Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-06-05 Parks & Recreation SummaryKENAI PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA June 5, 1997- 7:00 P.M. CITY HALL---COUNCIL CHAMBERS CHAIRMAN RICHARD HULTBERG 1. ROLL CALL: 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA: 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: May 1, 1997 4. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: o OLD BUSINESS: a. Cemetery Cleanup b. Batting Cage Proposal - Don Wright c. Handicap Accessible Picnic Proposal - Lyons Club 7. NEW BUSINESS: a. Municipal Park Cleanup b. Letters to the Editor (Vic Tyler and Cemetery Cleanup GroupS) o DIRECTOR'S REPORT: a. Dip Net Update b. National Trails Day Program c. Summer Hire/Summer Rec Program d. Summer Bid Proposals e. Little League Complex Update 9. CORRESPONDENCE: 10. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: 11. INFORMATION: a. Council Agenda (5/7/97) b. Beautification Minutes of May 13, 1997 12. ADJOURNMENT: Parks & Recreation Commission ***Minutes*** June 5, 1997 - 7:00 p.m. City Hall - Council Chambers Chairman Richard Hultberg ® CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Members Present: Richard Hultberg, Tim Wisniewski, Christel Fields, Dale Sandahl, Kelly Gifford Members Absent: Ron Yamamoto, Jack Castimore Also Presem: Bob Frates, Debby Fahnholz 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved by unanimous consent. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes were approved by unanimous consent. e PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD None. 5. OLD BUSINESS Ao Cemetery Cleanup - Bob Frates thanked the group for their support of the cemetery needs. He reported that the cleanup effort was successful and that paiming is ongoing. He stated there are several sites in the old section that are not idemified at this time. Commissioner Hultberg felt that several more trees should have been thinned out due to damage by roots. Bob Frates agreed but stated that the can't be taken out now without causing worse damage. Parks & Rec Commission June 5, 1997 Page 1 Bo Co ® Ao Bob Frates stated that when the runway is expanded it will be coming right up to the cemetery and that the need is there to look to expanding the cemetery area if possible. Commissioner Wisniewski stated that in the pioneer section of the cemetery there were grave sites on the left that are unmarked. He stated that there was ground clearing done in the 1970's that took out a number of markers. He felt that beyond that was a possible area for expansion. Commissioner Sandahl stated that there are areas that should be designated a historic within the area that should be considered. He felt this was a chance for the city to work on it. Bob Frates stated that he would add it to the goals list. Commissioner Sandahl stated that several people have contacted him about adopting areas within the cemetery. He didn't know if there was a formal process. Bob Frates stated that it was a matter of contacting the church and notifying members of the families within the immediate area to confirm their consem. Commissioner Hultberg felt that someone needs to map out the grave sites for reference. Commissioner Wisniewski stated that there was an effort put forth by the genealogy group to identify the graves that were unmarked at one time, but there are still a lot of unmarked graves in there. Bob Frates stated that there was a lot of good that came from the cleanup effort and it will now become an annual event. Batting Cage Proposal- Bob Frates stated that the proposal was accepted by Council and it is curremly under construction. He stated it should be operational soon. Handicap Accessible Park- Bob Frates met last Tuesday and the trails were marked out. He stated that they got a call from someone concerned that there are archeological sites within the park. He stated that the concerns have been resolved. He reported the trail was laid out to not disturb an existing food cache located there and they will walk out the remaining sites for idemification purposes. He attended the Lions Club meeting and will be making a cutout and pad for handicapped to have access. NEW BUSINESS Municipal Park Cleanup - Bob Frates felt that it could be accomplished this summer. He would like to see the beetle kill removed and possibly some limbing done. Parks & Rec Commission June 5, 1997 Page 2 Commissioner Hultberg asked if anyone has seen what the firemen have done. He felt the scrub should be removed and cleaned out. He stated that off of Forest Drive could be made a parking area and a walk-in park in addition to the playground area. Bob Frates felt that there are going to be two views from the public on whether to. cut trees out or to leave it natural. Commissioner Sandahl felt it is like going to Beaver Creek park. He felt the wooded areas are not being utilized for any productive purposes. He felt that by cutting and clearing out the area people can see what it will look like and will use it more because they will feel safer. Bob Frates felt that there were a couple of ways to get public opinion. He stated that a public opinion notice could be put in the paper to get the public involved. He felt that there are a few trees in Municipal Park that may be a safety hazard that need to be removed. Bo Letters - Bob Frates asked to have a letter written to Vic Tyler thanking him for the donation of the pool tables to the Rec Center and another letter to the editor thanking everybody involved in the cemetery cleanup. Commissioner Hultberg made arrangements to get together next week to draft the letters up. 7. DIRECTOR'S REPORT Bob Frates stated that the dipnet season this year is July 10-31st. He reported that there is a broken window in the restroom that will be fixed next week. The dumpster at the beach will be picked up and emptied twice a week this year instead of once. Commissioner Wisniewski asked where the light posts came from. Bob Frates stated that they were donated by one of the canneries. He stated that they will also be putting in some handicap spaces. National Fitness Program - Bob Frates stated there weren't any organizations locally that participated this year. He stated he would like to do something to address this and clean up Bernie Huss park and to bring out more awareness. Commissioner Wisniewski felt there could be some way to bring out awareness among the community and suggested volunteer efforts. Bob Frates stated that some of the areas in Bernie Huss have had significant damage. He stated that those sites will be taken out in the fall and put back in the spring. Commissioner Sandahl felt that this could be an opportunity for youth offenders to pay back community Parks & Rec Commission June 5, 1997 Page 3 service. Commissioner Wisniewski felt that if corps groups got together to oversee the parks much could be accomplished. Bob Frates stated that 'with many parks outside there are open and closed times. Commissioner Wisniewski felt that if local people got together there could be a lot of volunteer support. Summer Hire - Bob Frates stated that the summer rec positions have been filled. He stated that there is now a safety packet put together that has been reviewed with all the crews. Summer Bid Proposals - Bob Frates stated that there is a bid proposal out to redo the Welcome to Kenai sign. Bids for painting the softball greenstrip shelter were also requested. Little League Complex Update - Bob Frates reported that the dirt piles have been removed and landscape efforts are underway. He stated there is also a senior little league state tournament scheduled here this year. He reported that barricades will be put up in a week or SO. Bob Frates reported that Scott Slavic will be serving on the new Peninsula Trails Committee. Bob Frates stated that the city has put a request for a mini-grant on bicycle/pedestrian safety. He stated that if there is money awarded there will be a couple of events held at the Rec Center in late June and July. Bob Frates reported that at last night's Council meeting Councilwoman Swamer brought up alcohol use in the parks. He stated that it is against city policy to allow alcohol in city parks and they will be addressing this. He stated he has been asked to place signage in the parks. 8. CORRESPONDENCE None. 9. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Commissioner Gifford stated that she had noticed memorial tokens had been placed in Leif Hansen Park and did not feel the tokens are appropriate there. She felt it makes the area lOok trashy. She also felt that the old wooden outhouses in Municipal Park should be removed since they are being vandalized. Commissioner Gifford also felt that a new sign should be made for the tent camping area. Bob Frates felt the sign should be placed further ahead of the area. Commissioner Sandahl Parks & Rec Commission June 5, 1997 Page 4 suggested one of the state informational signs would be better. Commissioner Gifford stated that the Bernie Huss trail should be cleaned up and felt the transients are responsible for most of the damage. Bob Frates stated that damage is being done by the local kids. He stated he had a person doing cleanup there who took out 15 bags of trash. Commissioner Gifford felt that the strip along the road in front of the Oilers Park needs to be cleaned up. Commissioner Gifford stated that the new bike trail is falling apart. Bob Frates responded that a letter has been drafted from the city to the state on it. He stated that a resolution was made before Council that any new bike trails need to be maintained. He stated that as of now the City has no intention of sealing the cracks and feels the state is responsible since they put in the trails. Commissioner Gifford asked if letters to the local businesses have been sent out. Bob Frates stated that they will go out soon. Commissioner Gifford felt the dead grass in from of the Chamber looks bad. She also felt that a way to instill community value could be accomplished by persuading some of the Rec Center kids to adopt a park. Commissioner Gifford felt that a new cemetery sign needs to be made. Bob Frates responded that he is working on it. He felt the whole issue of park signage needs to be addressed. He felt that this winter would be a good time to address that issue. Commissioner Gifford offered to go through all the parks and remove old dead omamemal bushes. Commissioner Sandahl asked if the Cunningham Park equipmem is going to be removed. Bob Frates stated that it has been justified to remove it. Commissioner Gifford asked if summer crews could start sooner and let them go sooner. Bob Frates stated that he hopes to start them sooner next year. Commissioner Gifford felt that if the Council warns the City to look nice they need to put their money where their mouth is. Bob Frates stated that he has been directed to close the Rec Center from 6:00-10:00 a.m. in the summer due to budget cutbacks. He hopes to go back to regular hours in the fall. Parks & Rec Commission June 5," 1997 Page 5 10. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Wisniewski MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Commissioner Fields SECONDED the motion. The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Debby J. Fahnholz Parks & Rec Commission June 5, 1997 Page 6