HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Commission minutes - 01-11-17.docx
Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes for
January 11, 2017
Commissioners Present: Chairman Rod Bryant, Vice Chairman Paul Williams, Jo Miles, Tom Hinman, Matt
Tweedy, Rosana Bravo, Josette Gonzales, Stacy Hackenmueller and Dulce Gutierréz, Yakima City Council
Liaison Absent and Excused: Roger Lewis
Staff present: Ken Wilkinson, Parks & Recreation Manager and Jenise Sanders, Administrative Secretary
for Parks & Recreation
Call to Order
Welcoming everyone in the audience and viewers watching on YPAC, Chairman Rod Bryant called the
nd
meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 129 North 2 Street, Yakima,
Washington.
Election of Parks and Recreation Commission Officers. It was Moved by Tom Hinman, Seconded by
Jo Miles that the Chairman and Vice Chairman remain the same. The motion carried unanimously.
Rod Bryant will remain Chairman and Paul Williams will remain Vice Chairman.
Approval of the Meeting Minutes of December 14, 2016. It was Moved by Stacy Hackenmueller,
Seconded by Paul Williams, to approve the Minutes as written from the December 14, 2016 Parks
and Recreation Commission Meeting. The motion carried unanimously.
2017-2022 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan Update
A. Community Wide Scientific Survey Data Presentation
Ken advised that their packets include the results of the survey data in the form of a PowerPoint. Initial
data from the returns had previously been presented. Ken thanked Jenise Sanders, Diondra Brown, Frank
Hewey and Mary Mendoza for helping tabulate the data from over 665 surveys. Ken went over the survey
results PowerPoint presentation. Ken reported that many of the people that took the survey marked that
they are in favor of us selling advertising space in the program guide to offset the costs of mailing it. He
stated that we are looking into that possibly for our summer issue. Matt Tweedy asked how we can get
more Latino responses. Ken advised that we did send the survey in English and Spanish along with the
letter explaining what the survey is for. Ken stated that is another reason why we will be holding the
community forum meetings; so people will have another way of expressing their opinion or thoughts. Matt
asked how the mailing list for the survey was created. Ken advised that it was random, computer
generated, from all addresses within the city limits. He stated that we will have a map that will pinpoint all
of the addresses that it was mailed to. Matt asked Dulce Gutierréz how we get more than 84 responses
from the Latino population. Dulce commented that one of the concerns she had was the length of the
survey. She suggested that fewer questions might help make people willing to take the survey. She also
stated that sending it a second time might get more response from the people on the east side of town.
Ken stated that we did have the survey online and also in hard copy and those results have not been
tabulated yet. Discussion followed regarding options of smaller surveys. Ken stated that we may be
looking at smaller surveys in the future that pertain to just specific issues or topics. Discussion followed.
Dulce stated that she also heard mention that a lot of people don’t know the names of parks, just the
locations. Ken responded that some of our parks do not have signs and we are working on that. Ken
advised that for the scientific surveys we would not be able to do two surveys, one short, one long, but we
could look at possibly doing a mini-survey in the middle of the 5 years. The cost of doing the survey is
about $5,000. Matt asked if everyone that took the survey received a round of golf at Fisher. Ken stated
that everyone that received a mailed survey received a coupon for a free round of golf and a family swim
pass. Discussion followed. Matt asked if maybe a different incentive would encourage more people to fill
out the survey. Discussion followed. Matt asked when the follow-up meetings will be. Ken advised that
the community forums will be held in February. Matt asked how many people said they would like to have
a follow-up. Ken stated there are over 180 people so far. Ken advised that we will be inviting them to the
community forums. The community forums will be open to anyone and everyone.
B. Mission Statement Discussion
Ken stated that the start of the discussion at last month’s meeting was just the beginning. He has brought
back a list from that discussion and it is included in their packets. He advised that our current mission
statement is too long and we need our community, as well as our staff, to know what we are all about. He
stated that he would like to keep our mission statement to about 15 words or less. Ken read the list of
statements that we came up with from last month’s discussion and some follow up emails we received.
Matt asked if they could just vote on some and possibly narrow it down to a couple. Each commissioner
voted on their first and second favorite statement. Discussion followed. We narrowed the choices down to
three, #7, #2 and #9. Ken advised that we will review them and bring two back for them to choose from at
the next meeting.
Adopt a Park Program Discussion
Ken reported that he would like to defer this agenda item to the next meeting in February. He stated that
the request came from Council Member Avina Gutierréz at one of the Neighborhood & Community Building
Committee meetings. Ken advised that staff has done some research and we discussed it briefly at the
last Park Commission meeting. He said he would like to meet with Avina again and really get her vision for
what she wants this program to be. Ken advised that this is something that really needs to be done right so
that it will be successful for both the volunteer groups and the City. Discussion followed.
Creation of Park Ordinance to Create Safer Parks Discussion
Ken reminded the Park Commissioners that we had been asked to look at ways of increasing safety in the
parks. He stated we are looking at amending the City of Yakima Municipal Code, Title 13, Parks and
Playgrounds, Section 13.16: Rules and Regulations, to add 13.16.170: Misuse of playground apparatuses,
park equipment, water playground features, or other park facilities prohibited, and 13.16.180: Interfering
with department personnel prohibited. Ken advised that he has met with staff, City Legal and also brought
it to this meeting last month and these are the two that we have decided to propose to City Council. Ken
went over the two ordinances that are included in their packets. Matt questioned the definition of the word
misuse. Ken advised that it is basically anything other than its intended purpose. Ken reported he will be
taking these to the NCBC meeting next week. Rod asked if we ever put up the signs at Randall Park for
the fowl. Ken advised that we did put up signs warning people of the penalties for harassing the fowl.
Dulce stated that she will relay comments from this group to the NCBC regarding the ordinances.
Manager’s Report
Ken advised that their packets include the Winter/Spring 2017 program guide and the Trips and Tours
guide from the Harman Center. He stated that we did mail the program guide again and the Trips and
Tours guide also gets mailed to those that are on the mailing list. We have been speaking with Seniors
Inc. regarding the vestibule improvement at the Harman Center. We have been doing some needed
repairs at the Harman Center including the dishwasher motor being replaced, fireplace repair and some
plumbing issues. Ken advised that we are currently looking for an additional Foot care nurse and a couple
of people to be facility attendants. Rod stated that somebody from the Harman Center usually comes out
to tell us a little about the Center and he would like Ken to invite them to do that again this year.
For the Good of the Order
Matt asked if there are any budget issues with snow removal for the Parks Department. Ken advised that
we plow the parking lots and walkways. Park Maintenance staff has come in early but are able to leave
once their 8 hours are up, so we haven’t had to pay overtime. We also have an on-call person for the
weekends.
Adjournment
The next Parks and Recreation Commission meeting will be February 8, 2017. The meeting adjourned at
6:25 p.m.