Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee

The Olympia Center City of Olympia 222 Columbia St. NW Olympia, WA 98501 Contact: Scott River Meeting Minutes (360) 753-8506 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Thursday, June 6, 2013 6:00 pm The Olympia Center, Room 200 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: 8- Vice Chair Jim Nieland, Committee Member Jessica Bateman, Committee Member Barbara Benson, Committee Member Jesse Dwyer, Committee Member Joel Hansen, Committee Member Gerry Hodge, Committee Member Noah C McCord, and Committee Member Brian Tomlinson Excused: 3 - Chair Robert L (Rob) Ahlschwede, Committee Member Robert Dengel, and Committee Member Dave Hughes 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 3. APROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 13-0449 Approval of May 2, 2013 PRAC Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Mr. John Newman stated there needs to be leash signage at Burri Park. There has been a problem with dog waste at the park. He stated the City does a good job maintaining the park even through budget difficulties. Bruce stated he uses Yauger Park to walk his dog on leash, but would like to let her loose. He stated Sunrise Park was barely adequate. Dog parks are very important and dogs need to be able to run off-leash. He supports the park stystem and wants the park system to support him. Yauger Park is excellently maintained and the staff is courteous and they do a great job. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS City of Olympia Page 1 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes June 6, 2013 Committee --PRAC informal meeting with City Manager and OPARD Director will be held Monday, June 24 at noon at the Harbor House. --Mr. Hansen is working with TJ Johnson with Sustanible South Sound and Brian Wilson in organizing a Table for Olympia which will be a community potluck on August 3, in front of Darbys and the Capital Theater. 6. BUSINESS ITEMS 6.A Isthmus Funding Assistant City Manager Jay Burney updated the Committee on the isthmus property purchase. The isthmus properties are in bankruptcy which makes this a complicated process. June 15 is the bank deadline for acquisition and the bank is not allowing for an extension. The purchase was originally contingent on state funding, but the state has not finalized their budget yet, so the City Council has decided to move forward with the purchase. Mr. Burney distributed a listing of the proposed funding sources. He stated it has been a difficult decision to decide what projects to cut. The Committee voiced concern over continual cuts made to the parks capital budget as well as CAMMP funds. Vice Chair Nieland stated the City should look at possible funds available from the neighborhood trail connections as each year $25,000 is allocated from the private utility tax. Committee Member Hansen asked about the status of the West Bay project. Mr. Okerlund stated the City is moving forward with the habitat study. Vice Chair Nieland stated the Priest Point Park Rose Garden shelter is a high value site that generates money for parks; therefore, this cut hurts twice and reduces the attraction of the site. Committee Member McCord asked if the shelter is still useable or will it need to be closed? Mr. Okerlund stated the shelter will remain open but staff will need to look at re-roofing. Committee Member Benson asked if money was found to offset these cuts or if the state money was received, could the money be restored? Mr. Burney stated the money can be applied to demolition or to restore money to the parks projects. Ms. Benson stated her recommendation would be to restore the money to West Bay Park clean-up first. Vice Chair Nieland stated staff has done a good job and the cuts seem reasonable. Committee Member Hansen commented that citizens spoke in a couple different elections that the isthmus is important, although it is hard to keep deferring park projects. Mayor Pro Tem Jones stated the Council came to the conclusion that the derelict condition of this property is not helpful for the revitalization of the Downtown and they believe the purchase of the isthmus will make a change in the Downtown. Committee Member Dwyer stated the isthmus is ten meters above sea level and thinks it is City of Olympia Page 2 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes June 6, 2013 Committee short-sighted as this area won't be the same in 100 years. The Committee moved to adopt the proposal for funding sources as presented. Aye: 7- Vice Chair Nieland, Committee Member Bateman, Committee Member Benson, Committee Member Hansen, Committee Member Hodge, Committee Member McCord and Committee Member Tomlinson Nay: 1- Committee Member Dwyer Excused: 3 - Chair Ahlschwede, Committee Member Dengel and Committee Member Hughes Isthmus Funding The Committee moved to write a letter to the City Council stating the Committee's position and recommendation that any State funding received go back into these projects when secured. Aye: 8- Vice Chair Nieland, Committee Member Bateman, Committee Member Benson, Committee Member Dwyer, Committee Member Hansen, Committee Member Hodge, Committee Member McCord and Committee Member Tomlinson Excused: 3 - Chair Ahlschwede, Committee Member Dengel and Committee Member Hughes 6.B Dog Park Update Planning Manager Dave Okerlund stated that since Council's direction to proceed with the four possible sites for the dog park, he has contacted each landowner and all were not agreeable to a dog park on their property. However, Mr. Okerlund has recently found a piece of property that may have potential for a westside dog park. Property is similar in size to Sunrise and would be a lease only. The Committee suggested moving forward with development of dog parks in existing parks while the discussions were taking place with the leased site owners. Mr. Okerlund stated staff is looking at Kettle View Park for a potential dog park. He explained that a public process will be conducted to allow neighbors and the public an opportunity to comment on the site and design. The report was received. 6.C Park Evaluations Park evaluation packets were distributed. The Committee will report back on survey efforts in October. The report was received. City of Olympia Page 3 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes June 6, 2013 Committee 7. REPORTS FROM PROJECT LEADS 8. SUBCOMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS A. North Capitol Campus Heritage Park Development Assoc. None B. Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee. None C. Olympia Planning Commission. Committee Member Bateman reported that 5 of the 9 members on the Planning Commission are new. They finished the draft work plan and have asked for a briefing on urban green space and best practices, as well as climate change and its effects. They are planning their annual retreat and visiting neighborhoods. They will also be working on implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. D. PARC Foundation of Thurston County. None. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m. Upcoming The next meeting is September 5, 2013. City of Olympia Page 4