 9' INFORMATION ao Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes - September 2, 1999 City Council Action Agendas -- September 1 and 15, 1999. ITEM 10' ADJOURNMENT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF KENAI BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE October 12, 1999- 5'30 P.M. KENAI CITY HALL CHAIRMAN MARILYN DIMMICK~ PRF~IDING ITEM 1- CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Chairman Dimmick called the meeting to order at 5'39 p.m. Members present' Brown, Nord, Johnson, Dimmick, Jung (arrived at 5'45) and Rogers (arrived at 5'55). Members absent: Hansen Non-voting members present: Overturf Non-voting members absent: Benedict Also present: Bob Frates, Parks and Recreation Director; Council Member Linda Swarner; City Clerk Carol Freas as recording secretary. ITEM 2: APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION: Committee Member Nord MOVED to approve the agenda as presented and Committee Member Brown SECONDED the motion. There were no objections or comments. SO ORDERED. ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES There were no additions or corrections. The minutes of the September 14, 1999 Beautification Committee meeting were approved as presented. ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD -- None. ITEM 5' OLD BUSINESS-- None. ITEM 6' NEW BUSINESS Discussion~Airport Property Fronting Kenai Senior Center Frates reported a dentist was investigating the poSsibility of purchasing the property situated in front of the Senior Center for the purpose of building a dentist's office. Frates added, it was his understanding the matter would go before P&Z at their October 13, 1999 meeting. The Commission will make a recommendation to council whether the property is needed for public use. Swarner stated there had been nothing aboUt it in the Council's packets yet. Discussion~Main & Spur Highway Beautification This property is on the corner at First National Bank, Dimmick said. Frates reported, at the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting last week, Commissioner Gifford also asked if more additional concrete planters would be Placed around town. Frates said snow removal, possibility of car accidents at busy intersections (possibility of a car hitting the concrete), and watering were major considerations in determining the placement of concrete 'planters. Dimmick asked if the City had ever had a long-range plan for beautification of the City. She suggested developing a list of criteria for placing planters and not to consider new areas of planting without very good reason because of maintenance and money concerns. Swarner noted Larry Tunseth volunteered several years to do some watering in front of Arbys, however those arrangements 'were not made. Frates said MAPCO told him that if they had a flower box, they would water it. Discussion followed about areas near Louie's, Katmai, and Paradisos for placement of other planter boxes or raised beds with annuals. Overturf suggested putting three roses in front of the bank property because they wouldn't require much watering after they are established. Frates suggested creating a formalized "adopt-an-area" with signs placed at the flower bed/planter crediting those who care for the bed/planter. Discussion followed about groups and individuals who might be interested in such a project. Dimmick requested the matter be included on the agenda for the next meeting.' Discussion--Flower Boxes Of the current flower boxes, three or four were built new this year and a few more could be replaced next year, Dimmick stated. She said it would be good if a replacement schedule like that could be followed, however, she was aware the crew wasn't large enough to constantly maintain the boxes. She suggested using plantings of roses and shrubbery which wouldn't, require as much maintenance as the boxes. Frates reported sandblasting equipment was available and could be used on the wooden boxes, which would give the boxes a rustic look. Johnson agreed that sounded like a practical solution. (Johnson left the meeting at 6'00 p.m.) Frates said the boxes would also look better if they sat level. Discussion followed about sandblasting some of the boxes and not others, and putting different looking BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 12, 1999 PAGE 2 boxes in different locations around town. Frates stated the sandblasting could bring out the grain and give the wood a whole different look. 6-d. Discussion---Summer Events/Multi-Purpose Facility Dimmick reported, she and Frates met with Leah Spaulding of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe to gather information about the Farmers' Market held in Soldotna during the summer. Frates noted, those involved with the Market pay an initial registration fee of $10 and then $5 for each of the markets in which they participate. He noted, they discussed the possibility of moving the market to Kenai, however some of the Market's board members want to stay in Soldotna. Frates added, he did mention the lessened possibilities of being rained out. Swarner asked if the Market ever considered holding more than one market in a week and suggested a market could be held in Kenai during the middle of the week. It was noted Spaulding would speak to her board of their discussions and suggestions. Frates suggested the following events: a. June, arts/crafts, gardening vendors b. June/July, Global Re-Leaf to sell trees, 4-H groups, Scout groups, private nurseries, Cooperative Extension c. July, August, flowers, vegetables, etc. Frates suggested the matter could be discussed further over the winter. Overturf suggested starting with one event and if that is successful, plan additional events. Dimmick suggested getting the KVCC involved to organize an event. It was suggested the matter be placed as an Old Business item on the next meeting's agenda. Dimmick suggested a November meeting be held this year and the break requested from council for December and January. The Committee agreed a meeting should be held on the regularly scheduled day in November which would be November 9. Additional discussion followed regarding the property in front of the Senior Center. Swarner stated council would have to purchase the property from the airport with General Fund monies in order to make it a park area or keep it in the city's ownership. She added, it was a dead issue (as far as a General Fund purchase from the Airport Fund). ITEM 7: REPORTS Committee Chair-- No report. 7-bo Parks ~ Recreation Director- (1) Kenai Cemetery -- Frates reported the cemetery sign was taken down in order to replace the posts and the sign. A wrought iron sign will replace the current sign and would, in the future, attach to a wrought iron fence. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 12, 1999 PAGE 3 (2) Christmas Decorations -- Frates also reported 17 new Christmas decorations were ordered and should arrive shortly. He noted, the Parks & Recreation Commission su§§ested placin§ the li§hts only to the corner of Main and Spur and not takin§ them up to Forest Drive as has been done in the past. Their thou§ht was to consolidate more of the decorations in the downtown area. Frates stated, he believed they should continue to Forest Drive because there are businesses at that end of town which could benefit by the li§hts bein§ there. Frates added, the Commission also discussed not extending the lights past the Katmai (toward Kmart) because of their lack of visibility from the business lights at Kmart, Carrs, etc. Frates noted, his crew went through all the older decorations and pulled out the ones with wiring problems, etc. They hoped to have better luck with the lights this year. The Committee briefly discussed the placement of lights toward Forest Drive. MOTION: Committee Member Brown MOVED to continue placing the Christmas light decorations to Forest Drive and Committee Member Rogers SECONDED the motion, There were no objections. $O ORDERED. (3) Village of Lights Parade -- Frates reported the "Village of Lights" kick-off was scheduled for November 1 and would begin at the Leif Hansen Memorial Park at 6'00 p.m. He noted, the city would place lights on their buildings around town, as well as at the Park. Frates added, not as many trees would be hung with lights this year as more of trees were wrapped to protect them from the weather and moose. Frates passed out a catalog of lighted animal outlines which, he suggested to the Chambers' Executive Director Favretto, could be purchased by sponsoring businesses. The information is to be forwarded to Favretto for her to discuss with the Chamber Board of Directors. (4) Grass Planting -- Frates reported the crew was able to plant fescue grass at Dan's TV, the Rotary bed, and the airport mound. Frates said he left the fescue in the buckets to contain the grass from spreading too much. Swarner questioned the large water puddle in front of Erik Hansen Scout Park. Frates stated, a low spot was discovered in the park and he explained, he intends to round off the trail in order to get better drainage. This work should be done next week. He noted, the bed would need to be brought up a bit and that work wouldn't be done until next spring. Frates added, he anticipated aerating the lawn there next spring as well. Frates was asked if the bulbs were received and placed. Frates answered he had not received all the bulbs, but expected them to arrive next week. He added, he was waiting to get all the bulbs and do the work all at once. Committee members stated they would help in planting the bulbs. Frates is to contact them when the bulbs arrive. BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 12, 1999 PAGE 4 7-c. Kenai City Council Liaison- Swarner reported that when she was in Minnesota recently she saw a newspaper feature called a "Yard-a-Week" feature. She explained, the newspaper published a weekly article about a specific yard and included a picture of the yard, an interview with the owner, and believed a sign is placed in the yard as well. Swarner stated she would supply a copy of the article for their next packet. Swarner also announced that she had been re-elected. ITEM 8: OUESTIONS AND COMMENTS Dimmick asked Frates if any perennials had been saved in the big circles. Frates answered yes and noted most of boxes of annuals were tossed out, however he usually is able to save some items over, such as the lilies. Frates noted, perennials now included in the circles were Shastas, lupine, and others. He noted, the poppies were not perennial. ITEM 9' INFORMATION -2, Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting Minutes- September 2, 1999 City Council Action Agenda- September 1 and 15, 1999 ITEM 10' ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 6'55 p.m. Minutes transcribed and submitted by: Carol L. Freas, City Clerk BEAUTIFICATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 12, 1999 PAGE 5