Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee

The Olympia Center Meeting Minutes 222 Columbia St. NW Olympia, WA 98501 Parks and Recreation Advisory Contact: Jonathon Turlove 360.753.8068 Committee Thursday, June 5, 2014 6:00 PM The Olympia Center, Room 200 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. Present: 9 - Chair Jim Nieland, Vice Chair Gerry Hodge, Committee Member Barbara Benson, Committee Member Timothy W Burns, Committee Member Robert Dengel, Committee Member Darrell Hoppe, Committee Member Noah C McCord, Committee Member Alicia Seegers Martinelli, and Committee Member Brian Tomlinson Absent: 2 - Committee Member Jesse Dwyer, and Committee Member Joel Hansen 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 2.A 14-0542 Approval of April 17, 2014 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 2.B 14-0543 Approval of May 1, 2014 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 3. PUBLIC COMMENT James Reddick, PARC Foundation, stated he will collect remaining Centro raffle tickets tonight or PRAC could give to staff. Brandon, local skateboarder, stated that no changes to the Yauger skate park would be adequate, a new skate park is needed. Olympia has a huge stakeboarding community and can be followed on Facebook at Olympia Skatepark. He supports the PRAC work plan item to assess the skate court needs in Olympia. Jeff Marty, LBA Woods Coalition, stated the Bentridge parcel is perfectly suited to be funded by the Voted Utility Tax. The measure states that the priority is acquisition and the City needs to purchase land before it is gone. Brian Faller, LBA Woods Coalition, stated the Bentridge parcel is for sale and is a City of Olympia Page 1 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes June 5, 2014 Committee good value. The City has been successful with Recreation and Conservation Office acquisition grants. The coalition recommends the City fast track a feasilbity study of the property. 4. ANNOUNCEMENTS This weekend is National Trails Day. The City will host a volunteer event at Priest Point Park on Saturday, June 7, 2014. 5. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Artesian Commons & Summer Programming Update Associate Director Scott River gave an update on the Artesian Commons. Currently, there is one mobile food vendor on site and there is interest from two others. The music has been installed. Video cameras will be installed to monitor the fleet parking and the Commons, and the creek and mural painting will be coming soon. The Department recreation leagues, classes and camps are doing well and participation is high. B. Olympia Woodland Trail Phase 4 Feasibility Study Agenda item postponed to next meeting. C. Recommendation to Finance Committee on Park Plan Process Associate Planner Jonathon Turlove gave a review of the Park Funding Powerpoint shown at last month's meeting. Parks Director Paul Simmons reviewed the agenda for the June 11 Finance Committee meeting to discuss park service needs and the Bentridge parcel. Mr. Simmons presented five options to consider for the Park Plan process: 1. Use Parks, Arts & Recreation Plan process to prioritize acquisition, development and operations. 2. Community Park Feasibility Study then use Parks, Arts & Recreation Plan process to prioritize. 3. Funding options for multiple projects. 4. Funding options for LBA Woods. 5. Other options After much discussion, a motion was presented. Motion: Recommend to fast track the community park feasiblity study for the purchase of the Bentridge parcel of the LBA Woods consistent with the goals and objectives of the City of Olympia Page 2 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes June 5, 2014 Committee existing PAR plan and the primary purpose of the VUT (voter utility tax). Any such feasibility study shall consider the impact of the regional transportation plan, and the available funding options to acquire such property as well as make sure the parks planning process congruently happens in a timely manner consistent with RCO requirements. Discussion followed that centered around the unknown cost of the future road through the property, the urgency to protect this piece of property from development and the need to conduct a feasibility study expediently. The Committee decided to simplify the motion, and make the following recommendation to the Finance Committee: Recommend to the Finance Commitee to fast track a park feasiblity study of the Bentridge parcel. PRAC voted 8-1 in favor, with Gerry Hodge abstaining. D. Park Impact Fee Exemption for Seniors Mr. Turlove stated he had talked with Legal and clarified the definition of assisted living. He had also met with the Olympia Master Builders and the City's Community Planning & Development (CP&D) staff. CP&D recommended a separate impact fee housing type rate for senior housing due to lower occupancy rates. E. Annual Park Surveys Mr. Turlove distributed the survey materials. Members will present their survey findings at the September 7 meeting. Committee Member Benson - Artesian Commons Committee Member Seegers Martinelli - Bigelow Committee Member Hoppe - Japanese Garden Committee Member Tomlinson - Lions Committee Member Hodge - Woodruff Chair Nieland - Sunrise Committee Member Burns - Decatur Woods Committee Member McCord - Stevens Field Committee Member Dengel - Friendly Grove 6. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS - None 7. LIAISON REPORTS A. North Capitol Campus Heritage Park Development Assoc. (Committee Member Seegers Martinelli) Nothing new to report. B. Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Committee Member Hansen) None. City of Olympia Page 3 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes June 5, 2014 Committee C. Olympia Planning Commission (Committee Member Hoppe) The Planning Commission has a scheduled retreat to discuss the work plan, hear rezoning criteria and review pending changes to the future land use map to make sure it is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. D. PARC Foundation of Thurston County (Committee Member Hansen) None. 8. OTHER TOPICS Committee Member McCord announced he is part of Governor Inslee’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on Parks and Outdoor Recreation. The Task Force was created with the goal of developing a plan to overhaul Parks and Recreation management, funding, and promotion in Washington State. He encouraged members and staff to look at the website www.engageoutdoorwashington.com and provide comments and review information. Mr. Turlove reminded PRAC of the open public meeting law training. For members who are unable to attend, an online video will be made available. Mayor Pro Tem Nathaniel Jones stated the annual budget cycle is starting and Council will be reviewing the Capital Facilities Plan soon. The Community Economic Revitalization Committee (CERC) is continuing work on the Isthmus visioning and is focusing on economic feasiblity and public/private partnerships. A public process will be coming soon. Council had a study session on June 3 to discuss surface and stormwater quality, management and habitat preservation. A draft strategy was presented. Mr. Turlove will forward a copy of the document to PRAC. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:28 p.m. Upcoming The next meeting will be held on August 7. City of Olympia Page 4