City Council

The City of Columbia City In Columbia County on the Columbia River PARKS COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES February 23, 2026 - 6:00 P.M. City Hall Council Chambers – 1840 Second Street Present: Lyle Bluhm, Committee Chair Sally Ann Marson, Committee Member Nell Harrison, Committee Member Jack Hruska, Committee Member Katrina Claridge, Committee Member Mark Gordon, Committee Member Kim Karber, City Administrator Micah Rogers, Public Works Superintendent Absent: Karen Shervey, Committee Member Jim Wills, Committee Member Chair Bluhm called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. • Discuss Memorial Day 2026 Event Plans The Committee discussed the Memorial Day Program and went over different suggestions on who we could have as speakers. Everyone will be putting out the word that we are looking for people from different branches to raise the flags - they do not have to currently be active. • Update Park Project List for the Draft Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan After reviewing the project list, the five-year plan is as follows: • Harvard Park renovations – playground upgrade, picnic shelter, ADA access improvements in budget year 2026-27 • Bike Path Refurbishment and Improvements in budget year 2027-28 2 Parks Committee Meeting February 23, 2026 • Basalt Rock Relocation in budget year 2029-30 • Veterans Park/Rivers Walk Trail System Parking Project in budget year 2030- 31 Motion: Moved (Hruska), Seconded (Claridge) to approve the 5-year capital plan as modified. Motion passed (4-1). Aye (Marson, Harrison, Hruska, Claridge); Nay (Gordon) • Park Updates - Micah • Bundy Park ▪ Public works is finishing cleaning up branches and tree debris from the windstorm (no damage was caused) before the trilliums start poking out. There were 3 - 4 trees that came down and public works also cut some broken/rotting trees down. Any firewood sized wood is stacked by the parking lot and will be up for sealed bid. • Rivers Walk ▪ It has been three years since Phase 1 was completed. Gravel needs to be added, and time spent to maintain it. • Pixie Park ▪ Hand railing has been replaced. A plan has been devised to fix the leaning piers. The sign between the upright piers needs to be replaced/updated to state the donation of the park from the Daughters of the American Revolution. • The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The meeting was adjourned at 7:18 p.m.