HomeMy WebLinkAboutParks Commission minutes - 04-09-14.docx
Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission
Meeting Minutes for
April 9, 2014
Commissioners Present: Chair Rod Bryant, Vice-Chairman Sam Karr, Mike Nixon, Tom Hinman, Jo Miles,
Paul Williams and Maureen Adkison, Yakima City Council Liaison. Absent and Excused: Parks
Commissioners Morgan Pualani and Jim Williams.
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
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Bryant called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers, 129 North 2 Street,
Yakima, Washington.
Approval of the Meeting Minutes for February 12, 2014. It was Moved by Maureen Adkison,
Seconded by Sam Karr, to approve the Minutes as written from the February 12, 2014 Parks and
Recreation Commission Meeting. The motion carried unanimously.
Yakima National Little League 2013 Annual Report
Ken Wilkinson advised that there will not be a report from Yakima National Little League. The league is run
by volunteers and they have not had the time to complete the report. Ken stated the report has been
delayed until the June Park Commission meeting since there will not be a May meeting. Everyone agreed
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to delay the report to June 11.
Randall Park Improvement Committee Update
Ken Wilkinson updated the committee on the status of the Randall Park improvements. He reminded them
of the $50,000 donation that Parks and Recreation received last September and advised them of a second
anonymous donation of $100,000 received for Randall Park improvements. The second donation included
a challenge to the community to match the $100,000 dollar for dollar. Ken stated we have begun work with
the Yakima Valley Community Foundation to start putting together ways to go to the community to ask for
those matching funds. We will be creating a brochure or pamphlet to hand to potential donors to inform
them of the improvements we want to make to Randall Park. Ken stated he also spoke with Cindy
Epperson, Director of Finance, and she stated there should be $100,000 of REET II funds available for
Parks and Recreation in 2015. The grant that we are going for will be presented in 2014 but will not be
funded until 2015. There will also be some Parks Capital that can be used for this project. This puts our
match at about $400,000. There are also some commitments from the Streets Department to do some
work on the walkways and parking lots. This should get us close to our match for the RCO grant in which
we are asking for $500,000 and get our project to the million dollar mark. Ken advised that REET II is
money received from the Real Estate Excise Tax. Discussion followed. Samina Engle from KIMA news
has been following the story and there have been many comments posted, both positive and some not so
positive. Maureen Adkison suggested that we use KIT to ask for contributions. Ken stated that we are not
quite ready for that step, we are still working on the brochure and once that is finished we will have Randy
Beehler send out the press release. Sam Karr commented about the park remaining a passive park. Ken
stated the difference between a passive park and an active park which has established fields or structured
activities. He said there is the disc golf at Randall but that seems to be more of an unstructured sport. Ken
advised that the Randall Park Improvement committee had a site visit and identified components of the
project. He said there is currently a broken water line to the restroom that will be repaired tomorrow. Ken
stated this just another reason that the park is in need of repair. Sam commented on the erosion of the
walkway along the hillside. Ken listed some of the repairs and replacements that are needed; restroom,
bridge to the nature area, playground, shelter, and basketball court. Sam asked about whether it was
septic or sewer. Ken advised that it is on sewer. Ken stated he has sent a letter to the service clubs to
make them aware of the upcoming project and to keep it in mind when deciding what they will be helping
with in the coming months. He said he has already received a call from West Valley Kiwanis and they
would like to make a donation. Ken advised that James Davis, recent landscape architecture graduate,
has been volunteering his time and provided a rendering of the proposed improvements. Ken stated that
we have met with James and most of this has already being changed. Ken said Ryan Anderson from
Stormwater has been helping out with the committee. Ken advised there should be some funds coming
from Stormwater but not sure how much yet. We will be implementing rain gardens which allow for better
runoff and are a way of handling stormwater. Ken advised of the observation area for feeding ducks and
walkway possibilities. Ken stated Jenise has been working on the grant application and the presentation
for that will be in August. Ken advised we have already met with grants people and they agree that this is a
worthy project. Maureen asked about the presentation in August and who will be going. Ken advised that
it will be just him and maybe one other person. It is not a process where you bring many people.
Discussion followed. Rod Bryant asked about the design of the bridges. Ken stated that one of the bridges
will be concrete and that we have received a donation of (2) 30 ft. I-beams that could be used to build a
foot bridge at another location along the creek. The concrete bridge could be wide enough for the tractors
to get across. Sam Karr commented on enhancing the entrance of the park. Ken stated that the old signs
were wood and eventually rotted.
Off Leash Dog Park Update
Ken Wilkinson reminded the commissioner that Sonny Cooper approached them last fall about building an
off leash dog park on the west side of Yakima. Traci Bennett, Recreation Supervisor, formed a committee
including Tom Hinman and Sonny and some other members of the community. There were (3) proposed
sites for the dog park, Kissel, Gilbert and South Randall Park. The committee was given the task of coming
up with a list of pros and cons for each park. The next meeting will be next week. Jenise put together a
grant proposal to Legends Casino to help for the cost of the fence. Mike Nixon stated that dogs already
use that area. Maureen commented that Pitbull and other dangerous dogs would need to be excluded
from the dog park. Ken stated that the Legal Department would need to be brought in and since this would
be on city property whatever the ordinance is would carry over to the dog park. Discussion followed. Tom
Hinman stated that of the (4) parks, West Valley was the fourth, that were proposed sites for the dog park;
they keep coming back to South Randall Park. He said that Jeff Peters from the Planning Department has
advised that since this is an enhancement to an existing park, the parking lot is not needed, can use the
existing parking and can possibly build a path and a bridge across Wide Hollow Creek. Tom said there
should not be any issue as long as we stay out of the flood plain, we don’t need to plant grass, and we can
also build a shelter with a concrete pad. Discussion followed. Tom advised that the committee discussed
building a 5 ft. fence instead of a 6 ft. fence which reduced the cost by about $4,000. There will also be a
double entry or holding area. This is the area where the leash is put on or taken off. Tom stated that water
is still being addressed. Discussion followed.
Grant Applications
Ken Wilkinson stated he already mentioned the Legends Casino grant application for the dog park fencing.
Jenise, along with Bill Wells and Tami Andringa submitted a grant to Parker Youth & Sports Foundation to
build netting at Gateway Sports Complex. The netting not only protects spectators from being hit by a ball
but also provides a little bit of shade. Ken stated that they asked for some additional information and he
believes that has been provided and thinks the next step would be to go before the board to answer any
further questions. Ken advised there would be (8) nets total, one for each bleacher at the Gateway
Complex. Ken stated that we were hoping to install them using our own staff but we just do not have the
ability to do that. Ken stated the RCO grant will also be submitted in May. Ken advised that he was sent
an application for a grant from Dr. Pepper / Snapple for recycling bins, we asked for 32 bins but
unfortunately we did not receive that. Discussion followed.
Manager’s Report
Ken Wilkinson stated that Tami Andringa is working on a concert series at Miller Park. There will be (4)
Sunday afternoon concerts to being at 4:00 pm. Maintenance is working on enhancing electricity and
building a raised stage area using paving blocks. Ken stated he received a call from an organization
looking for some volunteer opportunities, possibly attending an event and then staying to help clean up
afterwards. Ken advised that we have many volunteers and service clubs that are very helpful and we are
very thankful. Ken stated that in their packets they have the information that was shared with City Council
yesterday morning regarding the capital projects possibilities. The indoor aquatics center is being
discussed again. There are many definitions for aquatics center. This proposal is not a waterpark. This
indoor aquatic center information includes an indoor pool, lazy river, zero depth entry, and play area. Jo
Miles asked about a feasibility study in regards to expenses versus revenue. Maureen stated that the City
Council discussed this and found the first step would be to identify who the partners would be. She stated
they want to identify not only the partners but also what exactly would be constructed. She stated that we
definitely need partners. Jo stated indoor facilities expenses far outweigh the revenue. Maureen stated
that we are looking at more than one partner. Jo commented on the maintenance expense and capital
expense. Maureen stated that they are looking at changing the charter. Discussion followed. Sam and
Tom brought up the Fisher Park Golf Course being one of the potential sites for the aquatic center.
Maureen stated she agreed that Fisher should be taken off the table as a potential site. Consultant groups
in the past have stated that the site should be close to the freeway. Discussion followed. Sam stated that
he has heard comments about more benches needed at Fisher Park Golf Course. Sam brought up the
KXDD Loyal Listener day and how great the numbers are for that. Sam asked about the parking lot
expansion. Ken advised the parking lot is still on hold at this point. Discussion followed.
For the Good of the Order
Sam Karr commented on the new P.A. system that was donated by GYSA. Ken stated they were donated
and are for the new fields at Kiwanis. He reminded them that at the end of the Kiwanis project there was
not enough money for the amount of project left. One of the things we were not able to get done was the
P.A system. This is necessary for the Girls Fastpitch Softball Tournaments that are held at the fields. Sam
asked about vandalism at the Kiwanis fields. Ken advised that sometimes the homeless think the score
booths are a good place to sleep. Discussion followed. Discussion followed regarding the Chesterley Park
broken main line.
Adjournment
The next Parks and Recreation Commission meeting will be June 11, 2014. The meeting adjourned at
6:35 p.m.