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HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutes.council.19970721Asoen City Council Soecial Meetin~ July 21, 1997 Mayor Pro Tem Richards called the special meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. with Councilmembers Vickery, Markalunas and Paulson present. RESOLUTION #56, SERIES OF 1997 - Deputy Municipal Judge/Worcester Councilman Markalunas moved to adopt Resolution #56, Series of 1997, as presented; seconded by Councilman Vickery. All in favor, motion carried. Council went into a work session on Cozy Point property at 5:10 p.m. REQUEST TO USE ISELIN FIELD - Howling Wolf Special Event Concert Jeff Woods, parks director, told Council the Howling Wolf iis proposing to use Iselin Park for a concert in September with approximately 2500 attendees. Woods told Council staff has concerns on this as Iselin field is an ovemsed facility and is critical to the recreational needs of the community. Woods said Iselin field is in marginal condition. The city is going to master plan this field to try and bring it to a higher quality. Staff is concerned about a use outside of recreation, what it might do to the field and the precedense it might set. Woods told Council there are leagues that will need the field this fall. Another issue staff is trying to determine the highest and best use for this facility. Staff feels recreation is the most critical need and use of this facility. Woods said events on fields displace recreational uses for more than just the day of the event. The city does not have the luxury of downtime on fields because of the shortage of fields. Woods said he does not feel he can have a high quality playing field available after this event on a guarantee basis. Tim Anderson, recreation director, told Council the city has an agreement with the School District for joint use of facilities. The school has softball teams scheduled for September 6th at Iselin park. Wagner Park is filled with rugby that weekend. The other parks are having soccer on that Saturday. Softball is palyed at Wagner and Plum Tree field and they are both being used that weekend. Anderson said the only regulation softball field the city has is at Iselin. Asoen City Council Soecial Meetin~ July 21, 1997 Mayor Pro Tem Richards said this brings up an issue for the Iselin park master plan; is there a way to design this area to occassionally accommodate concerts or should the city as a policy state they have no suitable lands available. Paul Levine, Howling Wolf, told Council he has tried to think of other venues or other configurations. Levine said anty later than September 6th would be too "iffy" for weather conditions. Levine said later would also lose a lot of locals who leave town for the off season. Woods retierated the city does not have backup facilities for recreation if Iselin field were to be damaged by a concert event. Woods told Council if it were to rain, this would be a disaster. Iselin Park is an old landfill, there are sinkholes. Staff is concerned about structure loading with stages and all the equipment, especially in wet weather. Woods said if events like this are to happen in city parks, the circulation areas and seating areas will need to be planked to avaoid major wear spots in the field. Woods said Council will need to help prioritize the use of fields; if they feel festivals and events are imiportnat, the parks department will need additional maintenance for the parks. Anderson asked abom the possibility of useing the music tent. Rio Grande park is being used for soccer than weekend. Woods said Rio Grande is in better shape, but the concerns are the same for all the fields. Councilman Markalun said his choice would be to have this on a Ski company property. Levine said the site at Aspen Mountain is fairly steep and rough. Levine said his choice would be Highlands, which is inappropriate becuase of the construction. Levine said he can deal with rain and just not have the concemt if it rains. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said if there is support on Council for these type events, then they can outline conditions and mitigations. If there is not support for this particular event, Council should let Levine know before he goes any more through the process. Councilman Markalunas said he is inclined to deny this request. There are more risks than gains in this proposal. Councilman Markalunas said he would prefer to see Levine find another venue. Councilman Paulson said he is not in support of this becuase of staff' s recommendation and because of the timing of this request. Councilman Paulson 2 Asoen City Council Soecial Meetin~ July 21, 1997 said the city only has so much space to accommodate a lot of different activities. Councilman Paulson said there are other plkaces that would work for a concert. Councilman Vickeyr said the city will be rebuilding Iselin field this may be a good time to have a concert thgere. Councilman Vickery said the applicant has indicated he is willing to cancel the event if it rains. Councilman Vickery said he is willing to support this if ways to mitigate the concerns can be found. Mayor Pro Tem Richards said she, too, would support this event if mitigations can be found. 3