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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes - 2006-10-18`1Y p{ IARL ppwF O C OREGON Members 2006: John Marandas, Chair Rob Larson, Vice Chair Steve Dodds John McComish Jim Suiter Sue Rimkeit, Adult Community Center City of Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Wednesday, October 18, 2006 6:00 p.m. Council Chambers City Hall 380 A Avenue Gay Graham, City Council Liaison For Information: 503-675-2544 Youth Council Members: Benajmin Saulson Jordan Schrader Meeting Minutes Roll Call John Marandas called the meeting to order at 6:12 p.m. In attendance: John Marandas, Steve Dodds, John McComish,and Jim Suiter. Ben Saulson — Youth Council. Kim Gilmer and Kim Bowman staff. Gay Graham, City Council Liaison. Rob Larson was excused absent. Sue Rimkeit was absent. Kim Gilmer shared that Lake Oswego Parks & Recreation Department was recognized in Seattle as a finalist in the Gold Medal Awards on October 13 at the national congress of the National Parks & Recreation Association. The Gold Medal Award is given by the National Recreation and Parks Association and the American Academy for Parks & Recreation Administration to agencies that have demonstrated excellence in parks and recreation administration based upon the agency's planning and implementation of strategies to enhance parks and recreational facilities and programs in their communities. II. Approval of the September 20, 2006 Minutes Steve Dodds made a motion to approve the minutes. John McComish seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved. III. Open Public Communications IV. Old Business A. Community Center Steering Committee Update Steve Dodds told PRAB there have been many meetings. The committee has visited 4-5 libraries and 6-7 athletic centers. The committee has come up with an initial wish list of amenities. The whole idea and vision is an intergenerational facility. For example, grand parents of kids taking swimming lessons, then the grandparents go work out. Older adults involved in a mentor program at the library, then go work out. The existing library is not adequate for existing demand. The initial recommendation is to bring a 65,000 square feet of library to the Safeco building. It has been determined that it is significantly more expensiv, operationally, to have two libraries. The community center would host a 25 yard by 33 meter pool, an aquatic center, 2 court gym, fitness and group exercise, multi-purpose rooms, classrooms, community hall, meeting rooms, teen and senior areas, and a skateboard park. 150 people showed up at a public meeting held on October 4 to voice their opinions about the Steering Committee proposals. There is opposition about moving library from current location. Approximately 2/3 of those in attendance liked the idea of a community center with or without modifications to the Steering Committee's proposals. The committee is now trying to determine initial and ongoing costs, and how to pay for the ongoing operation of the center. The vision needs to get properly expressed over the next few years (assuming the vote is on the November 2008 ballot),to help people understand what they will be getting. The west half of the building could serve as the library and the east half would be modified for Parks & Recreation programs and activities. The idea is to put the pool in front of the facility on Kruse Way. The useable space is about 8 acres. It would be a big expense to do Tennis Courts. While there is a need, tennis courts most likely will not be done with the Center. B. Discussion of PRAB's June 21, 2006 motion/recommendation regarding the Bryant Rd. to Reese Rd. Pedestrian Easement John Marandas provided some background of the presentation made to PRAB in June about the pedestrian easement, in which PRAB recommended retaining the easement and adopting and developing the trail. Michael Buck, President of the Lake Grove Business Association, Barbara Zeller representing Lake Grove Neighborhood Association (LGNA), and Brenda Folson, resident who lives directly adjacent to the right-of-way requested to speak. Michael wants to see the easement in conjunction with the requirements of the Lake Grove Village Plan (LGVP) which has progressed from the advisory committee to the planning commissions. The intent of the plan is to focus on Boones Ferry as a streetscape and something to vitalize the area. The plan calls to create a great street, improve Boones Ferry Road, make it safe for walking, biking and transit along with traffic, and direct foot traffic into the businesses along Boones Ferry Road. The streetscapes will connect with adjacent neighborhoods. The plan also encourages orientation of building entrances to walking areas. The plan calls for 9 foot and 12 foot sidewalks and pedestrian connectivity between businesses. Michael is concerned that this is the 3rd or 4t" parallel pedestrian connectivity going on it the same area. The string of pearls concept in the plan — gathering places of softscapes and hardscapes, is to keep people on Boones Ferry Road, not off the road on other pathways. The buffer area defined in the plan that lies behind the businesses on Boones Ferry Road and between the residential areas parallel to Boones Ferry Road was agreed upon between commercial and residential interests. This was a compromise between businesses and neighbors. It is currently 11 feet and is critical that it remain as such. A pedestrian pathway back there makes no real good sense. Developing the trail is asking for more development on that particular site. The land would have to be terraced. In some cases, the pathway lies right next to a 6 foot screened fence. This detracts from the plan and is not integrated with the plan. Michael also expressed concern that business owners would bear the cost of pathway development as part of the landscaping plan on the buffer area. Michael asked PRAB to revisit the issue for additional consideration. John Marandas asked how the LGVP addressed the Master Trails plan. Mike said it was a difficult task to meet all the criteria in one fell swoop. Brenda Folson asks that the right or way (pedestrian trail) not be deleted from records, but that it remain as a buffer. It has 25 significant trees. She expressed concern with security due to close proximity of the pathway to homes. She presented a petition signed by Nola Court and Sunset residents. She also presented a map from the City and her amateur survey of trees along the pathway. Barbara Zeller, LGNA Chair, and alternate to LGVC plan committee wants to propose quality of life issues. She appreciates a vital commercial area, but to have encroachment of a pedestrian way along a right of way which has people walking within 5 feet of homes is not what the neighborhood association wants. The neighborhood's concession allowed the business owners to count 6 feet of existing right of way and add 5 feet of additional planting buffer. The LGNA has not asked that the right of way be vacated. Nola Court and Sunset residents have spoken clearly and emphatically that they do not want the pedestrian easement at all. Kim Gilmer stated that the Trails Master plan allows for flexibility. Its intent is to maintain connectivity among neighborhoods and public communities. At some places, you may have 10 foot asphalt path that narrows to 4 foot gravel path. John Marandas thanked the speakers and then invited the group (known as "the hikers") who originally presented the request for easement recognition and pathway development to PRAB in June to speak. Summary of speaker comments: 1. Julia Ferreira began the hikers' presentation by providing a history of the easement. It was dedicated in 1915 by Oregon Iron and Steel. It appears on all the plans including the LGVC plan. It meets all the criteria for inclusion; you don't have to invent a new pathway, just recognize it and use it. Volunteers are standing by to clean up invasive ivy, laurels, and other growth. She's not talking about asphalting, just maintaining the pathway in its current state, gravel. She requests the City to put up the medallions at both ends of the route, similar to what exists at Luscher Farm on the Stafford Trail. She asks PRAB to preserve the route now that runs east to west from Reese to Bryant for the whole future. Ruth Spielman was a member of Trails Advisory Board. The board helped adopt the Trails Master Plan and this path is identified in the Plan as one needing to be preserved. Walking on a sidewalk or in parking lot where car traffic exists is not desirable. She prefers to walk on the pathway. She lived in Mountain Park where pathways were a selling point. Pathways exist very close to homes. There has never a security issue in the past, not sure what the security issue is now. Steve Dodds asked if we should recognize that a pathway behind a commercial area might attract concern. Ruth said that all the residential fences exist on the pathway. Wilma McNulty was a member of LGVP advisory committee also. As she understands it, it wouldn't be a pathway all the way... it's just individual businesses. The pathway is so much more pleasant to walk than Boones Ferry Road. The focus on Boones Ferry should not disadvantage others who want to walk a safe route. She sees the pathway as part of the buffer a win/win and wants to know what would make it acceptable to the neighbors. Lighting could be at waist level. More plantings at fence level could create more barriers. More sound buffers could be created. If one of the string of pearls is at the old fire hall, the natural way is to cut behind the buildings. The original deed is for pedestrians, not businesses. She said one can't see over fences of pathway and is not sure what the specific security and privacy issues are. Carolyn Strickland in her final statement asked for the route not to be abandoned. Diane Bradshaw requested to suggest a pathway like this is not unlike the charming alleys we have throughout the city and are not impacted by vandalism. Public Comment was closed at 7:18 p.m. John is concerned that this should be studied more and that other stakeholders should be advised prior to PRAB withdrawing the former recommendation. Steve Dodds said there is no conflict with retaining the easement and right of way designation without recommending to develop the pathway. The LGVP is to produce as much pedestrian traffic on Boones Ferry and in front of the businesses as possible. Seems that if there is no expense to the businesses and if the path meandered along as part of the 11 foot buffer area and was incorporated into the landscaping, it might be workable. John McComish suggested that safe access away from traffic is important in providing routes to a Community Center. It also cuts down on potential parking problems. Jim Suiter is in favor of pathway, but has concerns for homeowners. Need to find a win- win. Kim Gilmer suggested that if a public pathway were to be built, it would more than likely be paid for by the City.. Mike Buck says PRAB needs to get homeowner input. The LGVP advisory committee voted to retain the right-of-way, but voted down development of the path. PRAB originally voted to "recommend to City Council to preserve the original pathway easement and begin maintaining it as a pedestrian easement." PRAB MOTION: Withdraw PRAB's June 21, 2006 motion, and in it's place recommend that the existing pedestrian easement be recognized and retained; and to encourage discussion with all stakeholders to come up with an agreeable solution for constructing a pedestrian pathway. Steve Dodds moved to withdraw previous and alter it to present, Jim Suiter seconded. vote. The motion was unanimously carried. C. Discuss & Develop Recommendations for the Lake Grove Village Plan Does PRAB support the string of pearls idea? Does PRAB like the placement, and size. PRAB MOTION: Steve Dodds moved that PRAB support the string of pearls concept, likes the idea of open space and for the committee to continue the public process. Ben Saulson seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously carried. V. New Business A. 50+ Advisory Board Short Presentation Janine Dunphy, Chair, 50+ Advisory Committee, presented the process of the 50+ dialogues. The mission is to focus on ages 50 and over, not just senior citizens. They are focusing on trends and interests and needs of people in the community. The committee reports back to Council. The four areas of interest the committee focuses on based on feedback from the community are maintaining independence services and support, life planning and wellness, connectivity and interconnectedness. It's an all encompassing mission. The committee meets the second Thursday of every month at 8:30 a.m. in Council Chambers. Issues being addressed will include transportation, housing choices, city codes for flexibility on Mother -in -Laws apartments, seminars for health (mental, physical and nutrition). The committee is hoping to put together a volunteer coordinator for rotary, faith based and other organizations that wish to assist. John Marandas will attend the 50+ Advisory Board meeting in November. B. Begin Preparations for the 2007 Work Plan PRAB needs to finalize the 2007 plan in order to present it to Council in early December. PRAB will finalize the plan at the November meeting. Jim asked for Kim Gilmer and John Marandas to prepare the information for PRAB to vote on. John would like PRAB to make some statements such as: Work closely with the 50+ advisory board. Kim will meet with the chair, co-chair and secretary to develop the work plan for all PRAB members to review at the next meeting. PRAB reviewed the golf course financials and discussed the pro shop financials and asked about the revenue drop in September pro shop revenues. Kim Gilmer told PRAB about an experimental program to use the head teaching pro to manage the shop. The result was an increase in lessons revenues, but lost revenues associated with tournaments and pro shop merchandise. Loss of rounds also contributed. PRAB is still recruiting for new board members. Kim Gilmer mentioned that other agencies hold open houses. Steve recommended a day of golf. Gay said to have a table at the Farmers' Market. C. Schedule Next Meeting — November 15, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. D. Adjourn Meeting — John Marandas adjourned the meeting at 8:23 p.m.