HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks and Human Services - 01/16/2014 �NMumuiAmnxq���
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Parks and Human Services Committee Meeting
January 16, 2014
Council members: Chair Debbie Ranniger, Dennis Higgins, and Council President
Dana Ralph
1. Minutes of November 21, 2013 — Approve
Council member Higgins moved to approve the minutes dated November 21, 2013.
Council member Ralph seconded. The motion passed 3-0.
2. Green Kent Partnership Agreement with Forterra - INFO ONLY
Jeff Watling, Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director, stated that staff
entered into a contract with Forterra in 2010 to develop a 20-Year Plan, and to help
begin implementing the 20-Year Plan. The plan is based on a successful model
developed by Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) for mapping, restoring and
maintaining urban forest lands and other natural areas. The Forterra contract is for
continuing services in support of the Green Kent Partnership to manage the
stewardship program. The Green Kent Partnership has shown great success with
removal of invasives in our parks and helped us to be more focused and more
intentional of our stewardship of our open spaces. The city has formed a great
partnership with Forterra and Green Kent Partnership.
The agreement amount changes each year and this year it does not require Council
approval. However, Watling wanted to give the committee an update. In 2014-2015,
Forterra will continue its function as a regional resource, hosting quarterly forums,
quarterly trainings for Stewards, conducting outreach to support Green Kent Day, and
hosting a shared website and calendar. Forterra staff will also attend Green Kent
management team meetings quarterly and participate in steward orientations. The
$13,594 contract is being underwritten by a grant from the King Conservation District,
which was approved at the November 21, 2013 Parks Committee meeting.
Committee member Higgins stated that, as a jogger through Clark Lake, he has
noticed the impact of the Green Kent volunteer events at the lake. Thanks to this
program, it is apparent that the blackberries are declining in number.
Council member Ralph remarked on the fantastic ownership that goes along with
this program, the residents, and their park spaces.
3. 2014 Maior Work Items — INFO ONLY
Watling presented the department Major Work Items for 2014:
Parks Infrastructure — Existing park assets within our current parks system continue
to age and fatigue at a rate faster than we can address them. Identifying a funding
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source to reinvest back into our parks system is a very high priority if we want to
achieve our strategic vision of a safe, vibrant, and livable city.
Green River Corridor — The Green River is an important natural asset within the
city. This corridor has multiple functions and priorities — flood protection, ecological
and recreation. Ongoing Levee work and the priorities of multiple agencies are
vying to set a vision for that corridor that in some cases may conflict with the
balanced approach that the city is striving to achieve. A common city vision is
needed to ensure that the Green River is a safe and vibrant recreational asset for
current and future generations.
Riverbend Golf Complex — Seeking a sustainable model for this Enterprise continues
to be a top priority. A great deal has been accomplished in 2013 (public outreach,
financial analysis, the creation and exploration of options) that has set a framework
for a policy decision in 2014.
Recreation Facilities Planning — Like our current park infrastructure, our indoor
Recreation Facilities are aging. Now is the time to begin setting a vision for what
our current and future recreation facility needs are. A great deal has changed within
the city (the size of the city, the demographics of the city, and the concentration of
where our residents live, etc.) since the Kent Commons, the Senior Center and the
Kent Pool was built. A public planning effort that helps to set a vision for the next
30-50 years would allow us to begin making important policy decisions that point us
in that direction.
Human Services Application Cycle for 2015-2016 Funding — A major work item for
the Human Services Commission and Human Services staff. This application process
occurs every two years and establishes the priorities and investments that the city
makes through funding support for services performed by a variety of human
services agencies throughout Kent.
Resource Allocation and Cost Recovery Analysis Completed — As an action item
coming out of the City Council Retreat this work has been taking a deeper look at
Cost Recovery throughout the spectrum of programs and services provided by the
department. Public workshops will be taking place in late January. This work is
being performed by city staff and a consultant, GreenPlay. The finished product will
include a model, philosophy, and policy for cost recovery that is based upon and
aligned with the community's values for parks and recreation. This work is
scheduled to be completed this spring.
2015-2016 Budget Process and Adoption — Work on our 2nd Biennial Budget will
kick-off in late spring and early summer, with adoption by the City Council in
November or December.
As part of this discussion, Watling asked for potential Parks and Human Services
Committee agenda items for 2014. The committee members added: Create a Parks
Commission.
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4. Director's Report — INFO ONLY
Wilson Playfields
The Wilson Playfield Turf Replacement Project is a critical Capital project that staff
began last fall. The design consultant was hired and planning is underway. Staff is
using this opportunity to make additional efficiency changes at the park. For
example, the rubberized mat around the field will be removed and replaced with
turf, and new east/west configurations will be reviewed to get the most use out of
the fields. Parks Planning and Development staff is working with Park Operations
staff, programming staff and user groups to optimize the field scheduling and
timing for construction. The project will go to bid late February/early March and
should be under construction in mid-May. Construction completion is set for June
and the athletic fields will be closed during construction.
Seven Oaks Park
Seven Oaks Park is situated off 116th on East Hill and was one of our most tired
parks, including very old play equipment. Staff conducted e-public workshops and
through 70+ responses received a lot of feedback on renovation ideas from
residents in the area. Since completion, many positive remarks have come through
from the community. Accolades go to Parks Planning staff and Park Operations staff
on completing such a successful project.
Cultural Competency
Another key area that staff has been working on is with EDGE on cultural
competency and respect training. Beginning last fall, the second phase of this
initiative began with each department creating an action plan in order to move
forward. To achieve this, a thirteen member team representing every level and
every division in the department was created. It initiated a lot of good discussion,
taking the base line of our training and asking some tough questions. Staff decided
we were doing well, but have some areas to work on. Through many discussions,
the group decided to focus our Action Plan on taking an honest and intentional look
at accountability - how we want to define accountability and how we want to have
our framework be the bedrock of our department culture. We call it Accountability
360 and it falls within four dimensions — accountability to: myself, my peers, the
organization, and the community. True accountability doesn't happen unless all
these themes are in unison. The core themes, as outlined in the graphic that
Watling distributed, are outlined in the actual action plan that defines what it looks
like to be accountable and how we would represent that in our leadership, attitude,
and trust. Watling feels that it will help strengthen our culture as a group. And, if
this becomes our active definition of accountability, we will become more
productive and a more attractive agency to our customers, and with current and
potential staff. Consequently we will be more inclusive and cultural competent
group in all of our interactions.
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You Me We
Watling reminded the committee of the annual You Me We event on Friday, January
24 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This is the fourth year for this popular family event
focused on youth and free for the community.
Chair Ranniger adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m.
Submitted by,
Sri Petrol
Teri Petrole
City Council Committee Recorder
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