Loading...
Parks Comm MINS 11-02-2023i:\parks comm mtg notes\2023\11-02-2023 minutes.doc CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PARKS AND RECREATION PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION November 2, 2023 Hylebos Meeting Room 5:00 p.m. MEETING MINUTES Commissioners present: Chair Michael Campsmith, David Berger, Monty Stewart, Jerry Knutzen and Karen Brugato Commissioners excused: Rayna Ross and Sabrina Ettinger Commissioners unexcused: Vice Chair George Vadino Staff: Jason Gerwen, Parks Deputy Director Guests: Cory Dembeck – Phone Whisperer and Colin Hirsch – We Rock the Spectrum Chair Campsmith called the meeting to order at 5:00pm. PUBLIC COMMENT None APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Knutzen moved to approve the October 5, 2023 Parks and Recreation Commission regular meeting minutes as written. Commissioner Berger seconded. Motion passed. COMMISSION BUSINESS Phone Whisperer - Presentation Cory Dembeck stated that a few years back he placed a rotary telephone in a park in Olympia so people could come and phone their loved ones; it’s an outlet for sharing messages with friends and family and to say the goodbyes you never got to say. It’s a unique way for people to grieve for loved ones that have passed on. He stated that people in the local community keep watch on the phone to make sure that it has not been vandalized. Mr. Dembeck has a patent on the phone so that no one will profit from any installation. The ideal location for the phone is to place it somewhere that’s private but is easily accessible. Questions and discussion followed. We Rock the Spectrum - Presentation Colin Hirsch has owned a gym for five years. The gym is open to people of all ages and abilities. He was a Special Education teacher for ten years in the Federal Way School District. During this time, he realized that there were not a lot of activities available for his students or adults. He wanted to create a space that was open to everybody. Questions and discussion followed. Finalize By-Laws The commission reviewed the latest changes to the By-laws. Chair Campsmith would like to add an addition to item E. Attendance. Chair Campsmith moved to add “in an event that any commissioner has six excused absences in a consecutive 12-month period the commission may request that the City Council remove that member”. Commissioner Berger seconded. Discussion was held. E.3 will state that “In the event any commissioner has six excused absences in a consecutive 12-month period, the Commission may Parks and Recreation Commission, November 2, 2023 Page 2 i:\parks comm mtg notes\2023\11-02-2023 minutes.doc request that the City Council remove that member and appoint a replacement.” Motion passed. Commissioner Berger moved to change item G.3 to read “Agenda setting occurs at the end of each meeting for the following meeting. The Chair has the final authority on the agenda in consultation with members and City staff”. Commissioner Brugato seconded. Motion passed. Playground Elements Discussion Commissioner Stewart provided photos of unique and unusual playground features for the agenda packet. Those photos included a Pumptrack, exercise equipment and equipment for people with disabilities. Discussion took place regarding play equipment. Deputy Parks Director Gerwen stated that he will solicit from all of the playground manufacturers that are on the state contract. They will be invited to view each of the parks to see the area and what we would like to do. They will be asked to submit two proposals. Staff will request that the proposals include some unique and unusual play equipment. Nomination of Chair and Vice Chair Commissioner Berger nominated Vice Chair Vadino for Chair and Commissioner Brugato for Vice Chair. There were no other nominations. The vote will take place at the January 4, 2024 commission meeting. STAFF REPORTS Update on Maintenance Facility Parks Deputy Director Jason Gerwen reported that they have received the 30% design plans. Those plans will be reviewed by staff and sent back to the architect with their comments. The city has been in touch with the current property owners that own or live in the area proposed to be demolished for the new maintenance facility. The city has reached agreement with three of the homeowners. Update on Trail Repairs Parks Deputy Director Jason Gerwen reported that postcards were sent to all the homeowners regarding the Alderbrook Park Trail Restoration Project. The tree work will start November 17, 2023. Once the arborist has removed all the trees, the Parks Maintenance crew will remove all of the invasive roots in the existing trail. Public Works will be going out to bid for this project in January. Update on the PROS Plan and Master Plans Parks Deputy Director Jason Gerwen reported that there was a great turnout for the first public meeting that was held on October 26. Comment cards were distributed at the meeting. The next meeting will be held sometime in December. The Hall at Brooklake has been demolished and removed. The next step will be obtaining a structural assessment for the building. The study will assess the current condition and have recommendations on what needs to be done to preserve the building. OTHER BUSINESS Commissioner Brugato stated that she has had people tell her that they have received notices from the Parks department stating that property owners are responsible for the sidewalks on their streets because of the trees. Parks Deputy Director Jason Gerwen stated that those notices are not from the Parks department; this would be a Public Works issue. NEXT MEETING/AGENDA ITEMS Commission Business Chair and Vice Chair Elections Finalization of By-Laws Discussion on the phone in the woods Discussion on categorizing parks Parks and Recreation Commission, November 2, 2023 Page 3 i:\parks comm mtg notes\2023\11-02-2023 minutes.doc Development of the 2024 Work Plan Staff Reports PROS Plan update Trail Repairs ADJOURNMENT A motion was made by Commissioner Stewart to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Chair Campsmith seconded. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 6:48pm.