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, August 7, 2014 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 - Chair Jim Nieland, Vice Chair Gerry Hodge, Committee Member Barbara Benson, Committee Member Timothy W Burns, Committee Member Darrell Hoppe, Committee Member Noah C McCord, Committee Member Alicia Seegers Martinelli, and Committee Member Brian Tomlinson Absent: 2 - Committee Member Robert Dengel, and Committee Member Joel Hansen 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA The agenda was approved. 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 3.A 14-0764 Approval of June 5, 2014 Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved. 4. PUBLIC COMMENT James Reddick, PARC Foundation, reminded the Committee about the BBQ to be held at the Tenino Park Quarry on August 20. The PARC Foundation website is under construction, and the new site will be up soon. Jeff Marti, LBA Woods Coalition, thanked PRAC for their recommendation and support for the Bentridge site. He asked for more information on the feasibility study process and timeline and whether there will be an opportunity for public comment and review. He also inquired about what PRAC's role will be for recommendation on the report. Brian Faller, LBA Woods Coalition, inquired about the questions that will be asked of the five land owners. He provided a list of questions for staff consideration. He would like staff to hold a public meeting for stakeholders to talk with the consultant and City of Olympia Page 1 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes August 7, 2014 Committee gather feedback from the community, before the community park suitability study is finalized. 5. BUSINESS ITEMS A. Olympia Woodland Trail Phase 4 Feasibility Study Update Parks Engineer Kip Summers presented a powerpoint on the Olympia Woodland Trail Feasibility Study that was completed by consultant Shea Carr Jewell. He reviewed the process and the rating criteria used to identify the Phase 4 preferred route. The trail will extend the trail from Henderson Blvd. to Tumwater Historical Park. No funding is currently identified to complete this phase. The City will hold a public meeting on August 27 to present the study and will also accept public comment until August 29. The report is available on the City's website. B. Community Park Feasibility Study (Paul Simmons) Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Paul Simmons reviewed the process to date for the community park feasibility study. The contract with consultant RW Droll has been signed and work has begun. Mr. Simmons stated that staff is in the process of developing the next steps which will define the public process and role of PRAC. Associate Planner Jonathon Turlove reviewed the consultant's scope of work and explained that the consultant has agreed to 90 days for completion which includes assistance by staff. C. Safe and Secure Parks Initiative (Paul Simmons) Mr. Simmons stated that when he started with the City, he met with all Parks staff to get their perspective on the Department. He learned that over half of employees felt the problem with needles was a hindrance to their job. In March 2014, the Department started the Safe and Secure Parks Initiative that puts a priority on maintaining safe and accessible parks, reducing illegal behavior at The Olympia Center and keeping employees and patrons safe. Mr. Simmons presented a powerpoint that detailed new policies and procedures, as well as next steps. D. Off-Leash Dog Park Update (Paul Simmons) Mr. Simmons stated that a temporary dog park will not be feasible on the property that was identified on the Westside. The $100,000 project budget will not be sufficient to build the park. The Department is hopeful that the upcoming Park Plan process will help identify a new site for the dog park. E. Annual Meeting with City Manager and Directors (Jonathon Turlove) Staff proposes that the meeting with the City Manager and OPARD Directors be held on September 26 from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. The meeting will start with a tour of Ward Lake Park and then continue to Kettle View Park for lunch, followed by informal discussions on park and recreation related topics. On PRAC's October meeting agenda will be a further discussion on Ward Lake Park. PRAC approved date and time. 6. REPORTS FROM PROJECT LEADS - None City of Olympia Page 2 Parks and Recreation Advisory Meeting Minutes August 7, 2014 Committee 7. SUBCOMMITTEE AND LIAISON REPORTS A. North Capitol Campus Heritage Park Development Assoc. None. B. Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee. None. C. Olympia Planning Commission. The Planning Commission will be meeting with the Parks Department to discuss the 2015 Preliminary CFP on August 8. D. PARC Foundation of Thurston County. None. 8. ANNOUNCEMENTS The City Council unanimously passed the senior exemption to park impact fees. Committee Member McCord announced this will be his last meeting on PRAC, as he is heading off to college. The Committee and staff thanked him for his participation on PRAC. Vice Chair Hodge has been attending the Neighborhood Association Steering Committe meetings and suggested surveying this group for their perspective on park needs. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Upcoming The next meeting is September 4, 2014. City of Olympia Page 3