PRHSPSC MINS 07-13-2021
K:\PRHSPS Committee\2021\07-13-2021 Minutes.doc
City of Federal Way
City Council
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
5:00 p.m.
SUMMARY
Committee Members Present: Chair Kochmar and Committee member Baruso
Committee Members Participating via Video Conference: Committee member Assefa-Dawson
Council Member Present: Council President Honda
Council Member Participating via Video Conference: Council member Craft
Staff Members Present: Joanna Eide, City Attorney, Chief Andy Hwang, John Hutton, Parks Director,
Jason Gerwen, Parks Deputy Director, Rick Perez, City Traffic Engineer and Mary Jaenicke,
Administrative Assistant II.
Chair Kochmar called the meeting to order at 5:00pm
Public Comment: None
BUSINESS ITEMS
Approval of Minutes
Committee member Baruso motioned to approve the June 8, 2021 minutes as written. Committee
member Assefa-Dawson seconded. Motion passed.
Second Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement between the City of Auburn and the City of
Federal Way for Office Space for the PSATT Office
Chief Hwang provided the background information. The City of Federal Way is the lead and fiscal agent
for the Puget Sound Auto Theft Task Force (PSATT). This encompasses law enforcement agencies from
the state of Washington. The office is located in a non-disclosed location in Auburn. The City of Auburn
will charge $3,125 a month for rent. This charge is fully reimbursed by the WATPA grant. Committee
member Baruso moved to forward the Interlocal agreement between the City of Auburn and the
City of Federal Way to the 2021 consent agenda for approval. Committee member Assefa-Dawson
seconded. Motion passed.
RFB: Roofing Replacement – Saghalie Restroom Buildings & Steel Lake Annex Barn
Deputy Parks Director Gerwen provided the background information. Parks Staff is requesting
permission to go out to bid to replace the roofs at the Saghalie Restroom Buildings and the Steel Lake
Annex Barn. The current roofs are three-tab roofing and they will be replacing those with metal roofs.
The funding for this project was approved in the last budget adjustment. Committee member Assefa-
Dawson moved to forward the proposed Request for Bids for the Roofing Replacement – Saghalie
Restroom Buildings & Steel Lake Annex – Barn to the July 20, 2021 consent agenda for approval.
Committee member Baruso seconded. Motion passed.
Celebration Softball Complex 2022 RFP
Park Director Hutton provided the background information. The revenue to the City is estimated to be a
minimum of $32,000 and will be credited to the Parks Department – Recreation budget. The revenue
from the RFP will be replacing current revenues from the Adult Softball Leagues. There will also be a
cost savings between $18,000-$25,000 in expenditures. The City has had a long history of running
successful softball leagues. Consistent with the national trend, since 2008 the City has experienced a
PARKS, RECREATION, HUMAN SERVICES & PUBLIC SAFETY COUNCIL COMMITTEE
Tuesday, July 13, 2021 Summary
Page 2
slow decline in participation in our softball leagues. City staff is hoping to turn the complex over to an
organization that runs competitive youth leagues and adult softball. They will not be allowing
recreational leagues to compete with our local agencies. Any group that is currently using the fields
would still be allowed to use the fields. Committee Chair Kochmar would like all of the fields to be
turned into artificial turf. She would like to the complex to become a Nationally known sports complex.
Committee member Baruso moved to forward the proposed Celebration Park Softball Complex
2022 RFP to the July 20, 2021 consent agenda for approval. Committee member Assefa-Dawson
seconded. Motion passed.
East/West Bus Service
Chair Kochmar requested that City Traffic Engineer Perez attend the meeting to discuss how to help
citizens get to the light rail station when it is in full operation. Staff Perez is the primary person that
interfaces with the agencies in Federal Way. There was discussion on the existing bus routes, how to
improve transportation services, transportation for Senior Citizens and people with disabilities. The city
does contract with Hyde shuttle. Hyde shuttle mainly serves senior citizens in the community and they
work closely with David Schmidt the city’s Senior Services Coordinator. Chair Kochmar would like to
have a discussion in the future regarding a grant program to transport people on the East and West to the
Park and Rides and Transit Station in Federal Way. Staff Perez cautioned that there may be a
jurisdictional issue if Hyde tries to do too much; they would be subject to Federal Transit Administration
rules and regulations. Metro does have other programs that encourages partnerships and they have
recently started working with smaller shuttles. The committee’s main concern is how to get people to the
Park and Rides so they can ride the Light Rail or the buses; parking will be an issue. Committee member
Assefa-Dawson stated that the disabled population is not being served through Metro. Bus services are
reduced because of the Light Rail. Sound Transit is much more expensive than Metro and eliminating or
reducing bus services takes away the ability for people to use public transportation. She would like to add
this subject to a future conversation.
Public Safety Crime and Safety Report
Chief Hwang’s presentation included information on crime trends from 2014 to 2021 and more
specifically January - June 2020 v. January - June 2021, crime prevention and initiatives, new Police
Reform Laws and building trust and partnerships in the community. In 2020 there was a significant
increase in crimes nationwide; murders were up 25%. So far in 2021 the homicide rate is up 24%. In
2021 the number of homicides continues to soar in King County and has increased 36% after the first
three months. There have been three murders and one manslaughter in Federal Way. There have been
more law enforcement officer fatalities in 2020 than there have been in 46 years and the reported cases of
officers assaulted was up 6% in 2020 and has increased 67% since 2016. Some of the crime prevention
techniques that are used include 250 surveillance cameras in various locations throughout the city and
license plate readers that are strategically placed in certain intersections. The city also has a graffiti
abatement program and an illegal encampment initiative. In May of 2021 Governor Inslee signed 13 bills
that will go into law July 25th. Chief Hwang reviewed a few of the bills that will have the biggest impact
to the community. The City of Federal Way Police Department is one of eight Law Enforcement
Agencies in the State of Washington that is Nationally Accredited. They will receive their reaccreditation
in November, 2021. After Chief Hwang’s presentation there was a question and answer session with the
Committee members, Council President Honda and Council members in attendance.
Other
None
NEXT REGULAR MEETING
September 14, 2021
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting adjourned at 6:44 p.m.