City Council

The City of Columbia City In Columbia County on the Columbia River PARKS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 9, 2024 - 6:00 P.M. City Hall Council Chambers – 1840 Second Street Present: Katrina Claridge, Committee Chair Jeff Reinan, Council Member Mark Gordon, Committee Member Nell Harrison, Committee Member Jack Hruska, Committee Member Karen Shervey, Committee Member Jim Wills, Committee Member Sally Ann Marson, Committee Member Kim Karber, City Administrator Katrina called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Veteran’s Park: The committee discussed the updates on the Memorial Day celebration. Nell informed us that the Gold Star marker has not shipped yet. She will let us know when the Garden Club is planning on meeting up at the park to look at where to place the marker so we can join. Harvard Park: Jim is working in Harvard Park and has the weed and feed to put down. He will start with the play area and work on the field area next. Marson Gardens: The Purple Robe Locust is cut down and the committee would like to see a pink Dogwood in its place if it is sturdy enough and can handle the wind that goes through there. Sally Ann mentioned the roses on the hill do need water, not a lot because they are pretty hardy, but they do need some. Jim Bundy Memorial Park: It is Trillium season. River’s Walk: A few committee members were wondering if there could be stairs or a handrail that could be put in on the steeper areas so there is easier access for people to get in and out, especially if we want to put picnic tables in the lower areas. Kim will ask Micah about it. Parks Master Plan: Mark had wanted the committee to go over the 2001 Parks Master Plan in detail. Kim offered to set up a separate meeting for anyone who would like to do that. She reminded everyone that we are in the process of applying for a grant for an updated master plan and it will take into account the old plan to see what was done, what was not done, and all the ways Columbia City has changed. Leahnette is requesting letters of support from different entities for the grant application and would like the parks committee to submit one, to which the committee agreed. There was a lot of discussion around the struggle to maintain all the current parks. We don’t have the volunteers we used to and our public works crew has a lot of additional responsibilites they need to take care of. If we acquire more parkland, how will we take care of it? But the City also needs to stay open and flexible 1 to what changes may come in the future and how that will affect our parks. If we can get an updated Parks Master Plan, we can see what guidance it has about expanding parks, selling parks, how to improve the ones we have, etc. based on input collected from residents. Other Business: • The City received a donation of 148 tulips and is looking for suggestions on where to place them. The committee suggested possibly placing them by benches or on the mound in Bundy Park, or around the Columbia City sign. • Sally Ann wants the committee to think about what type of benches we would like – with arm rests, without arm rests, how many should they seat, what type of material, etc. • Space Force is now considered another branch of the services and we may need to consider adding another monument to Veteran’s Park. The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m. 2