Park plans pushed back

Members of a local board have pushed back the opening ceremony for Hudson Family Park and approved fees for usage of park facilities.
The grand opening, which was pushed back to June 25 Tuesday night, could be changed again because of confusion over an event scheduled by Arts Place. Fees were also established for rental of the amphitheater at the park.
Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier asked members of the park board to push back the grand opening from its May 21 date so it could be held in conjunction with a concert that Arts Place is holding at the amphitheater. Hosier said Tuesday the concert was scheduled for Saturday, June 25. Eric Rogers, executive director of Arts Place, said this morning that the concert actually is scheduled for Sunday, June 26. NewFound Road, a gospel and bluegrass group will be performing, he said.
Park board president Neil Medler said this morning that the park board must vote again if the members want to change the date. “We can change it. I don’t see any problem with it,” he said.
Medler said during Tuesday’s meeting that he thought moving the opening ceremony to June might mean better weather.
The event could also include a community cookout and a ribbon cutting ceremony, Hosier said Monday.
In a related matter, Hosier presented a sample of an application for rental of the amphitheater and concession stand to park board members, and the board approved the application and fees.
The fee for rental of the amphitheater and concession stand will be $160 for up to four hours for a non-profit and $200 for up to four hours for a for-profit group. Not-for-profits that go over the time limit will be charged $30 per hour and for-profits will be charged $40 per hour. A $250 damage deposit is required. After the event, the premises will be inspected and the damage deposit will be returned if no damage is found and the area was properly cleaned.
Hosier said the fee applies to both the rental of the amphitheater and the concession stand, even if the concession stand is not used. However the concession stand alone can be rented. Not-for-profit organizations will be charged $100 and for-profits will be charged $125. There is no time limit for rental of the concession stand.
Hosier said any non-profit must provide documentation that it is a non-profit. Any other groups, such as wedding parties, would fall under the for-profit category, he said this morning. The proceeds from the concession stand must be for the group that is renting it.
In addition, security fees may be charged if police are needed. The Portland Police Department will provide security at a cost of $15 per hour per officer. The police chief will determine if and how many police are needed for an event.
Hosier said city police also will help control use of the amphitheater, since the area is not gated.
He said signs will be posted letting visitors know that reservations must be made. Any party that uses the amphitheater without reserving it or paying the fee will be told to leave the premises, he said.
Rogers said this morning after learning the fees for rental of the amphitheater that he felt the fees were fair and lower than he expected.
“I’m pleased. This is good,” he said.
Also Tuesday, board members briefly discussed the use of and sale of alcohol at Hudson Family Park.
Hosier said there currently is no ordinance in place that prohibits the use or sale of alcohol at city parks.
“Why disturb a family picnic that has a six-pack of beer?” Medler said. “If you restrict (alcohol) you’re going to open up a can of worms.”
Jeff Harker, street and park department superintendent, said anyone who sells alcohol at the park would need a special permit.
This matter — as well as other guidelines for the use of the amphitheater and park — will be discussed further by the board during a special meeting April 19 at 7 p.m.
In other business, board members:
•Learned that the city will have to purchase a chair lift for the large pool and put a ramp in the baby pool at the Portland Pool to comply with new Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.
Harker said the ramp would need to be put at one end of the shallow pool. He did not have a cost estimate for the additions. He said the items must be installed by March 15, 2012, or the state could shut down the pool.
•Voted to hire Nick Ehrhart as manager of Portland Pool.
Current pool manager Rachel Arnold said she is due to have a baby on July 4 and plans to work until that time.
Arnold said the pool will open May 28-30 for Memorial Day weekend, then be open weekends only until school is out. The last day of school is June 9.
•Learned that a public hearing for the city’s five-year master park plan will be held at the May 3 park board meeting.
The city’s most recent plan expired Dec. 31, 2010.
Board members also voted again to hire Schneider Corporation at a cost of $11,875 to create the master plan. At the March 8 council meeting, park board members voted to hire Schneider without asking about the cost. Hosier said the day after that meeting the cost would remain at $8,000. That is the same price the firm charged the last time the five-year plan was done.
But Hosier said Tuesday night that $8,000 figure was incorrect.[[In-content Ad]]