BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS MINUTES
Monday, August 27, 2012 5:30 p.m.
Lacey Senior Center
Present:
Commission: Gary Hanson, Paul Royer, Shawn Smith, Glen Crandal, Lu Carlson & Alex Mitu
Staff: Lori Flemm, Liz Spiller.
Consultant to the City: Galen Wright, Washington Forestry Consultants, Inc.
Public: Bruce Stuwe, Chuck Kenmir, Juanita Wright, John Novak, Orin & Terry Hebert
The meeting was called to order at 5:32pm, by Chairman Shawn Smith.
Additions or deletions to the Agenda
No additions or deletions to the agenda.
Minutes
The July 23, 2012 minutes were unanimously approved and placed on record.
Calendar
No changes to the calendar.
Correspondence
Correspondence from Mohsen Kourehdar, WA Department of Ecology, regarding the Lacey Senior Center Expansion Project/Woodland Creek Community Park Conversion.
New Business
a) Lake Lois Habitat Reserve Draft Forest Management Plan
Galen Wright, consulting forester, presented the findings and recommendations in the draft Forest Management Plan dated August 22, 2012. Mr. Wright’s overall impression of Lake Lois Park & Habitat Reserve, is that “good things are happening”; a number of ‘bad trees’ went down in the January 2012 storm, laminated root rot pocket in Douglas fir trees on 6th Ave is under control, tree plantings are doing well and besides ivy, there are not a lot of invasive plants in the area. Primary recommendations are:
• continue aggressive attack on English Ivy with a combination of manually pulling up the ivy and direct application of herbicide. Recommended that severe pruning and cut-back of native plants prior to herbicide application in the spring allows for natives to spout, without danger of spray hitting leaves. After herbicide affects ivy, native plants will flourish.
• monitor areas of suspected laminated root rot. Right now root disease is at acceptable levels, but the fungus is pervasive so very important to keep an eye on conditions.
• Hazard trees identified in the plan should be addressed. Trees that don’t have “targets” are not recommended for removal.
Lori asked if those in attendance had any questions or comments after Mr. Wright’s presentation. Comments included:
1. The City should continue to control and implement pest management practices for future control English Ivy. Pulling by hand will take years, and may not keep pace with the aggressiveness of the ivy. Citizens in attendance support use of herbicides, provided the applicator is taking care to have no impact on the lake. With the extensive patches of ivy present, quicker action is needed to minimize the invasion of native understory shrubs and ground cover.
2. Insure that the deed restrictions from the Hebert Property Purchase are followed and not forgotten.
3. Concerned that trees that must be removed due to laminated root rot are left as snags because that won’t kill or stop the spread of fungus. If root wads can’t be removed without extensive disturbance to the understory plants, fungus will spread to other trees. Priority is to minimize impact to the forest floor and replant with disease tolerant species.
4. The stand of Pacific Yew (on 6th Ave) is special and not found elsewhere in the county to our knowledge. Citizens would like to see more yew trees planted if the species is resistant to laminated root rot. Galen has never seen the yew on a list of species susceptible to laminated root rot.
5. Concern expressed about the need to ensure that the appropriate herbicide is used to control ivy to prevent tree roots from absorbing the chemical, leading to tree mortality.
6. Concern expressed that when Douglas Firs trees infected with laminated root rot are cut down, that the downed timber remain on the forest floor whenever appropriate and not be hauled out for timber production. Sufficient downed timber exists in many areas of the forest for habitat and as nurse logs, but take care to ensure habitat trees are provided in those areas lacking habitats.
7. The Lake Lois Habitat Reserve is a beautiful open space which many people are not aware of. Continue to allow Boy Scouts to build and improve trails so that people can easily access the reserve to appreciate this urban forest.
Lori said comments on the Plan would be accepted up until the September Park Board meeting, at which time the plan will be adopted and implemented shortly thereafter.
Lori also announced that the Saint Martin’s University Senior Engineering class will be working on preliminary plans for the McKinney Building and site improvements, as well as designing a bridge over the narrow points of the lake as their class project. They have worked on plans for the Jacob Smith House and Lacey Museum in past years and have been a very good partner with the City.
b) Proposed Park Rule prohibiting nudity
Lori reviewed a recent incident at Long Lake Park, which initiated review of rules regarding nudity in City Parks & beaches: A 23 month old boy was nude at Long Lake Park. When a lifeguard approached the father and asked that he cloth his child, the father became irate and accused the lifeguard of harassing him. When he continued yelling and did not put clothes on his child, Lacey Police were summoned and received a similar response from the father. The following Monday, the father came in to the Parks & Recreation office to speak with Director Lori Flemm, and voiced that he could not verify that city code does not prohibit nudity. After researching city code, our park rules and case law, and speaking with City Manager Scott Spence and City Attorney Ken Ahlf, the following rules to clarify the matter were drafted for consideration:
Beach Rule 12: No person of any age shall be nude.
Park Rule: A person who commits any of the following acts within a park,
parkway, trail or other recreational facility owned, operated or used for
recreational purposes by the City of Lacey shall…be subject to a civil fine…
B22. Appear nude, regardless of age, in a public place or place exposed to
public view.
Commissioners had questions about situations like diaper changes and breastfeeding and determined diaper changes would likely be overlooked and breastfeeding is not considered ‘nudity’ so the rule would not apply.
Motion: To accept Beach Rule #12 as written.
The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
Motion: To accept changes to Park Rule B22 as modified to read,
“B22. Appear nude, regardless of age, in a public place.”
The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
Gary felt park rule #B20 indicating bikes, scooters, skateboards, etc. must be ridden on pathways, not parking lots, benches, courts etc. is unclear and suggested it be amended in the future &/or signs be posted at parks. Bicycles need to be ridden through parking lots in some parks in order to get into the park because no trail exists from the street or sidewalk. The intent of the rule is safety and preventing damage, to keep bicycles from riding in the parking lot/jumping wheel stops to prevent collision with vehicles.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Woodland Creek Community Park Conversion and Replacement Property
Chairman Shawn Smith opened the public hearing at 6:19pm. Director Lori Flemm made a brief presentation, summarizing the purpose of the conversion and the process. Chairman Smith asked if there were any questions from the Commissioners or public. There were no comments or questions from Commissioners or citizens. One citizen was in attendance. A letter from Mohsen Kourehdar, WA Department of Ecology, was entered into the record. Lori said comments on the conversion were accepted through that day. A legal notice was published in the Olympian on July 26.
The hearing was adjourned at 6:25pm.
Old Business
a) Woodland Creek Community Park Conversion and Replacement Property
Motion: Recommend to Lacey City Council, that 2.41 acres of Woodland Creek Community Park be converted and replacedwith property of similar appraised value in Greg Cuoio
Community Park.
The motion was seconded and unanimously approved.
Director’s Report
a) Senior Center Expansion Project Construction Progress
The project is about 2 days behind schedule and seniors will move back into the Center on Wednesday. Lori said the partnership between Senior Services and Chinook Middle School worked out very well over the summer.
b) 2013 Budget: Lori will make her budget presentation to the City Manager and Finance Director on September 4.
c) Lacey Museum Improvements: Lacey Museum was closed for maintenance and reopened August 6 with an Open House and Historical Commission meeting.
d) Fall Program registration: 6am, Wednesday, September 12
e) Lake Lois Habitat Reserve Volunteer Projects: Lori reported 223 volunteers for the project and anticipates 270 more volunteers committed to the Lake Lois Habitat reserve and other volunteer projects.
f) Shawn Smith re-appointed to Park Board on July 26.
g) Woodland Creek Community Park: Trailhead, reclaimed water infiltration facility and disc golf course projects update: Trailhead construction should begin mid-Sept., bids open Aug. 31. Construction zone signs will be posted. RWIF will be under construction in 2013, should bid in winter.
h) Graffiti at Wonderwood Park, and acquisition of tax title parcel: Lori reported recent vandalism to the Wonderwood Park restroom and sign on Stikes Dr. Graffiti has been cleaned off and Lacey Police Department is investigating the incident. Lori also said the City accepted the title from Thurston County, for the easement near the southeast corner of Wonderwood Park. The easement was cleared, graded, leveled and covered with crushed rock and ground asphalt.
Commissioner’s Report
Gary reported volleyball teams with nets playing at Huntamer Park. Lori said that is appropriate park use. Local volleyball players are doing ‘pick up’ games as the weather allows. Gary also noted that he was at the Jacob Smith House recently, and didn’t see any signs indicating the historical house was owned by the City of Lacey.
Chairman’s Report
Shawn noted that Wonderwood Park has had extremely high usage the last two weekends, with parking lots full and overflow parking on the streets of the neighborhood.
Citizen Comments
No additional comments.
Committee Reports
a) PARC Foundation, Paul Royer: There is a meeting scheduled for September so Paul will have a report for the next Park Board meeting. Lori added that the PARC Foundation will be participating in the Combined Fund Drive & Charity Walk at Huntamer Park on Wednesday, September 12.
Adjourn
Prior to adjourning, Lori thanked Youth Representative Alex Mitu for his service to the Board. Alex thanked Lori & the Commissioners for the opportunity to serve, saying he learned a lot and enjoyed his term as Youth Commissioner. All wished Alex well as he goes off to college.
Meeting adjourned at 7:07, by Chairman Shawn Smith.
Next meeting: Monday, September 24, 2012, 5:30pm at Lacey City Hall