BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MINUTES
Monday, July 23, 2012 5:30pm, Lacey City Hall
Present:
Commission: Lu Carlson, Gary Hanson, Paul Royer, Shawn Smith, Glen Crandal, Alex Mitu & Jason Agtarap
Staff: Lori Flemm, Liz Spiller
The meeting was called to order at 5:30pm, by Chairman Shawn Smith.
Additions or deletions to the Agenda
No additions or deletions to the agenda.
Minutes
The June 25, 2012 minutes were unanimously approved and placed on record.
Calendar
July 26: City Council meeting, 7pm Shawn Smith will be reappointed to a 2nd term at the City Council meeting.
August 27: Meeting will be held at the Lacey Senior Center at 5:30, with a tour of the renovated facility at 5pm.
Correspondence
No correspondence.
Announcements
Jason Agtarap was appointed as the 2012-13 Youth Commissioner on 7/12/12. Jason will be a junior at North Thurston High School, plays on the NTHS tennis team, is president of Key Club and has volunteered at many LPRD events. The Commissioners introduced themselves and welcomed Jason to the Board.
Old Business
a) 2013 Budget
Lori shared the 2013 Budget timeline and said there is a projected $850,000 budget shortfall. City Manager Scott Spence asked staff to list their top 5 most expensive programs/services and the top 5 programs that require maximum effort with little return. Lori and Commissioners reviewed and commented on some of the LPRD staff lists:
Sue Falash: shelter/park reservations
• Commissioners support Sue’s recommendation
• Fees should be charged for rental groups
• Refine application, do not accept incomplete applications
• Eliminate rentals altogether, make up revenue in additional tournaments
Jeannette Sieler: Summer’s End Car Show
• When event began, very few car shows in the area, now there are many
• Half revenue goes to a local car club and to purchase defibrillators in Thurston County (not necessarily Lacey)
Fun Fair
• Donation box (‘button booth’ not very visible)
• Small entrance fee, good for both days (like Mushroom Festival)
Other comments
• It seems City Council makes requests for events, but then does not provide funding, ex.) Fun Fair Parade, Depot Museum. Lori clarified that the Depot funding is not included in the $850,000 shortfall and revenue would come from grants and sponsorship, not City funds. Gary pointed out that staff time is spent on grant applications and fundraising, instead of other tasks.
• Shawn suggested eliminating programs & events with declining enrollment/interest, to focus on more programs with greater public interest.
Commissioners then reviewed and prioritized the list of 2013 proposed expenditures with the following recommendations:
Staff/office equipment
1- Lifeguard part time staff
2- Computer work station/laptop/IMS rate
Parks & Open Space Fund
1- RAC maintenance
2- RVCC maintenance
3- RVCC concession stand exhaust system
4- RAC: 4- 5 canopies
5- WCCP watershed acquisition (Blume 85)
6- Hicks Lake acquisition
7- RAC netting & fencing, field #1
Recreation Equipment
1- Multimedia projector
2- 10 catcher’s gear sets & 32 durable batting tees
3- Life jackets, deep water & delta belts
4- 6 folding tables
5- Stereo system for aquatics fitness classes
Community Buildings
1- Lacey Community Center flagpole
2- Senior Center addition: portable lift, furnishings, M & O
3- Lacey Community Center: 10 rectangular tables, dishwasher, roof shingle replacement/complete tear off
4- Jacob Smith House site improvements
5- Lacey Museum at the Depot A/E
6- Lacey Museum at the Depot demolition of slab & foundation
Park Facilities Repair/Replacement (Committed Funds)
1- Replace play equipment at Stikes/Wonderwood
2- Life Cycle: site furniture replacement
Capital Projects
1- Lake Lois Park retaining wall replaced, asphalt parking/sidewalk
2- Benches and trash receptacle disc golf course (3 areas)
3- Mason’s sand for RVCP volleyball court (1 court)
4- Monument signs: Wonderwood Park Brentwood entrance
5- Pickleball courts at Meridian Park on concrete slab
Lori thanked Commissioners for their valuable comments and recommendations.
b)Disc Golf agreement
The Disc Golf agreement was signed on 6/29/12. The insurance issue was resolved. Volunteers will be required to sign in and out at work parties, are not permitted to use power tools and will be overseen by officers of the SPSDGA club. The group is working unbelievably fast, with 3 work parties and 3 course holes already cleared. Lori had an informal meeting with a group of people who regularly visit the park with their dogs, and had concerns about the disc course. After speaking with the group and showing them the layout of the course, they seemed much more accepting of the plan. Shawn asked if the people abide by the leash ordinance while in the park, and Lori said, no, they are aware of the ordinance, but do not usually have their dogs on leashes.
c)Message Display Board Policy Update
Due to time constraints, this was bumped from the 7/19 City Council agenda and should be back up for discussion at the August Council meeting.
New Business
a) Lake Lois Habitat Reserve Forest Management Plan briefing
A draft of the Plan will be available by July 31. Lori will forward the draft to Commissioners as soon as it is available.
b) August 27th monthly meeting site and agenda items
The August 27 meeting will be held at the Lacey Senior Center and will include an agenda item for public hearing for comment on the Woodland Creek Community Park Conversion and Replacement Property. Lori will provide text and procedure requirements for Shawn. Agenda items will also include review of the Lake Lois Habitat Reserve Plan and update on the Senior Center renovation.
c) Woodland Creek Community Park Conversion Replacement Property
Lori summarized the Woodland Creek Community Park Conversion and Replacement Property process:
In 1991, the City of Lacey received an IAC (now RCO) grant, to purchase 70 acres at Woodland Creek Community Park. The grant stipulated the funds must be used for outdoor recreation and the required legal description of the property excluded 3 acres for the two existing structures and 1 future community building, as they are not used for ‘outdoor recreation’ purposes. The legal description in the deed of right, which is recorded with the title, dedicates 67 acres of park land in perpetuity for outdoor recreation purposes. When the Lacey Community Center was constructed the three acre exclusion was described. With the expansion of the senior center, an indoor recreation purpose, it is necessary to convert additional land. The City of Lacey proposes to convert 2.41 acres, “Parcel B”, and to provide a revised legal description for the 3 acre exception, as identified in the recorded Deed of Right to conform to “Parcel A” (Exhibit C). The conversion is necessary because the existing and expanded Lacey Senior Center is an indoor recreation facility and not an allowable use per the terms of the deed of right and the granting agency. The appraised value of the 2.41 parcel is $145,000. The replacement property must be equal to or exceed the converted property both in appraised value, acreage, and recreational utility.
The proposed replacement property is located within the future 407 acre Cuoio Community Park, along the Woodland Creek/Fox Creek Corridor and Pleasant Glade Rd NE. Since the replacement property has existing casual trails and the potential exists due to the size of the surrounding community park and length of creek corridors, for development of an extensive trail network, the replacement property provides additional benefits for Lacey residents. A Restricted Use Appraisal Report was prepared January 2011. Equivalent appraised value is achieved by converting up to 27.5 acres of tax parcel 118-04-130100, which is bisected into two portions by Pleasant Glade Road.
Lori explained that this conversion would be cost effective, as the City already owns the Cuoio property and would not need to purchase land for the conversion. Public comment is part of the conversion process and will take place at the August 27 Park Board meeting.
Glen asked if the fact that the conversion had not been done was an oversight by the City. Lori said that the conversion process began several years ago, but had not been resolved, and was necessary to be eligible for RCO grants in the future.
Commissioners did not have any additional questions and thanked Lori for the explanation of the process, because this is the first time they have dealt with this issue.
Director’s Report
a) Fireworks at Bush Park and Volunteer T-ball Coach Appreciation
Very positive feedback, even from those who originally expressed concern/complaints prior to the event.
b) Roger Easton, Historic Commissioner
Long time Lacey Historical Commissioner and local historian, Roger Easton passed away earlier this month. Friends and family gathered at the Jacob Smith House on July 18 for a memorial tribute to Roger.
c) Reclaimed Water Infiltration Facility Project Update
Gravel for the water infiltration project will be dumped and stored in the meadow at Woodland Creek Community Park, near the future disc golf course. Eventually the gravel will be spread & cover the meadow. We anticipate that ground nesting habitat will be disturbed during construction, but that it will be restored naturally when construction is complete and the meadow reseeded. Public Works will issue public notices about the project, scheduled for 2013 construction.
d) Youth Commissioner term begins Sept. 1, 2012
e) Long Lake monument sign completed on Monday, July 9.
Commissioner’s Report
No report.
Chairman’s Report
No report. Shawn said former Commissioner Jerry Riedinger suggested a zipline feature at the future Cuoio Community Park. Lori suggested it be discussed when the Master Plan for the park is developed.
Citizen Comments
No citizens present.
Committee Reports
a) PARC Foundation, Paul Royer: no report
Adjourn
Meeting adjourned at 8:05pm
Next meeting: Monday, August 27, 2012 at 5:30pm at the Lacey Senior Center.