PRHSPSC MINS 01-23-2006
City of Federal Way
City Council
PARKS, RECREATION, & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Monday, January 23, 2006
6:00 p.m.
SUMMARY
In attendance: Council Committee members Chair Jeanne Burbidge, Deputy Mayor Jim Ferrell, Linda Kochmar,
Derek Matheson, Interim City Manager, Brian Wilson, Deputy Director of Public Safety, Amy Jo Pearsall, Assistant
City Attorney, Donna Hanson, Director PRCS, Mary Faber PRCS Superintendent, B Sanders Park Planner, John
Hutton, Recreation Supervisor, Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Assistant.
Guests: CT Purdom, Chair Parks & Recreation Commission, Theresa Jackson, John Leskovar, Citizen.
Chair Burbidge called the meeting to order at 6:03p.m.
Chair Burbidge announced the reorganization of the Council Committees. Our Committee is now the Parks,
Recreation and Public Safety Council Committee (PRPS), and Human Services is now a part of the Finance, Human
Services & Regional Affairs Committee (FHSRA).
PUBLIC FORUM
John Leskovar: Mr. Leskovar stated his concern is public safety. Mr. Leskovar is wondering if there are different
approaches to Public Safety? He is proposing volunteerism. Is it possible to get more citizens to contribute to the
efforts of public safety and make the City of Federal Way a safer place to live? Mr. Leskovar also stated that the
City set a new record for the number of homicides. He is also unable to get statistics off of the City’s web site. He
would like crime statistics reported on a monthly basis at these meetings. Chair Burbidge stated that there is
considerable data on line. The organization is Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs, and their web
site is www.waspc.org. Crime statistics are available on this web site. Deputy Mayor Ferrell is not sure that if
counting the number of homicides in the City is a good indicator of the overall crimes occurring in the City of
Federal Way. Mr. Ferrell also encouraged Mr. Leskovar to attend the City Councils retreat being held on January 28
at the Dumas Bay Centre. This issue is on the agenda. Chair Burbidge stated that staff is currently working on
preparing a report, and it will be presented at the February 13 PRPS Committee meeting.
Theresa Jackson: Ms. Jackson is a long time Girl Scout Leader. The girl scouts haven been hosting a summer day
camp at Camp Kilworth for the past three years. She wants to make sure that the camp will be available to them
again this summer. The Boy Scouts have said that they will reserve the site for them at this time, and if they still own
the property at the start of camp, then they will honor the reservation. She would like assurance from the City that if
the City has taken over ownership prior to the date of the camp, that the City will back them up, and allow them to
host the camp at Camp Kilworth. Ms. Hanson stated that the City does not own the property at this time, and is
unsure when the closing of the property will take place. Also safety concerns at the site have not been identified.
Ms. Jackson stated that they are ACA accredited, and are very strict on their safety rules. Council member Kochmar
request Ms. Jackson to provide them with a copy of the Girl Scouts insurance policy. Ms. Jackson stated that they
needed to start publicizing the camp very soon. Ms. Jackson stated that they do have a backup plan if Camp
Kilworth is unavailable, but they need to know soon. Mr. Matheson stated there are two issues 1) Ownership 2)
There has not been any conversation with the City Council on what the policy will be for outside groups using the
facility, and what type of staff support will be necessary, and who would provide that support. There are also
internal conversations that need to take place about how to make the property available or not available to outside
groups.
COMMISSION COMMENT
None
APPROVAL OF SUMMARY
Council members Ferrell and Kochmar moved to accept the December meeting minutes as written. Motion
passed.
BUSINESS ITEMS
Community Support Drive
Ms. Faber provided background information on what the Community Support Drive Committee has accomplished
year to date. The program will continue through 2006. She reviewed the donations that have been received, and the
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES
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Monday January 23, 2006 Summary
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funding opportunities that are in progress. Ms. Kochmar recommended getting a large sign with a barometer that
shows what level they’re at for fundraising, and that now is a good time to start contacting businesses and
organizations. Ms. Faber stated that the group met last week, and decided which committee members would
approach which business, and made a commitment to make personal contacts with people. Deputy Mayor Ferrell
and Mayor Park met with H. David Kaplan and Barbara Reid, and one of the items discussed was fundraising. They
were very involved in the fundraising for Celebration Park. They had suggested creating a miniature model of the
Community Center building to help generate excitement. Ms. Faber stated that she too had met with them, and she
did contact the Architects regarding developing a model. The price was over $5,000, and the committee felt they
couldn’t spend that amount of money at that time. They have developed a power point presentation and color boards
of the building. They do have a model of a building that an intern created for them, and have taken that model
around. The committee is discussing possibly taking the color boards or the model to a business or the mall, and
leaving them at that location for about a week. Ms. Faber stated that what is really needed is the one-on-one contact
with individuals. Ms. Hanson reported that the Community Center project and the Community Center Support Drive
were added to the web site.
Celebration Park Weekend Usage
Mr. Hutton reviewed tournaments and events that are booked this year at Celebration Park. Mr. Hutton stated that
we have and exciting year planned, with several marquis events. We will be hosting the first ever True National Fast
Pitch Tournament for ages 16 and under. The entire country will be represented at this tournament. A group in
Seattle bid $45,000 to bring the tournament to this area. Kent and Tukwila are also hosting the games. We are also
hosting a World Senior Softball Tournament in September. This is a weeklong event. Senior softball is the fastest
growing area in softball. Mr. Hutton stated that we are also hosting the Men’s Major NIT for the seventh year in a
row. The participants are the best of the best in the country. To sum up, the City of Federal Way is hosting five
State, two Nationals and one Senior World Event this season at Celebration Park. The weekend rate for peak season
is $1240, and off -season rate is $900. Mr. Hutton stated that we have only had two tournaments that have been
rained out from start to finish; this is due to the combination of a great design and hard work by our Maintenance
Department. They do a wonderful job of making the fields playable, when other facilities fields are unplayable.
Accept Madrona Park/BPA Trail Phase IV Construction
Ms. Sanders stated that the work was performed by Precision Earthworks, Inc. There is no irrigation at the site, and
there is a one-year plant maintenance and warranty requirement. Precision Earthworks has completed everything but
the one-year plant maintenance. There is still Six months of plant maintenance remaining. Staff felt that it was
reasonable to allow the close out of the contract. Precision Earthworks, Inc. has provided the City of Federal Way
with a bond, to ensure that they will complete the plant maintenance and warranty requirement. Deputy Mayor
Ferrell moved to accept the project as complete, and release retainage, and forward to the Full Council on
February 7, 2006. Council member Kochmar seconded. Motion passed.
Accept Madrona Park Playground Installation
Ms. Sanders stated that Northwest Playground Equipment, Inc. performed installation of the playground equipment
at Madrona Park; the work performed has been acceptable. Deputy Mayor Ferrell moved to accept project as
complete, and release retainage, and forward to the Full council on February 7, 2006. Council member
Kochmar seconded. Motion passed.
2006 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant
Mr. Wilson stated that the Department has participated in this grant in the previous years. This grant is for $7,5000,
with a local department match of $7,500,which will enable them to purchase 15 bulletproof vests for new department
employees. They do have money identified in their ongoing budget to fund the local match. Deputy Mayor Ferrell
moved to authorize the City Manager to accept the 2006 Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant in the amount of
$7,500 for the purchase of 15 new vests and forward to the full city Council for approval on February 21,
2006. Council member Kochmar seconded. Discussion was held. Council member Kochmar asked if there was a
vest for every employee. Deputy Wilson stated that there is a vest for every commissioned officer. Council member
Kochmar also asked if there were different grades of vests. Deputy Wilson answered that there have been some
issues in the past several years regarding different technology. The Department has an arrangement with the supplier
to change out the vests that don’t meet particular standards. The standard use of the vests is for five years. The vests
are on an ongoing replacement. They will continue to use grant funds for bulletproof vests. Council member
Kochmar requested that the Public Safety Department let the City Council know if there are problems with any of the
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vests so they can replace them. Deputy Wilson stated that they pay very close attention to the condition of the vests.
Motion passed.
PENDING ITEMS
CT Purdom asked that the Parks Commission is included in the discussion on the Park Naming Policy. They would
like to provide some input.
Police Cadet Program
ANNOUNCEMENTS - None
NEXT MEETING – February 13, 2006 6:00 p.m. in the Hylebos Conference Room
ADJOURNMENT - Meeting adjourned at 6:47p.m.