Parks Comm MINS 05-04-2023i:\parks comm mtg notes\2023\05-04-2023 minutes.doc
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PARKS AND RECREATION
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
May 4, 2023 Hylebos Meeting Room
5:00 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
Commissioners present: Chair Michael Campsmith, Vice Chair George Vadino, David Berger, Monty Stewart,
Jerry Knutzen and Karen Brugato
Commissioners excused: Sabrina Ettinger and Rayna Ross
Staff: Jason Gerwen, Parks Deputy Director and Mary Jaenicke, Parks Administrative Assistant II.
Chair Campsmith called the meeting to order at 5:00pm.
PUBLIC COMMENT
Greg McCann, Vice President on the Board of Directors for the Federal Way Public Market. Their goal is to create
a full year-round public market in the city. Their preferred location would be next to the 320th Transit Center to help
create the downtown that’s always been needed and wanted. A Public Market would bring more people into the
area and improve the surroundings. They would like to work with the Commission on the design of the Plaza
portion of the market. It would be a park space.
Richard Varwig, Jr. is an avid Disc Golfer and he would like to see a Disc Golf course built in Federal Way. The
closest course is at Lake Fenwick Park in Kent. Having a Disc Golf course would allow the City to host
tournaments which would bring more people into the City. Parks Deputy Director Jason Gerwen stated that there
was some interest in a Disc Golf course in 2014-15 and the biggest obstacle was funding and location. Mr. Varwig
was encouraged to attend and participate along with other Disc Golf enthusiasts in the public meetings for updating
the PROS Plan. It’s important to generate a lot of interest and to get it incorporated into the PROS Plan.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Knutzen moved to approve the April Parks and Recreation Commission regular meeting minutes as
written. Commissioner Berger seconded. Motion passed.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
Park Tour Agenda Setting
The tours will take place on June 1 at 3:00pm and will take the place of the 5:00 meeting. The sites being
toured are Brooklake, Alderbrook, Adelaide and Celebration Park. Alderbrook and Celebration are the two
most important sites to visit; they are on the top of the list for playground replacements.
STAFF REPORTS
Update on Master Plan Proposals and PROS Plan Proposal
Deputy Parks Director Gerwen distributed copies of the Scope of Services for the Steel Lake Park Master
Plan, Brooklake Master Plan and the 2024 Parks, Recreation & Open Space (PROS) Plan Update and
Comprehensive Plan Parks & Recreation Chapter. The scopes have been updated based on comments from
staff and Commissioners. The price has increased with the additions to the Scope of Services. The tentative
schedule for the PROS and Master Plans projects was distributed. It’s a very aggressive timeline which will
Parks and Recreation Commission, May 4, 2023 Page 2
i:\parks comm mtg notes\2023\05-04-2023 minutes.doc
result in extra meetings. The goal for the two Master Plans is to have a series of three meetings. The first
meeting is a brainstorming meeting, the consultants will take everything that was discussed and come up with
three alternatives based on the information that they gathered. Those plans will be presented at the second
meeting and there will be the opportunity to express what you like and don’t like with each alternative. Both
of these parks generate a lot of community interest, so there will be fourth meeting if needed. There was
discussion on the possibility of creating a sub-committee. The Commission requested to see the three
alternatives for each masterplan prior to them being available for the public to see them. The goal is the have
the PROS plan update completed by the end of the year.
Park Impact Fees
Parks Deputy Director Jason Gerwen attended the May LUTC meeting and the Committee approved to
authorize the implementation of Park Impact Fee’s and forward it to the May 16th City Council meeting for
first reading and June 6 for the second reading. The Committee did not want to impose the maximum fee and
did not want to impose the fee on businesses. Staff was asked to come back with an average of an impact fee
on any dwelling unit; they worked with the consultant and came back with a fee of $2,955.00 for any new
development. We are on track to have a dedicated funding source for the Parks Department. The letter of
support for the implementation of the Park Impact Fees from the Parks & Recreation Commission was
submitted to the Council.
Parks Appreciation Day
Parks Deputy Director Jason Gerwen reported that participation was slightly down this year. There were a few
factors that could be attributed to this. There were 109 participants with a total of 327 hours of work. The
participants were very enthusiastic. This is a good community building event.
OTHER BUSINESS
Commissioner Brugato inquired about the letter to City Council regarding holiday displays in Parks. Chair
Campsmith is making the final changes and will forward it to staff for distribution.
Commissioner Brugato reported that she is on an Ad-Hoc planning committee along with other commissioners
and she is representing the Parks & Recreation Commission. The next meeting will be about combatting
climate change. This is a chapter in the Comprehensive Plan and Community Development Director Keith
Niven wants representation from each commission.
NEXT MEETING/AGENDA ITEMS
Commission Business
Park Tour
Sign-up for the Red, White & Blues Festival
Staff Reports
None
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Stewart to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Knutzen.
Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 6:32pm.
Parks and Recreation Commission, May 4, 2023 Page 3
i:\parks comm mtg notes\2023\05-04-2023 minutes.doc