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Parks Comm MINS 10-02-2008CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Thursday, October 2, 2008 Hylebos Conferenece Room 6:00 p.m. City Hall MINUTES Vice Chair Brian Ailinger called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. after a brief Commission Authority orientation by Assistant City Attorney Karolyn Klohe. Present: Vice Chair Brian Ailinger, Mody Catahan, Scott Chaffee, Julio Diaz, George Pfeiffer, Marie Sciacqua, Jack Sharlock and Karl Zinner. Excused: Chair Fred Konkell, Chris Hash, Martin Moore and Carol Otto. Unexcused: Sheri McConnaughey. Staff: Parks and Facilities Manager, Steve Ikerd and Administrative Assistant Peggy Wright. Guests: Sally Hurst, Harrell Hurst and JoAnn Hugill. Sciacqua moved; Pfeiffer seconded motion to approve September meeting minutes as written. Motion passed unanimously. PUBLIC FORUM Sally Hurst/Secretary for Park Pals – she asked that more benches be installed in French Lake Park for patrons. She stated that several of the benches had been removed and only a couple had been re-installed. Harrell Hurst/Park Pals – wanted to express his appreciation to City staff, the Parks and Recreation Commission and City Council for being progressive in adopting the off-leash dog park. He supported the request for upgrading/clean- up of the pond in French Lake Park. He said there had been a meeting earlier in the day with staff and Park Pals to discuss the needs of the park, Park Pal goals and discuss scheduling future meetings twice a year. JoAnn Hugill/Fundraising Chairperson for Park Pals – They are submitting forms to attain their 501c3 status by the end of the year and hope to have their website operational by Thanksgiving. The fundraising goal at this time is money for replacing/repairing the pond on the City side of French Lake Park. To date, funds are at approximately $2,000 with an estimated $20,000-$30,000 needed for the pond project. COMMISSION BUSINESS Introduction of New Commissioners STAFF REPORTS Laurelwood Park/Trails – Ikerd said Laurelwood Park property is divided in to two parcels and taxes are as follows: Parcel A - YTD back taxes are $4991.64 and Parcel B – YTD back taxes are $1742.41. Parcel A – appraised value is $211,000 with tax value $130,820 and Parcel B – appraised value is $91,000 with tax value of $45,500. Ikerd reported costs to determine the real wetland boundaries are estimated at $3,000-4,000. Pfeiffer said he doesn’t think the property is cost efficient for the City to acquire for a park. If the City does not acquire the property, it will go to public auction in May, 2009. CIP/Cost Per Project – Ikerd distributed the draft Parks Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for 2009-2014 listing project costs. Discussion followed on specific CIP projects to inform new commissioners of status. Celebration Park Update – Ikerd announced that colors are being chosen for the Celebration Park maintenance building. He has been asked to try to match colors with the brick buildings. Saghalie Park Fence Status/Field Turf Warranty – Field Turf was out yesterday and repaired field damage. Pfeiffer said they responded quickly to Supervisor Jason Gerwen’s request to repair the areas per warranty. The fence repair is waiting for bid specifications and staff hopes to have that out next week. Parks and Recreation Commission – October 2, 2008 Page 2 French Lake Park Ponds – Ikerd distributed a map of the park showing the pond site and two parcels owned by Lakehaven and the City. He reported that the pond at French Lake Park is contaminated with a blue-green toxic algae per Surface Water department testing. Lakehaven has filled in the three ponds on their parcel of the park property and the one pond remaining is on the City-owned side of the park. Lakehaven has had temporary fencing up for a year while they worked to fill in their ponds. Testing from September 17th showed 60,000 live cells, 60,000 cells of microcystis, 1,500 (ppb) toxin concentration and September 25th testing showed 150,000 live cells, 115,500 microcystis, 34,500 aphanizimenon cells and 1,600 fecal coliform colonies, both with no treatment to the pond. Toxin levels should be below 6 ppb for human contact. Fecal coliform levels should be below 400 for secondary recreational contact; meaning activities that are limited (fishing, wading). The concern could include petting a dog after it has been in the water and then rubbing your eyes, ears, nose or mouth. More extensive testing was done to the second sample which shows two additional algae present and spreading with the colder weather. Staff met Park Pals on-site today and discussed the pond and other issues in French Lake Park. The fencing around the pond will remain in place while testing continues and a decision is made on the pond. Additionally, there are fenceline issues from private residents with dogs accessing their property through gates they have installed. Residents requested a buffer of either a second fence or shrubbery 20’ further on to park property to block access to their gates. NEW BUSINESS Commissioners inquired on the status of the Park Planner position that is vacant. Ikerd said the #1 candidate decided he was not interested so it is on hold until Director Hanson returns from vacation. Pfeiffer said he was contacted by the YMCA about the property they own on 21st Avenue being surplused. He wanted to make the City aware of it and has contact information. Sciacqua asked about the “sponsorship” information presented at another meeting. Since many of the commissioners were not familiar with this program, Ikerd said he would either e-mail or include the information in the November commission packet. Ailinger attended the PRHSPS Council Committee meeting and discussed Ikerd’s report on the tree issue on West Campus. He said one Councilmember recommended notifying residents in the area to avoid undue concerns. Letters of notification were mailed to 76 residents in a 300’ radius of the work site. The trees to be removed are cottonwoods which are destroying the trail system in the area. The area will be replanted. Bid specifications went out for this project and are due back Monday. Pfeiffer asked about signage with Ikerd reporting that the first monument sign has been poured at the Hylebos Park location. It will serve as the prototype for future signs. It will not be lit at night but reflective lettering was used. Pfeiffer reported that a vehicle had driven on Celebration Park fields 5 and 6. He said it is a maintenance issue of having the bollard replaced and locked on a daily basis to discourage entry. Pfeiffer stated the need for a camera in the Celebration Park parking lot – he thinks drugs are being sold there and knows there are people using it for overnight stays. Pfeiffer asked about the condition of Madrona Park. Commissioners discussed park access and speeding traffic with a crosswalk and roundabout being considered. Ikerd said the playground has been removed from Whispering Hills and the HOA will maintain it with mowing. Mirror Lake Park poplar trees are being monitored with blackberries and dead alders removed. The playground was removed from Wildwood Park and the new equipment delivered with a bid now out for installation. Coyotes are still an issue with local residents seeing them in their yards, greenbelts and neighborhoods. Signs are being posted in several neighborhoods for missing cats, due to this problem, according to Pfeiffer. Chair Konkell or Vice Chair Ailinger will attend the October 14th PRHSPS Council Committee meeting. Parks and Recreation Commission – October 2, 2008 Page 3 PENDING ITEMS No pending items at this time. NEXT MEETING/AGENDA ITEMS Laurelwood Park Recommendation French Lake Park Pond Celebration Park Building City Sponsorship Saghalie Park Fence CIP ADJOURNMENT Vice Chair Ailinger adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m. Ailinger and Pfeiffer presented a short orientation to new commissioners on their role as a Parks and Recreation Commission member followed by a question/answer period.