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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.