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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-01-07 Parks & Recreation SummaryKENAI PARKS/h RF~REATION COMMISSION AGENDA JANUARY 7, 1999 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CHAIRMAN RICHARD HULTBERG ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER/h ROLL CALL ITEM 2: ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR ITEM 3: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 4: APPROVAL OF MINUTES - December 3, 1998 ITEM 5: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 6: OLD BUSINESS ITEM 7: NEW BUSINESS ITEM 8: DIRECTOR'S REPORT Winter Solstice Basketball Scramble Peninsula Winter Games Update Kenai Nordic Trail Li~ts ITEM 9' QUESTIONS/k, COMMENTS ITEM 10: CORRESPONDENCE ITEM 11: PERSONS PRF~ENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 12: INFORMATION Council Action Agenda -- December 2 and 16, 1998 Teen Center Calendar of Events ARPA Vision Quest Workshop Information ITEM 13: ADJOURNMENT REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY OF KENAI PARKS/k RECREATION COMMISSION JANUARY 7, 199~- 7:00 P.M. KENAI CITY HALL CHAIRMAN RICHARD HULTBERG, PRESIDING *** MINUTES *** 1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL Chairman Hultberg called the meeting to order at 7'05 p.m. Members Present: Richard Hultberg, Kelly Gifford, Jack Castimore, Tim Wisniewski, Matthew Peters, Ron Yamamoto. Dale Sandahl arrived at 7:20p.m. Members Absent: None ® Also Present: Councilman Duane Bannock, Director Bob Frates, Contract Secretary Victoria Askin ELECTION OF CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR Chairman Hultberg related he would be absent for three months and didn't know if he could be excused. He added, a Chairman would need to be elected regardless. CASTIMORE MOVED THAT MR. HULTBERG BE RE-ELECTED CHAIR AND MR. SANDAHL VICE-CHAIR. PETERS SECONDED. CASTIMORE ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT. MOTION PASSED. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA THE AGENDA WAS APPROVED AS WRITTEN. ® APPROVAL OF MINUTES- December 3, 1998 Hultberg noted on page three, "Frates agreed the concerns... read "Castimore agreed the concerns..." "should Hultberg also noted that Castimore distributed the pictures, not Hultberg on page three, last paragraph. MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS AMENDED. 4. PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD Representatives from Kenai Little League, Mark Epperheimer, Mike Gustkey and Orlando Mena spoke with the Commission regarding improvements to the complex. Mr. Gustkey reported the Little League organization would like some help to make some improvements to the KENAI PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING JANUARY 7, 1999 PAGE 1 snack bar, bleachers and ballfield. He stated from May to July the baseball fields are packed and last year almost 600 children signed up for Little League. He stated they were looking at coming to the Commission to request help with landscaping and needed repairs. New playground equipment is coming in this year and perhaps some shrubs could be planted. Safety issues to be addressed include the snack shack and some of the stands need repairs. In addition, the snack shack has no ramp accessibility. Gustkey further related in the future, the League would like to put some barbecue pits in a covered area where families can get together and enjoy a barbecue and watch the games. Lastly, the League is looking to eventually put in another T-ball field in the area adjacent to the girls' softball field to alleviate some of the congestion and scheduling problems. Epperheimer related there are four fields. Hultberg asked if it was at the point where the Little League field was maxed out. Epperheimer answered, another T-ball field could be used. He added the park is not aesthetically pleasing and the buildings currently being used are in bad shape with limited space for meetings, umpire rooms, etc. There also has been a lot of vandalism to the buildings and they have taken quite a beating. In addition, the porta-potties being utilized now are inadequate. Mena related, with the program growing every year, four fields are used five days a week continually. He stated the Little League can't host a tournament right now and reiterated the safety concerns stated by Gustkey. Mena also noted the League hasn't maintained good communication with Bob Frates and has gotten behind on maintenance that should be done. Frates stated they had a meeting Monday night and discussed storage needs as well. There might be a possibility a couple of 8'X 8' cinder block structures are will be surplused in July or August and there may be a possibility they could be relocated, pouring a slab and put on a roof as well. Castimore stated last year he watched a couple of games and it was very busy. Hultberg asked if the City had land they could add to the ballfield. Frates stated there is a possibility they could and a League member had gotten the plat plan from the City so it can be measured out to see what kind of space is available. Mena related it doesn't have to be a full-size field for T-ball and another area to put it might be between the St. Francis Church and Ballfield # 1. One more T-ball field would open up two full fields, thus relieving the field overuse and alleviation of many scheduling problems, especially because games can't be played past 10:00 p.m. Kenai Park & Recreation Commission January 7, 1999 Page 2 ® ® Wisniewski related the Kenai field is, without a .doubt, limited and safety issues need to be addressed. He doesn't know what is in the budget, but safety and landscaping would be good places to start. Hultberg expressed his concerns regarding additional parking and the possibility the land to add a new T-ball field could also expand parking. Gustkey felt it would probably be road frontage parking like it is now. Hultberg suggested Frates get together with the Little League Board, form a small ad-hoc committee and see what they could work out. The League meeting is January 22 and the City Council budget is due February 15. Castimore suggested this be budgeted now and take it to the Council in concert with the Little League. He stated he understood City crews would take the funds and clear the lots and begin the process. In addition, because this is already part of the Parks and Recreation budget, the Little League could simply be asking for redirection of some funds to the baseball park. He added, safety issues should be addressed first, then what can be done to make the area more aesthetically pleasing. Mena suggested donations from local companies could help as well. Bannock stated another concern might be very little or no running water. Hultberg related there had been discussion to move the baseball field to the old dumpsite but there was no backing to make the move. A lengthy discussion ensued with consensus being reached to form the ad-hoc committee, target safety issues as the first priority, then appearance improvements. In addition, come up with a good long-term plan that can be addressed by the Commission. Hultberg thanked the Little League Board members for coming and relating their concerns. OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS DIRECTOR ~S REPORT a. Winter Solstice Basketball Scramble Director Frates related a Winter Solstice Basketball Scramble has been held for a couple of years now. This year, there was some interest to play but a smaller scramble was held so the regular patrons could still use the floor. The scramble was coed. Five teams were picked. Frates added he anticipates next year's scramble will be held in the same manner. All the volunteers were used and it went really well. The participants were very happy. Kenai Park & Recreation Commission January 7, 1999 Page 3 be de Yamamoto asked if there was a charge. a $10.00 charge per person. Frates answered there was Peninsula Winter Games Update Director Frates stated the Peninsula Winter Games would be held January 30 and 31. Plans were to have a Mayor's race between Soldotna and Kenai Mayors, but this has changed to a Community race. Mountain View will be hosting some children's games at their playground. Last year it was quite successful and they look forward to it being more successful this year. Kenai Nordic Trail Lights Director Frates reported there might be a possibility of lighting the trails, however, some time and money would need to be dedicated toward the project. He added Nerlands had hosted a Blow Away project to light some trails in Anchorage. Hultberg asked if the whole trail would be lighted. Frates stated he didn't think it would be a problem. Wisniewski asked if Skyview might light their trail. Frates answered Skyview may consider it. General discussion ensued regarding obtaining the poles to use for the lights. It was suggested there might be some surplus poles that can be obtained cheaply or free and perhaps a "Sponsor a Pole" project could be developed. Cunningham Park Director Frates also reported he had spoken with Rotary regarding Cunningham Park and there was considerable debate over renovation of the park and adding a full-use boat ramp. Concern was expressed to him it would change the whole flavor of the park. Bannock noted the most popular fishing area of the Kenai River is between Eagle Rock and Beaver Creek, which is about two miles above Cunningham Park and expressed his concern the park would be used much more by anglers over the municipal park because of the shortened distance they would have to travel by water. Sandahl expressed his concern the park would fill with guides. Hultberg stated there is more land available adjacent to the Park so more parking could be made available but felt citizens in the area would not be happy about losing a nice day park. Kenai Park & Recreation Commission January 7, 1999 Page 4 Considerable discussion proceeded regarding it becoming very full of vehicles and trailers with no parking available for day users. Also discussed was the fact there is more parking space available at the municipal boat dock, safety issues for children in the Cunningham Park play area, and accident potential from Beaver Loop Road into the Park. Hultberg asked if the Council needed further comment from the Commission. Bannock stated the draft plan includes the improvements to Cunningham Park the Commission already approved so nothing more was needed at this time. COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS / QUESTIONS Councilman Bannock related the league of which the Peninsula Oilers Baseball is a member could change their season to extend to September. He added, it was not foreseeable but was conceivable. A short discussion ensued regarding ramifications of running the league through September with mostly college students who go back to school in September and the affect it could have on the community use. Commissioner Peters related he spoke with Nate Kiel and passed out a new drawing of how the new Challenger Learning Center and Rink will look and their positions around the High School. Bannock related the transfer of property from the Mental Health Trust to the City of Kenai is moving ahead. The Mental Health Trust requested if any monuments were put up, they be mentioned. Commissioner Gifford stated she and Frates had attended the Peninsula Oilers Baseball meeting and felt good about working with them. They were very receptive to requests made of them. Commissioner Gifford commented she felt it was time for the Christmas decorations to be replaced. Frates related the issue was being reviewed and consideration was being made for refurbishing decorations owned now or purchasing new decorations. Director Frates announced a new video game was going to be delivered to the Rec Center. Commissioner Hultberg related to the Commission his meeting with Mike Baxter and obtaining background information on the Peninsula Oilers Baseball lease. At the time the park was built, the old park was designated to the American Legion. Discussion ensued with consensus being reached that all facilities should be multi-use for the community. Kenai Park & Recreation Commission January 7, 1999 Page 5 9. INFORMATION ao Council Action Agenda- December 2 and 16, 1998 Teen Center Calendar of Events ARPA Vision Quest Workshop Information 10. ADJOURNMENT SANDAl-IL MOVED TO ADJOURN. MOTION SECONDED BY CASTIMORE. MEETING ADJOURNED 8:21 P.M. Respectfully submitted, Victoria Askin Contract Secretary Kenai Park & Recreation Commission January 7, 1999 Page 6