Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-01 Parks & Recreation SummaryKENAI PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA May 1, 1997- 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL--COUNCIL CHAMBERS CHAIRMAN RICHARD HULTBERG 1. ROLL CALL: 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 3. APPROVAL OF M1NUTES' April 3, 1997 4. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: a. Don Wright~Batting Cage Proposal b. Lion's Club~Park/Cemetery Proposal o OLD BUSINESS' a. Needs Assessment Survey 7. NEW BUSINESS: a. Fiscal Year '98 Budget Outlook 8. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: a. Cemetery Update b. Adult Softball c. Little League d. Sidewalk Sweeping e. Multi-Use Facility Update 9. CORRESPONDENCE' 10. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 11. INFORMATION' a. Kenai Softball Association Minutes b. Don Wright's Batting Cage Proposal c. Council Agenda (4/16/97) 12. ADJOURNMENT: Parks & Recreation Commission ***Minutes*** May 1, 1997- 7:00 p.m. City Hall - Council Chambers Chairman Richard l-lultberg 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Members Present: Richard Hultberg, Tim Wisniewski, Christel Fields, Dale Sandahl, Jack Castimore Members Absent: Kelly Gifford, Ron Yamamoto Also Present: Terry Bookey, Don Wright, Phil Nash, Debby Fahnholz 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved by unanimous consent. e APPROVAL OF MINUTES Terry Bookey asked that on page four of the minutes, it be clarified that two pool tables were donated and two were sold at a significant reduction in the cost. The minutes were approved as amended by unanimous consent. 4. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD Batting Cage Proposal - Don Wright was introduced and stated he would like to set up and operate two batting cages as a business. He proposed locating them on the softball fields on city property. He stated that they would be a pipe frame structure, 32 x 80 x 14, and similar to a greenhouse in design. He stated that plywood siding would be used to eight feet and that it would be painted a dark green to compliment the existing structures. He stated two layers of plastic sheeting would go over it. He stated he would also have a concession stand that would sell soda and snack items and would provide a couple of picnic tables. He stated he would handle garbage disposal and would upkeep around the fields. He stated there would be a protective screen around the pitcher. His proposed cost would be $2.50 for 5 minutes and estimated about 6 pitches a minute. He stated 10 minutes would nm about $5 and an hour Parks & Rec Commission ~ 1997 ~ "Page I would cost about $20. He stated that if team arrangements were made they could get up to a 50% discount. He also stated that a cage would be set up with a differem pitch for softball practice. Commissioner Sandahl asked if this came up before at a previous meeting. Don Wright stated that he was unable to get the information to Bob Frates in time for the last meeting. Commissioner Sandahl asked to have the proposal checked over with the City Attorney and was concemed about liability issues. Terry Bookey stated that Bob Frates was going to get together with the City Attomey on it. Commissioner Sandahl was also concerned about a for-profit business operating on city property. Wright stated he originally considered renting commercial building space but did not want to commit to a year long lease. He stated that the building would be designed to be heated and could be removed. Commissioner Sandahl did not want to make a motion to approve until he heard the response from the City Attorney. Wright stated he would like to have it open 12 hours a day, seven days a week with up to six employees. Commissioner Sandahl stated them were a number of questions that need to be addressed. Commissioner Hultberg stated that if these issues were addressed and approved by the Commission, then it would have to go to Council. He stated that Council may also have concerns that would need to be addressed. Commissioner Sandahl stated that the City Attomey may haVe questions of his own that may need to be addressed. Commissioner Wisniewski asked if there were other commercial interests located on city property. Terry Bookey stated that the aerobics instructor at the Rec Center was put out to bid but there was no response on the bid. Commissioner Hultberg stated that even if the Commission agreed, that Council may still have questions. Lions Club Park Proposal - Phil Nash stated that the Lions Club is getting ready to spend some of their Rubber Duckie money. He stated that there are no handicap-accessible parks in Parks & Rec Commission April 3, 1997 Page 2 the city. He suggested a handicap-accessible type park and they initially had suggested a park on the back side of the Oilers Field. After more research they were concerned about wild golf balls from the nearest tee on the golf course and wild balls from the baseball games. They decided that maybe this would not be the best area to put in a handicap-accessible park. He stated that they then looked at the Bernie Huss trail and the dustbowl area and then looked at Municipal Park overlooking the sewage treatment plant in the area between the lookout and the parking area. He stated that the Lions Club proposes to build a handicap- accessible area from the observation area to the parking lot. He stated the Lions Club will provide benches and the manpower. Phil Nash suggested that the first year they put in the first loop and picnic area, and the rest to be done in stages each year. He stated this could be worked into a trail system that would evemually all be tied together. He stated they would work with Parks and Rec and the City people to design the trails without breaking up the natural windbreak. He also proposed putting in rails for the blind to use. He stated that they would consider putting in chokecherries to replace some of the trees that will need to be removed. To assist in cutting down on vandalism in the area he proposed that the Lions Club could bring local kids into the project. He felt this would make them feel it was more their own and they would help police themselves. Commissioner Sandahl asked if the existing park could be incorporated into the plans or if the handicapable park should be segregated. Phil Nash stated that the treed areas make many of the handicapped women fearful and felt the trees in the proposed area are small enough and it is open enough that there is a screen without the feeling of being surrounded. He stated that the proposed area is also accessible to cars without the competition of the car traffic. Commissioner Hultberg felt there should be some thinning done near the volleyball area. He stated that there is a lot of beetle kill and brush that needs to come out. Commissioner Sandahl stated that he thought there could be handicap accessible trails in from of the park also. He felt that the whole thing should be handicap accessible. Commissioner Hultberg felt it was a good plan. Terry Bookey stated that Bob Frates was planning on taking out the beetle kill. Phil Nash was also concerned that it could be a fire hazard if not dealt with. He suggested flagging areas where the trails would be and proposed having volunteers cut out the areas and laying typon down and cover the trail over that to elevate them and prevent any boggy areas. Parks & Rec Commission April 3, 1997 Page 3 MOTION: Commissioner Castimore MOVED to approve the Lions Club proposal to put in a handicap accessible area in Municipal Park. Commissioner Wisniewski SECONDED the motion. ROLL VOTE: Wisniewski- Yes Hultberg- Yes Castimore - Yes Fields- Yes Sandahl- Yes Gifford- Absent Yamamoto- Absent The motion passed with a unanimous vote. Commissioner Wisniewski asked if it was mandated for ADA compliance to upgrade as handicap accessible whenever work is done. Terry Bookey stated it was possible, that he would check it out with Bob Frates. Lions Club Cemetery Proposal - Terry Bookey stated that there has been lots of interest in working at the cemetery since the newspaper article was done. He stated that there have been offers from the Lions Club to help organize the initial cleanup at the cemetery. Phil Nash stated they will work on May 14 and 15 to do the initial cleanup and will coordinate the efforts offered by other volunteer organizations. Commissioner Sandahl felt very good about the response. Commissioner Hultberg stated that there is a lady out east who is a cemetery gum and is very excited about working in the cemetery. Commissioner Sandahl asked if there was any church interest. Commissioner Hultberg stated that had been addressed at the last meeting. Phil Nash stated that there is an individual in the Lions Club who is going to contact the churches also. 5. OLD BUSINESS Needs Assessment - Terry Bookey stated that Bob Frates asked the Commission to look over the proposed survey and prioritize the questions. Commissioner Hultberg was concemed that there were going to be too many questions if there were ten per subject and three subjects. Terry Bookey responded that Bob Frates wanted them to get them down to a workable number. Parks & Rec Commission April 3, 1997 Page 4 Commissioner Hultberg suggested time to look them over. Terry Bookey stated he thought Frates wanted them to look at the questions and determine if they are important and how they should be ordered. Commissioner Castimore felt the survey should be designed for short, brief answers. The Commission's suggestions were as follows: Parks: Question 1 - Reformat and list by priority of use. Question 2 - Should be part of Question #1. Questions 3 and 4 - were basically the same question. Eliminate #3. Questions 5 and 6 - Leave in. Question 7 - Leave in but tie it to #1. Question 8 - Delete. Question 9 - Reword to "younger" children for clarification. Questions 10 and 11 - Combine. Question 12 - Needs examples. Question 13 - Good question. Question 14 - Leave in. Question 15 - Will be answered by #1, but add the elimination part of the question to #14. Question 16 - To be worked into an A and B option and eliminate #17. Question 19 - Eliminate. Question 20 - Remove A and B options. Question 21 - Leave in. Question 22 - Remove. Rec Services: Question Question Question Question Question Question Question Question Question Question Question "winter". 1 and 2 - Combine. 3 - Leave in. 4 - Remove. 5 - Is already being done. Delete. 6 - Leave in. 7 - Tie in with Question 1. 8 - Delete. 9 - Delete. 10 - Reword to address ski trail grooming and make it more clear. 11 - Leave in. 12 - Delete and address in Parks section instead. Make outdoor into Parks & Rec Commission April 3, 1997 Page 5 Question 13 - Delete. Beautification: Question 1 - Leave in. Question 2 - Is ongoing. Question 3 - Delete, but leave in the A part. Question 4 - Delete. Question 5 - Delete. Question 6 - Needs restructuring and needs to be more specific. Question 7 - Leave in. ® NEW BUSINESS FY 98 Budget - Terry Bookey stated that it was mostly the same as last year but some utility costs have gone up. He stated that tonight should be the last meeting on the Parks and Rec budget issues. He stated that tractor and flatbed truck were cut from the budget. He stated that the decreases in the budget were from what was not spent last year. ® DIRECTOR'S REPORT Adult Softball - Terry Bookey stated that adult softball starts May 24th. He stated there will be seven tournaments scheduled, possibly more. Little League - Terry Bookey stated little league starts May 12. Sidewalk Sweeping - Commissioner Castimore stated that the trail by Sears Elementary needs to be done. Commissioner Hultberg stated that the trails and sidewalks look really good. Multiple Use Facility - Terry Bookey stated that Yute Air has offered to donate $1 from each ticket sold to a multi-use facility. He stated they are estimating 24-65,000 enplanements each year. They asked that they name be part of the facility name. He stated that they will continue their contribution each year. He stated that there have been discussions with the city and Borough on possible land sites. ge CORRESPONDENCE None. 0 INFORMATION Included in packet. Parks & Rec Commission April 3, 1997 Page 6 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Wisniewski SECONDED the motion. MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Castimore The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Debby J. Fd~xtholz Parks & Rec Commission April 3, 1997 Page 7