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Alex moves to advance Skagway welcome garden design, removing fountain and gravel pathway alternates
Summary
At a municipal committee meeting, citizens and members reviewed conceptual plans for a long‑planned welcome garden. The committee voted to recommend the 35% design proceed without two alternates — a fountain and a gravel pathway — and asked that the design preserve the 'welcome' language in Resolution 17‑16R.
Alex moved on behalf of the committee to recommend the assembly approve the Skagway welcome garden conceptual plans at the 35% design stage without the two alternate features — a fountain (Alt 1) and a gravel pathway (Alt 2) — and to retain the project’s original "welcome" theme, members said.
The motion followed public comment and an extended committee discussion about cost, local identity and long‑standing project intent. "The Municipality of Skagway will work with the Skagway Organic Gardening Society to establish a welcome garden," Kathy Carr said while reading language from Resolution 17‑16R. Carr identified herself as a citizen and urged the committee to ensure the project remains a civic symbol of inclusion and to restore elements from earlier proposals, such as multilingual welcome bricks.
Sherry Quarrington, also speaking as a citizen, said she supported the concept but urged a pared‑back design to reduce costs. "The fountain seems like a lot of money," Quarrington said, and she suggested alternatives such as locally built picnic tables or benches. She also raised a public‑safety concern about a separate picnic table at Yacutania Point, saying she had photos of metal protruding and rusted beams that could present a hazard.
Committee members debated the fountain’s design and upkeep in Skagway’s cold, windy climate. Some described a low, recirculating bedrock feature with water running down a stone pillar as less problematic than a high‑spray fountain, but maintenance and drainage needs remained a concern. Members also emphasized that the garden should reflect Skagway’s local character rather than appear as a generic landscaped area.
After discussion, Alex moved that the committee recommend approval of the conceptual plans without the two alternates and "maintain the welcome theme throughout the design process." The motion was seconded by Charity and the committee voted in favor aloud. The committee chair noted that Resolution 17‑16R — which calls for working with the Skagway Organic Gardening Society and affirms a commitment to an inclusive community — had been omitted from the meeting packet in error and said they would invite the society to future meetings.
The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to the full assembly for consideration in its next formal meeting. Members also raised other minor items during the session — including trail seating and a proposed small recurring contract to remove storm‑downed trees — and adjourned after the discussions.
