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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-09-2009 fi Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Wednesday, September 9, 2009 5:30 p.m. Auburn Senior Activity Center, Rotary Room I. Call to Order The meeting was called to order by acting Chair Vicki Gilthvedt. Those Board members present in addition to Dr. Gilthvedt were Greg Dobbs, Mike Hassen, John Webley and Laura Higdon. Julie Parascondola and Richard Artura were absent. Transportation Planner TifFin Goodman was also present. Department staff inembers present were Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber, Planning and Development Manager Bob Wuotila, and Department Secretary Ann Fuqua. II. Minutes The minutes of the June meeting were accepted as sent. III. Committee Member Input Mr. Dobbs asked about developing some water stations in the parks during the extremely hot weather. Ms. Higdon reported that one of her neighbors had an unfortunate experience in the Les Gove restrooms with inappropriate behavior of other park users. Mr. Faber said that the police have been really good about coming whenever our patrons call, and that was the way to handle it. IV. Correspondence/Public Input V. Old Business A. Jacobsen Property (Park) Update The Berger Partnership, consulting architects, have completed the first phase of work to develop a master plan for the Jacobsen property. Staff met with them to review their concept drawings and to discuss the next stages of work. Meetings with the community are tentatively planned for October 7th and November 17th; and residents will have the opportunity to express ideas and to offer their opinions. Having a master plan in place will allow us to apply for grants with which to build this park. Everyone was encouraged to attend the 6:00 p.m. meetings. This consultant is also completing the initial phase of work on a multi-purpose trail under the BPA lines on Lea Hill. This trail begins near SE 288th Street on the east and moves across Lea Hill westerly passing next to the Jacobsen property on its way to the Auburn Golf Course. This trail would also be a connected to the future Auburndale II Park and several other properties to provide pedestrian/bike opportunities to the people . • on Lea Hill. VI. New Business A. Election of Chair The floor was opened to nominations for the position of chairperson. The group was asked if anyone had an interest in this position. Mike Hassen volunteered. Ms. Higden nominated Mr. Hassen: Mr. Dobbs seconded. The motion passed unanimously. B. City Bike Trail Route Ms. Goodman spoke about the work being done in Planning, at Council request, with regard to developing a safe bike system throughout Auburn. Her role is to update the transportation plan adding this element, to include Lea Hill and the west hill of Auburn. She showed a map on which existing and proposed bike paths were shown. The proposed (future) bike routes and multi-use trails would allow residents to have safe passage throughout Auburn, and connect existing trails and bike paths with those planned, allowing access to walkers and riders. The vision is to connect all areas of Auburn, as well as surrounding communities from Seattle through Sumner. Council would also like to include a bike connection from the downtown transit center to Les Gove Park. As the community events get larger, they think that Les Gove will be a destination place and we need ways for kids to get from one place to the other. C. Interurban Trail Some work is being done on the Interurban Trail to improve the aesthetics. Plans include enhanced parking and proposed art kiosks. The trail connects from Tukwila and Sunrise transit area, but ends in Pacific. Grant opportunities are currently available because many of our routes meet the shovel-ready criteria. Future plans call for the trail to connect in a seven mile loop in south Auburn, and eventually connect Lea Hill, the Green River Trail, the White Trail and the Interurban. Several applications for funding have been made, including one for an extension to the trail to get kids safely from Auburn Riverside High School to Pacific. D. Community Survey Results Re: Parks and Recreation Mr. Faber explained that the recent community survey was complimentary to our department. Our services were used significantly more than any other city service, and had increased from 2008; 53 per cent of those surveyed had used our services in the past twelve months. All other departments were used by 10% or fewer residents. The results show that residents like our programs and that they think we do them well. VII. Department Report In response to questions about the golf course, Mr. Faber said that the golf course restaurant is doing well; they have had a number of weddings, and the tournament business has been good for them. He also reported that we are in negotiations with the YMCA and partners at Auburn Youth Soccer to improve the fields at the Y. The fields have not been maintained to the standards of other fields in the City, so we are working with these groups to improve them so that we can make better use of them. They are a good resource and we all have programs that could benefit from these ball fields. AUBLTRN* M01ZE THAN YOU IMAGINED ~ VIII. Adjournment There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Approved this 3rd day of November, 2009 ~IJ"t~r~a'1''- Chair 9 L Ann Fuqua, Secr ary AT,,.TBURN *MOFLE THAN YOU IMAGINED