Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission

CITY OF OAK HARBOR PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES May 8, 2023 This hybrid meeting was hosted from the Mayor’s Conference Room in City Hall and recorded through RingCentral. 1. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL Vice-Chair Stucky called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m. Position and Board Member Attendance Position 1 – Carrie Stucky, Vice Chair In person Online Absent Position 2 – Jana Warner, Chair In person Online Absent Position 3 – Ronnie Wright In person Online Absent Position 4 – Eric Dipzinski In person Online Absent Position 5 – Tom Jones In person Online Absent Alternate – Kate Rose In person Online Absent Ex-Officio Councilmember Jim Woessner In person Online Absent (left meeting at 11:10 a.m.) CITY STAFF PRESENT: City Administrator Blaine Oborn, Executive Assistant Macalle Finkle, Senior Services Administrator Liz Lange, Parks Operations Lead Tally Hucke, Park Operation Specialist Eric Hannan, Animal Control Officer Greg Woodward, Police Chief Kevin Dresker and Senior Administrative Assistant Kim Perrine OTHERS PRESENT: North Whidbey Parks & Recreation District Director Jay Cochran. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There were no changes to the agenda. MOVED by Board Member Dipzinski to approve the agenda as presented, SECONDED by Board Member Jones. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Regular Meeting of March 13, 2023 – MOVED by Board Member Jones to approve the minutes of March 13, 2023, as presented, SECONDED by Board Member Dipzinski. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. b. Regular Meeting of April 10, 2023 – Executive Assistant Finkle advised the Board that there were a few incorrect names on agenda item 5.e. that have been corrected. MOVED by Board Member Jones to approve the minutes of April 10, 2023, as amended, SECONDED by Board Member Dipzinski. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD There was one public comment received online from Sandra Crouch, 2422 Happy Valley Court, and Senior Services Administrator Lange read the comment to the Board. “Please consider using one of the tennis courts at Sumner Park to transition to four pickleball courts. I would encourage you to visit Anacortes Clearidge Tennis/Pickleball courts either in person or via google earth. The Anacortes Clearidge Courts are the same dimensions as Oak Harbor's Sumner Park tennis courts. If you visit them in person, assuming you have descent weather conditions, I can just about guarantee that all four pickleball courts will be in use with folks  waiting to play. At the recent City Council meeting, the Sumner courts were not even mentioned as an option. Again, I implore you to please consider them.” 5. PRESENTATIONS, REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Dog Leash Law Discussion – Animal Control Officer Woodward addressed the Board and provided information about citizen issues that have been brought to his attention. Officer Woodward explained that he tries to provide educational information to violators and has issued only a few citations to repeat offenders. Chief Dresker spoke about Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design and mentioned that there will be additional officers on bikes during the summer months to help deter violators. • Mutt mitt bag stations. Parks Operation Lead Hucke stated that these stations were maintained/funded originally by the Rotary Club. However, they are now being maintained by the Parks Department at the City’s expense. Ex-Officio Member Woessner will put Parks Operation Lead Hucke in contact with someone at Rotary to address this issue. It was suggested to increase the number of mutt mitt stations and place a trash can by each station so that bags are not left on the ground, beach, woods, etc. Pet owners need to be responsible for picking up after their animals. • Signage. The Board discussed increasing the signage in the parks regarding the regulations/rules and making them clearer and eye-catching so people will read the message. Little League would like to prohibit dogs from the ball fields. The Board suggested speaking with Parks and Recreation Director Brian Smith about these issues, possible dog park locations, and looking into grant funding options. b. Well Site #10 Naming Nominations from Broad View Elementary – Senior Services Administrator Lange presented the Board with the park name nominations. The Board discussed the options presented. Board Member Dipzinski MOVED to recommend “Explorer Park” as the name for Wellsite #10, SECONDED by Vice-Chair Stucky. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. Staff will notify the winner -- Mr. Karney’s 3rd grade class -- and they will be invited to an upcoming City Council meeting. c. U-Haul Access Road at Centennial Park (restrictive easement) – This is an informational item only. This access road is near Fakkema and SR20. City Administrator Oborn showed the Board where this access road would be located. Parks Operation Lead Hucke mentioned that this access road will make it easier for the City crews to maintain the property where the oak trees are planted, and no trees should be disturbed during this process. Having this access road installed should also help keep homeless camps out of the area. Impact fees will cover the costs of this access road. d. Pickleball Courts The Board discussed the pros and cons of potential pickleball court locations: Sumner Park, Neil Park, Volunteer Park, Harbor Heights, Koetje Park and Ft. Nugent Park. Pickleball courts need to be added to the Master Plan for the Park Board. The Board would like to start with a minimum of four courts that are fenced and have lighting. An option to be covered would be nice, but is not required. Noise levels, parking, and lighting issues were taken into consideration when discussing locations. Senior Services Administrator Lange will look into a feasibility study to put pickleball courts at Sumner Park and will also include parking and a Portland Loo. After discussion concluded, Board Member Dipzinski MOVED to recommend Ft. Nugent Park as the location for pickleball courts 2  with Sumner Park as a backup option, SECONDED by Vice-Chair Stucky. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6. MEMBER COMMENTS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS The Board discussed the following future agenda items: • Dog Park continuation/information – Would like to discuss further at a workshop. • Sports Ideas/Complex – Parks Operation Lead Hucke would like to discuss how to increase use of City fields at a workshop. • Disc golf locations. • Windjammer Park Phases – City Administrator Oborn and Communications/IT Manager Combs are working on this. 7. ADJOURN MOVED by Board Member Dipzinski to adjourn today’s meeting, SECONDED by Board Member Jones. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. The meeting was adjourned at 12:00 noon. Minutes taken by Sr. Administrative Assistant Kim Perrine. L:\LGLA\WORK\CIV 2023\Boards & Commissions\Park Board\Minutes\5.8.23 Minutes\5-8-23 Minutes - FINAL - Amended 6.12.23.docx 3