Parks Comm MINS 09-04-2003CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Thursday, September 4, 2003 Mt. Baker Conference Room
6:00 p.m. City Hall
MINUTES
Chair Purdom called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present: Chair C.T. Purdom, Vice Chair Bill Foulkes, Ade Bright, Don Dennis, Cindy Dodge, Joe Henry and George
Pfeiffer. Staff: Jennifer Schroder, PRCS Director, Kurt Reuter, Park Operations Superintendent and Peg Wright,
Administrative Assistant.
Guest: Linda Kochmar, Council Member.
Dennis moved: Dodge seconded motion to approve the June meeting minutes as written. Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC FORUM
Mark Freitas – Mr. Freitas wished to address the commission regarding his concerns related to scheduling of city owned
soccer fields. He asked that the city take steps to ensure fair and equal access when it comes to scheduling use of fields. He
stated that as it is now, the city “washes its hands of scheduling and responsibility for fair and equal access unless you are a
Premier soccer player registered with the Federal Way soccer association’s Federal Way United Soccer Club”. He further
stated that he has driven past Lakota Park and often the fields are lit and empty after 8:00 p.m. As a coach of a “Girls U18”
team, he is requesting practice and game time on fields in Federal Way and said he speaks for other persons who are not
considered “Premier” teams or affiliated with the Federal Way Soccer Association. He would like the city to keep some
sort of control or veto power over what he feels are discriminatory practices regarding soccer field scheduling.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
No commission business on this agenda.
STAFF REPORTS
Red, White and Blue Festival – Chair Purdom said the festival was a wonderful experience and complimented staff on a job
well done. Schroder said it went smoothly with approximately 10,000 in attendance throughout the day. She said each
year staff tries to incorporate new and different activities for families. Reuter said he only received two complaints on
traffic and parking issues. Commissioners asked what the field conditions were like after the event with Reuter stating that
there was no more damage than previous years.
Steel Lake Soccer Field Update – Reuter said there has been significant progress on the excavation of the site. The curbing
was removed to meet the grade specifications and will be replaced during project construction. The contract calls for a
ninety-day construction period, but staff anticipates with good weather it will be closer to seventy-five days. A dedication
ceremony will be set for late October or early November. Reuter will give an update on this topic at the October Parks and
Recreation commission meeting.
Community Center Update – Schroder said at the September 2, 2003 meeting, City Council approved the Community
Center project to advance to schematic design. The center will be a 77,540 square foot complex. The consultants would
like the road and pad to be done next year (2004). Pfeiffer asked how many parking stalls would be available. Staff stated
the design estimates approximately four hundred. The last meeting of the advisory board will be held September 17, 2003
at the 320th library at 4:00 p.m. Foulkes asked what were the reasons for the substantial increase of the project budget from
the initial budget projection of $13 million. He is concerned about the additional cost to taxpayers and how the City
Council will fund the project. Council member Kochmar said there was 15 million dollars available through bonds and the
remainder from other sources.
Celebration Park Field Update – Schroder said the soccer fields are receiving regular fall turf maintenance. This includes
aeration, top dressing, overseeding and sodding of heavily damaged areas. Staff has repaired a number of irrigation
problems and continues to troubleshoot other irrigation issues. Reuter said field #7 is closed for three weeks to let the sod
begin to knit and allow seed to germinate. Pfeiffer reported there are trees encroaching on fields 7 & 8.
Parks and Recreation Commission, September 4, 2003 Page 2
Armstrong Property Meeting Update – Reuter said the meeting attendance was small but they received excellent feedback
on the preliminary design from the consultants. Residents want the natural atmosphere restored after construction and a
buffer near their homes. Tree replacement is at a 4 to 1 ratio (for every 1 removed there will be 4 planted). Reuter said that
the projected construction timeline is next summer.
Chair Purdom asked that the Parks and Recreation Commission have input on the scheduling of future public meetings for
this project.
Thompson Property Meeting Update – There were only four or five residents in attendance at the meeting and they
continued to voice their concern on safety issues. Reuter said the area has unique vegetation and borders Hylebos Creek.
There will be a vegetation buffer along the Hylebos and residents asked for some type of buffer distinguishing the boundary
between park and private properties. The preliminary design from the consultants included a loop trail, half-court basketball
pad, children’s play structure and a “mounded” area for passive use. Tree replacement will be at a 3 to 1 ratio. There were
no major changes requested in the initial design and another meeting will be scheduled in October or November. Reuter
will request copies of the designs for inclusion in the October meeting packet.
PRHSPS Council Committee meeting is Monday, September 8, 2003 at 4:00 p.m. in the Mt. Baker Conference Room.
Chair Purdom will attend and invited other commissioners to attend also.
NEW BUSINESS
Reuter reported on the new Grandview Off Leash Dog Park. This is a thirty-seven facility on 228th and Military Road, in
the city of Sea-Tac. The dedication ceremony and grand opening will be held on October 4, 2003 at 10:00 a.m. The park is
the first regional south King County off leash area. The project was a cooperative effort of King County, SODA (Serve Our
Dog Area) and the cities of Federal Way, SeaTac, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Kent, Renton and Tukwila. The City of
Federal Way will participate in a joint work party at the site on September 18th and 19th. The city will be responsible for
providing sixteen hours of maintenance per year as part move the Interlocal agreement to operate the park. Amenities of
the park include fencing, trails, open areas, benches, kiosk, sani-cans, and pet waste receptacles. The park will be open from
dawn to dusk daily.
Chair Purdom announced that Debra McCormick had resigned from the commission because her family relocated to the
Spokane area. She was a valued member of the commission and will be missed by her fellow commissioners and staff.
Vice Chair Foulkes complimented Reuter and maintenance staff on the removal of graffiti on the BPA Trail prior to the
Federal Way Festival Day’s 5K Fun Run.
NEXT MEETING
Armstrong/Thompson Property Design Schedule Thompson Property Public Meeting
Field Scheduling Policies (soccer) Steel Lake Soccer Field Update/Dedication
Update on BPA Trail pipeline Community Center Update
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Purdom adjourned the meeting at 7:35 p.m.