Parks Comm MINS 02-02-2023i:\parks comm mtg notes\2023\02-02-2023 minutes.doc
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PARKS AND RECREATION
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
February 2, 2023 Hylebos Meeting Room
5:00 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
Present: Chair Michael Campsmith, Vice Chair George Vadino and Karen Brugato
Present via Zoom: David Berger
Excused: Sabrina Ettinger
Unexcused: Ariel Paull
Staff: Jason Gerwen, Parks Deputy Director and Mary Jaenicke, Parks Adm. Asst. II.
Chair Campsmith called the meeting to order at 5:01pm.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Marie Sciacqua from the Historical Society provided the commission with a copy of the deed from King County
for Steel Lake Park. It was purchased with forward thrust funds and it was a grant. King County purchased it in
1968 and it was given to the City in 1991 when Federal Way became a city. The deed states that the City may trade
the site or part of the site for property of equal or better recreational value. Ms. Sciacqua stated that the citizens
were not given a public hearing and they did not get their due process; the annex property should not have been
considered for a new Maintenance Facility. If the City wants to use the property there is a conversion approval
process checklist that needs to be followed. Ms. Sciacqua recommended that the commission include the Annex on
their park tour.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Chair Campsmith moved to approve the January Parks and Recreation Commission regular meeting minutes as
written. Commissioner Brugato seconded. Motion passed.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
Finalize and Approve the By-Laws
The commission reviewed the proposed changes to the By-Laws. Vice Chair Vadino moved to approve the
By-Laws as amended. Commissioner Brugato seconded. Motion passed.
Review Draft Letter to the City Council
Chair Campsmith drafted a letter to the City Council from the Parks and Recreation Commission regarding
their support of appropriate holiday displays of religious/cultural symbols on city property. The letter requests
that the City Council approve future community petitions for display of appropriate holiday symbols/icons.
Commissioner Brugato suggested adding a funding mechanism to the letter. She stated that the City will not
pay for anything and it will not require any staff time. The group will be responsible for everything.
Commissioner Berger also suggested including the information that this issue was brought to the commission
directly by one or more citizens in the community and changing the word approve to consider in the fifth
paragraph. The commissioners will review the letter and bring their changes/comments to the March meeting
for discussion.
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Commission Recruitment
The commission discussed ideas on how to recruit people to apply for a position on the Parks & Recreation
Commission. Possible ideas for recruitment are Parks Appreciation Day, Service Clubs, the State of the City
event, Recreation Brochure and Social Media. Currently, two people have applied and there are three current
commissioners that have terms that expire 4/30/23. Staff Gerwen notified the Commission that a letter was
emailed to a Commissioner regarding excessive absences. The Commissioner has ten (10) days to respond. If
we do not get a response then that person will be removed from the Commission.
Schedule Park Tours
The park tour is tentatively scheduled for June 1. This will take place during the regularly scheduled Parks and
Recreation Commission meeting. The funding available in the Playground Replacement Program is
$125,000.00. The Commission will be provided the playground condition report at the March meeting.
STAFF REPORTS
Update on Master Plan Proposals and PROS Plan Proposal
Staff Gerwen stated Community Development staff have reviewed the proposals and he has made 75% of the
changes to the proposals. Once he has made all of the changes the proposals will be given back to the
consultants. The consultants will then return the updated proposals with the cost. A lot of the changes were
Community Development requirements for the Comprehensive Plan.
Park Impact Fees
Staff Gerwen attended the January LUTC meeting and provided a very brief update. Just prior to the Parks &
Recreation Commission meeting staff Gerwen did receive two scenarios from the consultant. Scenario #1 is
based on current adopted growth numbers and approved projects for the City and scenario #2 is the adopted
growth numbers for 2044 in addition to a few large projects associated with Light Rail that are not adopted by
Council. If they were adopted it would result in more fees for Parks. He will make another presentation on the
preliminary results at the February LUTC meeting.
Parks Appreciation Day
Parks Appreciation Day is scheduled for April 22, 9am-12pm. The sites have not been determined. The will be
a kick-off meeting next week.
OTHER BUSINESS
None
NEXT MEETING/AGENDA ITEMS
Commission Business
Finalize letter to Council
Park Tour agenda setting
Staff Reports
Proposal Update
Park Impact Fees
Parks Appreciation Day
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Vice Chair Vadino to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Brugato.
Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 6:04pm.
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