HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks and Human Services - 04/15/2010
City of Kent
Parks and Human Services Committee Meeting
Minutes of April 15, 2010
Council Committee Members Present: Chair Debbie Ranniger, Elizabeth
Albertson and Dennis Higgins
Debbie Ranniger called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m.
1. Minutes of March 18, 2010 - Approve
Elizabeth Albertson moved to approve the minutes of March 18, 2010. Dennis
Higgins seconded. The motion passed 3-0.
2. King County Grant Agreement for Safe Havens Services – Accept
Katherin Johnson, Manager of Housing and Human Services shared that Safe
Havens has a group working for them called “Friends of Safe Havens.” They
are trying to raise funds to bridge the gap in funding, as well as locating a
non-profit organization to operate the facility. There is only enough money to
get through the end of April. This county grant will not be spent until May,
unless bridge funding is received.
Jeff complimented the “Friends of Safe Havens” for their commitment in
trying to locate funding to fill the gap for this year, as well as their efforts in
looking for a fiscal sponsor that will allow Safe Havens to begin applying for
other human services funding through other municipalities.
Katherin acknowledged supporters who are volunteering many hours to
locate funding. She explained the impact of closing the facility on the clients,
as well as staff who’ve been a part of the facility for the past five years.
Katherin stated that, in order to keep it open until the end of 2010, $100,000
is needed. If $50,000 is located by the end of April, the center can operate
until the other $50,000 is donated. A fiscal agent working for the group has
been applying to as many cities as possible for funding.
Dennis Higgins moved to recommend accepting the King County Domestic
Violence Grant of $10,000.00 to fund Safe Havens services, and approving
the expenditure of funds in the Safe Havens budget. Elizabeth Albertson
seconded. The motion passed 3-0.
3. 4Culture Grant Contract for Fourth of July Splash - Authorize
Ronda Billerbeck explained that 4Culture awarded the Kent Arts Commission
$6,500.00 to preserve arts jobs through a competitive grant process. The
funding comes through 4Culture from the National Endowment for the Arts
distribution of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds. The money
will allow professional performers to be restored at the Kent’s Fourth of July
Splash festival at Lake Meridian Park in 2010.
1
Elizabeth Albertson moved to recommend accepting the $6,500.00 grant
from 4Culture to restore professional performances at the 2010” Fourth of
July Splash,” and authorizing the . The motion passed 3-0.
4. Kent Station Sponsorship Agreement for 2010 Summer Concert
Performance - Authorize
Ronda Billerbeck reported that Kent Station will sponsor the city’s Take-Out
Tuesday concerts in 2010. The $6,000.00 will cover artistic fees and offset
other expenses associated with producing the concerts.
Dennis Higgins moved to recommend accepting the $6,000.00 sponsorship
from Kent Station to partially fund summer concert performances, and
authorizing the expenditure of funds in the Arts Commission budget.
Elizabeth Albertson seconded. The motion passed 3-0.
5. Park and Open Space Plan - Adopt
The plan update process is an opportunity to re-examine our vision for Kent
Parks and prioritize our next steps for the short and long term future. It
analyzes the most recent census information, provides an updated park and
open space inventory, updates level of service and goals and policies and
recommends long and short term capital projects. The plan includes the four
core themes previously discussed: Kent’s Legacy, Athletic Fields, Green Kent
and Connectivity, and will be used to direct future development, acquisition
and renovation of parks and open spaces. Since reviewing the draft plan
with the Committee in January, it has been before the Land Use and Planning
Board on January 11, 2010 for workshop and on March 8, 2010 for a public
hearing. The Land Use and Planning Board voted to recommend approval of
the Park and Open Space Plan.
Jeff added that maps have been completed and incorporated into the plan,
broken down into three categories: Parks and Facilities, Implementation of
Short and Long Term Implementation, and a Connectivity Map relating to
trails, biking and paths. In addition, the Parks & Open Space Element and the
Capital Facilities Element of the Comprehensive Plan has been updated to
ensure consistency. Pursuant to the Growth Management Act, the Parks &
Open Space Plan must be incorporated into the City’s Comprehensive Plan in
order for it to be used as a policy document for implementation purposes.
Elizabeth Albertson moved to recommend adopting the proposed ordinance
which adopts the Park and Open Space Plan and amends the Park and Open
Space Element and Capital Facilities Element of the Comprehensive Plan.
Dennis Higgins seconded. The motion passed 3-0.
6. Resource Center Building - Informational
Jeff explained that, as part of the 2010 Budget, all programs and staff from
the Resource Center were recommend to be consolidated to Kent Commons.
Office space was completed and will move at the end of the month. The
2
program space modifications will be completed in early May. Scheduling will
continue at the Resource Center until the programming space is completed.
The city now has the opportunity to explore short and long-term options for
what to do with the Resource Center. Jeff introduced options to consider:
either selling the property, or leasing the building. The committee’s initial
response was to lease the building and not sell because of the poor real
estate market. Jeff will proceed with the process to lease the building for a
short-term solution until a long-term decision can be made in the future.
7. First Quarter Reports - Informational
Jeff Watling, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services,
highlighted some services from the first quarter of 2010.
Kent Commons, Facilities staff and Resource Center staff have transitioned
into the consolidation at Kent Commons very smoothly. Facilities has done an
incredible job of renovating the office and program space.
Human Services regional affiliates partnered with eGov Alliance, a county-
wide group, to have the application process completely on line now. The
applicants can conveniently submit one application to multiple funding
agencies. It also helps staff to review applications and create reports.
The Youth/Teen Community Center at Phoenix Academy continues to be very
popular, with 1,300 visits during the first quarter of 2010.
The RFP for the restaurant at Riverbend Golf Complex closed on April 12,
with seven proposals submitted. Five firms will be interviewed next week.
Staff will bring the contract to Council in May. Rocco’s Salsa Dogs continues
to provide food temporarily at the golf course.
Approximately $27,000 was received in cash and in-kind contributions for the
first quarter of 2010. The majority of donations went to the Cultural and
Recreation Division. These numbers are a testament of the loyalty of our
participants.
8. 2010 Budget - Informational
Jeff asked the Committee for any specific questions he can have ready in
preparation for the budget workshop that night. Dennis Higgins asked about
the temporary transfer of the 5% sales tax revenue from CIP to the General
Fund. He asked what projects would be impacted. Jeff responded that the
impact would be with lifecycle projects within facilities capital projects. Jeff
will get details of what projects would be deferred.
Elizabeth asked to discuss the elimination of the subsidy to the lunch
program at the Senior Center. Jeff responded that, as part of the contract
with Consolidated Food Management, Inc., the lunch program is a fee-based
program with a per-day minimum and they have been approached to adjust
the daily minimum. It was also announced that Panera Bread will no longer
3
4
be catering lunches on Wednesdays at the Senior Center because they can’t
lower their prices any further to help with the subsidy. Staff is pursuing an
arrangement with Los Agaves, a local Mexican Restaurant for lunches and
will continue to pursue additional local restaurants for lunch partnerships.
9. Director’s Report
Cheryl dos Remedios, Visual Arts Coordinator, announced that that Mill Creek
Canyon Earthworks Park is one of 15 Puget Sound landmarks selected to
compete for $1,000,000 in preservation funding through the American
Express Foundation and National Trust for Historic Preservation. This is a
community participation donation. We get $5,000.00 for playing and could
get as much as $125,000 for the park. You can vote every day on the
following site until May 12! First you must be registered. Then, go to:
www.VoteEarthworks.com. Cheryl demonstrated how to vote and how to
invite friends on Facebook to vote.
The Earth Day event will be held Thursday, April 22 at the park from 7:00 to
8:30 p.m. with artwork viewing, music, and dance. On Saturday, April 24 is
the Earth Day clean up event.
The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teri Petrole
Teri Petrole
Council Committee Secretary