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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-05-06 Parks & Recreation SummaryKENAI PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AGENDA MAY 6, 1999 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS CHAIRMAN RICHARD HULTBERG ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER/k ROLL CALL ITEM 2- AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3' APPROVAL OF MINUTES - April 15, 1999 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD a, Nate Kiel-- Multi-Purpose Facility ITEM 5: OLD BUSINESS ao Discussion -- Community Interest Survey Discussion -- Cemetery Clean-Up ITEM 6: NEW BUSINESS ae ITEM 7: Discussion -- Summer Maintenance Schedule DIRECTOR'S REPORT a, Spring Clean-Up Projects Sears Elementary/Bernie Huss Fitness Trail ITEM 8: QUESTIONS/h COMMENTS ITEM 9' ITEM 10: PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 11' INFORMATION a. Council Action Agendas of April 7 and 21, 1999. Beautification Committee Minutes of April 13, 1999. ITEM 12: ADJOURNMENT CITY OF KENAI PARKS/l~ RECREATION COMMISSION KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS MAY 6, 1999 - 7:00 P.M. CHAIRMAN RICHARD HULTBERG MINUT~ lo CALL TO ORDER Chairman Richard Hultberg called the meeting to order at 7' 10 p.m. a. Roll Call Members Present: Kelly Gifford, Ron Yamamoto, Jack Castimore, Dale Sandahl, Richard Hultber§, Tim Wisniewski Members Absent: Matthew Peters Others Present: Councilman Bill Frazer, Parks and Recreation Director Bob Frates, Contract Secretary Barb Roper Agenda Approval: Agenda was approved as presented. Approval of Minutes - April 15, 1999 Frates noted a correction on page 3, Item 8, Commissioner Wisniewski comments. The last sentence should read, "Frates answered he thought that would happen." Minutes were approved as amended. ® PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: Nate Kiel- Multipurpose Facility Kiel provided a report on the status of the multipurpose facility by stating the site-clearing contract was awarded to Jackson Construction and work had begun. The contract included site clearing and utilities for both the multipurpose facility and Challenger Learning Center. Kiel reported the bids for construction of the multipurpose facility came in higher than expected. The City Council voted to set aside ® the $730,000 already tagged for the facility. Those funds will remain in place until the additional funds of $250,000 can be found. Kiel indicated a meeting would be held on May 10 to discuss possible funding sources from both the public and private sectors. Discussion took place on the design of the facility and Kiel noted a decision was made to not make any cuts in the original design. Discussion also took place on whether or not the facility could be a profitable venture for the City. Kiel was positive the facility would be profitable because of the excellent design. Kiel reported his group had discussed operating the facility following the same concept as the Kenai Golf Course. OLD BUSINESS: Community Interest Survey Frates reported a meeting to finalize the survey was scheduled for May 7 with the City Manager. Additionally, he took the suggestions from the Commission and made the opening letter for the survey more personal and added comment lines under each section. b® Cemetery Clean-Up Frates reported the cemetery clean-up was scheduled for Thursday, May 20, 1999 at 5:30 p.m. The Lions Club would again assist in this effort. The Boy Scouts will assist the Beautification volunteers in planting. Hot dogs and sodas are to be provided. Frates expressed concern with the amount of snow still in the cemetery and hoped that it would be gone by clean-up day. Wisniewski indicated there were several graves needing leveled. NEW BUSINESS: a. Summer Maintenance Schedule: Frates provided a slide presentation to highlight the maintenance projects scheduled for the summer. Sidewalks: A serious attempt was being made to clean the sidewalks and bike paths but the Department was having a lot of maintenance problems with the sweeper. As a result, workers were relying on the use of a sprayer that was very difficult and cumbersome to use. Frates reported he was investigating sharing some money with Public Works to rent a bobcat at $250.00 per day to finish the cleaning. The work should be completed by May Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting May 6, 1999 Page 2 8, 1999. When asked how often the cleaning took place during a season, Frates stated the sidewalks were done once and the bike paths were done semi-routinely. Frates indicated he would like to purchase a new sweeper next year. Banners: There were eight to ten banners that had to be replaced and the new ones were more intense and sturdy. Frates expressed appreciation for the work by Helen Brown as she was very dedicated to this project and had put in endless hours on the banners. Parks and Recreation would begin hanging the banners the latter part of next week. Bernie Huss Fitness Trail: The first grade classes from Sears Elementary will walk through the Bernie Huss Fitness Trail on May 7th to pick up litter. This same group plans to do some planting at the end of the school year at the entrance of the trail. Discussion took place on planter boxes and Castimore indicated he had some boxes available if the kids wanted to use them. Hultberg reported they still had plans for building boxes with Sawmill Bill; this would probably be done in the fall. Little League Field: Field maintenance would begin shortly. Frates reported that May 15th was the Little League clean-up day in Kenai. Parks and Recreation would help to facilitate this effort. League begins May 17th with opening ceremonies on May 20th. Discussion took place on Little League's dissatisfaction with City Council's decision not to fund the improvements to the field. Little League was told they need to seek funding to assist with the field maintenance items. A representative from M^PCO wanted to make a donation to Little League at the "Get to Know Kenai" function. Frates reported a meeting was held with City Administration and members from Little League. There's interest in taking care of the electrical needs on the field and the building. Bil~ Toy Installation: There are two big toys left to be installed. One will be placed at the Little League field. Frates stated the only remaining structure was at the Offer Park. Discussion took place on why that structure was even placed at Oiler Park by Parks and Recreation when the Oilers lease the property. It was noted the Offers should be responsible for taking care of the replacement. Frates indicated Parks and Recreation maintained it by tightening bolts, adding sand, removing vandalism, etc. Frates suggested the big toy not be replaced. Sandahl stated he didn't think Parks and Recreation should be doing any type of maintenance on a leased piece of property. Frazer asked if the Oiler Park lease was similar Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting May 6, 1999 Page 3 to the golf course with regard to maintenance. He noted the City did not provide maintenance on the golf course. Frates is to do more research on the issue. Dust Bowl: Frates indicated this area had him a bit nervous as the first game was scheduled for May 18t~ and the field was needing to be cut. Castimore stated the area was vandalized quite heavily in the last two years and asked if Parks and Recreation had time to go back in to put the backboards back up. Frates replied, the wind was responsible for a lot of the damage, including the two dug outs which were knocked over. Unocal's summer maintenance group reconstructed these and the field was back in shape. FAA Field: Pop Warner is very interested in using the field again this year. They didn't use it as much as anticipated last year, as there was no desire to bring the kids down from Anchorage to play on one field. The field was needing a lot of attention including liming, fertilizing, aerating, re-seeding, etc. The low spots were leveled last year. Pop Warner wants to change the orientation of the goal posts by perhaps running them from east to west. Frates stated the field was 80 yards at this time and they need 100 yards. Cunningham Park: Work on the park began two weeks ago and the root logs were being placed. They anticipate a July 1 completion date. Public service announcements were being made to notify the public of the park closure. Erik Hansen Scout Park: The walkways have been installed. Alaska Road Builders donated the hexagon-shaped rock in the park. Frates reported, Chris Walker from Kenai Middle School had taken a keen interest in the park and volunteered to help with the planting. It was anticipated the park would be completed by the end of the summer. Discussion took place on keeping people out of the park during construction and Frates indicated the area would be roped off. It was also suggested signs be placed. Frates reported the sign for the park had been received and would also be installed this summer. Discussion took place on a pole located next to the park. Frates reported, HEA was going to remove the pole after their work was complete in the area, which should be soon. Cemetery Frontal~e: Discussion took place on the entrance of the cemetery and Frates suggested that some landscaping be done in the front by placing erosion control matting, something that would hold the soil, seed and moisture. This area would be difficult to water. The Beautification Committee recommended planting grass, placing low growing bushes, rose bushes, etc. Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting May 6, 1999 Page 4 Handicap-Accessible Trail System: Work on Phase III of this project would begin in early July. New picnic tables and barbecue pits were placed last year. The Park entrance needs some work in order to make it a little more presentable. Frates reported that he was searchin§ for a handicap-accessible port-a-potty which are difficult to come by. This port-a-potty would be placed on the trail system. Sandahl stated he was appalled at how some people trash the parks and their total lack of pride in the State. Discussion took place on the community service program and Frates indicated he gets calls frequently regarding individuals having a requirement to work a certain number of hours. Volleyball Site' The volleyball site should be completed and ready for use in July. A reservation for its use was made for the end of July. Spruce Street Parking: The parking lot at the end of Spruce Street will be expanded. Preliminary surveying has already been done. City Administration is already looking at different parking scenarios for the dipnet season. Gifford asked if there would be a charge for parking in the area. Frates responded, that may be considered and a recommendation would be made to the City Manager. Frates indicated the trail to the beach would be redirected and should be ready by dipnet season. Oiler Park Fronta_~e: Landscaping of this area is to begin in July. Parks and Recreation will do the initial work and the Oilers would be responsible for maintaining it. The Oilers are working with the City on this project. Yamamoto stated there was no respect for the park so it will be treated poorly. Lawton Street: Frates stated there were a lot of beetle kill trees down past the golf course on Lawton Street that needed to be removed. The issue would be addressed very shortly. Leif Hansen Park: The Beautification Committee recommended rose bushes be planted at the end of the park. MAPCO: MAPCO requested concrete planters be placed at the intersection by their business. Frates stated this request would be considered. Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting May 6, 1999 Page 5 ® ® Mission Street: Hanging baskets will be hung from the light posts on Mission Street. Frates thought this would add a lot of appeal in Old Town. It was noted these planters would probably have to be watered daily. Softball Greenstrip Shelter: Parks and Recreation was considering some plant material at the softball greenstrip shelter and restroom. DIRECTOR'S REPORT: Spring Clean Up Projects City clean-up is May 3 through May 8. Some of the Beautification volunteers have already been out but it was likely there would be a delay in the perennials this year due to the cold temperatures. Frates reported that two summer employees had been hired and were busy placing trash receptacles. The bathrooms in the parks have been cleaned and are open. Frates noted there was no vandalism or graffiti in any of the parks this year. The Beautification Committee will hold a Volunteer Orientation on May 11. Invitations were handed out to Commissioners. be Sears Elementary / Bernie Huss Fitness Trail Discussed under New Business, item a. QUESTIONS & COMMENTS: Commissioner Sandahl stated he appreciated the slide presentation as a lot more was accomplished than if the group drove around to the different sites. Commissioner Yamamoto expressed his appreciation for the slide presentation. Commissioner Wisniewski stated the bike trails were cracking and are in poor condition. It was noted the bike trails in other locations such as Anchorage, Wasilla, Palmer, etc., were in better condition as they have been excavated. Wisniewski asked if the Girl Scout group would again work on the Bernie Huss Fitness Trail. Frates responded they weren't contacted as it was likely they achieved their goal with the work they accomplished last year. Parks as Recreation Commission Meeting May 6, 1999 Page 6 ® 10. 12. Wisniewski asked about the status of Beaver Creek Park. Frates stated the park was in good condition as there was no vandalism at all this year. The road to the park, however, was a real mess. Chairman Hultberg thanked Commissioner Sandahl for covering for him during his absence. Councilman Frazer announced a budget work session was scheduled for Monday, May 10. Proposed cuts would be discussed. PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD: - None INFORMATION: Council Action Agenda of April 7 and 21, 1999 Beautification Committee Minutes of April 13, 1999 ADJOURNMENT: MeetinE Adjourned at 8:30 p.m. Minutes transcribed and prepared by' B-ar-b~a Roper~ Conlt~ct Secretary Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting May 6, 1999 Page 7