HomeMy WebLinkAbout102423 PRTTAB Meeting Minutescity0f Port
Townsend
PARKS, RECREATION TREES, & TRAILS ADVISORY BOARD MEETING
Minutes
October 24, 2023 1 4:30 p.m. I Virtual or In Person Meeting
I. Welcome, Introduction & Call to Order
Welcome, Good afternoon and welcome to this meeting of the Port Townsend Parks,
Recreation, Trees & Trails Advisory Board. The role of this Board is to assist City staff and to
advise the City Council on legislative matters concerning parks, recreation, trees and trails.
This meeting is open to the public at the City Council Chambers, virtually via this web format,
and is also being video recorded for those who could not attend the meeting today and for
future reference. Given that this meeting is in virtual format, we ask that the board members
raise their hands to be called on by the Chair. The public can do the some to comment during
the public comment periods. We take public comment at the beginning and end of the meeting.
II. Roll Call: Pam Adams, Russell Hill, Becci Kimball, Jim Todd, Debbie Jahnke present; Matt
Miner and Jennifer Rotermund absent excused.
III. Approval of Agenda - approved by consensus
IV. Approval of Minutes - approved by consensus
V. Public Comment: comment from James Scarantino concerning proforma for the Aquatic
Center and an apparent lack of support in the county
VI. Old Business
• Kah Tai map draft for the park kiosk (Michael) 10 min: Item was postponed until the
November meeting due to Michael's absence.
VII. New Business
• Parks Foundation introduction (Becci) 10 min: Contact has been made with several
possible candidates for foundation board members; a PRTTAB member will serve as
liaison; we are looking for particular skill sets including fundraising and marketing;
proforma or aspirational or skills wish list; recommend creating a matrix with a mission
statement about equity, health, conservation of green space. Add discussion of a
mission statement to November agenda.
• Dog Park update (Adopt A Park Chair Dena Odell) 10 min: Many folks have 'pandemic
puppies' who have grown up with and need the dog park. Adopt A Park group (approx. a
dozen members, approx. 70 hours effort total per month) is working to improve access
for elderly and disabled dog owners. They have worked to get foxtails removed, dog
water stations improved; planning stairs for better access; a perimeter gravel trail is
planned to allow owners to exercise while their dogs play; —18K visits per year last year,
use is increasing this year. Staff have been very responsive and helpful.
• PROS Plan errors (Debbie) 5 min -submit to Michael in writing.
VIII. Staff update
• Meet parks maintenance staff (Bre) 10 min - Bre introduced staff and described their
efforts and successes; Steve pointed out that all park acres are not created equal so that
some park space is very labor intensive.
• Healthier Together update (Carrie) 10 min - Summary of the effort thus far was
presented, including recommendations for operation and funding options.
• Tree committee update (Debbie, Russell) 10 min - Canopy levels all work together, so it
is proposed to have all on one sortable list with multiple categories. There was some
discussion of the purpose of median plantings and a suggestion for a compatibility
criterion on the master table.
• Comprehensive Plan Periodic Update context for PRTTAB — nonmotorized, open space,
urban forestry, and housing density/affordability (Steve and Emma) 20 min - Emma
summarized urban forestry grants and the CEJST process. Urban forestry and density are
not incompatible. She cautioned that we need to have solutions that do not overwhelm
staff effort. Subarea and functional plans need to be in agreement with the
Comprehensive Plan so that staff time is minimized when addressing permitting.
Nonmotorized plan will be updated via a formula climate grant; PRTTAB's open space
subcommittee will be a part of the effort. Steve noted that it all needs to work together.
How do we get the board's purview into the record for the Comprehensive Plan?
• Rezoning the Triangle Parks - board unanimously approved that the incorrect zoning
would be mentioned at Planning Commission while recognizing that a more formalized
method of accumulating comments for updating the Comprehensive Plan will be
necessary to not lose such requests.
IX. Next Regularly scheduled meeting - November 28, 2023
X. Public comment - Steve Mader commented to remind us to always consider soils in any
discussion about canopy.
XI. Adjourn