Downtown Advisory Committee
April 9, 2015
Downstairs Conference Room
500 Klamath Avenue
Members Present: Steve Spencer, Dan Beach, Susan Beach, Rich Bogatay, Mike Moore, Jim Carpenter,
Councilman Bill Adams, Councilman Matt Dodson
Staff Present: Planning Manager Erik Nobel, City Manager Nathan Cherpeski, Parks Superintendent John
Bellon, Sr. Accountant Jessica Lindsay, and Assistant to the City Recorder Kristina West
Guests Present: Brian Earl (citizen), Stephanie Van Dyke – Sky Lakes Wellness, Kendall Bell (Downtown
Association), Cindy Reed (Klamath Union High School student), Darlene Peterson (Owner of Allure Salon)
Parking Request
Erik stated Allure Salon was moving into the building located at Pine Street and 7 th Street near Juniper
Square and the owner has two requests; a row of E parking in Juniper Square for her employees and a
15 minute parking space in front of her building for elderly patient drop off/pick up. Ms. Peterson stated
the 15 minute drop off would allow her elderly patients to be dropped off/picked up safely without
having to cross the street. Erik noted the Ross Ragland has E parking and was nearby and the parking lot
at the corner was private.
Jim moved to approve both requests. Matt seconded.
Susan reiterated there is a great deal of vacant E parking in the Ross Ragland lot and Pine Street had E
parking as well. She noted the 15 minute parking spot in front of her business would set a precedent for
other businesses to make the same request and limit customer parking availability. Rich stated there is
enough e parking already in Ross Ragland that is close by. Dan asked what the concern is about having
employees park across the street from the business rather than walk a block to Ross Ragland parking.
Ms. Peterson stated she did not have an issue and noted they were increasing the number of employees
from three to eight and like all hairdressers downtown, some of her employees worked into the evening
hours and she wanted to ensure their safety. She further stated she did not realize there was so much E
parking in Ross Ragland but the 15 minute parking would aid with the bus drop off of elderly customers
from Quail Park and with those who needed to load and unload wheelchairs. Steve asked if there were
any reserved spots in Juniper Square. Erik responded there are none. Mike noted DAC took them out
because they were not being purchased; however, it might be something to consider in converting some
of the spaces back to E parking. He was hesitant to put 15 minute parking in front of the business and
setting precedent. Councilman Dodson noted a bus could unload in the nearby Centurylink parking lot.
Dan stated Centurylink very rarely had more than a truck or two in their lot.
Jim withdrew his motion.
Mike moved to put back in place, three reserved parking spaces where they previously existed as
reserved. Matt seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Dan stressed the importance of communication with lot owner, Centurylink, would go a long way if Ms.
Peterson wanted to use his lot for drop off of elderly or handicapped patrons.
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Financial Report
Jessica stated staff was waiting on Atone Construction to pay off their loan at $46,000 and that will go in
the sale capital assets line so the budget was a little higher. Councilman Dodson asked when the loans
were due. Jessica responded they were due in January. Councilman Dodson stated the City should be
pursuing them. Erik stated staff had talked to them twice and they said they were working with their
lender to secure the funds. They had taken their lender through the building and the lender encouraged
them to finish the project so they were trying to get a package together. Nathan asked what the City’s
recourse was. Erik responded to take the building back. Councilman Dodson asked if the City was not a
lender to them. Rich responded yes. Councilman Dodson stated he did not necessarily want the building
back but the City has an obligation to make people perform on contracts they sign. Councilman Adams
asked if the City Attorney should become involved rather than have Erik call them again. Nathan
responded yes. Jessica stated she had copied the City Attorney in January when they had not paid.
Councilman Adams stated the building in question is the old Pelican Hotel (Antonio’s) property.
Councilman Dodson asked to clarify that the City loaned them the money to buy the building and it was
payable in January so basically they are in default. Erik responded yes, and noted they made one
payment. Jessica stated that at the end of February they made a payment but that went to interest. She
noted they were making them regularly until November.
Rich asked if the Parking District has money. Jessica responded yes and stated capital projects were
shifted to the Downtown Urban Renewal so they do have some net working capital with $71,000 coming
over from the previous year. Mike asked if $79,454 is revenue over expenses. Jessica responded yes.
Councilman Dodson asked how much money remained in Urban Renewal after factoring in the two
parking lots were approved and the 11th and Klamath Avenue property DAC authorized to purchase.
Nathan stated if DAC is planning the downtown park and all it entails then there would not be a great
deal of money left with some of the other items discussed with City Council. Rich asked if Council is
looking at other things than DAC is looking at for some of the money. Nathan responded yes. Mike
stated he was not sure what was being accounted for. Erik stated each parking lot would cost
approximately $125,000, which does not include landscape costs. Nathan stated it would actually cost
closer to $270,000 without landscaping, which was a staff issue in communication. Mike approximated
at $300,000 for both parking lots. Erik stated DAC has obligations for purchase of Klamath and 11th at
$55,000 then the creation of a pocket park at North 6th and Main at approximately $200,000. Dan asked
if that total included the purchase of the property. Erik stated the purchase price is already spent. Mike
stated the total of those items is $555,000. Councilman Dodson asked if that left $345,000. Mike
responded no, approximately $245,000. Jessica stressed taking into account materials and services for
the remainder of the year. Dan asked what Council has been talking about on the balance versus what
the table has been bringing with projects. Nathan stated he was not at liberty to discuss it at that time.
Parking Lots.
Erik stated the contractor was due to start construction on Monday, April 13th so there will be activity at
200 Main Street and they were working out a few things on the lot at the 1000 block. Nathan noted the
contract reads June 30th for completion. Erik stated it could be done quicker than that date.
Pocket Park.
Erik stated there is a Work Session later in the day to discuss the pocket park at North 6th and Main
Street and reviewed his PowerPoint Presentation for that Work Session, attached. He noted artwork,
sculptures and furniture are not part of the costs. The proposed costs were only for construction of the
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park.
Brian Earl explained the how the social engagement, community involvement and vibrancy of a wellplanned park contribute to its success. He referenced possible artwork, sculptors and wayfinding
features that would be donated and privately funded to feature in the pocket park. Mike stated it
creates an identity, is attractive and tells the community and others who we are. Brian agreed and noted
it added a sense of pride. Mike asked John Bellon about any native landscaping. John stated some of the
area’s native plantings could be used to make it feel like home. Kendall Bell stressed the economic
benefits and creation of livability downtown. Mike stated to have these types of things downtown to
attract people and businesses helps the downtown, which will raise property value and business value.
Councilman Adams stressed the importance of using vegetation/landscaping that would not require a
great deal of water given the environment of the basin. John stated throughout the landscape there are
opportunities to transition the landscaping representative of the basin. If done carefully it can also fit.
That type of landscaping must be something we plan and place in the future. Cindy Reed, a senior at
Klamath Union High School read her letter in support of the pocket park into the record, attached.
Erik asked the group their opinion on what Council wants to hear at the Work Session and what would
convince Council to support the project. Originally the project was budgeted at $100,000 and had
increased to approximately $200,000. Brian stated Sky Lakes has assured him they will come up with
finding funding around the artistic elements and Council will be looking at dollars. Nathan asked if the
costs included electrical for lighting. Erik stated there was a line item with an estimate for an electrical
engineer and he noted it did not address drainage so there will be the additional cost of drainage.
Councilman Adams stated he did not have a problem with where DAC was on the park, as a Council
person. He would rather see it done nicely; however, he would like to make sure costs are all included
so we don’t have a surprise like we’ve had in other building projects. Nathan asked where the power
was coming from. Erik responded there is no meter. Nathan suggested it could come off the street
lighting system. Erik will talk to the Maintenance Division Manager about the electrical. John noted the
electrical goes through the alleys so there would be no cause to worry about going out into the street.
Councilman Dodson stated there is than $250,000 left in the budget and the small pocket park will cost
at least $200,000 by the time it was done with zero budget for artwork. If the artwork is not there, a lot
of the allure of the park fades. DAC has authorized the purchase of a bigger plot of land and there’s not
that much money left at the per square foot cost of park construction. Brian stated the commitment for
funds for the artwork, sculptures and the like has to be in place; otherwise the group will be unable to
raise funds for artwork for the other park.
Jim moved to endorse the conceptual plan of the pocket park and hire the landscape architect to
move forward with construction drawings. Rich seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Rich noted it is important DAC has a say in where Downtown Urban Renewal dollars are spent and the
pocket park needs to be done right. Councilman Dodson requested to just have the full number. If it is
closer to $220,000 then that needs to be stated. Dan stated he hoped Council remembers this is an
important time that we can make this statement. Nathan stated the bigger concern is the other park.
There’s not enough money left. Dan stated there is a point where the future of our downtown becomes
critical and we need a jumpstart. This is the center of downtown. Rich it is important to show people on
a tour of Klamath Falls our downtown and how beautiful it looks.
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Mike asked what DAC paid for the parking lot where Leo’s used to be. Rich responded $60,000 for the
entire property and $125,000 to make it into a parking lot. Councilman Adams asked what the other
building so fold. Rich responded it sole for what was paid for it. Councilman Adams surmised there was
zero dollars invested in the lot based on that. Mike noted DAC was spending $125,000 for the parking
lot and $250,000 to attract people to the downtown so it was worth the value.
Councilman Adams stated Council will still be concerned about dollars and Mike’s point of putting a
parking lot in versus a park is a good comparison. Even though park is not necessary to do business it is
necessary to the overall feel of the downtown.
Nathan stated staff needs to give Council the full price. It is less about the park and more about keeping
things in perspective. Mike noted Council needs to consider what Sky Lakes is willing to do in the future
as well.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
/kw
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