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HomeMy WebLinkAbout012814 OF QORT 1-0� �v City of Port Townsend wA Draft Meeting Minutes Parks, Recreation and Trees Advisory Board (PRTAB) Tuesday, January 28, 2014, 4:30 pm — 5:15 pm & 6pm — 6:45 pm Open House for Draft 3 of the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Functional Plan 5:15pm—6pm Pope Marine Park Building I. Meeting called to order at 4:32 pm by Chair, Rosemary Sikes. Members present: Lys Burden, Debbie Jahnke, Jason Cecil, and Ron Sikes Also present were members of the public and City Manager David Timmons, City Director of Public Services Rick Sepler, and City Planner Judy Surber, I1. Approval of Agenda—Agenda was approved unanimously. III. Approval of November 26, 2013 minutes - Minutes were approved unanimously as amended. Daniel Milholland has resigned not retired. IV. City Manager Presentation — David Timmons reported that City Council has tasked staff with preparing a temporary solution to the lack of funding levels available for recent budgets for Parks and Recreation. He noted that the City had to lay off several park employees during the recent budget crises, with only two remaining. It is a staffing level that cannot sustain the level of facility management and maintenance needed. David Timmons gave a summary of a plan presented to Jefferson County officials to continue funding Mountain View Commons (including the pool), Port Townsend Community Center and Memorial Field. Presently the Port Townsend City's Proposition One monies are being shared with the County to fund these recreational facilities. He said allocation of the City's share of Prop. One money to fund the Port Townsend Community Center and Memorial Field was to be temporary while the City and the County developed a funding source for the recreational facilities owned by the County but located in the City. A joint effort by City, County, and appointed volunteers to develop a Metropolitan Park District did not win enough support from the public and resulted in opposition from various communities in the County. Rick Sepler said the funding for the MPD process was paid for by the City. City Council asked David Timmons to develop a plan "B". He was not able to get the County officials to agree to help with new funding sources. He said the County plans to discontinue funding facilities in Port Townsend. The City wants to seek grants from the State and Federal governments to make repairs at the Mountain View Commons. However they need a long-term lease from the Port Townsend School District to qualify for grants. The City is presently negotiating a 30-year lease with the Port Townsend School District with the option of a 15-year extension. V. Staff Report - The new Parkside Drive Park will be getting some irrigation installed within the next few weeks. Adjourn first half of PRTAB meeting and begin Open House at 5:15pm OPEN HOUSE FOR REVIEW OF THE DRAFT 3 PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE FUNCTIONAL PLAN (Parks Functional Plan) Five members of the public were in the audience. Illustration boards were available for the public to visually review the park plan. Staff member Judy Surber gave an overview of the Draft 3 Parks Functional Plan. She thanked PRTAB member Debbie Jahnke for her help in rewriting the plan to incorporate public input on the Draft 2 Plan. Draft 3 is a blend of the 1999 Plan, the 2010 Draft 2 Plan, and the most recent public input. Draft 3 includes changes such as listing of some new pocket parks and the land ownership changes in the Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park. The park categories such as "community park" from the 1999 Plan are used in the Draft 3 Plan and differ from the Draft 2 Plan. Parks, Recreation and Trees Advisory Board (PRTAB) reconvened at 6pm. VI. Public Comment on Draft 3 Park, Recreation & Open Space Functional Plan: Bob Gray asked if there were plans for adding parks in the underserved districts. Judy said the western quadrant of the City is the focus for the next park development since the goal of having a "neighborhood " park with 1/2 mile was not presently available to citizens in that part of town. Also she said the City will be planning for more pocket parks along the Highway 20 corridor. New developments can require fees or dedication to provide open space for parks. Jim Todd asked about providing recreation services that were already provided by State Parks. Judy said they planned to avoid redundancy when possible. Chair Rosemary Sikes asked for further comments. The public made no further comments. She then closed the public comment period. The PRTAB reviewed Draft 3 to point out questions, omissions, et cetera. Once completed, copies with PRTAB member edits were given to Judy Surber. Rosemary asked the board for a motion concerning approval/disapproval of the Park Functional Plan-Draft 3 (with edits) to go to the Planning Commission. Debbie Jahnke moved for approval, Ron Sikes seconded and the motion passed unanimously. VII. Tree City USA—Upcoming deadlines for grants were noted (Feb. 28 for the planting grant). Cecil is studying the urban forestry assistance grant requirements. Other business was postponed until the next meeting. VIII. Volunteers in Our Parks— 1. Dec 3 Kah Tai Work Party Report—More trash pick-up and planting were accomplished. The next work party will be on January 26, 9am to noon. 2. Update on Parkside Park planting and fencing issues tabled until next meeting. IX. Future Meeting Agenda Items—The next regularly scheduled board meeting will take place on Tuesday, February 25th, 4:30— 6 pm in City Hall. Meeting Room#1. X. Visitor and PRT Board Comment— 1. Lys thanked Debbie for all of her assistance with drafting the minutes and arranging assistance from the Parks Department for gravel distribution for the next NMTAB trail project. 2. In response to the letter about European hornbeam tree removal downtown, Judy recommended meeting with Ken Clow about the issues involved. 3. Rosemary thanked Liz Burden for her years of service on the PRTAB. Liz's resignation is effective at the end of this meeting. XI. Adjournment—Meeting adjourned at 6:45pm.