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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks and Human Services - 09/15/2011 Kent Parks and Human Services Committee Meeting Minutes of September 15, 2011 Council Present: Debbie Ranniger - Chair, Elizabeth Albertson, Dennis Higgins Call to Order: Chair Debbie Ranniger called the meeting to order at 5:08 p.m. I. Meeting Minutes - Approve Dennis Higgins moved to approve the minutes of August 18, 2011. Elizabeth Albertson seconded. The motion passed 3-0. II. Communities Putting Prevention to Work Update - INFO ONLY Jeff Watling, Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services referenced the sub grant awarded by King County Public Health for the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) projects this summer. The priority for requesting this funding was to take a new and integrated approach to bike and pedestrian planning. Hope Gibson and counterparts in Public Works have been busy working together on this process and staff is looking forward to some exciting projects this fall, as we initiate some public outreach. Hope Gibson, Manager of Parks Planning and Development, stated that the primary focus of the project is mobility planning - in essence, trying to make it easier for people to walk and bike around the city. Summary of progress: • Reviewing existing city plans - having to do with bike and pedestrian policies. • Reviewing existing conditions - to see what have we got, and where the plan stands now so that we can coordinate while being consistent. • Starting an Advisory Board - applications are being received. • Creating Public Outreach - starting soon to see what the needs and priorities are. The contract with the county only requires that we submit to them a high level primary and secondary corridor plan. This grant is allowing us to provide a great foundation for a bike, trails, and pathways plan that we wouldn’t have been able to complete with current city resources. It also includes transportation facilities planning, that really mean we can take a broader approach to street and right-of-way planning than the traditional approach. It will help us to develop access to healthy foods by encouraging more opportunities to access healthy food consumption, including, more Page 1 Farmer’s Markets and pea patches. And finally, an opportunity to initiate a Food Procurement Policy that will include healthy food options at city catered functions. Jeff added that by providing opportunities for bike and pedestrians systems, this approach is integrating our on and off, right-of-way planning and envisioning our strategic goal of connecting people and places. The levee work and project near LA Fitness is a prioritized project through Public Works. As part of this integrated approach with Public Works we believe we’ve come to a solution to complete the levee improvements and provide a vital link to the Green River Trail. Elizabeth asked if the plan is still looking at how zoning policies and accessibility to healthy food affect residents. Hope said Planning is reviewing this portion of the grant because they are taking the lead on the land use segment. Hope also confirmed that the grant amount is $153,000 and the deadline for completion of the projects is March 2012. Dennis referenced previous discussion on the “Complete Streets” Ordinance and if this grant is contributing funds. Jeff responded that Public Works was involved in a “Complete Streets” training on right-of-way corridors and a follow up workshop is coming up in October. Dennis will go through Public Works to get an update and see how this grant can help move this forward. Jeff feels that Public Works is receptive to the understanding that right of ways are multi-mobile and not just vehicular. III. Park Operations Downtown Core Update - INFO ONLY Maintenance Map Jeff reported that there are a number of assets maintained downtown by Public Works and the Parks Department. Jeff distributed a map of Kent, noting the elements of the public infrastructure of the downtown core and what areas are maintained by Public Works and Park Operations. In 2008, Parks and Public Works traded out some maintenance responsibilities to incorporate continuity. The Parks Department maintains planting beds, 32 planter barrels, street trees, and the larger mowing areas. The right-of-way areas, such as mow strips and islands, are the responsibility of Public Works. Dennis asked for clarification on what the maintenance of the areas in front of ShoWare entails. Garin responded that the street island and a portion of sidewalk is maintained by Public Works. The street trees are maintained by Park Operations. Jeff reported that some of the planter barrels are getting old and in need of replacement. Staff researched and found a product made of concrete that is easier to maintain, is vandal proof, and quite reasonable in price (a product brochure was provided at the meeting). Staff plans to pilot two sites with the proposed concrete planters to test them out and get feedback. Debbie Ranniger felt they were classier than the current planters and a better match Page 2 to the trash receptacles at Kent Station, creating continuity and connectivity to the downtown area. Debbie asked if there has been any interest and/or discussion with the downtown businesses to participate in the purchase. Jeff said that after the tests are completed, decisions will be made. Staff talked to Kent Downtown Partnership about integrating a planter type program where they could purchase the planters and be responsible for watering, or share in watering because the hanging basket program is so labor intensive. Debbie voiced her concern with business owners not being consistent with watering and taking proper care of the plants. Town Square Plaza Garin Lee, Superintendent of Park Operations, reiterated that the fountains at Town Square Plaza have been a challenge this summer, but that the work by the contractor is complete with great results. Some issues are being worked through but the fountains are back to full operation. Sweet Gum Art Pieces Jeff reminded the committee that the vision behind the sweet gum art pieces that align 1st Avenue downtown was to be illuminated, but this has been a design challenge to achieve. Cheryl dos Remedios, Visual Arts Coordinator, is in contact with the artist to develop a new plan for illumination. By the end of September or early October the artist is bringing in new lighting that we are hopeful will produce the desired illuminated effect. IV. Youth/Teen Fall Programs Jeff stated that he wanted to update the committee on fall youth/teen programs and what the program spectrum looks like for fall. He reiterated how youth/teen staff take programs into the neighborhoods so that youth don’t have the challenge of finding transportation to our facilities. Another resource we are utilizing is using some school sites. A key initiative for this year is to have more presence and to further our relationship with the Federal Way School District. The good news is that programs on the West Hill have been enhanced. The afterschool programs at Star Lake and Totem Jr. High have been extended, as part of a cooperative effort with the Federal Way School District. Big Blue continues to serve at multiple sites on the east and west hills. An after school program is being implemented in the Annexation area at Sunrise Elementary and Meeker Middle School this fall. All totaled, youth/teen programs are delivered to sixteen sites. Four of the middle schools are: Mill Creek, Meridian, Meeker, and Totem Jr. High. The programs will be at eleven elementary schools and some include the free and reduced lunch program. They include: Sunrise, Park Orchard, Meadow Ridge, Panther Lake Elementary, Scenic Hill, Horizon, Kent Elementary, East Hill, Pine Tree, Millennium, and Star Lake. Debbie Ranniger asked if the demographics for the free and reduced lunch program have broadened. She asked for data from each school in comparison Page 3 to last year. Jeff will bring statistics of the lunch program back to the committee. Elizabeth Albertson shared that the free and/or reduced lunch program is being utilized by 70% of students at Scenic Hill and Communities in Schools is adding a site coordinator at the school. She feels that many of the schools are close to the same level. Continuing, Jeff said that one of the sixteen sites is the Community Center at Phoenix Academy which continues to see a growing numbers of participants. The new partnered program with the Kent Boxing Club is in full swing at the Center as well. Current space and resources prevent all of the programs from being offered at all sixteen sites every day of the week, but that hasn’t stopped staff from continuing to look at partnerships with other resources to expand weekly programming. Our partnership with the Kent School District is key to this effort. We appreciate their openness and the cooperation in keeping kids involved in afterschool programs. Data shows, that through the key development ages of 10 through 18, the average need is seven positive adult relationships through that time frame to nurture and become the adult youth that we want. Dennis asked how regular reports will be delivered on the numbers related to the utilization of different youth and teen programs. Jeff said it will begin with new data tracking to get the numbers and outcomes necessary for the report. The data will be tied into our key outcomes and measures and will be a part of the quarterly report, beginning 2012. The measures will be framed with three key questions: • How much did we do (i.e. acres mowed, how many participants in our programs) • How well did we do it (using standard survey questions) • Is anyone better off for the delivery of the program/service (what is the impact) Jeff said that we have many successes and we need to align our resources to what we are achieving. V. Director’s Report - INFO ONLY Volunteer events • National Public Lands Day is Saturday, September 24, at Lake Fenwick Park 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Volunteers will be removing invasives and planting. • ReLeaf Event is October 8, at Clark Lake Park from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., focusing on reforestation and invasive renewal. Page 4 Page 5 Please check the Kent web site for contact information on our volunteer opportunities. KentWA.gov. Human Services Funding Jeff reported that 2012 marks a potential adjustment in the 1% investment from the general fund budget for human services funding. An unintended consequence of the RFA decision is that the 1% allocation may be less beginning in 2012. The reduced percentage, or $95,600, has been requested in the 2012 budget so that services can remain consistent. The second year of the grant cycle is starting and this will allow current, committed grant contracts funded at their existing level. Without that funding, the contracts will need to be amended and adjustments made next year. Debbie Ranniger suggested making a policy change - rather than asking for the gap funding each year, she suggested increasing the allocation to 1.5% or 2% in order to make the funding whole, on a recurring basis. Jeff said it has been discussed and it can be pursued, but that it would take a policy change. This is just a means to keep things going until a decision is made. Debbie asked Jeff to come back to the Committee and explain what this translates in percentages, if Council forwarded a recommendation for a policy change. Dennis Higgins asked for clarification on the issue. Debbie confirmed that the recommendation is for the percentage to be increased and for that new percentage to become the new benchmark. Elizabeth reminded everyone that Housing and Human Services has already been hit with Federal cuts affecting cold weather sheltering and the Food Bank lost $35,000. She feels the policy needs to be changed before the next funding cycle so that a funding mechanism is in place. Jeff will discuss this with Administration and update the committee at a future meeting. Chair Debbie Ranniger closed the meeting at 5:50 p.m. Submitted by: Teri Petrole Teri Petrole City of Kent Council Committee Secretary