Parks Comm MINS 05-01-2014CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Hylebos Conference Room
6:30 p.m. City Hall
MEETING MINUTES
Vice Chair Hoefel called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.
Present: Vice Chair Mike Hoefel, Laura Belvin, David Wilson, and George Pfeiffer.
Excused: Chair Mark Koppang and PK Thumbi. David Berger was excused and arrived at 8:00.
Staff. Interim Parks Director Ken Miller, Parks & Facilities Manager Steve Ikerd and Parks Administrative
Assistant II Mary Jaenicke.
Council members in attendance: Martin Moore
Guests in Attendance: Margaret Nelson, Mike Johnson, Clay Williams
Minutes from the March Parks and Recreation Commission regular meeting were approved as written. Motion
by Pfeiffer to approve the minutes as written, Seconded by Belvin. Motion passes.
PUBLIC FORUM
Margaret Nelson submitted and read a letter into the record. The letter was regarding the interim park being
built at the AMC site. The letter addressed her hope that the decisions of what and when to build on the AMC
site, including the interim park, display the city's desire for high - quality building and conform with the idea of
attracting high -end retail and residences in the downtown area. She also had questions about the Parks
Commission involvement with the planning of the park and funding.
Clay Williams spoke regarding the major differences in amenities at the parks in Federal Way. He would like
to see more amenities and improvements at Lakota Park. He would like to know how to make this happen.
Mike Johnson spoke regarding the unsafe conditions at Lakota Park. The field is not safe. He wants to see
improvements to Lakota Park. He stated that Sacajawea has had its artificial turf replaced two times; Lakota
Park has been largely unchanged over the past decade. He would like to know how to make this happen. He
would like to get this on the June 5th agenda.
Council member Moore stated that he too wants to see improvements at Lakota Park, and that as a Council
member this is something that he is going to work on. He is tired of Lakota being put on the backside. He
would like to move forward on this.
Interim Parks Director Miller, stated that this is a partnership. Sacajawea was done as a partnership with the
Federal Way School District (FWSD). The district paid for the track, and the city paid for the turf. The cost to
do the field, track, and lighting improvements at Lakota is approximately 1.4 million. Money has been put
away towards the project. It needs to be a partnership with the FWSD. The artificial turf wears out and if it's
not replaced, the fields need to be closed.
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Parks and Recreation Commission, May 1, 2014 Page 2
Vice Chair Hoefel stated that this will be placed on the June 5, 2014 agenda. Mr. Miller will contact the
FWSD.
Both Mr. Williams and Johnson asked what they could do to help. Commissioner Pfeiffer suggested gathering
letters of support to be submitted with a grant application.
No topics
COMMISSION BUSINESS
STAFF REPORTS
Commissioner Pfeiffer moved to have agenda item D moved to go first. Commissioner Belvin seconded.
Motion passed.
TOWN SQUARE PARK
Ikerd reported that this was presented to Council for approval last month. They went out to bid for the
construction of Town Square Park, and those bids are due May 6th. This will be an interim park. The cement
slab is being removed. The amenities of the park were reviewed. Miller stated that they are trying to put
colors into the downtown, and bring attention to it. Vice Chair Hoefel stated that Commissioner Berger asked
him to express his concern that this project bypassed the Parks Commission and it should've started with the
Commission for initial thoughts and ideas, and that adding another park adds more maintenance and costs.
The commission has a whole is not happy that they were not consulted on this project, and that the public was
not involved.
FAMILY FUNLAND
There was a great turnout for Parks Appreciation / Earth Day, and they were able to accomplish quite a bit.
There is a group of Mormon Missionaries that have been coming every Friday to help work on Family
Funland. They are hoping to complete the woodchips soon. The cement ring has been poured. The ring is set
and established for the Ability Whirl. The Ability Whirl is now on a train headed to Federal Way. The
weather has impeded the progress a bit. They are projecting that the Poured in Place rubber will be done the
following week if weather allows. They are still projecting to have a soft opening June 6, 2014, with a grand
opening later in the month.
PANTHER LAKE UPDATE
The estimate came back from the consultant, and the price went up considerably. They are approximately
$260,000 over budget. Part of the increase is due to the mitigation fees, and surface water mitigation. Staff is
recommending setting the project aside, until they can finish the Funland and Town Square park projects. It
was discussed that if the project is put on hold, they should focus on doing some minor re- asphalting on
current trails. Sacajawea and West Campus need to be done. The project will be put aside for approximately a
month due to the fact that there are a lot of projects happening, and the Parks Staff is busy with those projects.
Added projects include the Town Square Park, demolition of the Toys R Us building, and Brooklake.
Commissioner Belvin stated that she is upset that the Mayor is adding staff to other departments, but the Parks
Department is not getting additional staff. Miller stated that the 2015 -16 budget planning will start soon, and
the Parks Department will be asking for additional staff at that time. Staff will study the 100% estimate. The
budget will be reviewed at the next meeting.
PARK APPRECIATION / EARTH DAY EVENT
There were 287 volunteers that signed up, which equated to 829 hours. The site locations were Sacajawea,
Saghalie, Celebration and Steel Lake. Sacajawea ended up with 15 volunteers, after an hour of work at that
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Parks and Recreation Commission, May 1, 2014 Page 3
site, they were redirected to Steel Lake. The volunteers were able to accomplish a lot. The Commission
complimented the Park Staff, and said that it was very well organized. The information packets were
appreciated. Vice Chair Hoefel was disappointed that there was a lack of publicity. He would better publicity
next year. Staff will also look into the public being notified of volunteer opportunities via emails from the
City's website. Ikerd thanked the Commission for their help at Earth Day.
The breakdown is as follows:
Location
#People
#Hours
SACAJAWEA
15
45
SAGHALIE
72
216
CELEBRATION
89
267.5
STEEL LAKE
111
300.5
TOTAL
287
829
OTHER BUSINESS
Commissioner Belvin asked if there was a policy on Porta Pottys in the neighborhood parks. Ikerd answered
that there is not an official written policy, but there has been a tradition that neighborhood parks did not
receive them because of funding. We do not have funding to put them in all 29 parks.
Commssioner Belvin stated that at the Neighborhood Connection meeting they discussed a new development
called Creekwood. With the development plan there might be the potential for trails. Lakota Creek was on that
plan. Will there be an opportunity for a trail in that development? Miller answered yes that there is an asphalt
trail down along the creek in the plan; but is not sure how you get to it.
Commissioner Belvin stated that several people at the Neighborhood Connection meeting asked why there is
not a trail from Poverty Bay Park to Dumas Bay? Ikerd stated that it is not a park, it is open space. It was
asked if it could be a Boy Scout project to go in and cut the trees. Ikerd stated that it has to be engineered, and
if you are bringing the public then it brings in a lot of liabilities. This topic may be added to the 2015 work
plan.
Items for June 5, 2014:
Way - finding Signs Update
NEXT MEETING /AGENDA ITEMS
Items for the June 5, 2014 meeting are:
Lakota Park — Parks Response
Family Funland Update
Panther Lake Update — Budget Numbers
Porta Potty's
Town Square Park
The park assessment Tour was scheduled for May 27, 2014 at 4:00pm.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Pfeiffer, Second by Belvin to adjourn the meeting.
Vice Chair Hoefel adjourned the meeting at 8:15 pm.
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