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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-08-03 Parks & Recreation SummaryKENAI PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION AUGUST 3, 2000 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M. AGENDA ITEM 1' CALL TO ORDER tl~ ROLL CALL ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES - July 6, 2000 ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 5' OLD BUSINESS ao Discussion -- East End Trail Discussion -- Leif Hansen Memorial Park Policy ITEM 6' NEW BUSINESS ITEM 7: REPORTS a, bo Commission Chair 1. Beaver Creek Park Entrance/Exit 2. Kid's Carnival 3. Scout Park Interpretive Sign 4. Summer Recreation Program Director City Council Liaison ITEM 8' COMMISSION QUESTIONS/h COMMENTS ITEM 9: PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ITEM 10' INFORMATION ao Council Action Agendas of July 5 and 19, 2000. Beautification Committee Minutes of July 11, 2000. ITEM 11' ADJOURNMENT KENAI PARKS/k RECREATION COMMISSION AUGUST 3, 2000 CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS 7:00 P.M. MINUTES ITEM 1: CALL TO ORDER/h ROLL CALL Chairman Hultberg called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Members Present: Tim Wisniewski, Kelly Gifford, Jack Castimore, Matthew Peters, Richard Hultberg Members Absent: Mike Baxter, Dale Sandahl Others Present: Councilman Frazer, Parks and Recreation Director Bob Frates, Contract Secretary Barb Roper ITEM 2: AGENDA APPROVAL Frates requested that Jim Spracher and Chuck Smalley be added to the agenda under Item 4, Persons Scheduled to be Heard. With the two additions the Agenda was approved as presented. ITEM 3: APPROVAL OF MINUTES- July 6, 2000 With no corrections and/or additions noted, the minutes of the July 6, 2000 meeting were approved as written. ITEM 4: PERSONS SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD 4-a. Jim Spracher, All American Homesteaders Memorial- Councilwoman Porter and Jim Spracher presented an idea to the Parks and Recreation Commission which involved a memorial to All American Homesteaders to be placed at Leif Hansen Memorial Park. Spracher reported he attended the memorial for the Merchant Marines and thought a memorial to all American Homesteaders would be nice. Spracher indicated he already has a granite plaque and a large rock on which the plaque could be placed. If the Parks Department didn't want to place the large rock, he suggested a pedestal could be constructed to hold the plaque. Discussion took place on the expansion of Leif Hansen Memorial Park and it was decided the Homesteaders Memorial could be placed during the expansion. MOTION: Commissioner Castimore MOVED to accept the generous offer of Mr. Spracher to place a memorial plaque for All American Homesteaders in Leif Hansen Park. Motion SECONDED by Commissioner Gilford. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. 4-b. Chuck Smalley- Kenai Elks Donation- On behalf of the Kenai Elks Lodge, Mr. Smalley donated $1,500.00 to the City of Kenai Parks and Recreation Department to help support the youth social functions, dances, etc. Director Bob Frates and Chairman Hultberg accepted the check and thanked Smalley for the generous donation and the volunteer help throughout the year from the Kenai Elks Lodge. Frates reported the funds donated last year purchased a new foosball table and lamps for the pool tables. ITEM $: OLD BUSINESS Discussion - East End Trail Frates reported Phillips Petroleum was doing the last of the work at the East End Trail. Remaining work included placing signage and mile markers along the trail. Commissioner Gifford reported she visited the trail and was very impressed with the work. Chairman Hultberg requested photos be taken and provided to the paper for local recognition to Phillips. Councilman Frazer suggested a proclamation from the Mayor as well. 5-[}. Discussion - Leif Hansen Memorial Park Policy Frates reported the City Council approved some changes to the Leif Hansen Memorial Park Policy. He noted the changes to the wording in Item 2 of the policy and the addition of Item 6 which states, "No miscellaneous items, i.e., trinkets, windsocks, mementos, additional planting material, etc., shall be installed within Leif Hansen Memorial Park. All such items left are subject to removal by Parks personnel." Discussion - Playground Equipment - Oilers Park Frates reported that all the playground equipment at Oilers Park had been removed. ITEM 6: NEW BUSINESS-- None. ITEM 7: REPORTS 7-a. Commission Chair- No Report. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 3, 2000 PAGE 2 7-b. Director Beaver Creek Park Entrance / Exit- Frates reported the entrance/exit to Beaver Creek Park was in very bad condition due to El-terrain vehicles using it during the winter months or during breakup. Frates announced a barricade would be placed to block off both ends. It was noted that road repairs would be very costly. · Kids Carnival- Frates reported the carnival took place on July 22 and was very successful with good participation. He added, the Parks and Recreation staff did an outstanding job with minimal expenditure. · Scout Park Interpretive Sign - Frates reported the painting for the signage was completed and Mary B. Coffman is working on the text. He explained, Ms. Coffman is traveling and will return in September. Once the text is completed it will be sent to Anchorage for finalization. Frates was hopeful the signage would still be placed this fall. Summer Recreation Program- Frates reported there were 169 participants this year and that number was maintained throughout the program. Again the Parks staff did an outstanding job and had even added some programs this year to include music. There was good volunteer participation as well. · Softball- Frates reported there would be one more tournament at the end of August with 11 to 15 teams participating. -Ce City Council Liaison - Councilman Frazer reported the following: · The beetle kill tree removal done by Arctech Services went well. noted the logs would be made into wood chips in Homer. It was · Department. City Council approved the purchase of a new lawn mower for the Parks Commissioners reviewed the mower brochure. · There will be a public hearing on Ordinance No. 1875-2000, an amendment to the Code to include a 5% local preference on bid purchases. · August 18, 19 and 20 is the Pro-Am City of Kenai Open Golf Tournament. The prize is $16,000 for the pros. Mayor Williams will speak at the banquet. ITEM 8: COMMISSION QUESTIONS ~ COMMENTS PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 3, 2000 PAGE 3 Commissioner Castimore stated he was in Soldotna during Soldotna Days and was impressed that every crosswalk and bike path was painted. Castimore reported he did some research and learned that it was done by a local individual for less the $7,500.00. Castimore asked why that couldn't be done in Kenai. It was noted it is a budget consideration. Castimore added that having the crosswalks and bike paths painted would be great for safety. Councilman Frazer stated he would take the issue up with City Council. Castimore reported that Nikiski is building a skateboard ramp and the funding was coming from various grants. Castimore added, the group who was instrumental in getting the skateboard ramp would be available to attend the next Commission meeting and give a video presentation. Student Representative Matthew Peters reported this would be his last meeting as he would be leaving for college. Commissioners wished Matt well in his future endeavors and thanked him for his efforts on behalf of the Parks Commission. Hultberg asked Matt if he could recommend a replacement. Commissioner WisnieWski reported he visited the skateboard park in Wasilla and was very impressed with it stating it was a first-class park. Commissioner Wisniewski asked who would be responsible for putting a four-way stop at the corner of Lawton and Tinker as that area is a real safety hazard. Councilwoman Porter suggested the issue be forwarded to the Police Department. Chairman Hultberg reported he contacted Bob Elyard (373-9053) in Wasilla regarding their skateboard park. Mr. Elyard will be mailing a packet of information including plans and photos. Hultberg stated the cost of the Wasilla skateboard park was $233,000 and the funding came from grants, parents and skateboard enthusiasts. Hultberg continued, Wasilla went with a concrete park versus a wooden one. Elyard reports the only problem they've experienced with the concrete is the rubber buildup. Elyard also reported the vandalism in Wasilla has dropped tremendously as a result of the skateboard park. Discussion ensued regarding various options and locations for a skateboard park in Kenai. It was suggested a possible location could be next to the multipurpose facility. Commissioner Gifford requested that Frates make contact with Sunny Ogal to let her know that she hasn't been forgotten. Commissioner Gifford reported that the Welcome to Kenai sign on the Spur Highway is hidden by a tree that is overgrown. Frates will look into it. Commissioner Gifford stated the Welcome to Kenai sign at Bridge Access is not very inviting and suggested it be lowered and possibly relocated. PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 3, 2000 PAGE 4 Commissioner Gifford asked if the cemetery letter went out and Frates confirmed that it had. She also asked if the City Parks and Recreation Department was in competition with the Boys and Girls Club. Frates replied, no and added, the two groups work together on many youth activities and teen projects. ITEM 9' PERSONS PRESENT NOT SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD - None ITEM 10: INFORMATION 10-a. 10-b. Council Action Agendas of July 5 and 9, 2000. Beautification Committee Minutes of July 11, 2000. ITEM 11' ADJOURNMENT MOTION: Commissioner Gifford MOVED to adjourn. There were no objections. SO ORDERED. The meeting adjourned at 8'20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, B~-"b2~ra-R-oPe~, Co~iit)ac~ -Secretm3r PARKS & RECREATION COMMISSION MEETING AUGUST 3, 2000 PAGE 5