01-23-1997Blair Park Board Meeting Minutes for January 23, 1997
Pat's new cell phone number is 533 -8589.
• Roll call was taken as we each introduced ourselves for the benefit of the new members. Those present
were Pat Long, Mary Sue Pook, Bobbi Cade, Kathy Kuster, Donna Mahlendorf, and Steve Buller. Neil
Jensen, representing Friends of the Arboretum was a welcomed guest.
The July 1, 1996, meeting minutes were corrected, by changing references to the Telephone Pioneers to
read Independent Telephone Pioneer Association (ITPA), and then approved in a motion by Steve Buller
and seconded by Bobbi Cade.
The 1997 -98 budget was discussed briefly and approved in a motion by Donna Mahlendorf with a second
by Mary Sue Pook. Pat says the `97 budget is a 0% increase and the `98 will be at a 1% level.
We are trading in the old 1100 series riding mower and a bill for $4517 should be coming from Platte
Valley Implement of Fremont for a new riding mower with a 7 foot deck.
Pat expressed concern at the current way we move the Optimist Boat dock for each season. We currently
hire a firm for $1,000 to take the dock out of the water for winter and in the spring they are hired again to
put the dock back into the water for another $1,000. Consensus was that this wasn't acceptable and we
need to investigate having the city street department or the Optimists do removal & replacement of the
dock. It may be possible to have the dock on higher stilts and winch it out of the water or have an inclined
slide that will allow pulling and sliding it in /out of the water.
• Old Business: Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) allowed a grant of $10,000 to the city and coupled
with $757 from both Dana College and the Blair Park Board for the purchase of a heavy -duty chipper for
the parks department. The chipper was recently used to provide several loads of chips to the trails at Black
Elk - Neihardt Park and for chipping the old Christmas trees.
Appointments and the election of officers was swift and painless with the following results:
Officers: Playground Committee:
President - Kathy Kuster Steve Buller
Vice Pres. - Mary Sue Pook Bobbi Cade
Secretary - Jim Peterson
The parks superintendent discussed the possibility of getting the old slide, that is located on the western
slope of Steyer Park (west of 18th St.), removed from that location. It has always been in that portion of
the park but moved up the slope to alleviate the extreme height of the slide but now this move has created
another problem. The children seem to use the slide extensively and have tramped down the very thin grass
under the tree canopy to bare earth. When the rains come it causes erosion and gullying which is not
acceptable on that hill.
Pat has some ideas on new playground equipment and will get with Steve and Bobbi to get them
started on this planning effort.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
• New meeting time for the board will be the 3rd Monday of each month at 7:30 PM.
Neil Jensen, Friends of the Arboretum, reviewed the FBCA mission and gave us a couple of handouts.
He stressed that we all need to work together to get the master plan established and keep each other
informed concerning park improvements and additions. Discussion arose concerning; 1) the possibility of
getting community college students that are majoring in horticulture or related fields or need practical
experience hours to come and spend some time in our parks doing OJT, etc.; 2) the computer programs we
use to map the arboretum, Friends use GSI and Pat has Tree Keeper JR; 3) a sled path; 4) a band shelter;
5) sidewalk trails; 6) places to just sit under the trees; 7) more hard surface parking. Neil also talked to us
about the NE Green Space Stewardship Initiative and we really need to get our 5, 10, and 20 year plans
(our wish lists) set up ASAP. We discussed the possibility of putting in a new walking path from the SE
corner of Steyer Park to the NW corner of that park and on to the Rose Garden. There was comment about
the walkway winding thru the entire community and later widening and expanding it to include an adjacent
bike trail that would be asphalt with a yellow line indicating where the bikes should ride.
Everyone should bring their wish lists to the next Park Board meeting in February.
Beautify Blair Organization is spearheaded by Mary Sue Pook. Her planting core group consists of all the
committee member plus their children and some kids from the HS clubs. They are looking for donated
perennials to be sold to the public to raise funds since their budget is $50 for the entire year. They plan to
plant at: the signs in Steyer Park, the Rose Garden rock, the city hall fountain, the rock at Black Elk, and
the barrels in downtown. They are also planning a yard and business of the week award.
The Rose Garden Park may be taken care of by Tip Saul who works 16 hours per week for Pat and that
would depend on getting the "green shed" moved from Steyer Park to the SE corner of the Rose Garden
Park. This would allow Tip to have tools in the shed and free up a vehicle for Pat's crew. Another
possibility was mentioned that Kathy would contact Flynn's to spearhead the effort at that location.
At 9:40, a motion to adjourn the meeting was introduced by Steve Buller and seconded by Bobbi Cade.
Motion carried.
Minutes recorded by Steve Buller for Jim Peterson.
The Nebraska Green Space Stewardship Initiative
Caring for parks and other community green space can be costly to the environment when exces-
sive amounts of water, fertilizer and pesticides are used. Poorly designed greenscapes also can be
costly in terms of increased maintenance and care.
The goal of the Nebraska Green Space Stewardship Initiative is to encourage and enable Nebraska
communities to use sustainable, environmentally -sound landscape practices in the planting and
care of local community green space.
A partnership among the Nebraska Environmental Trust, the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and
specialists from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, the Initiative will offer communities funding and
technical assistance to renew, renovate or develop community green spaces based on environmen-
tally -sound design and management practices.
Eligibility The core of the Initiative will be a three -year $900,000+ grant program to fund community green
space enhancement projects. Examples of eligible prc:Qcts include parks, schoolyards, fairgrounds,
college campuses, and the grounds of libraries, courthouses and other public buildings.
Although the program is aimed primarily at publicly owned properties, projects on privately owned
lands may be considered if applicants can demonstrate sustained public use of the property.
To encourage broad local participation in the program, grant recipients will be required to raise 30
percent of the total project cost in non -state dollars.
Program
Evaluation
Process and
Timeline
Proposals will be evaluated on
• potential for positive environmental impact
• integration of environmentally -sound design and management practices into the project
• evidence of local support
• evidence of a financial commitment to ongoing stewardship - - • positive economic impact and sustainability
• aesthetics
• education -
Costs that will be eligible for funding under the Initiative include the purchase and installation of
plants; creation and restoration of native plants; site analysis, planning and design; and soil testing
and improvement.
The grant program will be conducted in two overlapping rounds. Prior to each round, a series of free
workshops will be held throughout the state to introduce the concept of sustainable landscapes and
explain the grant application process. All potential applicants are strongly encouraged to send
a representative to one of these four workshops:
Scottsbluff - UNL Panhandle Research and Extension Center, February 12, 1997
Kearney - Kearney Holiday Inn, February 13, 1997
Norfolk - Northeast Community College, February 25, 1997
Omaha - Douglas County Extension Office, February 27, 1997
The complete timeline for Round One of the Initiative is:
February 1997 Workshops
May 1997 Application deadline for Round One
June 1997 Round One recipients announced
December 1998 Round One completion deadline
A second Round of the Initiative will begin in February 1998 and will follow a similar timeline.
Applications for the grant program will be available at the February workshops.*
To register for one of the February workshops, please complete the coupon below and mail it to
NSA, P.O. Box 830715, Lincoln, NE 68583 -0715: Phone (402)472 -2971.
`If your community is unable to send a representative to a workshop, please contact the NSA office.
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FRIENDS OF THE BLAIR
COMMUNITY ARBORETUM
Mission -- The mission of the Blair Community Arboretum is to display plants that will:
- improve the biological diversity of the community;
- educate students about the natural environment;
- inform the community about proper plant selection and maintenance techniques;
- and serve as a setting for reflection and enjoyment of nature.
1997 Operations Plan
Complete Master Plan
NSA environmental trust application
Arboretum maintenance (focus on Steyer Park):
complete mulching
continue trimming
signage
assist with rose beds
Arboretum mapping
Steyer Park
Black Elks
Beautify Blair Campaign
flower beds at Steyer & Black Elk
Education
continue development of slide program
news articles
Blair Community Arboretum Master Plan
Management:
policies & procedures for proper management of the site
Maintenance:
yearly operation plan
Collections:
collection policy -- collections consistent with arboretum goals
Site Development & Design:
develop detailed landscape design to guide park development
Interpretation & Education:
education & interpretive program