Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission

CITY OF OAK HARBOR PARK BOARD MEETING MINUTES June 12, 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 Chair Warner called the meeting to order at 10:05 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, Economic Development Coordinator Steve McCaslin, Parks and Recreation Director Brian Smith, and Senior Administrative Assistant Kim Perrine. OTHERS PRESENT: North Whidbey Parks & Recreation District Director Jay Cochran, Barbara Armes, JR Russell (Arts Commission Chair) and Cynthia Mason (Arts Commission Vice-Chair) and one unknown female. 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA There were no changes to the agenda. MOVED by Board Member Rose to approve the agenda as presented, SECONDED by Board Member Dipzinski. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES a. Regular Meeting of May 8, 2023 – Board Member Jones had one amendment to the May 8, 2023 minutes regarding Item 5.d. – Pickleball. Having covered pickleball courts would be a nice option to have but is not required. MOVED by Board Member Dipzinski to approve the minutes of May 8, 2023 as amended, SECONDED by Vice Chair Stucky. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD There were no public comments. 5. PRESENTATIONS, REPORTS AND DISCUSSION ITEMS a. Gate of Inspiration Placement. JR Russell (Arts Commission Chair) spoke about the Gate of Inspiration proposed placement at the entry to the Freund Marsh up toward SR20. Board Members asked JR if he could provide the Park Board with a photo. Board Member Dipzinski likes the idea of a sculpture walk and suggested the City property on Pioneer Way as another potential location. Board  Members asked about cost information and Parks and Recreation Director Smith stated he has some information and can also check with Archaeologist Gideon Cauffman. Cynthia Mason (Arts Commission Vice-Chair) joined the meeting virtually and asked if any Park Board Members wanted to walk the area with Arts Commission Members. Ex-officio Arts Commission Member Marshall supports the Marsh location/art walk with rotating art. Two Arts Commission Members will walk the area next week. Cynthia Mason will send Executive Assistant Finkle the date/time so she can send it to Park Board Members. Reminder not to have a quorum or the walk will need to be noticed. b. “Pioneer Park” discussion (gas station). This item was not discussed, and the Board was unsure why this was on the agenda. c. Pickleball Courts. The City applied for a RCED Grant which was dismissed. The County wanted to hear about the Marina. So, the City needs to look for alternative Pickleball funding. Parks and Recreation Director Smith had a meeting with Brian Hunt (OHSD). OHSD has no desire for pickleball courts on school property and is okay to release the MOU. Council is not interested in investing in courts that are not on City property. Parks and Recreation Director Smith would like the Board to discuss location and scope today. Possible locations (Neil Park, Sumner Park, and Ft. Nugent Park), surface options and scope were discussed. It was suggested that a few Park Board members go on a field trip to check out Skagit Valley College’s pickleball courts. Depending on number of members attending, this may need to be noticed. Board Member Dipzinski would like the court placement to be at Ft. Nugent Park. Parks and Recreation Director Smith mentioned Park Impact Fees or REET as alternative funding sources. Board Member Jones asked about funding for a design plan and asked if there are budget resources available for a 2-3 foot barrier to keep balls closer to the courts. Board Member Dipzinski stated he would rather have fewer high-quality courts than more of lesser quality. d. Windjammer Park Feedback Report. A copy of the Windjammer Park Feedback Report completed last year was provided to each Board Member. Parks and Recreation Director Smith presented this item which covered background information, budget, projects, improvement areas, outreach, questions asked, and results (where they live, demographics-age, and why people visit the park). • The top three most important items were (1) Windmill, (2) Picnic areas, and (3) Shoreline enhancements. • Feedback about priorities (1) Picnic areas, (2) Amphitheater/Pavilion improvements, (3) Dog park/run, and (4) Create a Great Lawn. • Top 10 things most important were (1) Windmill, (2) Activities for all ages, (3) Baseball fields, (4) Picnic areas, (5) Add more trees, (6) Increase maintenance, cleaning, landscaping, etc., (7) Security/Safety improvements, (8) No info provided, (9) Dog park area, and (10) Add native plants, shrubs, flowers, etc. • Top 20 improvements survey respondents want to see (1) Activities for young adults/teens, (2) Increased maintenance/cleaning, (3) Volleyball court, (4) Indoor area for kids/Rec center, (5) Playground/Play Park, (6) Dog Park, (7) More parking near Bailey’s playground, (8) Activities in Park (City hosted music events), (9) Camping RV/tent camping, (10) Windmill, (11) Pickleball courts, (12) Beach access, (13) Bike path, (14) Carnival return, (15) Splash park repairs, (16) BBQ grills/Fire pits, (17) Amphitheater events/shows, (18) Restroom improvements, (19) Benches along walkways, and (20) Lifeguard at the Lagoon. 2  • Staff recommendations (1) Repair shoreline, (2) Enhance the Pavilion, (3) Fix the Splash Park, (4) Improve picnic/seating options, (5) Rental facility improvements, (6) Shady areas near Splash Park and lagoon, and (7) Interpretive Center available for rental use. It was recommended that the community garden and Hal Ramaley Park area also be discussed. Board Member Rose and Board Member Dipzinski provided comments. Items #1 and #4-6 of Staff Recommendations were the focus for the Board. It was recommended that the old items not in use at the park be removed, i.e., pool and sandbox. Attachment B – 2016 Integration Plan Map was discussed and how the Park Board would like to continue this project. Chair Warner asked whether the City could rent out Interpretive Center space so revenue could be used for the park. Vice-Chair Stucky had concerns regarding dog park, destination playground, where to place them, and rental undercover areas – just feels scattered. Board Member Dipzinski stated he feels the City should fix problem areas, drainage issue, and then work on new improvements. Parks and Recreation Director Smith indicated that the Park Board comments, City Council comments, and upgraded Attachment B Plan Map (shown in phases) would be a good communication tool. This is going to Council at a July workshop. e. Parks and Recreation Director Report. Parks and Recreation Director Smith provided the following report to the Board: • Department Project status sent to Park Board members earlier today. • It was mentioned that Public Works Director Schuller has concerns about the Windmill (design) that will be going in Windjammer Park. Suggested that this be made a regular item on the Park Board agenda. • Smith Park – Funds going towards improvements we are going to make with the Garden Club. • Pavilion just painted. • Harbor Heights – Discuss at next agenda – Funding for sports fields. • 7th Street Improvements – Have some funding earmarked for trail planning. • Windjammer Park Trail Improvements – Have some funding for Windjammer Park that could possibly be used for trial improvements around Freund Marsh. • Park Board Powers and Duties to go back to Council. Check with Macalle to see if date/time has already been set. MOVED by Board Member Dipzinski to recommend Ft. Nugent Park as the location for pickleball courts with Sumner Park as a backup option, SECONDED by Vice-Chair Stucky. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. 6. MEMBER COMMENTS AND FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS a. Board Member Jones would like a copy of the information that was on the whiteboards at the Public Works Park and Recreation office in an Excel spreadsheet. He would also like to know the size of the Gate of Inspiration to see where it would look good. The piece is at Public Works and can be viewed at the next work session. b. Chair Warner suggested sending out the project list that Parks and Recreation Director Smith and Senior Services Administrator Lange came up with. (Note: Sent just prior to meeting.) c. Chair Warner asked if the City could investigate putting a locked AED at Ft. Nugent Park outside the snack shack with clubs having only access. Annual checks, maintenance, training, and security will be issues. Are ARPA funds available for AEDs? Board Member Dipzinski stated the City could increase 3  league fees to cover any costs for the AEDs and a safety plan/policy should be prepared. Parks and Recreation Director Smith stated he will bring this up at the next Safety Committee meeting. d. Arts Commission – Buskers Program at Windjammer Park. A draft policy/permit application was provided at the Arts Commission meeting. Parks and Recreation Director Smith will bring it to the Park Board for their feedback once the documents are finalized. 7. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 12:01 p.m. Minutes taken by Sr. Administrative Assistant Kim Perrine. L:\LGLA\WORK\CIV 2023\Boards & Commissions\Park Board\6-12-23 Mtg\6.12.23 Minutes.docx 4