Parks Comm MINS 06-02-2011g:\parks comm mtg notes\2011\agenda & minutes\060211 minutes.doc
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Thursday, June 2, 2011 Hylebos Conference Room
6:30 p.m. City Hall
MEETING MINUTES
Chair Ailinger called the meeting to order at 6:32 pm.
Present: Chair Brian Ailinger, Vice Chair Julio Diaz, Carol Otto, Dwight Otto, Martin Moore, Louise
Wessel, Jack Sharlock, George Pfeiffer and Marie Sciacqua.
Staff: Parks and Facilities Manager Steve Ikerd and Parks and Public Works Administrative Assistant
Shawna Upton.
The May Parks and Recreation Commission regular meeting minutes were approved as written. Motion
by Sharlock, Second by Otto. Motion passes.
PUBLIC FORUM
There were no members of the public attending.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
HUITT-ZOLLARS DRAFT PLAN (TRAIL CONNECTIONS AND PANTHER LAKE STUDY)
A hard copy of the feasibility studies were provided to the Commissioners. Ikerd highlighted some areas
of interest throughout the report including how city-owned property is shown compared to greenbelt areas
that are not city-owned and noted that should be considered before a recommendation is made. The
Commissioners will be reviewing the reports over the next month and will discuss options at the next
meeting. Ikerd recommended the Commissioners focus on the trail connections options, think about
Panther Lake for the future if funds become available, review trail segments section and pages 20 through
page 45. Ikerd will bring the amount of available funds back to the Commission at the August meeting.
Community Development is working on a bike path study and plans are to share information and work
together as much as possible.
SIGHT-LINE SAFETY FOR PARKS
Ikerd stated sight-line safety is important but to keep in mind that ground covers are needed to maintain
moisture for mature trees. We need to be careful not to strip everything out but to keep everything at an
appropriate height to allow for better sight throughout the park. AmeriCorps, Walmart and other
volunteers are vital to helping us accomplish this. Sharlock noted he is concerned with the skate board
park that looks upon the parking lot at Steel Lake because there have been a number of theft incidents,
tagging and other destructive activities. Discussion continued around how to identify specific areas
within the parks that need improvement and what options would be best to accomplish increased sight
lines and park use to detour destructive activities. Pfeiffer noted that we need more parking for Steel Lake
park because an increase of fire lanes reduced parking by 16 stalls. Diaz suggested working with law
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enforcement and using their expertise to determine where they see the problems and what they think
solutions might be. Police have already suggested that lighting within the park be improved. Pfeiffer
suggested putting in a table between the skate park and the parking lot because if people are using the
area, their presence will detour crime.
PLAYGROUND DISCUSSION
Ailinger wanted to summarize the special meeting parks tours from May 5th and see if anyone had
thoughts they wanted to share. Pfeiffer stated the question to ask whenever there is a park tour is “who
are we serving”? Pfeiffer asked who we saw using the equipment, how many people we saw, was there
ample parking, how was the safety there and what condition were the play structures in, among other
things.
Adelaide looked good but the only thing that stood out during the tour was a post that appeared to be
deteriorating a bit.
Lake Grove had several kids playing on the new structure that was recently put in. It appeared that the
recent brush removal and clean up of the park that increased sight-line safety has increased a sense of
safety with the residents. The foot path needs a little work because there are tree roots that are damaging
the surface.
Mirror Lake has been opened up so you can see to the field and play area. The play equipment has been
patched a few times and is getting a bit outdated. The trail should have more gravel put down. The
location is hard to find and not many residents know it’s there. Discussion continued regarding possible
signage to increase visibility of the park, parking and what age group should be the focus if new toys were
placed there. Sharlock noted that on the far end of the park, there is a concrete lip that needs some gravel
to improve the transition. Pfeiffer noted it might be worth having a public meeting to determine who the
interested users of the park are and what they would like to see in their park if there was money available
to make improvements. Also, increase the usual radius of notification to get more participation and print
notice in both English and Spanish to accommodate the majority of residents in the area.
Steel Lake playground equipment is getting pretty worn down and will need to be replaced in
approximately three years. Now is the time to start planning for improvements. Ailinger noted he
thought it was important to save the City money when we can and would like to see the City get the word
out to the public and solicit for private dollars to help pay for the improvements through matching funds
or grants. The focus should be replacing the playground equipment. Discussion continued regarding how
to separate the playground equipment by age, adding benches, picnic shelters and ideas for moving
forward with the upgrades. Diaz asked about taking advantage of the foot traffic at the Red White &
Blues Festival so that the Commission can be showcased and information can be shared about what the
parks need, get feedback from residents and hand out the parks maps. Ailinger is going to contact John
Hutton at the Community Center to make sure there is space available and make arrangements to have a
booth available and the Commissioners will rotate shifts to staff the booth.
JULY MEETING DISCUSSION
Ailinger asked for feedback to find out if the Commissioners were going to be in town for the July
meeting. Pfeiffer stated that if there is space available at the Red White & Blues Festival, the
Commission could reschedule the July 7th meeting to July 4th and staff the booth at the Festival. Ailinger
will follow up with members on the information from John Hutton. Discussion was held regarding what
information to have available, signage and how to advertise that the Commission is there. A suggestion
was made to post notification on the website that the Commission will be at the festival. If there is no
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room available at the festival, the July meeting could potentially be cancelled and the next meeting would
be in August.
Motion by Diaz to move the meeting to July 4th. Second by Moore. Motion passes.
STAFF REPORTS
Ikerd reviewed the conceptual ideas for the Federal Way Community Center Plaza design that was
previously presented by Brian Roberts, Street Systems Project Engineer. Ikerd stated that due to the
estimated costs associated with the project, currently over $200,000.00, the changing view due to the
construction of the Federal Way School District bus barn and the rental history showing every weekend
through the Summer has been booked, the City has decided to put the project on hold.
OTHER BUSINESS
Ailinger asked if there are plans to advertise for alternate members. Ikerd indicated it was not a
requirement. The Commission agreed that it would be best to advertise and obtain alternate members.
The Commission thanked Upton for providing photos from the parks tour to all the members.
NEXT MEETING/AGENDA ITEMS
Mirror Lake Park Public Meeting
Steel Lake Discussion and Public Meeting
Thoughts on Huitt-Zollars
Review Input from Red White & Blues Festival
ADJOURNMENT
Chair Ailinger adjourned the meeting at 8:00 p.m.
NEXT MEETING IS JULY 4, 2011