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PARKS, RECREATION, TREES, & TRAILS ADVISORY BOARD
Minutes
January 23, 2024 1 4:30 p.m. I Virtual or In Person Meeting
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Welcome, Introduction & Call to Order - Chair Debbie Jahnke
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.
I. Roll Call:
Pam Adams, Matt Miner, Russell Hill, Becci Kimball, Jim Todd, Debbie Jahnke present; Jennifer
Rotermund absent excused. Staff present included Steve King, Jeff Kostechka, Emma Bolin, Carrie
Hite, Robin Hill, and Adrian Smith
II. Approval of Agenda:
approved by consensus
III. Approval of Minutes: December 19, 2023
inadvertently skipped minutes approval; address at next meeting
IV. Public Comment (3 minutes per person/agenda items only):
none
V. Old Business (15 min)
A. Nonmotorized plan process and feedback (Jeff)
Jeff Kostechka provided the official kickoff for the update of the nonmotorized plan update
process forthcoming. Climate grant was received to fund the efforts. Electric vehicles do not solve
all our problems; we have straightened the path for cars but made it harder for nonmotorized
transportation. Similar elements will be considered this time, network concept is smart. Some
changes we will consider - like edge lane roads; e -bikes; fee in lieu, Transportation Benefit District
(TBD). ADA policies have changed drastically in the interim between plans.
Synergies are good; we can feed two birds with one scone': stormwater, urban forestry, road
master plan, arterial plan. Roles and process: input (stakeholders/public), moderating body
(PRTTAB), recommending body (Planning Commission), approving body (Council).
Stakeholder/task force group will get 'into the weeds , PRTTAB is the forum for most public input;
effort will have a project website. Preliminary timeline was presented as the plan will need to be
completed by January 2025 to fit into Comprehensive Plan update.
For the task force, Becci Kimball and Matt Miner were nominated to represent PRTTAB. Scott
Walker was nominated to represent the Transportation Lab. Nicole Gauthier agreed to be JTA
representative. Asif Luqman, MD, is recommended from Jefferson Health Care. School district
representative will be identified via the school superintendent.
A list of questions for group discussion was previewed for consideration at the next meeting.
VI. New Business (65 min)
A. Parking in right of way as it relates to open space, trees, and stormwater (Jeff)
Jeff Kostechka provided a summary of a previous presentation provided to the Planning
Commission concerning parking, stormwater and street trees. On-site vs street parking, we will
need changes to our street cross sections: stormwater, public safety, emergency access,
neighborhood character. T9 is the old standard for local access although it is intended as rural,
gravel is considered to be 100% impervious. We should use T8, which means curbs and sidewalk.
A block on Polk in uptown was discussed as an example of gravel creep. Discussion of parking
footprint: onsite parking takes 2-3 times the space of street parking. We now enforce sidewalks
or fee in lieu for Rll zones. We may need more than one T8. T8A is the minimum - low volume
street; T8B - parking on both sides with trees; T8C - multifamily, maybe near commercial center;
T8D where we have wide ROWS; head -in parking with some greenery, trees and/or raingardens;
Emma Bolin noted that this may be part of an interim ordinance for parking control.
B. Road master plan — criteria — roads, open space, and trail corridors (Steve)
Steve King provided a primer on the process for developing a Road Master Plan for the City. We
are pre -platted with many undeveloped ROWS. If we don't come up with a Master Plan, all our
ROWS could get developed and we will have no ROWs for trails. We have 81 miles of roads plus
some gravel roads; 31 miles of trails. Master Plan includes trees, trails, open space and
stormwater. In a few years we will become an NPDES city. Lots cannot be marooned; 5.2 vs 8.7
road/house ratio depending on whether two or four streets are developed per block. We are
looking for density and infill. Infrastructure is both an asset and a liability. We need to
incorporate wildfire prevention principles. Every three blocks should have a cross street for
access; Russell brought up Towne Point having a single access. Emma spoke about how do we
acknowledge subdivisions that existed prior to code. Trail system has been treated as
recreational but some need to be ADA which becomes transportation. We are looking at parallel
corridors. Steve provided a list of development criteria for road master plan. Privatization of
ROWS is a problem. Public will have to buy land if we eliminate access. February 2022 (at 54
minutes) meeting is a good source of ROW discussion. Bishop Park discussion brought forward
concerns about the Logan ROW that is important to park integrity but closing it would cause
privately owned blocks to be marooned. Steve suggested that Block 228 could possibly be
replotted to allow access to all lots via 8th and 7th ROWS since the block is under single
ownership and Robin Hill pointed out that the City could assist in reorienting Block 228.
Discussion also suggested making any Logan improvement a one-way street with adjacent trail,
but it was noted that trails immediately adjacent to roads get overgrown and underused because
people use the road instead.
C. Stormwater rates and urban forestry program (Steve)
Steve provided a very brief overview of the proposal to add $0.50 to $1.00 per month to support
urban forestry, as noted by Robin from a recent conference. Presentation is available in City
Council minutes.
D. Westside park — two properties to consider for RCO grant (Carrie) -
Carrie Hite provided an overview of a proposed RCO application for a playground at the Golf Park
and developing a master plan and associated grant for the 1311 and Hancock property for a
neighborhood park. The second westside property in the Rainier subarea does not yet have road
access. Grant cycle is pending. Carrie is also applying for lights for the skate park from RCO.
VII. Staff update — (10 min)
A. Update on naming Skate Park
Debbie provided an update from Michael that proponents are in contact, the production of a new
sign is in process and renaming the park is anticipated in March.
B. Discussion about electric bike issues on trails
A 'Don't be that guy'signage effort has worked in Wenatchee, pressure can be applied and
culture can be built. Note that the idea of bicyclists ringing their bells doesn't work well here
because we are an old community and many do not hear well. Consideration of enforcement of
'slow to walking speed' around pedestrians discussed.
VII. Next Regularly Scheduled Meeting: February 27, 2024
VIII. Public Comment:
Scott Walker provided comment on Robin's point about reorienting the Bishop block 228 before construction.
This is a paradigm shift. Network was never fully implemented. Difficulty with EMS and freight from the
beginning due to the preference for wider streets. Dan Harpole was acknowledged as instrumental in the
creation of the skate park when he was on Council.
IX. Adjourn: 6:06pm
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