Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee

The Olympia Center City of Olympia 222 Columbia St. NW Olympia, WA 98501 Contact: Jonathon Turlove Meeting Minutes 360.753.8068 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Thursday, October 3, 2013 6:00 pm The Olympia Center, Room 200 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:03 p.m. Present: 9 - Chair Robert L (Rob) Ahlschwede, Vice Chair Jim Nieland, Committee Member Jessica Bateman, Committee Member Barbara Benson, Committee Member Robert Dengel, Committee Member Jesse Dwyer, Committee Member Gerry Hodge, Committee Member Noah C McCord, and Committee Member Brian Tomlinson Absent: 2 - Committee Member Joel Hansen, and Committee Member Dave Hughes 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 13-0775 Approval of September 5, 2013 Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT Brian Faller lives adjacent to "LBA Woods" which is the property owned by DR Horton and adjacent to LBA Park. His group will make a formal presentation to PRAC at the December 5 meeting. The work to save LBA Woods started 1 year ago with an online petition which was signed by 826 people. The 80-acre Trillium parcel (DR Horton) contains a system of walking trails that has been used by the community and neighbors for decades. The site has running/walking trails and upland habitat. The group would like to get input from PRAC on how to design useable space but preserve the current trail system. It is important to save this asset before it is developed, as DR Horton's appeal application has recently been denied by the courts. Mr. Faller stated there would be an outpouring of volunteers to help with maintenance, should the property be acquired by the City. Jeff Marti lives near LBA Woods and uses the trails. He stated they are very valuable. City of Olympia Page 1 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes October 3, 2013 Committee Rhonda Olnick is a neighbor of the LBA Woods and would like to see the property saved for recreational use. Christianna encouraged PRAC to go to their petition site to learn more about the project. The trails have been used by people for decades. James Reddick - President of PARC Foundation, stated he was impressed with the Parks Director candidates. He served on the public panel and felt all were well qualified. On October 15, Alpine Experience and Northface will host a speaker series at the Harlequin Theatre. The PARC Foundation will receive the proceeds from the event and wine/beer sales. The Regional Park Board meeting will be scheduled after the first of the year. 5. ANNOUNCEMENTS Program and Planning Supervisor Dave Okerlund gave an overview of the LBA woods acquisition. The City had previously contacted DR Horton about purchase of part of the Trillium parcel; however, the developer was not interested at that time. National Parks and Lands Day brought out lots of volunteers, despite the torrential rain, to work at West Bay Park and Garfield Nature Trail. Committee Member Dengel is in the process of scheduling a forestry sub-committee meeting in late October. Committee Member Bateman gave an update about the needle/syringes found at Heritage Park restroom. Program and Planning Supervisor Scott River stated needles are also being found at City parks and restrooms, as well as The Olympia Center. 6. BUSINESS ITEMS Mr. Okerlund presented the CFP and gave an overview of the projects proposed for 2014. The Isthmus project is listed in the 2014 CFP and shows a list of projects that were deferred due to the acquisition. The City does not currently have enough funds to demolish both buildings. Mr. Okerlund stated that CAMMP will only be funded at $170,000 instead of the $500,000 requested. Mr. Okerlund presented the CFP recommendation letter from the Planning Commission. Items addressed by the Planning Commission were to buy additional community parks, increase funding for park maintenance, and come up with a funding package for Percival Landing. Mr. Okerlund also presented a handout regarding the Parks and Pathways program which outlined the projects that will be funded in 2014. The Committee discussed the Planning Commission recommendations. Many concerns were voiced about the lack of funding for CAMMP projects and the deferral of funds for projects outside of the Park Plan. Mr. Okerlund stated staff will start the City of Olympia Page 2 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes October 3, 2013 Committee process to update the Park Plan in 2014. Mr. Okerlund gave a brief overview on the next phases of Percival Landing and the $50 million that is needed to complete the reconstruction. The F Dock will be replaced this winter and will be open by boating season 2014. PRAC Recommendation: Move that PRAC send an official statement to the Planning Commission in support of their CFP recommendation regarding parks . Vote: 5-4 Robert, Gerry, Jesse, Rob voting Nay Motion passed. The Committee further discussed the need for a comprehensive funding structure to address the need of park acquisition and development and include maintenance as a priority. PRAC Recommendation: Move to authorize the PRAC Chair to write a letter outlining the future funding needs, with emphasis on maintenance, and that items need to be addressed in the upcoming park plan effort in 2014. Vote: 9-0 Motion passed. 2014 Work Plan and Discussion Dave Okerlund gave an update on the work plan. Further discussion will be scheduled for next meeting. PRAC Evaluations Item moved to December 5 meeting. 7. REPORTS FROM PROJECT LEADS - None 8. SUBCOMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS A. North Capitol Campus Heritage Park Development Assoc. (Rob Ahlschwede) Legislature will be sending funds for Heritage Park. It is not much but is an opportunity for a little more development. B. Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Jesse Dwyer) The Committee discussed signage for Puget Street parks and pathways project . C. Olympia Planning Commission (Jess Bateman) Commission has been reviewing the 2014-2019 Capital Facilities Plan. D. PARC Foundation of Thurston County (Joel Hansen) None. City of Olympia Page 3 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes October 3, 2013 Committee 9. OTHER TOPICS - None 10. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:09 p.m. Upcoming Next meeting will be December 5, 2013. City of Olympia Page 4