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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.