Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

Burlington Parks & Recreation Advisory Board MEETING AGENDA Tuesday, 03/09/2021, 6:00PM Virtual Zoom Meeting Dial in: 1-253-215-8782 Log in: https://tinyurl.com/129eem5v Meeting ID: 859 9970 0682 Passcode: 241233 CALL TO ORDER Sarah Ward APPROVAL OF MINUTES (02/09/2021) Sarah Ward OPEN COMMENT Sarah Ward OLD BUSINESS Sarah Ward 1. SRP Irrigation, Update Jim Rabenstein 2. Park Entrance Signs, Update Jim Rabenstein 3. Dog Park Project Sarah Ward / Jim Rabenstein 4. Park Improvement Priorities Sarah Ward / Jim Rabenstein NEW BUSINESS 5. Spring Playfield Use Jim Rabenstein 6. Reopening of BPR Business Office Sarah Ward ADJOURN Next Scheduled Meeting: Tuesday 04/13/2021 @ 6:00p.m. Enclosures: : 02/09/2021 Meeting Minutes : Park Sign Concept Drawing and Examples 03/09/2021 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Agenda Packet - Page 1 of 6 This page intentionally blank. 03/09/2021 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Agenda Packet - Page 2 of 6  CITY OF BURLINGTON PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD Tuesday, February 9, 2021 Meeting Minutes (The board meeting is conducted via Zoom due to COVID restrictions) Representatives in Attendance Board Members: Marylynn Baker, Bill Black, Craig Bloodgood, Darla Chafe, and Rob Norman City Council Members: Keith Chaplin and Chris Loving City Staff: Interim Parks & Recreation Director Sarah Ward, Parks Supervisor Jim Rabenstein, Recreation Coordinator Christi Kinney, and Parks & Recreation Secretary Shelley Johnstone MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by Interim Parks & Recreation Director Sarah Ward at 6:03PM. MINUTES: A motion to approve the minutes of the 01/12/2021 meeting as written is made by Bill Black/Darla Chafe. All in favor; motion is carried. OPEN COMMENT OLD BUSINESS Update on Park Entrance Signs. Jim Rabenstein has received quotes from several companies, but only two that seem practical for our needs. One of the two is from a local company, however their pricing is 20% higher than the other and they do not help with the design process. Jim is waiting to hear back from a third contact soon. He will present his findings at the March board meeting and will have pictures to help illustrate design options. Prioritization of Park Improvements. Jim Rabenstein shares a list which summarizes the city’s future park projects and the improvements suggested within each, most being identified during the PROS Plan development. Board members spend time in conversation distinguishing those improvements that rise to the top of their priority lists. One of the priorities agreed upon is the need for an inclusive playground at Rotary Park with its need for a restroom facility close behind. Jim says that projects already underway at Skagit River Park also top his list, such as irrigation and road/parking improvements. Board members observe that a year spent living under COVID has underscored the need for vibrant neighborhood parks. Creating more walking trails is also highlighted as a need. Rob Norman recommends attaching an estimated cost to each of the improvement components so that they can be accomplished when opportunities present themselves. Keith Chaplin suggests that focusing on key improvements, even those considered small by comparison, will still feel like progress to park users. Members will reconvene the conversation at their March meeting. Board members are encouraged to send their thoughts on improvement priorities to Shelley Johnstone which will be compiled for presentation at the next meeting. NEW BUSINESS Election of Officers. After brief discussion, Keith Chaplin/Rob Norman nominate Darla Chafe as chairperson and Craig Bloodgood as vice-chair during 2021. Motion carried, all in favor. Recreation Report. Christi Kinney reports that she recently met with the mayor and city administrator about restarting Rec programs in Burlington. She has been given the green light to return to full-time Recreation work as of March 1 and to proceed with program offerings reformatted to accommodate COVID restrictions beginning in June. For the summer season, 03/09/2021 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Agenda Packet - Page 3 of 6  Christi will forgo the bulk of her normal programming that requires an indoor space or use of city vehicles for transportation. She will instead rely heavily on contractors who will bring staff and equipment to host outdoor and virtual programs on the city’s behalf. She has had great success in the past partnering with Skyhawks and Challenger to run sports camps. She will also partner with Adventure Terra, a company based on Whidbey Island whose specialty is tree climbing and rock climbing instruction. Sprig Nature Immersion is a new partnership she is excited about. Sprig’s programs are designed for children and families to engage with nature. Christi says she has a lot of fresh ideas that she is anxious to explore with most focused on wellness, the great outdoors, and community connections. Yard of the Month, Outdoor Book Club in partnership with Burlington Library, Drive-in concerts, and Parking Lot events are a few she will pursue for the near future. Christi reports that the annual June Berry Dairy Days festival will not take place in its normal form. She and Sarah Ward hope to work with the Chamber to develop a COVID compliant event which still celebrates the spirit of the festival. The current plan is to postpone the festival’s fireworks show until the fall. History of Jason Boerner Memorial Park. Craig Bloodgood shares a brief history of the memorial park. The 1.5 acre site was originally purchased by the City in the early 1990s as a location for its new Fire Station. The site was eventually deemed too small for the station and handed over to Parks for repurposing. In 1997, a memorial fund was created on behalf of Jason Boerner, a young boy who passed away tragically at 12yrs of age. Jason’s grandmother, Oneida Boerner was a member of the Burlington Parks Foundation. The Foundation planted memorial trees at the park and the Soroptimist Club of Burlington funded the park’s Tot Lot. Dog Park Project. Sarah Ward included with board members agenda packet a handout which illustrates best practices for creating successful dog parks. Jim Rabenstein shares an aerial diagram showing 2 potential sites for a dog park. One is located near the intersection of E. Rio Vista Avenue and Gardner Road, the other is due east of Rotary Park along S. Section Street. Both sites would allow for a dog park approximately 2-acres in size. Board members spend time discussing the two options and ultimately agree that the location near Rotary Park seems to be the most appropriate when fundamentals such as accessibility, parking, restrooms, water access, and cost are considered. Bill Black recommends reaching out to neighboring residents to address potential concerns. Suggestions from Marylynn Baker include recycled rainwater to supplement the water source, shade and a variety of ground cover for interest, and possibly noise barriers. She also suggests proximity to the new dog park location may be a worthwhile consideration for relocating the Pea Patch Community Gardens. Grant Cycles. Sarah Ward reports that she has learned a great deal about RCO grants with her recent research (Washington Recreation and Conservation Office). She was unable to find solid information about specific grant types available to supplement the city’s resources. She has reached out to our region’s grant coordinator for better direction and hopes to hear back from her soon. Sarah’s main takeaway is that 2022 will be the first opportunity for grant application. She feels that will allow time for the board to map out priorities and budget accordingly. ADJOURNMENT: Sarah Ward adjourns the board meeting at 7:39PM. NEXT MEETING: Tuesday, March 9, 2021, 6:00PM Minutes transcribed by Shelley Johnstone, Parks & Recreation Secretary 03/09/2021 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Agenda Packet - Page 4 of 6 Soldura Products https://solduraproducts.com/soldura-signs Concept Drawing: Example: 03/09/2021 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Agenda Packet - Page 5 of 6 Vacker Signs https://vackersign.com/products/park-entrance-signs/ Examples: 03/09/2021 Parks and Recreation Advisory Board Agenda Packet - Page 6 of 6