HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-05-16 Beautication Caldwell Beautification Commission
1"N Regular Meeting. Council Chambers.
May 16, 1977, 12 Noon.
Present: Members : Bell, Conger, Gerdes, Gledhill, Jensen, Wallace,
Youngblood.
Ex Officio: Bauman, Morse, Payne.
Guests : John Renk, Glen Nielson.
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Conger.
Minutes. The minutes of the April 18 meeting were approved as
distributed.
Parks and Recreation Commission. No report.
Plannin and Zoning Commission. Conger reported that there is to
be a public hearing regarding fences to be placed around Van Buren
and Lincoln school playgrounds. No date was announced. Jensen
is to seek additional information about why the fences are needed.
The fences may make it desirable for this commission to determine
whether or not they will change the traffic pattern of children
going to and from the schools which might affect the proposed route
of the bicycle pathway.
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Beautification Commission. Conger told the commission that she had
talked with Councilman McCluskey about the duties of this commission
and that this topic had been discussed at a recent council meeting.
The Council thinks that perhaps there are a number of problems that
should be directed to Beautification but which presently are not.
Trees. Macy and Payne, at the suggestion of Payne, have decided that
this commission need not have anything to do with a public relations
campaign on trees at this point.
Bell was asked to send a letter of gratitude to the Board of Realtors
for the trees they donated to the city.
Spring Clean-up. Jensen moved that the memo on a possible way to
organize Spring Clean-up be sent to the Mayor and City Council.
Seconded by Bell. Passed.
Commendations. Rankin withdrew her nomination of the Dunn and Frye
property. The recommendations of the Orville Collins property and
of King Brown Gardens as discussed in last monthts meeting were
unanimously approved.
Payne arrived at 12:20 noon.
Curtis Park. Conger asked that Bell and Wallace attend, with her,
,/,N the June meeting of the Canyon County Historical Society. That
group expressed an interest in considering Curtis Park as a possible
project.
Bikeways. The Chairman announced that our next meeting will be a
work session on bikeways. Jensen, Gerdes and Gledhill were asked
to study the map and the currently proposed system.
11 Railroad Project. Bauman reported that verbal permission had been
received from the Union Pacific to allow the city to remove a load-
ing dock and some track to provide parking spaces in the project.
Bauman feels that the whole project hinges on a personal visit
between city officials and railroad people.
Entrances. Councilman McCluskey suggested to Conger that this
commission be concerned with planting a strip left open after the
paving of the stadium parking lot. A discussion brought out the
fact that other organizations are already taking this project.
Quiet Park. Rankin read a letter from the Forward Club stating
that they will contribute $100 to the Quiet Park this year. This
money is to be used to plant a hedge on the east side of the park
to divide it from the adjacent property. It is their intention
to continue support of this project.
Arboretum. Glen Nielson of the Soil Conservation Service was intro-
duced to the Commission. He stated that his office would be very
happy to cooperate in the planning of an arboretum. When asked if
Curtis Park would be a suitable site he replied that he felt it
would be a perfectly good area. The Soil Conservation Service can
help in arboretum planning by preparing siting maps and topographi-
cal maps in addition to soil inventories of various areas under
consideration. A specific size is not a necessary requirement
for an arboretum.
Nielson suggested that Charles Mawry is very knowledgeable about
arboretums and would be a good source for information in compiling
a list of suitable plantings.
In further discussion about an arboretum in Caldwell the following
points were made : 1. That we look into the possibility of label-
ing trees currently planted on public property. 2. That if we
choose to have several small arboretums a map should be published
showing their locations and plantings. 3. Only plantings suit-
able to alkaline soil be made. -i . A list of possible plantings
be compiled before a plan is drawn up.
An informal survey of persons present at the meeting indicated that
the majority preferred to think in terms of having one large arboretum
rather than a series of smaller arboretums around the city.
Councilwoman Bauman asked for help from the Commission in setting
up a method of acquiring money for the acquisition of park property.
Gledhill and Jensen left at 1:30 after Conger announced that Don
Horan had requested a meeting with this Commission Wednesday noon.
Conger asked that Bell and Youngblood set up a meeting which she
would attend to start making plans for an arboretum. Such a plan
would eventually go to the City Council for its approval or disapproval
Quiet Park. Rankin was asked to take the Quiet Park proposal to
the Parks and Recreation Commission meeting for their approval.
Assuming their approval the proposal is to be taken to the City
Council.
Parking Ordinance. After a discussion the following proposal
reflecting the feeling of this Commission was composed.
The Beautification Commission firmly supports an ordinance re-
/-1114 stricting the parking of trucks in residential areas because of
the following factors :
1. Safety hazards caused by lack of visibility.
2. Unsightliness and aesthetic considerations.
3. Noise pollution caused by trucks being used at irregular hours .
4. Economic conditions causing neighbors to bear the cost of curb
and gutter replacement and the possible loss of property value
due to the nuisance factor.
We recognize the problems of the truckers but feel that the
arguments presented against such an ordinance lack validity when
viewed from the standpoint of community welfare.
Wallace moved that this statement be adopted and sent to the City
Council. Rankin seconded. Passed.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 P.M.
Special Meeting. May 18, 1977, 12 Noon
Present : Members : Bell, Conger, Jensen, Rankin, Wallace.
Ex Officio: Morse, Payne. Guest : Don Horan
The meeting consisted of a discussion under the leadership of Don
Horan who distributed Bylaws of the Caldwell Airport Commission with
the suggestion that the Beautification Commission establish its own
bylaws which would make it a stronger, more effective working or-
ganization. Horan also suggested that we thin-k- of a more fitting
name and define our purpose and areas of interest.
Among other points brought up during the ensuing discussion are the
following:
1. One person should concentrate on one project area but the
Commission should have a number of projects going all the time.
2. When projects are started enlist the help of persons ;Tho will
be directly affected e. g. if the downtown area were chosen as
a project enlist the aid of the Retail Merchants, etc.
3. October is the time to make committee appointments because the
fiscal year ends then.
4. Establish a method for publicity. Projects should be written
up in the local paper regularly so that no project comes as a
great surprise to the citizens of Caldwell. Use pictures as
often as possible.
5. The Commission should learn to use staff help in making pre-
sentations to the Council.
A series of work sessions will be set up starting Tuesday, May 24
to start work on these suggestions .
The meeting was adjourned at 1:40 P.M.
emN Valeta Wallace
Co-Secretary