Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks and Human Services - 04/17/2014 .i�.... �41411,1�1,%1110011pKEN T WASHNGTON Parks and Human Services Committee Meeting April 17, 2014 Council members present: Chair Debbie Ranniger, Dennis Higgins, and Brenda Fincher Call to order: Chair D. Ranniger called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. 1. Minutes dated March 20 2014 - Approve D. Higgins MOVED to approve the minutes dated March 20, 2014. B. Fincher SECONDED. The motion PASSED 3-0. 2. Perkins Building Lease Agreement for City Storage - Authorize Alex Ackley, Superintendent of Facilities explained that this agreement is a renewal to lease 6,350 square feet of building and a 25,000 square foot lot for storage, located at 715 W. Smith Street. The lease originated in 2006. Home Repair uses the building to store supplies used for their community-based repair program. Cultural Arts stores equipment and supplies used for their programs and events. The Facilities division uses the space to store furniture parts, basketball hoops, HVAC filters and other miscellaneous equipment and supplies and it's used as shop space at times. The Kent Lions Club subleases some space to store equipment and supplies used for their many functions that occur in Kent throughout the year. B. Fincher MOVED to recommend authorizing the Mayor to sign the Lease Agreement with Charlie Perkins for the property located at 715 W. Smith Street to be used as a city storage facility, subject to final terms and conditions acceptable to the City Attorney and the Parks Director. D. Higgins SECONDED. The motion PASSED 3-0. 3. Kent Valley Loop Trail Update — INFO ONLY J. Watling reminded Council that staff presented a master plan and visionary work on the Kent Valley Loop Trail at a previous committee meeting. For this presentation, staff is looking for input and feedback from Council on the proposed plan. Goals J. Watling stated that staff wants to fulfill their and Council's goals of taking care of what we've got and enhancing connectivity. Hope Gibson, Manager of Parks Planning and Development expressed that this is a good news story. After talking to the community, staff found that people use these Page 1 trails and love them, but many didn't really know a lot about them. This plan takes a look at the trail and makes it better. The goal was to create a recreational loop trail system within the city limits. The loops are varied in length to appeal to the preference of individual trail users. Each route incorporates a variety of existing trails, streets, and river crossings. The trail does start up in Tukwila and loop around, but staff wanted to have a Kent amenity. There are a lot of trails, but few loop trail experiences. Staff and the consultant wanted to appeal to the diverse user base and the varying degree of existing trail amenities. Vision • Loop trail system with a focus on recreation. • More user-friendly trail system. • Provide opportunities to view the river and the wildlife that calls it home. • Include standard trail amenities. • Provide a variety of trail experiences. • Improve access, paving, and trail transitions. • Provide wayfinding and informational signage. • Make art integral to the trail experience. Recommendations Group 1 (minimal complexity - P. 15-17 of the plan) • Create and distribute maps — online and hard copy. • Improve signage. • Utilize existing bridges for loop routes. • Look at ways to increase trail usage of Frager Road. Group 2 (moderate complexity — p. 19-21 of the plan) • Provide rest stops at regular intervals. • Improve signage along Russell and Frager alerting drivers to presence of bikes and pedestrians. • Work to balance a variety of interests along the river. • Work at identified locations to improve sight distance and maneuverability. • Work to improve key trail intersection at Interurban and South 196th Street. Group 3 (high complexity — p. 23-27 of the plan) • Look for opportunities to improve trail underpasses. • Investigate opportunities for establishing downtown gateway from Interurban. • Add facilities to parks along the routes. • Work with Tukwila to connect Frager to South 200th • Improve Interurban between James and 516. • Improve intersections where trails cross streets. • Improve trail along Signature Point. • Look for opportunities to complete trail "missing links," like at Russell Road. • Work with trail owner to improve RR crossings along the Interurban. Page 2 Routes H. Gibson introduced the Kent Valley Loop Trail Routes visually on a map, explaining that they are named after wildlife. The map of routes is complex. The greater part of the recommendations within this plan is to enhance the existing trail system and not create new trails. Suggested Routes: Eagle The 13 mile Eagle Loop is the longest trail, starting at Van Doren's Landing Park, passes through Green River Natural Resource Area to the Interurban Trail and then to downtown Kent. Salmon This 12 mile loop begins at the Old Fishing Hole and then travels north on Frager Road, connecting at S. 196th Street and returning to the Green River Trail. Frog The Frog Loop connects downtown Kent to the Green River. This 9 mile journey begins at the downtown gateway and travels through some of the best experiences both trails have to offer in the Kent Valley. Heron Starting at the Old Fishing Hole, this 4.4 mile route travels up and down the west and east banks of the Green River. Rabbit Starting at the Old Fishing Hole, the Rabbit is a short 1.7 mile loop along Frager Road and the Green River Trail — by the golf course. H. Gibson commented that staff is still finishing up on the appendices and they will be in the final plan. J. Watling explained that the balance of interest on the Green River is substantial. Staff will continue communication with King County and the Flood Control group, as well as present this plan to the SWIF Committee (System-Wide Improvement Framework). Staff also met with the Muckleshoot Tribe to go over the plan. The goal is to have a balance of social use and ecological goals. D. Ranniger commented that the plan is coming along very nicely. D. Higgins loves the plan and asked how fast it can be implemented. H. Gibson responded that the signage plan can be worked on by the consultant as soon as their contract is amended to include the additional work. B. Fincher asked when it will be known that Tukwila will be opening up the trail. J. Watling said it will probably be years until that happens. B. Fincher wants to know if there would be interpretive signs identifying plants along the trail. H. Gibson feels Page 3 that the area is very rich with cultural, historical, and ecological opportunities and staff sees it all being inclusive. J. Watling said there will be educational signage, as well as tribal and historical society involvement. He feels that it will be exciting to be able to identify what was there before us. D. Higgins commented that 4Cluture might want to get involved with this aspect of the plan. 4. 2014 First Quarter Report — INFO ONLY J. Watling highlighted division programs and services, as well as all in-kind, and/or cash contributions received during the first quarter of 2014. He reported that within the quarterly reports, staff frames their performance outcomes around three questions: how much did we do? How well did we do it? And, is anyone better off? There are data points and customer feedback that staff relies on to see if the programs and services are making a difference. Contributions in the first quarter were approximately $26,000. These contributions are in kind and/or small denominations that don't have to be accepted by Council, because they are $5,000 or less. These small contributions clearly add up to a lot. These contributions reaffirm our partnerships with local businesses and individuals. D. Ranniger said this is a good indicator of community engagement and it shows clearly that we have a lot of community engagement from all kinds of businesses, especially the senior housing facilities who are supporting a lot of the volunteer activities and events. It's very impressive. J. Watling commented that the Senior Center staff has done a great job in aligning and gaining support with senior housing groups. S. Director's Report — INFO ONLY J. Watling wanted to update the committee on the formation of a Parks Commission. He has been working with Legal on what to do with the existing Parks Foundation, as it relates to the Commission. Conversations with the Foundation Board Members important to this transition have led to a reorganization of the Park Foundation. The recommendation will be to incorporate the Foundation into the Parks Commission so that the Commission works as the umbrella advisory body and the Foundation will continue to function as a separate 501c3, but will become a smaller membership group. Jeff thanked Kathy Hardy, Assistant City Attorney, and Teri Petrole for their help with this effort. The goal is to give staff time for recruitment this summer and anticipate a kick off with the group's work this fall. D Ranniger was concerned with the Parks Foundation 501c3 rules and regulations getting lost. J. Watling assured her that that even though there's symmetry and collaboration with the Parks Commission, the Parks Foundation will remain autonomous and maintain a 501c3 status. Page 4 Community Centers and "Safe Places" Staff is constantly looking at ways to improve roles that our community centers can play. "Safe Places" is a nationwide effort to identify places that are safe outlets for youth at risk. Signs designate a facility as a safe place. The program helps youth who are exploited through a number of illicit businesses - whether it is prostitution or drug use to know they can go to a designated safe place and find refuge. We are going to be endeavoring in some training and looking further at how our facilities at the Community Center at Phoenix Academy, the Senior Center, and Kent Commons can become labeled as a safe place. Staff has been doing a lot of collaboration with police managing through those experiencing homelessness, as well as other numerous urban challenges and these training opportunities are ones that staff takes very seriously. D. Higgins shared that he attended the Regional Transit Committee meeting and it was announced that Metro is involved in the "Safe Places" program as well. The buses have the "Safe Place" stickers posted and the drivers are being trained. He is glad the city is taking part in this very important program. J. Watling agrees, stating there is a responsibility that goes with managing public spaces. Green River Trail J. Watling talked about the slough found on the levee, behind the Holiday Kennel, just south of Van Doren's Landing Park. The slough has become enough of a safety issue to close that part of the trail and create a detour on to Russell Road until that area can be addressed. J. Watling will keep Council informed on the situation. Spring It is spring and Park Operations is waking up the parks and fields with mowing, fountain maintenance, and field preparation. Staffing levels have doubled in order to take care of facilities and open spaces. Another part of waking up the system is looking at the downtown parks and spaces. The downtown crew has created efficiencies in the planting program downtown. The new planters were transitioned throughout downtown, and Park Operations staff took over the responsibility of the planting beds at all the right of ways three years ago from the Public Works Department. New efficiencies were developed in the plants material, soils, and irrigation. This year, Park Operations is able to bring back 25 hanging baskets to the downtown area, focusing on key intersections. Kent Downtown Partnership and Park Operations staff is excited to unveil the renewed program this summer. Good of the Order D. Higgins attended the Human Services Commission meeting earlier in the day and agreed to relay a question from Katherin Johnson, Manager of Housing and Human Services. She asked if the city wants to look at creating a homeless strategic plan. D. Higgins shared that the Human Services Commission had thoughts that went both ways. He supports showing the community current human services programs and the future plans for programs. Some Commission members felt this would be too much of a burden for Human Services staff and some felt a plan wasn't needed. Page 5 D. Higgins wanted to bring this up to the Committee members so that it could be discussed in the future. No action was necessary. J. Watling said he has had numerous discussions with Katherin Johnson and Merina Hanson on what a strategic plan would look like. He feels it's a good time to take a look at the local strategy. There are so many partners that are doing such good work. We need to take a local look at the whole spectrum of homelessness. To target key recommendations within each of these segments of those who are experiencing homeless. The city needs the assistance of existing and new partners to see the path forward and create the road map. J. Watling had spoken to K. Johnson about the work required to complete this plan and she felt that it is a priority. After the current application process proceeds, Human Services staff can start discussion late summer or early fall. D. Ranniger agrees that it is needed, but not in a vacuum. It needs to be done within the context of the regional efforts that are going on. B. Fincher also agrees something needs to be done. It's good to have a plan. A lot of groups in the community are trying to provide services and some efforts are being duplicated. A plan would help to make a cohesive unit. She would love to see a plan put in place; it's a big issue. J. Watling commented that the intent of Katherin bringing it up to the Commission was to have a vetting opportunity and an initial conversation with them. D. Higgins said that the Human Services Committee did bring up the need to be in coordination with the South King County Plan, the Ten Year Plan, and all of the regional efforts. It sounds very promising and there is a lot more to talk about. D. Ranniger thanked Higgins for bringing up the topic and commented that it is something that needs further conversation. Chair Ranniger adjourned the meeting at 5:40 p.m. Respectfully submitted, TeY,� Pefivo(e Teri Petrole City Council Parks and Human Services Committee Recorder Page 6