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Parks Comm MINS 10-06-2011g:\parks comm mtg notes\2011\agenda & minutes\100611 minutes.doc CITY OF FEDERAL WAY PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION Thursday, October 6, 2011 Hylebos Conference Room 6:30 p.m. City Hall MEETING MINUTES Chair Ailinger called the meeting to order at 6:34 pm. Present: Chair Brian Ailinger, Vice Chair Julio Diaz, Dwight Otto, Louise Wessel, Jack Sharlock, Martin Moore, George Pfeiffer and Marie Sciacqua. Staff: Parks and Facilities Manager Steve Ikerd and Parks and Public Works Administrative Assistant Shawna Upton. The August Parks and Recreation Commission regular meeting minutes were approved as written. Motion by Sciacqua, Second by Sharlock. Motion passes. PUBLIC FORUM There were no members of the public attending. COMMISSION BUSINESS MIRROR LAKE OUTREACH REPORT Wessel summarized her visit with residents in the area of Mirror Lake Park. Several residents were talked to who expressed appreciation for her taking the time to get their feedback on how to improve the park if and when funds are available. Ages of residents using the park vary from infants to seniors. The majority of residents would like to see increased lighting in the park to help reduce illegal activities going on there and increase safety, addition of swings, paved walking path and would like to see overgrown trees and blackberries cleaned up. Residents indicated they have organized themselves as a group. Wessel suggested the possibility of approaching them to volunteer in the next Earth Day event. Discussion continued surrounding what options may be considered and what features would be appropriate for a neighborhood park. STEEL LAKE PARK WORK SESSION The Commission discussed the timeline for replacement of the equipment and the possibility of obtaining grant funds. They looked at the similarity of the structure at Ft. Steilacoom Park and Steel Lake but would like to see the wood material used again at Steel Lake because it will be a better fit in the environment. Leathers Associates is the company that worked on the Steel Lake playground and will be contacted to obtain an estimate for replacing the playground equipment at Steel Lake. Ikerd will bring that information to the next meeting. Discussion continued about how to move forward with this project including identifying what kind of experience are the users and families going to have, what decisions go into the criteria of what you select like safety, durability, local vendors for parts and repairs, what features Parks and Recreation Commission, October 6, 2011 Page 2 g:\parks comm mtg notes\2011\agenda & minutes\100611 minutes.doc are desired, what age group to cater to and when to go out for extra help. It was also suggested to look into the possibility of adding more covered shelters to Steel Lake. HUITT-ZOLLARS TRAIL CONNECTIONS AND PANTHER LAKE STUDY WORK SESSION The trail connection options were reviewed briefly and discussion continued surrounding the benefits and challenges of each option. Option B to connect the King County Aquatic Center, Little League Ballfields and Panther Lake Loop is the most desirable option as a stepping stone to further improvements down the road. Basic features such as restrooms, way-finding signs and additional parking could be added making this area more of a ‘destination’ trail. The Panther Lake Study suggests making a loop around the lake, which is being used as a social path already and now it’s just a matter of enhancing it. When more funds become available, other enhancement options could be made at a later date. Ikerd made a suggestion to the Commission to visit the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee Open House at the Community Center on Thursday, November 3rd at 6:30pm because they are looking at a similar route for using grant funds to make improvements. The Commissions findings have been submitted to the Advisory Committee as an option for enhancements. There may be a way to combine efforts and use grant money to assist with improvements. Ailinger suggested the Commission move the meeting to the Federal Way Community Center so they can attend the Bicycle Advisory Committee Open House at the beginning of the meeting in November. After the open house, the Commission will reconvene in a meeting room, to be determined, to finish the business items on the agenda. STAFF REPORTS Ikerd indicated that they are trying to get a grant to improve Sacajawea soccer field and should find out if they will have secured that grant within the next few weeks. Ikerd mentioned that there is another grant coming available in the Spring of 2012 that is more suited to play areas and RCO grants that may be suited to developing Panther Lake. Cost estimates will have to be determined in more detail prior to applying for the grants. Ikerd suggested contacting Huitt-Zollars to ask for more specific cost estimates information for completing Panther Lake first and basic enhancements including restrooms, way-finding signs and parking second. Motion by Diaz to move forward with making Phase I of the Panther Lake improvements first and basic enhancements second and provide a cost estimate to Council. Second by Otto. Motion passes. Ikerd stated he will find out the time of the Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee Open House and report back to the Commission for the November meeting. Ikerd stated there is construction mitigation money for Lakota that is going to be used to install new backstops by the Little League fields and install a wing fence on Dash Point. The bid for this work will be presented to the PRHSPSC Committee on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. The cost for this work will be approximately $40-$45k and they are going to propose taking the balance of the $80 to make improvements to the drainage on the field in addition to other miscellaneous improvements to the restroom. Pfeiffer expressed concerns regarding the undersized fields and stated the fields aren’t functional for age groups other than small children and there are drainage problems in the fields. Ikerd stated that the field size is limited due storm drainage and sewer structures. Parks and Recreation Commission, October 6, 2011 Page 3 g:\parks comm mtg notes\2011\agenda & minutes\100611 minutes.doc OTHER BUSINESS Vice Chair Diaz resigned due to work conflicts. NEXT MEETING/AGENDA ITEMS Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan Open House at FWCC Bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee Open House Discussion Panther Lake Phase I Discussion Leathers Fee Information for Play Equipment at Steel Lake Lakota Park Flooding Issue Summary ADJOURNMENT Chair Ailinger adjourned the meeting at 8:50 p.m. NEXT MEETING IS NOVEMBER 3, 2011