Parks Comm Mins 05-07-2015g:\parks comm mtg notes\2015\05072015 minutes.doc
CITY OF FEDERAL WAY
PARKS, RECREATION AND CULTURAL SERVICES
PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
Thursday, May 7, 2015 Hylebos Conference Room
6:30 p.m. City Hall
MEETING MINUTES
Chair Koppang called the meeting to order at 6:30pm.
Present: Chair Mark Koppang, Vice Chair Mike Hoefel, Lynda Jenkins, Anthony Murrieta, David Wilson, David
Berger, Laura Belvin and Dawn Coggins, George Pfeiffer, P.K. Thumbi
Staff: Parks Director John Hutton, and Deputy Parks Director Steve Ikerd, Parks & Facilities Manager Jason
Gerwen, and Mary Jaenicke, Administrative Asst. II.
PUBLIC FORUM
None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Berger moved to approve the April Parks and Recreation regular meeting minutes as written.
Commissioner Wilson seconded. Motion passed.
COMMISSION BUSINESS
None
STAFF REPORTS
TOWN SQUARE PARK
Mr. Ikerd and Mr. Hutton presented the 85% design to the commission. Mr. Ikerd reported that he is in the process
of applying for approximately twelve different permits. The bids for phase 1 will be advertised in May, and work
will begin on June 22. The phase 1 bid will be for the demolition work and will include the grading, installing the
drainage system, sidewalks, utilities and irrigation. The goal is to plant the grass in October so that it will be grown
in by the targeted opening date of June 2016. The SWM Department is requiring a rain garden, which they will
build and pay for. Mr. Ikerd presented a drawing of the picnic shelter. It is a sled metal roof pavilion with laminated
wood beams. Eight picnic tables will fit in the shelter. The playground structures were also presented. Mr. Ikerd
stated that all of the play features that the commission selected will fit into the footprint. Mr. Hutton presented
photos of a playground that Council member Honda had seen at a park in Virginia. The play structure featured
ramps which would allow a person pushing a toddler in a stroller to be on the play structure with an older child. It
would also enable wheelchairs to be on the play structure. Chair Koppang stated that people with strollers on the
play structure is a detriment to the play value for the kids and is counterproductive to their goal which is to have a
great play area for the kids. The play area at Town Square Park will be completely surrounded by a sidewalk which
would allow for people to see their children on the play structure. Mr. Ikerd stated that the three vendors involved
with the play features were very impressed with the Parks Commission selection. The Parks Commission is happy
with their selections and would like to keep moving forward with their choices. Information on the restrooms and
Spray Park will be provided at the June meeting. They hope to go out to bid on that in the middle or end of
summer. Chair Koppang asked the Commission if they had any concerns with the layout of the park at this time;
there were none.
Parks and Recreation Commission, May 7, 2015 Page 2
g:\parks comm mtg notes\2015\05072015 minutes.doc
ADELAIDE PARK PLAY STRUCTURE
Mr. Gerwen reviewed the playground structure. He is asking the Commission permission for staff to move forward
with the design and go out to bid. Play structure option 2 is the preferred design with the natural colors of option 1.
Swing options and the location for the swings were discussed. There will be a two bay swing set. Each bay will
have two swings – one bay will be for belts and the other bay will have toddler swings. Commissioner Belvin
would like the swings to be close to the tennis courts. Mr. Gerwen stated that this location would be the easiest and
have the least amount of impact. Commissioner Berger felt that it would be a disadvantage to have the swings
further away from the play structure. Commissioner Belvin stated that there is a very good sight line and there is a
corridor to view the swing sets from the play structure. Chair Koppang asked Mr. Gerwen if he could come back to
a future commission meeting with pictures of possible locations for the swings. Chair Koppang stated that the
motion to vote on tonight is to go with option 2 with the color scheme of option 1. Chair Koppang asked for a
motion to proceed. Commissioner Murrieta approved the motion, and Commissioner Belvin seconded. Motion
passed. Commissioner Murrieta asked if the motion included the swings, Chair Koppang answered no that the
commission is moving forward with the play structure and that Mr. Gerwen is coming back to the Commission to
discuss the swing set in more detail. Commissioner Murrieta stated that the swings are going to be purchased;
what’s not decided is the location for the swings. The motion was amended to proceed with the swings , two bays
and two swings. Commissioner Pfeiffer clarified that the motion is to purchase the play equipment and the swing
sets. Commissioner Murrieta made a motion to revisit that same motion. Commissioner Wilson seconded. Motion
passed. Commissioner Murrieta moved to amend the original motion that he made to include the swings; one
toddler and one for bigger kids Wilson seconded. Motion passed.
PANTHER LAKE UPDATE
Mr. Hutton stated that staff has realized that they are missing the best opportunity to go out to bid on this project.
There are still some projects that are not completed that are forcing them to be delayed, and other priorities have
been moved ahead of this project. An Easement needs to be done with the King County Aquatic Center, and there
needs to be some encroachment into the Little League parking lot. The encroachment would only happen during
construction, but staff does not want to disrupt their baseball season. This project will be revisited in the fall.
Commissioner Hoefel asked if there was any concern about the funding that is available. Mr. Ikerd answered that
no there is not, staff needs to send a letter to King County to inform them of what is going on.
PARKS APPRECIATION DAY RECAP
Chair Koppang stated that the event was very successful. There were approximately 250 volunteers for a total of
563 hours. Pictures of the event were in the Federal Way Mirror. Mr. Hutton stated that he was very impressed
with the event and thanked the commissioners for participating. Commissioner Jenkins stated that there was a real
sense of community and ownership. Commissioner Hoefel stated it was a nice touch to have Mr. Hutton and the
Mayor visit each site. The Hylebos Boardwalk was re-opened on May 1. It’s not 100% completed, but it is safe for
people to use. It took approximately 1800-2000 man hours to complete the job. Letters were mailed to the leaders
of the work groups to thank them for their participation on Parks Appreciation Day.
KARL GROSCH FIELD UPDATE
The artificial turf has been removed. Staff has relamped the soccer field, and a flood test will be done to make sure
that the draining is working properly. Mr. Hutton stated that the Federal Way Soccer Association donated $90,000
towards the project, and they will be thanked at a future City Council meeting. Mr. Ikerd added that this has raised
attention to the policy makers that there needs to be a reserve fund for field turf replacement. Grants for this type of
project are getting increasingly difficult to get.
LAKOTA PARK UPDATE
$300,000 was borrowed from the Lakota fund to help pay for the field turf replacement at Karl Grosch Field. That
money will be put back into the Lakota fund. There is a new Superintendent, and the Mayor is going to meet with
her in the future. Staff is still waiting to hear from the School District.
Parks and Recreation Commission, May 7, 2015 Page 3
g:\parks comm mtg notes\2015\05072015 minutes.doc
OTHER BUSINESS
Commissioner Berger was at Steel Lake Park, and there was a special needs class from Sacajawea school that was
using the Ability Whirl. He stated that he spoke with a teacher and she said that this is the class’ favorite outing.
The teacher was going to share this with other teachers in the district.
Commissioner Berger asked about the tree roots that are lifting the walkway at Sacajawea Park, and wanted to
know when staff would be able to revisit this again. Mr. Gerwen answered that this is has been on his “to do list”,
but he has not been able to schedule the work. Commissioner Hoefel asked if the raised sidewalks would be spray
painted again, Mr. Gerwen answered that they do need to be touched up again. Commissioner Berger stated that it
is less of an issue at this time, because it is light out in the early morning. Commissioner Murrieta asked how much
it would cost for staff to do the work. Mr. Gerwen answered that he does not have those numbers at this time. We
would need to borrow equipment from our Public Works Department. Mr. Gerwen stated that from a workload
standpoint his preference would be to identify the square footage and bid the work, to keep his staff available for
the regular maintenance work, and utilize the contract dollars for this type of project. Chair Koppang asked if this
is something that could be done by late fall. Mr. Gerwen answered that he is very doubtful that he could meet that
deadline.
Commissioner Belvin asked if there was anything that the commission needed to do for the city’s 25th anniversary
celebration. Hutton stated that he is not in charge of the event, but he did not think that there was anything needed
from them. Mr. Hutton provided an update on the event.
NEXT MEETING/AGENDA ITEMS
The next meeting is scheduled for June 4, 2015.
Items for the June 4, 2015 meeting are:
Commission Business
4th of July planning
Staff Reports
Town Square Park
Adelaide Park Play Structure
Karl Grosch Field
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Berger, second by Murrieta to adjourn the meeting.
Chair Koppang adjourned the meeting at 8:03 pm.