HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-07-2013 (3)Parks and Recreation Board Meeting
Minutes
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
5:30 p.m.
Auburn Senior Activity Center, Rotary Room
Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 5:35 pm by Board Chair Michael Hassen.
Additional members present were Laura Keim, Greg Dobbs, Richard Artura and Vicki Gilthvedt. Excused
member - Julie Parascondola. Unexcused member - David Domenowske. Department staff present
were Parks Director Daryl Faber, and Parks Secretary Julie Mehl.
II. Minutes
The minutes of the January and April meetings were motioned for approval by Greg Dobbs and seconded
by Vicki Gilthvedt.
III. Committee Member Input
Board Chair Hassen heard that the Mulan Jr theater camp was awesome. Director Faber added that
there were some complaints early in the program as the director was new this year and she is not
accustomed to Parks programs. We did get the kinks worked out, and sent out an apology / thank you
and the response was positive. We ended up selling over 1200 tickets.
Board member Richard Artura asks about the water in the parking lot at Game Farm Park during the
rainy season. Daryl explains there is no place for that water to go, it gets vactored out each year and
the issue remains. It would cost' /2 million to set up retention near the Riverwalk retention site.
IV. Correspondence /Public Input
V. Old Business (Faber)
The Arbor Day tree event was a success. Board member Laura reports the weather was beautiful and
the turnout was great. A lot of folks from the Auburn Garden Club and Urban Tree Board were in
attendance.
Auburndale Park — Director Faber asked the board if Auburndale Park would be a good location for
another disc golf course. This park is located on Lea Hill across from Wesley Homes, there is no signage
and the park is underused. There are two ways to enter the park, one entrance in the front of the park
and a better entrance on the East side. Daryl feels the board should tour the park in the near future,
one street is a dead end, we could do a half street improvement on the West side. Before we give the
ok for a disc golf course we want to make sure that would be good use of the park for long term.
Another viable idea would be a dog park, there are nice rolling grassy areas at Auburndale.
VI. New Business (Faber)
The trail toward the North at Brannan Park between the outfield walls & river will be taken away and
replaced with new property as a result of the Reddington Levy. We will lose a little but will gain a new
trail on the property. The trail must have tree ADA accesible points. The land we are losing was not
used, the County requires that if we lose land, it must be replaced. When the City originally obtained the
property is was agreed that it would only be used as a park. There are some mobile homes which will
need to be relocated as a result of the levy as well. The area would be a nice location for another dog
park.
Herr Buildings — The Herr Buildings open up to Auburn Way S, for years the City has been trying to
negotiate a deal to purchase the Herr properties. We have applied for a grant which would cover 50% of
the purchase price. We will find out in a few weeks if they are approved. Board member Vicki Gilthvedt
asked if a covered skate park would still be an option for the location. Daryl is considering that.
VII. Department Report (Faber)
Daryl shared some thank you' notes we received for the volunteer luncheon. Ciscoe Morris was the
guest speaker and was a big hit with the crowd. Board member Vicki Gilthvedt requested Ciscoe appear
next year, Daryl states he will be at the Auburn International Farmer's Market this summer.
Daryl attended a meeting with folks from the YMCA where they discussed a possible multi -use field.
They are trying to see if the non - profits are really interested and what their land buy in would be. Daryl
is leaning more towards another multi -use field at Game Farm Park.
Game Farm Park property exchange — will be final in a few weeks. Daryl would like to open up the
corner and make it a gateway into the park. We will receive 8 acres on the corner, perhaps to be used
as parking and a sheltered synthetic soccer area. The Parks Maintenance crew may move over to the
building from their current location at GSA.
Future discussions will include the new lake property, Auburndale 2 and the area next to the Lakeland
Hills Fire Station. Some ideas for the fire station would be to make it a nature preserve with interpretive
signs. Daryl would like to have the property surveyed for future use. It could be done as a volunteer
project and $50,000.
Daryl is holding a neighborhood meeting to let folks know what the plans are for the area.
Lea Hill park will be done at the end of May.
Clean Sweep was a success, the weather was perfect.
The old Y parking lot — Daryl would like to re -paint the parking lines and include signage for Discovery
Playground.
Kids Day will be held on June
Petpalooza will be held on May 18, we already have 400 runners signed up, this is up from last year.
The Rotary Spray Park will open Saturday of Memorial Day week -end.
VIII. Adjournment
A. The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 pm.
.AUBURN *MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED
Approved this Day of , 2013
Michael Hassen, Chair
Daryl Faber, Director
.AUBURN *MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED