HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks and Human Services - 06/17/2004
Parks and Human Services Committee Minutes
June 17, 2004
Committee Members Present: Deborah Ranniger
Committee Members Absent: Chair Julie Peterson, Debbie Raplee
Other Council Present: Les Thomas
Councilmember Ranniger called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. Councilmember Les
Thomas attended the meeting to reach a quorum for action items.
1. Approval of Minutes of May 20, 2004
Councilmember Thomas moved to approve the minutes of May 20, 2004. Council
member Ranniger seconded and the motion carried. Chair Peterson was
contacted by telephone and concurred.
2. 2004 Western States Arts Federation Grant for the Actors' Gang
Cultural Services Manager Ronda Billerbeck shared that staff applied for and
received a grant from WESTAF to fund a Los Angeles based theater company
presenting "The Guys" which features the experiences of 9-11 from the
perspective of New York citizens.
Councilmember Thomas moved to recommend that Council accept the Western
States Arts Federation "TourWest" grant in the amount of $2,500.00 and
authorize expenditure of funds in the Kent Arts Commission budget to support
the Actors' Gang Presentation. Council member Ranniger seconded and the
motion carried. Chair Peterson was contacted by telephone and concurred.
3. 2005 Western States Arts Federation Grant for Keola Beamer
Council member Thomas moved to recommend Council accept the Western
States Arts Federation “TourWest” Grant in the amount of $2,500.00 and
authorize expenditure of funds in the Kent Arts Commission budget to support
the Keola Beamer, Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival. Council member
Ranniger seconded and the motion carried. Chair Peterson was contacted by
telephone and concurred.
Cultural Services Manager Ronda Billerbeck explained that staff applied for and
received a second grant from WESTAF to fund a presentation in 2005, featuring
music indigenous to the Hawaiian Islands.
4. King County Conservation Futures Amendment to Interlocal Cooperation
Agreement for Clark Lake Park Open Space Acquisition - Accept and amend
Budget.
Superintendent of Parks Planning and Development Lori Flemm reported that
staff submitted an application in 2003 to the King County Conservation Futures
Levy Fund to pay for open space acquisition at Clark Lake Park. The acquisition
project was approved on November 24, 2003 by King County through Ordinance
No. 14852. This amendment is part of the existing Interlocal Cooperation
Agreement entered into between the City of Kent and King County on January
29, 1991 and provides for the allocation of additional funds made available for
open space acquisition. Staff also applied for two state grants to match funds
and received verbal notice of award for one so far. The house on the property
may preserved for environmental education purposes.
Councilmember Thomas moved to recommend Council accept the $300,000.00
levy allocation from King County Conservation Futures, authorize the Mayor to
sign the Amendment to the Interlocal Cooperation Agreement and approve
expending funds in the Park Land Acquisition for the Clark Lake Park Open
Space acquisition. Council member Ranniger seconded and the motion carried.
Chair Peterson was contacted by telephone and concurred.
5. Urban Forestry Program - Informational
Superintendent of Parks Planning and Development Lori Flemm shared that the
On July 6, 1999 Council adopted a new Street Tree List. Every five years, staff
reviews the list for availability, survival rate, growth habits, and average cost. The
Director of Parks has authorization to approve the removal and/or addition of
trees to the list after staff evaluation. Staff is recommending that some tree
species be removed from the list and other species be added to the list (see
attached Proposed Street Tree List).
Supt. Flemm explained that every March since 2000, staff from Parks and
Environmental Engineering present tree education programs in the Kent School
District classrooms on how to pot and raise native trees and shrubs. The
students receive plants to grow throughout the spring and summer. They monitor
the growth using a workbook and then plant them in late October. Each year staff
receives letters from the students that are very heartening and thankful for the
program. The program is funded in part from Kent Lions Club, Kent Rotary, King
Conservation District and Pacific Plants, Inc.
6. Washington Recreation and Parks Association Spotlight Awards - Informational
Awards were presented at the WRPA Annual Conference held in Spokane on
April 29. The Park's Walking Guide was submitted for consideration in the
"Spotlight Media Award Category" for "Best Single Brochure." Canterbury
Neighborhood Park was submitted for consideration in the "Spotlight Facility and
Parks Award in the Park Category." The Walking Guide received an Honorable
Mention Certificate and Canterbury Neighborhood park received an Award of
Merit. King County and the Washington Department of Health assisted in the
funding of the brochure.
7. Lake Meridian Park Boat Launch Improvements - Informational
On June 9, a public meeting was held to receive comments from Lake Meridian
residents of Lake Meridian. Improvements include providing a new accessible
boarding float - replacingt the current 12' ramp with a 16' poured-in-place
concrete ramp, dredging the channel and repairing the asphalt approach. The
new boarding float will allow boat access for the elderly and disabled. Park staff
applied for an Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation (IAC), Boating
Facilities Program grant to fund the improvements. Construction will begin
after Labor Day 2004 and the project will be complete by 2005.
8. World Vision Soccer Ball Program - Informational
The City of Kent, in partnership with Washington Recreation and Park
Association and World Vision are working together to collect 250,000 new and
slightly used soccer balls and air pumps to give to needy children around the
world. Cash donations are accepted as well.
World Vision is a humanitarian organization, serving the world's poorest children
and families in nearly 100 countries. World Vision maintains health, education,
agriculture, water, sanitation and small business projects that help millions of
people in their communities, helping transform the lives of children and families in
need without regard to their religious beliefs, gender, race or ethic background.
The meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.