Approved Minutes - 1989-04-05 PM /
RIVERFRONT RECREATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE
• Minutes of the April 5 , 1989 meeting
I . Roll Call : Present were Committee members Frank Zagunis
(Chair/Rowing ) , Geoff Hollister ( Sailing ) , Mike Thiel
( fishing ) , and Tom Kelly from the Recreation Department ;
Myron Johnson , Director of Parks & Recreation, dropped in
and joined the meeting later .
II . Approval of Minutes of the March 1 , 1989 meeting .
III . Open Public Communications : None
IV. Old Business
A . The Chair requested "progress/update reports" from the
individual members present regarding their particular
sport :
1 . Mike Thiel : Fishing : Mike reported that he had
been working on enhancement programs offered by Oregon
Bass Club and Oregon Steelhead Club . The Chair said
that if those are regular classes , perhaps we should
look at their programs . Mike also suggested a couple
of local people who may be willing to get involved in
• teaching some off-water classes , thereby raising the
interest level in future plans . The individuals
mentioned were Jim Teeny , a fairly well known fisher -
man/fly-tier - perhaps he could be approached to offer
a fly fishing demonstration or fly-tying clinic through
the Recreation Department . Mike also suggested
contacting Guy Randall , who teaches some classes at the
Adult Community Center . The Chair asked Mike to follow
through on those ideas and present them as possible
classes (with costs , facilities , etc . included ) for the
next meeting .
Mike also reiterated some of his earlier ideas ,
like putting a dam and fish ladder on Oswego Creek ,
thereby creating a pool ; looking into the purchase
ofproperty along Old River Road (near Hog Island-which
has good potential because of the Marylhurst
development ) ; creation of fish "hiding " spots , etc . It
would be helpful to obtain some design plans and
specifications for such a dam from City Engineers , in
order to get some kind of cost estimates . The pool
could be used for fishing and for beginning rowing ,
kayaking and canoeing classes and for practice during
times when the river is hazardous .
. Mike also reported that at the request of Mayor
Schlenker he had done a survey of several city-owned
marinas in Oregon , Washington and British Columbia and
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then presented his findings to the East End Development
Council ( EDC) . He said EDC doesn ' t seem to think much
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of the marina idea , except perhaps for small boats .
Apparently the builder/developer agrees because people
are renting the apartments without the marina . Two
council members asked Mike if he would be willing to
manage a marina ; he told them the Parks & Rec people
would be the best to do that .
2 . Geoff Hollister : Sailing . Geoff said he had
pretty much abandoned the idea of going through the
traditional " institutional" sailing instruction
programs , due to lack of response from area sailing
schools (one company is in the middle of changing
hands ; Portland Sailing Center doesn ' t return calls ) .
Geoff suggests that the Recreation Department start its
own "skeleton" program, scaled back from his original
proposal : Only a couple of boats , a "dock manager " to
run the rental programs for sailboats as well as the
kayaks , canoes , etc. , and then hiring different
specialists for teaching different levels and different
" seasons" (independent contractors) .
Geoff said it would make sense to generate some
interest in sailing classes by scheduling some one
session seminars or clinics during the planning and
• budget process before equipment is purchased . He could
help identify some specialists who would probably be
willing to conduct such a clinic .
At this point Myron Johnson indicated that the City
would probably prefer to acquire sailboats and other
major water sports equipment on a lease-option basis ,
so that in the event the programs "don ' t fly" we could
bail out of them . The Chair thought that boat dealers
would be willing to set up that type of lease program
for the P. R. value , but Geoff felt that it would be
wiser to go directly to the manufacturer . Geoff has a
long list of manufacturers who make different types of
boats for different types of activities . He will
present a revised sailing program and budget next
month .
Mr . Johnson advised that September 1989 is the latest
that the Committee should present its comprehensive
proposal to PROSC in order to be considered for the
1990- 91 FY budget . The Chair felt that the Committee
should have initial budget projections next month .
3 . Frank Zagunis : Rowing . Referring to his previous
report , the Chair reiterated that the Rowing portion of
• the water sports activities program would provide
instruction at the beginning , intermediate and
advanced/competition (youth) levels , but also
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recreation for all ages . An on-site coordinator would
be required , and independent specialists could be hired
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unless that coordinator were willing and qualifited to
coach/instruct . Mr . Zagunis clearly stated that
neither the Committee nor the Council wanted a large
capital outlay , but rather something that would
generate revenue for the City . Mr . Jo sq� ._suggested
that capital items could be purchase over 7 years ,
amortized , and then each year show the income generated
over and above the annual payment and expenses ( like an
LID -Local Improvement District- payment) , as has been
done with the Tennis Center and the Golf Course .
V. New Business
A . Committee members were encouraged to attend the EDC
meeting the following evening .
C . The Chair reported that Virginia Drawz had resigned
from the Committee , and requested that the Committee
members help identify a new member , preferably someone
with an environmentalist background . Members were also
asked to help identify a qualified individual who would
be willing to serve as "program coordinator " for water
sports activities .
• D . Myron Johnson suggested that the Riverfront Recreation
questionnaire developed for inclusion in the
comprehensive community recreation survey ask the
respondents if they would be interested in receiving an
" RRAC Newsletter . "
E . Mr . Johnson also reported that , according to the PROSC
the boathouse would not be built this year , even though
$ 30, 000 had been budgeted for it in FY- 88-89 . PROSC is
recommending that $ 20 , 000 of that amount be moved
forward into the FY 89-90 budget , and that an
additional $ 20 , 000 be added to it , so that there would
be a total of $ 40 , 000 to build something at Roehr Park .
Then , if EDC does go in for a fairly large dock space
vs . a boat marina , the money would be there to build
something on that amount of dock space in order to get
boats in and contained , rather than continually hauling
them up on land , etc .
F . The date of the next meeting was set for
May 3 , 1989 at 7 : 00 p.n.
Recreation Department Conference Room .
VI . Adjourn
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