Parks Comm MINS 01-05-2023i:\parks comm mtg notes\2023\01-05-2023 minutes.doc
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PARKS AND RECREATION
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
January 5, 2023 Hylebos Meeting Room
5:00 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
Present: Chair Michael Campsmith, Vice Chair George Vadino, Dave Berger and Karen Brugato
Excused: Sabrina Ettinger
Unexcused: Ariel Paull
Staff: Jason Gerwen, Parks Deputy Director, Kia McGlone, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Analyst and Mary
Jaenicke, Parks Adm. Asst. II.
Chair Campsmith called the meeting to order at 5:01pm.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Gerald Knutzen spoke regarding the Brooklake Community Center. He provided important information regarding
the property. Mr. Knutzen was involved with the transfer of the property to the City of Federal Way in 2014. It is a
key piece of property that ties in the South end of the Hylebos Wetland. There were two conditions on the transfer
of the property: 1) preservation of the historical building; 2) recognition of Vern Frease the longtime caretaker. The
restoration of the property is critical and it cannot be moved from its current location. Mr. Knutzen added that
Brooklake should be the main entrance to West Hylebos Park.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Brugato moved to approve the November Parks and Recreation Commission regular meeting
minutes as written. Chair Berger seconded. Motion passed.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
Election of Officers
The By-laws state that the Commission consists of nine (9) voting members and two (2) alternates, which we
do not have at this time. Commissioner Berger suggested keeping with the current officers until there are more
members. Chair Campsmith and Vice Chair Vadino agreed to continue on with their current positions. It was
clarified that they will hold their position for one year. Chair Campsmith stated that he believes that change in
leadership is a good thing, but not right now with the current number of members. Commissioner Berger
moved to nominate George Vadino as Vice Chair and Michael Campsmith as Chair. Chair Campsmith
seconded. Motion passed.
Update By-Laws
The commission reviewed the current By-Laws. Discussion was held regarding the attendance of meetings.
There have been some instances where there have been numerous absences, both excused and unexcused.
Staff Gerwen has spoken with the City Attorney and was told that if a commissioner has been absent a lot the
Chair can make a recommendation to the City Council to have that person removed. The By-Laws will be
updated with the recommended changes. If there are no further recommended changes the By-Laws will be
approved at the February meeting.
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STAFF REPORTS
Agenda items A, B and C were discussed together.
PROS Plan Proposal, Steel Lake Master Plan Proposal and Brooklake Master Plan Proposal
Staff Gerwen stated that Master Planning Steel Lake and Brooklake have been on the Work Plan since 2017,
but funding has never been available for these projects. Staff was allocated funding in the current budget for
these projects. AHBL is the consulting group that did the current PROS Plan and they will be the consultants
working with staff and the Commission on all three of these projects.
Staff Gerwen updated the Commission on improvements and changes that have been made to the Brooklake
property. The Blueberry Farm has been improved, the mobile home and a storage building have been
demolished. There are plans to also demolish the Hall; this will be done in-house. The Hall has been red
tagged and is not a part of the original structure.
Staff Gerwen reviewed the process for the PROS Plan update and the master planning of Steel Lake and
Brooklake. Commissioner Berger stated that the Scope of Work is fine but the process for integrating the
master plans into the PROS Plan needs to be clearer and the timetable is missing.
Decisions will need to be made on whether or not to have separate public meetings or combined meetings.
There are positives and negatives to both. AHBL will prepare three conceptual site plans for use during public
meetings. They will develop one final conceptual site plan that incorporates the feedback provided during the
review and public meeting process for the conceptual site plans.
Park Impact Fees
Staff Gerwen stated that back in October the Federal Way School District eliminated their school impact fees,
because based on their projections they have everything they need for the future. Staff has been looking for
alternative funding for a long time. The City Council expressed interest in Park Impact Fees. It would be a
one-time payment based on the development. The initial projections on the low side are $600,000.00 a year
and on the high side 1.5-4 million a year. Federal Way is one of the few cities that does not have a Park Impact
Fee. Parks has entered into an agreement with the FCS Group that specializes in studying and implementing
Park Impact Fees.
OTHER BUSINESS
Holiday Displays at Town Square Park
Commissioner Brugato requested to add this item to the agenda because the Parks & Recreation Commission
has been called out by Keith Livingston in the Federal Way Mirror. In the article he wrote “The place for
having the discussion on adding a Menorah to the holiday display is the Parks, Recreation and Cultural
Commission.” Chair Campsmith stated that the article only has part of the story. Commissioner Brugato stated
that there are 14 holidays in the month of December. She also stated that Bellevue, Kirkland and the White
House have a Menorah display. Chair Campsmith stated that the Commission supports diversity and public
displays but the decision is made by the City Council. Commissioner Brugato stated that the City of Kirkland
has laws that allow it and she asked if she needed to make a motion. Staff Gerwen stated that this would not be
a staff decision it would be a Parks Commission decision. If the majority of the Commission decides that they
would like the City Council to reconsider the request to place a Menorah at Town Square Park then they can
make that request. This request would come from the Chair or the Vice Chair. Commissioner Berger stated
that he is in support of this in concept, but where would the religious symbols be placed and what kind of
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burden would that place on the Commission and staff. Commissioner Berger added that it is not on the
Commissions 2023 Work Plan. Discussion was held regarding if the Commission should make their
recommendation first or get all of the details first and move forward with the recommendation. Commissioner
Berger answered that they should know what the impact is to staff before they make a recommendation.
because if they talk to Council and Council says yes then it will comeback to the Commission. Staff Gerwen
added that it may or may not comeback to the Commission. Chair Campsmith stated that this has been an issue
that they’ve addressed and he does not want this to linger, the Commission has other to business to attend to.
Chair Campsmith stated that he is in support of inclusivity and recognition and if the Commission decides as a
group to recommend religious displays and ask the Council to reconsider, it would be up to the Council to say
yes or no. A long discussion was held on whether or not to make a recommendation.
Commissioner Brugato moved to have Chair Campsmith draft a letter to City Council with
Commissioner Brugato’s material attached as an addendum discussion was held. Chair Campsmith stated
that if the Commission approves the motion, he will bring a draft letter to the next meeting with some text in it
that the Commission will review. Vice Chair Vadino asked if the motion was to draft the letter for the
Commission to review. The answer is yes it will be a draft to review. Vice Chair Vadino seconded the
motion. Commissioner Berger stated that it would be helpful to have someone from legal at the meeting.
Chair Campsmith responded that the Commission is making the recommendation and decision belongs to
somebody else. Chair Campsmith amended the motion to draft a letter of support, which will be
reviewed by the Commission. Once the Commission has a letter that they agree on a motion will be
made to forward the letter onto City Council. Commissioner Brugato seconded. Motion passed.
NEXT MEETING/AGENDA ITEMS
Commission Business
Finalize the By-Laws
Draft letter to Council Commission Recruitment
Set date for Park Tours
Staff Reports
Proposal Update
Park Impact Fees
Parks Appreciation Day
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Berger to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Brugato.
Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 6:51pm.