HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks and Human Services - 02/21/2008City of Kent
Parks and Human Services Committee Meeting
Minutes of February 21, 2008
Call to Order: Debbie Ranniger called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m.
Council Present: Chair Debbie Ranniger, Elizabeth Albertson, and Bob O'Brien
sat in for Ron Harmon
Added Item: King County Agreement for Jail Transition Services - Authorize
Item #1: Minutes of January 17, 2008 – Approve
Elizabeth Albertson moved to approve the minutes of January 17, 2008. Bob
O'Brien seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
Item #2: DSHS Grant Agreement for Safe Havens
Housing and Human Services Manager Katherin Johnson stated that the State of
Washington Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) grant funds will be
used to support personnel costs that will provide services to low income families
at the Safe Havens Visitation and Exchange Center.
Bob O'Brien moved to recommend authorizing the Mayor to sign the grant
agreement from the State of Washington Department of Social and Health
Services for $50,000.00 to fund Safe Havens services, and approving the
expenditure of funds in the Safe Havens budget. Elizabeth Albertson seconded
and the motion passed 3-0.
Item #3: 2007 Community Development Block Grant CAPER
Katherin Johnson and CDBG Coordinator Dinah Wilson reported that the 2007
Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the City of
Kent, Washington is a report to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
Development (HUD) on the City’s activities and accomplishments using
Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) and other funds. The report is
required by HUD annually and must be submitted by March 31, of each year. The
report includes information on how CDBG funds were used to further the goals
and strategies of the Consolidated Plan, as well as other activities executed by
the City.
Elizabeth Albertson moved to recommend approving the 2007 Consolidated
Annual Performance and Evaluation Report and authorizing the Mayor to submit
the report to HUD. Bob O'Brien seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
Item #4: King County Agreement for Jail Transition Services
Katherin Johnson explained that this agreement is a collaborative effort with King
County to assist eligible and appropriate offender-clients and defendants with
mental illness who are transitioning from the jail and applying for DSHS
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February 21, 2008
entitlements and publicly funded benefits. These benefits include accessing
mental health counseling, medications management, and case management
services in the community.
Per this agreement, the City will receive $2,400.00 per year from King County for
providing office space for one full-time equivalent (1.0 FTE) DSHS financial
application worker to be located within the Housing and Human Services office at
Kent City Hall. This effort is sponsored and supported by HB1290 Jail Services
funds.
Bob O'Brien moved to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign the
Memorandum of Agreement with King County for collaborative jail transition
services, including compensation from King County, and approve the expenditure
of funds in the Housing and Human Services budget, upon review by the City
Attorney. Elizabeth Albertson seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
Item #5: 2008 City Art Plan and Five-Year Art Plan
Visual Arts Coordinator Cheryl dos Remedios reported that the attached City Art
Plan lists projects carried over from 2007, details projects for 2008 and lists art
expenditures planned for 2008-2012, as part of the five year plan. The Visual
Arts Committee worked with staff to craft the plan which was approved by Kent
Arts Commission on December 18, 2007.
Elizabeth Albertson questioned the difference between the Visual Arts Committee
and the Arts Commission. Cheryl explained that the Visual Arts Committee is a
subset of the Arts Commission. Cheryl noted Bob O'Brien's request to have art
work published on the city's web site for viewing.
One art project Cheryl highlighted is the seed pod lanterns that will illuminate
Second Avenue and encourage pedestrian traffic between Kent Station and
downtown.
Elizabeth Albertson moved to recommend Council approve the 2008 City Art Plan
and Five Year Plan. Bob O'Brien seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
Item #6: Earthworks Park Landmark Nomination
Cheryl stated that the Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park is being nominated for
City Landmark designation by the Kent Arts Commission. If the nomination is
accepted, this will be the first historic property to be designated by the City of
Kent.
Of primary interest to the Kent Arts Commission are new avenues of funding that
would become available with historic designation. This funding could be used for
restoring, maintaining and promoting the Earthworks.
Usually, properties need to be 40 years old or older to be eligible for landmark
designation, and we have only just celebrated the Earthworks 25th Anniversary.
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Nevertheless, the Earthworks may qualify as “exceptional” and therefore be
eligible for designation based on its association with the great Bauhaus master
Herbert Bayer, for the remarkable role it played in the evolution of public art,
and as a highly distinctive example of modernist landscape architecture.
One of the unique factors of the Earthworks is that it is an artwork, a public park
and a functioning water detention dam. Originally designed as a collaboration
between the Kent Arts Commission and the Public Works Department, this
collaboration continues today. As Public Works moves forward with altering the
Earthworks to meet new Department of Ecology regulations, the Kent Arts
Commission requests that the integrity of the artwork be maintained. To this
end, the King County Historic Preservation staff have already met several times
with the Kent Cultural Division and Public Works to provide their expertise
regarding maintaining essential design elements. There is consensus that the
outlet structure can be changed and that the Earthworks dam can be raised 2’ to
create a 10,000 year spillway and increase storm water storage in the
Earthworks basin by 18%. This work will go out to bid in late March and
construction will take place in August 2008.
In addition to nominating the Earthworks on the local level, the Kent Arts
Commission is also submitting a nomination for listing in the National Register of
Historic Places, and it is hoped that the Earthworks will be accepted and
designated “nationally significant.” Along with the prestige, these designations
would qualify the landscape for federal, state and local funding programs, which
would help the city maintain and restore the landscape. Featured in many
publications, the Earthworks has most recently been included in Destination Art,
“the first critical guide to the two hundred most important modern and
contemporary art sites around the world.”
The Earthworks is already highly valued by art and design communities
throughout the world. If landmarked, the City of Kent will be able to capture an
entirely new audience through websites and organizations such as Historylink
and the King County Historical Societies.
Historic Preservation Ordinance (Ord 3809, KCC 14.12) requires the City Council
to approve nominations before they are sent to King County. The nomination for
Earthworks Park will be brought before the Planning & Economic Development
Committee for action on March 10, 2008.
Debbie Ranniger responded to the influence by Earthworks Park and her career
in landscape architecture. Cheryl substantiated Elizabeth Albertson's comment
that the landmark designation will assist in the flood control plan.
Item #7 Senior Center Weight Room Remodel Project
Lea Bishop, Manager of the Senior Activity Center reported that the fitness
center was funded in 2005 with a donation of $20,000.00 from the estate of
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Harvey Cox, a Senior Center participant. The weight room is very popular with an
average of 25 participants per day, and a waiting period to use the equipment.
The Kent Rotary Club Sunrise recently pledged funds to remodel the senior
center fitness room and purchase new fitness equipment. The fitness area will be
expanded and numerous machines will be added; inlcluding two more treadmills,
a stationary bike, an upper body development machine and a machine that
works abdominal muscles. Renovation starts next month. Facilities staff will start
the remodel next month. Rotary is planning a grand opening function. The
additional space and new equipment will be a great addition to the Senior
Center. Director Jeff Watling commended the Senior Center staff for continuing
to "break the mold" and being progressive, especially in the senior center arena.
Item #8: Aquatic Center Update
Jeff Watling, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, explained
that at a workshop, Council assigned staff two goals: Organize a citizens group
to design and deliver a campaign to promote a bond measure, and have staff
seek potential partners in the private or non-profit sector, and/or identify other
ways to reduce the capital expense of the proposed facility that could reduce the
size of a future bond measure package .
The Citizen Task Force meets regularly to work on their recommendation and
campaign plan that will be presented to Council at a workshop in April. At the
request of Council, staff explored potential partnerships. New developments such
as LA Fitness, 24 Hour Fitness and Vision Quest influenced staff to take another
look at the project. Different options are being discussed too avoid duplicating
services and to reduce the financial burden on taxpayers. Scaling down the
design from an aquatic and recreation center to a pool facility only, as well as a
more phased approach are being evaluated. Staff will review the operating
subsidy and impact on the city's budget as well.
Debbie Ranniger senses community support for a pool and supports a smaller
scope and a phased approach to the design. The original proposal needs to be
scaled back because of changes in economics and the presence of new
investments in community. Debbie referenced the directive from Council last
month to look into partnerships and explore contracting out operational services
at the facility.
Elizabeth Albertson said that she prefers scaling back the design of the facility as
opposed to putting it on a shelf. She agrees that citizens are supportive of the
pool, but money is a concern for everyone right now. Elizabeth feels that health
clubs don't fit the needs of all the citizens. The proposed facility better
accommodates swim teams, lifeguard classes, swimming lessons, and includes a
therapy pool for patients.
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The citizen group and staff will report back at a Council Workshop in April. The
citizens group will present their recommendation and an outline of the bond
measure campaign, and staff will report on potential partners, design and
supplementing capital funding.
Item #9: What's Happening in Parks
Kent Lions Club is donating $4,000.00 toward the purchase of batting cages at
Wilson Playfield. Many thanks to the Kent Lions Club for their constant support.
Youth Tree Education Program. Local kids in the Kent School District will plant
2,200 trees this spring from the seedlings that they nurture starting in March.
Kent Kids Arts Day is March 1, at Kent Commons from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
20th Annual Resource Fair at Kent Commons on March 6, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30
p.m.
The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teri Petrole, Council Committee Secretary