There we go. All right.
Uh, welcome everyone. I, Council Member
Adair, call the May 5th, 2026 City
Council Services, Safety, and Parks
Committee to order. Uh, there are no
excused absences.
Uh, so the first item on the agenda is
the public comment. Uh this is an
opportunity to provide general comments.
There will also be an opportunity for
public comments on each agenda item
after the presentation and the
committee's question and answer period.
Comments can be made in person or
virtually. Those who have signed up in
advance will be called on first. Uh if
you're joining us virtually and would
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icon. Uh if you're in the room and did
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opportunity for you to raise your hand
if you'd like to speak before I close
this portion of the meeting. Uh clerk,
has anyone signed up to speak or
indicated a desire to speak this
evening?
>> Uh not on the signup sheet yet, but
there may be members in the room who
wish to speak or online.
>> Okay.
Uh is there anyone in the room who would
like to make a comment?
Not yet. Okay. Uh then so it looks like
no one virtually still. Okay. Then we'll
move on. The next item of business is
going to be the approval of the minutes.
The minutes were distributed to the
committee in advance. Are there any
corrections?
Nope. Nope. Uh hearing none. The minutes
are approved as presented.
Uh then we move into our full agenda.
All right. The first is going to be
COOM0264
equity goals and evaluation uh presented
by Jillian Stro and Andrea Ler.
Believe this is virtual correct?
>> Yes, thank you. Give me just a moment to
pull up my PowerPoint and then we'll
begin.
All right.
Uh, thank you for having me. My name is
Jillian Stro. I'm a management analyst
with the executive department. I'm here
tonight to present on the equity goals
and assessment project. with us tonight.
We also have Andrea Leonard Leonard,
deputy city administrator to jump in um
as I present and answer any questions as
well.
So, tonight we'll be reviewing the
equity project plan, the goals and
phases of that work. We'll then review
the community engagement plan in more
depth, and we'll be looking forward to
receiving uh committee feedback on the
community engagement plan.
To guide that discussion, we have four
direction questions needed on the slide
here. I'll go over them now. So, the
first one is assessing if there's a
mismatch u between the goals of the
engagement and what we want to get out
of it. The second is covering the
methods used um for to gather feedback
and priority groups to reach out to.
Here, we'll want to hear from the
committee if there are any other groups
that we that you'd like to see um
reached out to by the administration as
part of this work. Third, we'll accept
any general feedback um from the
committee on the overall project plan.
And finally, as a next step, we'll be
seeking committee feedback on bringing
the draft equity vision and goals back
to services, safety, and parks in the
fall or coming before committee of the
whole meeting before moving to council
for action.
So, with that, I'll move into a
background on equity work to date. From
the city's comprehensive plan, we have
this equity guiding principle that
states ensure that the isiqua's services
um
and outstanding quality of life are
accessible to everyone.
This was developed by a consultant with
limited community engagement. And as a
staff member, if I was directed to
implement this, I might not know where
to begin. So this is what's in our
comprehensive plan. It's also reflected
in our strategic plan.
In addition
uh to what's in the comprehensive plan,
we also have a selection of equity
actions taken by the administration and
city council over the past few years. Um
first, the administration established
the equity advisory board in 2021.
However, we didn't give them uh any
direction or how to advise on what to
compare um progress on our equity work
to. Um, and second, during the 2024
strategic plan update, that community
task force noted a need for an equity
operational plan. These two actions kind
of illustrate the problem that we're
hoping to address here. We say in a lot
of our planning documents that equity is
a priority, but we don't give a
definition that allows for comparison to
where we are um or how to get there. So,
we lack a strategy with some of our
equity actions
to address this. In the in 2024, city
council adopted the 2526 budget,
including $50,000 for equity
professional services to start
addressing this issue. In 2025, the city
issued an a request for proposals for
phase one and two of this work, equity
visioning and goal setting and equity
tool um assessment development.
In 2026, we selected a consultant with
the help of the equity board who was
part of the selection committee for this
work.
So I want to talk a little bit about
where we're going. Um we envision three
phases of work. First, we need to know
what equity and ser in city services
looks like and what we want it to be.
Second, we need to audit our services
and programs to understand where we are
in comparison to our goals and identify
the gaps in comparison to where we want
to be. And third, we need a strategy
that outlines the actions and resources
to close the gaps and meet our goals.
Items one and two on your screen in the
darker green are the ones that we're
going to address in 2026 and perhaps
early 2027. And we'll talk a little bit
more about what that looks like in this
presentation.
But if the end result is an equity
action plan, then we need to know why
we're going there. So there is obviously
community need from the equity board and
the strategic plan update task force
calling for an equity operational plan
or equity action plan. It's a clearly
stated community and city value, but it
doesn't have consistent definition or
application. By having an equity action
plan, we operationalize the commitment
to equity. And we also comply with best
practice from the government alliance on
race and equity. And we're in good
company in the region with other cities
having DEI action plans that focus on
various parts of their city services.
Once we have an an equity action plan, I
want to talk a little bit about what we
do with it. So when we think about other
focus areas like transportation or
climate, the comprehensive plan largely
sets the vision, goals, and policies of
that work. For example, in the
transportation element of the
comprehensive plan, but these focus
areas also have a have a functional plan
that lay out the strategies, actions,
and resources to achieve the goals,
policy, and vision. that's laid out in
the comprehensive plan. So for example,
taking the transportation element, the
mobility action plan includes the goals
and policies from the comprehensive plan
in the map and it lays out the
strategies and actions specific to those
goals um to achieve them so that staff
can uh follow that as a road map and the
transportation advisory board in turn
measures progress against the mobility
action plan. This is similar to the
Isiqua climate action plan and other
focus areas for city services. However,
equity lacks this. This work will
establish a new vision and goals for the
comprehensive plan, a way to see where
we are in comparison to those vision and
goals and eventually a plan for
roadmapping how we get to where we want
to be. The equity board would also own
this equity action plan um and and
advise and recommend based on based on
it.
I'll briefly cover the request for
proposals deliverables that the city
issued in late 2025.
Um it's split up into two phases. So
first is that visioning and goal setting
that we've been talking about. The
outcome of this work is comprehensive
and communitydriven equity vision and
goals. So we know that where we're
going. Phase two is equity program
evaluation.
We've uh enlisted a consultant for phase
one and phase two of this work. Um, as
part of phase two, we'd like them to
develop a tool that all staff can use to
evaluate equity in city program against
the goals established in phase one and
take a stab at evaluating evaluating two
city programs as part of that work
knowing that staff is going to have to
conduct a larger audit of city programs
once the tool is finalized.
But the outcome there is program evalu
is a program evaluation tool that can be
used across a broad array of city
programs by staff.
With that, I'll pause for any questions
before we go into the community
engagement plan.
>> Uh thank you. Do any of my fellow
members have any questions for this
time?
Do we have uh good examples of uh other
like regional to uh tools used by other
cities?
We do. We did a a search when we started
this work to see if there was a tool
that maybe we could just grab and use
ourselves. We did a search a nationwide
search for that tool. Um and after
consulting with the internal staff
equity team and the equity board, it was
decided that none of the the tools that
we had found quite met what we need.
What we often see is that these tools
focus either really heavily internally
or really heavy heavily externally and
beyond the scope of city services. We
needed something that was tailored to um
city services that we provide. So we'll
certainly look at what else is out there
again as we engage in this work. Um, but
we we also looked at that as we started.
>> I guess if I can have a followup to that
is uh I'll try and figure out how to
phrase this into a question of is there
what measures
I realize this is a hypothetical as I'm
asking it. if we pursue a tool, what
measures will be taken so that it
doesn't become
um I don't want to fall into uh equity
becoming a a checkbox and a process. Um
>> so I guess how yeah, how can we be
proactive about that?
>> And I think I can I can provide some of
the guard rails we're thinking about. We
won't know exactly what it's going to
look like until we're kind of in phase
two. We also developed guidance for
staff on how to use it. Um, but that was
strongly considered as we selected the
consultant for this work is their
ability to deliver a tool that is easy
to use. Um, and knowing that we would
need to develop some city processes
around how it gets used so that you're
right, it doesn't become just a checkbox
um, but is integrated into decision-m
that also kind of speaks to tool design
so that it's applicable across a variety
of programs, size, different audiences,
things like that.
Uh I have a question in terms of just
getting some clarity because you brought
up you know the searching for multiple
tools and they did different things and
so I'd love to have just a little bit of
a clarity in terms of because you bring
up that the intent of this is for city
services just trying to clarify exactly
what where the equity is are trying to
apply to you mention it's not internal
it's more how our services are being
used by the community or what is the
kind of the real equitable intent that
we're trying to get out of this that
none of the tools then satisfied.
>> Yeah. The focus of this um is communityf
facing programs. So you can think about
for example some of our parks and
recreation programs. The reason we want
to focus here is not because other
facets of equity like procurement and
hiring aren't important. Um but we
thought that this was the the most
important set of services to look at
first. Um as we consider equity
evaluations. This is something that was
discussed with the internal staff equity
team as well as the equity board when we
talked about what is the scope of the
work that we're doing.
Got it. Okay. Yeah, that does help
clarify. Any other questions before she
moves on? Oh, one more. Council Nichols,
>> have you given any thought to expanding
this to considering the equity
implications of broader policy decisions
that both we as a council and the
administration make? Um there's there's
a lot that we do as a city that
sets things from affordability to um
ease of access for for many services uh
that people rely on. Are those types of
things a possibility to be considered in
this?
>> Yes, certainly. I think that's something
that we would consider as we get into
phase two and we scope exactly who the
tool is for. similar to how the equity
framework that was developed by the
equity board um was designed to be used
by staff and then got used by council
alike. Um I think there'd be value in it
being used across all levels of the
organization from elected
[clears throat] decision makers to
programmatic staff.
>> Any other comments or questions before
she moves on?
>> All right, you can continue.
>> Thank you.
Okay. Now, talking a little bit more
specifically about the community
engagement plan itself. So, I've already
covered the the intended outcome of this
work. Um, but we developed some goals
around the community engagement plan
itself to ensure that we were we were
going to reach that outcome. So, first
we're seeking sufficient diverse
community input to shape the city's
highle equity goals. And second, we're
hoping that decision makers understand
and honor the community input in the
draft goals.
So now I'll run through the different
tasks associated to the community
engagement plan. So task one and two are
fairly similar. We're seeking feedback
on the plan itself from first the equity
board. Um and I'll run through their
feedback um at the end of this
presentation and a lot of it's been
incorporated into the community
engagement plan in your packet tonight.
Um, and we also wanted to get city
services, safety, and parks feedback um,
in an effort to kind of meet goal number
two from the community engagement plan.
So, tasks three through five really
cover the breadth of seeking community
input on equity and municipal services.
So, I'll talk through these three tasks,
which are three kind of different
methods um, for reaching the community.
So, first we'd like to develop a survey
of the public um that will be live from
sometime in May through July on really
high level equity in city services.
We're looking at other cities who have
done this to see what's been successful
and helpful in guiding their similar
work. We would also have the consultant
review this survey. We intend to share
it via posters around town, social media
or city publications um and paper copies
at specific locations. We'd also have
this professionally translated. The
groups that we hope to reach out to
through this survey include a mix of
those who I would generally say are
already plugged in or connected to the
city in some way. Thinking about our
board and commission members, HOAs,
those kinds of groups and some groups
and locations that are specific to those
who have been under reppresented in
historic pro um underrepresented in
civic processes historically. So a
little bit more about that in the the
second task um on this page. So the
outreach to faith and cultural groups is
is occurring concurrently as the survey
in part because part of this work is to
get some of these groups to um to take
the survey
um and and to receive the same feedback
that the the survey is providing. So
some of the groups that we are looking
at include um communities of Russian,
Chinese, Hindu or Indian, Korean,
Hispanic um communities as well as dis
disability rights groups, seniors and
youth. The types of organizations that
we're looking at connecting with include
um grocery stores, and I'll explain that
a little bit more in a minute, religious
communities, nonprofits who work with
these groups, and social groups. Um our
goal is to get feedback through the
survey. So, for example, um posting a
poster at a grocery store that invites
people to take the survey, dropping off
paper copies at a church. Um we'd also
like to offer the opportunity to focus
group the survey with these groups um if
that's a lower barrier, easier way to
get the feedback from folks. We also
hope to identify some leadership for the
workshop that I'll talk about on the
next slide from this group to ensure
that folks who maybe haven't been part
of the city's processes on something
like this before are at the table both
in the broad community engagement that's
collected and those who will be drafting
the equity vision and goals.
Tabling the last task on your screen
there is just another means of getting
that community feedback. Again, this
will this will take a couple of
questions from the survey. So, we're
asking the same questions across
multiple different methods. Um, but
perhaps a more inviting or lower barrier
way to um to get feedback, something
like dot voting or something like that
to draw people in at a community event
who might not otherwise take the survey.
We're thinking about a variety of of
events including things like uh farmers
markets but also also culturally
specific events to again reach some of
those groups that perhaps our processes
haven't reached and that are
particularly important to reach in a
process and a topic like this one.
So with that um once we have all of that
community feedback um in July we intend
to convene a community leadership
workshop.
This is where the consultant will really
step in to start facilitating. This
group is going to be no more than 20
folks to allow for decision-m and
consensus. We intend for this group to
be geographically, age, and racially
representative of the city. Um, we are
including elected officials in the group
at this time because the decision by
elected officials will happen later in
the process. We envision this taking one
to two meetings to draft the vision and
goals. um perhaps one meeting to really
understand the community feedback and
begin the drafting process and a second
to dial that in. We will then take the
draft vision and goals to services,
safety, and parks or committee of the
whole if that's what you recommend for
the committee's recommendation on the
draft vision and goals to city council.
We anticipate city council action in
October of 2026.
We went to the equity board with a
version of the community engagement plan
that you have in your packet tonight. Um
we asked them largely the same questions
around goals and outcomes and method and
groups as we're asking you. They were
largely supportive of the goals and
outcomes of the um of the plan. They
rightly suggested that we define
sufficient community engagement. So
we're working on that. They also
suggested some additional groups to
reach out to. They had some suggestions
on how feedback should be weighted or
linked to certain communities and had
some more technical um recommendations
on translation methods. We're also
asking the equity board to help table if
possible alongside city staff and to
have at least one member actually
probably just one member um be a part of
that workshop. Um and they were
supportive of these uh these touch
points.
We also sought feedback from our
consultant, Equity Matters. Um, and we
have two slides on this, but I'll
summarize it as there's a brief memo in
your packet that goes over this um in in
succinct detail. So, they note what the
plan does well, and I'll just call out a
few items. They note the multiple
engagement methods, um the specific
demographic communities that are named
as outreach priorities, and that some of
this um diversity is built into the
workshop participant selection.
They [clears throat] also had some
recommendations on how to improve the
plan. I won't read through all of these.
Anything that's bolded on this list is
something that the administration can
build into the community engagement plan
and is working on without holding up the
overall um community engagement uh phase
one work. There is one item that we
can't implement um without significantly
holding up the plan and that's item
three, hiring community liaison for
engagement. This is a programmatic like
higher level city decision that requires
um additional staff time uh and
resources like budget resources in order
to implement um and we wanted to move
forward with the equity visioning and
goal setting work um
this year.
So with that, um, we think the next
council touch point or committee touch
point will be in September and then
it'll go to council for action in
October. And following that, we'll begin
phase two to start looking at what an
equity evaluation tool uh could look
like um to see how we're doing on those
adopted vision and goals.
With that, I'm happy to take any
questions, any clarifying questions on
what I've presented. Um, before moving
into, I guess, public comment and
direction needed.
>> Any questions from the consumers?
Council member Boyd.
>> Um, was there any discussion of uh in
doing outreach about the equity plan to
uh communities who historically uh we
haven't engaged with so much?
what those communities might perceive
of, you know, government coming to them,
uh, and their trust level of that. Be
curious what those discussions were, if
they came up at all in the equity board
or as this was being thought out.
>> Yeah, that was definitely a discussion
that we had as we developed the plan.
So, um, just to get into the
nitty-gritty a little bit, this will be
largely in-person outreach done largely
just by me.
um meeting people where they're at or
where they'd be comfortable with meeting
if doing kind of an initial touch point
via email or phone. That's also why
we're offering the option to focus group
the survey instead of having it recorded
electronically if that helps people
people feel more trusted as they submit
um information to a government entity.
So, we're definitely aware of the um
both historic and current environment
around um that some of these groups are
facing and we're trying to make it as
easy um and as safe as possible to
participate in this process.
Uh yeah, that was actually going to be
my question as well was making sure that
we're addressing the trust issues and
the fears that many of these groups have
in terms of when we outreach and making
sure that's kind of upfront and clear uh
was going to be my question as well. So
I believe that's been addressed. Council
member Nichols, did you have any more
questions before we move to public
comment?
>> Just comments.
>> Just comments. Okay. All right. So then
we will move on to the public comment
portion of this agenda. So, the
committee will now accept public
comments about this agenda item. As
stated earlier, comments can be made in
person or virtually. Those who have
signed up in advance will be called on
first. If you're joining us virtually or
would like to make comments, please
raise your virtual hand or send the host
a chat message. If you're on the phone,
press star three. If you have joined by
computer or smartphone, look for the
hand icon. And if you are in the room
and did not sign up, there'll be an
opportunity for you to raise your hand
if you'd like to speak before I close
this portion of the meeting. Uh, so
clerk, has anyone signed up or indicated
a desire to speak this evening?
>> Sorry, I'm giving we do have some
virtual attendees online. I'm giving
them just a moment to find their virtual
hand. Uh, but otherwise, no, there's
nobody that signed up in advance and I
do not see any hands raised at this time
virtually.
>> Okay. Um, and then also as a reminder,
written comments can be submitted any
time to city council at isiquawah.gov.
Um and then um is there anyone else in
the room who would like to speak? No.
Okay. Then uh the committee Oh yes.
Oh please. Yeah. Please come up and if
you uh press the center button on the
microphone.
Yes. Uh so if you could please state
your name and relationship to the city
and then
>> speak into the microphone. Thank you.
>> My name is Michelle Kenny. Uh actually
um I play pickle ball in this area a lot
so I kind of in the city. I just out of
curiosity so are you finding that um
people of various other groups are are
commenting that they're not included in
city uh organizations or uh why was this
plan developed? Is this just being part
of your overall overreaching, you know,
overall reaching uh process or have you
gotten comment back from people saying I
don't feel I'm representative?
>> Uh well for typically we do not do
questions quit question and answer. It's
more of a comment portion of this uh
meeting. So I can't quite address those
directly other than what has been
presented in the uh discuss the
presentation. Oh,
>> but Oh, but can Excuse me.
>> Yeah. Okay. Yeah, you can be city staff
can speak with you afterwards. Give a
better clarity on that.
>> Okay.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> Thanks.
>> All right. Anyone else like a chance to
speak?
Okay. All right. Then uh the committee
can now deliberate. Any comments on
this?
Um I guess um overall broadly um very
supportive especially when it's framed
as you know the other community boards
and liaison often. Can you hear me now?
Okay, let me see this.
Uh
uh I am uh
in fully in favor of the pursuit of an
action plan. Um I come from uh the
transit trans transportation advisory
board. Um having that mobility action
plan to point to is very helpful and I
think that um having an action plan for
equity can also help serve as an
accountability measurement and a tool
for risk while residents to as they're
advocating for their own needs. it's
something to point to. I try and be very
grounded in the plans that um the city
has, whether it's a strategic plan or
the park strategic plan, a lot of them
are strategic plans. And so if we've got
an action plan, um I think that can only
be helpful moving forward. So that's my
broader high level. Um I am pretty um
bummed that uh the community liaison um
due to I understand just I'm presumably
funding we can't pursue that path and
I'm it makes me wonder if we are
maybe sacrificing um
further engagement or a level of depth
of engagement in planning this at um for
some expediency we can pursue this
sooner if we don't have to wait for that
process that would have to you know come
before a full council and for us to make
a financial decision on that. So it's
just that's my observations.
>> Council member Nichols,
>> thank you. Uh so first of all, I really
appreciate the effort put into this um
and the clear desire to help make our
equity policies more real. Um, I'll just
be brief on my overall support of the
the broad strokes that were addressed in
this presentation. Uh, and I'm really
looking forward to seeing those
clarified and and approved through
public engagement and public process.
Um, the only thing that I want to add is
that I really would encourage everyone
in that process to try to think big. Um,
when we set policy that affects
affordability, that affects equity. When
we set policies that affect childare,
that also affects equity. And when we
set policy that affects mobility that
includes pedestrian non-motorized
transit, that also affects equity. But
these are often times hard things to get
feedback on through that lens. So in in
brief, uh I urge the uh the continued
folks that will be involved with this to
think big and develop a framework that
helps us push to always be aiming
higher. So thank you.
>> Uh thank you. Yes, I equally um support
this. I appreciate all the hard work
that's gone to this and it is kind of to
some extent it was almost like eye
opening to realize that we did not have
a concrete plan in this area because it
is something that is brought up
regularly as you brought up in the plan
it's stated but that there is no clear
framework for it there's no clear
direction for it um and no real way to
measure it um so I do support uh what
you've developed so far you know I do uh
agree with council member Boyd's points
of that you know the concern of are we
is this not going to be as good if we
don't, you know, the doing it now versus
doing it right dilemma is in there. I
would say um I I I agree with that
point, but I I feel and feel free to
correct me if I'm wrong, that this
because this will have multiple touch
points and this will be somewhat of a
work in progress. The potential is that
it could start now and then develop
further and additional investment could
go into it to create a more robust plan.
You know, it won't be locked in stone.
So I would support going ahead and
continuing now even though some
components might not be able to be
completed at this time. Um and I also
agree that we when developing it making
sure that it it it is thought of in
terms of how it can apply to all aspects
of you know of governing the cities and
as well as not just in terms of you know
do we have a form that we can check off
and make sure we're meeting these goals
but equally the outreach that you're
going to do will if there's a way to
maintain those lines of communication
throughout the work we do going forward
because that's going to
Equity is something that I don't feel is
always easy to just look at a box and
know you've succeeded. A lot of the
success is going to come from the
community responding to the actions you
do. So I would you know you know with
that mindset make sure that as we build
these you know get this feedback we're
also perhaps building lines of
communications to all of these groups to
all these ones and showing that we hear
them as well as allowing them to keep
talking to us as we go forward. Um yeah,
in terms of the direction uh needed. Um
you had the specific questions. Um and I
just want to propose these to the rest
of uh the committee to make sure that
everything here has been addressed. But
there was the are the goals for the
community engagement appropriate and are
they aligned with the outcome? Are the
methods and groups the right ones for
the project? Is there anyone missing? um
and if there's any additional feedback
we need to uh give and as well as do
they feel that we should come back to
the committee before moving to the
council. Do any of the other committee
members have any specific points these
questions that they would like to add?
>> Um I guess if I don't know if we're just
jumping into it, but I would be
interested in uh this coming before the
full council. Um
it's I just think that we would get a
more robust conversation and feedback
and especially if uh I'm also interested
as well in seeing how we can you this
can be used and other policy touch
points and when we have the fuller
council um I think we'll have their
thoughts and feedback. Um like I'm not
on the planning committee right that's
um [snorts] I would be supportive of the
full council weighing in on it. Uh well
I believe the idea is that it would they
would prepare this draft, it would come
to us, we would review it again and then
go to the full council. Okay. Is and do
you agree with that step or would you
want to skip the return to us and just
go straight to council after they have a
draft?
>> If I if I could clarify, um I apologize.
It is whether or not we bring this
before the services, safety, and parks
committee or the committee of the whole
before moving to full counsel. We
wouldn't propose skipping the the
committee step.
>> Yeah. So for me, I the cow was my
preferred but
I would love to hear arguments against
that.
>> Council Nichols.
>> Yeah,
>> I I don't feel strongly between cow and
SSP for this. Um,
I do think this is one where we might
just given that the number of things
that might be on committee the whole
later in the year, it might make more
sense for us to be able to devote a
little bit more time to it. Um, so I
think I would want to if it's going to
be a lengthy discussion that would
otherwise have to be cut if it goes to C
committee the whole I would prefer
taking it to SSP if we end up at that
time of the year having plenty of
availability in SSP. Um, I'm I think
that's potentially fine too. though my
own my my main reason to bring it here
would be to give us the ability to dive
a little bit deeper. That's all.
Otherwise, as far as the other the
direction questions needed, I'm I'm
aligned with all.
>> Um I agree. I think I feel I would like
it to come to SSP again and that I feel
this is such an early thing that's
likely to have a little more
workshopping component to it, especially
in a first draft. I just feel like there
I I doubt when it after this first pass
it's all, you know, just ready to go. I
feel like there's going to be a little
more workshopping involved. I think my
preference would be SSP um to just dive
in a bit more before it moves on. So um
but other than that uh do you feel you
have uh everything you need for this
agenda item?
>> Yes. Thank you.
>> Great. Okay. So we uh can now move to
the next agenda item. Uh, COOM0265,
the potential park bond renewal,
presented by Jeff Wadling.
Thank you, Chair Adair, and uh, good
evening, council. Pardon me as I uh,
navigate the getting the presentation
up.
Still navigating.
really appreciate that uh audience
support. Thank you. All right, I'm
ready. Uh, thank you again. Good
evening. Um, uh, here tonight to, uh,
talk through, um, and provide some
follow-up information requested by
council members, um, at the April 6
committee of the whole meeting regarding
the potential park bond renewal measure
uh, that could uh, be going to Isqua
voters this November.
some of the questions that and direction
that we're really seeking tonight. Um,
uh, center around three questions. U
given the additional information that
we'll discuss and is going to be
provided to you tonight, does the
committee support the recommendation
from administration to move forward with
a park bond renewal this November at the
8 cents per 10,000 assessed valuation?
any additional feedback on the
considerations for the project uh and
the package of of potential bond
projects. Um and then also direction
we're we're seeking is really what
should staff prepare to present to the
full city council um at the May 9th city
council retreat this Saturday.
So with that, um, tonight, uh, again
really focuses on responding to, uh, the
great requests and feedback that that
you all sought at that April 6th
meeting. Um, um, I put those, um,
questions and and feedback you requested
really into four categories. Um, and
then, um, in that organization, um,
organized this presentation around, uh,
those four categories. So those four
categories being we'll first talk
through the questions raised about parks
capital funding itself. Um we'll then
dive into the questions and feedback you
requested pertaining to the projects. Um
and then after that um questions
pertaining to vision uh for the for the
plan. And then uh lastly um questions
and research uh that you sought
pertaining to uh other park specific
ballot measures um around uh the county.
I'll dive into those specific questions
as we as we go through each of these
categories. Again, trying to be as
efficient as I can to save ample time
for questions and uh uh deliberation.
So starting with that first category
parks capital funding um some questions
were ren really centered around what are
the priorities within parks capital uh
what is some of the availability of reat
fund within capital um um also uh some
interest was raised in taking a historic
look back and how were how have we
funded a development and redevelopment
projects um here in the city um
start with the one fact that um parks
capital funding in really most if not
all municipalities and and forms of
government really can be categorized
into three areas of of of pursuit.
Acquisitions um capital maintenance
programs um and development
redevelopment projects. Um I think we're
all familiar with what acquisitions are.
Um um capital maintenance programs
really um encapsulate um taking care of
what we have. Uh that's really um
investing into assets that have already
been built. Uh picnic shelters age out.
Um um um everything within the system
ages out, restrooms age out. So um how
do we put programs in place? Irrigation
systems wear out uh the like. Um and
then development redevelopment projects
really are those um either new park
developments uh andor sizable more
sizable redevelopments. Hillside Park is
a great example. That was a
redevelopment project we recently
completed
um within uh the limited capital revenue
that the city has and and I say that
more in the context of not only managing
parks capital but also investments into
transportation capital um and facilities
capital. Uh the recent priority by both
administration and city council when you
look at parks capital really has been
focused on acquisitions and capital
maintenance programs. Um we have been
very very successful um in continuing to
nurture our um and meet our goals for
strategic acquisitions doing that
through really a very healthy
combination of city resources and grant
resources. Um and then capital
maintenance programs have have really
been that second priority. Um what
hasn't really been the top priority is
development and redevelopment uh
projects. um working with finance. When
you look at um our current um six-year
CIP, um the citywide CIP um one of our
primary revenue sources for funding
capital is REIT. Um we had some question
and discussion on April 6 around REIT.
Um finance confirmed that REIT will be
um in a deficit position um in the next
banual budget in 2728. So pretty pretty
soon we're going to be in a def deficit
position given actual REIT revenues that
are that are coming in. Um so as we look
ahead with that fact there will be very
limited to no actual REIT funding
available for park development and
redevelopment projects. Um I guess it's
certainly important to highlight that
and and realize I think some of the
importance of considering um park bond
uh funding as a
as a baseline. Um some other questions
pertaining to park capital funding.
Sorry, I'm trying to advance it.
Not sure why it's not advancing.
Frozen prison.
Thank you. Sure how you did that magic,
Autumn, but that was impressive. Um,
some other questions really pretend uh
pertain to um historically um how have
we funded uh development and
redevelopment projects? Um and so taking
a look back over the last 10 years, what
you see here is a list of seven
projects. Um these aren't focused on
acquisition and capital maintenance
programs. Really trying to paint that
picture of what has been left to invest
in development redevelopment projects.
Um uh these seven projects um have been
funded um as you see them a variety of
ways. Some of the larger projects,
Confluence Park phase 2, uh, Central
Park Pad 1 turf fields that were
completed in 2017 and 2018 were actually
funded through the 2013 park bond. Um,
and other grant funds uh, leveraged with
those park bund funds funds. Um, in 2022
and 2025, the neighborhood park
renovations that we did both, uh,
successfully at Blackberry Park and at
Hillside Park were funded by city
capital revenues. that when I say that
what's really grouped in there is REIT
park impact fees those city directed
revenues that I was talking about um
earlier in 2025 we completed pedestrian
park senior center plazas uh those were
not funded by city capital revenues
those were funded by ARPA uh federal
dollars as well as a state grant uh and
then lastly uh just a couple weeks ago
we cut the ribbon on the Reineer Trail
dog park uh that too was funded by city
capital uh revenue news. So, um, all
told and some key takeaways as we take
this look back, um, it really does
confirm that park bond funding and
grants have been historically a
foundational revenue source when it
comes to development and redevelopment
within the Isqua Park system. I think
another key takeaway is that um when you
look at the sum of the city directed
revenues that went towards those seven
projects um it totals approximately $3.2
million. That's not to project that's
all that could be available moving
forward. But if we were to extrapolate
historical funding, it would take uh
decades uh for us to complete the same
level of work that this potential bond
park bond renewal uh would be able to
accomplish.
Autumn, you're going to have to teach me
your magic. What button did you push?
The arrows are not working.
Don't move the cursor. Great.
All right. So, transitioning now to
questions really pertaining to the
projects themselves um and um both how
we got to those uh potential recommended
projects. um other near-term projects
identified in the park plan. Um as well
as questions around um uh initial cost
estimates and um potential grant um
grant funds that those projects could
seek. Uh first uh again just another um
overview of the considerations um that
these candidate projects really uh went
through um as we developed possible
projects uh within the um um uh this 8
cent uh per 1000 proposed package. Uh we
we really wanted to consider a package
of medium-siz projects. uh no project
that would overwhelm the uh 20ome
million dollars available with grant
funds. Um but a multitude of
medium-sized projects that really
increase the functionality of our
existing system and provide a a really
broad community benefit as broad as we
can. um a mix of priority projects uh
within that available funding that uh
really addresses the diversity of
interests uh the diversity of uses that
we know are represented and reflected
within the residents of Isiqua. Um our
residents love to do everything from
court sports to getting on trails to um
playing on ball fields. Um, and no one
no one family, no one household um is
the same uh when it comes to um use of
our city park system as well as really
any city park system. Um, another key
consideration was um really making sure
we're not trying to propose projects um
uh that could still have a high level of
either site complexity or project
complexity uh that might make it
difficult to properly scope um or cost
estimate um u the the work or the
project prior to the ex extensive design
work that still needs to happen. And I
think it's an important thing to
remember is these projects, none of them
have been designed or permitted yet. So
they they they still have that process
to do. So we want to make sure we're not
um we're not considering projects that
have such a high degree of uncertainty
and complexity. Another consideration
was um you know does this project have
does a project have a a heightened level
of controversy or community concern
around it uh that might be difficult to
resolve. Um again in such an early
conceptual stage of the project um there
are some projects that do have such a
high degree of community concern that
public outreach that we do on any
capital project is so important because
that helps um that helps build consensus
and create consensus knowing we haven't
done that yet on these projects. We we
want to um as best we can um avoid those
types of projects. Um, another really
important consideration uh when it comes
to uh the the prior conversation of
equity is looking at geographic equity.
How are we distributing these
investments um throughout um our
community?
Next on your questions uh pertaining to
uh projects u was uh taking a first look
at initial estimates um and grant
opportunities. Um as we look through
these uh proposed projects um again
important to point out these estimates
do not have a design behind them. Um
these really are initial estimates uh
that we've done myself and and Robin
Spear. Um when we look at um e house,
we're looking at a about a $2.5 million
project that's not just work on the e
house that is also incorporating the e
house into confluence park so that
northeast corner of the park finally
feels completed uh and finished. Uh we
think this project is a terrific um
candidate uh for grant funding both from
the county and for culture um as well as
uh state department of commerce and the
landmark commission.
the Ramos trail head improvements uh
project we estimated about 1.5 million.
This would include uh restrooms as well
as addressing um a much more sustainable
surfacing solution. Um great candidates
through RCO, that's state recreation
conservation office uh state grants as
well as uh county l grants through the
the King County Park levy.
Next projects
um are the trail corridor projects both
on Cougar Mountain and Squawk Mountain.
These were utilizing our our more recent
acquisitions of both Bergsma property
and that corridor on Cougar as well as
the Kari Waymouth properties um uh and
the new corridor in Squawk Mountain. We
estimate in total about $4 million for
both of those. the design, permitting
and construction of those projects. Um
corridors with this kind of um
significance um not only for a city's
trail system, but the fact that these
trails would connect to a regional
network, both the state park system on
Squawk Mountain as well as the King
County regional system on Cougar
Mountain uh would be great candidates
for both um county uh trail uh grant
funding as well as uh state level grant
funding.
the athletic field projects that we're
considering uh these conversions um of
grass fields to multi-use synthetic turf
um community sports fields um um at the
elementary schools um if we were to do
all three elementary schools but as we
um have had further community
conversation as we've had further
conversation with administration and
most recently last night with the park
board uh I think there's really strong
consensus and feeling that focusing on
all three of those elementary schools
would be a very equitable approach. Um
um again the concept of these community
sports fields is um making an investment
on public land um and creating publicly
accessible um publicly city- managed um
city-maintained community sports fields
that become a tremendous asset for the
elementary school during the school day
and a great recess facility. uh but just
as importantly prov be become a
community asset for drop in uh field use
um on the evenings on weekends um in the
summer um as well as um rental use for
uh sports groups. a an innovative
project like this is a great candidate
for both RCO. Again, that's state uh
grant funding uh county uh youth and
amateur amateur sports grants as well as
grant funding through the King County um
King County levy.
And lastly, in terms of the the category
of projects, uh the variety of park
amenities uh that we'd be considering,
again, in total, these three would be
about $6.6 million. This would include
expanding pickle ball, um courts, um at
Central Park, um at about $2.6 million.
Um and then um really important initial
investments at Tibbitz Valley Park of a
community park- sized all-inclusive play
area um and a dog park um at Tibetsz
Valley Park for that uh portion of town.
Um all of these projects would be great
candidates for a variety again of county
um county grants as well as some some
private grants. Um grant funding when it
comes to in total grant funding when it
comes to development and redevelopment
projects um is highly highly
competitive. Um grant funding for
acquisitions is highly competitive but I
can say in my experience is not nearly
as competitive as development and
redevelopment grant applications. What's
really really important and what makes
grant funders um um score projects
higher is when they know that grant
funding is the last money in when when
there's when there's base funding
already in place. Um if you're going to
a granter seeking initial funding, it's
going to be really really hard to
compete and score. And so, um, I say
that to to just say in context the it's
it's bond proceeds like this potential,
um, renewal, uh, that really allow for
all of these projects to become really
that much more compelling and
competitive, um, to grant, um, to grant
agencies.
Another
question pertaining to projects was um
what are what are the other near-term
priorities within the park system plan.
Um what you see here is a list. Um I
think an important thing to note and
certainly happy to answer any questions
um to these as we get to Q&A. Um what we
do know is the park bond um renewal
proceeds so at the renewal rate uh would
not be enough to fund all of the
near-term priorities. Um there had to be
a somewhat of a a a selection process
and both work with the park board as
well as working through those filters
and considerations that I noted earlier.
Um though these other projects would not
be recommended um are not currently
recommended for the the the package. um
these near-term priorities remain a
priority and and when I say that um like
other historical periods of park bond
projects going on um work and
exploration continues on these
priorities as well. Uh there may be
opportunities for some of these projects
uh to happen while the park bond
projects are happening. Um Anthology
Linear Park is a great example that is
probably of a size and scale. um that
might not need bond proceeds. If you're
familiar with that area, that's by the
Anthology Apartments. There's a a
current trail corridor uh that functions
and is very well used. Um there are two
really small grass pods uh that uh this
project is really, you know, a
consideration of how do we activate
those? Um that's a it's an example of
that work um could um could continue
with or without um a bond renewal.
Another set of questions uh pertaining
to to projects um had to do with sort of
exploring other scenarios. Um
um I want to be clear these are not
meant to be an all-inclusive list of
options. Um this is really um an effort
to at least demonstrate um
what two two scenarios would look like
if we wanted to consider asking voters
for more than just the the the renewal
as a as a as a means of sort of
comparing some bookends and a middle
ground. Uh there are hundreds of other
um options or scenarios that that could
certainly be considered. Uh the first
one you see as a comparison and and I
want to point out is administrations and
the mayor's recommended uh rate and
that's remaining at the 8 cents per 1000
um park bond rate um and treating it as
a renewal. Um if you remember from
projected revenues um um including both
the bond proceeds as well as
contributions from park impact fees and
then leveraging grants as we discussed
um is a you know estimated 23 24 million
package um you see the list of projects
um and categories of projects that we
just went over. um if we were to
consider um doubling uh that levy rate
uh to 16 cents. So um just for
comparative purposes at an 8 cent per
1000 AV um continuation what that
represents for a million-doll home would
be $80 a year. Uh so at a 16 cent
request, we would be saying not only,
hey, we're residents, we're interested
in you considering renewing that $80
that you're already paying, uh but we'd
want an additional $80 on top of that is
what 16 cents would represent. Uh that
would generate just under $50 million.
Um a potential package of projects that
could be done with that though would be
um looking at all of those 8- cent levy
projects that we just went over as well
as the the pool expansion um at the at
Julius Bones pool.
Another scenario is sort of a middle
ground at 12 cents uh generating just
under $34 million again with park impact
fees leveraged and grant uh proceeds uh
leveraged uh could be um those 8-cent
levy projects plus um a compilation of
some of those other near-term projects.
Um again, not intending to try and
recommend or say exactly which ones
those are. Um um but at 12 cents um
there would not be enough funding to do
a compilation of of projects um uh such
as what is proposed now and and the pool
within these scenarios. Again, a lot to
digest there. It's not meant to be a um
like I said forced choice between those
three. Um but some of the reasoning and
some of the uh the thought behind
administration's recommendation for
staying at the 8 cent levy rate um is
that it it it it
represents a renewal that maintains the
current levy rate that uh residents are
paying in that expiring levy. We're
really just asking or expiring bond and
asking them to uh renew again that if
it's a million-doll home that $80 per
year. um that scenario we feels we feel
given the relatively timecompressed
nature we have between now and November
offers a much simpler financial message
uh to voters we think that's compelling
and really really important. um
it would still result at that 8 cents
per uh rate and at that 23 to $24
million package, the largest park
investment package requested to voters
um here in Isiqua.
This would be significant meaningful
work. Um and then lastly, we really feel
keeping at that same rate leaves room
for other voter approved funding
requests in the future. Uh whether
that's other infrastructure,
transportation facilities, or whether
that's continued park or other park
investments. Um as well, uh I think
another really important consideration
when we talk about this is just staff
capacity and and our ability to deliver
on these projects in an efficient
effective way. Um and if we really look
at um the reality of our staffing
resources um that 8 cent uh rate and the
subsequent package is really the most
realistic that we would be able to um
deliver on given our given our staffing
resources.
So deliverability is is I guess another
really important consideration.
Next, there were some questions around
vision and really what what is the what
is the vision of this um consideration,
this possible uh bond renewal. And what
you have before you I'm not going to
recite this. Um this is what what you
have is is page 10 of our park system
plan. Um within this um it's really just
to affirm um um the vision, the need,
the the idea of making these investments
within the park system is born directly
out of the vision and core values of of
the park plan. Um I I draw your
attention in particular to the four core
values uh that is park board um and and
community spent a lot of time thinking
through and discussing and those four
core values being connectivity,
vibrancy, resiliency, and balance. Um
I'd love to recite all of those goal
statements for all three four of those,
but I'm not going to. But I would
encourage you to really read those
because it really speaks to uh the
importance of investing from a
development and redevelopment
standpoint, activating our city park
system that um in many ways is starting
to feel tired.
Those four core values really informed
the near-term, midterm, and long-term
priorities that um came out of that park
plan. Um and um equally so um as we
consider putting together a a draft
vision um those four core values really
informed this uh this draft vision. Um
and that draft vision being renew the
park bond to build on past investments
and advance the vision of Isiquas Creeks
to Peaks park system by enhancing
developed parks and school spaces for
more places to play, gather and connect.
I would note as I recite that this is
not intended to be a campaign vision. Um
should we move forward on this um a
campaign vision would be the job of a um
a citizen-led campaign committee that
that would need to be put together. So
just just wanted to point that out.
Uh last um u bit of followup and and um
question that came from uh that April
6th meeting was uh some information and
data and research around u recent park
specific ballot measures. Um looking
back the past five years, there were
five ballot measures um um spanning uh
different areas of the county. Um I will
not go through every single one of
these. Um but uh certainly um here to
answer any questions you might have. You
will note that uh four of them passed.
Um one of them failed. Uh they were a
mix of both bond measures as well as
levies. Just a reminder, if it's a bond
measure, it needs 60% approval. Um if
it's a levy, it needs 50% um approval. U
many of these uh were either a mix of
renewal um or renewal and addition. Um
but again, happy to happy to answer uh
questions you might have as we as we get
into as we get into that.
Wrapping up uh my presentation to save
room for public comment and certainly
your questions. Um looking at timing and
next steps, here we are on May 5th. Um
um we have the the city council retreat
coming up uh this Saturday. Um, we're
really hoping as staff and
administration uh to begin to see if
there's a sense of consensus among city
council uh while while this work is
happening. I I as I shared on April 6th,
uh given timing, we're we're also
engaging in community outreach and
beginning to educate the community on
this potential um though we don't know
what the final package is going to be uh
but at least expressing um um and
beginning to communicate the potential
as bond that that community outreach
will continue. Um we'll continue our
conversations with the park bond and be
seeking a final recommendation from them
uh later this month. Um, ideally we're
back to you as city council sometime in
June uh for um a a council ordinance and
and council approval uh just so we can
not only begin to tee up the work that
needs to be done to prepare to get
information to King County elections,
but also uh save time for that uh um
education throughout the summer months
and work with a resident campaign group
if one of those groups is is formed.
before we know it, we would be into uh
into November and uh general election.
So with that, thank you. Um here are the
the questions again. Um appreciate your
time. Really appreciate the discussion
we had on April 6th and uh the the the
feedback you sought, the additional um
information that you sought. So
hopefully this was helpful. Thanks.
>> All right. any questions from the
committee on the material that was just
presented uh before we do public
comment. All right, Council Member
Nichols.
>> So, first off, thank you. This is a a
great set of packages that are
presented. I really appreciate all the
work that's gone into these. Um and uh
it's it's really good to see. Um I I've
only got one question and that's um I
did read through the report on the 2023
report on the the the pool. Are there is
is what's different since 2023 at a high
level is what the the direction of that
report was recommending does that still
seem reasonable assuming
lots of things were to come true etc. Um
is
is there anything that obviously out of
date I I recognize this has not been
even partially scoped so it's a I accept
a very 30,000 foot answer. I just want
to understand if that report still seems
relevant today.
>> I'm sorry. The feasibility report for
the pool. Yeah. Is that Yeah. Yeah.
>> Yes. I think it is still it is still
very relevant. Um at a at a high level
that feasibility study um explored um
and really confirmed the ability to do
an expansion on the existing Julius Pone
Pool site. Um I think what's important
to note in that report and in the
approach we took in 2023 it was
realizing um the funding strategy to do
a project like that really is ideally
three-fold. Um what is a city level of
contribution? what is the school
district uh level of contribution given
the the importance that that um pool
plays and if there is a fourth high
school to be built um what is that um
due to the capacity constraints um um at
that pool and then lastly um a funding
strategy that involves King County as
well uh the original builders of all
those forward thrust pools uh we still
feel like regional aquatics is a um
shouldn't be just left at the hands of
the
Um so um the the project itself I think
is still very relevant um given the um
um school district um not passing uh the
bond measures. Um you know what that
what that funding piece looks like with
the school district remains a a
unanswered question uh right now. Um, I
think we would also want to, council
member Nichols, just look at assumptions
given um, I think that I think that cost
estimate assumed a 2027 construction.
Obviously, that would we would just want
to look at escalation and what that
might mean, but again, that project
scoped roughly a $20 million project um,
in 2027. So, still very relevant.
Thank you,
Council Boy.
>> I had a question about the Kirkland levy
out of the table that you showed us.
That was the one that failed. Um, can
you give more context for that? Was that
uh increasing versus a maintenance
level? Uh, was there any controversy
around
>> Great, great question. And as I've
certainly talked to my colleagues in
Kirkland and and talked to them
throughout that process, I I don't mean
to represent all their lessons learned,
but I I you know, I think it was
multiple things. Um they were seeking a
permanent levy. So that was a a
permanent tax increase they went to
voters with primarily around capital
projects. uh the the the core of that of
that um measure was a new community
center aquatic facility uh that still
had a high degree of I don't want to say
controversy but a lot of community
opinion and didn't have consensus around
it and so I think as you sort of look at
their afteraction what did we learn I
think a lot of it was um the concerns
residents had about an an uncertainty
they had about permanence and why is
this permanent and some of the it wasn't
a it wasn't a simple financial um um um
presentation um um and then the uh
uncertainty and differences of opinion
of the community center and aquatic
facility being such a large piece of
that of that project.
Uh, two questions I had, uh, are one,
you mentioned like avoiding certain
controversial, potentially controversial
projects in the park plan. Like what
would some of those potentially be? Is
it the pool or what would represent like
ones that you have avoided because you
felt the community might
>> Good. That's a good question. I'm using
my park director Spidey sense when I
when I when I say these. I I would say
um, Tippetsz Valley Park is probably a
good example. do, you know, saying,
"Hey, we've got an answer on how we're
going to address all the athletic fields
at Tibbitz Valley Park right now." That
might bring with it some controversy and
concern because the ecological function
of that of that site has still a lot of
really really important site work we
need to do. And so I would feel as the
park professional, I would rather have
a visioning process and a community
engagement around that to really work
through those community concerns and
that balance before
proposing a project like that on a on a
ballot measure. Looking back, an example
I would give is Hillside Park. Um
Hillside Park is a hugely successful
reinvestment, right? But early early on
in that there was a lot of community
concern, uncertainty. What are you doing
to the park? Um I don't feel like there
was a strong enough sense of community
consensus that had we put that on a
ballot measure without answering those
questions, it could have brought more um
concern and rightfully so than us
spending the time and going through
community engagement and answering. Does
that make sense?
>> Yeah. Yeah, that makes sense. And then
kind of the further to that is of the
projects presented obviously you said
you kind of assess that to some extent
in these projects but is there anything
in the ones presented that you think
could cause it to fail in some way
whether it be controversy or something
like that or well obviously everything
has its risks. Is there something that
is a a potential risk to any of these
projects that we should be aware of
where they'd be presented? You know,
>> um again, other than just knowing
respecting 40,000 pe human beings will
have different opinions, right? I there
will be I think questions and different
opinions and I totally respect that. Um,
no, as we look at these projects, there
um feels to be either enough consensus
or I think another way to put it is
enough ability within the project to
mitigate um any concerns as we go
through uh that engagement process and
that design project process.
>> Got it. Any other questions before we
move to public comment?
No. Okay. All right. So then uh the
committee will now accept public
comments about this agenda item. As
stated earlier, comments can be made in
person or virtually. Those who have
signed up in advance will be called
first. If you're joining with us
virtually and would like to make
comments, please raise your virtual hand
or send the host a chat message. If
you're on the phone, press star three.
If you've joined by computer or
smartphone, look for the hand icon. If
you're on the room and did not sign up,
there will be an opportunity for you to
raise your hand if you'd like to speak
before I close this portion of the
meeting. So, clerk, has anyone signed up
to speak or indicated a desire to speak
this evening?
>> Not yet, sure. We do have a few virtual
attendees. I do not see any virtual
hands at this time.
>> Okay. Um, if there's anyone in the room
who would like to speak, I believe so.
Yes. Okay, great. Um, so just for the
inerson attendees, be sure to step up to
the lectern and turn on the button on
the microphone, which will display a red
light. state your name and uh your
address or relationship to the city and
thank you for sharing your input once
you're ready.
Hi, good evening. Uh my name is Steve
Perura. I've lived in Oldtown for about
17 years. Uh and I drop by every once in
a while to say hi and show my
appreciation. So, thank you. Uh I guess
a personal shout out. What's the saying?
No good deed goes unpunished. those
council member Adair goes from well
serving park board member to the chair
of the committee. Uh well done to you.
Thank you. Uh give a quick shout out to
Eric as well. Thank you for your
volunteering to run for city council. Uh
so I want to share some thoughts and
I don't like being up here probably at
all but just in general I don't like
speaking about what I'm against. I like
speaking about what I'm for. But this
proposed park bond measure just really
bothers me on it's a cumulative effect
rather than individual particular
projects
that don't seem to make sense to me.
There doesn't seem to be a lot of
sense, at least from my perspective,
from what things are really or truly a
priority, what we're most need of that
are that a park bond that we pay for the
next 20 years aren't going to take away
or put responsibilities on future
operations, park budgets that we truly
need and require today. uh and are going
to limit our our future bonding capacity
in future years. If we do them today,
we're not going to have that capacity 5
years down the road. Uh likely. Uh
so those are kind of my back stops, my
kind of not red lines, but I'm also
borrowing from the vantage of what are
the things that are community feedback.
I'm just trying to give a sense of not
threatening, but a sense of how strongly
I disagree with these and my willingness
to work to
not oppose but not see past this item.
And my level is pretty strong. And I'm
not again, I'm not threatening. I'm just
one person. I'm just trying to share
feedback. So, without further ado, uh I
don't see the concerns or the the need
to build pickle ball courts and sports
field facilities. are going to run down
before we get any replacing before we
pay for them. Uh that doesn't make any
sense to me. Uh I know Isqu being a
trail head city, there's lots of trails.
I don't see that it's a pressing issue
that new trail systems at this point in
time that we can't go another five or 10
years without them. Uh and that are also
going to add to future years operations
costs.
Uh
I'm vehemently opposed to the dog park.
I think there are a lot more people
needs that are way above a park
need for for dogs or pets. Uh
those are kind cumulative high level
values want to talk a little bit about
from the perspective of good projects.
The e house is one of the things that
I'm strongly
um support. I would have liked to see it
approved previously by the ARPA funding
process which would have at least paid
for part of that. That didn't happen.
I'm not trying to do spill milk over the
bridge but uh would have liked to see
that have already happened. Um,
another reason I guess I'm against the
the trails is also I know I saw some
recent news articles that were
representing some cut state funding for
parks from commi commissioner public
lands commissioner
Mr. Up the Grove if I'm pronouncing that
correctly. Uh, that could impact parks
that we connect to or trails we connect
to if they're coming down. I'm not sure
we should be adding connections that
might lose funding from where those
trail heads would connect to. Uh
I like let's say the the
uh Hilltop Park Loop better connections
within the community within the park
system. I think that's a good example of
something. Um
what am I saying or not saying? Uh oh.
The uh Tibbitz Valley Park. I do think
it serves a strong ecological function
today that we risk losing by
uh
putting artificial turf in. I think that
needs to be better understood. I think
the project list overall needs more time
to try threshing out before it goes any
further forward. Uh
we're just not at the point that
regardless of my thoughts, I think that
we're ready for a p for a public
discussion and a public vote near that
point. At this point, I think the city
has done well and shout out to Jeff,
he does say funds are competitive based
for grants and city has always done well
at getting those grants approved. Again,
no nothing's guaranteed, but just a good
example. Thank you. Thank you for your
comments. Is there anyone else in the
room who would like to speak?
Yes.
Please state your name. Relationship to
the city. Speak clearly. try and keep it
within five minutes.
>> Um, my name is Dian Perea and I live um
in the Isakqua Highlands.
>> Um, I
um get really excited when I think about
anything that encourages families and
communities to unite and I've heard that
word community used a lot of times
today. Um, if any of you have been at a
pickle ball event or
hung out near one, um, you will see
many, many communities brought together.
I have played with 12year-old kids. I
have played with eight-year-olds, seven
year olds, and I have played with even
people older than me [laughter]
in their 80s and 90s. Um, talk about
community of culture. I have played with
people who we we don't share a language
but we share a game and we share a
passion and we can share a laugh and we
can share a teaching of one another. So
uh I encourage that. I also come from
the idea that the more parks the better.
Um, I would like to see more
forestdriven parks because,
um, if you want to make families and
people happy, you take them to the
beach, the forest um, and you watch the
joy. But anyway, back to the pickle ball
courts. I'm here to encourage that um,
you really embrace and look at um, add
adding some in the highlands and taking
care of the ones that already exist.
Thank you for your comments. Uh, is
there anyone else in the room who would
like to speak? Yes,
>> I think this is on already. It's red.
>> I'm Penny's story and I live in Isiqua
Highlands.
Um, I would like to say I'm also in
support of the pickleball courts. And I
think that if we have designated
pickleball courts, separating the tennis
and the pickle ball is pretty important
because pickle ball does draw the
community together. As Deianne did say,
it draws people of all ages and all
abilities. and you just come and rack up
your paddle and you play with the next
people in line and everybody is very
willing. we only play to 11 points and
they're willing to meet new people and
play people of different abilities where
I'm also a tennis player so I'm not
saying that tennis is not necessary but
um tennis you come with your partner or
with your four people and you stick with
your four people for the hour and a half
that you play it's a totally different
environment [clears throat]
but I think if we want people especially
up in the highlands or tippets we want
to bring a community together. It's
really pickle ball that does that. We've
seen it happen. We saw it on Mercer
Island and then I know Kirkland is doing
it now. Belle's done it and I think it
would really enhance what the Highlands
has to offer.
>> Thank you.
Uh, anyone else in the room like to
speak?
>> Hey, hey, Chairman Adair.
Congratulations, Council Member Boyd,
Council Member Nichols. I'm Jeff Newell.
I'm South Lake Samish. I'm also on the
park board. Uh I represent a majority of
the board if not all uh in favor of
this. Um the main reasons are just like
why I like being on the park board is
the the park board touches every aspect.
There's very few things in Isiqua that
touch just about every community, every
aspect, uh every demographic, every age
group. Uh and I think this renewal
perfectly hits all those as well.
whether you love pickle ball, whether
you're a hiker, whether you're a dog
enthusiast, uh or I'd say the most
biased interest for me is as a former
soccer coach, softball coach, uh 90% of
my co-workers play cricket. Um
converting those the elementary schools
to turf is going to release a huge
burden and and allow a lot more
organizations to take advantage of what
is so the scheduling is a nightmare for
all those sports in Isiqua. I think we
all know that. Um that's just a a good
example I think of how many different
aspects and it can raise some revenue um
for this. So I just want to make sure
that that we were uh on the record uh
and I and um with I think the broadbased
nature of this proposal um the amount of
different groups it'll fit uh from a
diversity standpoint. And then you know
last but not least we've seen in our
area uh and others uh the toughness of
getting new levies, new bonds approved.
this is just a renewal. And I think if
it's uh if it's well
illustrated that way and well publicized
that this is something that's ongoing
and we just want to continue to do it, I
think it'll get broad support from the
community. Time will tell obviously on
that and it'll take some effort. Uh but
uh I think that's a really encouraging
part of this that we don't need to raise
additional funds to do any of this.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
Anyone else in the room would like to
speak?
No, I'm not seeing any hands. Uh, clerk,
anyone else online who would like to
speak?
>> Not at this time, chair.
>> Okay. Uh, then as a reminder, written
comments can be submitted at any time to
city council at isiqua.gov.
Uh, the committee will now deliberate.
So any
deliberation or recommendations at this
time?
Council member Boy, you're going council
member Nichols.
>> All right. Well, first of all, I started
to say this ring questions, but once
again, thank you for all the wonderful
work that's gone into this these
proposals. Um, both staff, um, Jeff on
the Thank you also to the the uh the
parks board and your representation of
them tonight here. Um,
one of the things that I will say I
personally love about Isco most are our
parks, um, our trails, our connection to
nature, our ability to get involved in
sports. I think that's a big part of why
many of us moved here made that
decision. Uh, and it's a big part of why
many of us that have spent their lives
here have never considered other places.
Uh, I will say after tonight, uh, I am
also going to learn to play pickle ball.
So, thank you for that that advice. Um,
that's it.
>> [laughter]
>> Thank you. Um,
I also want to say I really appreciate
the administration taking the feedback
to give us more insight into the the
vision behind this and also to
potentially give us some more options. I
really think our community can and will
get behind any of these bond options
that were presented tonight. Um, and
that they're all good and reasonable
packages that clearly serve well
doumented known needs and that will
serve our community very well in the
future.
I do just want to quickly double check,
double click on the math though there
because the difference between the the
the recommended level and the bookend
that was presented is is it's only about
$6.50 a month. Uh it's also lower than
any of the other regional levies that we
looked at tonight um between the highest
and lowest cost packages. So I don't
want the council to yet be constrained
by that alone. Um I personally would
want to give the community more
opportunity to weigh in on the best best
mix. Um, and I think that once this gets
more publicized, the community will
weigh in and we'll have more opinions
about what it will best get be most get
behind. Um, so like I said, I'm I'm
confident that any of these that can
come before us, I will vote for, but I I
want to be honest that I don't yet know
what the best options we should be
voting for are. Um, should it be adding
those known pool improvements above and
beyond the administration's base
proposal? I I really don't know. um
picker and barn park improvements that
could help our beloved far farmers
market. Also don't know there. Um so for
now at least my only real feedback is
beyond saying that this is a wonderful
set of proposals that I I'm sure our
community will love for many decades in
the future is to keep advancing as many
options as we feasibly can. Um and
honestly wait to see who shows up and
supports what. Um that's not of course
not all that we should be basing our
decisions on ever. Um, but I I think we
owe these options a little more time to
sit with the public and to see who will
come out of the woodwork to either
advise or indicate they'll help because
these are bonds that have a high
threshold and they will need community
help. Uh, as you mentioned, they will
need that community bond committee to
form and to work hard to get these
passed. So, I'd like to give the
community a bit more time to weigh in
with what direction they want, see who
will come out and show up and indicate
that they'll have the passion to push
this bond over the finish line. So,
really, my only feedback is to keep
these three options available for the
full council to decide on. Um, I don't
think we need more options. I think
these are you've you've given a good and
reasonable set of bookends um out of the
many thousands of combinations that
could be out there. Of course, there's,
you know, there's there's many other
ways to slice this as well, but I think
these these are are a very thoughtful
presentation of a couple different good
mixes. Um, I don't yet know where I
would land. Um, but I would like to see,
again, knowing that we will need
community support and that the
difference between the lowest and
highest cost versions of these is fairly
minor. I want to see who will support it
with what enthusiasm that we can count
on when we we need that community group
to form and help us or help help the
community get this over the line in
November.
Thank Katherine Boy.
>> Thank you uh I'll echo uh for all your
work in presenting this and yeah getting
at answering the questions that were
raised uh before I was appointed. Um, I
uh read through the park strategic plan
to just help better inform myself on the
community need um where the long-term
vision is. And so I know that whatever's
uh we go out to bond for if that's what
we choose to do. Um there are things we
can do beyond just that action. Um, but
I uh [snorts]
my particular neighborhood I really do
see as and it's identified within the
park strategic plan as uh a geographical
um I know there's a trail gap
specifically identified. Um so whether
it's plugging into the more a more
connected network or or a park itself
there. Um, I know, you know, we're
working under a crunch timeline if this
is the timeline that we're pursuing and
that might not be the right fit for
that. Um, but I would at least want to
further entertain and explore and I'll
agree with council member Nichols here
on further getting the community input
on that because North isqua uh, as well
as the central Isiqua regional growth
area has come up many times. And so, um,
I've uh, I think I've emailed this
before. or at least in writing and prep
for our uh council retreat. Uh just
getting a um a map of the proposed
projects. I'm definitely a visual
learner. Um hopefully that'll help out
other council members as well. But maybe
even layer and this is a bit new of a
request. So, uh, layering it with
the maps existing in the plan of those
trail gaps, um, the the gaps that are
identified, um, highlighting, you know,
the areas that are
at more of a geographical disadvantage
in their access to parks. Um,
but yeah, this is, I think, one of our
park system is one of the things that
sets the city apart from other neighbors
in the region. Um, and so
whatever direction we go, I know it can
only serve to better our residents
experience here and visitors, but um, so
I I'm looking forward to talking about
this more.
>> Thank you both. Uh, yeah, so you know,
my comments echo that. One, I' I'm very
impressive work here on all this and
really clarifying a lot of the questions
from before and I especially enjoyed
kind of highlighting, you know, the
vision and how this relates to the park
plan more in, you know, more specific
terms. Um, you know, I would say, you
know, on my own personal side, and this
also comes from having spent more time
with it to a large extent from my parks
board experience, a lot of this feels
this feels very right to me. This feels
like the correct plan. and these feel
like the correct projects. Uh on my own
personal, you know, opinion of it, um I
have, you know, I do think the city
highly values its parks and if there's
one thing the city would be willing to
support is parks. I equally just in
terms of my own financial sense feel
that asking beyond a renewal at this
point in the larger political landscape
I feel even though the city highly
supports parks is risky so to speak even
though there have obviously been a lot
of successes I feel that's risky as well
as can potentially limits our future for
like saying other issues other taxing
things that may come up beyond part the
park system so but that's a person my
you know my personal opinion that I feel
that this fits this obviously other
council members I respect those points
that continuing to have these options
and I agree continuing to have some of
these sessions especially as this starts
to hit the public more to make sure
we're you know giving them what they
want and that the public fully supports
it. So um you know to the you know
direction needed I would say obviously
there there is support for the eighth
sense but that we should keep the
options open at least at for the retreat
to show them what these are. Um I think
also your you know the examples of other
um you know uh measures is help very
helpful to illustrate that um and you
know if there's a way to present it you
know like as you've done is like here
are you know what you guys have proposed
but you know keeping some options open
as you engage with the public so that if
the public really is demanding something
it can come up. Um, you know, I would
say as a personal side, I've always felt
the pool one has always been a thing
that the pool feels like its own project
in and of itself, its own measure, its
own vote, you know, has always felt to
me like that is something that needs to
be its own uh job, you know, is the pool
beyond being bundled with a bunch of
other things because it has so many
factors at play. But that's, you know,
where I feel on that stuff. Um, but
yeah, I think this all is really great.
this has fine-tuned it very well.
Options should still be on the table um
as we continue on especially for the
retreat um and then go from there. Does
that feel like that clarifies a lot of
what you guys have said I would think?
>> Yeah, I mean uh what I heard out of that
and maybe we can be a little bit more
explicit is to keep I would like to keep
all three of these options on the table.
I'm not sure what the best date for that
is. Um you we've got you said you'll be
discussing this at the retreat. I'm not
sure what degree we'll be discussing
them. You've also got further touch
points with our with parks board. Um I
would like to at least my my if if we
vote otherwise we just can express this.
Um my my desire would be to see all of
these at least go to council with enough
opportunity to see who else from the
community will be get behind these. I
would be really interested to see if
this gets publicized a little bit more
who will show up and indicate that they
will come out and support it in in mass
or not. Um and that that could be
informative to us to help understand
uh the the realm of possibilities that
are out there.
This is a bit of an aside, but I know we
heard from uh at last the public comment
in the council meeting about a new um
community newspaper that's coming
online. And so um but that won't happen
until next month. And just yeah uh the
more more time the community has to hear
about this and be better informed and
weigh in. Um, I know I [clears throat]
mean I was looking within the parks plan
of what was informing uh the different
focus groups that you know at athletic
fields came up and that and the
difficulties in scheduling and just
access for that. Um
yeah. Um
I
would agree with keeping the three
options on the table
for more airtime.
>> Great. Do you feel you have uh all the
direction you are needing at this time?
>> Yeah. Helpful. Let me repeat what I'm
hearing in terms of maybe preparation
for retreat conversation is u probably
not all of this information but making
sure council's aware of all of this but
focusing it sounds like on um that table
of of optional scenarios of of levy
rates and providing opportunity for
conversation uh with the rest of the
council on that. um showing not only the
list of projects we're recommending in
the 8 cent levy, but also having a map,
providing a a a map that shows
geographically where those projects
would be within town. Um highlighting
also the um other recent King County
wide park measures uh that happened.
Sounds like those are sort of the areas
of focus that you want us to uh to
spotlight or at least highlight to set
up the conversation um at the retreat.
Does that sound accurate?
>> Yeah. I'd say also some level of you
know or at least maybe the plan of how
the community engagement is going to be
on getting their input on this.
Obviously, you know, it's a time crunch,
but how that seems to be a big point is
what does the community think of this as
we're getting, you know, closer. it
seems to be like how how we're going to
get that support
>> and no thank you for that and that was
going to be my
next comment question is um we are in a
time crunch right and so I want to make
sure as we work with administration and
we build what that might look like we're
also being super super realistic in
terms of when decisions need to be made
um um and I understand and respect
Right. Some some of these decisions are
going to feel like we're making them in
a not fully informed fashion, but we'll
we'll try and build some scenarios or
some models of what we feel like
community outreach could be in the next
couple of weeks.
>> If I can just make one more comment to
me. I it within the proposed plans. I
think no matter I
uh vibrancy is one of the core tenants
of the strategic plan and I really do
see that and you highlighted it in the
slideshow but as I was reading through
the proposal I think no matter what we
do it really is serving to enhance that
vibr aspect. Um and so I really
appreciate that.
>> Awesome. Thank you.
>> No that seems that seems to be correct.
Fantastic.
All right. Uh we now move to
announcements. Do fellow committee
members have any announcements to make?
No announcements. Okay. Well then, oh
yes, I think uh just announcing wherever
we possibly can uh the uh sound transit
board meeting that is coming up on
Thursday and looking for active part
public particip public participation.
Um, please reach out to city council or
your administration if you're interested
in learning how to participate there as
well.
>> Fantastic. All right. So, the next
committee meeting date is June 16th,
2026.
And then there being no further
business, the meeting is adjourned at
8:11 p.m.