Making improvements to the city park was the main topic of discussion at the Hines Common Council meeting held Tuesday, March 27.

Councilor Diane Rapaport told the council representatives from Dreamland Skateparks were going to be in town on April 16 to discuss the parameters for a new skate park. Those involved in the effort will meet at the present skate park at 6 p.m., followed by a PowerPoint presentation at Hines City Hall.

Rapaport said on either April 21 or 22, a group of volunteers are going to meet at the skate park to make repairs to the existing structures.

She then talked about the possibility of putting up a fence as a border between the park and Highway 20 for children’s safety. She noted that the council has talked about a fence previously and, “It is really time to implement this, and look into it, and think about it.”

She stated that the two options are to install a chain link fence or a juniper fence. The council discussed how the fences would look, the costs involved, how effective each fence would be as a barrier, and how long each would last.

Mayor Nikki Morgan stated the city already has several rolls of chain link fence available should the council decide to go that direction. She wasn’t sure how tall the fencing is, but they would check with the maintenance department.

Councilor Dan Grigg stated that providing labor for the project might be an opportunity for an Eagle Scout project.

Councilor Ray Breshears said a six-foot chain link fence around the park might make it look more like a prison than a park.

The council agreed to continue to look into the different options.

Rapaport then reported she had been looking into pump tracks, a type of off-road terrain for wheeled vehicles.

“What makes them attractive, aside from the fact that they’re not all that expensive compared to, say, a skateboard  park, they are multi-use, multi-family, multi-generational, multi-wheeled vehicle parks,” Rapaport said.

She said she had been looking around for potential sites, and suggested possible sites included the softball field next to the golf course, the strip of land between the highway and the golf course, or the grassy area between Hines City Hall and the pavilion.

It was also mentioned using the park area next to the existing skate park.

Pros and cons of each area were discussed, and Rapaport said she would continue looking into it.

As far as funding the project, Rapaport suggested approaching the chamber of commerce because it would attract people to the area, grants, community businesses, and adding a line in the city’s budget.

•••

The council discussed the “Flower Pot Project” being proposed by a community group. The group was asking to place flower containers beside the city park and maybe along city streets, visible to those passing through.

City Administrator Judy Erwin explained the project would not cost the city any money, but the group was asking for help from the city setting the planters in place and removing them in the fall as the planters weigh about 340 pounds without the dirt.

Rapaport said the city should ask the group if they plan on using anti-deer plants in the planters.

The council voted to approve the project.

In other business:

• Breshears volunteered to serve on the airport committee to represent the city;

• the council voted to donate $100 to the High Desert Fiddlers Country Jamboree;

• during the public comment portion of the meeting, Eldon Hart said he had read about the pilot program being proposed to reduce the number of deer in the city. He stated the deer in the city belong to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and asked why should the city pay for the processing of the meat if they are killed as part of the program?

It was explained that the Senate Bill 373 states that the cities would be responsible for the processing.

Jill Miller stated she was totally against killing any deer in the city.

“If you go through with this, I’m going to give you the fight of your life,” Miller said. “It ain’t going to happen.”;

• the council agreed by consensus to go back to one meeting a month. Starting in April, the council will meet the second Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m., with special meetings called if needed;

• Breshears said he had been approached about getting the speed limit changed on Highway 20 near the Hines Mobile Home and RV Park. He said he told the person it was the state that controlled that.

After some discussion, it was decided to have Erwin draft a letter to the state requesting a slower speed limit in the area for safety reasons.

The next meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 10.