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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-12-9 Beautifcation Com. r r CALDWELL BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION Regular meeting December 9, 1974 - 11 :40 A0M. 1 Present: members - Bauman, Matheson, Reed, Rankin, Higdem, Wallace, Conger ex officio members - Williams, Collins, Dufur guests - Melvin Lewis, City Engineer, City of Caldwell Pioneer Irrigation Board and Staff members: Hazel Robinson, Secretary Art Norland, Superintendent Harold Whittig, Board member Fred Houston, Board member Peter Boyd, Legal Advisor The meeting was called to order in the Council Chambers by chairperson Bauman. Minutes of the meetings of November 12, 1974, November 15, 1974, and November 30, 1974, were approved as written. OLD BUSINESS Vacancy on Commission - Recommendations for the filling of the vacancy were discussed with the following names presented as possibilities: Rip Gledhill, Ralph Nyblad, Wayne Fuller, Jeanne Cassell, Ann Frank, Swan Van Beek, Mary Kerr, Joan Colson, Rosalyn Barry, Jerry Mauer, Dale Peterson, and Gene Mooney. The Commission was polled for their first, second and third choices. Charleen Matheson moved that we ask those three polling the most votes in decending order of vote totals to ascertain their interest in serving on the Commission, and that the first person to indicate interest should be submitted to the Mayor (''vs as our recommendation to fill the vacancy on the Commission. Seconded by Mary Higdem. Passed. Chairperson Bauman will do the calling. Indian Creek - Bobbie Rankin reported that the land bordering the uncovered area of Indian Creek between 9th and Fifer's is owned in part by the Ackley Estate with the larger part owned by Mrs. J. W. Weeks. She further reported that George Dufur is going to contact the owners to see if they will clean up that area. Further action tabled pending a report from him. Trash cans in downtown area - Gwen Reed reported that she has postponed contacting the Chamber of Commerce about placing trash cans in the downtown until better relationships are established with that organization. Conflict of project planning - Val Wallace reported she had contacted various committees concerning the possible overlapping of planned projects. Bob Franklin of the Roads and Streets Committee said he was sure there would be no overlapping and suggested we might do something about the college lots. Hugh Stringfield of the Retail Merchants Association could not think of anyway we might be overlapping. Wally Frank of the Community Resourses Committee saw no overlapping but said their committee could be a resourse for us. All indicated interest in being informed of this Commission's activities. Al McCluskey was not contacted as he was out of town. Entrances - No report or action. Bikeways - A letter from the Whittenberger Foundation dated November 21 , 1974, was read informing the Commission that a grant of $5000 has been awarded to this Commission for use on the Dixie Drain Bikeway as presented in this Commission's proposal to the Foundation. Presentation of the check will be made on December 18, 1974. CALDWELL BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION Regular meeting - December 9, 1974 Page 2 Bikeways (continued) - Chairperson Bauman reported Jerry Evans has been contacted concerning the possible budgeting of funds for the Dixie Drain Bikeway by the School District. Discussion about the proposed Dixie Drain Bikeway with Board and staff members of the Pioneer Irrigation District covered the following points: 1. The District owns very little land along the ditch but does own the right of way 55 feet on each side of the ditch from the center of the ditch or a total of 110 feet. 2. Property owners are not assessed taxes on the right of way even though they actually own the land. 3. The District owns the right of way only for the purpose of maintaining the ditch and banks. They cannot legally sell or grant rights of easement. Any agreement granting permission for bikeways would have to be in the form of a "gentlemen's agreement" but would be duly noted in the minutes of the District Board of Directors minutes. 4. The Board is in general agreement that a bikeway along the Dixie Drain would be acceptable provided the following two conditions would be met: a. The path would have to be so constructed that it would not hinder maintainence work. b. Some form of release would be necessary so that the District would not be held liable for any accidents occurring along the bikeway. 5. Roads built along ditch banks are not public roads. Roads built on right of way by private party are not owned by that party but that party may have right of way on that road. 6. Maintainence work by the District usually consists of brush cutting and ditch cleaning including the use of a drag line when the ditch becomes filled with silt. Maintainence work is generally done when requested and does not follow any definite schedule. Maintainence of a bikeway along the ditch could not be the responsibility of the District even though maintainence of the easement is their responsibility. (Note: The drag line has about 5 feet between treads and could probably straddle a 4 foot path with no damage to the path.) 7. Possibility of litter being thrown into the ditch and causing blockages would have to be considered and could necessitate renegogiation of any "gentlemen's agreement". 8. The City of Caldwell has approached the District concerning the building of a bridge across the Dixie Drain and the District Board generally approves this but with the same stipulation that the District would not be held responsible for any accidents occurring on the bridge. There is the possibility that the bridge could be constructed as a part of the opening of Spruce Street. 9. Depth of Dixie Drain at peak is 3 to 32 feet. 10. Culverts for waste water runoff would probably be a necessary part of bikeway construction. Mel Lewis stated that ownership of easements along the proposed bikeway have been researched and are recorded in his office. As the City has recently acquired sewer easements along the same route, he is able to furnish us with information on individual problems we may encounter when obtaining easements along the bike route. CALDWELL BEAUTIFICATION COMMISSION Regular meeting - December 9, 1974 Page 3 Mr. Lewis stated that this Commission should be aware that matching federal highway funds and possibly Bureau of Outdoor Recreation funds are available only if the Uniform Federal Acquisition and Relocation Act (#91-464) is followed. This act sets forth definite procedures for the acquisition of rights of way which include notification of the individual owners of intent to acquire those rights of way, appraisal of the rights with the owner present at the appraisal if he so desires, and the offer of payment of the appraisal price. This procedure may be waived by the owner if the value of the right of way is less than $1000 and if he has been properly notified. NEW BUSINESS Art Collins announced coming meetings of interest to this Commission. Doug Erdman, Boise Greenway coordinator, will speak some evening in January about Boise's experiences with funding, easement acquisition, etc. Gerry Castro, Idaho Park Foundation, will speak some time during the week of January 6 on the solicitation of funds and land donations and explain how Caldwell can develop their own foundation. Parks and Recreation Board will meet December 16 at 7:30. Chairperson Bauman appointed Bobbie Rankin to attend the Parks and Recrea- tion meeting and will appoint representatives to the other two meetings as soon as the dates are firm. Art Collins stated that weed control and the ramifications of the city weed control ordinance should be an issue considered by this Commission with a possible Commission endorsement for public awareness and support. No action taken. Val Wallace moved that the regular meeting time for this Commission be changed to 11 :30 A.M. Seconded by Gwen Reed. Passed. The Commission will hold a special meeting on Thursday, January 9,1975, at 1 :00 F.M. at the Methodist Church parking lot for the purpose of walking the proposed bikeway route along the Dixie Drain. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:25 P.M. Shirley Conger Secretary