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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-02-14 Beautication CALDWELL BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION ,eegular Meeting February 14, 1977, 12 noon. ` Council Chambers. Members present: Conger, Jensen, Macy, Rankin, Wallace Ex officio: Bauman, Payne Guest: John Renk The meeting was called to order by Chairman Conger. ', Minutes The minutes of the January 17, ' 1977 meeting were approved as corrected. Gledhill A letter from Rip Gledhill requesting a leave of absence from the commission until June when he returns to Caldwell was read. Rankin moved that Gledhill be granted a leave of absence. Macy seconded. Passed. Parks and Recreation Commission Rankin reported that not much of interest to this Commission had taken place at the meeting. Bauman reported that ' Nhe meeting dealt mostly with a number of very good applicants for the recreation position in Caldwell. Planning and Zoning Commission Neither Conger nor Jensen was able to attend the meeting. Railroad Park Project Bauman reported that Mayor Pasley has spoken to the UP lobbyist who has visited the depot in Caldwell. His reaction to proposed improvements seems favorable. Bauman will inform the commission when a meeting of railroad and city people is planned. Commendations The suggestion for commendation made by this commission to the City Council has not been acted on as yet. Bauman and Conger will attend the Feb. 15 council meeting to present our nomination. Rankin suggested that commission members view the Gunn and Frye property ' at 7th and Fillmore. This site because of improvement of the building and its general upgrading of the area will be considered for possible nomination at our March meeting. Quiet Park Rankin reported that the Rotary Club is not interested in supporting the quiet park project. It is possible that the Forward Club eigN may want to contribute money or equipment for this park: 5 .; :Spring Clean-up Wallace reported that the city will do special trash pick-ups the second or third week in April. Mayor Pasley had suggested that perhaps we could publicize the clean-up campaign and encourage those such as the elderly who might need some extra help to telephone the City w Hall. We would then dispatch volunteers, from groups previously solicited, to help. Conger suggested that we run an awareness campaign which, hopefully, „would make citizens have a look at their property with an eye to making it more attractive. Rankin reported that down town alleys are very dirty. She proposed that maybe the local paper could run an article suggesting that each citizen of Caldwell go out and look at his property at a specific time. The property should be looked at as if each person were a pros- ,ective buyer rather than owner or occupant. Comprehensive Plan At the last public hearing all the points which were of specific interest to this commission had been . included. , The ,plan is to ' be approved by resolution February 15, 1977. ' Bikeways Conger passed around an article published in the Statesman about Caldwell' s failure to approve the proposed bicycle pathway. Conger reported that the North Illinois bikeway is definitely going in and that we should all be aware of any possible planning regarding bikeways. Trees Payne reported that the budget had been approved without cutting monies allowed for the tree ordinance. The city has taken out quite a few dead trees and has gotten very good cooperation from property owners in re-planting. The city will spray all Elm trees in Caldwell this year. Payne also reported on a Wasatch Chemical product called "Sticken npecial" which will be available for about $10 or $12 per gallon. This substance is used on Elm trees to keep the Elm leaf beetle from getting up the trunk and into the trees where the . damage is done. After some discussion of "Green City USA" designations Conger suggested to Payne that he fill out the application and present it to the Mayor. A )f the application is approved and the designation made Caldwell would receive publicity for its accomplishments in re-planting and preserving trees. It would also help in establishing a general public awareness of the fact that something can be done to improve the appearance of a community. Arboretum Mayor Pasley, as reported by Conger, has suggested that the Beautification Commission consider the possibility of developing an arboretum. The arboretum would be planted with trees and shrubs that grow well in this locale. Each planting would be appropriately labeled so that people wishing to choose plantings for their own property could see an example of the specific tree. The commission expressed enthusiasm for such a plan and discussed possible locations such as : Curtis Park,' the triangle at 4th and Paynter, an area near the Rose Garden and Madison Park. Also suggested were areas near Indian Creek or the Boise River. Bauman suggested that Canyon Hill must eventually have a park and a school and that perhaps an arboretum could be established in conjunction with these. John Renk will gather more general information about arboretums and will try to determine what cost might be involved. 1:05 Youngblood arrived. Public Hearing on Revenue Sharing Funds Conger announced that on Thursday, February 17th, at 7:30 in the Council Chambers the stipulated public hearing for the use of Revenue Sharing funds would be held. Currently this amounts to $371,000.00. Monies are to be used within a two year period. A discussion followed about projects that this commission feels are worthy of being considered by the City Council for receiving Revenue Sharing Money. Among these projects is the completion of additional parts of the already de- elignated bicycle pathway system. Three areas were specified: 1. Logan Street; 2. Linden Street from the city limits on the west to Cleveland Blvd. and: 3. any other section of the pathway: that would connect with either the North Illinois bike way or the South 10th bike lane. Rankin moved that the Beautification Commission ask the City Council to 'slllocate a portion of Revenue Sharing funds to be used for the completion Y.,, , of a section of already designated bikeway a Jensen seconded. Passed. Gerdes moved that the Commission ask the City Council to make funds available for the design and engineering of the Railroad Depot Project. Macy seconded. Passed. Rankin moved that the Beautification Commission ask the City Council to make funds available for planning and implementation of a city arboretum. Youngblood seconded. Passed. 1:50 Jensen excused. Priorities Youngblood was given all of the commission's old minutes and asked to read through them and make a list of projects which he feels are worthy of the commission's attention in the future. �Pumphouse Conger announced that because of a citizen complaint that the city was going to build a cinder block pumphouse, eyesore on the golf course on Fairview, that the design had been improved to make an attractive pump- house; The meeting was adjourned at 2 PM. Valeta Wallace Co-Secretary