HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/04/2009 04A Draft Minutes 07-21-2009 Adjourned Meeting2.
YAKIMA CITY COUNCIL
ADJOURNED MEETING
WITH PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
JULY 21, 2009 —12:00 —1:30 P.M.
HARMAN CENTER AT GAILLEON PARK
Roll Call
Present:
Council: Mayor Dave Edler (unti 1:30), presiding, Assistant Mayor Micah
Cawiey, Council Members Maureen Adkison, Kathy Coffey, Rick
Ensey, Bill Lover, and Sonia Rodriguez
Staff: City Manager Zais, Assistant City Manager Zabell, Public Works
Director Chris Waarvick, Parks and Recreation Manager Ken
Wilkinson, and Deputy Clerk Watkins
Discussion of Yakima City Parks and Recreation FaciBiiies, Programs,
Collaborations and Services
Bob Busse, Parks and Recreation Commission Chair, explained that they had
requested this session with Council about four months ago because of articles they
were seeing in the newspaper about closing parks and Fisher Golf Course. He
introduced other Commission members present Alex Deccio, Scott Karr, and Paul
Williams.
Ken Wilkinson gave a Power Point presentation regarding Parks and Recreation
functions within the community. Their mission is to provide recreational opportunities
for all citizens with a focus on youth activities. As well as maintaining all parks (33)
and pools, they also support the downtown central business district by paying for
water bills, major repairs and winterization. They also provide sunset concerts, the
summer cinema and free summer playgrounds. In 2008 there were 12,558 golfers
that used Fisher Golf Course. They are looking at ways to reduce expenditures on
the golf course and are preparing a request for proposal (RFP) for outside operation
in 2010. Mr. Wilkinson spoke about the activity at the two pools, the Harman Senior
Center, and Tahoma Cemetery. Their challenge is to manage aU of the facilities with
limited resources. The critical issues in front of them are diminishing resources, the
economic downturn, varying demographics, changing trends, aging facilities, and
safety concerns.
City Manager Zais reviewed the current economic situation and impacts on the City's
budget. The news for actual and projected sales tax revenues, is a steep decline.
Although the Parks Department does not depend on sales tax directly, they are
impacted by what takes place in the entire budget group. They have a dedicated
utility tax which comes from the allocation set years ago of 3.5% of utility on water
sewer and refuse. Another piece of the Parks revenue stream is fees and charges
that are dedicated to them. But, frankly, we do not see an appreciable gain in any
revenue stream across the base of the entire general services budget Although it is
possible that Parks could be impacted less than others in the Priorities of
Government model, that is yet to be seen.
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STUDY SESSION — PARRS & RECREATION
JULY 21, 2009
• consultants review
Council Member Coffey asked � they had ever had busyness
different possibilities of revenue and possibly a competitive analysis for rental of the
Harman Center. Mr. Wilkinson advised that things are running well right now but the
future in pools is an unknown. Big repairs are expected to be needed in the future.
City Manager Zais spoke about the fact that REST 1 tax contributions to Parks has
helped assist with capital projects for pools. Unfortunately, the Real Estate Excise
Tax has taken a drastic downturn (45 %); therefore there is less money available for
capital maintenance.
Discussion then turned to the future of aquatics and the proposed aquatic center in
general. Various Council members stated their diverse opinions. Assistant Mayor
Cawley commented that `we" are committed to maintaining what we have and will
work with management to keep funding levels where they are in order to preserve
the pools. He challenged the community and businesses to help promote the pools
with free advertising. It was pointed out that the marketing of Fisher Park has
increased the number of users. Also discussed was the many properties that the
Parks Department maintains that do not have any programs associated with them,
e.g. seven blocks of property downtown on Naches Avenue and various residential
pocket parks. Mayor Edler commented that it is time to engage the citizens in
discussing what they want for their money
3. Audience Comments
• Joe Carmichael spoke about the pools and suggested looking into volunteers
supplying some of the needed manpower.
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Gary McLaughlin thanked the Council for naming the new skate park for Apple Valley
Kiwanis. He talked about volunteer work they are doing such as flowers in one of the
major parks. They planted them and are handling watering. He agrees it is a good
idea to look for volunteers and there is opportunity for all the service organizations to
get involved.
Alex Deccio spoke about the importance of aquatics in the Valley and the value of
pools in keeping youth busy. With regard to the need for a continuing source of
revenue to maintain them, he questioned whether we should take care of Yakima
pools only, all the pools above the Gap, or the entire County. He suggested the
creation of an all-encompassing Metropolitan Park District He emphasized these
were his suggestions, not those of the Parks Commission. Public Works Director
Waarvick shared information about Parks & Recreation Districts or Service Areas or
Metropolitan Park Districts stating that all are authorized by legislation to acquire and
manage parks and recreational facilities and programs. They must be approved by a
majority of the voters and are funded by property tax levies. Mr. Deccio also
commented that he thought schools could help with the problem because of their use
of the pools. The idea of engaging schools was well received and it was suggested
there be further conversations between the school district and the Council.
4.
STUDY SESSION — PARKS & RECREATION
.BtILV 21, 2009 0
Adjoumment
ENSEY MOVED AND COSY SECONDED TO ADJOURN TO S P.M. IN
COUNCIL CHAMBERS FOR THE REGULAR CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS
MEETING. The motion carried by unanimous voice vote; Edler absent The meeting
adjoumed at 1:44 p.m.
READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
COUNCIL MEMBER DATE
DAVID EDLER, MAYOR
Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins_ A CD and DVD of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office
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