Parks Commission Minutes - March 2009
(03-20-2009)

CITY OF ROSEBURG

PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION

MARCH 4, 2009

MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER: Chair Mike Baker called the meeting of the City of Roseburg Parks and Recreation Commission to order at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 4, 2009, in the City Hall Third Floor Conference Room.

ROLL CALL: Present: Chair Mike Baker, Commissioners Scott Gilley, Larry Oatney, Leila Heislein, Dick Swartzlender, and Ron Beach

Absent: Jeff Bright and Kyle Bailey

Attending Staff: Public Works Director Nikki Messenger (left 8:40 a.m.), Parks and Recreation Program Manager Barbara Taylor, Community Development Planner Dick Dolgonas, Parks Superintendent Tracy Pope, and Department Technician Chanelle Rogers

Others Present: Stewart Park Ladies Golf Representative Nancy Stockhoff and Roseburg Soccer Association Representative Frank Tarascio

APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Heislein moved to approve the minutes of the February 4, 2009 Parks and Recreation Commission meeting. The motion was seconded by Beach and carried unanimously.

DISCUSSION ITEMS:

Bicycle / Pedestrian Plan: Dolgonas informed the commission that the Community Development Department was working on the development of a new Bicycle / Pedestrian Plan for the City. He showed a powerpoint presentation informing of the progress of the plan.

Geese on Golf Course: Taylor mentioned the commission asked for an update on the geese problem at Stewart Park Golf Course. She informed that there is a volunteer that is currently taking his dogs out in the evenings to chase the geese off the course. In addition the head greens-keeper has acquired a Blue Heeler pup and has begun training the dog on the course. Taylor spoke with Dave Eshelman and he felt the dogs have been working very well, Pope agreed that the crew had mentioned they felt it was working well too. Oatney mentioned that in the past ODF&W had said that the eggs could be destroyed during nesting season he wanted to know if that was still an option. Staff informed nests would need to be located, so at this time will continue using the dogs.

Park Fee Structure: Taylor reported that at the February meeting commission requested additional information to outline differences that resident / non-resident fees may be for recreation programs, facility rentals, and field usage by athletic organizations. Staff used existing data, including the percentage of use by non-residents for the calculations that were provided to the commission. Staff informed that they felt the fees for organized user groups should be left at the current prices but to look at them in the future. Commission agreed they felt that the kids in the organized user groups shouldn’t get penalized for where their parents choose to live.

MOTION: Swartzlender moved to not change the fees for the organized user groups for athletic fields. Motion seconded by Oatney and carried unanimously.

Taylor informed currently the fees associated with reservations of park facilities are the same for both city residents and non-residents. With primary funding of the park from city tax revenue, the city taxpayers are essentially subsidizing the park system for the larger community. Heislein feels that almost all park districts in Oregon charge the resident / non-resident fees for recreation programs and facility rentals.

MOTION: Swartzlender moved to recommend to Council an increase of 25% for all users of facilities and recreation programs. Motion seconded by Gilley. Discussion followed with Baker expressing concern that residents already pay city taxes. Motion called for and failed to pass with 2 yes and 4 no.

MOTION: Gilley moved to recommend to Council to increase the current fees for facility rentals by 25% for residents and 50% for non-residents; and to set future recreation program fees for non-residents at 25% above regular (resident) recreation program fee. Motion seconded by Heislein and carried unanimously.

Movies in the Park: Taylor informed the requirements for the Movies in the Park series include electrical power for the equipment and also venue amenities such as parking, restrooms, and adequate space for the event. Staff researched various park sites for the location that would best meet the requirements, and it was determined that Stewart Park Bandshell would be the best fit. Swartzlender feels that parking may be an issue at Stewart Park since Legion baseball also has games the nights the movies are planned for. Heislein questioned about the movies being on two different nights of the week during the series. Staff informed that they tried to get them all on one night but the Museum is having a drive-in movie one of the nights and staff didn’t want to compete with them, staff also felt that since this was the first time doing the series that having two different nights will help determine which has a better turn out.

MOTION: Swartzlender recommended proceeding with Movies in the Park scheduling at the Stewart Park bandshell area. Motion seconded by Oatney and carried unanimously.

Grant Request – Stewart Park Playground: Taylor reported that the commission had previously identified the replacement of the play structure at Stewart Park as a priority project. In 2008 staff applied for a grant from the Oregon Parks & Recreation Department for the playground renovation and did not get the grant. The grant cycle has reopened with the applications due April 3, 2009. Staff plans to submit a new grant application for the renovation of the Stewart Park playground, grant submission requires a resolution from City Council authorizing the application for the grant. One of the changes in the grant program for 2009 is a lower match requirement.

MOTION: Oatney moved to recommend forwarding the resolution to City Council authorizing the application for the grant. Motion seconded by Gilley and carried unanimously.

INFORMATIONAL:

Monthly Golf Receipts: Spreadsheet with the golf receipts information for January 2009 was provided to the commission.

Maintenance Report: The parks and golf maintenance report prepared by Parks Superintendent Tracy Pope for February 2009 was provided to the commission

AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION: Frank Tarascio, RSA, informed the organization will be happy to hear that the commission voted against raising the organized user fees. RSA hasn’t raised their fees in 3 years and each year continues to get more requests for financial assistance from families that want to enroll their children in RSA. He feels rather than increase the fees that the City could ask for volunteer help or funds from the organized athletic groups for things that the City is currently paying to have done.

Nancy Stockhoff, Stewart Park Ladies Golf, mentioned that they will be having their kick-off breakfast April 2nd.

BUSINESS FROM THE COMMISSION: Oatney asked that the golf budget be discussed at the next commission meeting. Taylor reminded commission of the Great Oregon Tree Plant taking place the Stewart Park Natural Area on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 9:00 a.m. Taylor also mentioned staff met with a representative from Cascade Community Credit Union regarding financing directional signs for the posts that are along the bike path.

ADJOURNMENT: Meeting adjourned at 9:14 a.m.

Chanelle Rogers,

Parks and Public Works Department Technician

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