Parks Comm MINS 03-04-2004CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Thursday, March 4, 2004 Mt. Baker Conference Room
6:00 p.m. City Hall
MINUTES
Chair Purdom called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present: C. T. Purdom, Chair, Bill Foulkes, Vice Chair, Don Dennis, Joe Henry and George Pfeiffer. Excused:
Ade Bright and Cindy Dodge. Staff: Jennifer Schroder, PRCS Director, Kurt Reuter, Parks Operations
Superintendent, Mary Faber, Recreation and Cultural Services Superintendent, John Hutton, Recreation Supervisor
and Peg Wright, Administrative Assistant.
Pfeiffer moved; Dennis seconded motion to approve the February Parks and Recreation Commission meeting
minutes as written. Motion passed unanimously.
PUBLIC FORUM
Thomas Woodward – Mr. Woodward discussed the “Use Permit” issued to him by King County in 1977. Mr.
Woodward said when the cyclone fence was being installed at the entrance of Olympic View Park, the contractor
told him the fence would go down the middle of his driveway to match the property description. He contacted King
County Parks and a King County Parks Commissioner assessed the area, told the contractor where to construct the
fence and issued a “Use Permit” for Mr. Woodward’s use of county property. Woodward was inquiring if the
permit is still valid through King County or if the City of Federal Way would issue a permit if expired. Schroder
said she and Reuter visited the site and are gathering information from King County to assess the current validity of
the permit. Reuter said that he spoke to a county staff person who stated that they viewed the permit as “a
temporary document that allows use of an area but that it is revocable.” They also stated that the permit was null
and void when the property transferred ownership from the county to the city. County records of this type are only
kept for ten years. Reuter has contacted City Clerk Chris Green for any such documentation and she said there are
no interlocal agreements of this type on file between the City of Federal Way and King County. Reuter has also had
Kenneth R. Anderson and Associates do a survey of the property line between the Woodward’s property and
Olympic View Park. The City code does not have a provision that references or recognizes a “Use Permit” of this
type. Reuter said once he has acquired all the information, he will turn it over to the Law Department for
interpretation.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
DeVry University Presentation – Reuter has had no further contact with the DeVry students since their presentation
at the February meeting. The slide has been ordered for Steel Lake Family Funland per the vendor’s requirements.
The other components that are missing in the structure no longer are in compliance with NPSI standards so they will
not be replaced at this time. It was suggested that the students might want to look at an alternative project, perhaps
either French Lake or Coronado.
Meeting Calendar – Schroder distributed and discussed the updated calendar with commissioners. Schroder was able
to schedule the Park Impact Fee Workshop with a consultant for Tuesday, May 25, 2004, 6:00p.m. at Dumas Bay
Centre.
Motorized Scooter Ban – Reuter has received complaints from city residents regarding the use of motorized scooters
on the BPA trail. They feel it is a safety issue because of the speed at which these scooters can travel. Schroder
stated that motorized vehicles cannot use federally funded projects such as the BPA Trail. Reuter is investigating
what other cities are doing and was told it has become enough of an issue that it was discussed at the State City
Attorney’s Conference this year. One commissioner said he observed a girl injured at Celebration Park by a scooter
running up the back of her heel. He also was jogging on the BPA Trail when the scooters have passed him at high
speed and were being operated recklessly. Pfeiffer suggested the City ban all motorized vehicles from the parks and
trails. After discussion, Schroder said staff would take on the project to amend the Parks Ordinance to ban
motorized scooters from all parks trails, sidewalks, parking lots and paved areas.
West Hylebos State Park Transfer – Schroder discussed the map and other properties that are being acquired to add
to the Hylebos corridor. The West Hylebos Park is approximately 72 acres in size. Schroder reported that transfer
of the property to the city would be complete by late this year. Staff and commissioners also said they would like to
review the property acquisition document again.
Diversity Commission Forum – Commissioner Ade Bright represented the Parks and Recreation Commission at the
forum. His information was distributed to the commissioners in the form of a memo.
STAFF REPORTS
Recreation Class Update – Staff had been asked to implement a formal procedure on field use. John Hutton reported
on the field use allocations and the procedures that are in place for requesting use. He will continue to have
meetings twice a year with user groups. One meeting is held for fall and winter sports and the other for spring and
summer programs. The next meeting will be held June 23, 2004 for the fall league requests. For persons out of the
“user area”, there is a waiver that must be submitted for consideration. Hutton received three request waivers for the
Spring/Summer leagues. Two requests came from the Norpoint Soccer Club for Lakota Park, which was granted.
The other request came from the Highline Soccer Club, which was denied because the field was already scheduled.
Mary Faber reported on the 2003 recreation programs. She distributed a graph showing programs by type, number
of programs by type and the success cancellation ratio. In 2003, there were over 800 classes offered through the
Recreation Division. Winter and spring classes were at 83%, summer 59% and fall 80% participation.
Park Impact Fees – Schroder distributed a “Scope of Work” document on park impact fees. A consultant with
Henderson, Young and Company will prepare and conduct a workshop to review the feasibility of a park impact fee.
This will be held Tuesday, May 25, 2004 at Dumas Bay Center at 6:00 p.m. Schroder will issue invitations to the
PRHSPS Council Committee, Finance/Economic Development/Regional Affairs Committee, Lodging Tax
Committee and Chamber of Commerce.
Naming of Armstrong/Thompson Properties - Chair Purdom said there was a nice article in the Federal Way Mirror
inviting residents to submit names for Armstrong and Thompson properties. Schroder said there had also been press
releases done through the City listing Kurt Reuter as the contact person. Reuter has received two submittals to date.
Schroder said she would notify the Historical Society on any data they might have on the properties that might assist
in naming them.
Community Center Update - nothing new to report at this time.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Chair Purdom asked for nominations for the Chair position. Foulkes moved: Henry seconded motion to nominate C.
T. Purdom for Chair of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Motion passed unanimously. Dennis moved: Henry
seconded motion to nominate George Pfeiffer for Vice Chair of the commission. Motion passed unanimously.
Chair Purdom will be attending the March 18th PRHSPS Council Committee meeting in the Mt. Baker Conference
Room.
NEW BUSINESS
Chair Purdom brought up the ongoing vandalism/graffiti problem at the Skate Park. He approached Reuter on the
idea of painting the Skate Park to cover graffiti but the composition of the paint makes the surface slippery and a
hazard to skaters. Reuter has contacted the manager of the Sherwin-Williams paint store to solicit ideas of how to
combat the problem. Schroder said Parks is also working closely with Federal Way Police to monitor activity in the
vicinity. Schroder said there is a graffiti wall at the Woodinville Skate Park and thought it might be something to
consider as a solution to our Skate Park graffiti problem.
Schroder brought the commissioners attention to the Citizen Action Request form she had included in their packet.
This form is available on the City website for citizens to submit comments and/or complaints. These are received by
the City Manager who then forwards them to the appropriate department for action.
NEXT MEETING/AGENDA ITEMS
Woodward Property/Olympic View Encroachment BPA Trail Resurfacing
Review Meeting Calendars Signage at Krosch Field
Naming of Armstrong/Thompson Properties @5:30 p.m. Motorized Vehicle Ban
West Hylebos Park Transfer Acquisition Document Review
Olympic View Playground Update Skate Park Graffiti/Paint Update
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Purdom adjourned the meeting at 7:50 p.m.