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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992-10-27 Parks & Recreation SummaryKENAI PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION October 27, 1992 Kenai City Hall Richard Hultberg, Chairman 1. ROLL CALL The meeting was called or order by Chairman Hultberg at 7:07 p.m. Commissioners present were- Hultberg, Carlson, Gifford, Massie, Sandahl, Student Rep Dan Cox and Ad Hoc Member McComsey. Also present were Mayor John Williams.and Parks Director Kayo McGillivray from the City of Kenai. Gerri Sparks, Linda Swarner, Loretta Breedon, and Jeanene Benedict from the Beautification Committee were also present. 2. APPROVAL OF A~ENDA: Kayo needed to add speakers from the Beautification Committee under 3) Persons Scheduled to be Heard; under Director's Report he desired to add d) Red Ribbon Week; and under Old Business, he wished to add a) Estimation of Cost for Light Pole Transformers. Hearing no objections, the agenda was approved as amended. 3. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE Gerri Sparks spoke for the Beautification Committee in stating they were not happy with the choice of flowers in the flower boxes this past summer and some of the layouts in the parks. They felt now that Kenai has the "All-American City" designation, it should not stagnate there and they want to continue forward in making Kenai a pretty city. They desired to have a say in what flowers should be used and wished to get roses and lilacs planted around the City. A list of roses and lilacs that grow well in Alaska was passed out for the Commission. The cost of lilacs range from $10 to $35 and roses from $8 to $15 depending on size. They also want to set up a volunteer task force which could include experts from outside the City limits to help in the planting and maintenance of the bushes. They will also contact the Chamber, local businesses and local civic groups to assist in funding and maintenance. Loretta Breedon stated the City had the year of the Bi- Centennial Center and the year of the "All-American City" designation and felt that now is the time for beautification. She feels the residents, businesses, the chamber and the City could all benefit from a corporative effort to beautify the City with flowers, lilacs and roses. She described bushes in her yard and explained the maintenance of each. KENAI PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION October 27, 1992 Page- 2 General discuss ion regarding the greenhouse and types of flowers being used. Seeds have already been ordered by the greenhouse for next season. Mayor Williams stated the lilac and rose bushes would not be replacing the concept of the boxes since they are normally placed on strategic corners where nothing else can be used. He continued speaking about the Chamber of Commerce building and winter-time activities and festivals referring to the placement of the big bonfire. A site between the Chamber and the highway was designated and it was thought a fire ring could be built in the Spring. This ring would also double as a flower bed for flowers. Other flower bed rings could be built with businesses or organizations maintaining them as in the "Adopt a Park" theme thereby getting the community involved. Linda Swarner would like to see Parks & Rec. Commission's approval to proceed with the lilac and rose bushes idea throughout the City and to try to get donations for the plants. Carlson felt if the Beautification Committee wants to solicit money, labor or donations from different organizations or businesses, then they should be encouraged especially if it will enhance the City without burdening the budget. Massie asked if any plan for placement of the bushes had been developed by the Beautification Committee and he was informed just basic ideas and no formal plan has yet been developed. Sandahl felt the idea was generally good but stated to Ms. Sparks he "never promised her a rose garden." He was confused as to what exactly the Beautification Committee wanted-- whether it was different flowers in the flower boxes, placement of rose and lilacs bushes, or fire/flower rings. He would like the group to come up with something a little more detailed. Loretta Breedon stated that bushes and materials need to be ordered by February for next season. She was infOrmed if a plan stating priorities and areas to target was presented at the next meeting, it could be voted on at that time. 4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF SEPT_~BER 10, 199Z: Hearing no objections, the minutes stood approved. KENAI PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION October 27, 1992 Page- 3 5. DIRECTOR' S REPORT: a. Approximately 85 people attended the ARPA Annual Conference held in Kenai. Hultberg attended portions of the conference and Kelly attended the luncheon. McGillivray would like to get more Commissioners involved in the state and/or national conferences. Many good comments were received and McGillivray passed out a packet of appreciation resolutions and complimentary letters regarding the conference. He felt the Merritt Inn did a fine job with meals. The speakers were very good. The silent auction brought in $934 for ARPA. The conference next year will be in Valdez. b. McGillivray attended the National Congress in Cincinnati last week. He stated there were so many programs he wanted to attend but couldn't because he was already attending others so he purchased six tapes of sessions he could not attend but felt ~'the information would be worthwhile. McGillivray was installed as Chairman of the Northwest Regional Council which will obligate him to attend a meeting in December in Portland and one in the Spring in Seattle. The National Congress will be in San Jose, California, next year. c. Summer Activities. A report from Bob Frates citing the Parks Department'ssummer activates and accomplishments was passed out to each Commissioner. Work for next Spring is already lining up. Putting the playground equipment together and placing it will be the first thing done next Spring. d. Red Ribbon Week. The Teen Center is taking part in the National Red Ribbon Week, October 24 through November 1, which is a nationwide program designed to eliminate the use of drugs and support healthy lifestyles. A dance for the Middle School students was held on Friday, and "Drug Free and Proud" red ribbons are being distributed. 6 . OLD BUSINESS a. Light Pole Transformers. The problem with the Christmas lights in the past is due to the transformer being too small to handle the number of lights on the decorations. Last year Air Tek, Inc. proposed "Plan A" consisting of a larger transformer but it would not go inside the pole so they planned to install a box on each of the poles and place the transformer in the box. Price of the proposal was $406 per pole. KENAI PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION October 27, 1992 Page- 4 Since that time an alternative method, "Plan B" was proposed involving the installation of a new 480/120 transformer at the existing main lighting transformer and then going out from there and installing a 120 volt circuit in the existing underground piping. That way it would only take fuses at each pole and that would eliminate having to replace transformers at each pole if they do burn out. Price for the proposal was $436 per pole. There are 12 poles on Airport Way which would be $5,235. There is about $8,000 in the budget to do the work but it would have to go to Council for approval. This needs to be done soon before freezing in the conduit occurs. McComsey recommended a telephone poll be.done for Council approval rather than wait another 10 days. ACTION TAKEN: SANDAHL MOVED TO RECOMMEND TO THE COUNCIL APPROVAL OF "PLAN B" FOR THE LAR~ER TRANSFORMER. MASSIE SECONDED. MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY. 7. NEW BUSINESS: None. 8 · CORRESPONDENCE: None. 9. ADJOURNMENT: McGillivray welcomed Dan Cox as a student representative stating he was happy to have him on the Commission. MASSIE MOVED TO ADJOURN AND SANDAHL SECONDED. MOTION CARRIED. The next regular meeting will be on the third Tuesday, November 17, 1992, at 7:00 p.m. Respe_ctful l~~_~d, Ea~L, Recording Secretary for the City of Kenai