Approved Minutes - 1989-03-01 PM RIVERFRONT RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
• Minutes of the March 1, 1989 meeting
(rescheduled from February 22 , 1989)
I. Roll Call: Present were Committee members Frank Zagunis
(Chair/Rowing ) , Don Potter (Canoe/Kayaking) , Geoff Hollister
( Sailing ) , and Tom Kelly from the Recreation Department .
II . Approval of Minutes of the January 25 , 1989 meeting
III . Open Public Communications: None
IV. Old Business
A . The Committee determined that the questions to be
submitted to consultants putting together the
comprehensive community recreation questionnaire should
be the ones on the questionnaire previously adopted by
the Committee. (Copy attached)
B. Review of individual outlines for preparation of
comprehensive document to present to PROS.
Don Potter presented his recommendations as to the
• number and types of craft , and costs of canoes ,
paddles , kayaks , life preservers , trailers , and other
equipment appropriate for canoeing/kayaking
instruction. Although estimates on the cost of a
storage facility would require further investigation ,
he estimated the cost of purchasing equipment to be
$ 12, 175. Don did not have specific names of potential
instructors , but said that vendors of water sport
equipment often provide instruction along with
equipment rentals (e .g. , REI, Sports Marina in Oregon
City) . The Committee discussed the advantages and
disadvantages of purchasing vs . leasing equipment and
of contracting out for instructors .
Don said he is generally unhappy with rental equipment
due to the wear and tear it takes . On the other hand ,
sports rental concerns do have to watch out for their
property , protect their investments . Even if we do buy
equipment , then how would the program be staffed, and
who and how would the equipment be maintained? The
Charirman asked Don to identify instructors , suggesting
Boy Scout / Explorer Scout troops (Possibly SEA
Scouts? )
The Committee also discussed what the City could charge
S a vendor/concessionaire that provided instruction :
ideas included in-kind exchanges of instruction for use
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of the waterfront ; and a 10% administrative override
• fee. Geoff indicated that it has been difficult to get
in touch with sailing instructors lately . Neither
Portland Sailing Center nor Island Sailing Club has
been available , possibly due to the boat show , and the
strong seasonality of sailing due to river heights .
The members agreed that a program which relies on a
profit making entity for instruction is undesirable
because if the business goes under , our program is
interrupted, if not up a creek .
The Committee agreed that there should be one person to
act as coordinator for the water sports program, a
person who could help promote the program as well as
coordinate activities , rent equipment , etc . , preferably
at a site right on the waterfront . Perhaps a retired
person or a college student , who would need technical
assistance - a person who could perhaps teach one
class , but hire other technicians for other classes .
The Committee also addressed the problem of storing
equipment once it is purchased . Tom is to check on
whether the City has extra storage space anywhere , but
thought it was doubtful. Don Potter felt that the
storage space should be right on the waterfront , that
storage should be part of negotiations with the
developer as to whether the City site will be at the
• Marina , at George Rogers Park , on the Tualatin. . . .
The Committee also agreed that it should move ahead on
finding a coordinator , researching different businesses
for instructors , investigating equipment purchase/
lease (would the City save money on a " fleet price" for
boats? ) , rate structures for classes and for renting
out boats and equipment - general operations , which the
coordinator would be responsible for in the future.
Also, some kind of structure for the program should be
devised in order to draw people (both instructors and
the public) to it : i . e. , set the hours of instruction ,
the City would control that ; and customers would
control rental hours . The Chairman pointed out that in
terms of the City' s budget process it is important that
the Committee get at least a rough draft of its
comprehensive report to the PROS Committee by summer of
1989 in order to have it considered in the early part
of the budget process for the Fiscal Year 1990-91 (FY
88- 89 is nearly over [ June 30 ] , and the budget is
already being drawn up for FY 89-90) . The costs of
operations , instruction, equipment should be presented
as a palatable capital outlay , with return on
investment shown as soon as possible - like the Golf
Course , self supporting , profit making and an
enhancement to the Parks and Rec .
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Geoff Hollister will nail down some of the info on
• sailing for the next meeting . Frank Zagunis handed
around copies of some " river maps" prepared by Mike and
Ed (attached to the minutes in the minute book) . Tom
Kelly will check on the status of the comprehensive
Parks & Rec survey being prepared by consultants .
V. New Business
A . Report from Chair Frank Zagunis : Annual reports of
advisory committees to PROS Committee (February 15 ,
1989) .
The PROS Committee was generally impressed with the
amount of work the Riverfront Recreation Advisory
Committee had accomplished in the few months since its
members were appointed. But , Frank indicated, he
realized that RRAC is running up against a P& R budget
that is being allocated for buying land and developing
parks and athletic fields (high priority)
VI . Adjourn
NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5 , 1989
7 :00 pm , Recreation Department Conference Room
City Hall
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