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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks and Human Services - 03/02/1993 t Parks Committee Minutes March 2, 1993 Councilmembers Present: Jim Bennett, Chair; and Jon Johnson. Staff Present: Tony McCarthy, Tom Brubaker, May Miller, Alana McIalwain, Helen Wickstrom, Patrice Thorell , Cheryl Fraser, Lori Hogan, Jack Ball , and Pam Rumer. Others Present: Mary McCarthy and Bill Doolittle. EAST LAKE FENWICK ANNEXATION Staff requested authorization to proceed with the annexation of East Lake Fenwick Park. Tom Brubaker informed the Committee he just recently discovered that the City does not have to go through the Boundary Review Board, as the property is continguous and is owned entirely by the City, and the annexation is for municipal purposes. Helen Wickstrom explained that this property was acquired for the Lake Fenwick Trail which is part of the King County Open Space Bond project. Staff wants to annex the portion located in the County which Kent owns so that the entire park is located within the Kent city limits. Wickstrom felt that this will also make police control easier. Wickstrom explained for Councilmember Bennett that no residences will be involved in the annexation. Councilmember Johnson moved to recommend that the City Attorney prepare an annexation ordinance for the March 16 City Council meeting. Councilmember Bennett seconded. The motion passed with a 2-0 vote, as Councilmember Houser was not present.* OPERATION OF KING COUNTY TURNKEY PARK Staff received a letter from King County Parks stating that due to budget cutbacks, the County is proposing to close Turnkey Park located at 233rd and 100th Avenue SE, and to remove all park enhancements there. The County is willing to deed the park to the City of Kent if Kent is interested in taking over operation of the park. Wickstrom explained that the park is located on 6.4 acres. She, Jack Ball , Barney Wilson and Ken Chatwin visited the site and found the play equipment to be in excellent condition and the park to meet ADA requirements. It was discussed that the park will be maintained within the current Park Maintenance budget. Councilmember Johnson moved to recommend to Council that the City of Kent take over operation of Turnkey Park from King County. Councilmember Bennett seconded the motion. The motion passed with a 2-0 vote, as Councilmember Houser was not present.* _ x - 2 EAST HILL PARK AND SCENIC HILL PARK BID OPENINGS Helen Wickstrom reminded Committee members that she received their authorization to place the East Hill and Scenic Hill Park bids on the March 2 City Council agenda if the two projects came in within bid. Timing is important, as funding for both projects expires at the end of June. Golf Landscaping was the low bidder for the Scenic Hill Park project, with a bid of $345,700.00. The engineer's estimate was $397,500. Wickstrom felt the City received a very good bid. The same contractor was the low bidder for the East Hill Park project as well , with a bid of $348,400.00. The engineer's estimate for this project was a range of $372,000 to $420,000. Staff has worked with this contractor before and Wickstrom felt that one reason for such good bids is because Golf Landscaping, Inc. is small enough that the company does everything except maybe for the asphalting. Wickstrom pointed out for Councilmember Bennett that the bids for both projects include all of the alternates. KRONISCH PROPERTY UPDATE Jack Ball said that the City received a request to clean up the Kronisch property on the west hill , and reported that all blackberries have been taken down and everything has been cleaned up. Throughout the spring, staff plan to do some blading, prepping and seeding before summer. Ball asked whether the City still has plans for fencing the property. He had the property surveyed and suggested that staff could border the property line with large rocks which are on the property. Tony McCarthy explained that the proposal to fence the property was to keep litter from businesses in the area off of the park. Due to lack of funding, McCarthy suggested that the City may want to hold off on fencing unless the Council would like to take a different direction. He felt perhaps the new nuisance ordinance the City Attorney's office is preparing may encourage the businesses to keep their properties clean. Councilmember Bennett said he would like to see the area before making any decisions. Ball said he feels his crews did an excellent job of cleaning up the property. McCarthy commended Ball and his staff for their quick response in cleaning up the park. KENT LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD USE UPDATE Lori Hogan reported that staff received a written proposal from Kent Little League on Monday. The group's usage from early March until the third week in May will continue this year. Little League will also continue to pay last year's fee schedule in 1993. Hogan said staff is concerned about the Little League request for a seven year contract term; staff would like to agree on a 3-4 year term. Due to budget constraints, Little League is also proposing that if th2 fence is to be installed this year, installation be done by Little League volunteers. Hogan said that staff is also concerned about ,s 3 this. The alternative is to hold off on fencing until next spring when the Little League budget would allow for professional installation. Hogan added that the City Attorney and Risk Analyst are -also concerned about installation by non-bonded workers. Councilmember Bennett questioned whether the City could get a vendor to supervisor the installation by Little League volunteers. He was in support of some type of volunteer effort so that Little League could use their funds for a better cause next year. Brubaker commented that the goal is to avoid City liability and to stay in control of the situation. He suggested that something could be worked out, but opined that the City should also receive a warranty period on the installation. Councilmember Johnson commented that this type of thing has been done before, and suggested that the City could have volunteers sign a release indemnifying the City. Hogan said that staff is still working with Little League, and she is hopeful that she will have something formal to propose at the next Parks Committee meeting. Brubaker informed Committee members that in the meantime, the City has extended last year's agreement for 1993 so Little League does have use of the fields this year. YOUTH ACTIVITY CENTER REPORT In December 1992 Council passed a resolution to set up a committee to investigate the feasibility of creating a youth center. Fraser said the committee is formed and is proceeding with four directives included in the resolution: • look for an appropriate location for a facility • look at types of programs/activities the center should offer • estimate cost of creating, maintaining and operating the facility • research potential funding for the center Fraser reported that the committee hopes to have a final report to the Council in May. There have been three meetings to date, and committee members have toured a number of youth facilities in the Puget Sound area, gathering a great deal of information and input. Fraser reported that at last committee meeting, the committee voted to seek funding for a more formal feasibility and needs assessment. The estimated cost for this assessment is $30,000. Councilmember Bennett suggested that the Youth Activity Center Committee come up with a better description than youth center for marketing reasons. Fraser commented that the committee is pleased with the strong cooperation being built with Kent School District. She said there have even been discussions regarding holding a joint City Council/School Board meeting. 4 GOLF ADVISORY BOARD REPORT Alana McIalwain, on behalf of Doug Schwab, gave a report of issues addressed at the last Golf Advisory Board meeting. Early last week, Larry Gilhuly of the USGA Greens Section did an evaluation of the golf course. The weather was uncooperative so he did not do his anticipated evaluati'on, but he did make some recommendations on which staff will follow through. McIalwain said Mr. Gilhuly will be back in April to do a more thorough evaluation. Golf Advisory Board made a few recommendations at their meeting: 1) That the City should immediately begin the process to advertise and interview for a Golf Complex Operations Manager. A Job description has been drafted and will go out to the Golf Advisory Board today for review so that processing and advertising for that position may begin. 2) That the City receive 2-3 estimates on irrigation system installation to evaluate cost and feasibility of completing that project. The Golf Advisory Board discussed the RFP and management contract, and members did not feel the City should require the Director of Golf to .assume the power cart lease currently held by the City. The carts are four years old. McIalwain pointed out that this is currently part of the proposal , so it would have to be negotiated. McIalwain announced that the selection committee for the Director of Golf will have its first meeting Wednesday evening, March 3, at 6:00 p.m. She said than all Golf Advisory Board members have been invited to participate on the selection committee as well as Alana McIalwain, Tony McCarthy, Patrice Thorell and Don Olson. The selection committee will begin talking about the criteria to be evaluated as well as the entire selection process. KENT AMERICAN LEGION BASEBALL COMMERCIAL SIGN PROPOSAL FOR KENT MgMORIAL PARK McCarthy announced that the Parks Committee will discuss the Kent American Legion Baseball Commercial Sign Proposal at the next Parks Committee meeting, as Mr. Miller was not present at the meeting to discuss the issue. * Helen Wickstrom contacted Councilmember Houser by phone and explained the East Lake Fenwick Annexation and the Transfer of King County Turnkey Park to the City of Kent. Councilmember Houser voted in favor of both issues. The Transfer of King County Turnkey Park will appear on the March 16 Consent Calendar for full Council consideration. The East Lake Fenwick Annexation will appear on the April 6 Consent Calendar.