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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-09-06 Parks & Recreation SummaryKENAI PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION ***SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA*** September 6, 1994- 7:00 P.M. ***Public Works Conference Room*** CHAIRMAN RICHARD HULTBERG 1. ROLL CALL 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES g June 14, 1994 PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD 1 J DIRECTOR'S REPORT OLD BUSINESS m am NEW BUSINESS al State Parks Recreation Project Funding/Chester Cone Property Acquisition and Development CORRESPONDENCE 9. INFORMATION 10. ADJOURNMENT , PLEASE CONTACT KAYO (283-3855) OR LORE~A.(283:7933) IF yoU"ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND SO WE CAN ESTABLISH A QUORUM PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING **MINUTES** September 6, 1994 - 7:00 p.m. Chairman Richard Hultberg Presiding 1. ROLL CALL Members present: Richard Hultberg, Kelly Gifford, Roger Seibert, Amanda Baldwin Members absent: Dale Sandahl, Jerry Carlson, Cliff Massie Also present: Mayor John Williams, Councilman Duane Bannock, Parks & Rec. Director Kayo McGillivray, Administrative Assistant Kathy Woodford w APPROVAL OF AGENDA There were no objections to the agenda. al NEW BUSINESS al State Parks Recreation Project Funding/Chester Cone Property Acquisition and Development McGillivray referred to Resolution 94-55 which supports the acquisition of the Cone property. He said the City Manager, City Engineer, and Engineering Technician, felt that with the opportunity of these funds, the city should look at other areas for development, besides the Cone property. McGillivray said he felt the three lots beside Cunningham Park would be advantageous based on the numbers of people that already use Cunningham Park during the summer. McGillivray said he would like to see the Commission discuss different proposals and make a recommendation to the City Council on Wednesday (~/7/94). Hultberg asked if the Commission's recommendation had to be made tonight for tomorrow nights Council meeting. McGillivray said he did not know if Council plans to take official action on 9/7/94 or at a later date. Williams said we are under some time constraints with regards to the Cone property and applications for funds. Williams stated the City Manager has suggested some other areas for review: the Cunningham Park area; the Beach River Mouth area and the Birch Island area. Williams roferred to the Cone property first. He said Exxon is planning to spend several millions of dollars to restore various areas that were affected by the Exxon Valdez spill. The areas of concern are the Prince William Sound sector; the Cook Inlet/Kachemak Bay sector and the Kodiak sector. Williams said Jim Butler (attorney for Page 2 Parks & Recreation Special Meeting 9/6/94 Chester Cone) and Mr. Cone have influenced the Exxon Valdez Trustees into taking a look at purchasing 100 acres from Cone on Beaver Loop (the same property the city proposed putting a boat ramp on and was turned down by state & federal agencies). The state and federal agencies are looking more favorably to the Exxon Valdez purchase of the property for a habitat control area rather than when the city suggested a boat ramp. The property could be developed to have river front protection, boardwalks, educational kiosks With interpretive signs, parking, and perhaps some kind of docking down the river. Williams said there are two categories of funding. He said one is the purchase by the Exxon Valdez Trustees and the other is by money that has been given to the State of Alaska Dept. of Parks & Outdoor Recreation for the purpose of creating habitat viewing areas and parks. Williams asked the Commission to keep in mind that the city is not involved in the Exxon Valdez purchase of the Cone property except that (after the property is purchased) the Council may decide to deed it to the city. The city would have to make the application for the half million dollars for development at the Cone property. Williams said if we make application for the money, and build the facility, the city would be on the hook for the long term maintenance and operation of the property. He said it may include hiring a full time person for the summer just to take care of that area. Williams said the Birch Island Park was supposed to be done by the State (Neil Johansen) as a second phase to the Boardwalk project but ended up not being done. The River Mouth Viewing Area project had a problem because the land in question is owned by too many people (public and private). Williams said the Cunningham Park area is the most viable area. Williams said there is ten million dollars in this fund that has to be distributed by December. He said there are several options; the city could make application for $500,000 to acquire the Cone property through the Exxon Valdez committee (which will be a "multi-generational," long term proiect); we can make application for $500,000 for acquisition of the Cunningham Park (if the lands are acquirable and which may be done in one year, short term); or we could make application for both areas. In either case, the application has to be for habitat protection, restoration/rehabilitation programs. Williams stated that Cunningham Park was originally supposed to be a "childrens park," according to Martha Cunningham. He added it was never intended to have a boat ramp there. Williams asked to consider the question of how far Cunningham Park could be developed, without the heirs of Martha Cunningham's estate coming back and claiming the city is not using the property under the conditions it was originally granted to us for. Page 3 Parks & Recreation Special Meeting 9/6/94 McGillivray said he has never seen any terms concerning Cunningham Park and that the boat ramp was there in "79" when he took over the Parks & Rec. Department. Williams said the boat ramp was "boot legged" in one night. Gifford asked for some clarification of the two maps that were handed out. Williams said they are both of the Cunningham Park area, one is the three 'lots west of the park, the other is a rendition of what could be done with the three lots. McGillivray said the three lots are owned by Lofstedt and when contacted before, Lofstedt was willing to sell. GiffOrd asked where the Cone property is. Williams got a map to show where the properties are and pointed them out to the Commissioners. Baldwin asked who has control of the money. McGillivray said the state has some control and the Exxon group has some. Seibert clarified that the city had nothing to say about the money except for making application for it. Bannock said yes, that's correct. Hultberg stated that this/these project(s) will take a lot of public input. Gifford and Williams both stated there is not time for public input. Williams said the ten million dollars will be gone in December. Baldwin asked how the money will be divided. Williams said anyone interested submits applications for the money. A committee will be chosen (and he would like to recommend Richard Hultberg, Fred Braun and Jeff Jefferson serve on this committee) to judge who will get the money. Williams said there is no reason we cannot apply for both the Cone property and Cunningham Park. He added there are problems with both, the Cone property may not be acquired by the Exxon Trustees, and we may not be able to get the property by Cunningham. Hultberg asked if these questions shouldn't be answered before we start the application process. Williams said application for the money can be made for the money, pending receipt of the land, and some of the money can be used to acquire the land at Cunningham. Bannock stated the resolution before Council only mentions using the $500,000 for the Cone property. Williams said that is correct, but added there is nothing that says only one application can be made. Bannock clarified we can ask for $500,000 for the Cunningham project from. the Alaska State Parks and ask Exxon to buy the Cone Page 4 Parks & Recreation Special Meeting 9/6/94 property. Williams added: and ask for $500,000 for the Cone development. Williams said we would make two applications and the Cone application may be chosen over the Cunningham application, or visa versa, or maybe neither one of them will be chosen. Baldwin asked what would happen if we don't get money for either one of them. Gifford said we won't have lost anything, Williams and McGillivray agreed. Bannock asked if the Commission should prioritize the four choices, or recommend applying for just the two. Williams suggested.applying for just the Cone and Cunningham properties. The other properties have more problems to deal with than these two. Williams added there is also some ISTEA money floating around that may be used sometime for these other properties. McGillivray stated he feels the development of the Cunningham area would mean more to the local citizens, because of fishing and access to the river. He said the drawing Rachel Clark did shows a boardwalk along the front area with access to the sandy beach using steps rather than walking over the banks and also looks at some erosion control, Hultberg asked who would make the final decision. Williams said the Commission needs to make a recommendation to Council and Council will make the decision. Hultberg asked if we should only apply for $300,000. Williams said no, we should apply for as much of the $500,000 as possible. He added it will take that much money to acquire the property and start development. Williams said his suggestion is that we go for the Cone project, and let it take its own speed and go "full guns" for the Cunningham property. Hultberg said we should do our best for both and Williams agreed but added the Cunningham property (as McGillivray already mentioned) would be more desirable to the citizens of Kenai and if the Exxon backing does not go through on the Cone property we won't be doing anything with it anyway. Page 5 Parks & Recreation Special Meeting 9/6/94 MOTION GIFFORD MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT CITY COUNCIL DIRECT ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE APPLICATION FOR $500,000 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHESTER CONE PROPERTY ACCORDING TO RESOLUTION NO. 94-55 AND ALSO TO MAKE APPLICATION FOR $500,000 TO ACQUIRE/DEVELOP THE THREE LOTS WEST OF CUNNINGHAM PARK. SEIBERT SECONDED. VOTE Hultberg Yes Massie Absent Sandahl Absent Seibert Yes Carlson Absent Baldwin Yes Gifford Yes Hultberg asked if there will be a public hearing at any date. Williams said there has to be one to accept the grant. McGillivray asked for clarification on the Alaska State Parks money, if it is also Exxon money. Williams said yes, it is all from Exxon. 1 ADJOURNMENT' The meeting was adjourned by Chairman Hultberg at 8:00 p.m. Transcribed by: -/ ~,~tl~y Wo~d~rd~"'Pu~li(~&work~ AcJmin. ASs-~stant