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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 1997 - MinutesJEFFERSON COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES FOR AUGUST 13,1997 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, Frank Trafton, Jr., Debbie Berreth, I.ee Morgan, David Whipple, Char Laughlin MEMBERS ABSENT: Dick Broders STAFF PRESENT: Warren Steurer, Molly Hilt, Terry Duff, Klara Fabry; Department of Public Works GUESTS: Conu tissioners Dan Harpole and Richard Wojt, Kelly Regan and Judy. Friesem of Olympic Peninsula Ropes Challenge Course; Kathryn Baril, WSU Cooperative Extension MINUTES: Minutes for the July 9, 1997 meeting were reviewed and approved. QUORUM: There was a quorum B. OLD BUSINESS Off -Leash Park Area: Bonita Flagg was present to discuss possibilities and her involvement in the Off -Leash Park project. Bonita supports the use of the landfill site next to Animal Services and indicated there are approximately two to three miles of trails and an open area. Regarding liability, Bonita said the skateboard park might be an example to be followed for the Off -Leash Park There was Parks Advisory Board discussion about liability, park access and hours available for use. One concern of Animal Services is park use by unvaccinated animals especially if the public uses the Animal Services access. Kate Spear contacted the Municipal Research Center and they will be sending ordinances from three different city and county locations. Bonita and Kate will plan to work together on the project, including reviewing the ordinances. Larry Scott Trail: Warren Steurer gave an update for Kevin Burke who is at the IAC with Mium Rubin -Crump making a presentation to obtain a $265,000 development grant. Coastal Zone Management recently granted $30,000 for trail development. The Port of Port Townsend, City of Port Townsend, and the County are close to signing their interlocal agreement on trail maintenance and operation. Development plans from Nakano Dennis are being reviewed and will hopefully will be approved in the next 2-3 weeks. Warren reported he and Kevin have been to five service organizations in the County conducting public involvement on Larry Scott and H.J. Carroll. The newsletters for both projects are still generating responses. H.J. Carroll Park- Warren referred to the full -color brochure for H.J. Carroll Park which was donated by Mike Kenna of The Printery as a response to Friends of H.J. Carroll Park. Mike Kowalski did the drawings. Contract bids went out and the three responses received were over estimate due to larger top soil quantities provided to them. In response, the BOCC has granted money to complete the project. A contract has been signed with Seton Construction for the project. Jefferson County Realtors completed a volunteer effort putting crushed rock on 50 percent of the trails as well as clearing and brushing open areas. Klara Fabry commented that last Monday, the BGCC approved an additional $100,000 from the improvements fund to the H.J. Carroll fund. Dan Harpole stated the amount was nearly one third of that fund which should indicate the County's commitment to a successful project. Mara also stated the Department of Public Works has made a comntment to implement efficiencies in the project construction. Rick Tollefson suggested a thank you be sent to Mike Kenna and Mike Kowalski for their donation. Challenge Course. Kelly Regan and Judy Friesem of Olympic Peninsula Ropes Challenge Course were present to provide an update on the project. Judy stated the desire is to propose a course at Gibbs Lake through cooperation with the WSU Extension 4-H Group and Jefferson County Parks. Kelly gave background on the NW Kiwanis Camp site difficulties. Kiwanis concerns were liability for any non-Kiwanis activity, responsibility for the fixed assets of the course, and maintenance. There are also accessibility difficulties at Beausite due to wetlands. Kelly indicated that although the concerns were not insurmountable, alternate sites were considered. Judy listed some of the advantages at Gibbs Lake that make it an attractive option: wheelchair accessibility from the parking lot, storage availability, and a building for debriefings. Warren commented the ropes course would follow the plan concept for using the area along the beach and that a review and possible renovation of the cabins and buildings would be necessary. Americorps will be scheduled to secure the cabins at Gibbs. Kelly indicated the ropes course would take approximately three acres. There was discussion of the course elements, liability and public access. There was a general feeling among the barks Advisory Board to allow public access to the proposed site if possible. Kathryn Baril of WSU commented the ropes course is the fastest growing 4-H program in the state. WSU contributions would include training and monitoring of volunteers, a management procedure including the safety of the equipment, bookings, registrations, and Iiability for participants. Currently, there is no accessible, affordable place in the area for the learning or physically disabled and this course would expand to all ages and abilities. Related to financing, currently the project has $4,000 to $5,000, which includes the 1996 Parks grant of $2,000. Fund-raising efforts have been on hold due to the uncertainty of the site. Rick Tollefson made a motion that the County Parks Department become a partner with WSU with the subsidiary of the Olympic Peninsula Challenge Course to make a recommendation to the BGCC to facilitate the project at Gibbs Lake. Rick also commented there are a number of groups who could be partners such as the Search and Rescue and Boy and Girl Scouts. A long-term desire for this area has been for a day - use site for summer camps, etc. Kathryn invited Parks to schedule a day trip to try the ropes course first hand. Molly commented there is another potential site, which is a more remote, flat area between Gibbs and Beausite that can be accessed by trail or old log road. Judy stated that further work and fundraising is on hold until there is a memorandum of agreement. Trails Committee. Warren reported that recently Americorps, along with Warren, Molly Hilt and Lowell Jons were trained by Mike Cronin of DNR to do some surveying. This group spent two days surveying and taping the new recreation trail at Gibbs Lake. There will now be two trails at Gibbs, one that circles the Lake and this new loop trail. Americorps should be coming back to do two more weeks of work and the plan is to brush the trail and possibly clean and repair the cabins at Gibbs Lake. Americorps may also do some work at South Indian Trail. Community Grants. Warren reported he has been contacted by Aletia Alvarez of the Wooden Boat Foundation (WBF) regarding the Parks interest in partnering on the Youth Sailing Program. For background, Warren stated the youth sailing program was started with the help of a Parks Community Grant which purchased six El Toro sailboats for WBF. In 1996, Parks also gave a $2,000 operating grant. The growing program is currently using the Port of Port Townnsend's boat ramp at Lower Hadlock as a base and is serving approximately 180 kids. Warren indicated the sailing program, including fall and spring programs, has a $40,000 2 operating budget and receives roughly $20,000 in revenues. The youth sailing program is the largest in the northwest, second only to the Seattle Yacht Club and is involving primarily Port Townsend and Tri Area youth. Aletia has asked for $5,000 to help support the program in 1998. Rick Tollefson commented what WBF seems to need most is administration or organization of the registration, including transportation. Warren indicated if there are monies left over in the capital improvements budget after a vault toilet is installed at Lake Leland, there could be funds for community grants. There was support for the project because of its maritime focus. David Whipple supported the use of any discretionary funds toward the completion of H.J. Carroll and Larry Scott Trail projects. C. NEW BUSINESS Road Vacation: Terry Duff presented information on the proposed road vacation around Block 2.1 and 18 near Morrison Avenue. A motion was made that the road vacation has no significance to Parks and Recreation. The motion was seconded and passed. 1998 Budget: Warren reported he has begun preparing the 1998 budget. Related to H.J. Carroll, when calculating staff time as well as supplies and utilities, the project will have an operations budget of approximately $35,000 to $40,000. Discussion has begun on possibly creating a division to address the field areas at H.J. Carroll Park, Memorial ,Field, Irondale Park and Larry Scott Trail. In the capital improvement budget, Warren is working to include the Community Grant Program again. Also, there is still work on program development ill South County giving kids access to scholarship funds. Another improvement Warren, Tim and Molly have been working on is putting in a new double vault toilet at Lake Leland which would cost $13,000 to $14,000. Survey: Warren handed out a copy of the initial survey results and the final survey for comparison. He indicated there are a lot of written remarks not included in this report so more information is forthcoming. They received a 25% return of 1,000 surveys mailed and the demographics match with the population of the County. The overall satisfaction with the programs for children was excellent, whereas teens is an area that needs concentrated improvements. In order of priority, specific activities of interest at H.J. Carroll included trails, pool, and places for bicycles, picnicking and nature study. in order of popular activities in Jefferson County, beach activities were high, followed by gardening, swimming, hiking, fishing, camping, bicycling and picnicking. D. STAFF REPORTS Park Maintenance: Molly reported the landscaping by Linda Landcarnmer of Wild Olympic Salmon is now complete around the dragon at Chiniacum Park. Warren added revenue collection in the County parks is slightly above normal compared to last year. Manager's Report: There was some discussion about road safety at Gibbs Lake and the recent car accidents. E. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 2:05 p.m. The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 10,1997. 3