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Home My WebLink About10-02-2012 (2)Parks and Recreation Board Meeting Minutes Tuesday, October 2, 2012 5:30 p.m. Auburn Senior Activity Center, Rotary Room Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 5:35 pm by Greg Dobbs. Those attending in addition to Mr. Dobbs were Vicki Gilthvedt, David Domenowske, Laura Keim and Julie Parascondola. Department staff present were Parks Director Daryl Faber, Parks Recreation Manager Brian Petty, Parks Arts Coordinator Maija McKnight, Arts Commission volunteer Greg Watson and Parks Secretary Julie Mehl. II. Minutes The minutes of the July meeting were motioned for approval by Vicki Gilthvedt, seconded by David Domenowske. III. Committee Member Input The Park Board introduced themselves to Laura Keim, new Park Board member. Greg Dobbs mentioned the playground equipment at Lakeland Hills Park is not in good shape. Daryl will investigate. Julie Parascondola asked Brian if Auburn Riverside High School was aware that we have a new gymnasium, she said they hold a large number of tournaments. David Domenowske asked if Daryl would rather have more participants at lower prices or less participants paying more. Daryl would prefer more participants. Greg Dobbs asked if the bronze deer has been found. It has not, Maija has contacted the artist and he has located the original mold and will re- create a deer which will be more difficult to saw through. The project is 100% covered by insurance. IV. Correspondence /Public Input Daryl spoke of the letter printed in the Auburn Reporter from a citizen regarding the restrooms being locked at Roegner Park when school started. Mike Miller in Parks Maintenance called the citizen and explained that when school starts, the kids vandalize the restrooms on a regular basis. By the end of the conversation the citizen understood why they are locked. V. Old Business VI. New Business VII. Department Report Director Faber handed out the August Parks Department Monthly Report so the board would be informed as to what goes on in the Parks Department throughout the month. The University of Washington may assist in the Master Plan for the new lake property on West hill. This is the same group that helped with the Environmental Park. The idea is to keep the lake area native. Signs will be installed on W St and 3201h St, advertising will be minimal. We hope to hold an Eagle Scout project at the lake in the future. The basketball courts at Game Farm Park have been re- surfaced. The Lea Hill tennis courts and basketball court has been color coded and we will add signage so folks are aware they are public courts, not owned by the apartment building surrounding them. The Parks Department applied for and won a $65,000 grant from King County Youth Sports for the sport courts at Lea Hill park. There will also be two unisex restrooms at this farm themed park. Shaughnessy Park has had new playground equipment installed and the volleyball court has been converted to a pickle ball court. The Reddington Levee project will set back and extend the Reddington Levee along the west bank of the Green River through a portion near Brannan Park extending to 43rd St NE. We are losing three acres at Brannan and the mobile home park "The River" is losing 15 lots. The project will greatly reduce flood risk in the area. The asphalt trail will be extended towards Kent. The Parks Department is considering an off leash area at Brannan Park. On 1041h heading up Lea Hill there is a sandy riverfront area often referred to as "beer bottle beach ". There are two parcels totaling 14 acres, one owned by the State, one owned by the County. The area has not been monitored or maintained and has become a dumping ground for refrigerators and dilapidated cars. The land is zoned park open space' and both the State and County will transfer the land straight over to the City of Auburn at no cost. Our plan is to clear and maintain the area, have parking for 15 cars, no shoulder parking, no alcohol allowed (enforced). Jamie Werner, Specialized Recreation Coordinator has been named King County Coach of the Year by Special Olympics. She will be honored at the City Council Meeting on October 15. Brian Petty reports the Park Board policy on concessions in the past only allowed non - profit organizations to hold concessions in Auburn parks. The Optimist Club sold concessions at Game Farm Park but it became difficult finding folks to volunteer. Auburn Little League sold concessions at Brannan & Sunset parks but that soon ended due to staff issues as well. Updating the board policy allowing 'for profit' concessions will likely occur. Julie Parascondola asked if a Request for Proposals should be done to give the non - profit agencies a chance to compete. Daryl and Brian agreed that is an option. The city would likely charge a one time permit fee to sell concessions. Brian reports that 2011 was not a good year in recreation. 2012 has improved, our summer camps have increased 29% from '11 to '12. The Teen Trip Thing' camp sold out every week throughout the summer this year. Some of our new classes were successful as well, such as Climb & Craft', Lego Camp and Lacrosse camp. We partner with the Auburn School District and hold a drop in playground type summer program geared towards middle school age kids, hoping to keep them out of trouble. We combine the program with the ASD free lunch program and it has been very successful. Cascade Middle School has partnered with the YMCA for a similar summer program at Cascade. Youth and adult sports are going very well with 620 kids enrolled in soccer with 66 sponsors. The soccer program requires a lot of staff time to coordinate. Pee Wee Soccer and Pee Wee Football have been very popular with 30 — 50 kids registered. Teen Late Night held at Auburn Riverside and Auburn High .AUBURN *MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED School had a huge opening night with 550 attendees. This free event includes pizza, sports, games, crafts and has security working the door. The rock climbing wall has gotten plenty of use this Spring & Summer, staff has been trained to belay. On October 1st we started our Intramural Basketball program after school for middle & high school age kids. The Auburn School District provides transportation to the gym and back to their neighborhoods at 5:00 pm. We have received two sponsorships to date for this program. The Around the Bell program (before & after school care) for grades 1 — 5 has been going strong this year with over 30 participants. We have held 34 birthday party packages in the gym to date. Online registrations are at 16 %. Brian handed out a Specialized Recreation calendar and expressed his gratitude for Jamie, the Specialized Recreation Coordinator. Her participants rely on Jamie for much more than just programming. They participate in a large Special Olympics event at Joint Base Lewis McChord each summer, and have a winter Special Olympics event in Wenatchee. Upcoming events: S'more than You Imagine, Halloween Harvest Festival, Kiwanis / Nickelodeon Day of Play, Veteran's Day Parade. Maija McKnight — Arts Coordinator and Greg Watson, Arts Commission Chairperson are involved in performing arts, the Auburn Avenue Theater, visual arts at the Senior Center and City Hall. They also provide community support of public art. Currently there are 24 pieces of public art in Auburn, the first piece was commissioned in 1989. As new facilities are formed, art is budgeted in the project. The system includes a "call to artists" where artists can apply and the Art Commission makes selection(s). Art is created specifically by location. Two years ago the Auburn Golf Course received a public art piece through this process. The rock wall also received panels this way. Greg Watson teaches in the Auburn School District and joined the Arts Commission because he wanted to be part of the process of public art selection. Lea Hill park will have a bronze calf with a branch attached to corresond with the farm theme. There will be a sculpture gallery downtown with seven pedestals along Main St from Auburn Way S to B St NW. We will use loaned pieces and display for one year, then switch the seven pieces with another set of seven pieces of loaned art. The pedestals will be paid for with grant funds. To date we have received 17 artist submissions. Outlaw Days was funded by 4Culture, the show "Gentleman Desperado's" will have actors re- creating the Olson family being held hostage by Outlaw Harry Tracy. There will be two shows on October 6 & 7 at 1:15 pm and 2:45 pm at the Mary Olson Farm. VIII. Adjournment A. The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 pm. Approved this Day of , 2012 Michael Hassen, Chair Daryl Faber, Director .AUBURN *MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED