Minutes.html

Minutes
Parks & Recreation Commission

02/25/2002

City of Ashland

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES

February 25, 2002

ATTENDANCE

Present: Commissioners Eggers, Jones, Landt, Lewis; Director Ken Mickelsen

Absent: Commissioner MacGraw

CALL TO ORDER

Chair Landt called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. at Council Chambers, 1175 E. Main

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Regular Meeting January 28, 2002 Commissioner Eggers corrected the capitalization of her first name on page eight of the January 28, 2002 minutes. Commissioner Jones moved to approve the minutes
of the January 28, 2002 Regular Meeting as corrected. Commissioner Eggers seconded.

The vote was: 4 yes 0 no

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Open Forum - None

ADDITIONS OR DELETIONS TO THE AGENDA - None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

GARFIELD PARK SKATEBOARD AREA REDESIGN

                                               Director Mickelsen reminded Commissioners that the idea to redesign Garfield's skateboard area to accommodate street-style skating had been initially presented by a group at the January 2002 Regular
                                               Commission Meeting. He explained that Commissioner MacGraw, who had been working with the group on this proposal, was unable to attend tonight's meeting. Director Mickelsen referenced
                                               Commissioner MacGraw's proposal on this topic (as outlined in her February 6, 2002 memo), which, in part, suggests that the Commission "commit $5,000 toward the upgrade, contingent upon the
                                               group's raising the balance of money necessary to complete the skateboard area as proposed...the Commission portion shall not be made available until such time as the balance of funding is obtained to
                                               complete the project."

Public Input

                                               Zach Mellecker (2909 Diane Street), a member of the group, highlighted some of the points of the proposal and presented the Commission with a petition signed by local businesses that have expressed
                                               support for this project. In response to questioning from Commissioner Lewis, Mr. Mellecker expressed his strong belief that the redesigned Garfield Park Skateboard Area would attract as many users as the
                                               Water Street Skateboard Park (i.e. high usage). Commissioner Jones inquired as to the fiscal accountability logistics of the fundraising endeavor proposed by the group. Mr. Mellecker deferred to Director
                                               Mickelsen, who explained that the Department and perhaps the Ashland Parks Foundation could work with the group in that area.

Discussion Among Commissioners

Commissioner Jones expressed her support for this "win-win" project, noting that over 80% of the funding for the proposed improvements would come from the interest group itself.

After some discussion about the budgetary ramifications of committing $5000 from the 2002-2003 Budget toward this project, there was general agreement among Commissioners to support such a
commitment from the 2002-2003 Budget's "Capital Outlay" category.

Commissioner Lewis stated his view that "this is seed money that would help them get the rest of (the money)" and that the project was worth addressing the budgetary issues to make the money available if
needed.

MOTION Commissioner Jones moved to have the Commission designate five thousand dollars ($5000.00) from the 2002-2003 Budget's "Capital Outlay" category to go toward skateboard area
improvements at Garfield Park. Commissioner Landt seconded.

As a friendly amendment, Commissioner Landt asked to include Commissioner MacGraw's proposal, slightly modified, from her February 6, 2002 memo, as stated below:

I propose the Commission support the upgrade of the Garfield Park skateboard area as detailed in the following points:

1.that the Commission grant permission to enlarge the existing skateboard area at Garfield Park as indicated on the attached map.

2.that the Commission commit $5,000 toward the upgrade, contingent upon the group's raising the balance of money necessary to complete the skateboard area as proposed. Estimated project cost is $40,000.
The Commission portion shall not be made available until such time as the balance of funding is obtained to complete the project.

3.that the Department crew remove the existing skating structures, prepare the area for construction and connect the drain pipes to the storm drains.

This proposal is made with the following stipulations:

1.The balance of money necessary for the project ($35,000) must be raised by the group no later than July 1, 2003. If the balance has not been raised by July 2, 2003, this entire proposal shall be withdrawn.

2.The Commission's $5,000 commitment is contingent upon City Council approval of the proposed 2002-2003 Parks Budget

The vote was: 4 yes - 0 no