HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks and Human Services - 06/21/2012 Meeting Minutes
and Human Services M
KENT June 21, 2012
Call to order: Chair Debbie Ranniger called the meeting to order at: 5:04 p.m.
Council Present: Chair Debbie Ranniger, Elizabeth Albertson, Dana Ralph
Item No. 1: Minutes of May 17, 2012
Albertson moved to approve the Parks and Human Services meeting
minutes dated May 17, 2012. Ralph seconded. The motion passed 3-0.
Item No. 2: King Conservation District Grant Agreement for
EarthCorps Services - Approve
Hope Gibson, Manager of Parks Planning and Development explained that Victoria
Andrews applied for and received a "King County Wild Places in City Spaces" grant
of $6,650.00 to continue restoration work at Earthworks Park. The work is part of
the overall Green Kent Initiative to restore urban forestry by utilizing a contracted
crew to remove invasive plants from the hillside and stream bank. Volunteers will
then replant with 300 native species similar to those presently found growing at the
site and the crew will return to spread cardboard and mulch. The contract with
EarthCorps is fully executed, the project will begin.
Ralph moved to recommend Council accept the $6,650.00 in grant funds
from King Conservation District to contract with EarthCorps for services at
Earthworks Park and approve the expenditure of funds in the General Fund
Budget. Albertson seconded. The motion passed 3-0.
Item No. 3: BeraerABAM Agreement Amendment for Lake Fenwick
Proiect - Authorize
Hope reported that the floating walkway at Lake Fenwick Park is vital to the
functionality of the park because it connects the bulkhead area and the East Ridge
trail with the boat launch. In recent years the rotting and sinking of the walkway
has begun to accelerate. The original contract initiated design for a new Lake
Fenwick Floating Walkway in the same footprint as the original that gave the city
needed flexibility due to budget uncertainties. This amendment, in the amount of
$29,989.00, picks up where the design work stopped and completes the permitting
process. This will allow the Parks Department to move forward with this time
sensitive work, replacing the existing structures as soon as funding becomes
available. Once funding becomes available the project will begin.
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Albertson moved to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign
Amendment Number Nine with BergerABAM for additional design services
on the Lake Fenwick Floating Walkway Project, subject to final terms and
conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and the Parks Director. Ralph
seconded. The motion passed 3-0.
Item No. 4: Sports Install West Agreement for Wilson Plavfield
Proiect - Authorize
Garin Lee, Superintendent of Park Operations stated that this contract will address
projects at Wilson Playfields including: repair areas of settling in the perimeter
track, replace the synthetic turf worn from use, located at the north field soccer
goal and south field pitching area, and replace the infield soil home plate area in
the north field with synthetic turf. This is a series of ongoing maintenance until the
entire turf can be replaced. Garin confirmed that results from the safety testing
report recorded the fields show below the safety threshold and need to be replaced.
Ralph moved to recommend Council authorize the Mayor to sign the
agreement with Sports Install West for $29,689.40, plus Washington State
Sales Tax, to complete maintenance repairs at Wilson Playfield, subject to
review and approval by the City Attorney and the Parks Director. Albertson
seconded. The motion passed 3-0.
Item No. 5: Human Services Funding Strateav - INFO ONLY
Ranniger explained that funding for human services has been negatively impacted
by the creation of the RFA, annexation, and the economy. Merina Hanson, Senior
Coordinator in the Housing and Human Services division reported that Council was
very generous to give human services a one-time budget adjustment last year of
$95,000 to keep services at the same funding level as the prior year, and that the
Commission completed their promise to research other funding strategies to find a
sustainable funding source.
Oriana Pon, Chair of the Human Services Commission, explained that the
Commission discussed multiple funding strategies and settled upon a per capita
approach with a CPI escalator as the best option to consistently fund human
services. Merina referenced funding trends over a ten year period, noting that in
2009 and 2010 the city was at $9.30 per capita but, based on baseline budget
projections for 2013, the amount will be $6.08. The Commission proposes at $7.22
per capita funding rate in 2013, with a CPI escalator increase every funding cycle
beginning in 2015. The CPI will not exceed 3% or drop below 1% and will be
applied against the former years per capita rate. Using a per capita funding model
is prudent and eliminates the significant swings in funding levels caused by the
economy. Ranniger wanted to explain that per capita means per person and that
these funds come from the general fund.
Ralph supports the human services ordinance and relates the same properties to
the Arts Commission funding ordinance, except for the addition of a CPI escalator.
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Ranniger calculated that in 2013, the amount dedicated to human services would
be $853,000. Albertson reminded everyone that this number may look big, but that
Kent's population has increased and the proposed per capita rate is actually a
decrease compared to the past few years. She added that with all the hits human
services has taken with Federal and State funding reductions, she would like to see
a larger amount dedicated to these services. Ralph supports the proposed
adjustment and, without having the entire budget picture, doesn't feel comfortable
increasing the amount at this time. Katherin Johnson, Manager of Housing and
Human Services stated that this proposal represents a reasonable amount to
support human services. The ordinance will go to Operations as an informational
item and then to Council during the budget hearings for adoption.
The meeting adjourned at 5:28 p.m.
Submitted by,
re�-i PeCaole
Teri Petrole
Council Committee Secretary
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