City Council

The City of Columbia City In Columbia County on the Columbia River PARKS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES FEBRUARY 26, 2013 - 6:00 P.M. CITY HALL, 1840 SECOND STREET COLUMBIA CITY, OR 97018 Present: Shannon Fitzgibbons, Chair Nell Harrison Marian Calnon (arrived 7:06 p.m.) Sheila Bauer Jack Hruska Leahnette Rivers Entrance Sign Site: Leahnette said the final touches to the entrance sign park are underway. She said the water meter is installed, and we plan to install the flag pole and light fixtures during the month of March. We hired the Columbia County Corrections Crew to clean up along the hillside and spread several loads of bark dust under the roses. She said we purchased some really nice 2-year old roses from an on-line vendor for just over $12 each (at a significant discount since they cost $19 to $20 locally), and Sally Ann Marson just planted them along the hillside. She said she’s running a newsletter article extending a very special thank you to the anonymous citizens that donated the cash we needed to finish the park. She said one citizen donated $1,000 towards the purchase and installation of the light fixtures, and another donated $100 towards the flag pole installation and $450 and many bags of potting soil towards the rose garden. The Committee discussed coming up with a name for the entrance sign park area. Harvard Park: Committee Members suggested that the Shasta daisies that Kris Wood has offered to the City might work well in Harvard Park around the porta-potty. Jim Bundy Memorial Park: Nell said the sign at the south end of the park is covered with moss. Marian and Nell will try using some 30-Second Cleaner on it. Nell suggested that the Japanese anemone that Kris Wood has offered to the City might work well in the rock garden. PO Box 189  1840 Second Street  Columbia City, Oregon 97018 Phone 503-397-4010  Fax 503-366-2870 E-mail colcity@columbia-city.org  Web site www.columbia-city.org Page 2 Tidelands: Jack suggested we pursue the acquisition of a public access easement across the tidelands adjacent to the Germer property, which is currently for sale. Leahnette will check with the property owners to see if there is an interest. McBride Creek Trail System: Leahnette said the Columbia County Corrections Crew worked on clearing the picnic area and walking trail up until December. She said they have stopped work until the worst of the winter months are over, and then they’ll start again in the spring. She said they will continue to build the first section of hiking trail down to the creek. Leahnette said the property owner immediately to the north is willing to give the City the creek riparian area in exchange for a chain link fence along the top of the bank. She estimated that the property is approximately 1300 feet long, and about 170 feet deep, and fencing is expected to cost between $21,000 and $27,000. It was the consensus of the Parks Committee that Leahnette obtain permission from the City Council to pursue the transaction. Veterans War Memorial: Leahnette discussed the Veterans and War Memorial Grant award, noting that we should try to begin work as soon as the agreement has been executed. She discussed the following tasks with Committee Members:  Solicit proposals from sculptors for the monument to be dedicated to all American veterans - Leahnette will work on this.  Work on acquiring a Blue Star Memorial for the site - Shannon and Nell will work on this with the Garden Club.  Take a look at the VFW cornerstone that will be added to the site - Leahnette will contact VFW representatives to coordinate.  Site access - Leahnette will coordinate further with ODOT on vehicular access from Highway 30. We’ll likely want to remove the existing traffic barrier and add large rocks to keep traffic off of the bike path and other grassy areas.  Visit the site - the Parks Committee will meet on site at 1 p.m. on March 5 th, weather permitting. We may need to survey the property, and we’ll likely want to remove the existing fencing.  Invite our partners to the next Parks Committee Meeting to participate in the final design of the project - Leahnette will send out the invitations.  Final design - the Parks Committee will work with staff on final design with input from our partners.  Ground breaking ceremony.  Construction.  Dedication ceremony. Committee Members discussed various ideas and details about the project at length with staff. Dog Park: Leahnette reported that she and Shannon recently visited two potential sites for a dog park - one was on Port-owned property at the corner of “E” Street and The Strand, and the other was along the west side of Jim Bundy Memorial Park. After discussing the pros PO Box 189  1840 Second Street  Columbia City, Oregon 97018 Phone 503-397-4010  Fax 503-366-2870 E-mail colcity@columbia-city.org  Web site www.columbia-city.org Page 3 and cons associated with both sites at length, it was the consensus of the Parks Committee that we pursue a lease agreement with the Port of St. Helens for a portion of their site. Five Year Plan: Leahnette will update the Five Year Plan to include a dog park, the Veterans Memorial Park, and property acquisition for the McBride Creek property as discussed tonight. Meeting adjourned 7:30 p.m. PO Box 189  1840 Second Street  Columbia City, Oregon 97018 Phone 503-397-4010  Fax 503-366-2870 E-mail colcity@columbia-city.org  Web site www.columbia-city.org