| City Commission Work Session | Mayor Joan Bennett presiding |
CALL TO ORDER: 5:45 P.M.
PRESENT: Mayor Bennett, Commissioners Downer, Gray, and Rosenbaum. Commissioner Beecher was excused. Also present were City Manager, City Attorney, Directors of Community Development, Park & Recreation, Fiscal Control, Management Information Services, Planning, Library, Public Works, Fire Chief, Police Chief, and City Clerk.
Chuck McAdam, representative from Neighborhood Council 5, presented a plan to improve the park located in Charlie Russell Addition. He stated that the neighbors became involved in the park development process after learning that the Park and Recreation Master Plan slated a portion of Russell Park to be sold. He said that ideas was unacceptable to the area residents and after working with Staff and discovering that funds were not available to improve the vacant park land, the neighbors became involved to find a solution.
Mr. McAdam reviewed the proposal which included fully developing the entire area with soccer fields, restrooms, picnicking areas, green areas and additional parking areas. The price tag for the proposal was approximately $300,000. Mr. McAdam said that the area residents were not opposed to an SID to pay for the park improvements.
Mark Nicholson, Chairman of NC 5, formally requested the City Commission to consider creating an SID for this project. While working with City staff on developing a cost proposal, and SID boundaries, the SID would equate to approximately $6 or $7 per year for 10 years.
After a brief discussion, the Commission thanked the Neighborhood Council representatives for their work on this proposal and stated that they would consider creating an SID for the improvements.
Jerry Sepich, Park and Recreation Director, reviewed the Master Planning process to date. Following that, Mr. Sepich invited Stacy Robinson, of CTA Architects to explain the proposed plan for Wadsworth Park.
Mr. Robinson explained that the Mission Statement for the Task Force was "to provide a combination of non-conflicting land and water uses, both active and passive; encourage sensitivity to and enhancement of the natural landscape and wildlife, and promote accessible recreation for all citizens."
With that statement in mind, the Task Force identified all the possible activities that people would like to see in Wadsworth Park. The most popular ideas were: walking and jogging, picnicking, fishing, biking and nature education. Mr. Robinson explained that it was logical to separate the passive uses from the active uses and the lake provided a great separator.
With the information CTA Architects began to plot areas of the park that fit the parameters. Five "fit plans" were created and presented at several public meetings. After hearing public comment, CTA Architects finalized the schematic of the park which incorporated the information and other parameters into it.
Mr. Robinson stated that the ballpark number to complete the Master Plan as presented is roughly $4,000,000. Mr. Robinson also reviewed the recommendation as to what to do with the current leases with users of the park. Overall, only two leases were not recommended to be renewed, those are with the Waterski club and the Skeet Club. Mr. Robinson stated that the activities associated with those two clubs were incompatible with many of the other activities slated to be in Wadsworth Park.
Commissioner Gray stated that it was imperative for the City Commission to assist the waterski club and the skeet club to find other locations when it is time to do so.
Emmie St. Germaine (citizen) requested the City Commission provide an area for paint ball as well.
There being no further discussion, Mayor Bennett thanked Mr. Robinson for all his work on this project.
Chief Hirose reviewed the proposed amendments to Ordinance 2743. There were no questions or discussion that followed.
There being no further business to come before the Commission, the regular work session on August 18, 1998, adjourned at 6:50 p.m.