Minutes - 04/17/2001
MINUTES
Woodburn Recreation and Parks Board
Regular Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, April 17, 2001
7:00pm
City Council Chambers
1. The meeting was called to order at 7pm by Janet Greenwell.
2. Role Call
Members present: Janet Greenwell, chair; Richard Hammond, Member; Patricia Watts,
Member; Herb Mittman, Vice Chair.
Staff present: Randy Westrick, Director; Brian Sjothun, Leisure Services; Jennifer
Goodrick, AA.
Members absent: Frank Anderson, Member; Sharon Felix, Member, Melissa Tittle,
Member.
3. Approval of Minutes from March 13,2001 meeting.
A motion to accept the minutes as written was made by Herb Mittman.
The motion was seconded by Richard Hammond
The motion was passed unanimously.
4. Business from the audience: there was none.
5. Business from the Director
Division Reports
1. Leisure Services Division.-Kristi Davidson spoke about this years baseball and
soft ball leagues, with over 225 participants from ages 2 to 14. In cooperation with Woodburn
Together, we will offer an adult mens league next season. Summer camp 2001 will offer 8
weeks of fun for kids age 5 to 13. The program will employ 25 part timers, and a brochure will
be mailed to every household in Woodburn on 4/30. Sports Festival is set for 8/18 and they are
looking for volunteers. Drop-in centers are continuing to do well. Overall numbers are steady,
but the number of children utilizing their time to do homework continues to increase.
2. Aquatics Division. -A report was provided in the packet. Kathy Willcox on
vacation.
3. Parks Maintenance. & Facilities - John Pitt gave an update on the progress of
Phase 2 of the Centennial Park Project. Sewer system, irrigation system and trees are in place.
Bids for electrical and concrete work are in and work will begin soon. Community Garden has
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been tilled and staked and is ready to be planted, and park restrooms are open. Woodburn Eagle
had a good turn out for the Easter egg hunt in. Thanks extended from the department to the
Eagles for their work and clean up. Flowering bulbs were due in part to over 900 hours put in by
volunteers. Randy said that tomorrow about 30 middle school kids will be volunteering for
Caesar Chavez day.
6. Hermanson III Wetlands Mitigation Project Workshop
Paul Sedoruk of the Luckey Co. introduced himself, reported on the results of the
workshop held on April 5 with the neighbors. He handed out a preference sheet (included in
packet) to each participant, asking what was wanted and not wanted in the neighborhood. Gave
results to board. Most people did not objected to a wooded corridor and forestation in
moderation as long as there wasn't a dense undergrowth. Nicely wooded yes, dense thicket no.
Paul then redesigned the site plan (included in packet) without thicket type foliage, and more
open space and flowering shrubs. Concentrated plants closer to the creek and away from
property lines. Also created the ability for light "ponding" since most people were positive to
the idea. Security issues were addressed at the meeting. Grass buffer of 25' from property lines
incorporated. Open space meadow land space was doubled from the original plan. Paul then
held up both the first plan and the second side by side, showing the changes.
Mel Schmidt said he wanted to see a plant list. Paul listed some of the plants that he would use.
Mel raised again the concerns about flooding. Paul assured him that he had a letter from
engineering that the plant material will not cause any flooding. Mel said he'd like a copy of the
letter. Janet read aloud the part of the letter that concerned flooding. Penny Tischendorfasked if
they were still planning to dredge out the creek. Paul said that some earth would be moved,
about 3000 cubic yards. Richard asked if this would alleviate the flooding concerns. Paul said
that it wouldn't raise them, and that it would increase capacity by 3000 cubic yards. Randy said
that this project was not intended to alleviate 25, 50 and 100 year flood issues, but that the plan
would not make them worse. Mel then led a discussion about flood insurance with his neighbors
in the audience. Mr. Tischendorfspoke about the problems that could have been avoided if the
Board had consulted the neighbors. Penny then gave her thoughts from the workshop,
specifically that the police officer attending was concerned about the plan for dense underbrush.
Paul said that many of the trees to be planted would be more willowy and twiggy than those
originally selected. Richard Hammond brought up other problems with thickets and Janet
assured that everyone that all thicket had been removed. Janet was concerned that there wasn't a
plant list, but Paul assured her that garden type shrubs would be used. Richard thanked Paul for
his work, Janet thanked the neighbors for their input. Janet called for a decision and Mel asked
to make another comment. He expressed concerns about the plants that would be used, that they
would not make for a secure area. Paul explained what kind of trees would be used and why.
Randy asked Paul to describe the conditions and obligations that the Luckey Co would have to
DSL on this project. Paul told that they would have to maintain an 80% survival rate for 5
years. Said that he usually plants twice as much as would be needed. A neighbor asked what
responsibility the company would have if the plants were too shrubby and if there were flooding
problems. Paul said that would be a legal issue, but that developers have been and would be held
responsible if it could be proved they cause the problem. Penny stated that she thinks the
Recreation & Parks department should have a master plan for all of the greenway before we just
improve one section.
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Randy assured the Board and the audience that the city would still maintain ownership of the
site, and that the DSL said this week that the site was an excellent candidate for this type of
project. Also reassured the neighbors that since the project wouldn't lower the elevation of their
homes, which is what FEMA concerns itself with, that this project would not cause anyone to be
required to purchase flood insurance.
Janet then discussed with the Board that she thought they were ready to vote as to whether they
should send the project to the City Council. Randy relayed the time line of the project thus far
and stated that all we have to decide is if this is an appropriate use for the park. Said that it
would be great to have a master plan for the greenway, for Settlemier, for Legion and for all of
our parks. Herb Moved that the Board recommend this project to the City Council and requested
that a master plan for the greenway and other parks be pursued. Pat seconded the motion and the
suggestion for a master plan. The motion passed unanimously.
7. EMERGENCY ACCESS/LEGION PARK:
Randy gave a summary of the project, over viewing what was in the packet. This proposed road
would be used as an emergency access only and would go through Legion Park. Randy stated
that the Board was being asked to make a recommendation to the City Council. Randy said that
while researching this proposal, he found that the City has a contract with the National Park
Service, and we could be in violation of that contract if we allowed this. We would have to
replace every square foot of land that we converted from outdoor recreation space if we pave this
road.
Mr Kohl pointed out the property on a map. He said that when they spoke to the previous City
Planner a few years ago they were told that they only needed one access road, and that through
214. They then prepared plans and presented them to the city. At that time they were told they
would need 2 access roads, and that one of them could be an emergency access only. Now, he
states that the planning department is interpreting the ordinance that the road would hae to be
full access. Said the problem with this site is that there is an ODOT problem with getting
another access, because there was an access once upon a time that has now been vacated-Mr
Kohl believes that it is the gravel road in Legion park. There was a meeting with The Kohl Co.,
planning and engineering, which Randy was brought in on. ODOT has said they would appraise
the land as is now, then as if it had secondary access; the difference being paid to ODOT.
Property owners-Van Valkenbergs were not interested. Two other possibilities were offered,
including improving the road in Legion park. Randy asked Mr. Kohl to clarify the access road
he was envisioning, since Randy was told that it would be for emergency access only. Mr Kohl
said the ordinance was not specific that the road could be an emergency access only. Randy
stated that he would be absolutely against the road being used for anything other than emergency
access, if access were to be granted at all. Chad Yuranek said that he was unsure of the
requirement, but hoped that the board would recommend to Planning that the access be granted
on the condition only that the road be used as emergency access. Richard asked for some
clarification, then Chad proposed that they will improve the road from Queen city Blvd in
through Legion Park to 214. Janet expressed concerns about safety issues, even if the road only
be used for emergencies. Discussion ensued about the problems anticipated with any access, and
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the uncertainly of what would be needed. Janet asked if we could get clarification before voting
3 weeks from today at the next meeting. Patricia Watts asked Randy how soon we could find
out about the National Park Service about our obligation to them. Randy said it might take
awhile, as long as 6 months. John Pitt said that they had the same problem in Settlemier Park,
taking away open space when they put in the Drop in center and had to replace 1600' of open
space. Paving removes open space. John said since the entrances and exits will be permanent,
also since the back portion gets so much use, that the problem will be with the road being used
as a parking lot. Fire department has a problem keeping the fire lane open. Richard stated that
he lives near this park and is concerned that safety security and parking will have to be addressed
for the park if the proposed development corns to fruition, that the road isn't enough. Richard
asked what development was being proposed? Chad replied 150 unit multi family housings.
Richard said that there are already mobility problems all around this park and that this proposed
access road isn't nearly enough for the development and would compound these other problems.
Chad said that there are recreation areas planned for the apartment complex. Chad asked if the
interpretive center that the City hopes to put in the park would have to be replaced as open space.
Randy said that an interpretive center has different rules than access roads, drop in centers and
such, since it enhances the park visit by interpreting historic events that happened in the park. A
Kohl consultant said that they might be able to provide the space that needs to be replaced. Janet
restated that would not move to vote on this issue until they had an authoritative interpretation
of the ordinance. Mr Kohl said that they need to do some more research. Randy will provide the
language from State Regulations so they could know what would criteria would need to be met if
this proposed road was approved.
8. 200 1-02 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Budget committee will consider our CIP on 4/30. Randy highlighted the report given to the
Board. We will be applying for a grant to expand and repair playgrounds, and to build
playgrounds closer to sports fields and picnic areas. Randy is also working on a matching grant
for the skatepark, and plans to hire a consultant to help with design soon. The greenway project
will add approximately $75,000 of value to that park. Randy reiterated that master plans need to
be done for all the parks and will add an element to the CIP to reflect that. A Community Center
is a top priority during the next two years, therefore there is $10,000 budgeted to continue the
process of getting a new Community Center. The CIP reflects our approach to planning and
spending. For instance, Centennial Park has no design work planned, since we're doing that this
year. The North Front Street Park neighborhood committee is moving ahead, raising funds for a
tot lot, writing to Woodburn Together to ask for assistance, and Randy is helping them apply for
a $2500 grant.
9. Future Board Business:
There was none.
10. Board Comments: There were none, but John Pitt invited the Board to get out and see the
work being done at Centennial Park
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11. Adjournment-meeting was adjourned by Janet at 8:50pm
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