Park Board · Tuesday, November 1, 2022 · City Council Digest

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of September 29, 2022 meeting

packet pp.3–4

▶ Watch from 1:31 Open packet at p.3 ↗

Staff report:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) 09-29-22 Park Board Minutes Page 1

4. REGULAR BUSINESS

Heritage Tree Program - Review

Director · 30 min · Jeff Watling, Parks & Community Services · packet pp.21–57

Topics: Trees

Open packet at p.21 ↗

Staff report:

a program sponsored by the PARK BOARD of the CITY OF ISSAQUAH

5. REPORTS

Chairperson's Report

▶ Watch from 1:15:51

Youth Representative's Report

▶ Watch from 1:20:51

Director's Report

▶ Watch from 1:25:51

2123 segments .txt ↗

0:00 ↗ okay all right uh so I'm going to uh

0:05 ↗ call to order the meeting today for

0:08 ↗ November 1st uh 2022.

0:12 ↗ um first order of business going to take

0:14 ↗ a roll call so um when I call your name

0:17 ↗ please take your name off mute or or and

0:20 ↗ uh pick yourself off mute or get your

0:22 ↗ attendance

0:24 ↗ um Chris

0:25 ↗ present

0:28 ↗ all right Andrew

0:30 ↗ Myers

0:33 ↗ uh Marlene

0:39 ↗ all right Nicholas

0:43 ↗ all right Brenda present

0:46 ↗ all right Katie

0:51 ↗ all right Tim

0:53 ↗ [Music]

0:55 ↗ and Andrew e

1:01 ↗ all right Danielle

1:04 ↗ danielli's absent excuse tonight okay

1:07 ↗ and brown

1:08 ↗ present

1:09 ↗ all right thank you

1:11 ↗ all right so uh next just um wanted to

1:15 ↗ see if anyone has any questions comments

1:18 ↗ or Corrections from the minutes from the

1:21 ↗ September 29th uh meeting everyone get a

1:24 ↗ chance to look at the minutes

1:29 ↗ all right uh does anyone have any

1:31 ↗ objection to the approval of minutes

1:33 ↗ from the September 29th meeting

1:38 ↗ it does not appear so I hereby approve

1:42 ↗ the minutes uh from September 29th

1:44 ↗ meeting thank you

1:46 ↗ all right

1:48 ↗ um so uh just uh tonight wanted to uh

1:52 ↗ welcome uh hassanthi the new Department

1:54 ↗ operations specialist

1:57 ↗ um

2:00 ↗ in my third week here with Clarkson

2:03 ↗ community services and I'm excited to be

2:06 ↗ here to support Park Board

2:11 ↗ all right uh so today on the uh agenda

2:15 ↗ we'll be uh sort of going through the

2:18 ↗ community investment strategy and the

2:20 ↗ update next steps and also addressing

2:23 ↗ the Heritage tree program uh so

2:28 ↗ um I would now like to take any uh

2:30 ↗ comments from the uh any public comments

2:34 ↗ um

2:35 ↗ okay no spiel

2:40 ↗ they often have a lecture before they

2:43 ↗ let us talk

2:45 ↗ [Laughter]

2:49 ↗ okay my name is Connie Martian I I uh

2:52 ↗ applied for some trees for the uh

2:56 ↗ Heritage tree program

2:58 ↗ which you

3:00 ↗ got today and

3:02 ↗ um

3:04 ↗ so in using that form it is incredibly

3:09 ↗ outdated

3:10 ↗ it's also not codified and so that form

3:15 ↗ is not a thing it's sort of a a form

3:20 ↗ so

3:21 ↗ when it says only three trees that's not

3:25 ↗ anything that's legal and not anything

3:29 ↗ that

3:31 ↗ has a real basis so I wonder if that is

3:36 ↗ not something that can be just changed

3:40 ↗ because all of this is a form from 12

3:43 ↗ years ago my hope is that we do get a

3:46 ↗ Heritage tree program actually codified

3:49 ↗ so that it is in our code and it becomes

3:52 ↗ a thing that has stature and uh legality

3:57 ↗ but at this point in time we have the

4:01 ↗ form that doesn't really serve the

4:03 ↗ purpose of preserving

4:05 ↗ trees that are important in the

4:08 ↗ community and I use these trees

4:10 ↗ hopefully all of you know this line of

4:12 ↗ trees uh that go along Newport Way in

4:15 ↗ front of Tibbetts Valley Park it's a

4:17 ↗ really signature line of trees and we

4:20 ↗ have a road widening project that wants

4:23 ↗ to take out those trees and basically

4:28 ↗ they're thinking they want to put in a

4:30 ↗ planter strip

4:31 ↗ and I call foul the width of the that

4:34 ↗ road thing is is approved in profile not

4:39 ↗ in reality so it's a future project but

4:42 ↗ I'm trying to figure out a way that we

4:44 ↗ can protect these

4:49 ↗ trees that are mainly in a park because

4:52 ↗ our code right now says that a road

4:55 ↗ widening project can take out the trees

4:58 ↗ even if they're in your Park so uh

5:01 ↗ awkward right and wrong and so that is

5:04 ↗ why I went to the substantial effort of

5:06 ↗ doing this Heritage tree thing and this

5:09 ↗ is why I chafe at the concept that a

5:12 ↗ form written many years ago with no

5:15 ↗ legal basis can prevent at least the

5:18 ↗ park board from saying we want to

5:20 ↗ protect these trees the other avenues

5:22 ↗ are that you could write a letter to the

5:24 ↗ mayor which is who you write letters to

5:26 ↗ and say these are so important and this

5:28 ↗ is such an important tree stand that we

5:31 ↗ want to emphasize that the park board

5:34 ↗ wants to protect these trees so

5:37 ↗ I just want some actions

5:40 ↗ that that provides

5:43 ↗ uh support for the protection of this

5:46 ↗ stand of trees and then other future

5:47 ↗ stands of trees and we really need to

5:50 ↗ redo the Heritage tree uh program and

5:53 ↗ turn it into a thing that's

5:56 ↗ they're both equally good good program

5:58 ↗ protected earned trees thanks

6:02 ↗ thank you Connie

6:07 ↗ thank you

6:09 ↗ foreign

6:14 ↗ my name is Corey Christensen a resident

6:17 ↗ on squawk Mountain I have uh two

6:20 ↗ comments and one has an A and B and the

6:23 ↗ first one is about the eckhouse and I'd

6:26 ↗ like to first talk on or speak on behalf

6:29 ↗ of uh my friend Chuck Olson

6:32 ↗ who

6:35 ↗ his grandparents were the ex

6:37 ↗ and

6:39 ↗ um if he were here he would be saying

6:41 ↗ preserve the house and I frankly would

6:44 ↗ agree with him because when we look back

6:46 ↗ at Confluence Park the eckhouse was not

6:49 ↗ the only house that was in in the park

6:52 ↗ that initially were was uh slated to be

6:55 ↗ preserved matter of fact uh I'll start

6:58 ↗ out with a little quote this was from

6:59 ↗ Margaret mccloyd

7:01 ↗ McCloud excuse me you know our previous

7:04 ↗ part

7:05 ↗ planner and this was in talking about in

7:08 ↗ in the Issaquah reporter talking about

7:11 ↗ the uh

7:13 ↗ consultant and this was when we had

7:16 ↗ three large community meetings there and

7:18 ↗ this was after one of them one of the

7:20 ↗ big challenges for the burger

7:21 ↗ partnership would be would be to make

7:23 ↗ good use of the two farm houses the Egg

7:26 ↗ Farm egg Farmhouse and the Anderson

7:28 ↗ Farmhouse which would be conserved and

7:31 ↗ turned into Community facilities for the

7:33 ↗ residents and visitors

7:35 ↗ pretty shortly after a few years after

7:38 ↗ the uh

7:40 ↗ Park was actually up where you could use

7:44 ↗ it it was determined that the Anderson

7:47 ↗ house which had been donated by Vern

7:49 ↗ Anderson in the name of his his

7:52 ↗ grandfather needed to either be moved or

7:55 ↗ torn down and it could have been moved

7:57 ↗ in in the park but it was actually in

8:00 ↗ quite sorry shape inside and it was

8:04 ↗ determined that

8:05 ↗ to meet the historic preservation part

8:07 ↗ it would focus on the eckhouse which was

8:10 ↗ a

8:11 ↗ um still a more classic farmhouse and

8:14 ↗ had coal mining roots and a wash shed

8:18 ↗ and all this sort of thing

8:19 ↗ and also the property for the eckhouse

8:23 ↗ was purchased with Council manic bonding

8:25 ↗ bonding which meant people like Chuck

8:28 ↗ and myself and others all campaigned to

8:31 ↗ to preserve it to add it to to be part

8:34 ↗ of the third part of the Confluence part

8:37 ↗ which is it's interesting the Confluence

8:40 ↗ was both of Issaquah Creek but also the

8:42 ↗ Anderson property the print property

8:45 ↗ which was in the center and then the

8:47 ↗ eckhouse property and so I think the

8:51 ↗ Trek would be right that we really

8:52 ↗ should be preserving the eckhouse and

8:55 ↗ not turning it into a picnic shelter

8:57 ↗ but I understand we have the problems

9:00 ↗ that we have but I think it's a

9:01 ↗ tremendous loss and it is really

9:03 ↗ something that we have to be looking at

9:05 ↗ the you know how we got

9:08 ↗ to where we are because we've basically

9:10 ↗ squeezed all of the historical part out

9:14 ↗ granted we're saving a little bit but

9:16 ↗ we're not saving very much

9:18 ↗ my part B is that one of my

9:22 ↗ um

9:24 ↗ oh I can't think of the right word

9:26 ↗ without it it's sounding too bad but

9:28 ↗ where I get grumpy is with Park Master

9:30 ↗ plans and I think that the being around

9:34 ↗ for the community meetings and the

9:36 ↗ formation of this park master plan that

9:39 ↗ this should require opening the master

9:41 ↗ plan up because it's a significant

9:43 ↗ change because basically what we've done

9:45 ↗ or are doing is subtracting out

9:48 ↗ historical preservation saving a little

9:51 ↗ bit you know the barn has a few pieces

9:53 ↗ of old barn wood in it and now the

9:55 ↗ eckhouse is going to be a few few pieces

9:57 ↗ of old accounts and the the reason I

10:02 ↗ bring that up is because whenever the

10:04 ↗ community brings up something that's in

10:06 ↗ a master plan the answer is always we

10:09 ↗ can't change it because it's a master

10:11 ↗ plan and we can't change a master plan

10:13 ↗ but when you have instances like this

10:15 ↗ you guys seem to be able to change a

10:17 ↗ master plan pretty easily the Confluence

10:19 ↗ Park bridge is another example of that

10:21 ↗ because originally that bridge was

10:23 ↗ supposed to touch all three parts of the

10:26 ↗ Confluence but because of the widening

10:28 ↗ of the creek it made it so it could only

10:30 ↗ go across one or two excuse me now that

10:34 ↗ might not seem to be a big deal except

10:36 ↗ when you start looking further down the

10:38 ↗ road at the future phases of the park

10:41 ↗ the next phase or major phase is

10:44 ↗ connecting over to where the park

10:46 ↗ Maintenance Shop is which is going over

10:48 ↗ the East Fork so now we're looking at

10:50 ↗ having another Bridge so really that

10:52 ↗ should have

10:53 ↗ triggered looking at the master plan

10:56 ↗ and possibly deciding where that bridge

10:59 ↗ goes because they're also talking about

11:01 ↗ putting in a bridge at Holly Street so

11:03 ↗ when it's all done this park might not

11:06 ↗ really be called Confluence Park but

11:08 ↗ Three Bridges Park and so sometimes to

11:10 ↗ take a pause and to look at this stuff

11:12 ↗ makes sense

11:14 ↗ my other comment is I just wanted to

11:16 ↗ give a shout out to Tim from his for his

11:18 ↗ comments about Hillside park at the last

11:20 ↗ meeting he was absolutely spot on about

11:23 ↗ parking spot on about the lack of

11:25 ↗ sidewalks and spot on about you know you

11:30 ↗ just go down the list he has the pulse

11:32 ↗ of the community and well he was

11:35 ↗ basically the Lone Eagle on this he is

11:38 ↗ actually speaking very clearly and

11:40 ↗ loudly about what people are thinking in

11:42 ↗ the community in or in the neighborhood

11:44 ↗ I should say and it's much appreciated I

11:47 ↗ think that one thing that was very

11:48 ↗ disappointing was hearing that not

11:51 ↗ getting emails because there's a large

11:54 ↗ community group that's participated in

11:56 ↗ the Confluence part excuse me Hillside

11:58 ↗ Park meetings for a long time and having

12:01 ↗ the list and not using it it doesn't

12:03 ↗ really count you got to use the list

12:05 ↗ public engagement is important keeping

12:08 ↗ people on board is important especially

12:10 ↗ with a park where they're where the

12:13 ↗ majority of the people don't like what

12:15 ↗ you're doing there I happen to be in the

12:17 ↗ group that is more ambivalent about the

12:20 ↗ uh about the playground but if you were

12:22 ↗ asking uh the questions the survey

12:26 ↗ questions in a more granular way I

12:28 ↗ probably would probably end up being

12:31 ↗ closer to the 60 of the people that

12:33 ↗ don't like what's happening there for me

12:35 ↗ what's most important is seeing that the

12:38 ↗ field drainage gets put in because I

12:42 ↗ don't want to see that ended ending up

12:44 ↗ being value engineering engineered out

12:48 ↗ because it's too expensive it's too

12:50 ↗ difficult it's to whatever because if we

12:52 ↗ don't get the field drainage then then I

12:55 ↗ think you're going to make make it so

12:56 ↗ that instead of 60 of the people that

13:00 ↗ are upset it's going to be 97 of the

13:02 ↗ people anyway thank you and again thanks

13:05 ↗ a lot Tim

13:06 ↗ that's not right

13:08 ↗ thank you Corey

13:12 ↗ all right

13:14 ↗ um any other public comments uh anyone

13:18 ↗ on no one else signed up for a public

13:20 ↗ comments and I don't see anyone else

13:22 ↗ online Okay

13:26 ↗ um well with that I think we will move

13:28 ↗ forward to the update on the community

13:32 ↗ investment strategy

13:36 ↗ great thank you Zach um good evening

13:38 ↗ everyone Jeff Watling um Parks Community

13:40 ↗ Services director apologize for for not

13:42 ↗ being able to join you tonight uh but

13:44 ↗ for health reasons makes more sense that

13:46 ↗ I join you uh join you here so um

13:49 ↗ greetings all

13:51 ↗ um welcome asanthi I'd give a shout out

13:54 ↗ there as well uh third week in uh just

13:57 ↗ so excited to have her on board she

13:58 ↗ comes with a vast array of experience

14:01 ↗ doing administrative special project

14:04 ↗ work in higher education has a public

14:07 ↗ admin degree has a certainly a zest for

14:10 ↗ local governments so uh welcome on board

14:13 ↗ uh hisanthi um Monica a shout out as

14:17 ↗ well

14:18 ↗ um Monica negrila our human services

14:20 ↗ manager who so aptly helped and

14:23 ↗ supported our Park board meetings

14:26 ↗ um in these in these months between

14:28 ↗ Melissa leaving and Asante coming on

14:31 ↗ board Monica you're a rock star thank

14:33 ↗ you so so much for that

14:35 ↗ all right so the community investment

14:37 ↗ strategy

14:39 ↗ um boy you know we met on September 29th

14:42 ↗ uh thank you so much for the work of the

14:45 ↗ ad hoc group as well as your work over

14:47 ↗ the the prior months ahead of that

14:50 ↗ um uh the motion that you

14:53 ↗ um approved that night uh was uh then

14:56 ↗ forwarded on to city council

14:59 ↗ um tonight the intent tonight is to to

15:01 ↗ give you a recap of those conversations

15:03 ↗ with Council we had on October 10th and

15:06 ↗ then again on October 17th uh the action

15:09 ↗ that the council took

15:12 ↗ um and then sort of laying out some next

15:14 ↗ steps in terms of what's it going to

15:16 ↗ mean for that work I also want to add

15:18 ↗ into this discussion

15:20 ↗ um along the way through the the budget

15:22 ↗ process I'm here for 23 24 budget

15:26 ↗ um some

15:28 ↗ operating budget uh conversations we've

15:30 ↗ had that really will influence some of

15:34 ↗ our Park planning capacity as we head

15:38 ↗ into this work and into the future as

15:41 ↗ well so I know gen Fink has a slide

15:44 ↗ presentation she's going to share

15:47 ↗ um

15:48 ↗ I don't know Jen if you want to

15:49 ↗ transition to to that coming up I'll

15:51 ↗ continue

15:53 ↗ um like my really quick overview and

15:57 ↗ then end up turning it over to you for

15:58 ↗ the the projects themselves so

16:01 ↗ um again on October 10th we

16:04 ↗ um had a long discussion really robust

16:06 ↗ conversation with Council and getting

16:08 ↗ their feedback on your initial

16:09 ↗ recommendations and talk through the

16:11 ↗ projects

16:12 ↗ um hats off I know Katie both Katie and

16:15 ↗ Chris Kovac were were in attendance that

16:17 ↗ night Kris Kovac thank you so much you

16:19 ↗ did a great job of I think really

16:21 ↗ reflecting and representing the

16:23 ↗ discussions uh that the park board had

16:25 ↗ on the rationale as we went through that

16:28 ↗ Matrix but then also uh the

16:31 ↗ recommendations themselves Council so

16:33 ↗ appreciated uh the work of this Park

16:35 ↗ Board

16:37 ↗ um their their subsequent deliberations

16:39 ↗ on the 17th led to an outcome that's a

16:43 ↗ little bit different than our

16:44 ↗ recommendations but very much in line

16:46 ↗ quite frankly with the recommendations

16:48 ↗ and discussions that

16:50 ↗ um that you had on the 29th as you see

16:54 ↗ um as you'll see from the overview that

16:57 ↗ that

16:58 ↗ um Jennifer will give

17:00 ↗ um I think I'll pause now to save my

17:02 ↗ voice for later uh conversations

17:04 ↗ throughout this evening uh let Jen take

17:07 ↗ over this portion and then jump back on

17:09 ↗ with the uh capacity piece Jen take it

17:13 ↗ away

17:15 ↗ uh thank you Jeff

17:17 ↗ um so as uh Jeff so happily prompted uh

17:21 ↗ your recommendation on the 29th to

17:24 ↗ council was

17:26 ↗ um to support the four million dollar

17:28 ↗ Community investment strategy um with

17:31 ↗ your preference being The Pedestrian

17:32 ↗ Park Depot Park in the Senior Center

17:34 ↗ Plaza

17:36 ↗ as we took that recommendation back to

17:38 ↗ Council on October 10th

17:41 ↗ um they really the conversation at that

17:44 ↗ meeting really wanted us to focus on

17:46 ↗ three different areas and that was the

17:47 ↗ creek corridor uh with specifically

17:51 ↗ um the dog park

17:52 ↗ um there were some conversations around

17:54 ↗ Confluence Park and what could

17:56 ↗ potentially be done there and um

17:59 ↗ Veterans Memorial

18:01 ↗ um Consolidated Park which included

18:03 ↗ includes areas of pedestrian Park Depot

18:06 ↗ Park and the Senior Center Plaza

18:09 ↗ we went back to Council on the 17th

18:11 ↗ given some of the council conversations

18:14 ↗ these are all videoed if you want to go

18:15 ↗ back and watch those conversations and

18:19 ↗ really

18:20 ↗ um

18:21 ↗ took the pieces of each of those areas

18:24 ↗ that Council wanted us to focus on and

18:28 ↗ figured out a strategy how to address

18:30 ↗ those

18:31 ↗ and so as we went forward

18:33 ↗ in our capital budget now that the

18:36 ↗ conversation on the 2324 budget was

18:39 ↗ going forth we do have funding in there

18:42 ↗ for a dog park

18:44 ↗ um so we are going to proceed with this

18:46 ↗ project but not with the arpa funding

18:48 ↗ but rather through our Capital

18:50 ↗ Improvement project so the dog park at

18:54 ↗ the Issaquah Community Center just down

18:56 ↗ the road here where the old skate park

18:59 ↗ used to be will be our first permanent

19:02 ↗ um dog park

19:04 ↗ um we'll get that uh hopefully

19:07 ↗ construction built next year it's not

19:08 ↗ too complex a project so we should be

19:11 ↗ able to deliver pretty quickly on that

19:14 ↗ one

19:16 ↗ um Confluence Park

19:18 ↗ um really there was a focus of

19:21 ↗ um wanting to as we heard tonight you

19:24 ↗ know save some of the history of the

19:26 ↗ eckhouse but how can that space be more

19:28 ↗ usable community space and how can we

19:31 ↗ still pay homage to the history of the

19:34 ↗ echaus but create a more usable space

19:37 ↗ for Gathering much like the existing

19:41 ↗ picnic shelter out there is so rather

19:43 ↗ than doing the play area we're really

19:45 ↗ just going to be focusing on a picnic

19:48 ↗ shelter here

19:49 ↗ with some patio space that connects to

19:52 ↗ the existing playground which is this

19:55 ↗ area right where my hand is moving there

19:57 ↗ so a little smaller scale project on

20:00 ↗ this but we'll provide some Galaxy space

20:03 ↗ also a rentable space for parties so

20:06 ↗ there is a potential for some Revenue

20:08 ↗ generation with this as well

20:13 ↗ Veterans Memorial

20:14 ↗ Consolidated Park through conversations

20:19 ↗ um uh really focusing on the senior

20:22 ↗ center and providing some new activity

20:24 ↗ spaces not only for seniors but as an

20:27 ↗ additional Park use for the public as

20:29 ↗ well

20:30 ↗ um was really a focus of heightened

20:33 ↗ conversation and interest as well as

20:36 ↗ pedestrian Park you know this corner is

20:39 ↗ such such a visible corner off of what

20:42 ↗ is um

20:43 ↗ surprisingly one of our regional entry

20:45 ↗ points to the city a lot of traffic

20:49 ↗ comes through here so

20:51 ↗ um both of these areas

20:52 ↗ are going to be focused we will

20:56 ↗ um do some type of connection to connect

20:59 ↗ these even though this area is grayed

21:01 ↗ out as we try and further the designs

21:04 ↗ through those we are going to try and

21:05 ↗ make some connection that leads to those

21:09 ↗ those two spaces together so it's not

21:11 ↗ the ends of the dumbbell but there's

21:13 ↗ also the the bar in between that

21:15 ↗ connects those

21:16 ↗ um learning spaces

21:19 ↗ uh here's just kind of a close-up again

21:21 ↗ of The Pedestrian Park these were all in

21:24 ↗ your prior packets so you've seen these

21:26 ↗ before but as we start going through our

21:29 ↗ next stages of design we'll start

21:31 ↗ refining these

21:33 ↗ um designs as well and then here's just

21:36 ↗ a closer look at the senior center plaza

21:39 ↗ as well you know some out activity

21:43 ↗ spaces whether it be Bocce or

21:45 ↗ shuffleboard some outdoor seating

21:47 ↗ um a canopy space perhaps and um some

21:51 ↗ new lighting and a rolled entry curbless

21:54 ↗ here to allow more

21:56 ↗ um of a drop-off Zone as needed

22:01 ↗ some of the preliminary costs I know

22:03 ↗ initially we were working with a Solid 4

22:05 ↗ million we had to do some cost sharing

22:08 ↗ and some project cost reduction a little

22:11 ↗ bit I know we're still in the really fat

22:14 ↗ Wiggly numbers right now because there's

22:16 ↗ a lot we don't know but a lot we do know

22:19 ↗ um so we're thinking Confluence Park

22:21 ↗ project is going to cost in between one

22:24 ↗ to 1.4 million and we plan on funding

22:27 ↗ that with 800 000 of arpa money and

22:31 ↗ there's about 200 000 from an insurance

22:34 ↗ claim several years ago someone set fire

22:38 ↗ um over by one of the deck areas of the

22:41 ↗ building and did some damage and we were

22:43 ↗ able to collect on that so this would be

22:45 ↗ reusing those Insurance funds in a

22:48 ↗ purposeful manner

22:50 ↗ um Veterans Memorial we're thinking

22:52 ↗ that's going to be in the 3.6 to 4

22:55 ↗ million dollar range uh we are

22:57 ↗ submitting an ask to the state

22:59 ↗ legislature for some additional funding

23:02 ↗ uh which then brings the arpa dollars

23:04 ↗ that we're able to use in the 2.8 to 3.2

23:09 ↗ um so it'll be split just a little bit

23:11 ↗ between Confluence Park and the eckhouse

23:13 ↗ and we

23:14 ↗ anticipate each project being between

23:17 ↗ 1.8 to 2 million as I mentioned even

23:19 ↗ though Depot Park isn't in here we will

23:22 ↗ try and use monies from each to make a

23:24 ↗ connection

23:25 ↗ in that space

23:28 ↗ um so that's kind of where we're sitting

23:30 ↗ at budget wise right now

23:33 ↗ um going forward

23:36 ↗ um and this was the motion that Council

23:38 ↗ authorized which was to spend 800 narpa

23:41 ↗ funds for the Confluence Park

23:44 ↗ and 200 000 of the insurance and then

23:47 ↗ for pedestrian Park Senior Center Plaza

23:50 ↗ 3.2 million of the art of funding

23:55 ↗ now um you've seen this a little

23:59 ↗ schedule before and look here we're

24:01 ↗ starting to tick off a few items as Jeff

24:04 ↗ mentioned

24:05 ↗ council is anticipated to adopt the

24:08 ↗ budget on November 7th

24:11 ↗ um so we will be ready to check one more

24:13 ↗ box off on this as well but we're going

24:16 ↗ to try and head right into design

24:19 ↗ um and creation further design and then

24:22 ↗ eventual construction document and more

24:25 ↗ detailed design through this and we've

24:27 ↗ got a heightened schedule in order for

24:30 ↗ us to be able to get through permitting

24:31 ↗ and also get this bid and awarded and

24:36 ↗ constructed in starting November of next

24:39 ↗ year so we've started with some

24:42 ↗ preliminary conversations already with

24:43 ↗ our design team we're scoping things out

24:45 ↗ one of the things we would like to

24:48 ↗ um also ask of the board

24:51 ↗ is a participation from the ad hoc

24:54 ↗ committee to help further being this

24:56 ↗ design process is so condensed having

25:00 ↗ their input as to how we arrived these

25:03 ↗ decisions for these projects to begin

25:05 ↗ with would really love to further that

25:08 ↗ engagement if the board should have that

25:11 ↗ as well as the park ad hoc members would

25:14 ↗ be willing to participate not nearly the

25:17 ↗ amount of time that was needed before a

25:20 ↗ little more um tolerable but definitely

25:22 ↗ would be great as a sounding block than

25:24 ↗ them being able to come back and Report

25:26 ↗ out to the board as we further these

25:29 ↗ designs because they're pretty well

25:31 ↗ scoped right now so as we go into a

25:33 ↗ little further detailed design starting

25:36 ↗ to really work more with the budget and

25:38 ↗ what we can do and what's achievable

25:42 ↗ um so with that

25:44 ↗ um that's where we are with the arpa

25:48 ↗ funds and capital projects any any

25:51 ↗ questions

25:54 ↗ uh it looks like it's all Brad's hand go

25:57 ↗ up and Marlene and Marlene

26:01 ↗ so thanks for that Jennifer it all looks

26:04 ↗ good

26:05 ↗ um the freight train certainly is in

26:07 ↗ motion and so it might be a little bit

26:09 ↗ late to talk about a couple of these

26:11 ↗ things but um I kind of wanted to at

26:14 ↗ least touch base with what Corey had to

26:16 ↗ say you know it's been a long long time

26:19 ↗ since I've seen the master plan for

26:22 ↗ Confluence Park

26:23 ↗ and it would be good to maybe see what

26:26 ↗ the language was in reference to some of

26:28 ↗ those historical houses to make sure

26:31 ↗ that we're doing the right thing here

26:33 ↗ I assume that it's probably General

26:36 ↗ enough language that that we can do this

26:39 ↗ um you know and still be in line with

26:41 ↗ the master plan but I think Corey raises

26:44 ↗ a good point that if we're going to be

26:46 ↗ making saw altercations to historical

26:48 ↗ landmarks that we incorporate

26:52 ↗ um you know those master plan

26:55 ↗ Concepts and I know Jeff will be able to

26:58 ↗ talk more about that you know one of the

27:01 ↗ things you know in reference to the you

27:03 ↗ know frankly uh you know beyond that I

27:05 ↗ do think that a shelter would probably

27:07 ↗ be

27:08 ↗ a good thing there for the EC house

27:11 ↗ because it would probably

27:14 ↗ be very usable uh maybe more so than

27:18 ↗ what could be done in renovating the

27:20 ↗ eckhouse but

27:23 ↗ um you know one thing you know people

27:25 ↗ that know me know that I'm big into

27:26 ↗ images and into interpretive panels and

27:31 ↗ um a suggestion that I would really like

27:33 ↗ to to make in reference to both the

27:36 ↗ Anderson and eckhouse would be to

27:38 ↗ perhaps incorporate some historical

27:41 ↗ images

27:42 ↗ to mount in those shelters and also some

27:46 ↗ interpretive panels that would actually

27:49 ↗ be able to provide some good historical

27:51 ↗ background for both of those historical

27:53 ↗ houses

27:55 ↗ and I think that that would maybe help

27:57 ↗ bridge the gap to some extent in terms

28:00 ↗ of the conversions that have occurred

28:02 ↗ and would also be very

28:05 ↗ um

28:05 ↗ uh beneficial to the community to have a

28:08 ↗ better awareness of those historical

28:11 ↗ pieces so I would really like to you

28:15 ↗ know see us do something interpretive

28:17 ↗ more you know much like you know I don't

28:20 ↗ know how many times I've asked for an

28:22 ↗ interpretive

28:23 ↗ um follow-up to the um uh you know the

28:26 ↗ Confluence Bridge

28:28 ↗ [Music]

28:30 ↗ it's in production

28:34 ↗ again

28:38 ↗ something that we've talked about in in

28:41 ↗ any event so uh thanks for that yeah

28:46 ↗ now the sign is at the sign shop getting

28:48 ↗ produced truly

28:52 ↗ hey Brad uh Marlene

28:55 ↗ curious a little bit about Depot Park

28:58 ↗ and it's pretty much you know stricken

29:00 ↗ kind of from this and I I'll admit I did

29:02 ↗ not you know watch the live uh console

29:05 ↗ events but I was just curious what

29:07 ↗ discussions kind of took place with

29:09 ↗ Depot Park and could you guys just maybe

29:11 ↗ tell us a little bit about how that one

29:13 ↗ kind of got mixed

29:16 ↗ yeah I I can certainly jump into that

29:19 ↗ you know I don't know that I would say

29:20 ↗ it got nixed I think it was

29:23 ↗ um

29:24 ↗ as Council saw the entirety of of of

29:27 ↗ that Vision right both pedestrian Depot

29:30 ↗ and the senior center

29:34 ↗ um I I think their interest Marlene and

29:36 ↗ in realizing all right the the money

29:38 ↗ can't do all of it

29:41 ↗ how do we perhaps um I think they they

29:44 ↗ showed interest in investing on the

29:46 ↗ edges

29:47 ↗ edges being strengthening that presence

29:51 ↗ between Front Street Sunset so The

29:53 ↗ Pedestrian Park Side being really

29:56 ↗ strengthening that that entry point into

30:00 ↗ um

30:01 ↗ um and towards the depot

30:03 ↗ um but then also they had a lot of

30:05 ↗ interest in

30:07 ↗ how to take the senior center and rather

30:09 ↗ feeling have it really have no real

30:11 ↗ relationship with Memorial Field

30:13 ↗ Veterans Memorial Field how to

30:15 ↗ strengthen that relationship and

30:18 ↗ um so I think that led to this idea of

30:23 ↗ um and and I think it is um

30:26 ↗ I can't remember who I forgive I'm not

30:28 ↗ going to give credit to the right board

30:30 ↗ member please please raise your hand

30:33 ↗ um

30:33 ↗ um but this idea of being an activator

30:36 ↗ right of saying how does this investment

30:39 ↗ not live by itself but do we invest on

30:43 ↗ pedestrian and Senior Center

30:46 ↗ realizing that we want it to ex and be

30:48 ↗ an accelerant an accelerator uh to

30:51 ↗ Future investment there at Depot

30:54 ↗ um and so I think that's where this idea

30:56 ↗ of starting with the edges phase the two

30:59 ↗ edges let the middle that still has a

31:02 ↗ few more questions answered to it it's

31:04 ↗ relationship to the parking lot Etc let

31:07 ↗ um

31:08 ↗ but like the first phases on the edges

31:11 ↗ help strengthen the need and the speed

31:14 ↗ for uh the investment in the middle

31:20 ↗ uh Brad that's all your hand go up again

31:23 ↗ yeah I did I forgot to make a comment uh

31:26 ↗ and Marlene kind of triggered it to some

31:28 ↗ extent you know I really like what's

31:31 ↗ come together here with the use of arpa

31:33 ↗ in many respects

31:34 ↗ um I just would like to make an emphasis

31:36 ↗ that in the design process to and I know

31:41 ↗ this is probably going to happen anyway

31:42 ↗ but I'd like to fuel the fire here to

31:45 ↗ really have some sort of a connective

31:46 ↗ Trail to some extent between pedestrian

31:49 ↗ Park and the senior center I think is

31:51 ↗ really crucial and and to at least in

31:54 ↗ the design aspect of Depot Park to at

31:57 ↗ least concentrate at least on that

31:59 ↗ connection piece without maybe having to

32:01 ↗ go into the full design work of of Depot

32:04 ↗ Park would at least be helpful I know

32:07 ↗ that's something I did watch the meeting

32:09 ↗ and I don't think that that kind of came

32:11 ↗ up to at least it did come up absolutely

32:13 ↗ Brad and you're right right how to at

32:15 ↗ least have some type of Common Thread

32:17 ↗ right right that has it feel like a

32:21 ↗ connected experience yeah yeah thanks

32:25 ↗ yep great question Marlene

32:29 ↗ Zach can I take a second and and I I

32:32 ↗ guess respond to Brad's comments and and

32:35 ↗ also you know Corey's comments um I too

32:39 ↗ really appreciate your comments Corey

32:40 ↗ thank you

32:42 ↗ um and and what Echo those right how do

32:44 ↗ we

32:46 ↗ um in making this consideration and

32:48 ↗ figuring out all right how how does that

32:50 ↗ house become a public amenity

32:53 ↗ um how can it become part of the park

32:56 ↗ um it would certainly be our goal

32:58 ↗ um in intent that it is a way of

33:01 ↗ um really recognizing this as a

33:03 ↗ historical space but having it be a

33:06 ↗ historical space that has a lot of

33:08 ↗ public use

33:10 ↗ um

33:10 ↗ um I want to note something that you

33:12 ↗ said Brad and I don't think you meant to

33:13 ↗ say it but I I just want to emphasize

33:15 ↗ this is not a historically registered

33:18 ↗ house it is not currently on any sort of

33:21 ↗ historic register so so

33:24 ↗ um there's none of that that we need to

33:26 ↗ work through uh that said though there

33:28 ↗ is history

33:30 ↗ um attached to that and and I think as

33:32 ↗ we really go about Place making

33:35 ↗ emphasizing that history uh celebrating

33:37 ↗ that history having interpretive signs

33:40 ↗ on that history you're absolutely right

33:41 ↗ not only for uh what this house is and

33:45 ↗ it's

33:46 ↗ um really historic reference to The

33:48 ↗ Farmhouse and the farm houses that were

33:50 ↗ on that site but then also the Anderson

33:52 ↗ barn and what the other shelter really

33:54 ↗ represents as

33:56 ↗ um

33:57 ↗ um paying emphasis to the to the barn I

34:01 ↗ have had an initial conversation with

34:03 ↗ some members of the Historical Society

34:04 ↗ they're very interested

34:07 ↗ um very intrigued by the idea we

34:09 ↗ certainly feel like they're going to be

34:10 ↗ a really important Resource as we roll

34:13 ↗ up our sleeves and and see how we could

34:16 ↗ make this happen

34:21 ↗ thanks Jeff uh any uh other comments

34:29 ↗ um happy to continue with ad hoc stuff

34:31 ↗ Gem and not sure if there's any

34:33 ↗ formalities there but just keep me

34:36 ↗ posted that sounds great that actually

34:38 ↗ kind of segues into the uh the next uh

34:42 ↗ next thing so just kind of wanted to

34:44 ↗ gauge the interest from the board and

34:46 ↗ continuing with the ad hoc in the next

34:50 ↗ um six to eight months

34:52 ↗ um if there's interest uh from our board

34:56 ↗ members and continuing that separate ad

34:58 ↗ hoc meeting or if anybody would like

35:00 ↗ anybody would like to comment uh to that

35:06 ↗ I'm happy to give some content oh

35:10 ↗ just some quick added context to that

35:12 ↗ Zach thanks for posing that question you

35:14 ↗ know I Jen and I do not have dates or

35:16 ↗ times I I think the frequency of this is

35:19 ↗ probably not to the to the speed with

35:22 ↗ which we were doing in in an eight-week

35:24 ↗ window and trying to get a lot of work

35:26 ↗ done this is probably feels more like a

35:28 ↗ every six to eight week kind of a a

35:30 ↗ Cadence

35:32 ↗ um

35:32 ↗ just that just that context

35:36 ↗ thank you Nicholas

35:40 ↗ yeah I think so again Brad's saying a

35:43 ↗ lot of awesome things tonight so thanks

35:45 ↗ for that I think the word freight train

35:46 ↗ kind of sticks in my mind and the idea

35:48 ↗ that you know speed is going to be of

35:50 ↗ the essence for delivery on these

35:51 ↗ specific projects so I think ad hoc is

35:53 ↗ appropriate I just think it might be

35:56 ↗ also appropriate to allow some people to

35:58 ↗ join or remove themselves if they

36:01 ↗ thought they did their part in the First

36:03 ↗ you know go around and maybe they want

36:05 ↗ to free them or time up for the latter

36:07 ↗ half I'm not volunteering I'm just

36:09 ↗ saying

36:12 ↗ which yeah also kind of segues I did

36:15 ↗ want to sort of get an idea from the

36:17 ↗ members of the ad hoc

36:19 ↗ um

36:20 ↗ uh the interest in continuing forward so

36:24 ↗ yes thank you for uh for that uh that's

36:27 ↗ certainly uh important component to

36:29 ↗ continuing as well

36:31 ↗ um I know Chrissy said you had interest

36:34 ↗ in happy to continue forward

36:37 ↗ Marlene was the other one Andrew e is

36:40 ↗ not here

36:42 ↗ sorry I'm enjoying light

36:46 ↗ um I I think I I if anybody is willing

36:51 ↗ to um take

36:53 ↗ um volunteer in my place uh that is

36:57 ↗ definitely

36:58 ↗ um open and but uh I'm happy to continue

37:01 ↗ as well

37:05 ↗ thank you Andrew

37:06 ↗ Andrew

37:10 ↗ and Marlene

37:12 ↗ I'm on board

37:15 ↗ okay wonderful

37:17 ↗ that's it all right

37:21 ↗ um so uh any other comments with regards

37:24 ↗ to uh the ad hoc

37:27 ↗ just I'll be in touch as we formalize

37:29 ↗ scope with our consultant team and we

37:31 ↗ start getting a game plan going forward

37:33 ↗ so stay tuned you'll hear from me soon

37:38 ↗ a few weeks probably

37:40 ↗ yeah and again thank you everybody

37:42 ↗ certainly more work ahead

37:44 ↗ um again a real appreciation from from

37:47 ↗ Council and the mayor it's nice to have

37:49 ↗ right your your motion really help uh

37:53 ↗ frame up the council conversation and

37:55 ↗ then be able to to report back to you on

37:57 ↗ sort of the outcome of that and in this

38:01 ↗ case what it means is uh

38:03 ↗ now yeah jumping on the freight train

38:06 ↗ we'll try and manage the freight train

38:07 ↗ so it it we're we're on it and it's not

38:10 ↗ headed toward towards us necessarily

38:13 ↗ um some really exciting public

38:16 ↗ Investments

38:17 ↗ um that we look forward to

38:20 ↗ um seeing come to reality

38:22 ↗ along those lines sort of this next

38:24 ↗ phrase of the update you know um as the

38:27 ↗ 23-24 budget deliverations were

38:29 ↗ happening maybe just a little bit of a

38:30 ↗ back story so

38:32 ↗ um Civics 101 right the the in an

38:36 ↗ elected mayor city council form of

38:37 ↗ government the the mayor is in essence

38:40 ↗ the the CEO of the executive branch and

38:43 ↗ the council is the legislative branch so

38:45 ↗ it is the executive branch that brings

38:47 ↗ forward a proposed budget the

38:49 ↗ legislative branch that was the one who

38:51 ↗ decides and grants the budget and so

38:55 ↗ um as the mayor and department head

38:58 ↗ departments work with the mayor to form

39:00 ↗ their proposed budget this year given

39:02 ↗ it's a two-year budget the mayor this

39:04 ↗ past summer reached out to the council

39:07 ↗ and said hey Council as I the mayor

39:09 ↗ informing the budget I'd like to know

39:11 ↗ what your goals are so as I'm forming

39:14 ↗ the budget I'm I'm I understand what

39:16 ↗ your goals are as well and so there was

39:18 ↗ a Council Retreat

39:21 ↗ um

39:22 ↗ um I didn't attend department heads

39:24 ↗ weren't asked to attend but uh certainly

39:26 ↗ watched it heard it

39:28 ↗ in that conversation Council we're sort

39:31 ↗ of given opportunity to identify what

39:33 ↗ their operating goals are and what their

39:34 ↗ Capital goals are

39:36 ↗ um in that conversation

39:38 ↗ um the green necklace right and it's

39:40 ↗ much of what we've discussed in the park

39:42 ↗ strategic plan and and still this

39:45 ↗ sort of defined yet somewhat undefined

39:48 ↗ set of of uh many many projects was

39:52 ↗ clearly identified by Council as a

39:54 ↗ priority of theirs and so

39:57 ↗ um in that conversation

40:00 ↗ um now fast forward into the proposed

40:03 ↗ budget and and as we've been

40:05 ↗ deliberating with Council the proposed

40:07 ↗ budget at the

40:10 ↗ um boy it's a blur to me one of these

40:12 ↗ two October meetings uh I think it was

40:15 ↗ the October 10th meeting

40:17 ↗ um

40:18 ↗ um I brought forward and shared with

40:20 ↗ Council sort of where the green necklace

40:22 ↗ the multitude of projects in the 2324

40:25 ↗ budget where the green necklace is

40:27 ↗ identified and it has proposed funding

40:31 ↗ um in that conversation though

40:34 ↗ um it was also discussed and recognized

40:37 ↗ as you start looking at the the work

40:39 ↗ plan items that are coming forward

40:41 ↗ within this department funding alone

40:44 ↗ doesn't make things happen you don't

40:46 ↗ just you don't just allocate money set

40:49 ↗ the money on the table and it instantly

40:51 ↗ turns into something

40:52 ↗ um there's no pixie dust for that it

40:54 ↗ takes staff work it takes resources uh

40:57 ↗ to turn investment into actual into

41:00 ↗ actual projects and so

41:03 ↗ um those conversations both on the 10th

41:05 ↗ and 17th led to

41:08 ↗ um really and I think this slide Thanks

41:11 ↗ Jen for putting it up really reflects

41:13 ↗ some of these major projects that are on

41:15 ↗ our work plan in 2324 from completing

41:19 ↗ the hillside Park project and

41:21 ↗ um doing

41:23 ↗ um these three you know Veterans

41:24 ↗ Memorial Confluence in the dog park as

41:26 ↗ part of the community investment

41:27 ↗ strategy we have a park strategic Plan

41:30 ↗ update that we are going to be heading

41:33 ↗ back out into the community that needs

41:34 ↗ to be be done by 2024 so we want to be

41:36 ↗ doing engagement next year on that

41:40 ↗ some real focus on on continuing

41:43 ↗ strategic Acquisitions and making some

41:45 ↗ key Investments there you'll hear me

41:47 ↗ talk a little bit later about an urban

41:49 ↗ Forest supervisor coming on board and

41:51 ↗ how do we get an urban Forest management

41:53 ↗ plan done as I was just saying earlier

41:56 ↗ you know how to start seeing progress on

42:00 ↗ these multitude of projects that really

42:02 ↗ comprise

42:04 ↗ the green necklace

42:06 ↗ and the creek corridor

42:12 ↗ next slide Jim

42:15 ↗ what that led to is

42:18 ↗ um not only super post Staffing that was

42:21 ↗ in the mayor's proposed budget but um a

42:24 ↗ proposed staff add that city council

42:26 ↗ added that will be as part of the budget

42:30 ↗ adoption that Council will be

42:32 ↗ considering in November

42:35 ↗ um so park operations and park Planning

42:38 ↗ and Development are two separate

42:39 ↗ functions two separate divisions of of

42:41 ↗ our department

42:42 ↗ within the park operations budget

42:45 ↗ um uh within the

42:48 ↗ 2324 budget our two new proposed

42:50 ↗ positions one as I was just saying

42:52 ↗ earlier this Urban Forest supervisor uh

42:55 ↗ that will really allow us to

42:57 ↗ um I think put more of a focus on our

42:59 ↗ natural resources and understand

43:02 ↗ um the real need to

43:04 ↗ um to do to finally do some full Urban

43:07 ↗ Forest management planning

43:10 ↗ as well as really sharpen our capacity

43:14 ↗ from a actual maintenance practices

43:17 ↗ within American Forest an urban Forest

43:19 ↗ meaning not only all of our open space

43:21 ↗ areas but our street trees and our trees

43:24 ↗ within our within our active Parks all

43:28 ↗ comprise

43:29 ↗ certainly elements of the urban Forest

43:32 ↗ also just of note

43:35 ↗ um is a proposed volunteer coordinator

43:37 ↗ position for the for the first time

43:39 ↗ within our cities so realizing

43:42 ↗ I think some of the momentum that's been

43:43 ↗ created with green Issaquah having that

43:46 ↗ internal capacity to coordinate

43:48 ↗ volunteer efforts is really going to

43:50 ↗ help us multiply that work that right

43:53 ↗ now is proposed as a 0.5 a halftime 20

43:56 ↗ hour a week full-time position so we

43:59 ↗ really look forward to having that

44:00 ↗ capacity come on board

44:02 ↗ where I was going though with my forgive

44:06 ↗ me somewhat long-winded uh

44:08 ↗ um back story on uh green green necklace

44:12 ↗ and just again this need that funding

44:14 ↗ alone doesn't make things happen

44:16 ↗ it's really brought about

44:19 ↗ um the council

44:21 ↗ requesting and putting adding into the

44:23 ↗ 2324 budget a park planning and

44:26 ↗ development manager position

44:28 ↗ oh

44:29 ↗ currently we are a city and a department

44:33 ↗ that has one Park planner and Jennifer

44:34 ↗ Fink is amazing she does great work but

44:38 ↗ um as one Park planner that does not

44:41 ↗ make a that does not make a park

44:43 ↗ planning team

44:45 ↗ um uh what with this proposed position

44:48 ↗ um it would really be the creation of a

44:50 ↗ park Planning and Development Division

44:52 ↗ where we would have a manager a manager

44:55 ↗ would oversee our current Park planning

44:58 ↗ position

45:00 ↗ um also within uh the budget and part of

45:03 ↗ the community investment strategy goal

45:05 ↗ of of this arpa funding is a limited

45:08 ↗ term a two-year additional Park planner

45:12 ↗ project manager positions so as we look

45:16 ↗ at budget getting adopted here next week

45:19 ↗ what it really means for us is 2324 we

45:24 ↗ now have a capacity a three-person team

45:26 ↗ uh really beginning to take a look at

45:30 ↗ all of this really important critical

45:32 ↗ work and making sure we're doing it well

45:35 ↗ making sure we're doing it on time I

45:37 ↗ think making sure we're able to

45:39 ↗ accomplish the community engagement and

45:41 ↗ the public engagement keeping the public

45:45 ↗ informed on on projects and status of

45:47 ↗ projects like we want to and and like we

45:51 ↗ need to and so

45:53 ↗ um

45:53 ↗ all of this looks like a lot of work I

45:56 ↗ just I guess I wanted to highlight this

45:57 ↗ as again a really important part of this

45:59 ↗ conversation with Council but really

46:02 ↗ really important to know that

46:04 ↗ um certainly as some momentum is being

46:06 ↗ created for making really really

46:09 ↗ important investments into our city park

46:12 ↗ system making sure we align and resource

46:15 ↗ ourselves Staffing wise to to get it

46:17 ↗ done

46:19 ↗ um so

46:21 ↗ there's that uh as an overview as well

46:25 ↗ um

46:25 ↗ look forward to seeing what um gets

46:29 ↗ adopted once Council adopts the 2324

46:32 ↗ budget

46:38 ↗ Nicholas has a question I believe Zach

46:41 ↗ okay Nicholas

46:44 ↗ thank you um just a question about any

46:47 ↗ notable reductions in the service levels

46:50 ↗ on the operating side if there was any

46:52 ↗ uh you know give and take

46:54 ↗ a get some some of the odds no no one to

46:58 ↗ no no anticipated operating reductions

47:01 ↗ okay

47:04 ↗ any other uh comments questions David

47:07 ↗ yeah so I just wanted to comment on the

47:09 ↗ volunteer coordinator

47:10 ↗ um so I actually went out with Tyler on

47:13 ↗ the parks department

47:15 ↗ um and I took out a couple of my Corp it

47:18 ↗ was our month of giving and so we were

47:20 ↗ allowed to take one day off and

47:21 ↗ basically volunteer anywhere so I

47:23 ↗ decided to volunteer uh reached out and

47:26 ↗ he was talking very excited not saying

47:28 ↗ that Tyler's a mental job but definitely

47:30 ↗ if we can get two or three volunteering

47:32 ↗ events a week you know um just clearing

47:34 ↗ Blackberry brushes and doing digging

47:37 ↗ canals if you want right and people love

47:39 ↗ doing that whether it's corporate people

47:41 ↗ obviously Costco is huge here

47:44 ↗ um even residents that want to

47:46 ↗ contribute but they don't know how to

47:47 ↗ functionally get together and dig canals

47:49 ↗ for the park right so

47:51 ↗ um I think it that would be a great

47:53 ↗ great addition uh again half time just

47:56 ↗ to see how it goes first is is the right

47:58 ↗ idea and until it becomes full time if

48:00 ↗ it ever grows that but I think that's a

48:02 ↗ great idea having the laundry

48:03 ↗ coordinator there

48:05 ↗ just a comment thank you on that yeah

48:08 ↗ we're excited as well

48:11 ↗ Brad

48:13 ↗ hey Jeff could you just comment a little

48:15 ↗ bit about how and I agree that

48:17 ↗ coordinator position is going to be just

48:19 ↗ terrific how will that

48:21 ↗ um work with the green Issaquah

48:24 ↗ initiative that's already in place will

48:26 ↗ they actually oversee that program or

48:29 ↗ will they still run separately no they

48:32 ↗ would they would oversee it I mean that

48:33 ↗ so green Issaquah is really we see

48:36 ↗ embedding it into what we do right so

48:39 ↗ that green Issaquah management plan that

48:41 ↗ is that is ours we're partners with

48:43 ↗ forterra but that that's that's ours

48:45 ↗ this volunteer coordinator quite frankly

48:48 ↗ lets us own that work even more

48:50 ↗ um so we'll remain partners with

48:52 ↗ forterra in their green cities program

48:56 ↗ um but you know that you know in many

48:59 ↗ ways that green is football management

49:00 ↗ plan really gives us a road map it lets

49:02 ↗ us know where where our forest is most

49:05 ↗ threatened

49:06 ↗ um it it's already identified right sort

49:08 ↗ of those strategic areas we really want

49:10 ↗ to focus on where do we need volunteer

49:12 ↗ uh the four stewards Etc this

49:15 ↗ Coordinator would oversee the four

49:17 ↗ Steward training and and and and and

49:21 ↗ um recruitment as well as

49:24 ↗ um uh the actual volunteer uh programs

49:27 ↗ them themselves so um just I think it

49:29 ↗ allows it gives us an internal resource

49:32 ↗ we've never really had

49:34 ↗ um to do that um I shouldn't say never

49:36 ↗ really had met McClure is amazing any of

49:38 ↗ you have worked with Matt Matt as park

49:40 ↗ operations supervisor wears a lot of

49:42 ↗ hats and has a lot of of other tasks to

49:45 ↗ do so

49:47 ↗ um

49:48 ↗ foreign

49:53 ↗ any other comments questions

49:59 ↗ all right I think

50:02 ↗ I believe uh next thing moving forward

50:05 ↗ is the Heritage tree program review

50:10 ↗ yeah let me take another quick drink of

50:13 ↗ water so I don't have a coughing spell

50:14 ↗ forgive me again

50:21 ↗ well uh Connie thank you so much for

50:24 ↗ your public comment I thought you did a

50:26 ↗ great job of introducing

50:28 ↗ um

50:29 ↗ um this this conversation

50:31 ↗ um I'll I'll touch on a few of those

50:33 ↗ points as well as as we certainly jump

50:35 ↗ in

50:36 ↗ um

50:37 ↗ um as Connie said you know she submitted

50:39 ↗ an application

50:41 ↗ um uh earlier this summer

50:43 ↗ uh

50:45 ↗ we certainly

50:46 ↗ um appreciated that that application

50:49 ↗ um that really

50:51 ↗ um allowed us to jump into work and

50:52 ↗ getting a tree assessment done

50:55 ↗ um as I

50:57 ↗ um as our as our program really outlines

51:00 ↗ um

51:01 ↗ um nominated trees are brought to you

51:03 ↗ for approval

51:05 ↗ um

51:07 ↗ um I I

51:08 ↗ will say that this application is not

51:11 ↗ being forwarded as a recommend as a

51:13 ↗ nomination and I'll explain why in in a

51:16 ↗ second it's a little bit more than just

51:18 ↗ a technicality

51:20 ↗ um but certainly the

51:24 ↗ um the application and and Connie and I

51:26 ↗ have had a chance to to chat a couple

51:28 ↗ weeks ago about this

51:31 ↗ um and again I appreciate her comments

51:34 ↗ because they very much align with mine

51:36 ↗ though we're not bringing this forward

51:38 ↗ as a nomination we really think this is

51:41 ↗ an important time to have have a

51:43 ↗ conversation about

51:44 ↗ the Heritage Street program and also

51:47 ↗ about these specific trees and so though

51:51 ↗ you're not seeing this as a nomination

51:53 ↗ we'd still like to

51:56 ↗ really talk about two key points and

51:59 ↗ those two points being the program

52:01 ↗ itself

52:02 ↗ um and as Connie said so well as staff

52:05 ↗ this is a 20 year old program the

52:08 ↗ brochure itself I think reflects how old

52:10 ↗ this is It's time it's time to do a

52:13 ↗ review and an update look at Best

52:16 ↗ Practices see how we can

52:19 ↗ um I think best you know I I'd better

52:21 ↗ identify what our goals are for a

52:23 ↗ Heritage Street program and and

52:24 ↗ establish a program that that meets

52:27 ↗ those goals with an urban Forest

52:29 ↗ supervisor coming on board next year we

52:32 ↗ would really like to and and see this

52:35 ↗ adding that review of the of the

52:39 ↗ Heritage Street program into the work

52:42 ↗ plan next year as a as a big priority

52:45 ↗ as the park board and as the represented

52:48 ↗ tree board as part of Tree City USA we

52:50 ↗ very much want you to be part of that

52:52 ↗ review process so by us adding it to our

52:56 ↗ work plan I I guess the conversation I

52:58 ↗ want to have tonight is is you realizing

53:00 ↗ this this will be added to the park

53:02 ↗ board work plan next year as well as if

53:06 ↗ we were to move forward in that in that

53:08 ↗ direction

53:09 ↗ the second reason why we think it's so

53:12 ↗ important to have this conversation

53:14 ↗ tonight is

53:16 ↗ um those specific trees and and the the

53:19 ↗ specific situation going on with those

53:21 ↗ trees there at Tibbetts Valley Park

53:25 ↗ I think as Connie said so well in her

53:27 ↗ public comment and perfect I really

53:29 ↗ appreciated how Connie laid out in her

53:31 ↗ narrative with their application if you

53:33 ↗ had a chance to look at that really

53:35 ↗ identifying some of the key reasons why

53:37 ↗ these are

53:38 ↗ trees that have a a

53:42 ↗ play a key role and have multiple

53:45 ↗ benefits for this community they really

53:46 ↗ provide a Civic benefit in in I think

53:50 ↗ demonstrating such a great example of a

53:52 ↗ high canopy

53:54 ↗ um

53:56 ↗ Corridor of trees along along a street

53:58 ↗ Corridor as well as their environmental

54:01 ↗ benefits as long as their climate as

54:04 ↗ well as their climate benefits

54:07 ↗ um so with with that

54:10 ↗ um you know we we thought it's an

54:11 ↗ important discussion to have tonight

54:14 ↗ when those trees were planted

54:17 ↗ I don't think

54:20 ↗ improvements to the right-of-way were

54:21 ↗ necessarily thought of or considered

54:24 ↗ um as those trees were planted I don't

54:28 ↗ think you know future consideration for

54:31 ↗ for how and what role that Park should

54:34 ↗ play in in 2022 and 2025 as

54:39 ↗ um the neighborhood to the north

54:41 ↗ um May dramatically change in the next

54:43 ↗ 10 or 15 years so you know those are key

54:46 ↗ pressures and factors that

54:48 ↗ um are we're going to need to keep in

54:50 ↗ mind as as we're moving forward on

54:53 ↗ um

54:54 ↗ forgive me as I'm drifting a little bit

54:57 ↗ I I need to go back and and explain why

54:59 ↗ why this isn't necessarily moving

55:02 ↗ forward as a nomination one of the key

55:05 ↗ points in the The Heritage Street

55:08 ↗ program is it's identified now and I

55:11 ↗ think a really important role is

55:13 ↗ um

55:14 ↗ does the owner of the property

55:18 ↗ um agree in nominating this as a

55:20 ↗ Heritage Tree in this case and in fact

55:24 ↗ I'll ask Jen Fink to pull up the tree

55:26 ↗ assessment and the maps because I think

55:28 ↗ they do a really good job as we

55:30 ↗ identified all 99 of these trees these

55:32 ↗ trees really were put pretty much right

55:36 ↗ directly on the property line so they're

55:39 ↗ they're really within City proper or

55:42 ↗ city park property as well as City

55:44 ↗ right-of-way and so in that sort of

55:48 ↗ dueling

55:50 ↗ domain

55:51 ↗ it really

55:54 ↗ um I think

55:55 ↗ um

55:56 ↗ represents sort of this tug and pull

55:59 ↗ that um

56:04 ↗ yeah impacts these streets

56:07 ↗ um so the the reason this is not moving

56:11 ↗ forward is the nomination is the city's

56:13 ↗ not ready to say uh and sign off and say

56:17 ↗ yeah we we absolutely you know think

56:20 ↗ that these are ready to be all 99 are

56:22 ↗ ready to be identified as as Heritage

56:25 ↗ trees

56:26 ↗ um again as the application is written

56:29 ↗ multiple trees can be nominated but um

56:33 ↗ as the the program has identified only

56:35 ↗ three trees could be

56:37 ↗ recognized as Heritage trees per year

56:42 ↗ given the the value that the these 99

56:46 ↗ trees really I think bring significance

56:49 ↗ to the community in their entirety

56:52 ↗ um and to try and identify only three of

56:54 ↗ them

56:54 ↗ as the three that would be deemed

56:57 ↗ Heritage trees I don't think is

56:59 ↗ consistent with the

57:02 ↗ um the goal or the intent of of Connie

57:05 ↗ or rather us as the parks department and

57:07 ↗ why we think these trees are so

57:09 ↗ significant or important so

57:12 ↗ um again it's not it's not a

57:15 ↗ technicality

57:17 ↗ um I think what we want to express is

57:20 ↗ um I think the need to discuss these

57:22 ↗ trees here at Tibbetts is important the

57:26 ↗ Heritage tree program in its current

57:29 ↗ iteration is is is likely not the

57:32 ↗ vehicle itself that

57:35 ↗ um

57:36 ↗ Spurs the needed conversation we need to

57:39 ↗ have about about these 99 trees and so

57:43 ↗ we would love to proceed as I said next

57:47 ↗ year with an update a review and update

57:49 ↗ of the hair Industry Program to really

57:52 ↗ make sure it's representing

57:54 ↗ best practices let's look at what other

57:56 ↗ City Heritage Street programs do and

57:58 ↗ look like let's really identify what our

58:00 ↗ goals are

58:03 ↗ whether it's codified at least certainly

58:07 ↗ look at having city council adopt what a

58:10 ↗ Heritage Street program is

58:12 ↗ whereas I don't know that this was even

58:16 ↗ done

58:17 ↗ previously so many things for us to look

58:20 ↗ at and review in the Heritage Street

58:22 ↗ program itself

58:23 ↗ maybe a little bit more as as thanks for

58:26 ↗ sharing the screen Jen a few highlights

58:29 ↗ I guess I'll give to the tree assessment

58:31 ↗ itself if you haven't had a chance to

58:33 ↗ take a look at it and then I'll just I'd

58:35 ↗ love to open it up for questions

58:37 ↗ discussion you all I might want to have

58:40 ↗ so this tree assessment did an

58:44 ↗ identification an initial assessment of

58:46 ↗ 99 trees so these 99 trees really make

58:51 ↗ up the front of the most of the frontage

58:54 ↗ of the park along long Newport and then

58:57 ↗ if you can go back to the

59:00 ↗ private gen sorry

59:02 ↗ and then as those trees and the park

59:06 ↗ itself circles 12th

59:09 ↗ and then

59:12 ↗ some of these same London Plane trees

59:15 ↗ are in the parking lot there at Tibbetts

59:19 ↗ Valley Park

59:20 ↗ um

59:21 ↗ so this assessment took a look at all 99

59:25 ↗ of them in their entirety

59:29 ↗ they were planted in the mid 80s they're

59:32 ↗ all in in relatively decent Health

59:36 ↗ there's 29 of the 99 though that have

59:39 ↗ about 10 years ago were cabled because

59:41 ↗ of some stress that they were having so

59:44 ↗ uh they're already like I said 29 of

59:47 ↗ them that are cabled to uh to support

59:51 ↗ them to support their higher branches

59:54 ↗ um that doesn't mean they're unhealthy

59:57 ↗ um cabling doesn't mean they're in

59:59 ↗ decline by any means

1:00:02 ↗ um but it just certainly means that

1:00:05 ↗ they're at a point at a size at a scale

1:00:07 ↗ that they need that further support in

1:00:11 ↗ the recommendation there's an additional

1:00:12 ↗ tree that is recommended for cabling

1:00:16 ↗ um uh the assessment certainly

1:00:18 ↗ recommends now that uh those cables have

1:00:21 ↗ been there 10 years to do an uh

1:00:24 ↗ um a review

1:00:26 ↗ um of of the cabling to make sure

1:00:28 ↗ they're still doing what they need to do

1:00:30 ↗ um the nice thing about this assessment

1:00:32 ↗ is uh we will be certainly moving

1:00:34 ↗ forward with with all of those

1:00:36 ↗ recommendations

1:00:38 ↗ um

1:00:40 ↗ within the

1:00:42 ↗ the assessment forgive me I'm losing

1:00:45 ↗ losing my voice here

1:00:48 ↗ um as I said earlier and as the survey

1:00:50 ↗ shows you know the the trees were really

1:00:53 ↗ planted and a mix of of in the park and

1:00:55 ↗ on the right of way and in some cases

1:00:57 ↗ smack dab right on the right on the

1:00:59 ↗ property line itself

1:01:01 ↗ um

1:01:03 ↗ you know we do have the the the future

1:01:06 ↗ right-of-way improvements are going to

1:01:08 ↗ need to be a consideration

1:01:10 ↗ um that's not to say that these trees

1:01:12 ↗ need to go away

1:01:14 ↗ um I would hope these trees don't need

1:01:17 ↗ to go away I I would uh certainly again

1:01:20 ↗ open up to conversation uh with or

1:01:23 ↗ without a a Heritage designation at this

1:01:26 ↗ point

1:01:27 ↗ um

1:01:29 ↗ I think ensuring that any uh planning

1:01:33 ↗ any

1:01:35 ↗ um consideration any design thoughts for

1:01:38 ↗ the right-of-way as well as the park

1:01:40 ↗ itself recognize that these trees and

1:01:44 ↗ what they represent

1:01:46 ↗ um certainly deserve a significant

1:01:47 ↗ discussion and a significant

1:01:50 ↗ consideration for

1:01:52 ↗ um how

1:01:54 ↗ um how a portion are all of those trees

1:01:57 ↗ could could be preserved but at this

1:02:02 ↗ point point in time it's really really

1:02:04 ↗ early to try and

1:02:06 ↗ say that absolutely can happen

1:02:10 ↗ there's a lot that still needs to to be

1:02:13 ↗ figured out

1:02:14 ↗ so I I think I've said enough

1:02:17 ↗ um any thoughts

1:02:20 ↗ comments about the hairdistry program

1:02:22 ↗ itself or these specific trees at

1:02:24 ↗ Tibbetts and again thank you Connie for

1:02:27 ↗ your your application and the

1:02:28 ↗ discussions you and I have had

1:02:30 ↗ throughout this and just

1:02:32 ↗ um again I think the opportunity to to

1:02:34 ↗ bring this forward as a as a public

1:02:36 ↗ discussion

1:02:39 ↗ thanks Jeff I think I've got David and

1:02:42 ↗ then Brad

1:02:43 ↗ yeah so I think again just reiterating

1:02:46 ↗ that there's kind of two different

1:02:47 ↗ discussions here one is around the

1:02:49 ↗ Heritage tree program and one is around

1:02:51 ↗ the application icon put forward so my

1:02:54 ↗ thoughts on the Heritage Street program

1:02:55 ↗ I'm just reading through if this is the

1:02:57 ↗ whole explanation of what the program is

1:02:58 ↗ it seems like it's more ceremonial

1:03:01 ↗ rather than a preservation or anything

1:03:03 ↗ like there's nothing in the actual

1:03:04 ↗ program notes that says even after you

1:03:06 ↗ get a certificate you can't cut down the

1:03:09 ↗ tree you can still cut down the tree so

1:03:10 ↗ there's it's not about preserving

1:03:12 ↗ anything so I fully believe yes we

1:03:14 ↗ should look at this rewrite it the whole

1:03:15 ↗ three tree thing doesn't really make

1:03:17 ↗ sense

1:03:18 ↗ um and kind of focus is it going to

1:03:20 ↗ continue to be ceremonial or is it going

1:03:22 ↗ to be codified as a law or something

1:03:23 ↗ that will have a stick you know that

1:03:25 ↗ somebody can't touch something

1:03:27 ↗ um that's one discussion point so I

1:03:28 ↗ think if we could just get if other

1:03:30 ↗ cities have something similar to this

1:03:31 ↗ and we can explore it maybe pass it

1:03:32 ↗ around the group that would be great

1:03:35 ↗ um in terms of the application process

1:03:36 ↗ or those specific L-shaped trees

1:03:39 ↗ this is a super dumb question but

1:03:42 ↗ couldn't we just dig up the trees and

1:03:44 ↗ push them back 10 feet or that's that's

1:03:46 ↗ just that cost effective there's

1:03:51 ↗ too big they're too bad into a size that

1:03:53 ↗ are actually big also there's a bunch of

1:03:55 ↗ utilities including a major behind the

1:03:58 ↗ Trump line um that runs right under

1:04:00 ↗ there as well you can go out there and

1:04:02 ↗ see where

1:04:04 ↗ um so that also poses potential issues

1:04:07 ↗ as well as other utilities within there

1:04:09 ↗ so um utilities or not highly

1:04:13 ↗ considerate uh when they're planted and

1:04:15 ↗ you know

1:04:17 ↗ all trees are all cute when they're

1:04:18 ↗ little and we forget sometimes how they

1:04:20 ↗ grow up and the root systems they need

1:04:23 ↗ and the space they need

1:04:25 ↗ um in the type of tree you know it's

1:04:27 ↗ really important to get the right tree

1:04:28 ↗ in the right place as well so right and

1:04:32 ↗ so Connie you're only referring to the L

1:04:33 ↗ shape not instead of the ones in the

1:04:35 ↗ parking lot or anything like that right

1:04:36 ↗ is that what you're looking for well the

1:04:39 ↗ ones in the parking water park treason

1:04:41 ↗ would be a park decision okay and ones

1:04:44 ↗ that are being threatened are the ones

1:04:46 ↗ that are along Newport Way that would be

1:04:49 ↗ considered part of the Road expansion

1:04:51 ↗ okay

1:04:53 ↗ how much expansion is it into the

1:04:56 ↗ sidewalk

1:04:58 ↗ um I don't have the full profile and

1:05:00 ↗ we'd have to look at public works as to

1:05:03 ↗ what they have through there but the

1:05:05 ↗ balance of sound Trail the share Juice

1:05:07 ↗ Trail is

1:05:08 ↗ um supposed to be going on the Northern

1:05:10 ↗ side of Newport weather along what's

1:05:13 ↗ going to be future Transit oriented

1:05:15 ↗ development

1:05:16 ↗ um all the way connecting on the other

1:05:18 ↗ side of Newport Sr 900 and the other

1:05:21 ↗ Newport at Maple got down there

1:05:23 ↗ eventually I think too it's too early to

1:05:25 ↗ tell but Jennifer if we as have we heard

1:05:28 ↗ something from Public Works that they're

1:05:29 ↗ going to need additional right-of-way

1:05:31 ↗ from the part are they seeking

1:05:33 ↗ additional

1:05:34 ↗ I don't believe so I've not heard but I

1:05:37 ↗ don't believe so okay

1:05:41 ↗ okay but I do have to think a little bit

1:05:43 ↗ more yeah I there's some varying

1:05:45 ↗ distances throughout that section from

1:05:48 ↗ sr900 to Maple

1:05:51 ↗ um along New Ports

1:05:53 ↗ um there's some varying lines so they

1:05:54 ↗ may need right-of-way in areas I've not

1:05:56 ↗ heard about this location specifically

1:06:03 ↗ we know there's a project happening and

1:06:05 ↗ it might impact it but

1:06:08 ↗ not for sure yet

1:06:11 ↗ not for sure yet because we don't have

1:06:13 ↗ final design for these this section

1:06:15 ↗ correct

1:06:18 ↗ Brad

1:06:21 ↗ uh thanks I am really excited frankly to

1:06:25 ↗ hear about uh revamping of the Heritage

1:06:28 ↗ tree program it's been kind of

1:06:29 ↗ floundering over the last number of

1:06:31 ↗ years and with us being a tree City and

1:06:33 ↗ with the community so focused on our

1:06:36 ↗ trees I think it's great

1:06:38 ↗ um

1:06:38 ↗ to come up with a little better of a

1:06:41 ↗ system at perfect timing as well to you

1:06:45 ↗ know looping it in with the forest

1:06:47 ↗ management plan bringing on a forest

1:06:49 ↗ management supervisor so I I I think

1:06:52 ↗ that it's great to devote some time and

1:06:55 ↗ effort to that next year and hopefully

1:06:58 ↗ we develop a Park Board committee and I

1:07:02 ↗ I'll raise my hand for that one because

1:07:04 ↗ I I'm All About Trees

1:07:07 ↗ um

1:07:08 ↗ you know one of my concerns about the

1:07:11 ↗ trees along Newport first of all I would

1:07:14 ↗ love to keep them if possible but you

1:07:17 ↗ know when I start seeing what

1:07:19 ↗ development could do along that arterial

1:07:22 ↗ there I would really have concerns in

1:07:24 ↗ terms of the survivability of those

1:07:26 ↗ trees and the potential disruption of

1:07:28 ↗ the root system I don't know whether or

1:07:31 ↗ not an arborist has looked at any of

1:07:34 ↗ that yet or not but I would start there

1:07:36 ↗ because if an arborist comes in and says

1:07:39 ↗ boy whatever you guys plan to do with

1:07:40 ↗ this road and right-of-way and all of

1:07:42 ↗ that these trees are never going to

1:07:44 ↗ survive and you know that that could cut

1:07:47 ↗ the discussion over pretty quickly if an

1:07:50 ↗ arborist you know would not support it

1:07:52 ↗ and so I I doubt that has happened yet

1:07:55 ↗ but I would focus some attention on that

1:07:57 ↗ first

1:07:58 ↗ and to see whether or not they're even

1:08:00 ↗ survivable through the amount of

1:08:02 ↗ construction that would be needed but so

1:08:04 ↗ is that it we didn't have any other

1:08:06 ↗ recommendations for heritage trees but

1:08:09 ↗ this I guess huh

1:08:12 ↗ nope

1:08:13 ↗ okay

1:08:14 ↗ well next year we'll get uh we'll get

1:08:17 ↗ some good ones be my guess thanks

1:08:20 ↗ Brad Chris

1:08:22 ↗ yeah I'm wondering if staff knows uh the

1:08:24 ↗ status of development plans applications

1:08:27 ↗ development agreement anything on the

1:08:30 ↗ properties on the north side of the road

1:08:31 ↗ there

1:08:32 ↗ I'm not heard of anything here but this

1:08:36 ↗ is the future Transit oriented right

1:08:39 ↗ development sites I know there's been

1:08:41 ↗ conversations I'm not up to date as to

1:08:44 ↗ where those conversations are but I do

1:08:46 ↗ know also kitty corner

1:08:49 ↗ um if you get all the city's development

1:08:51 ↗ there is a new apartment

1:08:54 ↗ um building going in on that side that's

1:08:57 ↗ quite sizable

1:08:59 ↗ huh where the Phillips Healthcare is

1:09:01 ↗ that corner yeah it's just the opposite

1:09:04 ↗ corner here the kitty corner titty kitty

1:09:06 ↗ corner on that intersection our staff

1:09:08 ↗ typically given the opportunity to

1:09:10 ↗ comment and provide and put on a

1:09:12 ↗ development agreement

1:09:18 ↗ I agreement the two North or the transit

1:09:21 ↗ oriented yeah

1:09:22 ↗ um

1:09:23 ↗ yes that's had some other conversations

1:09:27 ↗ um outside of parks I know the trail

1:09:29 ↗ conversation got added into that because

1:09:32 ↗ I know there's supposed to be an outdoor

1:09:34 ↗ Plaza space out there but that's about

1:09:37 ↗ as far as the conversation we've had

1:09:40 ↗ but they do know the mountains of town

1:09:42 ↗ Trail shared use trails to go along that

1:09:44 ↗ side of the corridor

1:09:46 ↗ seems like a conflict that we are have a

1:09:49 ↗ mountain sound Trail

1:09:52 ↗ creating a an incentive to get rid of

1:09:56 ↗ trees

1:09:57 ↗ needs to be resolved

1:10:00 ↗ yeah I don't know programmatically Chris

1:10:03 ↗ if the

1:10:04 ↗ the interest in a trail is what is

1:10:06 ↗ driving the

1:10:08 ↗ no potential of those tree I don't I

1:10:10 ↗ don't think it's that yeah I don't think

1:10:13 ↗ it's a singular programmatic element

1:10:15 ↗ correct but it would be the additional

1:10:18 ↗ width

1:10:19 ↗ onto a standard right away Road section

1:10:23 ↗ yeah again I don't I don't know that I I

1:10:26 ↗ don't I don't know and that sort of was

1:10:28 ↗ my question to Jen I I think I think

1:10:31 ↗ there's more to still be identified in

1:10:33 ↗ working with Public Works to say what

1:10:35 ↗ are you are you needing

1:10:37 ↗ so sorry I'm gonna I'm putting my Parks

1:10:40 ↗ director hat on so you're you're going

1:10:42 ↗ to hear me having a phone conversation

1:10:43 ↗ as if your Public Works are you are you

1:10:46 ↗ are you needing additional right-of-way

1:10:48 ↗ prism or are you programming within your

1:10:51 ↗ current right-of-way

1:10:53 ↗ as as an adjacent property owner to help

1:10:57 ↗ me understand what that is if you're

1:10:59 ↗ wanting addition if you're needing more

1:11:00 ↗ of my land I'm saying my like it's

1:11:03 ↗ that's not mine but I'm representing the

1:11:06 ↗ the community then we need to have a

1:11:08 ↗ conversation about that really early on

1:11:10 ↗ uh in your design so are you designing

1:11:13 ↗ within your existing runaway are you

1:11:15 ↗ needing additional space that that's an

1:11:18 ↗ important step that I don't know that we

1:11:21 ↗ I I don't have the answer to I don't

1:11:23 ↗ know because that request hasn't been

1:11:25 ↗ made of us

1:11:26 ↗ um but that's an important distinction

1:11:28 ↗ that I I want to know

1:11:30 ↗ um yeah

1:11:34 ↗ God believe Chris have the power yeah

1:11:35 ↗ the reason why I brought it up is

1:11:37 ↗ because you know

1:11:38 ↗ 20 years ago pressure on trees was

1:11:41 ↗ development

1:11:43 ↗ climate change is real now uh I you know

1:11:47 ↗ I feel some uh urgency or concern

1:11:50 ↗ because we've had two hemlocks of

1:11:53 ↗ beautiful trees that have died

1:11:55 ↗ and then according to the arborist it's

1:11:57 ↗ because of that and now there's an

1:11:59 ↗ article in the paper about the Western

1:12:01 ↗ red Cedars are

1:12:05 ↗ those are emblematic and this you know

1:12:08 ↗ the whole Pacific Northwest so

1:12:10 ↗ it seems like we have doubled years and

1:12:12 ↗ see that we really need to get this in

1:12:15 ↗ place to protect not just three trees at

1:12:17 ↗ a time

1:12:18 ↗ um but to fully protect them and to be

1:12:20 ↗ able to you know apply it to something

1:12:22 ↗ like this where there's 100 trees

1:12:29 ↗ and how much uh input will um in terms

1:12:33 ↗ of like the revamping of the Heritage

1:12:35 ↗ Street program will be coming from like

1:12:37 ↗ the environmental board or the Parks

1:12:39 ↗ Board

1:12:40 ↗ um but Brad was mentioning uh possible

1:12:44 ↗ committee with regards to that

1:12:47 ↗ discussion is um they're an opportunity

1:12:50 ↗ for input from environmental board Arts

1:12:53 ↗ board with regards to uh

1:12:56 ↗ absolutely yeah I've not I've not mapped

1:12:59 ↗ out the I've not mapped out the work

1:13:01 ↗ plan uh but but yes I you know as I was

1:13:04 ↗ saying in in my quick introduction uh

1:13:07 ↗ maybe not so quick introduction

1:13:09 ↗ um as a tree board the park board serves

1:13:12 ↗ as the tree board uh with our city tree

1:13:14 ↗ USA Tree City USA uh designation

1:13:18 ↗ um yeah I think natural that you will

1:13:20 ↗ have input in that review process I love

1:13:24 ↗ the idea of of perhaps having a smaller

1:13:26 ↗ ad hoc group that's part of it

1:13:29 ↗ um knowing the city now has an

1:13:31 ↗ environmental board

1:13:33 ↗ um I think taking these uh this review

1:13:36 ↗ and update and in conversation to some

1:13:39 ↗ other boards and letting them have have

1:13:42 ↗ uh voice and feedback could have some

1:13:44 ↗ real value as well but yeah Zach I have

1:13:46 ↗ not I've not mapped out what that that

1:13:48 ↗ looks like

1:13:50 ↗ um uh just yet but I'm certainly hearing

1:13:53 ↗ I think there's some support that the

1:13:55 ↗ time has come to to make this a work

1:13:57 ↗ plan item

1:13:59 ↗ especially with

1:14:01 ↗ you know our our additional resources

1:14:05 ↗ when it comes to actual urban Forest

1:14:08 ↗ um Staffing uh and urban Forest

1:14:11 ↗ management

1:14:14 ↗ [Music]

1:14:21 ↗ um this is a really important

1:14:22 ↗ conversation around preservation of

1:14:24 ↗ trees so apart from the thought of

1:14:27 ↗ updating the Heritage program I think

1:14:30 ↗ there is a conversation on codifying or

1:14:33 ↗ so

1:14:34 ↗ um anything particular on preservation

1:14:37 ↗ of free so apart from the updating of

1:14:40 ↗ the Heritage tree program has there been

1:14:43 ↗ any discussions from the council or from

1:14:46 ↗ a mayor on updating the actual Municipal

1:14:49 ↗ Code around tree preservation and

1:14:52 ↗ expanding classification of trees that

1:14:55 ↗ can be preserved within the city as we

1:14:58 ↗ kind of approach this

1:15:00 ↗ a more aggressive urban planning

1:15:04 ↗ um green necklace program for the city

1:15:07 ↗ yeah great question Andrew yes so as the

1:15:11 ↗ the community Planning and Development

1:15:13 ↗ Department so other than I have been

1:15:14 ↗ leading the the title 18 which is the

1:15:17 ↗ development code section of the city

1:15:19 ↗ code that's going through a full update

1:15:22 ↗ um Park board members who were here last

1:15:25 ↗ early last spring might remember

1:15:28 ↗ they came and presented and one of the

1:15:31 ↗ key elements of that is trees and and

1:15:33 ↗ tree code and tree code being updated so

1:15:37 ↗ um yeah it's not just a Heritage Street

1:15:39 ↗ program but you know really looking at

1:15:42 ↗ what tree preservation standards and

1:15:44 ↗ requirements are are being reviewed as

1:15:46 ↗ part of that development code review

1:15:51 ↗ a little bit later in director's report

1:15:54 ↗ but I might as well mention now so Title

1:15:56 ↗ 18

1:15:57 ↗ um

1:15:58 ↗ I heard from Community Planning and

1:16:00 ↗ Development they are within the next

1:16:02 ↗ couple of months going to have the draft

1:16:04 ↗ code it might be falling under sort of

1:16:07 ↗ the holiday season so

1:16:09 ↗ um I'll know a little bit more at our

1:16:11 ↗ November 28th meeting when that draft

1:16:14 ↗ code is going to be out but want to make

1:16:16 ↗ sure whether it's an email communication

1:16:19 ↗ from Community Development or a

1:16:21 ↗ presentation but making sure that draft

1:16:23 ↗ gets presented and

1:16:26 ↗ um

1:16:28 ↗ shared with all of you in a timely

1:16:31 ↗ manner that you know thoughts and

1:16:33 ↗ feedback can be

1:16:34 ↗ can be put together and sent back to

1:16:37 ↗ them so as that date becomes a little

1:16:41 ↗ bit more known hopefully between now and

1:16:43 ↗ November 28th we'll make sure that

1:16:45 ↗ there's a game plan in place so that

1:16:48 ↗ that development code that title that

1:16:50 ↗ full title 18 new draft code is

1:16:53 ↗ something you're able to

1:16:55 ↗ get some feedback on especially in in

1:16:58 ↗ you know tree code and some of the other

1:17:01 ↗ key elements that that really apply to

1:17:04 ↗ um to our parks and open space system

1:17:09 ↗ I see Nicholas Nicholas

1:17:17 ↗ okay thank you um so regarding the trees

1:17:21 ↗ um you know when they're around you a

1:17:23 ↗ lot they feel like you're neighbors and

1:17:25 ↗ so you hate to see them mistreated right

1:17:28 ↗ because we all love our neighbors

1:17:30 ↗ um on My Side of the Mountain uh over

1:17:32 ↗ here which is like Wildwood and Forest

1:17:34 ↗ Drive we've actually had two trees that

1:17:36 ↗ I thought were pretty sizable and mine

1:17:40 ↗ felt like Harris trees that were taken

1:17:42 ↗ down on private property but right on

1:17:44 ↗ the right-of-way kind of like you know

1:17:45 ↗ Jeff's example of him being the owner

1:17:47 ↗ Etc

1:17:49 ↗ um and in both cases I checked with the

1:17:51 ↗ city to see if the permits were

1:17:52 ↗ processed they were and in both cases

1:17:54 ↗ those trees have been turned into

1:17:55 ↗ beautiful sculptures wood crop Woodcraft

1:17:58 ↗ sculptures and I just encourage anybody

1:18:01 ↗ that has some time if they're driving or

1:18:02 ↗ walking up Wildwood you'll notice it

1:18:05 ↗ right away after you get past Sunrise

1:18:06 ↗ place if you're coming up from the lower

1:18:08 ↗ part of Wildwood there on the left

1:18:10 ↗ there's this amazing

1:18:12 ↗ um I want to say it was like a native

1:18:14 ↗ property but it looks almost like a toad

1:18:16 ↗ on on the left and then if you carve if

1:18:19 ↗ you turn up Forest Drive there's another

1:18:21 ↗ one at the top of that hill before it

1:18:22 ↗ reconnects the Wildwood and it's just

1:18:24 ↗ kind of a unique way to celebrate the

1:18:25 ↗ tree's life when it sometimes gets old

1:18:28 ↗ enough to be

1:18:29 ↗ uh topped so to speak so I just you know

1:18:32 ↗ since everybody walks around in the

1:18:34 ↗ neighborhood in case you're passing by

1:18:35 ↗ trees are beautiful even after their

1:18:37 ↗ tops are gone sometimes

1:18:39 ↗ their carbon sequestionability greatly

1:18:42 ↗ is greatly deteriorated though

1:18:46 ↗ yeah but I can't absorb as much water

1:18:48 ↗ yeah I'm sorry I don't mean to yeah

1:18:51 ↗ yeah you're right

1:18:53 ↗ but to that point I mean so the trees

1:18:55 ↗ that are trees have life cycles I didn't

1:18:58 ↗ hear exactly the name you stated the

1:19:00 ↗ type of tree that was and so there's a

1:19:02 ↗ certain life expectancy for those types

1:19:04 ↗ of trees London plain is their name in

1:19:07 ↗ their in sort of native non-stressed

1:19:09 ↗ probably non-rite of way they could live

1:19:11 ↗ hundreds of years

1:19:13 ↗ um

1:19:14 ↗ right you know I I think it's uh you

1:19:17 ↗ know the the specific life cycle of

1:19:19 ↗ these trees when put

1:19:21 ↗ next to uh right next to a road

1:19:25 ↗ um with utilities all around its feet

1:19:28 ↗ um

1:19:29 ↗ you know yeah they're I I would say

1:19:31 ↗ they're probably not at 40 50 years old

1:19:33 ↗ they're not at the absolute end of their

1:19:35 ↗ life

1:19:36 ↗ um they certainly have have more life in

1:19:39 ↗ them

1:19:40 ↗ um but it's always important to remember

1:19:41 ↗ when whatever kind of tree you put in a

1:19:45 ↗ in a street tree situation

1:19:47 ↗ they're not going to live as long as

1:19:49 ↗ they live in more of a natural open

1:19:52 ↗ space setting they're just they're

1:19:54 ↗ immensely stressed they live a very

1:19:55 ↗ stressed life

1:19:57 ↗ or a more stressed life

1:20:00 ↗ and two just want to add in the um

1:20:04 ↗ I think reading the arborist report the

1:20:06 ↗ trees are suffering too from anthracnose

1:20:09 ↗ which is a bacteria in the soil and

1:20:11 ↗ stuff I mean it can be treated but it's

1:20:14 ↗ just one of those other

1:20:15 ↗ yet another complicating Factor when

1:20:19 ↗ looking at trees

1:20:21 ↗ yeah

1:20:23 ↗ and why um introducing because these are

1:20:26 ↗ all the same type of tree we're having a

1:20:28 ↗ variety of trees sometimes can help when

1:20:31 ↗ there is pest or disease that that

1:20:34 ↗ affects

1:20:36 ↗ specific trees

1:20:44 ↗ right any other comments questions

1:20:51 ↗ thank you so much for this discussion

1:20:54 ↗ again thank you Connie for uh the

1:20:57 ↗ application and for our conversations

1:20:59 ↗ um I think just hearing this feedback uh

1:21:01 ↗ absolutely we will put onto the work

1:21:04 ↗ plan uh next year this Heritage Street

1:21:07 ↗ program review and update look really

1:21:09 ↗ look forward to that process

1:21:11 ↗ um and then I think as we just our

1:21:13 ↗ commitment as we continue to advocate

1:21:17 ↗ for those trees in our conversations

1:21:19 ↗ with public works as we learn a little

1:21:20 ↗ bit more about what their needs are for

1:21:22 ↗ that right away we will make sure you

1:21:25 ↗ all stay informed even as we're updating

1:21:28 ↗ the Heritage Street program

1:21:30 ↗ foreign

1:21:33 ↗ thank you

1:21:36 ↗ uh so I guess uh moving on to uh the uh

1:21:40 ↗ reports uh so I'll start off with uh my

1:21:44 ↗ chair report

1:21:46 ↗ um so a couple things I found

1:21:48 ↗ interesting the TMT south of the the

1:21:51 ↗ tiger two and three saddle is uh

1:21:53 ↗ complete so now the TNT south from the

1:21:56 ↗ Tiger Mountain Road is is completed so I

1:21:59 ↗ believe that's maybe around about an

1:22:01 ↗ eight mile segment of it and they have a

1:22:02 ↗ temporary Trail

1:22:04 ↗ um currently coming down with West tiger

1:22:06 ↗ too but they'll be working on that

1:22:08 ↗ Northeast Corridor this winter so plenty

1:22:10 ↗ of volunteer opportunities with WTA I

1:22:13 ↗ believe with that uh also

1:22:17 ↗ um the the DNR is going to be saving uh

1:22:20 ↗ 10 000 acre carbon Reserve so the carbon

1:22:23 ↗ credits to offset the uh the potential

1:22:26 ↗ losses for not logging the area so

1:22:29 ↗ um basically that 10 acres will be taken

1:22:31 ↗ out of rotation many of those acres are

1:22:33 ↗ in the Izzy Alps I believe they're

1:22:35 ↗ specifically looking at soldering slope

1:22:37 ↗ and Tiger Mountain and then on November

1:22:41 ↗ 20th there will be a flock Trail

1:22:43 ↗ scouting

1:22:45 ↗ um for the property that was acquired

1:22:48 ↗ there in Northeast squawks so that's

1:22:51 ↗ exciting there's uh I believe an

1:22:53 ↗ opportunity to sign up for that online I

1:22:56 ↗ think it's a couple of hours Sunday

1:22:58 ↗ morning

1:22:59 ↗ um also noticed on the city website

1:23:02 ↗ there's a carbon

1:23:04 ↗ climate vulnerability survey

1:23:07 ↗ um

1:23:08 ↗ recommend taking that I did the survey

1:23:11 ↗ this morning was pretty pretty quick

1:23:14 ↗ um and it looks like friends of Lake

1:23:16 ↗ Sammamish State Park is uh seeking board

1:23:18 ↗ members for 2023 so if you know anyone

1:23:21 ↗ interested

1:23:23 ↗ I believe they're seeking seeking new

1:23:25 ↗ board members

1:23:27 ↗ so that's all I've got from

1:23:31 ↗ from my end and I don't believe we have

1:23:34 ↗ the youth representative yet

1:23:37 ↗ yeah but I will how about my first

1:23:39 ↗ director's report will be youth board

1:23:41 ↗ rep update so heard from Kathy Jones uh

1:23:45 ↗ the youth board they apologet their

1:23:46 ↗ meeting tonight but there are three

1:23:48 ↗ youth board members very interested and

1:23:50 ↗ have signed up to sort of play a shared

1:23:53 ↗ role as youth board reps so

1:23:55 ↗ um um all three sound very excited to

1:23:57 ↗ come to our meeting on the November 28th

1:24:00 ↗ so look forward to having introductions

1:24:02 ↗ there and and

1:24:04 ↗ um continuing that that good

1:24:06 ↗ representation from uh from the youth

1:24:08 ↗ board

1:24:09 ↗ as far as other updates I have

1:24:12 ↗ um again I mentioned you know next

1:24:14 ↗ Monday night November 7th regular

1:24:16 ↗ council meeting

1:24:18 ↗ um uh their consideration of adoption of

1:24:21 ↗ the 2324 budget will set an emotional a

1:24:24 ↗ lot for us

1:24:26 ↗ um over these next couple of months as

1:24:28 ↗ we start to gear up towards 2023 I'll

1:24:32 ↗ certainly keep you all informed as to

1:24:35 ↗ um uh what happens following that a

1:24:38 ↗ couple other November events I want to

1:24:40 ↗ highlight on our on our Recreation side

1:24:44 ↗ um this Friday November 4th uh the city

1:24:47 ↗ um the city the community center the

1:24:49 ↗ City Community Center Issaquah Community

1:24:51 ↗ Center will be hosting a really fun

1:24:54 ↗ cultural event A Day of the Dead event

1:24:57 ↗ um from 5 30 to 8 30.

1:25:00 ↗ um Monica and the Human Services team

1:25:02 ↗ have been working with a number of

1:25:04 ↗ Latino clubs and a number of other

1:25:07 ↗ community groups uh to pull this event

1:25:11 ↗ together again 5 30 to 8 30 at the

1:25:14 ↗ community center uh please please stop

1:25:17 ↗ on by

1:25:18 ↗ um or anyone who who might be listening

1:25:20 ↗ to this I might be interested um it's

1:25:22 ↗ it's really a great cultural event

1:25:25 ↗ um and then mark your calendars for

1:25:27 ↗ Saturday November 19th

1:25:30 ↗ um for a new community event we're

1:25:33 ↗ calling light up the night it will be a

1:25:36 ↗ tree lighting event so you might recall

1:25:38 ↗ through covid these last number of years

1:25:41 ↗ how we as a city look at holiday

1:25:44 ↗ lighting and do holiday lighting

1:25:46 ↗ throughout Old Town has has changed and

1:25:48 ↗ evolved a little bit

1:25:49 ↗ [Music]

1:25:50 ↗ um

1:25:51 ↗ we through covet though did not host

1:25:54 ↗ sort of a tree lighting event so

1:25:56 ↗ November 19th will be our first

1:25:59 ↗ event where we'll actually do a tree

1:26:01 ↗ lighting and invite the community to

1:26:03 ↗ come down as we light the big tree on

1:26:05 ↗ Front Street uh we'll be partnering with

1:26:07 ↗ the Cougar Mountain Zoo the reindeers

1:26:09 ↗ will be there Village Theaters

1:26:11 ↗ interested in partnering with us in a

1:26:13 ↗ number of ways

1:26:15 ↗ um uh lighting will include not only up

1:26:18 ↗ and down Front Street but I'm excited to

1:26:20 ↗ say some areas of the Rainier Trail are

1:26:22 ↗ going to have some really festive

1:26:24 ↗ holiday lighting uh the event will

1:26:26 ↗ probably include not only the tree

1:26:28 ↗ lighting itself but inviting many

1:26:31 ↗ interested to take a short walk down the

1:26:33 ↗ Rainier Trail the New Canton area

1:26:36 ↗ lighting and what's called Festival

1:26:37 ↗ Street halfway down Front Street we'll

1:26:40 ↗ then have a a small gathering

1:26:43 ↗ um

1:26:44 ↗ um you know hot cocoa some snacks for

1:26:46 ↗ for Community to enjoy

1:26:49 ↗ um Issaquah singers will be there to

1:26:52 ↗ lead some caroling and other other

1:26:55 ↗ holidays singing so look forward to

1:26:58 ↗ inaugurating a a new event in Issaquah

1:27:02 ↗ to coincide with um that holiday wedding

1:27:09 ↗ um our next meeting will be November

1:27:11 ↗ 28th

1:27:12 ↗ um given

1:27:13 ↗ um our fourth Monday usually Falls smack

1:27:16 ↗ dab and the holidays of December that

1:27:18 ↗ will likely and right now let's plan to

1:27:19 ↗ be our last

1:27:21 ↗ um our last board meeting Park board

1:27:23 ↗ meeting of of the year uh certainly that

1:27:26 ↗ could change if we want to have a

1:27:27 ↗ special meeting right now we're

1:27:30 ↗ scheduled to have a court of the report

1:27:33 ↗ as we've done a couple of other times

1:27:36 ↗ before in terms of

1:27:38 ↗ uh programs and activities with from our

1:27:41 ↗ Recreation programs

1:27:43 ↗ um look forward to sharing those

1:27:45 ↗ um I'll be able to give an update more

1:27:47 ↗ on the adopted budget and and sort of

1:27:51 ↗ beginning discussions on on specifics of

1:27:54 ↗ work plan uh moving into 2023

1:27:58 ↗ um I mentioned earlier

1:27:59 ↗ um Title 18 I'm having a sense at least

1:28:02 ↗ to be able to give us a status report on

1:28:05 ↗ where that draft is at and what that's

1:28:07 ↗ going to look like in December and

1:28:09 ↗ January and opportunities for you to

1:28:11 ↗ have a a touch in that process

1:28:14 ↗ um and then as well I think I mentioned

1:28:16 ↗ earlier in the meeting

1:28:18 ↗ um a clerk's office will be joining us

1:28:20 ↗ Tisha from the our city clerk Patricia

1:28:23 ↗ will join us to talk about

1:28:26 ↗ um virtual attendance policy that uh

1:28:29 ↗ they've been working on for all boards

1:28:30 ↗ and commissions and what that um might

1:28:33 ↗ mean for us so

1:28:36 ↗ thank you all for just the discussion

1:28:38 ↗ tonight look forward to seeing you all

1:28:40 ↗ on the on the 28th that's it for me Zach

1:28:43 ↗ great uh I'll see you all on my 33rd

1:28:47 ↗ birthday so

1:28:50 ↗ celebration there we go

1:28:53 ↗ all right uh so that uh we'll uh in the

1:28:58 ↗ meeting for uh this month see you all on

1:29:01 ↗ the 28th

1:29:04 ↗ thank you

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