Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutApril 1997 - MinutesJEFFERSON COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES for APRIL 9,1997 A. OPENING BUSINESS Chair Judy French -Scott called the meeting to order at 12:00 p.m. in the basement conference room of the Jefferson County Courthouse, Port Townsend, Washington. MEMBERS PRESENT: Judy French -Scott, Rick Tollefson, Kate Spear, Char Laughlin, Frank Trafton, Jr., Debbie Berreth. STAFF ABSENT: David Whipple, Dick Broders, Lee Morgan. STAFF PRESENT: Warren Steurer, Tim Black, Molly Hilt, Kevin Burke, Klara Fabry, Department of Public Works. GUESTS: Commissioners Dan Harpole and Richard Wojt . AGENDA: Changes to the agenda include a report on the Community Network from Rick Tollefson and a new business item from Kate Spear. MINUTES: Minutes for the March 12,1997 meeting were reviewed and approved as read. B. OLD BUSINESS H.J. Carroll Park: Kevin Burke reported progress on the design process. The most recent was a public meeting a couple of weeks ago with JGM on their new proposed park layout. JGM will be incorporating changes with the topo information to create a grading plan. A meeting will be held on April 10 with the advisory committee to take another look at the plan. There will be a two week window while the permit center looks at the documents, then work will begin on the construction documents. The project should be ready to go to bid late May to mid June. There was a discussion among the Parks board on the possibility of undeveloped land being used for BMX trails. Regarding the playground plan, Playground Mommies proposed a playground similar to the one on Whidbey. Kevin was informed recently the Rotary Club and Chimacum School are planning a similar playground project. To discourage competing playgrounds, there will be a meeting between all parties to discuss the plans. Debbie Berreth volunteered to construct a 3D model of H.J. Carroll once the grading and layout are established to assist with communicating the vision to the public. There was a discussion about traffic safety between Chimacum School and H.J. Carroll Park. A crosswalk exists at the Tri Area Community Center to address immediate traffic concerns. Kevin had a meeting with the City water department also and everything is on track as planned. Debbie Berreth reported the City is also planning a small children s park at Kah Tai Lagoon. Larry Scott Trail: Kevin Burke reported a lot of activity trying to meet the March 30 deadline with IAC, however, an extension was granted until June 30. Last week the contract supplement was received for the designers through the BOCC. There will be a design session on April16 Page 1 from 12:00 until 6:00. They will also be looking at signage in this session. Work continues with the City on trail maintenance for an interlocal agreement. Klara Fabry and Kevin met with Stan Cupp at the Mill last week regarding conveying the Mill property. Stan thinks they can agree to convey the property if the BOCC commits the project to the SR20 underpass. The ALEA grant is fully funded for this year. Construction money for July 1st will hold. Meetings were held with regional trail planners from the Olympic Peninsula on the loop trail system. The meeting was held to prioritize trail projects for transportation funding that Sen. Patty Murray has available. The support for Larry Scott Trail was surprising and $700,000 is being proposed for the trail. Work continues with the area property owners. Kevin reported he has also requested the State consider the trail corridor on the old portion of the SR 20 right-of-way as an option. The County has three purchases in hand and a deal with Pope Resources is still in negotiation. Judy French - Scott and Kevin met with Ed Edwards today and Ed may survey the area on Sand Road that reroutes the trail. Related to the IAC grant, Kevin and Warren attended an IAC workshop recently. Frank Trafton, Jr. commented he has a copy of the ORV plan developed in'89 or'90. Dan Harpole commented that at a public meeting Monday, he, Julie McCullough, Brent Shirley and others expressed their interest in and support of Larry Scott Trail and they agreed to meet with property owners to address their concerns if acquisitions become difficult. Dan also commented there is a long-term interest in a trail connection with Port Angeles. Related to this, a decision was made to keep Old Gardener Road where it is and widen it in the event a trail could follow on the shoulder. Rick Tollefson encouraged Kevin to discuss with County Assessor, Jack Westerman, tax incentives as an inducement to property owners. Community Park Grant- Marine Science Center. Warren Steurer handed out a letter from Ann Murphy of the Marine Science Center regarding an update on the research project of harvesting seaweed. The grant was made to assist with a continuation of the 3 to 5 year study and possibly longer. Ann Murphy was present to ask for $500 to continue to gather research information. Ann commented little is known about what happens to the community under the seaweed as a result of harvesting. Ann stated the longer data is gathered, the more statistically significant it becomes. There were more questions about the project for Ann and a discussion among members and staff about how to help with funding and whether this will be a yearly request. Warren agreed to follow up with Ann. Community Park Grant Budget Discussion. Warren explained the breakdown of the Capital Improvement Budget and dollars spent to date and listed projects on hold due to a lack of funding. Warren suggested if the Parks Board wished to make a grant to the Marine Science Center, funds might be able to be moved from the H.J. Carroll project or the Community Grant project. After a discussion, a motion was made and seconded to provide Community Grant money to the Marine Science Center to fund the Seaweed Harvest Survey Project for $500. There was a discussion about the use of County equipment for County projects as well as resource swaps between the City and County for financial efficiencies. Klara Fabry commented County equipment could be used for County projects on a volunteer basis. Requests should be directed to her. Dan Harpole asked about the use of County equipment for County projects such as H.J. Carroll Park. Klara indicated use of the equipment could occur with the BOCC's approval/ direction and a transfer of funds between the General Fund from the Park budget to the Road budget. Dan Harpole thinks there are potential cost savings if City and County equipment and personnel can be used on City and County park projects. Page 2 Community Grant - Wild Olympic Salmon. Molly Hilt reported Linda Chase has been moving rocks and soil at the Dragon at Chimacum park. More activity and a report will follow. Trails Subcommittee. Warren Steurer sent a letter on behalf of the trails committee to Tom Robinson, Region Manager of DNR. The letter is intended to build a relationship with DNR on trail improvement projects. The projects discussed are improvement/conversion of an access road to a trail and proposes 5,000 feet of single track trail. The second project would be a single track trail from Anderson Lake State Park south to Gibbs Lake. The third trail project would be an ORV site possibly at Teal Lake. Warren would like immediate work discussions to begin on the Gibbs/Beausite trail concept. The next trail subcommittee meeting hasn't been scheduled yet, but Warren is working with the DNR on concepts before finalizing a proposal to the BOCC. 1997 Board Retreat. Warren Steurer reported a good start on a vision statement. C. NEW BUSINESS Road Vacation: Terry Duff presented information on the proposed road vacation on 3rd Avenue and Irondale. A motion was made that the road vacation has no significance to Parks and Recreation. The motion was seconded and passed. Community Network. Rick Tollefson reported the Community Network completed the master plan and it has been approved by the State Policy Council. A statement of work was also created to get overdue funding in the amount of $47,000. The downside is that funds have to be spent by June 30. Discussions have begun with the Parks Department and the City Parks to use existing programs in the focus areas of teen substance abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse and neglect. Warren Steurer reported he and Tim Black will be meeting with superintendent s and principals on establishing programs, activities and supply improvements. Rick Tollefson commented a long-term project for using these funds is a skill -building, mentor training program for coaches in the community. Off Leash Park Area. Kate Spear discussed the need in the City and County for off leash dog areas. A group is working together on location possibilities and Kate provided a handout with various ideas from other programs. Kate expressed her desire for more discussion in the future. There was a discussion about potential sites, including the animal services site at the landfill and North Beach. D. STAFF REPORTS Manager's Report. Warren reported the recent hiring of the seasonal parks assistant, Dave Hammer who will begin work on April 21. Park Maintenance: Molly reported a local scout group clean up of Quilcene Park after the recent storm. An iron ranger has been installed at Quilcene and electricity will be installed so a part- time host can get situated. AmeriCorps is scheduled to help establish the trails at Gibbs Lake and with the fence construction at Lake Leland. Recreation: Tim Black reported Memorial Field is getting heavy use between soccer, baseball and softball. Exchange work is being done at the high school for the use of the tractor for aerating. The Rec Center crowd has been thinning. Warren reported the new owner of Aldrich's is looking into organizing community events and concert activity on the Rec. Center lawn. Tim reported a new coed jump rope team is starting at Quilcene. Also, Chimacum coed 5th and 6th grade track is starting as well as an improvisational band class at Chimacum which was started by Gary Ingersoll. Quilcene now has an open gym Saturday and Sunday for four hours and half of the funding for this is through a grant. With $1,200 left from the grant, the County will purchase two Page 3 ping pong tables and include staff time. Also, a new foos ball table will be purchased. Summer camps are getting organized with the swim bus and mini -Hawks and baseball, basketball and soccer camps. Roller hockey will also be held at Chimacum School. E. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 2:05 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 7,1997. Page 4