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HomeMy WebLinkAbout56_Staff Rpt CC Pre Docket AddMicrosoft Word - Staff Rpt CC Pre Docket Add.doc MEMORANDUM To: City Council From: Rick Sepler, Director Judy Surber, Planning Manager/Senior Planner (379-5084) Date: April 25, 2011 Hearing Date: May 2, 2011 RE: Director’s Recommendation 2011 Comprehensive Plan Docket - Supplemental Subsequent to the Planning Commission Meeting, planning staff discussed additional items that Council may wish to include on the 2011 Comprehensive Plan Docket: Kah Tai Lagoon Park Policy Alternative Language a. Proponent: City of Port Townsend b. Description of the Suggested Amendment: – Council may wish to consider docketing alternative language to the Jahnke suggested amendment. The Jahnke’s stated intent is to ensure that the park is managed in accordance with the grant obligations; however, the proposed language does not refer to the grant and regulating documentation and appears to be more restrictive. Following is suggested alternative language: 4.5.1 Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park shall be designed and managed in accordance with the legal obligations assumed under the 1981 Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund Acquisition Grant. c. Location: The policy would apply to areas within the 6f3 boundary which are currently in dispute but may generally be described as Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park (Exhibit G). Assessor’s Parcel Numbers include: 948300202-206 inclusive, 948300301, 948300302, 948300304, 948300701, 948302101, 991400601, 991400901, 991400902, 991401701, 991401702, 991402301, 991402501, 991403303, 991403501. See map at City Development Services Department. d. Need, Urgency, and Appropriateness: The City of Port Townsend was awarded a Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund acquisition grant in 1981 for the purpose of consolidating ownership around the lagoon thereby “enabling the City to plan and develop a municipal passive park”. The grant is via the National Parks Service (NPS) and managed via the Resource Director’s Recommendation 2011 Comp Plan Docket Page 2 of 4 Conservation Office (RCO) and thus often referred to as an NPS or RCO grant). Two grant sponsors signed the grant agreement – the Port of Port Townsend and the City of Port Townsend. The NPS/RCO grant came with legal obligations for lands within the area known as the “6(f)3 boundary”. It is appropriate to add a policy making it clear that Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park shall be designed and managed in accordance with these legal obligations. The proposal is needed as the City is subject to penalties if the grant agreement is violated. The proposal is somewhat premature – The 6(f)3 park boundary is under dispute. The Port of Port Townsend and City of Port Townsend have different opinions as to the 6(f)3 boundaries. The RCO grant either closed without adequate boundary maps, or the maps have subsequently been lost from both the National Park Service’s and Resource Conservation Office’s files. NPS and RCO are in the process of finalizing the 6(f)3 map for Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park. However, it is anticipated that the dispute will be resolved by the end of 2011 well in advance of the next suggested amendment cycle of 2014. e. Director’s Recommendation: Docket the item and place it on hold pending resolution of outstanding issues regarding the extent of existing protections. Comprehensive Plan Parks, Recreation and Open Space Goals & Policies a. Proponent: City of Port Townsend b. Description of the Suggested Amendment: – Parks Manager, Jeremy Bubnick submitted a preliminary draft Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan - 2011 Update to DSD. The preliminary draft update included two new goals and associated policies. DSD staff advised Mr. Bubnick that the new goals and policies would require a Comprehensive Plan amendment. Mr. Bubnick has requested that the goals and policies be processed in conjunction with the 2011 Comprehensive Plan update with anticipated adoption in late September 2011. He has removed these goals and policies from the draft update and proposes to advance the remainder of the update on a separate more accelerated track thereby maintaining the City’s eligibility for state and federal funds administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). Following are the Goals and Policies recommended for the 2011 Comprehensive Plan Docket: Administration & Operations Goal 1: Provide the support and leadership to respond effectively to the community’s evolving priorities and needs. Respond and be accessible to the community creating new policies, procedures and technologies in response to meet the diverse current and futures needs. Director’s Recommendation 2011 Comp Plan Docket Page 3 of 4 Policy 1: Deliver measurable economic benefit to the community by providing or supporting programs, special events and facilities. Policy 2: Incorporate sustainable standards and best management practices into planning and design of new geographically located parks and rehabilitation of existing facilities. Policy 3: As a community priority, keep clean and well maintained parks and facilities, retaining a high level of appearance of landscaped sites. Policy 4: Identify, preserve and interpret Port Townsend’s heritage, traditions, historic, environmental and cultural features. Policy 5: Master Plan major parks and facilities through a public input process to modernize and update sites. Any update and future expansion should take into account future trends in park design. Policy 6: Develop staff growth through educational classes, certification and training e.g. NRPA Park Maintenance School, NRPA Revenue Management School, NRPA Director School, National Playground Safety Certification, Aquatic Facility Operator Certification and membership in professional associations. Budget & Funding Goal 2: Strive to adequately fund ongoing parks and recreation programming and maintenance through proactive well-planned budgeting practices, the pursuit of partnerships and the securing of grants. Policy 1: Prepare and anticipate for future staffing needs that may arise due to budget and other financial circumstances. Policy 2: Establish an ongoing six-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for Parks and Recreation facilities. Policy 3: Pursue local, regional, state and federal grant sources for park maintenance and development. Policy 4: Develop new and additional partnership/volunteer stewardship programs utilizing local service clubs and organizations. Policy 5: Investigate establishing a set of impact and/or mitigation fees that fairly contribute to the construction and upgrading of parks. c. Location: Suggested goals and policies are not site specific. d. Need, Urgency, and Appropriateness: The Parks, Recreation & Open Space Plan is a functional plan that serves to implement the overall goals and policies for Parks Recreation and Open Space as⬫ Director’s Recommendation 2011 Comp Plan Docket Page 4 of 4 identified in the City of Port Townsend Comprehensive Plan. The City periodically updates the plan to keep it current and effectual. Furthermore, the City is required to keep the Parks plan updated in order to maintain eligibility for state and federal funds administered by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO). During the initial drafting of the 2011 update, two new goals and associated policies were proposed by the advisory board to address Administration & Operations and Budget & Funding. e. Director’s Recommendation: Docket the item for the reasons stated above.