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BALLFIELRFT Page 1 <br /> MEMORANDUM <br /> September 30, 1993 <br /> TO: Johnny Medlin, Dick Morgan, Doug Post, Louis Kroeck <br /> FROM: John Etter <br /> SUBJECT: Ascot Park Lighting <br /> Yesterday I attended a meeting of 13 neighbors of Ascot Park to record their concerns about the project that started two <br /> days ago. Their universal frustration was the lack of opportunity to review plans and give input —lack of process. 1 <br /> conveyed the regret that we had not provided that opportunity. In explaining why no opportunity had been created I <br /> summarized the timing of the events —the initial indication of the problem, the results and recommendations of the survey <br /> of existing lighting systems, the need to retain popular athletic programs of both adult and youth leagues, the city's <br /> liability if no action were to be taken in light of the consultants report on the current conditions, and how not acting <br /> immediately would cause a curtailment of the recreation programs. A variety of other complaints and suggestions were <br /> stated. The comments are gr ouped and paraphrased below. Most of the problems are preexisting conditions. All have <br /> some potential to be corrected, although some can be more easily accomplished than others. The parenthetical <br /> comments or questions are primarily my own. <br /> - Restrooms —Will they remain open? Encourage people to use them; a lot of people use the ditch. Some parents <br /> have brought kids to adjacent residents requesting use of their bathrooms. They would like a written commitment to <br /> the effect that there will be no additional restrooms at the park. <br /> - EWEB pruned trees along the ditch two months ago. They thought there have been coordination between EWEB <br /> and the city. <br /> - The ditch — enhance the quality of it —clean it up more. (Maybe an earthday project ?) <br /> - Parking- -too many people park on Ascot and Firwood, including in front of the NO PARKING signs at the park <br /> entrance. Sometimes people can't get in and out of their driveways. Extending the hours of this situation isn't <br /> tolerable. What about painting curbs yellow or putting up NO ATHLETIC <br /> PARKING signs? Could volunteers monitor /enforce /cite parking violators? <br /> - Increased traffic—objection by some living further south on Ascot. They associate the speeding and tire noise with <br /> older athletes. <br /> (Part of the parking traffic problem might be the entry onto Coburg Road from Bailey Lane—no traffic light. Any time <br /> a crowd leaves and the Coburg Road traffic is greater than light, there can be substantial waits. <br /> - Concessions —Are their going to be any more? They reported that on 9/21 that there were several portable <br /> concessions located along the east -west path, and that the litter that remained on the following day was most <br /> unsightly. They didn't want any such activity close to their homes. <br /> - Property values —They were there first, some even before the school. They are sure they will experience a drop in <br /> value (although one person saw the silver lining in the cloud). If a person bought into the neighborhood <br /> knowing the lights were their, the post lighting market value would not be an issue. <br /> - Use of property taxes —In terms of reprioritizing funds to meet critical needs, opening their firestation is more <br /> important than correcting ball - field lighting problems <br /> - Theft and vandalism —They reported some that happens in broad daylight, during the games. With all the activity on <br /> the fields, their theory is that another person carrying something around the edge of the field won't draw any <br /> attention. <br /> - Lighting operation —What at the hours of operation? Does the system have the ability to Tight just one field only? Can <br /> they be reduced from the time play ceases until the field is emptied? (Questions for Louis) <br />