HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Commission minutes - 10-12-16.docx
Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes for
October 12, 2016
Commissioners Present: Vice Chairman Paul Williams, Jo Miles, Roger Lewis, Stacy Hackenmueller, Tom
Hinman, Matt Tweedy, Josette Gonzales, Rosana Bravo and Dulce Gutierréz, Yakima City Council Liaison
Absent and Excused: Chairman Rod Bryant
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, Vice Chairman Paul Williams called
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the meeting to order at 5:39 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 129 North 2 Street, Yakima,
Washington.
Approval of the Meeting Minutes of September 14, 2016. It was Moved by Jo Miles, Seconded by
Rosana Bravo, to approve the Minutes as written from the September 14, 2016 Parks and
Recreation Commission Meeting. The motion carried unanimously.
Introduction of New Parks & Recreation Commissioner – Stacy Hackenmueller
Ken introduced new Parks Commissioner Stacy Hackenmueller. Stacy stated that she works for Yakima
Valley Farm Workers Clinic, within the WIC program. She helps counsel families on physical education
and nutrition and felt that would go hand in hand with the Parks Commission. She stated this is her first
time she is serving on city government or commission and she is very excited. Ken welcomed Stacy and
thanked her for volunteering her time.
2017-2022 Parks and Recreation Comprehensive Plan Update
Ken reminded the Commissioners that the plan is due to the State in April 2017 and it will help guide us
through the next 5-10 years. He reported that we did receive over 700 surveys back. We cut off accepting
the surveys for the scientific statistics at the end of September, however, if we continue to receive them
they will be reviewed and put in with the online surveys taken. The random surveys were sent to over
4,500 homes. Ken thanked Frank Hewey, Diondra Brown and Jenise Sanders for entering the data into
the computer. He stated that we are finding that a lot of seniors have filled out the surveys to let us know
what they like and don’t like. It may be a little challenging trying to figure out how to present the information
but he hopes that can be done at the November meeting. He advised he is also hoping to share the
information with the community through the media also. We will also be giving the public an opportunity to
meet with us face to face whether in small focus groups or public forums or even one on one. He stated it
is our mission to provide the Parks and Recreation services and facilities that the community wants. It is
what they want us to do with their tax dollars and we take that seriously. Ken said that we did include the
free round golf and free swim pass for a family of up to 5 as a Thank You. We had 78 people redeem their
free round of golf and they most likely brought one or more person with them who paid for their round of
golf. We had 94 passes for swimming used, which ended up being 444 people.
2017 Budget Reduction
Ken advised there are some financial issues within the City and as a result of that the Divisions were given
a directive to put together a budget cut of 1.5, with Parks budget being $5.6 million, that ends up being
$82,500 and also a 2% reduction that is $110,000. Ken stated that he sat down with staff and discussed
some areas that we could cut to accomplish that and those have been submitted to the City Manager for
his review. Ken advised that he is not sure how or when those will be shared with City Council. One of the
options on the list is to take the concerts at Franklin and reduce them from 6 to 3. Ken stated that the
options are in their packet. Ken stated that we are going to start talking about the budget with City Council
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in November and he will be presenting Parks and Recreation budget on November 3. He said he will be
discussing our budget for 2017 and some of our challenges and goals. Ken stated that someone had
asked him what the reason was for the need to reduce the budget and he discovered there was a downturn
in sales tax revenue, it was lower than projected, and 2.5 increase in salaries for full time employees, the
ACLU lawsuit, the tremendous amount of snow we had and the need for snow removal in 2016, the
$750,000 that is earmarked for Parks Capital, the $2 million that was earmarked for Streets, and the
previous City Manager’s cash out for his time here at the City. Matt asked if we would have to do any staff
cuts also. Kens advised that we may have to do one. It is one of our vacancies that we would not be able
to fill. Matt asked if that is reflected in our percentages shown. Ken advised it is. Matt asked what we
were being asked to cut last time they thought we were going to have a budget shortfall, $75,000. Ken
stated he didn’t remember the exact amount, but it was something around that. Discussion followed
regarding charging for the Summer Day Camp program. Matt asked when the deadline for submitted the
cuts is. Ken stated he has already turned it in. Jo Miles stated that he has some comments about this. He
said that when he saw budget reduction on the agenda, he thought they better discuss it and he put
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together a one page summary along with the 1 page of the 2014 financial overview memo from the City
for the Commissioners to review. Jo went over the document stating why the Parks and Recreation budget
should not be reduced. Matt thanked Jo for taking the time to put this together. Dulce thanked Jo and
stated that she wants to suggest that the Parks Commissioner continue to advocate against budget
reductions for Parks. Dulce commented that we want to make sure that with all the projects coming up, we
want to make sure that the existing parks don’t get sacrificed in the process. Jo commented that they are
volunteers that show up every month and are committed to all the neighborhoods and all the parks and the
voice for the community. Paul commented that Park Commission was just left out of previous discussions
about the YMCA and Sozo projects. Dulce asked how she can be the best advocate for the Commission.
Paul stated that getting them the information on things like these and not leaving them out of the process,
even if they don’t all agree. Jo commented that she is already doing a good job of being an advocate.
Dulce stated that she will be strongly advocating that there be no cuts to the Parks budget. Matt asked if
Jo’s document will go forward to other Council members. Jo stated that they should make a motion to
have this passed on to the City Council for their review. Matt moved to pass Jo’s document regarding the
budget concerns on to City Council, Roger seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. Dulce
asked if the Commission is making a formal motion that they oppose any budget reductions to the Parks
budget, since this document is coming from Commission Miles. Matt moved that the Parks Commission in
its entirety would oppose any budget cuts for Parks in 2017 and moving forward. Roger seconded the
motion. Tom Hinman commented that it seems we are cut every year, so he is all for this. Paul
commented that he fully supports this also and has more faith in the system moving forward. The motion
passed unanimously.
Randall Park Improvement Project Update
Ken stated that he and Jenise just met with the Eagle Scout that will be doing the planting project along the
pond in November. He also met with Mike Price, the Manager of the Stormwater Division that will be that
will be doing the work on the pond. They are still planning to dredge the pond this year after irrigation
season is done which will make the pond deeper and improve the water quality. He stated that they are
finishing up the drawings for the parking lots and walkways and are planning on completing one of the
parking lots and the bridge in the spring. Discussion followed.
Miller Park Issues Presentation
Ken stated that we were asked to put together information to share at the Public Safety Committee, for this
meeting and for City Council next Tuesday, to talk about Miller Park, parks in general and specifically the
homeless in the parks issue that we are dealing with. He stated that we had high hopes that the
encampment would decrease the number of homeless people that were spending time in the parks. That
did not happen, there seems to be the same, maybe more. Ken commented that he is concerned that
because the homeless are in the parks, it keeps some families from using them. We have some parks that
have more issues than others and Miller Park is one that has the most homeless, along with Milroy,
Kiwanis and Elks. He stated in their packet is a memo he put together for City Council, a memo from Sara
Watkins from City Legal and he also put together a power point on Miller Park. Ken went through the
Power Point presentation. Dulce stated that one of the budget items is the Gang Free Initiative and the
major recipient of these funds is the organization that administers the building at Miller Park, the
Washington Fruit Community Center, formerly the YPAL building. One major point that she has been
stressing to the City Manager and the Council is that we need to draw in the building and the park and
utilize the building more efficiently to improve the safety of the park. They are currently being run as two
separate entities even though they are both owned by the City. She stated she is also the liaison for YPAL
and does hear about the day to day activities. She also stated that it is located right in the middle of a
redevelopment site, Boise Cascade site, and the downtown core commercial of our city and it has the
potential to be a real draw for those coming into our city. She stated she does have a real vision for Miller
and that it will require budgeting, so it is on the fast track. She stated she is not just advocating for no
budget reductions but for increasing the budget for Parks and Recreation. She stated that Council Member
Lover had urged that this discussion be brought to the Parks Commission for their input. Dulce spoke
about Miller Park issues and concerns. Discussion followed regarding the vision for the park and
Washington Fruit Community Center.
Manager’s Report
Ken advised that their packets include the stats from the pools. Kens stated he will be taking the
agreement for the Hogback Development, Stephens & Sons and Russell Landscaping project at Rosalma
Garden Club Park improvements to City Council on Tuesday. Design work has already been done and that
is in their packets. Matt asked if our numbers for the pool are up or down. Ken stated that we were done a
little at Franklin as it was a cooler summer.
For the Good of the Order
Dulce asked the commission to think about what they think the admission fee should be for non YMCA
members at the proposed new facility. Discussion followed. Jo asked if we have the figures from the
Boise YMCA.
Adjournment
The next Parks and Recreation Commission meeting will be November 9, 2016. The meeting adjourned at
7:10 p.m.