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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 nd 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 rd 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 st 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.