and
Joint Special Meeting Minutes
November 17, 2005, 7:00 pm
Civic Center, Council Chambers,
Attendance: City Councilors A. Amarotico, Chapman, Hardesty, Hartzell, Jackson, Silbiger, and Mayor Morrison were present.
School Board Members Alexander, Amrhein, Marr, Parker, and Patton were present.
Parks Commissioners Eggers, Gardiner, Lewis, and D. Amarotico were present. Commissioner Rosenthal was absent.
Staff: GINO GRIMALDI, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
JULI DI CHIRO, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT
DON ROBERTSON, PARKS DIRECTOR
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Morrison called the City Council Special Meeting to order, Park Commissioner Gardiner called the Park Commission Special Meeting to order, and Chair Parker called the School Board Special Meeting to order at 7:03 pm at Council Chambers,
II. INTRODUCTION AND AGENDA REVIEW
There were no changes to the agenda.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Eggers moved to accept the minutes as presented;
IV. PUBLIC INPUT
There was no public input.
V. JOINT RESOLUTION
Robertson referenced his written statement, explaining that, at the last joint meeting of the Ashland School Board, Ashland City Council, and
Mayor Morrison read the following proposed resolution for the record.
Whereas the citizens of
Whereas the city has a comprehensive plan goal of providing a neighborhood park within a quarter mile of each residence, and school grounds are factored into that format as neighborhood parks;
Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council agree that all the school grounds, including Briscoe and Lincoln, shall remain as public open spaces;
Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council agree that they all have large capital needs that should be addressed as a consolidated effort;
Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council recognize that each of their constituents is also the others’ constituents, and that proper use of tax dollars is critical to each entity’s mission;
Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council recognize that time is limited and that a goal of implementation of any plan will occur on or by July 2006;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council shall preserve the playgrounds at all the current Ashland School District facilities, including Briscoe and Lincoln, as open spaces; that all three elected boards shall identify their major capital needs and work together to coordinate funding in a manner that is beneficial to the taxpayers of Ashland; and that the three jurisdictions will develop a maintenance plan that properly distributes the costs and liabilities of maintaining all of their publicly owned facilities.
Silbiger declared a potential conflict of interest due to his being a shareholder in Plexis Healthcare. Group members accepted his declaration and agreed that he could participate in the discussion.
The group revised the resolution to read as follows:
Whereas the citizens of
Whereas the city has a comprehensive plan goal of providing a neighborhood park within a quarter mile of each residence, and school grounds are factored into that format as neighborhood parks;
Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council agree that the school playgrounds, including those at Briscoe and Lincoln, shall remain as public open spaces;
Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council agree that they all have large capital needs that should be addressed as a coordinated effort;
Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council recognize that each of their constituents is also the others’ constituents, and that proper use of tax dollars is critical to each entity’s mission;
Whereas the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council recognize that time is limited and that a goal of implementation of any plan will occur on or by July 2006; space around the schools will be preserved as playing fields;
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Ashland School Board, Ashland Parks Commission, and Ashland City Council shall preserve the playgrounds and playing fields at all the current Ashland School District facilities, including Briscoe and Lincoln, as open spaces; that all three elected boards shall identify their major capital and maintenance needs and work together to coordinate funding in a manner that is beneficial to the taxpayers of Ashland.
Public comments were received as follows.
Melissa Mitchell-Hooge,
Alexander hoped that playing fields would be interpreted as sporting fields.
Hartzell suggested that the resolution designate a minimum amount of land that would be playing fields.
Marr moved that the Ashland School Board adopt the consensus resolution as amended. Alexander seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
Eggers moved that the Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission adopt the resolution as amended. D. Amarotico seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
VI. SOSP JOINT-USE RECOMMENDATIONS
Melissa Mitchell-Hooge highlighted the Save Our Schools & Playgrounds Task Force Recommendations for Preserving Schools & Playgrounds and responded to questions. The recommendations were:
1.) Enter into a formal joint-use agreement between the Ashland Parks Department, City of
2.) Share maintenance equipment and maintenance facilities yards between the City of Ashland, Ashland Parks & Recreation Department and Ashland School District, to the extent that is feasible, in order to save money, share resources, and possibly open up available land for workforce housing.
3.) Explore the idea of workforce housing on public land that does not currently house a playground or playing field, and encourage the donation of land to the City or
4.) Market
VII. SET AGENDA FOR NEXT MEETING
The group discussed next steps. It was agreed that the maintenance steering committee would continue to operate with Amrhein, Eggers and A. Amarotico as members. Patton volunteered to serve on the committee as a resource, since she did research for the SOSP report.
Hartzell supported the resolution with the understanding that more definitions would be developed and more clarification regarding the playing fields would be provided.
Alexander felt the three entities are specifically tasked with discussing the maintenance of the playing fields and the parks of the schools, and questioned how the bond issue becomes involved.
Gardiner pointed out that the cost recommendation of the SOSP is to shift $190,000 to the Parks & Recreation Commission to take care of the maintenance, and he is not sure where that money will come from.
Hartzell reminded the group that the subcommittee needs to provide public notice when it meets. Hartzell further recommended that a subcommittee on the funding goal be appointed that is separate from the resolution.
Eggers stated that she is committed to discussing dedicated parkland in the future and issues that are shared by the three entities, not just maintenance of school grounds.
Amrhein understands the task of the maintenance subcommittee and would like to meet with staff so the subcommittee can further define what will be done and when. The subcommittee will then develop a plan that can be presented to the large group.
Hartzell moved to appoint Patton to the maintenance subcommittee. Gardiner seconded and the motion passed unanimously.
The group confirmed that the Housing subcommittee consists of Cate Hartzell, Jim Lewis and Ruth Alexander.
Hartzell proposed that the large group meet in mid-January and the maintenance subcommittee report on its recommendations. The subcommittee can request feedback from the different entities prior to the January meeting.
The next agenda was set as follows:
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
Morrison adjourned the City Council, Parker adjourned the School Board, and Gardiner adjourned the Parks Commission at 8:58 p.m.