Estacada Parks & Recreation Commission Minutes

City Hall

Wednesday, June 23, 2004 – 7:00 pm

1. Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm.

2. Roll Call

Present: Pam Peterson, Louise Kroeker, Cheryl Copeland, Cindy Crivellone, Dianna Turk, Roxanne Morrisey, Mayor Austin, DCR Hovda.

Absent: Tracie Lougheed.

3. Approve May 26, 2004 Minutes

Consensus was to approve the minutes as presented.

4. Citizen’s Concerns & Comments

There was none.

5. Staff Report – no report.

6. City Council Liaison Report – no report.

7. Unfinished Business

School Board / Skate Park – Becky Arnold reported that the most recent meeting has been rescheduled to June 29^th. They hope to pinpoint a site to pursue at that time. The School Board is concerned with the parking spaces that would be lost if it were placed in front of the High School. It would cost the Skate Association approximately $20,000 to replace the parking spaces. In 5 years there will be an area built out on the school property that will allow for a very large skate park. Dianna suggested that the community try to convince the School Board that it is a good idea to proceed at this time. Mayor Austin attended the School Board meeting where they reviewed the four proposed sites. The City is researching costs for placing it at the most favorable site, which is in the grassy area along the front of the high school at the west end. Mayor Austin stated the School Board hasn’t approved a particular site, but gave the City some options and things to research.

Open House Event – Dianna proposes that we wait until we have the Valberg property and have a demolition party to really publicize the event. The Commission agrees, especially since the parade is not in the vicinity.

Proposed Parks Budget – FY 2004-05 – discussed below.

Wade Creek Park Sign – per memo from PWS Randall – sign will be put up shortly.

Master Plan – Dianna met with Bob and talked about the concerns of the Parks group. Bob would like suggestions about what the Commission wants to make them feel more effective. Bob stated they will be supporting the Commission with staff, to make sure agendas and minutes are provided. He asked for requests to make them feel more appreciated as volunteers. Dianna stated that primarily they felt like they were not listened to or treated with respect by members of the council when some issues were brought up. Dianna asked the Mayor what his expectations are from this Commission. Bob doesn’t think the Commission realized what the main issues were with the timeline of the master plan, and feels there were some communication issues.

Bob felt their recommendation regarding the recent Whitesell Subdivision was very important and was appreciated.

Dianna is concerned that there is not a line item in the new budget for the Parks & Recreation Commission. It appears the maintenance line item in the Park budget has used up the $30,000 that was saved by giving up the Timber Park. Bob stated that even though we do not have the Timber Park, there are still lots of green spaces, including City Hall, Community Center, etc., that have to be kept up. For the big expenditures, like Wade Creek Park, they are built into the Capital Improvement Plan. Mowing the lawn, putting bark dust down, etc., at the Wade Creek Park would be a part of the maintenance line item. Bob feels the most important thing is to get the CIP list in place for improvements at Wade Creek. Becky understands that the Commission felt that the $30,000 that would be saved would be used for more parks in the City. The Commission agrees that this is the impression that was given to them. Bob still feels the big capital needs are part of the improvement plan. There is room in the $30,000 for maintenance including Wade Creek.

Mayor Austin stated the next step is to draft a capital improvement plan list and the Council will adopt it later this summer. Traci will email the public hearing date for the master plan/CIP list public hearing. The Council will need to get a draft list from the Commission prior to that. The Commission will email the Mayor with their master plan suggested items, with rough cost estimates, and prioritized.

Pam asked Mayor Austin where the funds would come from for the demolition of the Valberg property. Mayor Austin thought at least part of that would come from the grant. Perhaps a salvager would be interested in demolishing it if they could keep the lumber.

SDC’s – discussed above.

Kids Fishing Day – nothing new to report.

8. New Business

9. Commission Report & Comments

10. Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 pm.