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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998-04-02 Parks & Recreation SummaryKENAI PARKS/k RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA APRIL 2, 19 9 8 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CHAIRMAN RICHARD HULTBERG ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER/k ROLL CALL ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3' APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 5, 1998 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5' ao OLD BUSINESS Softball Green Strip Camping ITEM 6: ITEM 7: ao ITEM 8- NEW BUSINESS DIRECTOR' S REPORT Boys & Girls Club Donation request Pop Warner Football Eric Hansen Scout Park Design Bernie Huss Fitness Trail OUESTIONS/k COMMENTS ITEM 9: CORRESPONDENCE ITEM 10: PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 11' ao INFORMATION Council Action Agenda- March 4 and 18, 1998 Beautification Committee Minutes of March 10, 1998 Rep. D. Young letter to RR regarding multi-purpose recreational facility Alaska/Northwest Regional "Elks National Hoop Shoot Contest" results City League Basketball Final Results ITEM 12' ADJOURNMENT KENAI PARKS ~ RECREATION COMMISSION *** MINUTES *** April 2, 1998- 7:00 P.M. City Hall Council Chambers Chairman Richard HultberE ® ® ® ® CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Hultberg called the meeting to order at approximately 7'00 p.m. Members Present: Richard Hultberg, Dale Sandahl, Ronald Yamamoto, Kelly Gifford, Jack Castimore, Tim Wisniewski, Alicia Brewer Also Present: Director Bob Frates, Councilman Duane Bannock, Contract Secretary Barb Roper APPROVAL OF AGENDA Castimore requested an addition under Item 6, New Business; Recreational Facility. Multi-Purpose Hultberg added Keith Huss under Item 4, Persons Scheduled To Be Heard. Agenda was approved with the additions. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - March 5, 1998 MINUTES FOR THE MEETING HELD MARCH 5, 1998 WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD Keith Huss - Bernie Huss Fitness Trail- Mr. Huss reported that he discussed the proposed work in the Bernie Huss Fitness Trail with his mother and they think the improvements are a good idea. Huss suggested that Parks consider utilizing people required to do community service to assist with the work. Huss also suggested that a uniformed officer make periodic walk-throughs to show a presence in the area. Frates indicated the project should not incur a huge expense as the Girl Scouts will be doing most of the work in order to earn a community service award. A walk-through is planned to identify the work required Parks & Rec Commission April 2, 1998 Page 1 and Frates stated he would be pleased to have a Huss family member involved. Once the areas are identified, they plan to solicit assistance from community service organizations such as the Elks, Eagles, etc. Parks and Rec will provide departmental support by removing the brush, loading it on vehicles and discarding it. Yamamoto suggested that Norville be contacted to help out as he may be able to provide equipment, etc. Huss recommended that Carr's be contacted to see if perhaps their employees can pick up the trash along the fence since most of it is from their store. It was suggested that probably wasn't being done at this time due to the liability involved with an employee working off premises. It was noted the City installed the fence. It was also noted that Carr's has taken care of the loitering problem on their property. Frates indicated the project is going to take the participation of not only the Huss family and the Girl Scouts but the community as well in order for it to be successful. Huss indicated that he would do whatever necessary to assist with the project and reported that his sister Maria will be in town during the time recommended for the walk-through. It was determined the walk-through would take place on Tuesday, April 21, 1998. The group would meet at the park at 4:30 p.m. Frates stated he would contact Huss. Sandahl suggested marking just the trees that should stay. OLD BUSINESS Softball Green Strip Camping Hultberg introduced Mike Wiles of the Softball Association. Hultberg brought attention to the memo included in the packet regarding the types of complaints received about the softball green strip camping area. Frates reported that the City Manager's office received many calls last year with various complaints which included using private dumpsters, hot briquets dumped on the grass, tying up the facilities whether it was the shelter or bathrooms, and why are softball players allowed to camp and others are not. Frates reported that City Code requires written permission from the City Manager to camp in any Parks & Rec Commission April 2, 1998 Page 2 non-designated tent area..Frates was unsure if permission was ever obtained as there are no records of it but camping has taken place in that area since 1981. Frates stated if the Commission is in favor of tent camping in the area then a plan of action needs to be developed to present to City Council. If the Commission feels camping should not take place in the area then other alternatives need to be considered, such as camping in the parking lot, the FAA fields, or the tent campground. Hultberg reported there are some individuals on the Council that will probably vote against the tent camping because of the abuses that have been reported. Hultberg continued, the Commission needs to come up with some ideas on how to eliminate the problems. The issue was on the Council agenda on April 1, 1998 but was removed at the request of Administration. Sandahl asked what happened between now and the last meeting since the issue was discussed and it was determined then that tent camping will continue. Frates replied, the issue was discussed with the City Manager and he put it on the City Council agenda. Castimore asked if the Softball Association has ever signed an agreement with the City or if there was a contract is place. Gifford replied there was not. Castimore asked if the Softball Association was insured. Wiles answered, yes, they are. Castimore suggested that ground rules be established and a formal agreement or legal document between the City and the Softball Association be generated. Yamamoto agreed that control was required and pointed out that the number of people allowed to camp needs to be determined as there are limitations with regard to the number of people versus facilities (restrooms). Wiles reported the Softball Association brings in porta-potties during tournaments. Hultberg addressed the alcohol and open container problems. Frates noted that signs are posted and they helped but the League was more responsible for taking care of the problem as they want to make the sport more of family type event. Frates noted the problem was much better last year than in years past. Frates asked if the Commission thinks that tent camping should continue in the area then coordination needs to be made with the Softball Association in addressing the issues, designating an area on the property that is appropriate for tent camping and an area that is not. Frates showed a map of an area and pointed out the areas that are off Parks & Rec Commission April 2, 1998 Page 3 limits to tent camping. Frates also thought the Softball Association could help with dumpsters and porta-potties to facilitate their needs. Wiles indicated that last year was a slow year for softball as there were only about 65 teams attending tournaments compared to years past when there had been up to 135 teams. Wiles confirmed the teams like the atmosphere and the fact that they can camp next to the fields. Discussion took place on the utilization of the pavilion in the area and it was confirmed that it is used for cooking and getting out of the weather. Sandahl thought that both the Parks and Recreation Commission and the City Council should be knowledgeable of the type of problems encountered due to tent camping but the establishment of rules and enforcement should be an Administrative function and Frates should have the leeway to develop those guidelines. Bannock reported this item was removed from the Council agenda as it was determined the issue required Parks and Rec discussion. Bannock stated the rules currently do not allow tent camping and it needs to be determined whether these rules should be changed. Bannock continued, the City Manager has a lot of concern about five weekends of tent camping in the area, particularly when it is in conflict with another big City party, which is the Industry Day function. If the Parks and Rec Commission decides that tent camping should not continue, then Council would direct Administration to close the area. If camping is to continue then, Council wants the Commission to develop some controls that would be appropriate. After a general discussion it was determined that tent camping should be allowed to continue. Castimore stated it not only provides a convenience to the visiting ball teams, it also represents income to the community as other businesses are being used such as the restaurants and hotels. Wiles stated the Softball Association was never aware there was a problem until he looked at the City Council agenda. The alcohol issue was discussed the past two years and it has gone very well. The teams are eager to do what is asked by the City and if they are made aware of the problems they would be addressed. Wiles continued, any rules established by the City will be provided to the various teams in the packet the Softball Association sends out each year. Parks 8; Rec Commission April 2, 1998 Page 4 6 Bannock reiterated that Council wanted this conversation to take place with the Parks and Rec Commission. Administration will make the rules and Bannock made it very clear that Council will not, however, they do take some flak when something goes wrong. Bannock suggested the following ideas: tent camping be allowed in the area with time limitations set, i.e., tents down at 9:00 a.m.; tents allowed within the boundary of the softball field with tents coming down at 9:00 a.m. and put back up after the last game is played at night. Bannock liked this idea in particular as other people in the community could continue to use the other elements of the park. GIFFORD MOVED TO DIRECT THE PARKS AND REC DIRECTOR TO ESTABLISH RULES TO BE PRESENTED TO THE CITY MANAGER WITH INPUT FROM THE SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION. MOTION SECONDED BY YAMAMOTO. Frates indicated that opening this area up to tent camping is essentially making the area a tent camping facility for that weekend. This means the area is open to anybody. Discussion took place on Industry Days and Hultberg noted the event takes up the entire side of the area. Frates reported that Industry Appreciation Day is purposely set and in fact the Softball Tournament sponsored it last year. Frates reported there is no conflict. Bannock stated it would be a huge conflict if 20 tents were there during Industry Appreciation Day. Vote SANDAHL Yes YAMAMOTO Yes GIFFORD Yes CASTIMORE Yes WISNIEWSKI Yes BREWER Yes HULTBERG Yes Motion passed unanimously. It was decided that Frates will provide a set of guidelines at the May meeting. NEW BUSINESS Multi-Purpose Recreational Facility Parks & Rec Commission April 2, 1998 Page 5 Castimore reported the discussion for a multi-purpose recreational facility was discussed in May and October, 1996, January, February and March 1997. Several studies were done on a multi-purpose recreational facility (Castimore provided copies of a few studies). CASTIMORE MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT THE KENAI CITY COUNCIL BEGIN DESIGN WORK ON A MULTI-PURPOSE RECREATIONAL FACILITY BY THIS SUMMER. MOTION SECONDED BY WISNIEWSKI. Castimore asked for unanimous consent when the item is voted on. Castimore reported that several groups had come to the Parks and Rec Commission requesting such a facility. These groups include the skate boarders, hockey parents, the local hockey association, figure skating instructors, and many, many requests by community parents. Castimore thought it was time to move forward and take some action on the facility. Yamamoto reported that Wince-Corthell-Bryson had already begun work on a design for a facility and thought it was even completed. Frates noted there is a Task Force for the project. Discussion took place on where the facility would be built. Yamamoto indicated there was some land trade issues being dealt with at this time so the actual location has not been determined. Yamamoto suggested the Task Force come to a Parks and Rec meeting to give a status report on the project. Bannock reported he would not endorse the motion made by Castimore. Bannock explained that he was intimately involved in the project as the same piece of ground for the multi-purpose facility is purported to be used for the Challenger Learning Center. In order to unleash this piece of ground the City has to deal with the federal government, the State, and the Borough. The land swap issue is important as it involves the funding for the facility. This involves the City trading valuable property to the State and the State will trade their property for the federal land (BOR property). The property the City of Kenai is trying to get released from BOR is adjacent to the golf course. Bannock continued, when the three-way swap is done, the monies generated from the sale of the residential lots are going to go to the multi-purpose recreational facility. The Council has gone on record as saying they are not opposed to fronting the money as soon as the green light is given to sell the lots. Bannock appreciates the concerns expressed and the fact that Parks & Rec Commission April 2, 1998 Page 6 Commissioners are tired of hearing about this but the process is very slow. The City is involved with as many government agencies' as possible on the issue and Bannock strongly recommended that everyone contact the federal senators regarding the issue. Discussion took place on the amount of money anticipated from the sale of the lots. Bannock indicated there is a difference of opinion on the issue as there has not been an appraisal on the lots and there is speculation on how much someone will pay for a lot on the golf course. Discussion took place on the proposed lot for the facility. Bannock indicated the property being looked at is the property adjacent to the high school between Lawton and Rogers. Castimore asked if Council has decided the multi-purpose facility can only go in one place. Bannock answered, Council had decided this spot makes sense in order to pull the land trade off. As a result, with the anticipated lot sales the facility could essentially be built for free. Castimore stated the issue has been in discussion for 18 years and there is a motion on the floor recommending that City Council move forward. Bannock stated it wasn't fair to say that Council hasn't moved forward because they have. Wisniewski did not agree with the proposal the City put before the voters and thought it was pulled out of nowhere.. Bannock responded by stating the issue did not come out of nowhere as there was a petition to put it on the ballot. Discussion took place on the petitions and it was determined there were two. The petition generated by Castimore did not make it to the ballot. After further discussion it was decided that Frates would invite a Task Force member to the next meeting to give a status report. Frates reported the City does have a plan but it will take a lot of time. Bannock will provide a name and filename of the issue for each Commissioner so they will know who to contact and how to refer to the project. Castimore withdrew the motion with concurrence from Wisniewski. Yamamoto left the meeting at 8:17 p.m. ® Director's Report Boys/h Girls Club Donation Request Parks & Rec Commission April 2, 1998 Page 7 0 ® 10. The Boys and Girls club donation request went before Council as action was needed right away. The Club requested 4.5 hours of free gym space on several Saturday mornings for their soccer program. The soccer program has grown so much they exceeded the capacity in their gym. The request was approved. be Pop Warner Football A meeting is scheduled on April 13 with the group to address some legal concerns. It was noted that Steve Foster is the Vice President of Pop Warner Football and that this is a joint effort between Soldotna and Kenai. Eric Hansen Scout Park Design The final design went to Council last month and was approved. d. Bernie Huss Fitness Trail A walk-through of the park is scheduled for Tuesday, April 21, 1998 at 4:30 p.m. An aerial photo has been ordered to help with planning. Hultberg asked how any money donated to the Bernie Huss Fitness Trail improvements would be used. Frates thought it would go towards rental of small equipment. OUESTIONS & COMMENTS Frates reported that a local student took second place in the Elks State Hoop Shoot. The men and women's basketball league final results are included in the packet. Thank you letters will go out to sponsors of the events. Commissioner Gifford asked about the status of the iron fence she would like to see go in the front of the cemetery. Frates indicated that work continues on the issue. Commissioner Wisniewski asked when the bike trails would be swept. Frates reported the department would start with the sidewalks first and should be on the bike paths by late next week. CORRESPONDENCE- None PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD - None Parks & Rec Commission April 2, 1998 Page 8 11. INFORMATION d® Council Action Agenda - March 4 and 18, 1998 Beautification Committee Minutes of March 10, 1998 Rep. D. Young letter to RR regarding multi-purpose recreational facility Alaska/Northwest Regional "Elks National Hoop Shoot Contest" results City League Basketball Final Results 12. ADJOURNMENT SANDAHL MOVED TO ADJOURN. MOTION SECONDED BY GIFFORD MEETING ADJOURNED AT 8:30 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Roper, Co/nt~act Secretary Parks ga Rec Commission April 2, 1998 Page 9