City Council

The City of Columbia City In Columbia County on the Columbia River PARKS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES APRIL 8, 2025 - 6:00 P.M. City Hall Council Chambers – 1840 Second Street Present: Lyle Bluhm, Committee Chair Karen Shervey, Committee Member Sally Ann Marson, Committee Member Nell Harrison, Committee Member Katrina Claridge, Committee Member Mark Gordon, Committee Member Jim Wills, Committee Member Kim Karber, City Administrator Lyle called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Pixie Park • Life Vest Station The committee discussed all the information that was presented/gathered from Kit, Rosemary, Marine Board, Insurance Company, and Risk Management Consultant. In the end the committee decided not to move forward with making a recommendation to Council for a life vest station. The big reason being safety. Factors considered were: monitoring life vests to make sure they have not expired while also having the correct ones for the location; the continued expense of replacing life vests; having a sudden drop off and the wakes caused by the ships going by because it is next to a shipping channel; lack of parental supervision when kids are by the water; and maintenance of the kiosk. We do not want to give a false sense that it is a safe place to swim by providing life vests to use. • Committee members different observations of Pixie Park o Need more signage o More benches on north side of park Parks Committee Meeting April 8, 2025 o Ramp instead of stairs o Replace handrail o Shore up pilings used for the sign o Porta Potties available for longer period of time o Parking on ‘I’ Street Veterans Park • Sign for St Helens Garden Club Nell made a motion to add a small sign for the St. Helens Garden Club at Veterans Park and Sally Ann seconded it and it was passed unanimously by the committee members present. Jim will get pictures of the signs from St Helens area for an example on wording. • Memorial Day Kim gave an update that the events for Memorial Day are falling into line. We still need someone to raise the Air Force flag, and we are working with someone to organize the Color Guard. Nell suggested Frank Hupp. Bench/Picnic table plan Kim went over the costs Micah had put together for picnic tables and benches. Mark went over the bench and picnic table placement plan he put together. Katrina made a motion to buy a picnic table and two benches with the picnic table and one bench being placed at the flat area down from Veteran’s Park and one bench to be placed at Park and Mattie. Jim seconded the motion, and it was passed unanimously by the committee members present. Other Business • Kim reported the Satomi Pink Flowering Dogwood has been planted to replace the Purple Robe Locust Tree. • Kim reported the Oregon Grape has been removed from Carolyn King Park. • Katrina mentioned that there is a section of Rivers Walk that is mostly washed out and was wondering if Public Works is going to build it back up. Kim will let Micah know. • Parks Master Plan has been awarded to Conservation Technix, the contract just needs to be finalized. The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, May 13th, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 7:23 p.m. 2