Park Board · Monday, January 27, 2025 · City Council Digest

2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of Special Meeting on November 14

packet pp.3–4

▶ Watch from 1:14 Open packet at p.3 ↗

Staff report:

APPROVAL OF MINUTES a) 11-14-24 Park Board Minutes Page [0000] CITY OF ISSAQUAH Park Board 7:00 PM Tibbetts Manor, 750 17th Ave November 14, 2024 MINUTES NW, Issaquah

4. REGULAR BUSINESS

Park System Level of Service

Information / Discussion · 30 min · Robin Spear, Park Planning and Development Manager · packet pp.5–12

Topics: Parks

▶ Watch from 3:03 Open packet at p.5 ↗

Staff report:

REGULAR BUSINESS a) Jeff Watling- Director, Parks & Community Services Robin Spear- Park Planning & Development Manager, Parks & Community Services Hasanthi Hoglund- Business Operations Specialist, Parks & Community Services

Park Municipal Code Introduction

Information / Discussion · 20 min · Hasanthi Hoglund, Department Operations Specialist · packet pp.13–19

Topics: Parks

▶ Watch from 31:25 Open packet at p.13 ↗

Staff report:

Parks Municipal Code - Introduction JANUARY 27, 2025 | PARK BOARD

Park Capital Project Updates

Information · 15 min · Robin Spear, Park Planning and Development Manager · packet pp.21–32

Topics: Parks

▶ Watch from 50:19 Open packet at p.21 ↗

Staff report:

REGULAR BUSINESS c) Jeff Watling- Director, Parks & Community Services Robin Spear- Park Planning & Development Manager, Parks & Community Services Hasanthi Hoglund- Business Operations Specialist, Parks & Community Services

5. REPORTS

Director's Report

packet pp.33–35

▶ Watch from 1:04:30 Open packet at p.33 ↗

Staff report:

Applicable Strategic Plan Goal Areas 2025 WORKPLAN [DRAFT] Proposed Meeting (check all that apply) PARK BOARD Schedule ☒Mobility ☒Social & Economic Vitality ☒Growth & Development ☒City Leadership & Services Tentative Timeframe ☒Environ. Stewardship ☒Infrastructure

Chairperson's Report

▶ Watch from 1:11:17

1879 segments .txt ↗

0:03 ↗ great take it away CIS all right 703 um

0:07 ↗ I will call the meeting to order and uh

0:11 ↗ we'll start with roll call and I'll just

0:14 ↗ read down the list and if you could uh

0:16 ↗ let me know that you're present Katie

0:19 ↗ Bell pres Andrew eloquent has a an

0:23 ↗ excused

0:24 ↗ absence I'm present David L present uh

0:28 ↗ Tim Motley

0:30 ↗ I'm here see him Ryan

0:33 ↗ Olson yeah

0:35 ↗ here uh and then Brenda Spears is not

0:40 ↗ gonna be here anymore so we'll talk

0:41 ↗ about that in a minut she's steing down

0:44 ↗ and

0:46 ↗ Marlene I'm

0:48 ↗ here and

0:51 ↗ then Paul there

0:53 ↗ here Martha G here and Mary yes been in

0:59 ↗ time

1:01 ↗ um and we talked about abses um I don't

1:05 ↗ think we have any decisions today but I

1:07 ↗ think we have enough form so good that

1:10 ↗ comes up uh we'll move on to

1:14 ↗ um uh approval of minutes it's been a

1:17 ↗ long time since the last meeting but did

1:19 ↗ everybody get a chance to review the

1:21 ↗ last minutes and uh are there any

1:23 ↗ objections to approving

1:27 ↗ them what remembers anyways that um with

1:32 ↗ that the minutes are from last meeting

1:33 ↗ are approved and maybe before we go into

1:37 ↗ public comment we could do a good

1:40 ↗ introduction take it away yeah so um

1:44 ↗ welcome I mentioned that we would have

1:46 ↗ potentially a new youth representative

1:48 ↗ joining our board and lucky for us we

1:51 ↗ have Mia ni M Mia so MIA take it away

1:55 ↗ give us a little bit about yourself and

1:58 ↗ your work with IAB and and why Park

2:00 ↗ Board maybe yeah so my name is Mia I'm a

2:03 ↗ junior in Skyline um so I've been with a

2:06 ↗ for the past few years and when I got

2:09 ↗ this like opportunity I was like I'm

2:11 ↗ excited to be like new representative

2:13 ↗ for the Parks Board um so I'm interested

2:15 ↗ in in advocacy and business and like

2:18 ↗ public speaking and things like that so

2:19 ↗ I thought this would be like a good

2:20 ↗ opportunity to like kind of like

2:22 ↗ understand what you guys do and like

2:24 ↗ back and so yeah I

2:27 ↗ so welcome we're excited have

2:31 ↗ you speak for everyone really enjoy

2:34 ↗ having Representatives think we all love

2:37 ↗ our roles here but you all bring a this

2:41 ↗ a certain highlight to thank you thank

2:44 ↗ you okay uh do we have anybody signed up

2:47 ↗ for public comments I don't have anyone

2:49 ↗ signed up for public comments I'm not

2:51 ↗ seeing anybody here in the room we the P

2:54 ↗ for did receive a couple of emails so

2:57 ↗ those can be included in the record but

2:58 ↗ nothing other than that

3:00 ↗ okay well then we get to move right into

3:03 ↗ regular business which the first topic

3:06 ↗ is um presentation about Park system

3:10 ↗ level of

3:12 ↗ service whatever you want to call it

3:14 ↗ analysis um and we've already talked

3:16 ↗ about that in the past and looks like

3:18 ↗ Robin you're gonna pill

3:20 ↗ us you want to queue it up or sure I

3:22 ↗ I'll queue it up really fast thanks

3:24 ↗ Chris um yeah tonight um we wanted to

3:29 ↗ bringing this back as an introductory

3:32 ↗ conversation um You Might Recall when we

3:34 ↗ adopted the park plan we took a shift to

3:38 ↗ a beginning to look at a more of a

3:40 ↗ performance-based level of service and

3:42 ↗ sort of how we're measuring how the park

3:44 ↗ system is doing um and Performing and

3:47 ↗ meeting the the needs of the community

3:49 ↗ uh we did that but as you recall even as

3:53 ↗ you were making a recommendation we felt

3:55 ↗ like yeah we're dipping our toe into

3:57 ↗ this but it needs more work and so

3:59 ↗ tonight Robin's going to be here to kind

4:01 ↗ of just highlight what that additional

4:04 ↗ work might look like um and how we want

4:07 ↗ to make sure that each part

4:09 ↗ classification um has a its own

4:14 ↗ identified goals um and therefore

4:16 ↗ criteria to determine how it's

4:18 ↗ performing and to put it real succinctly

4:20 ↗ a community park is going to have

4:22 ↗ different performance expectations on it

4:24 ↗ than an open space area they're going to

4:28 ↗ serve different roles for the community

4:29 ↗ and therefore we really want to make

4:31 ↗ sure we have some metrics that are

4:34 ↗ understanding that uh that distinction

4:36 ↗ so this is going to be some work it's

4:38 ↗ going to take time quite honestly um we

4:42 ↗ probably don't see completing this till

4:43 ↗ 2026 sometime but um again um this is

4:48 ↗ going to be a busy busy year for us so

4:50 ↗ we thought we'd at least Tee It Up get

4:52 ↗ some of your thoughts and then um begin

4:54 ↗ to to go to work and bring it back to

4:56 ↗ you again later this

4:58 ↗ fall Rob

5:01 ↗ thank you yeah um yeah so there's

5:03 ↗ there's two different ways that

5:05 ↗ typically you look at level of purpose

5:07 ↗ uh the first one would be quantitative

5:09 ↗ and that's what the nrpa was advocating

5:12 ↗ for several years but people are

5:14 ↗ starting and cities are starting to move

5:16 ↗ away from that and our PA recommended

5:19 ↗ typically between 10 and 10.5 acres per

5:22 ↗ 1,000 people um and we're doing really

5:25 ↗ well um we have at least 40 acres or 45

5:28 ↗ acres per person so we're actually head

5:31 ↗ of the curve if we're looking at it from

5:32 ↗ a quantitative approach but for a

5:35 ↗ qualitative approach or for a

5:37 ↗ performance-based level we really want

5:39 ↗ to look at again how the park is

5:41 ↗ performing for the community and that's

5:43 ↗ where we get to establish that Baseline

5:45 ↗ those goals those metrics um so each

5:48 ↗ year we can review each Park and

5:51 ↗ guarantee not guarantee but help help

5:54 ↗ achieve that that level of performance

5:56 ↗ and again it really depends we want it

5:58 ↗ to depend on the classification

6:00 ↗ yeah because a community park will act

6:02 ↗ differently than natural open space or a

6:05 ↗ Nature Park so we just want to to start

6:08 ↗ that discussion and start thinking about

6:11 ↗ what metrics uh we want to establish for

6:13 ↗ each

6:15 ↗ partk so next

6:17 ↗ slide right so previous in 2024 we did

6:22 ↗ establish u a baseline for performance

6:25 ↗ but it was across the board the same for

6:28 ↗ every type of par we looked at access

6:30 ↗ comfort and image uh use activities and

6:33 ↗ sociability environmental

6:35 ↗ sustainability and economic

6:38 ↗ potential but moving into more a

6:40 ↗ performance-based level of service we'll

6:42 ↗ be able to address the gaps in the

6:44 ↗ system that need to be improved or what

6:46 ↗ we need to implement in the system uh we

6:49 ↗ really want to include Community

6:50 ↗ feedback so that's a question of how we

6:52 ↗ want to reach out to the community and

6:54 ↗ get their input on the metrics uh it

6:57 ↗ helps us to prioritize Investments uh

7:00 ↗ develop replacement schedules budget

7:02 ↗ allocations and life cycle costing

7:04 ↗ that's really important because

7:05 ↗ typically Parks particularly Park

7:07 ↗ equipment will last 10 to 15 years and

7:10 ↗ again it depends on how heavy of a use

7:12 ↗ the park does get so we have to

7:14 ↗ anticipate replacement costs coming up

7:18 ↗ it is assist in planning for future

7:20 ↗ needs based on population growth Trends

7:22 ↗ and climate resistance again we've been

7:24 ↗ talking a lot about that we're really

7:27 ↗ land constrained so um um we want to

7:30 ↗ make sure that we're planning for future

7:32 ↗ expansion planning for our investments

7:35 ↗ to go in the right places according to

7:37 ↗ what the community is going to be

7:39 ↗ needing it establishes performance

7:41 ↗ metrics against the Los standards so we

7:43 ↗ know where we're at every year whatever

7:46 ↗ we need to improve uh we're able to

7:48 ↗ update asset inventory and condition

7:51 ↗ through the cograph asset management

7:53 ↗ program which park operations is

7:55 ↗ starting and I'm working with them on

7:57 ↗ that um and we can create a

8:00 ↗ uh inventory that we can use um and put

8:04 ↗ different lenses on to help help us

8:07 ↗ determine where we need to make those

8:09 ↗ Investments um and the metrics we want

8:11 ↗ to make sure that they align with the

8:12 ↗ new classifications that we established

8:14 ↗ last

8:17 ↗ year Robin just a thought as you're

8:20 ↗ hearing this and as Robin's about to go

8:23 ↗ through and sort of remind you all the

8:25 ↗ the different classifications we have in

8:27 ↗ the in the park system over these next

8:29 ↗ couple slides something I want you to be

8:31 ↗ thinking about that might might lead

8:33 ↗ into the discussion afterwards is to

8:36 ↗ establish criter to to understand how

8:38 ↗ each of these classifications is

8:40 ↗ performing it's it's going to be

8:42 ↗ important to us before we set criteria

8:44 ↗ to EST what what's the goal what what's

8:47 ↗ the goal what is the goal that this

8:50 ↗ community wants for its Community Parks

8:51 ↗ what's the goal that this community

8:53 ↗ wants for its nature parks once it's go

8:55 ↗ right so sort of be thinking as you're

8:57 ↗ hearing and being reminded of what each

8:59 ↗ of these types of parks are in our

9:00 ↗ system um just be thinking sort of goal

9:04 ↗ what should a goal be for for what a a

9:06 ↗ good performing acre within that type of

9:09 ↗ Park what should it be doing sorry Rob

9:13 ↗ okay next one just a recap on the

9:16 ↗ classifications that we developed last

9:18 ↗ year our community park is probably

9:20 ↗ going to be our largest park uh it's

9:24 ↗ it's dedicated for multiple

9:25 ↗ neighborhoods and a larger population

9:28 ↗ our neighborhood parks are more

9:29 ↗ centrally located depending on the

9:31 ↗ neighborhood and typically will see

9:33 ↗ serve the needs of one or more

9:36 ↗ neighborhoods um Nature Park we have in

9:39 ↗ various locations around the city um

9:42 ↗ typically access from a collector

9:43 ↗ arterial Street um but primarily focused

9:47 ↗ on passive Recreation such as trails and

9:50 ↗ educational

9:52 ↗ s and then for those three just examples

9:55 ↗ so Community Park great examples Tietz

9:57 ↗ Valley Park what of our community Parks

9:59 ↗ a great example of a neighborhood park

10:01 ↗ would be either Blackberry park or

10:03 ↗ Hillside Park the the I should correct

10:06 ↗ myself the portion of Hillside Park that

10:08 ↗ we're working on right that the little

10:10 ↗ two acre piece that's about to to get

10:12 ↗ reopened a great example of a Nature

10:15 ↗ Park is the rest of Hillside park right

10:18 ↗ that Natural Area that that might have a

10:20 ↗ some neighborhood Trails through

10:22 ↗ it yeah and moving to the next slide are

10:27 ↗ two of our newest class ifications are

10:30 ↗ the linear park that's really located

10:33 ↗ more of in an urban or commercial

10:35 ↗ environment is more linear in form um

10:38 ↗ our Greenway Park serves the needs of

10:41 ↗ multiple neighborhoods but really is

10:43 ↗ primarily focused on a natural landscape

10:46 ↗ with a minimal amount of passive

10:48 ↗ Recreation a facility obviously is a

10:51 ↗ building that has a public user

10:52 ↗ Gathering space uh think of the pool or

10:55 ↗ the community center on

10:57 ↗ that linear Park exam would be rer

11:01 ↗ Trail right a Greenway example would be

11:07 ↗ weif

11:10 ↗ anology that ribon through the the

11:12 ↗ Wetland area down by RI and Arena

11:18 ↗ Sports and finally we have our natural

11:20 ↗ Open Spaces uh located in various

11:24 ↗ locations around the city but really

11:26 ↗ permanently focus on passive Recreation

11:28 ↗ again with no active Recreation

11:31 ↗ development allowed and then our

11:33 ↗ undeveloped Parks um that's are are just

11:35 ↗ on hold until they're

11:37 ↗ activated so those are the main

11:39 ↗ classifications that we want to start

11:41 ↗ looking at and developing different

11:43 ↗ criteria but and again what is the goal

11:46 ↗ for each of that type of classification

11:48 ↗ that we want to

11:50 ↗ set okay so now I just want to open it

11:53 ↗ up for a discussion that um as we start

11:57 ↗ moving into level of service are there

11:59 ↗ certain classifications that would take

12:02 ↗ priority that you would want to start

12:03 ↗ with and start developing that goal and

12:06 ↗ metrics um are there others that aren't

12:09 ↗ as critical we'll still get to them but

12:12 ↗ are there some that kind of put forward

12:15 ↗ in your mind that you'd want to move

12:16 ↗ forward first like the top

12:19 ↗ three I would say for me the top three

12:22 ↗ would be the Community Park Community

12:24 ↗ Park okay the neighborhood park and um

12:38 ↗ all linear

12:44 ↗ okay okay interesting to note and I

12:47 ↗ think you recall this from our Park plan

12:49 ↗ when you look at the proportionality of

12:52 ↗ our acreage through those eight

12:55 ↗ classifications uh we have the lowest

12:57 ↗ amount of acreage in our community works

12:59 ↗ and are NE CL um I would say if you

13:02 ↗ looked at a National Standard we're

13:04 ↗ probably closer to being a deficit but

13:07 ↗ it comes to develop you know built

13:09 ↗ community park and the Ood park space

13:12 ↗ where we have an abundance and a

13:14 ↗ wonderful abundance and it's to be

13:15 ↗ celebrated is our natural open space

13:18 ↗ areas it's it's a um you know between

13:21 ↗ that and the Greenways that is oh boy I

13:24 ↗ want to say close to 90% of our of our

13:28 ↗ Park system in a

13:35 ↗ parkage anyone

13:37 ↗ else does that feel like a good start to

13:40 ↗ just start with those

13:41 ↗ three and we'll start establishing kind

13:44 ↗ of a Cadence to look at those and come

13:46 ↗ back those yeah to me I feel like those

13:48 ↗ have the most kind of community

13:50 ↗ involvement or interaction rather the

13:53 ↗ other are you'll have a

13:56 ↗ more obvious use and obvious is you know

14:00 ↗ kind but those are the ones that OB much

14:02 ↗ more interaction a lot more foot traffic

14:05 ↗ maybe I

14:06 ↗ guess say that performance has more to

14:09 ↗ do with has a lot to do with active uses

14:13 ↗ yeah or or diversity of uses the

14:16 ↗ performance expectation in our Open

14:18 ↗ Space is really important but that's

14:19 ↗ going to have habitat verical area

14:24 ↗ environmental right and

14:26 ↗ natural goals as well Community parks

14:29 ↗ and neighborhood parks will

14:32 ↗ also but the proportionality of those

14:35 ↗ and that just a good example of maybe

14:37 ↗ maybe the goals or criteria are somewhat

14:40 ↗ similar but they're weighted differently

14:42 ↗ totally thinking out

14:44 ↗ loud say this but yeah

14:49 ↗ 10 your hands raised yeah thank you uh

14:53 ↗ you I I sort of echo the previous

14:55 ↗ comment that I think we need to put

14:58 ↗ prior

14:59 ↗ where the people are uh and the

15:02 ↗ community parks that get a lot of people

15:04 ↗ going to them and the trails uh and

15:06 ↗ green spaces where we get a lot of foot

15:08 ↗ traffic going through so you know

15:11 ↗ putting the priority where the people

15:14 ↗ are I think makes sense rather than um

15:17 ↗ trying to uh prioritize areas that don't

15:22 ↗ get as much use so be nice to raise them

15:25 ↗ all up but you know I'd say let's take

15:27 ↗ care of what gets used the most because

15:30 ↗ that has the heaviest traffic and gets

15:33 ↗ the most uh the community gets the most

15:36 ↗ out of it that's all yeah thanks for

15:43 ↗ that that's good okay and as as we start

15:47 ↗ diving into these I just want to have

15:50 ↗ you start thinking about what should be

15:52 ↗ included in in the evaluation what

15:55 ↗ should our overall overarching goals be

15:58 ↗ um and I just I I ran through a couple

16:01 ↗ other cities evaluation criteria and

16:05 ↗ they had noted these so I just put these

16:07 ↗ down as discussion points but uh if

16:10 ↗ there's anything that really pops out

16:12 ↗ between now and the next meeting uh

16:14 ↗ let's just start making a list of those

16:18 ↗ depending and Robin brings up a really

16:21 ↗ good point and that we are not alone in

16:23 ↗ this journey right this right just

16:26 ↗ measuring the number of Acres we have

16:27 ↗ doesn't really tell the story of how

16:29 ↗ those acres are performing other cities

16:32 ↗ have beg going down this road of

16:33 ↗ performance space l so we're going to be

16:36 ↗ able to um no none of us trademark our

16:40 ↗ public materials they're all they're all

16:43 ↗ sharable with with one another so we'll

16:45 ↗ we'll have some good information from

16:47 ↗ our our peer cities right which is nice

16:50 ↗ because we're realizing they're leaning

16:52 ↗ heavily on their their GIS systems also

16:55 ↗ so it's nice to get some lessons learned

16:57 ↗ from other people too and how how using

16:59 ↗ their data to improve their parts so

17:02 ↗ that'll be

17:05 ↗ fun so thank you thanks Rob just really

17:08 ↗ W to te this up and make sure that we

17:10 ↗ don't time doesn't go too far where we

17:12 ↗ forget about this this will be an

17:14 ↗ important we don't want to wait until

17:15 ↗ the next Park system Plan update to

17:18 ↗ really do this more detailed work of of

17:21 ↗ some performance-based

17:24 ↗ criteria within each classification

17:31 ↗ thank

17:32 ↗ you well up to the next

17:35 ↗ item which is a Park Municipal Code

17:40 ↗ introduction Santi says you're gonna

17:43 ↗ present

17:55 ↗ this code yay

18:00 ↗ all your policy walks out there get

18:02 ↗ ready it's really

18:05 ↗ not so um yeah thanks I wanted to just

18:09 ↗ start this off with just a really you

18:13 ↗ know brief introduction to this idea

18:17 ↗ that we have been talking about a lot in

18:20 ↗ our office amongst staff um about our

18:24 ↗ Parks Municipal Code so this will be

18:27 ↗ just like a really highle

18:29 ↗ discussion to sort of start the

18:31 ↗ conversation and again this is going to

18:33 ↗ be one of those processes that's going

18:34 ↗ to take time for us to develop think

18:37 ↗ about look at from lots of different

18:40 ↗ angles um and is likely going to be a

18:43 ↗ full 2025 2026 process nothing happens

18:47 ↗ quickly when it comes to policy I don't

18:49 ↗ think it really should when it comes to

18:51 ↗ this type of policy um but we did want

18:54 ↗ to start the year off with hey this is

18:56 ↗ something we're thinking about and

18:58 ↗ looking at and sort of get your take and

19:00 ↗ initial reactions um and then be

19:03 ↗ bringing this back to the board multiple

19:06 ↗ times um the earliest will likely be

19:09 ↗ sometime in the fall um but potentially

19:12 ↗ earlier if we feel like that we've

19:14 ↗ gotten to a place that makes a sense

19:17 ↗ after this conversation so um we're

19:21 ↗ going to start with a really simple part

19:23 ↗ of this is what is Municipal Code um so

19:27 ↗ officially

19:29 ↗ there are regulations within Washington

19:33 ↗ States

19:35 ↗ um oh I'm going to forget the acronym

19:38 ↗ um RC RCW which is the revised code of

19:44 ↗ Washington um that offer this option

19:48 ↗ basically for municipalities and smaller

19:51 ↗ groups to have their own Municipal Code

19:54 ↗ um so the basic objective of city code

19:58 ↗ is to increase the ability of cities to

20:00 ↗ cope with complex Urban Problems by

20:02 ↗ providing broad statutory home rule

20:05 ↗ Authority um in matters of local concern

20:08 ↗ and it you know goes on so more or less

20:11 ↗ it helps governments and communities to

20:14 ↗ have a mutual understanding of the rules

20:16 ↗ regulations operations enforcement and

20:19 ↗ uses and services within a

20:22 ↗ jurisdiction um in all of these they

20:25 ↗ work in tandem with state and federal

20:28 ↗ Reg ation and rules and laws um and

20:32 ↗ depending on what we're talking about

20:34 ↗ one of those May supersede the other um

20:37 ↗ if something already exists in state

20:39 ↗ code then we likely don't need it in our

20:41 ↗ own like isqua Municipal Code

20:45 ↗ um and speaking of our city of isqua

20:49 ↗ Municipal Code these are all of the

20:53 ↗ different sections that already exist

20:56 ↗ within the isqua municipal codes so

20:59 ↗ there's a lot of stuff about just how we

21:02 ↗ function as a city there's a lot of

21:05 ↗ stuff about how you know businesses can

21:08 ↗ function within the city um health and

21:11 ↗ safety for the the area traffic water

21:16 ↗ safety Public Services streets has their

21:19 ↗ own section um and probably the one that

21:22 ↗ everybody knows is um the land use code

21:27 ↗ and building and construction C codes so

21:30 ↗ those are like really Hefty sections of

21:33 ↗ our Municipal Code by no means are we

21:36 ↗ trying to create that here when we're

21:39 ↗ having this conversation about part code

21:41 ↗ so I just want to set realistic

21:44 ↗ expectations here um when we're we're

21:47 ↗ talking about some of this stuff because

21:49 ↗ what's interesting is you notice in all

21:51 ↗ those

21:51 ↗ titles another title is another term for

21:55 ↗ chapter each of us there's no Parks

21:58 ↗ chapter yeah yeah so missing amongst

22:01 ↗ this is work

22:03 ↗ specifically

22:05 ↗ um

22:07 ↗ and to that end Park code um current

22:13 ↗ status there are Park codes that do

22:16 ↗ exist within our ESA Municipal Code

22:18 ↗ currently um they are built in

22:21 ↗ throughout different sections this is

22:23 ↗ just sort of like a really brief

22:25 ↗ overview by no means comprehensive of

22:28 ↗ where some of that Park code exists um

22:31 ↗ so in our title six about animals

22:34 ↗ there's sections that speak about

22:35 ↗ animals and Parks um there are certain

22:38 ↗ regulations and rules within the

22:40 ↗ criminal code that relate to our parks

22:43 ↗ and Trail

22:44 ↗ spaces um Street sidewalks in public

22:47 ↗ places so this is like sort of how our

22:49 ↗ rways and sidewalks interact with our

22:52 ↗ Parks there's some Park code in there um

22:55 ↗ obviously revenue and finance how our

22:58 ↗ Parks get funded um both to department

23:02 ↗ and capital projects um and then

23:05 ↗ vehicles and traffic so that's just like

23:07 ↗ a tiny bit oh also a big one land use um

23:11 ↗ there's there is part code within the

23:13 ↗ land use section of our code as well um

23:18 ↗ and so the bigger question is well great

23:21 ↗ if that already exists then why do we

23:22 ↗ need to change anything um and part of

23:26 ↗ that is just to make sure that we as a

23:29 ↗ community have a better understanding of

23:31 ↗ how our Park spaces are really being

23:32 ↗ used and an understanding of how we as a

23:36 ↗ community want those Park spaces to be

23:39 ↗ used um we've seen a really large

23:42 ↗ increase in usage of our Park system we

23:45 ↗ know this from our Park strategic Plan

23:47 ↗ update that Park system Plan update that

23:49 ↗ we just did um the diversity of that

23:52 ↗ usage has changed a lot um and what

23:55 ↗ these Parks need to be able to do has

23:58 ↗ changed over time and so are there key

24:02 ↗ rules and regulations that never needed

24:05 ↗ to exist before that now maybe do um and

24:10 ↗ to help clarify enforcement for things

24:15 ↗ that we feel as a community are not

24:18 ↗ sanctioned uses within our Parks um

24:22 ↗ there are lots of pure cities that are

24:24 ↗ doing this that have gone through sort

24:26 ↗ of this review um Jeff's gonna have to

24:29 ↗ remind me on most of them and where they

24:31 ↗ are but um City of Redmond did sort of a

24:35 ↗ big update recently to their park code

24:38 ↗ chapters um I believe city of Kirkland

24:41 ↗ is currently underway and reviewing it

24:45 ↗ um who else uh Samus just went through a

24:49 ↗ recent one um I guess just to add to

24:52 ↗ this as a best practice most cities have

24:55 ↗ a Parks chapter right in their code

24:58 ↗ we're the anomaly we're we're the we're

25:01 ↗ the odd one and that we don't have a

25:05 ↗ specific title where Parks related items

25:09 ↗ rules regulations enforcement are

25:11 ↗ Consolidated so um but is this salty is

25:15 ↗ saying again and as we were saying with

25:18 ↗ with uh the level of service work we

25:20 ↗ have peer cities we have really good

25:22 ↗ examples

25:23 ↗ of this isn't something we're going to

25:25 ↗ be blazing a trail on our own

25:31 ↗ so yeah just a a little bit in there um

25:35 ↗ and then more or less our process for

25:39 ↗ how we think and I'll say hope that this

25:43 ↗ process goes um so the first thing is

25:47 ↗ really just reviewing our current part

25:48 ↗ codes where do those all exist in what

25:51 ↗ chapters in what titles how many of

25:54 ↗ those maybe need clarification and

25:57 ↗ updating for and potentially

25:59 ↗ consolidating into one other section

26:03 ↗ that we create for Parks um and what

26:05 ↗ makes sense to just stay and live where

26:08 ↗ it is because it's working it was just

26:10 ↗ recently updated um and there may not be

26:14 ↗ a need to pull it out of the section

26:16 ↗ that it currently lives in um so that's

26:18 ↗ sort of the first step that we as staff

26:21 ↗ are going to take reviewing our our

26:24 ↗ current code um and then in that is also

26:28 ↗ reviewing our current practices and

26:31 ↗ needs so what are the common things that

26:33 ↗ are happening that we're all just kind

26:34 ↗ of like assuming has a rule or a

26:37 ↗ regulation behind it that maybe doesn't

26:40 ↗ officially um and those are the things

26:43 ↗ that that really we want to to identify

26:45 ↗ those needs and update them and make

26:48 ↗ sure that that is actually

26:50 ↗ codified um and through all of this

26:53 ↗ there's going to be Community engagement

26:56 ↗ to make sure that we're understanding

26:57 ↗ you know these rules that we're thinking

26:59 ↗ of putting in place how they're going to

27:01 ↗ work today but also how they're going to

27:04 ↗ work in five years and in 10 years and

27:07 ↗ where they need to be able to have

27:09 ↗ flexibility to change and update um

27:12 ↗ because with all code it all needs to be

27:15 ↗ able to change an update as the

27:17 ↗ community changes um so making sure that

27:19 ↗ that is is built in as a regular Cadence

27:23 ↗ um and then once we get through most of

27:26 ↗ that there's also just the the municipal

27:29 ↗ process so this will involve you know

27:32 ↗ key reviewers internal external

27:35 ↗ Community engagement sort of the um

27:39 ↗ different boards and commissions that

27:41 ↗ will be involved in reviewing and and

27:44 ↗ updating certain sections or or offering

27:47 ↗ sort of review of certain sections um

27:51 ↗ and then our city council process as

27:54 ↗ well um and then you know the last bit

27:58 ↗ in

28:00 ↗ 2026 um really

28:02 ↗ formalizing um and adopting this new

28:05 ↗ code

28:06 ↗ section um so that's really the quick

28:10 ↗ rough and dirty um process that we're

28:14 ↗ we're looking at um and so that's kind

28:20 ↗ of the introduction here um I would love

28:24 ↗ to open this up to discussion questions

28:27 ↗ anything that I just t talked about if

28:28 ↗ you're like policy is not my thing I'm

28:31 ↗ totally out have fun um I understand

28:34 ↗ that as well I went to school for policy

28:37 ↗ so I know that this is like I have like

28:38 ↗ a a very um rose-colored glasses for

28:42 ↗ this um but I also know that you know

28:45 ↗ anything that we are deciding on

28:48 ↗ updating or changing or adding something

28:50 ↗ in code is going to have potential

28:54 ↗ unintended consequences and that's just

28:56 ↗ the reality of every policy and so I

29:00 ↗ want to make sure that we're thinking

29:01 ↗ about those as much as we can and

29:04 ↗ knowing that like hey I think it's our

29:07 ↗ job to kind of minimize that as much as

29:09 ↗ possible so there might be something

29:11 ↗ that maybe doesn't warrant needing to be

29:15 ↗ codified um it might be something that

29:17 ↗ we all feel really strongly about there

29:19 ↗ might be other ways for us to think

29:21 ↗ about how we enforce that potentially um

29:24 ↗ but maybe it doesn't need to get you

29:26 ↗ know full Park Co code for it um so

29:30 ↗ that's just one thing as we're sort of

29:32 ↗ going through this process

29:35 ↗ but initial thoughts reactions

29:40 ↗ questions I'll say just the word of

29:42 ↗ improvement I think this is fantastic

29:44 ↗ idea because I as someone who's

29:46 ↗ following a lot of political Shenanigans

29:48 ↗ going on right now it feels like a good

29:50 ↗ way to protect the parks that if the

29:52 ↗ code is so split off that seems like an

29:54 ↗ easy way

29:55 ↗ for council member that's against the

29:58 ↗ the parks to easily kind of to use code

30:00 ↗ against the park system to some extent

30:02 ↗ so it feels like a good way to protect

30:04 ↗ the system we have to really get it its

30:05 ↗ own section codified and really

30:07 ↗ dedicated stuff it feels very smart for

30:10 ↗ the future for this so ASC I think this

30:13 ↗ is fantastic absolutely should be done

30:15 ↗ and it should be another number on that

30:18 ↗ St yeah it's a great way to put it

30:20 ↗ you're right it is another it's

30:23 ↗ another layer of protection for the

30:25 ↗ public system

30:28 ↗ question I do have is is it like the US

30:31 ↗ Constitution where it's very hard to

30:32 ↗ change once it's there or it's like we

30:34 ↗ have a meeting we decide to change a

30:36 ↗ paragraph here do not as but I wouldn't

30:39 ↗ say it's as easy as the second option

30:42 ↗ but definitely not as hard as like US

30:44 ↗ Constitution or or Title 18 like land

30:47 ↗ use code um there are options for us to

30:51 ↗ you know bring something to the board if

30:54 ↗ there's a change needed make sure that

30:56 ↗ we're getting enough community input to

30:59 ↗ say that like yes this makes sense for

31:01 ↗ us to update and change and then take it

31:04 ↗ through the the city council process um

31:07 ↗ so it it is something that does change

31:11 ↗ you

31:12 ↗ know relatively easy yeah yeah municipal

31:15 ↗ code is administered by staff it's

31:17 ↗ governed by Council so um and I think

31:21 ↗ for good reason any any am so this

31:24 ↗ process where we're saying hey we a

31:27 ↗ staff and as Community think creating a

31:29 ↗ Parks chapter makes a lot of

31:31 ↗ sense as aanti point out in those five

31:34 ↗ steps we're going to do our work with

31:35 ↗ you all on the community um looking at

31:38 ↗ pure cities and then we ultimately

31:40 ↗ present that David to councel and say we

31:42 ↗ think this is really important they say

31:45 ↗ yes or no they make the change and then

31:47 ↗ should there um something I were joking

31:50 ↗ a couple weeks ago right this is not the

31:52 ↗ George Fen Grill you don't set it and

31:54 ↗ forget it code code needs to be reviewed

31:57 ↗ code

31:58 ↗ will need updates you know um on on some

32:02 ↗ sort of routine frequency but those

32:04 ↗ would all need to go to City

32:06 ↗ Council great question and then yeah

32:11 ↗ Tim hi yeah so what pops my mind is just

32:14 ↗ from what we were just talking about a

32:16 ↗ few minutes ago about the various the

32:18 ↗ different kinds of parks that we have

32:20 ↗ and so you know would you envision there

32:24 ↗ being slightly different code depending

32:26 ↗ on what kind of park it is because it

32:28 ↗ would seem challenging to me to come up

32:31 ↗ with

32:33 ↗ overarching codes or regulations that

32:36 ↗ govern such dispar uh Parks as we have

32:41 ↗ uh in our system so I'm just I'm

32:43 ↗ wondering how you know what's the

32:45 ↗ thinking around that is it kind of a

32:47 ↗ high umbrella uh of guidelines or will

32:51 ↗ it be more granular for like in this

32:53 ↗ kind of Park these things are allowed

32:55 ↗ but maybe not in the other kinds of

32:57 ↗ parks

32:59 ↗ really really good question Tim I'll

33:01 ↗ take a first crack at that yeah I would

33:03 ↗ say you know if you look at other other

33:06 ↗ how other cities have sort of organized

33:09 ↗ their um Parks chapter their Parks code

33:13 ↗ it's probably Prim primarily those

33:16 ↗ overarching rules and regulations uh for

33:19 ↗ the entirety of the park system um

33:22 ↗ understanding that

33:24 ↗ certain certain elements of the code

33:26 ↗ might apply strictly to C you know to

33:29 ↗ open space areas or more or less to the

33:33 ↗ active development areas but it's not

33:37 ↗ code isn't

33:39 ↗ organized by

33:41 ↗ classification um this Parks chapter

33:44 ↗ will also work in a complimentary

33:47 ↗ fashion to all the other chapters of the

33:49 ↗ code right so the land use code doesn't

33:52 ↗ just go away so a lot of our different

33:56 ↗ types of Class part classifications will

33:58 ↗ still all need to to obey and work

34:02 ↗ within you know critical area

34:05 ↗ protections um Conservation Area right

34:08 ↗ so sort of what's allowed what's not

34:09 ↗ allowed where is a trail allowed that's

34:11 ↗ not necessarily in a park code that

34:13 ↗ would be land use code right so um this

34:19 ↗ is I think you know by practice the

34:23 ↗ parks chapter is focusing more on what's

34:27 ↗ allowed and not not allowed what rules

34:29 ↗ and regul how do we want to handle

34:31 ↗ electric bikes on our trail system how

34:33 ↗ do we want to you know um look at dogs

34:37 ↗ and dogs off leash um so it's

34:42 ↗ um yeah it's it's more of a systemwide

34:45 ↗ look than a prescribed look by

34:54 ↗ classification okay thank you

34:58 ↗ yeah it's a great question though

35:01 ↗ Tim I think this is a great

35:04 ↗ opportunity so glad to hear you say that

35:07 ↗ you like this

35:09 ↗ stuff it

35:10 ↗ is having dealt with worked with code my

35:14 ↗ career it is sort of like a Hydra you

35:17 ↗ know pops up multiple heads and

35:19 ↗ everything all over the place um and you

35:23 ↗ do end up finding conflicting sections y

35:28 ↗ conflicting language unended because

35:30 ↗ someone wrote this one year and three

35:31 ↗ years later someone else wrote this and

35:34 ↗ the conflict was never even

35:36 ↗ identified

35:37 ↗ resolve U but this seems like an

35:40 ↗ opportunity to really fix a lot of

35:43 ↗ things that could be very challenging

35:45 ↗ you know one example just real Loosely

35:48 ↗ is you know Title 18 has new

35:50 ↗ requirements for planting trees for

35:52 ↗ canopy coverage that's great when

35:55 ↗ someone wants to pave an entire site or

35:58 ↗ development but that can be complicating

36:01 ↗ when you're trying to do an athletic

36:02 ↗ field you can't have trees in the middle

36:05 ↗ of you soccer field baseball field

36:07 ↗ whatever so there's opportunities to

36:10 ↗ apply

36:11 ↗ um specification and judgment maybe you

36:16 ↗ know the the development code might need

36:19 ↗ an adjustment that says you know refer

36:21 ↗ to the Park section Park title but then

36:25 ↗ um Parks might have an opportunity where

36:27 ↗ it's like yeah we can do this within

36:30 ↗ requirements of tile 18 um but some

36:33 ↗ allowances for you know director

36:35 ↗ approval development community

36:38 ↗ development director you know that

36:40 ↗ you're demonstrating that you're meeting

36:41 ↗ the same you know requirements and

36:44 ↗ intentions so I think this is a great

36:46 ↗ opportunity I'm so glad that you like

36:49 ↗ it I say that now famous lot

36:53 ↗ work but yeah I I think you're totally

36:56 ↗ right

36:58 ↗ much much needed I appreciate hearing

37:00 ↗ all all these questions and feedback it

37:02 ↗ it's time and it's been time and I think

37:05 ↗ we've been making as a department a lot

37:07 ↗ of progress on standardizing stuff and

37:09 ↗ modernizing approaches and this is a

37:12 ↗ this is a really important step to to

37:15 ↗ both protect the park system and also

37:18 ↗ clarify be transparent with the

37:19 ↗ community of what's what's allowed and

37:22 ↗ not allowed within our within our parts

37:27 ↗ that end is sort of like a teaser I

37:30 ↗ guess are there current Park uses that

37:33 ↗ you all know no notice see observe that

37:38 ↗ you feel like could benefit from

37:40 ↗ clarification or or potential

37:44 ↗ codification um a few examples that have

37:48 ↗ come up in at my time I will say at the

37:51 ↗ parks um is sort of the usage of drones

37:54 ↗ in our Parks um the use of ebikes in

37:59 ↗ parks and on our Trails um just a couple

38:02 ↗ of things that are just sort of like new

38:04 ↗ emerging things that are happening that

38:07 ↗ maybe make sense to happen in part of

38:10 ↗ our system but maybe don't make sense to

38:12 ↗ happen in

38:14 ↗ others

38:18 ↗ thats

38:21 ↗ and AR often time

38:25 ↗ um go really fast and as as

38:29 ↗ pedestrians

38:31 ↗ Andes I think that you could POS

38:33 ↗ potential harms and then I think another

38:36 ↗ thing that I do see frequently is just

38:38 ↗ driving through tibits

38:39 ↗ Park and we've discussed this see a lot

38:43 ↗ of the Dos running um and and I know

38:47 ↗ that you know it's it's um just see all

38:51 ↗ the time and but then it goes back to

38:54 ↗ the questions do we have our do part Fe

38:57 ↗ is so it's like I could sympathize with

39:00 ↗ the dog owners but at the same time you

39:02 ↗ like if you out they're playing baseball

39:05 ↗ whatnot you step on do you know it's not

39:07 ↗ fun so maybe those are the kind of

39:10 ↗ issues that we need to discuss about

39:12 ↗ maybe that limits or some kind of um

39:17 ↗ enforcement that type of

39:20 ↗ thing well thanks Katie yeah that last

39:22 ↗ one's a good example of even if there's

39:25 ↗ language in the code how do we want

39:27 ↗ handle enforcement so you know another

39:30 ↗ really key perspective in this work um

39:32 ↗ and something already been and I've been

39:34 ↗ talking with our park operations team in

39:36 ↗ particular Alex our park

39:38 ↗ ranger Alex is going to have a a key

39:40 ↗ voice and perspective in in this work as

39:43 ↗ well right so when it comes to these

39:45 ↗ things how do we want what does

39:47 ↗ enforcement look like and it's not just

39:49 ↗ a hey you can't do it but you know we

39:52 ↗ also don't want to be out you know

39:54 ↗ having harsh you know um punishments but

39:58 ↗ we probably want to create in this code

40:01 ↗ a or in this chapter a um scale if you

40:05 ↗ will of all right what is it you know

40:08 ↗ you get a warning um if you have a dog

40:11 ↗ off leash but after that warning it's is

40:14 ↗ it a is it a financial penalty is it you

40:17 ↗ know what what do we want to put in the

40:19 ↗ code um

40:22 ↗ to give some sense of teeth for that

40:25 ↗ enforcement and again not in a

40:28 ↗ bad way but I think we're trying to be

40:30 ↗ good managers for all of you of of of

40:34 ↗ the park

40:35 ↗ system so another real important part of

40:39 ↗ code and something to think about is as

40:41 ↗ we work with our partners in other

40:43 ↗ departments so we either work with code

40:46 ↗ enforcement side in planning or with

40:49 ↗ Public Safety our police um things even

40:52 ↗ like parking enforcement um when you

40:56 ↗ think of rules and regul ations in the

40:58 ↗ Parks or you know how we want people to

41:00 ↗ think of using the parks um you

41:04 ↗ typically want that signage to be tied

41:07 ↗ to a code right so if we're going to say

41:09 ↗ hey there's a penalty for you to you

41:12 ↗ know if we're to put on a sign not just

41:15 ↗ hey we encourage you to keep your dog

41:17 ↗ Unleashed but hey there's going to be a

41:19 ↗ a fine should you um have that we we

41:23 ↗ can't just make that up that has to be

41:25 ↗ there needs to be code

41:27 ↗ is referenced that sign

41:32 ↗ so the goal is not again

41:35 ↗ to to turn our park rangers into uh

41:39 ↗ enforcement offic

41:43 ↗ monitors um we we we they're going to

41:46 ↗ need some semblance of that some of our

41:48 ↗ residents unfortunately need

41:51 ↗ that this the social pressure the

41:53 ↗ positive social pressure is enough for

41:55 ↗ many but it's not enough for for some in

41:58 ↗ our

41:59 ↗ system and there may be things that come

42:01 ↗ up through this where we realize great

42:03 ↗ we need to have that and have some code

42:05 ↗ and enforcement but we also need to do

42:08 ↗ this other sort of like development work

42:10 ↗ right that that we just need to do as a

42:12 ↗ city because we're not there yet and

42:14 ↗ that's why we're having some of these

42:16 ↗ interactions so that will also be part

42:18 ↗ of this well because to Katie's point we

42:23 ↗ are working on a dog park but we don't

42:26 ↗ have very many here in the city and for

42:28 ↗ the city at least and so you know maybe

42:31 ↗ that looks like great certain times of

42:33 ↗ day certain usage areas can be that

42:36 ↗ until we have this other you know need

42:40 ↗ met for the community um but

42:45 ↗ yeah seems like you hit three of the

42:48 ↗ really

42:49 ↗ important bikes and the dogs Dr me the

42:53 ↗ drones you one time I was at um C Park

42:57 ↗ and there was somebody it was kind of

43:00 ↗ neat but you know of course terribly

43:02 ↗ annoying to scene going in and out of

43:04 ↗ all the trees like this and you know

43:07 ↗ it's impressive but only you know

43:09 ↗ pleasurable for one

43:12 ↗ person so uh but the other end of that

43:15 ↗ is you know say there's a wedding at

43:17 ↗ Pickering barn and they want to do the

43:19 ↗ the photo shoot or even just some of the

43:22 ↗ nature shoots you know maybe there's a

43:23 ↗ permitting process to you know for an

43:25 ↗ allowance to to use a

43:27 ↗ are like

43:29 ↗ that yeah yeah that could for sure be

43:33 ↗ part of that that we look

43:35 ↗ at um I will make this one caveat before

43:39 ↗ we move too far into it um depending on

43:42 ↗ where we want to do some um

43:46 ↗ consolidation Andor updates some of it

43:50 ↗ will be easier than others so to David's

43:54 ↗ question how easy is it to change code

43:57 ↗ and Chris to your point of hey there's

44:00 ↗ maybe some conflicting things in land

44:02 ↗ use code land use code is one of those

44:05 ↗ code sections that's very hard to change

44:08 ↗ there are lots of layers that have been

44:11 ↗ built into that that will need to be met

44:14 ↗ before you can actually make a change so

44:17 ↗ some of that is you

44:19 ↗ know open public hearings there's uh a

44:25 ↗ Deepa review there's uh two other boards

44:30 ↗ that have to sort of review and approve

44:33 ↗ and discuss and and have sign off before

44:36 ↗ we even hit the hey Council here's our

44:40 ↗ recommendation um so that might be a

44:43 ↗ section that we don't fully tackle in

44:47 ↗ this first round of creating our chapter

44:50 ↗ but will be something that we'll be

44:52 ↗ reviewing as like hey no this doesn't

44:54 ↗ make a ton of sense and might not be

44:57 ↗ something that we decide to change with

44:59 ↗ our part code that we're looking at but

45:01 ↗ might be something that we have

45:02 ↗ conversations with our colleagues in CPD

45:04 ↗ to be like hey Title 18 is getting an

45:07 ↗ update we need to have this conversation

45:09 ↗ when that's having that update um so

45:13 ↗ just W

45:14 ↗ to put that out there that's a good

45:17 ↗ point not all not all title not all

45:19 ↗ chapters are the same yeah yeah to that

45:23 ↗ end with this chapter end up having a

45:25 ↗ lot of safeguards on it once it's

45:28 ↗ I mean that's

45:30 ↗ definitely up for discussion right like

45:33 ↗ how much of that do you want do you want

45:35 ↗ it to feel

45:37 ↗ really I'll use the term M hant these

45:40 ↗ words onerous to do those updates and

45:43 ↗ changes or do you want it to be flexible

45:46 ↗ to really be able to meet the

45:47 ↗ community's needs um with the idea that

45:51 ↗ like it also needs to still be

45:52 ↗ protecting right like the ultimate goal

45:55 ↗ of this is protection of this great

45:57 ↗ resource that we all want access to um

46:01 ↗ that's that's really the main goal here

46:04 ↗ it is it is another benefit to doing

46:06 ↗ this consolidation work and putting

46:08 ↗ those Park

46:09 ↗ related items in a chapter because like

46:12 ↗ those other chapters something in that

46:14 ↗ chapter could say the park board is the

46:17 ↗ one right so there's a there's a clear

46:19 ↗ Citizen Community perspective that's

46:22 ↗ always going to have to be sought and

46:23 ↗ looked at before it even is considered

46:26 ↗ by city counselor

46:27 ↗ there's it's tough to do that now

46:29 ↗ because again there's Park elements in

46:32 ↗ every in every nearly every chapter yeah

46:37 ↗ it's a great Point

46:40 ↗ Paul just sounds like the right thing to

46:43 ↗ do thanks yeah we we think so and we're

46:48 ↗ ready to do it so here we go

46:52 ↗ co all right thank you everybody more to

46:55 ↗ come soon more to

47:01 ↗ come right uh next item is the par

47:06 ↗ Capital project updates I think

47:09 ↗ everybody's this is

47:13 ↗ mostly very exciting

47:16 ↗ updates for she won

47:18 ↗ to we've had two really really exciting

47:23 ↗ capital projects going on I'm excited to

47:25 ↗ update both Hillside Park is getting

47:27 ↗ really really close hopefully as you see

47:29 ↗ these pictures if you haven't had a

47:30 ↗ chance to go out and look um it's really

47:34 ↗ really taking shape well it's going to

47:36 ↗ be a very exciting neighborhood park um

47:39 ↗ that I think is

47:40 ↗ is um I hope many um if not all

47:43 ↗ neighbors really feel like the the

47:45 ↗ heartbeat of Hillside Park Remains the

47:48 ↗ Same still looks and feels very much

47:50 ↗ like like Hillside

47:52 ↗ Park and then an update on pedestrian

47:55 ↗ Park but Robin just outstanding

47:57 ↗ outstanding work both of those everybody

48:01 ↗ capital projects yeah we've all been

48:03 ↗ pitching in I know it's been a while

48:05 ↗ since we we looked at these but um I

48:08 ↗ went out um as as the construction is

48:11 ↗ making progress I've been trying to take

48:13 ↗ a lot of pictures uh and keep track of

48:15 ↗ what is going on so next picture so just

48:19 ↗ to give you an update uh 2024 we did

48:22 ↗ finish the park system plan it was

48:25 ↗ approved by Council in nov nber and then

48:27 ↗ approved by rco in December

48:34 ↗ so with Grant eligible Grant eligible

48:37 ↗ which is great and we have actually

48:39 ↗ started in on some grants so it's going

48:42 ↗ to be a productive 2025 I think uh so

48:44 ↗ for Hillside Park uh construction is

48:48 ↗ about 80% complete playground

48:51 ↗ installation is actually happening right

48:53 ↗ now the past few weeks they've gotten

48:55 ↗ pretty far with the good weather which

48:56 ↗ is nice um and I I think I don't know if

49:00 ↗ H were you able to get those Friday

49:02 ↗ photos no it's exciting it's it's cool

49:05 ↗ to see the playground equipment in and

49:07 ↗ see everything coming together nature

49:08 ↗ path is all done that feels really good

49:11 ↗ a majority of the um Ada accessible path

49:14 ↗ is in we have Furnishings in so it's

49:17 ↗ really starting to come together

49:18 ↗ plantings are in um we're anticipating

49:21 ↗ soft opening February March you know

49:24 ↗ depending on weather they still have

49:26 ↗ some stuff need to finish up as they

49:27 ↗ back out of the park so we're gauging

49:30 ↗ we're trying to gauge that and just be

49:32 ↗ able to do a soft opening as quick as we

49:34 ↗ can and then uh a more formal

49:36 ↗ neighborhood grand opening after that

49:39 ↗ soft opening meaning we take the fences

49:41 ↗ down and hey go go have fun and use it

49:45 ↗ um we're not going to wait to to cut a

49:47 ↗ ribbon before the commor can the

49:50 ↗ neighborhood can start enjoying that

49:52 ↗ right space and Veterans Memorial I

49:55 ↗ don't know if you've been around down

49:56 ↗ town but ped Park is now they finalized

49:59 ↗ the demo I think last Friday so they're

50:02 ↗ getting ready to dig for that Vault for

50:04 ↗ the mechanical

50:05 ↗ equipment um and then the senior center

50:08 ↗ is actually progressing much faster we

50:10 ↗ can't keep up with them they're moving

50:11 ↗ so fast there really really good team to

50:14 ↗ to work with so um they're actually

50:16 ↗ finishing up storm drain the storm drain

50:19 ↗ system this week which is surprising but

50:23 ↗ um it looks completely different so if

50:24 ↗ you haven't seen it yet please walk by D

50:27 ↗ side it looks great and then we just we

50:32 ↗ start with Hillside Park yeah so this

50:35 ↗ was happening back um October I believe

50:39 ↗ they finished up the the cut off drain

50:42 ↗ and the

50:43 ↗ dissipation uh drain for the ball field

50:47 ↗ uh that's the top two pictures there uh

50:50 ↗ the bottom pictures are they starting in

50:52 ↗ on the playground area uh getting rid of

50:55 ↗ the getting theot footings and getting

50:57 ↗ the edging condition set in place uh

51:00 ↗ bringing the Rock in on the far right

51:03 ↗ that is our manhole for the

51:05 ↗ dissipator uh for the cut off

51:10 ↗ drain and that top picture there is

51:13 ↗ actually the seed starting to take in

51:15 ↗ the field uh they raised up the the back

51:19 ↗ stop area regraded the whole field and

51:22 ↗ that's the seed coming in much faster

51:24 ↗ than I anticipated so it's getting

51:28 ↗ um and then the other pictures are

51:29 ↗ really on the right you see the new

51:31 ↗ benches coming in uh still the edging

51:34 ↗ they did planting already so all the

51:36 ↗ plant materials installed all the trees

51:38 ↗ are installed uh that bottom left

51:40 ↗ picture is right when they they poured

51:43 ↗ the footings and then it riged the next

51:45 ↗ day so they had to suck out all that

51:47 ↗ water out of the footing area um and

51:50 ↗ then the lower right is the Ada path

51:53 ↗ with the Ada picnic table and then two

51:56 ↗ more picking tables on the way but it's

51:57 ↗ a really really nice flow um they did an

52:01 ↗ amazing job with the quality of the

52:03 ↗ edging and just the the new painting

52:05 ↗ material so it's it's really nice it's

52:07 ↗ really looks really good part of

52:09 ↗ constructing this in the winter

52:11 ↗ especially with the the new field um as

52:14 ↗ you're saying the seating but also the

52:16 ↗ drainage we were able to sort of test

52:18 ↗ while it's still in construction how the

52:20 ↗ drainage system is doing and Robin how's

52:22 ↗ it how's it doing it's working really

52:24 ↗ well yeah actually yeah you can hear

52:26 ↗ coming out a little bit on the heavier

52:28 ↗ storms I've been out there um so so that

52:32 ↗ conflict of of wetland and field again

52:36 ↗ was a big part of this

52:38 ↗ project it's nice it does drain within

52:40 ↗ 72 hours so the field do

52:45 ↗ really Tim you've got a

52:49 ↗ question yeah thank you uh yeah it is

52:52 ↗ looking great I'm down there all the

52:53 ↗ time and the the I watched it when we

52:55 ↗ were getting all that heavy rain and it

52:57 ↗ does drain quite well now so they did a

53:00 ↗ good job with that I have one concern uh

53:05 ↗ and it's not has anything to do with the

53:06 ↗ construction but the trail that's been

53:08 ↗ built back through the

53:10 ↗ cemetery as part of this project um it

53:14 ↗ goes along the backside of people's

53:17 ↗ properties and there's one homeowner

53:20 ↗ there that has a couple of I'm a dog guy

53:23 ↗ right I I've got I like big dogs but

53:25 ↗ he's got a couple of big

53:27 ↗ muscular dogs that when they're out they

53:30 ↗ go berserk with people walking by that

53:32 ↗ trail and at one point and the dogs know

53:34 ↗ the close point to where they're like I

53:36 ↗ don't know 8 feet from the trail and

53:39 ↗ it's just a welded wire fence which is

53:41 ↗ not the most sturdy and you walk by

53:44 ↗ there if You' got a dog with you you've

53:45 ↗ got these two big dogs just losing their

53:49 ↗ minds as you go

53:52 ↗ by is there what can we do about that

53:55 ↗ can we talk talk to the homeowner about

53:57 ↗ putting up some wood fencing there to

54:00 ↗ you know at least block The View it's if

54:03 ↗ you if you've walked by and the dogs

54:05 ↗ haven't been out you wouldn't appreciate

54:07 ↗ but if you walk by especially have a dog

54:08 ↗ with you and the dogs are out it's

54:12 ↗ intense and I don't I don't know is

54:15 ↗ there anything we can

54:17 ↗ do um I we can talk with them and see if

54:20 ↗ there's a you know neighbor to neighbor

54:22 ↗ way of either doing some screening or a

54:26 ↗ different type fencing as you as you

54:29 ↗ suggest yeah it's a it's a great point I

54:31 ↗ think I know the the property you're

54:35 ↗ you're talking to as i' as I've made a

54:37 ↗ few trips you're right when when the

54:38 ↗ dogs are out it's

54:41 ↗ noticeable yeah it's going to impact

54:43 ↗ people walking along there it's a

54:45 ↗ beautiful Trail great job with that it's

54:47 ↗ just uh sure it's a thing now and so I I

54:52 ↗ haven't gone and spoken with them but I

54:54 ↗ wanted to wait till we had a meeting I

54:55 ↗ could bring you to the board and we

54:56 ↗ could talk about how we want to handle

54:58 ↗ it if you want me to go just as neighbor

55:00 ↗ to neighbor and be like hey you know

55:04 ↗ what what do you think about putting up

55:05 ↗ some wood fing I would I would suggest

55:07 ↗ we as as staff as the city reach out and

55:10 ↗ have a conversation you know I we can't

55:12 ↗ we can't I wouldn't want it to feel like

55:14 ↗ we're requiring them to do something

55:17 ↗ right they they have every right to do

55:19 ↗ what they want to on their on their

55:21 ↗ property with their dogs um we'll just

55:24 ↗ have to sort of see how that

55:25 ↗ conversation goes

55:26 ↗ you know to the degree that we maybe

55:28 ↗ could do some screening on the on the

55:31 ↗ city part the city side of that um

55:35 ↗ that's might be something we need to

55:36 ↗ consider um as well um and then if if it

55:40 ↗ involves a different fence um it's

55:44 ↗ probably something that both parties

55:45 ↗ would need to come to agreement with so

55:48 ↗ yeah start of the

55:50 ↗ conversation yeah okay Jeff I I'll leave

55:52 ↗ it to you guys to handle it I just if we

55:55 ↗ built a fence on our sight you just need

55:57 ↗ something that breaks the sight line you

55:59 ↗ know if it it because with just that

56:01 ↗ welded wire fence it's clear line of

56:04 ↗ sight um and dogs get all worked up and

56:07 ↗ you know they're protecting their yard

56:09 ↗ so you know I get it but just wanted to

56:13 ↗ bring it to the bring it to the table

56:15 ↗ thanks for bringing it up Y and those

56:18 ↗ are the things right as as we make

56:20 ↗ changes and updates to parks and trails

56:22 ↗ and areas there are things that are

56:24 ↗ going to come up that we need to look

56:26 ↗ address so yeah thanks for letting us

56:29 ↗ know Tim um and I think our next

56:32 ↗ pictures might be a nature path no oh

56:35 ↗ the planting plantings yeah speaking of

56:37 ↗ some screening yeah some screening

56:39 ↗ plantings going on they did quite a bit

56:41 ↗ of work um around the pathways

56:44 ↗ especially a lot of new trees coming in

56:47 ↗ um sub substantial beautiful trees along

56:50 ↗ the nature path though I was really

56:51 ↗ impressed with the quality that they

56:54 ↗ brought in there so you'll see more

56:56 ↗ screening coming up in the cemetery

56:58 ↗ hopefully in the next

56:59 ↗ year then next slide just a construction

57:03 ↗ of the nature path um you know with that

57:05 ↗ many trees that's probably one of the

57:07 ↗ most challenging paths I've done in a

57:09 ↗ while um but we work with A1 and really

57:13 ↗ protecting as many roots as we could um

57:15 ↗ and going up and over instead of cutting

57:17 ↗ through them so they did an exceptional

57:19 ↗ job added more drainage in that we

57:21 ↗ anticipated and we modified actually the

57:24 ↗ exit um on the be the north side of the

57:27 ↗ cemetery so initially we were going to

57:30 ↗ be coming through that hedge area and we

57:31 ↗ realized that that's a blind curve so we

57:34 ↗ pull that back up and you'll see two

57:36 ↗ stones there that kind of signify the

57:38 ↗ entry so that ended up being a little

57:41 ↗ little modification but a really good

57:42 ↗ one in the end yeah just I'd like to

57:45 ↗ interrupt just to give you Kudos because

57:47 ↗ many of you don't know that when the scy

57:49 ↗ the bomb Cyclone hit a bunch of trees

57:51 ↗ came down and some homeowners threw a

57:54 ↗ bunch of branches and stuff right in the

57:55 ↗ middle of the brand new Trail and Robin

57:58 ↗ got people out there and got it all

58:00 ↗ cleaned up and it's all good now so that

58:02 ↗ was a little extra bonus that uh was

58:05 ↗ thrown into the project but it was

58:06 ↗ cleaned up very

58:08 ↗ nicely Kudos operation season they were

58:10 ↗ out there like that so they did clean

58:12 ↗ that up yeah it's looking

58:15 ↗ good true nature trail yeah and the

58:18 ↗ second part of the project was over at

58:21 ↗ Park point the mitigation area so this

58:23 ↗ kind this will just walk you through the

58:25 ↗ process we did this is particularly the

58:27 ↗ Wetland area which once you're out there

58:30 ↗ you just don't realize how big it is in

58:34 ↗ in real life on the site versus what's

58:36 ↗ on the plan so it's it was pretty

58:38 ↗ impressive to see um the first was the

58:41 ↗ grading of the site then they put the

58:43 ↗ mulch down which is pretty substantial

58:46 ↗ mulch um and then the last two are the

58:48 ↗ planting within the Wetland area and

58:51 ↗ then in the buffer zone as

58:54 ↗ well and then we went out there

58:56 ↗ to do a punch list on a really rainy day

58:59 ↗ which I'm glad we did because the

59:00 ↗ Wetland is already taking shape taking

59:03 ↗ shape and in effect and that we're at

59:05 ↗ the point now where we can take the

59:07 ↗ Waddles off of The Edge and combine the

59:09 ↗ two Wetlands together so really

59:11 ↗ successful I think that junk is actually

59:13 ↗ doubled in size within a couple months

59:15 ↗ so it's doing really well and Performing

59:18 ↗ really nicely true Wetland it's a

59:20 ↗ wetland we have a wetland and this

59:23 ↗ becomes again one of those balanced

59:25 ↗ goals so there's that word balance right

59:28 ↗ that we had in our Park plan uh this

59:30 ↗ project is a great example where we had

59:32 ↗ a wet Linda in a field trying to do the

59:35 ↗ same thing at the same time I hope not

59:38 ↗ neither of them are going to perform

59:39 ↗ well um but hopefully now we're going to

59:41 ↗ have a neighborhood park Playfield

59:43 ↗ that's going to perform a ton better and

59:45 ↗ we're going to have a wetland um within

59:48 ↗ the is Creek Basin so still within the

59:50 ↗ same Basin but

59:52 ↗ um ecologically and environmentally it's

59:54 ↗ going to perform so much better than it

59:56 ↗ was um really not doing much for the

1:00:00 ↗ environment um up

1:00:02 ↗ there really

1:00:06 ↗ great oh now on the veteran memorial

1:00:09 ↗ closet uh just before and after pictures

1:00:13 ↗ this is PED park with the arbor still up

1:00:16 ↗ uh the front of the senior center and

1:00:18 ↗ then that lower picture was they did

1:00:20 ↗ demo pretty much within the week with

1:00:22 ↗ the exception of the the front Cal lever

1:00:25 ↗ piece of the Center which is out off

1:00:28 ↗ now uh and this

1:00:31 ↗ is yeah this is all Senior Center

1:00:34 ↗ because they're moving really fast on

1:00:35 ↗ this one but it's a really impressive

1:00:38 ↗ beautiful you can tell it's going to be

1:00:39 ↗ a really beautiful area um speaking of a

1:00:42 ↗ drone yeah these

1:00:46 ↗ are Tim go out with the Drone and take

1:00:50 ↗ so so it's exciting I think last not

1:00:53 ↗ this past Friday but the Friday before

1:00:56 ↗ they actually poured the curb for the

1:00:59 ↗ artificial turf area on the east side um

1:01:03 ↗ and they did the footings for the

1:01:04 ↗ Pavilion area along the front and yeah

1:01:08 ↗ so storm brain is now going in um

1:01:12 ↗ nothing has been popping up that's

1:01:14 ↗ that's critical or everything's going

1:01:17 ↗ really smoothly um great contractor to

1:01:19 ↗ work with so we're excited to see it

1:01:22 ↗ being pulled together it changes day by

1:01:25 ↗ day you just got to keep watching it I

1:01:27 ↗ mean you can just see so much through

1:01:31 ↗ from Depot all the way to Veterans Park

1:01:34 ↗ now if you're standing in that area

1:01:35 ↗ because this bottom photo shows like

1:01:38 ↗ that's where the front of the senior

1:01:39 ↗ center ends now that used to extend all

1:01:41 ↗ the way out to basically this tree um

1:01:44 ↗ and that's not there anymore so like

1:01:46 ↗ we've already opened up so much here um

1:01:49 ↗ and then you know as a reminder that

1:01:51 ↗ little area that you see the footings of

1:01:53 ↗ that's where the pavilion's going to be

1:01:55 ↗ and then this is the side where the

1:01:57 ↗ artificial

1:01:58 ↗ turf

1:02:00 ↗ ball

1:02:02 ↗ cornhole any mix of activities I think

1:02:05 ↗ one of the big goals of this portion of

1:02:07 ↗ the project was and and I hope it's

1:02:10 ↗ going to be true in terms of feel and

1:02:12 ↗ placemaking the senior center is going

1:02:14 ↗ to feel like it's part of the park it

1:02:17 ↗ never really felt like it was part of

1:02:19 ↗ the

1:02:23 ↗ park pedestrian yeah and then pedestrian

1:02:26 ↗ Park just more of the the demolition

1:02:29 ↗ that's happening out there um talk about

1:02:31 ↗ a big space now that space is is

1:02:34 ↗ dramatically changed and looks really

1:02:36 ↗ feels a lot better now and again your

1:02:39 ↗ sight line straight through either the

1:02:41 ↗ sunset on the corner or back into the

1:02:43 ↗ depot area it's totally disconcerning

1:02:45 ↗ when you walk by because

1:02:56 ↗ yeah how much more prominent the depot

1:02:58 ↗ building

1:03:01 ↗ is I think be more of that he come check

1:03:05 ↗ it out yeah it'll just be an iconic

1:03:08 ↗ corner and last Friday the team went

1:03:10 ↗ down to Northwest preast they did um a

1:03:13 ↗ mockup of the water feature so they're

1:03:15 ↗ checking to see how the water went down

1:03:17 ↗ that so hopefully I'll have a video for

1:03:20 ↗ everybody next time go

1:03:22 ↗ yeah really good team to work with

1:03:30 ↗ exciting yeah after all the months of

1:03:31 ↗ planning and now it's actually coming a

1:03:35 ↗ months as

1:03:37 ↗ in months of Permitting

1:03:41 ↗ right that's where we're at right now

1:03:43 ↗ with

1:03:54 ↗ projects okay

1:03:56 ↗ um that's all our reg

1:04:00 ↗ business move on to reports so

1:04:05 ↗ director oh guess I'm first aren't I

1:04:10 ↗ yes all right um you know what I'm gonna

1:04:15 ↗ I guess start with Wow since we last met

1:04:18 ↗ a few oh Ryan you have a

1:04:22 ↗ question comment only so much as I was

1:04:25 ↗ was hoping and maybe you're about to do

1:04:28 ↗ this so forgive me but as you get into

1:04:30 ↗ your director's report is there some

1:04:33 ↗ type of

1:04:34 ↗ um information Direction

1:04:38 ↗ expense impact that you can provide

1:04:40 ↗ based off that bomb cyclone and how it's

1:04:42 ↗ impact our Parks it sounds like you're

1:04:44 ↗ about to roll into that so I um we'll

1:04:47 ↗ just sit back down with my hand off

1:04:50 ↗ screen perfect perfect Segway thank you

1:04:53 ↗ Ryan yeah so a lot A lot happened since

1:04:56 ↗ we last met in the middle of November

1:04:59 ↗ that next week um obviously the the bomb

1:05:02 ↗ Cyclone hit um and um yeah impacts were

1:05:06 ↗ significant I I hope all of you in your

1:05:08 ↗ homes are are okay um it's pretty clear

1:05:12 ↗ from um local news and even us making

1:05:16 ↗ the national news isqua really was the

1:05:18 ↗ epicenter in manyways of of that event

1:05:21 ↗ and so um that week was a bit of a blur

1:05:25 ↗ for us as a department I I I want to

1:05:28 ↗ give um really kudos to the entire city

1:05:32 ↗ for a response um in particular this

1:05:34 ↗ department and how it responded we

1:05:36 ↗ pretty immediately realized with the

1:05:38 ↗ power out all throughout town and the

1:05:42 ↗ likelihood that it was going to be out

1:05:43 ↗ for a long long time um activated some

1:05:46 ↗ resource hubs we we worked with the

1:05:49 ↗ fleet crew and got a generator over to

1:05:51 ↗ the senior center and converted that

1:05:53 ↗ into a resource h people could come and

1:05:56 ↗ warm up um it came with a lot of power

1:06:01 ↗ and Wi-Fi for folks be able to charge up

1:06:04 ↗ and and get connected and do work what

1:06:07 ↗ they weren't able to do at home and um

1:06:10 ↗ that was open there at the senior center

1:06:11 ↗ for four days five days um within the

1:06:15 ↗ that first day we open we had easily oh

1:06:18 ↗ my goodness I me guess 6

1:06:22 ↗ 700 plus uh people coming through

1:06:26 ↗ um it became so popular we opened a

1:06:28 ↗ second one at the pick ring Barn uh so

1:06:31 ↗ through the end of that week and into of

1:06:32 ↗ the weekend we had two resource hubs

1:06:35 ↗ going um again a community that was very

1:06:38 ↗ appreciative of that work um while that

1:06:41 ↗ was happening our park operations crew

1:06:43 ↗ was working tirelessly with public works

1:06:46 ↗ and clearing roads um and getting that

1:06:49 ↗ done but then also beginning the hard

1:06:51 ↗ work of assessment and cleanup um of the

1:06:54 ↗ park system

1:06:56 ↗ um in terms of impacts um we've been

1:07:00 ↗ working with um our Emergency Management

1:07:03 ↗ folks to um not only assess the number

1:07:07 ↗ of trees lost but put a value uh to

1:07:10 ↗ those

1:07:13 ↗ um not exact numbers but when you look

1:07:16 ↗ at our um developed areas within our

1:07:19 ↗ Park system so our community Parks our

1:07:21 ↗ neighborhood parks our our our street

1:07:23 ↗ rideway trees um we're about 300 trees

1:07:27 ↗ lost within that just that um then

1:07:30 ↗ within our open space areas and the the

1:07:33 ↗ you know thousand plus acres of open

1:07:36 ↗ space probably another, to 1200 trees

1:07:40 ↗ lost within our our open space so um

1:07:43 ↗ easily in the neighborhood of 1500 trees

1:07:46 ↗ lost um a lot of those have been cleaned

1:07:50 ↗ up are in the process of getting cleaned

1:07:52 ↗ up a lot of the trees within our open

1:07:53 ↗ space area is the park operations team

1:07:56 ↗ is assessing we'll probably leave a lot

1:07:58 ↗ of that in place for Habitat um but it's

1:08:01 ↗ really going to bring to mind what does

1:08:04 ↗ replanting begin to look like um

1:08:07 ↗ coincidentally that same evening the

1:08:09 ↗ bomb Cyclone hit November 19th uh Dan

1:08:12 ↗ hints and I were scheduled to go to the

1:08:14 ↗ city council services safety and Parks

1:08:16 ↗ committee meeting that got canceled that

1:08:18 ↗ night uh for recommendation to adopt the

1:08:20 ↗ urban Forest management plan um we're

1:08:24 ↗ going back tomorrow night

1:08:25 ↗ um to to try again uh no no heavy wind

1:08:29 ↗ is scheduled uh but um it's not going to

1:08:31 ↗ be lost on us we're going to give an

1:08:33 ↗ updates to the committee uh on the bomb

1:08:36 ↗ cyclone and really drives home the

1:08:38 ↗ importance that when we think of our

1:08:40 ↗ Urban Forest um as a system as a living

1:08:44 ↗ breathing system that it is we're going

1:08:46 ↗ to have to understand climate change and

1:08:49 ↗ what that means and uh the reality of

1:08:54 ↗ reforestation and

1:08:56 ↗ um replanting is um and succession

1:08:59 ↗ planting is really really important so

1:09:02 ↗ more to come but this spring we're going

1:09:05 ↗ to with some of our Harbor Day events

1:09:06 ↗ we're already going to start efforts in

1:09:08 ↗ doing some replanting at Confluence Park

1:09:10 ↗ and some of our other Parks um but it's

1:09:13 ↗ very much going to be multi-year effort

1:09:15 ↗ um in that valuation work uh we um took

1:09:19 ↗ a look at all those trees and even

1:09:21 ↗ different caliper sized trees where we

1:09:23 ↗ lost some of our large trees we want to

1:09:25 ↗ replace them with some large caliper

1:09:27 ↗ trees um that valuation was put into our

1:09:32 ↗ city number Citywide impact Financial

1:09:35 ↗ impact number that was given to FEMA uh

1:09:37 ↗ some of that reimbursement work is still

1:09:39 ↗ still working through but fingers cross

1:09:42 ↗ enough of the different levels of

1:09:45 ↗ government um we get clearance that um

1:09:48 ↗ the city will see some of it some of our

1:09:50 ↗ expenses recouped um and allow us some

1:09:54 ↗ Financial means to be able to do that um

1:09:57 ↗ that replanting so great work by the

1:10:00 ↗ recreation staff again on those resource

1:10:02 ↗ hubs great work by our park operations

1:10:05 ↗ natural resource folks on the cleanup

1:10:07 ↗ and debris removal and continued work so

1:10:11 ↗ Ryan thank you for

1:10:14 ↗ asking great work by anybody I'll stop

1:10:16 ↗ there any questions

1:10:19 ↗ about that event you right

1:10:23 ↗ yeah m

1:10:26 ↗ um I know I just say I the day after I

1:10:28 ↗ was driving around kind of looking at

1:10:30 ↗ the city and I saw Dan down at

1:10:33 ↗ Confluence um and I we didn't I didn't

1:10:36 ↗ talk to him I was kind of driving by

1:10:37 ↗ with one of my kids but um I was just I

1:10:40 ↗ was thinking about how ju at our

1:10:44 ↗ previous meeting um You' kind of

1:10:47 ↗ presented the budget and how uh things

1:10:49 ↗ are

1:10:51 ↗ getting uh things are going to be

1:10:54 ↗ challenging upcoming with a budget and

1:10:55 ↗ then I was also thinking about Dan and

1:10:57 ↗ his tree canopy study um and just how

1:11:02 ↗ how that was impacted so um I know a lot

1:11:05 ↗ of us all felt it in a different way um

1:11:08 ↗ in this city and so it was thanks for

1:11:11 ↗ the update I I appreciate that thank

1:11:15 ↗ you okay

1:11:18 ↗ Tim yeah you know kudos to Jeff to you

1:11:22 ↗ and everyone that was involved with that

1:11:23 ↗ you know we came down to the senior

1:11:25 ↗ Center I saw you there we were over at

1:11:26 ↗ Pickering Barn great resource you didn't

1:11:29 ↗ even mention that you opened up the the

1:11:31 ↗ pool so people could go and take showers

1:11:33 ↗ they didn't have hot water so I mean it

1:11:36 ↗ overall it was an A+ effort uh exceeded

1:11:40 ↗ expectation so wanted to just definitely

1:11:43 ↗ put that out there and I do have one

1:11:46 ↗ question though you you mentioned just

1:11:47 ↗ briefly about leaving a lot of the trees

1:11:50 ↗ that have fallen down to create habitat

1:11:52 ↗ and what comes to mind especially

1:11:55 ↗ especially with recent events is it's

1:11:57 ↗ leaving fuel um down and so is there a

1:12:02 ↗ effort to sort of balance creating

1:12:05 ↗ habitat without creating uh fire

1:12:09 ↗ hazards Absol absolutely yes so as we're

1:12:13 ↗ looking at all elements of climate

1:12:16 ↗ change certainly you know the threat of

1:12:18 ↗ wildfire is very much top of mind uh for

1:12:22 ↗ us um as well so um yeah there's work

1:12:26 ↗ happening right now with East Side Fire

1:12:28 ↗ and Rescue and um our our Park staff as

1:12:32 ↗ well as other other departments within

1:12:35 ↗ the the city that are are looking at

1:12:37 ↗ Wildfire planning much more ahead on on

1:12:41 ↗ that one but um yeah any decisions of

1:12:45 ↗ leaving

1:12:47 ↗ um leaving trees will uh certainly be

1:12:51 ↗ one of those criteria will be um its

1:12:54 ↗ proximity to houses or proximity to

1:12:58 ↗ other things that that we really need to

1:13:01 ↗ to keep in mind with thread of wildfire

1:13:05 ↗ so okay that's great thank

1:13:08 ↗ you yeah great point so

1:13:12 ↗ um heading into December so that was

1:13:15 ↗ November bomb Cyclone um again Ryan

1:13:19 ↗ again for thanks for teeing this up the

1:13:21 ↗ budget was adopted I shared with you in

1:13:23 ↗ November some of the budget chall that

1:13:25 ↗ Council was looking at budget was

1:13:27 ↗ adopted uh there the beginning of

1:13:29 ↗ December um it did mean some some

1:13:32 ↗ significant reductions for us as as a

1:13:34 ↗ department Five full-time positions were

1:13:37 ↗ were lost three of those were vacant two

1:13:40 ↗ of those were were staffed um we're

1:13:44 ↗ certainly as we're rolling up our

1:13:46 ↗ sleeves for 25 26 um like heading into

1:13:49 ↗ the year with a lot of a lot of really

1:13:51 ↗ important work to still do uh We've

1:13:54 ↗ reorganized our a little bit um stay

1:13:57 ↗ tuned we don't have it now but I'd say

1:13:59 ↗ in the next maybe the next meeting or

1:14:01 ↗ the March meeting uh we'll be able to

1:14:03 ↗ share an organization chart that sort of

1:14:05 ↗ show some of our how we're positioning

1:14:08 ↗ ourselves as the department to still get

1:14:10 ↗ a lot of really important work done

1:14:14 ↗ um don't want to spend a lot of time

1:14:16 ↗ going into all those reductions I just I

1:14:18 ↗ point out as I've done in in Prior years

1:14:21 ↗ um in January I included our this isn't

1:14:25 ↗ our full Department work plan uh but

1:14:27 ↗ you'll see this in the agenda this are

1:14:29 ↗ really our work plan priorities those

1:14:32 ↗ major items that will have probably some

1:14:35 ↗ type of touch with Park board and or

1:14:38 ↗ pretty heavy Community touch um if you

1:14:40 ↗ have any questions on those you know

1:14:43 ↗ don't hesitate to reach out um I don't

1:14:46 ↗ know if you got a chance to take a look

1:14:47 ↗ at that a lot of that work you'll see is

1:14:50 ↗ very familiar I break it out by the the

1:14:53 ↗ really key divisions with in uh the

1:14:56 ↗ department from you know Park Ops human

1:14:58 ↗ services Arts uh

1:15:00 ↗ Recreation then Parks Administration and

1:15:03 ↗ park planning are are combined um a

1:15:06 ↗ number of those divisions have other

1:15:07 ↗ boards and commissions but want to make

1:15:10 ↗ sure you're sort of aware of of some

1:15:13 ↗ really really important work that's

1:15:14 ↗ going to be happening in the department

1:15:16 ↗ um we're um uh not sitting around moping

1:15:21 ↗ and playing eore U we we have um again a

1:15:25 ↗ lot of work to do and a very dedicated

1:15:27 ↗ hardworking staff um want to make sure

1:15:30 ↗ though that we

1:15:31 ↗ are understanding that we have less

1:15:34 ↗ resources to to do things with and um

1:15:38 ↗ the the the adage more with less is is a

1:15:41 ↗ myth um and we're not going to try and

1:15:44 ↗ and just crank it up and do more with

1:15:47 ↗ less we're going to continue to grow and

1:15:48 ↗ be really productive but with um again

1:15:52 ↗ the size and scale of resources that we

1:15:53 ↗ have

1:15:55 ↗ I think what that means primarily for

1:15:58 ↗ what you're going to notice with Park

1:15:59 ↗ Board and really our our Park Capital

1:16:02 ↗ programs we are uh now down to One Park

1:16:06 ↗ planner um Robin our Park planning and

1:16:09 ↗ development manager um whereas last year

1:16:12 ↗ we started January with two um two staff

1:16:16 ↗ in our our Park Planning Group so we're

1:16:18 ↗ going to certainly calibrate and resize

1:16:21 ↗ our capital projects and some of the

1:16:23 ↗ capital planning that we're doing

1:16:25 ↗ um to again do it with quality and do it

1:16:29 ↗ really really well

1:16:32 ↗ so that's it for me um throw in a very

1:16:36 ↗ exciting um maternity leave and um as

1:16:40 ↗ we're working around what that'll look

1:16:42 ↗ like uh for a number of months heading

1:16:45 ↗ into the year

1:16:46 ↗ too exciting 2025

1:16:50 ↗ add thank you

1:16:55 ↗ to my report be a couple sentences but

1:16:59 ↗ um we

1:17:02 ↗ uh um Brenda Spears has resigned from

1:17:08 ↗ her position and so uh we'll be looking

1:17:12 ↗ to fill that I guess when this spring

1:17:14 ↗ when

1:17:15 ↗ we typically recruit people but uh point

1:17:20 ↗ there is it's not too early to start

1:17:22 ↗ thinking about people you might reach

1:17:23 ↗ out to if you know them

1:17:25 ↗ and uh go from there and I don't know if

1:17:28 ↗ there's anything you would like to add

1:17:29 ↗ to that yeah I can add Brenda really

1:17:32 ↗ enjoyed her time with the board wanted

1:17:33 ↗ to say thank you was not looking forward

1:17:37 ↗ to leaving but made it this decision to

1:17:39 ↗ to resign at the end of last year um and

1:17:43 ↗ we'll you know still be involved in park

1:17:46 ↗ things obviously um but just needed to

1:17:50 ↗ make that change um so we will be

1:17:52 ↗ recruiting for her position

1:17:55 ↗ as well as Nicholas's position that was

1:17:57 ↗ vacated earlier um within this next sort

1:18:01 ↗ of recruitment cycle so I have a couple

1:18:03 ↗ of things in other business if you have

1:18:05 ↗ more for your report that I can that's

1:18:08 ↗ it for me oh um uh going other business

1:18:12 ↗ anyone anything okay so I have two um uh

1:18:17 ↗ recruitment cycle is going to be

1:18:19 ↗ starting for this next group of

1:18:22 ↗ positions so we will will potentially

1:18:26 ↗ have a few positions that are up for um

1:18:31 ↗ uh either if the the person wants to

1:18:35 ↗ reapply um or we have these other two

1:18:37 ↗ positions that are already currently

1:18:40 ↗ vacated that we'll be recruiting for um

1:18:43 ↗ that process will start I believe at the

1:18:47 ↗ or already at the end of January so I'm

1:18:49 ↗ going to say beginning of February um

1:18:51 ↗ the application will be available for

1:18:54 ↗ folks that are interested in joining to

1:18:57 ↗ apply you all have been through that

1:18:59 ↗ process so you know what that looks and

1:19:01 ↗ feels like um and as Chris mentioned if

1:19:04 ↗ you have neighbors or friends or folks

1:19:06 ↗ that you've been connecting with that

1:19:08 ↗ you think might be good fits for the

1:19:09 ↗ board by all means please do direct them

1:19:12 ↗ to that or if they have questions you

1:19:14 ↗ can direct them to myself and Jeff and

1:19:16 ↗ we can have a a really you know informal

1:19:18 ↗ conversation with them ahead of time if

1:19:20 ↗ they have questions before applying um

1:19:22 ↗ but that process will kick off in

1:19:24 ↗ February

1:19:25 ↗ the application is usually open for

1:19:27 ↗ about a month and then in March um we

1:19:30 ↗ will sort of review those applications

1:19:33 ↗ and who put parkboard first second or

1:19:36 ↗ third as their options and sort of go

1:19:38 ↗ through that and reach out to have um

1:19:40 ↗ conversations and what we call

1:19:43 ↗ interviews but I like to think of them

1:19:44 ↗ as just conversations with folks to

1:19:47 ↗ gauge their interest um with that

1:19:51 ↗ happening in March typically we have

1:19:54 ↗ panel of parkboard members that are part

1:19:57 ↗ of that

1:19:58 ↗ conversation um it's usually our chair

1:20:02 ↗ Chris and vice chair Marlene um and then

1:20:05 ↗ one other parkboard member um so if

1:20:09 ↗ there's anyone that is interested in

1:20:11 ↗ serving that role has some flexibility

1:20:13 ↗ those meetings

1:20:15 ↗ typically we probably have four or five

1:20:18 ↗ of those conversations I would say in

1:20:20 ↗ each recruitment cycle um and they can

1:20:23 ↗ range from you know try not to make too

1:20:25 ↗ many of them during the work day if we

1:20:27 ↗ can sort of put them in the evening

1:20:29 ↗ because these are mostly evening

1:20:31 ↗ commitments anyway um but just something

1:20:34 ↗ to to think about in your schedules if

1:20:36 ↗ you're interested in participating in

1:20:38 ↗ that panel let me know you can reach out

1:20:40 ↗ by email I'm not soliciting right now in

1:20:42 ↗ this meeting um and then yeah come April

1:20:48 ↗ those positions that are ending will end

1:20:51 ↗ so April will be sort of the the last

1:20:53 ↗ meeting of this whole group um

1:20:57 ↗ potentially and then in May is when new

1:21:00 ↗ members will start so fingers crossed

1:21:03 ↗ I'll be here for that first meeting and

1:21:06 ↗ the new members but also maybe not um so

1:21:10 ↗ um Jeff might be welcoming our new

1:21:13 ↗ members um this summer but yeah that

1:21:17 ↗ that is happening um so that's my first

1:21:20 ↗ one so just be thinking about that who

1:21:23 ↗ you might want to tap in your networks

1:21:26 ↗ um and if you yourself are are in one of

1:21:29 ↗ those positions that's reoccurring I

1:21:30 ↗ think I've already reached out to

1:21:31 ↗ everybody and heard from I think we're

1:21:33 ↗ good um and then the other item that I

1:21:37 ↗ wanted to share with everybody and I I

1:21:39 ↗ haven't sent an email yet because I

1:21:40 ↗ don't like to send you too many emails

1:21:42 ↗ but I will send one tomorrow um there is

1:21:46 ↗ a strategic task force that the mayor is

1:21:48 ↗ putting together um regarding facility

1:21:52 ↗ um usage and needs and so there's an

1:21:55 ↗ opportunity for you all as parkboard

1:21:58 ↗ members to serve on that strategic task

1:22:01 ↗ force there have been a few strategic

1:22:03 ↗ task force here at the city um and

1:22:07 ↗ sometimes we have parkboard

1:22:09 ↗ representation sometimes we don't so I

1:22:11 ↗ will say that I think it's always good

1:22:13 ↗ to have that perspective from this board

1:22:17 ↗ um if anyone has that ability and time

1:22:21 ↗ to um serve on that

1:22:25 ↗ particular item um I will send an email

1:22:29 ↗ that has all the details sort of how

1:22:31 ↗ much more of a time commitment it is how

1:22:34 ↗ many times they're thinking of meeting

1:22:35 ↗ and sort of the scope of what they're

1:22:37 ↗ they're looking at but I did want to

1:22:39 ↗ make mention of

1:22:42 ↗ that just to add a note to thank you for

1:22:44 ↗ mentioning out something and yeah the

1:22:46 ↗ email will will spill it out but just

1:22:48 ↗ finer Point uh the mayor is really

1:22:51 ↗ wanting a a significant Siz community

1:22:54 ↗ group

1:22:55 ↗ um of of you know resident

1:22:58 ↗ Representatives uh to help really look

1:23:00 ↗ specifically at not just facilities in

1:23:02 ↗ general but a general government

1:23:04 ↗ facility City Hall what do we as a city

1:23:06 ↗ want to

1:23:07 ↗ do about a city hall um it's it's been a

1:23:12 ↗ significant question mark in this town

1:23:15 ↗ for a long long

1:23:17 ↗ time very important question that needs

1:23:20 ↗ to be

1:23:21 ↗ answered actually already applied to

1:23:23 ↗ that

1:23:27 ↗ great look at that great that's

1:23:31 ↗ fantastic right well for others I will

1:23:34 ↗ send it if there's more that are

1:23:36 ↗ interested

1:23:42 ↗ absolutely those are my two

1:23:46 ↗ items

1:23:48 ↗ yeah big thank youti I'm sorry Chris uh

1:23:52 ↗ the park board I did mention on my the

1:23:55 ↗ director's report uh Park Board work

1:23:58 ↗ plan um is also in the agenda packet as

1:24:01 ↗ we've did uh last year uh that'll be

1:24:04 ↗ something that'll just be we might not

1:24:06 ↗ reference it every meeting but it's

1:24:08 ↗ there for you to take a look um sort of

1:24:10 ↗ what we've been covering if you want to

1:24:12 ↗ do a look ahead as well thank you Chris

1:24:15 ↗ and Marlene we meet monthly with Chris

1:24:17 ↗ and Marlene to sort of fill agenda and

1:24:20 ↗ try to look not only at that that

1:24:21 ↗ upcoming meeting but a couple meetings

1:24:23 ↗ ahead um buty thank you for putting that

1:24:27 ↗ work plan together it's really

1:24:31 ↗ good just real quick I will be absent

1:24:34 ↗ the next

1:24:35 ↗ meeting so we'll need a substitute chair

1:24:39 ↗ that hard to do but

1:24:41 ↗ somebody and we have any other business

1:24:45 ↗ or

1:24:47 ↗ announcements okay next meeting is

1:24:49 ↗ February 24th and with that we adjourned

1:24:53 ↗ at 8:2

1:25:07 ↗ thanks everybody

Approved minutes

Extracted from the next meeting's packet, where this meeting's minutes were approved as a consent-calendar attachment.

Open PDF

Attendance

Council / Members (9)

Chris Kovac

Marlene Waxse, Vice Chair (Virtual)

Katie Bell

David Liu

Tim Motley (Virtual)

Ryan Olson (Virtual)

Mari Stevens

Paul Adair

Martha Ginthner

Staff (4)

Jeff Watling, Director

Robin Spear, Park Planning and Development Manager

Hasanthi Piyasena, Department Operations Specialist

Niya Thomas

Excused

Andrew Eliquen

Recommendations & actions (2)

Sentences extracted from the narrative containing words like recommended, requested, directed, moved, or approved. Best-effort — verify against the full minutes for context.

a) Minutes of Special Meeting on November 14, 2024 There being no corrections, the minutes were approved as presented.
She noted this will be a multi-year effort that will help the community have a shared understanding of approved and unapproved uses of park system spaces in order to protect this shared resource and meet the diversity…