HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Parks & Recreation Commission - 03/28/2017 (2)Parks and Recreation Commission March 28, 2017
Summary Minutes Kent, Washington
Approved
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Date: March 28, 2017
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Place: Centennial Center, First Floor Conference Rooms
Attending: Chair Annie Sieger, Co-chair Zandria Michaud, Annette Bailes, Dan Barrett,
Randy Furukawa, Kari Hedrick, Richard Minutoli, Jennifer Ritchie, Lacey
Seaton, Tye Whitfield, Parks Director Julie Parascondola, Parks Planning and
Development Manager Hope Gibson, Park Planner Brian Levenhagen,
Recorder Teri Petrole
Absent: Kendrick Glover, Wayne Jensen, Erika Overall, Jaleen Roberts
1. Call to Order / Roll Call
Co-chair Zandria Michaud called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
2. Changes to the Agenda
There were no changes to the agenda.
3. Approval of Meeting Notes dated February 28, 2017
The Meeting Notes dated February 28, 2017 were approved by unanimous vote.
4. Parks Capital Improvement Update
Parks Planning and Development Manager Hope Gibson attended the meeting to update
the commission on a number of capital projects: Lake Meridian Floating Dock
Replacement, Lower Russell Road Levee projects, the Kent Valley Loop Trail, a loop trail at
Service Club Ballfields, and the boardwalk replacement project at Lake Fenwick Park.
Park Planner Brian Levenhagen shared information on the Hogan Park Field #1 Synthetic
Turf Replacement Project, the new Wiffle® Ball Field at Kent Memorial Park Project that
includes an association to the Seattle Mariners, installation of a play structure at Kherson
Park that is fashioned after a Lunar Rover, downtown place making projects, and
renovations to Rosebed Park.
5. Review Redline of Commission Bylaws
Director Jule Parascondola explained that a final redline version of the bylaws is not ready
for the commissioners to review. The City Attorney's office recently completed their first
evaluation and the revisions are extensive. This warrants additional time for Julie and the
attorney to draft a more cohesive redline version for the commissioners to examine. The
commission was directed to send any additional revisions to Julie for version control.
6. YMCA - Morrill Meadows Park Update
The commission was able to review the preliminary conceptual design for the YMCA
building. J. Parascondola spoke to the site complexities of the project. A majority of the
properties that make up Morrill Meadows or East Hill Parks were purchased and/or
improved using Recreation Conservation Office (RCO) grant funds. RCO requires funding
be used for outdoor recreation in perpetuity, so staff is working on RCO conversion
expectations for renovating these grant funded properties.
Parks and Recreation Commission March 28, 2017
Summary Minutes Kent, Washington
Approved
Page 2
The YMCA development budget target is estimated at $24,680,000. The city's portion is
estimated at $5,000,000. City funds are coming from a Department of Commerce Grant,
Parks Capital and a current ask of $3,000,000 from the state. Construction drawings will
be finalized in the spring of 2018 and the groundbreaking / construction starts in spring or
summer of 2018. A 12-month construction period with two phases puts the YMCA project
completion during the summer of 2019 and completion of the park project during the
summer of 2020.
Next steps include working through the development agreement, the facility footprint and
the property ownership with the YMCA, the RCO conversion, recreational programming,
fund raising efforts, the long-term use agreement, the operating agreement with the
YMCA, design and construction contracts, and a shared parking agreement with Kent
United Methodist Church (located next to the park). Public meetings will be scheduled on
the property surplus.
7. Election of Commission Officers
By majority vote, the commission elected Zandria Michaud as Chair of the Parks and
Recreation Commission and Annie Sieger as Co-chair.
8. What is CAPRA Accreditation?
J. Parascondola introduced the members to CAPRA, the Commission for Accreditation of
Parks and Recreation Agencies for national accreditation. Agencies with accreditation have
better branding and operating efficiencies, plus they correspond with RCO granting polices
due to the built-in, long-term work plans. The application process is extensive and
accomplished through self-evaluation and outside peer review, using 151 standards in 10
major categories. Staff intends to apply for accreditation in approximately five years to
allow enough time to complete the initial steps of getting support and conducting a gap
assessment. Over the next five years, staff will apply CAPRA standards to work on any
gaps within the operation. The commission will be invited to participate in the process of
assessing the agency's effectiveness and efficiency.
9. Announcements
The city's Human Resources Department is providing a cultural diversity series to assist
staff in learning more about the different cultures in Kent. The presentation in March,
"Understanding Muslim Families," was the first of the series, which is available for viewing
on Channel 21.
The new high school commissioner Kalika Carver-Cox will be appointed at the City Council
meeting on April 4. Her first commission meeting is April 25.
The Parks and Human Services Committee members voiced their support for the proposed
Tobacco / Smoke-free Parks Ordinance at the March 16 meeting. Parks staff is looking for
action at the April meeting.
Chair Annie Sieger adjourned the meeting at 8:08 p.m.
Signed: Teri Petrole
Teri Petrole