HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/02/2008 07 Naming of the Skate Park at Kiwanis Park in Memory of Lee Paggett • BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
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AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 7
For Meeting of December 2, 2008
ITEM TITLE: Introduction of a Request to Name the New Skate Park at Kiwanis Park in
honor of the Apple Valley Kiwanis Club in Memory of Lee Paggett
SUBMITTED BY: Chris Waarvick, Director of Public Works
Ken Wilkinson, Parks and Recreation Division Manager
CONTACT PERSON/TELEPHONE: Ken Wilkinson /575 -6020
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
The Apple Valley Kiwanis has requested the new skate park, opened officially November 3,
2008 at Kiwanis Park, be named in honor of their club and in memory of Lee Paggett, one of
their long -time members.
The club initially proposed construction of the skate park in 2005 and raised and donated
el $50,000 towards its construction. Lee Paggett, a Yakima Valley Community College
recreation coordinator, who died at age of 63 in November, 2003, was known for his
commitment to positive recreation activities for Yakima youth, particularly those living in
Yakima's east side neighborhoods.
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Resolution Ordinance Other (Specify) Supporting Documentation
Mail to Phone:
Funding Source
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL �-� City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff respectfully requests City Council to allow presentation
by Apple Valley Kiwanis, deliberate matter if necessary and schedule final action on matter
for January 20, 2009.
BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: The Parks and Recreation Commission
unanimously approved a motion to recommend the City Council approve this request at its
November 12, 2008, meeting.
COUNCIL ACTION:
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Naming the skate park meets two of the criteria listed in the policies and procedures for
naming public parks and recreation related facilities approved in Resolution 2005 -51:
• An individual (living or deceased) or group who has made a significant land and /or
monetary contribution to the parks system or who has had the contribution made "in
memoriam," or when the name has been stipulated as a condition of the donation.
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• An individual who has contributed outstanding civic service to the City of Yakima
primarily in the area of Parks and Recreation and who has been deceased for a
period of at least one year.
Staff recommends that City Council allow the presentation by the Apple Valley Kiwanis Club,
deliberate the matter if so inclined, and schedule final action on request for January 20,
2009.
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Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission
November 12, 2008 .
Commissioners, '
Apple Valley Kiwanis would like you to consider naming the new Skate Park in Kiwanis park the Apple Valley Kiwanis Skate Park
dedicated in memory of Lee Paggett. We would like to design and implement signage consistent to the.theme of the Skate Park
thanking the contributors that made the park a reality and dedicating the park in memory of Lee Paggett.
Lee Paggett was a member of Apple Valley Kiwanis and a strong advocate of new youth opportunities on the East side of Yakima.
Lee was very active in the local community especially with youth outreach programs and played a critical role in the foundation of
fundraising efforts that would continue beyond his passing in 2003 to raise nearly $100,000 dollars in the last 6 years for local youth
and community service projects; including $50,000 toward the new Skate Park.
We regret that Lee was unable to see the park to completion, as we know he would have been smiling ear to ear at the ribbon
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cutting ceremony last week. We have included a Eulogy written and read to club members at the time of Lee's passing and also a
copy of an article on Lee that was printed in the Yakima Herald Republic upon his death.
Sin,cerely,
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C
David verson -(, .
Gallon Gentry ,
Apple Valley Kiwanis
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America's Newspapers
Community Activist Lee Paggett Dies
Yakima Herald- Republic (WA) - Thursday, November 20, 2003
Author: Ed Stover
ByEDSTOVER
YAKIMA HERALD - REPUBLIC
Lee Paggett was always doing something for somebody else, Dennis Pleasant, one of his sons, said
Wednesday.
Unfortunately, that desire to put others first may have figured in Paggett's unexpected death this week. The 63-
I year -old longtime Yakima Valley Community College recreation coordinator, youth mentor and community
activist died Tuesday afternoon.
Pleasant of Yakima, one of Paggett's four children, said an autopsy was being conducted Wednesday. It
appeared, however, that a bad case of flu, aggravated perhaps by a Nov. 8 trip with his Washington Middle
School football team to watch Washington State beat UCLA in Pullman, may have caused Paggett's flu to
develop into a fatal case of pneumonia.
"He was sick with the flu and it turned into pneumonia," agreed Eddie Hill, Yakima, Paggett's former brother -in-
law.
YVCC physical education and athletics director Jerry Ward said Paggett stayed home sick during the week of
Nov. 3.
"But he'd planned to take his middle - school football team to the game on the eighth, which he did and which he
probably shouldn't have, and I think that exacerbated his cold," said Ward.
Paggett showed up at work on the 10th, the day before Veterans Day, to help at a volleyball match, but he
didn't look good.
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"He looked like he'd lost 10 or 15 pounds, so I sent him home," Ward said.
{ Things went downhill from there. Ward said he talked to Paggett by phone last Friday and he sounded "terrible."
When Ward came to work Monday, he learned Paggett had just been taken to Yakima Valley Memorial
Hospital.
Paggett remained in intensive care at Memorial, where his condition deteriorated. He died about 1:30 p.m.
Tuesday.
It was a shock, Hill and Pleasant agreed. But it was also vintage Paggett, added Pleasant: "He was always
doing something for everybody else and he took those kids to Pullman even though he was sick, but he'd do
anything for his kids."
Ward said Paggett made many contributions at YVCC, where he worked from 1987 until his death.
During that time, he was adviser to the Ebony Club, and he was instrumental in developing Black History Month
programs and representing YVCC at annual Martin Luther King Day activities. Paggett was well -known for the
Soul Food Dinner he prepared each year as part of Black History Month at the college.
Off campus, he was involved with the Grid Kids program as well as other youth activities. An outstanding athlete 411
in his early years, the East Valley High School graduate got into boxing through Yakima's YMCA.
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That led to Golden Gloves competition, and a stint as a semipro boxer when he was known as "Hurricane
Como." He became an avid long- distance biker in his later years.
Paggett received many honors over the years, and just this year was a recipient of a Yakima Herald- Republic
i One World, One Valley Award" for his work in the community.
Besides Pleasant, survivors include another son, Glenn, and a daughter, Donna, both of Minneapolis.; as well
as two sisters, Clorice of Kennewick and Lenora of Tacoma; and a brother, Donson, of Vancouver, Wash.
I He was preceded in death by a daughter, Penny; two brothers, Norman and John; and his mother, (dean.
Pleasant said Shaw & Sons is handling arrangements. Services are pending.
Section: Main /Home Front
Page: Al j
Record Number: OFEF3B8AE76A411A
Copyright, 2003, Yakima Herald- Republic. All Rights Reserved.
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Lee Paggett: Friend, Kiwanian, Athlete, Role Model, Mentor, and an Every Day
Hero!
Lee Paggett will continue to shape this world and the lives
he touched forever. To describe a man
that reached so many people in so many ways requires more than just words. Two
themes predominately shined through Lee's
life; athletics and a commitment to youth. A star boxer in his earlier years to
most recently his passion for
cycling and coaching (on and off the field) Lee was almost never standing
still.
Lee joined Apple Valley Kiwanis on September 15th, 1988 and
shortly there after became one of the club's most active members. He served
numerous years on the board of
directors, was active in just about every project the took on, and brought
his fair share of new visions to reality as club projects.
From pancake feed fundraisers to barbeque socials Lee was a
master at the barbeque and was quick to distinguish a true barbeque (which
required ribs) from a simple cook out (which encompassed burgers and hot dogs).
Volunteering with our sponsored youth and
youth mentoring programs were among Lee's passions. Lee had a way of reaching
through to youth
that may have otherwise strayed to mischief. Whether it was chaperoning youth
field trips through his position at
YVCC, or one of Apple Valley Kiwanis' youth activities programs Lee was able to
maintain order while showing compassion. He was a true role model. For the
last several years Lee has taken 70 middle school students to see a WSU
football game. He gave from his heart
and his pocket, buying 100 backpacks and stocking them with toothbrushes and
tooth paste to give to kids. These are
but only a few examples of Lee's selflessness.
Lee must have served on every Kiwanis committee and chaired
a fair number of them, most recently serving as chair of the Youth Services
committee and Apple Valley Kiwanis Vice President for the current
administrative year.
Lee's love for cycling and dedication to service led to the
creation of two Kiwanis sponsored bike rides, which raise money for youth and
community service projects. These rides
will continue to attract more and more riders in the years to come, and thus
enable us continue expanding Kiwanis youth and service programs.
Members of Apple Valley Kiwanis were among Lee's closest
friends. As a result of Lee's enthusiasm
and encouragement a number of club members joined Lee on bicycles to raise
money for other fundraiser . rides like the Crime Stoppers Canyon for a Day,
Cascade's STP, Multiple
Sclerosis' "Yak to Pak and Back ", and the American Lung Associations "Trek Tri
Island ". Lee was one of the Trek Tri Island's most vocal advocates. Lee loved
to cycle, and regularly could be
found on summer evenings riding with friends from Yakima to Naches and back.
This riding schedule shortened up a bit every fall when the
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grid kids football season came together, and Lee assumed his role as coach of
the Washington Middle School football team.
Lee's impact on this world wasn't limited to people of any
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S ertain age group, ethnic background, social stature or even geographic
ocation. Lee touched countless lives
everywhere he went, and while he will be greatly missed, the commitment he
gave, the memories he left, the lessons he taught, and the guidance he provided
will live on!
David Severson, President
Apple Valley Kiwanis
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• YAKIMA PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION
November 12, 2008 .
Commissioners Present: Bob Busse, Maureen Adkison, Rod Bryant, Tom Hinman, Sam Karr,
Mike Nixon and Paul Williams
Staff Present: Ken Wilkinson and Lynn Quesenbury
Guests: David Severson and Gailon Gentry
Call to Order.
Chairman Bob Busse called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.
The minutes of the October 8, 2008, meeting were approved as mailed.
Informational Item: Kiwanis Skate Park Naming Request.
Ken Wilkinson introduced this item by reporting on the success of the well - attended ribbon
cutting/opening of the skate park the preceding Monday. He expressed gratitude for the direction and
financial support given to the project by the Apple Valley Kiwanis and, then, introduced David Severson
• and Gallon Gentry from that organization who were attending the meeting to speak about the club's desire
for a name for the skate park.
The two said the club would like to call the skate park the Apple Valley Kiwanis Skate Park in Memory
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of Lee Paggett. David talked about his experiences meeting and working with Lee Paggett, a member of
the club in long standing and YVCC recreation coordinator, youth mentor and community activist who
died in November, 2003. Lee was instrumental in organizing the club's successful bicycle ride in 2001
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and dedicated his life to helping kids, particularly those on Yakima's east side. They reminisced about the
time Lee watched kids at the Chesterley skate park and said, `Now, those kids are not getting into
trouble." Gailon Gentry passed out copies of a letter written by him and David, a copy of David's eulogy
for Lee and a Yakima Herald - Republic article announcing Lee's death.
Drawing attention to copies of the city's policies and procedures relating to naming Parks and Recreation
Facilities, Ken Wilkinson said Lee Paggett qualified under the criteria for an individual who has
contributed outstanding civic service to the City of Yakima primarily in the area of Parks and Recreation
and who has been deceased for a period of at least one year. The Kiwanis Club qualifies under the criteria
for a group who has made a significant monetary contribution to the parks system:
A motion to make the recommendation to Council to accept this name was made by Maureen Adkison
• and immediately seconded by Rod Bryant. Both Rod and Mike Nixon talked about their memories of Lee
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Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission • November 12, 2008 • Page 1
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Paggett and his presence everywhere around the community promoting healthy sports and living. The
group unanimously approved the recommendation.
Informational Item: Upper Kiwanis Park Update.
• Ken Wilkinson reported ownership of the acreage on the northwest corner of Kiwanis Park had been
transferred to the City. The structures have been demolished and the ground leveled, an improvement in
the appearance of the property already, he noted. Ken and Public Works Director Chris Waarvick will be
working with City Engineering regarding the future of the pond. The Army Corps of Engineers was
scheduled to have representatives gathering information at the pond the following Monday with respect to
this study. Finally, Ken and Chris were planning a meeting with City Engineering to talk about the design
for the current Upper Kiwanis redevelopment and location of elements including the new restroom, sports
courts, parking and Title 12 improvements to Maple Street. Responding to a question from Mike Nixon,
Ken said that asbestos had been discovered in some of the structures on the property and that it had been
abated prior to demolition.
Information Item: Regional Aquatic Center Update.
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City Council members Dave Edler and Kathy Coffey, Ken told the Commission, attended a Union Gap
City Council meeting to update that body on aquatic center progress and to ask that Council to indicate a
willingness to place a .1 percent sales tax increase to fund a Public Facilities District to support
construction of an aquatic center before Union Gap voters at a future date. The pair is planning a similar
visit to the City of Selah November 25.
Sam Karr said he understood the Union Gap Council had had a number of reservations including the lack
of a specified location. Lynn Quesenbury explained securing a commitment for an election at a later date
of the first in a series of "next steps" identified by the Yakima City Council's aquatic committee.
Yakima's Council already voted to hold the future election at its October 21 meeting. If the either of the
other two cities does not agree to hold similar elections, then Yakima will need to look for an alternative
funding mechanism for an aquatic center.
If Union Gap and Selah do agree to hold the elections at a future date, Lynn Quesenbury continued, then
Yakima will proceed with the next "next step" which is issuing a request for proposals from the two
parties - Yakima Resources and Yakima County - for donation of land for the project. The proposals will
ask for information about the land as well as the agencies with whom the two parties will be partnering
for operation of the aquatic center. The City of Yakima will review the proposals and select the finalist.
When that is done, the selected site will be subjected to detailed geotechnical and engineering analysis to
verify the site's suitability. The actual 'elections, Lynn said, that Selah and Union Gap are being asked to
Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission • November 12, 2008 • Page 2
• commit to are at the end of the "next steps." By that time details and particulars of construction will be
known and available for public review prior to the election.
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Informational Item: Fisher Golf Course Discussion. •
Referring to a letter mailed to the Commissioners late in October, Ken Wilkinson said a meeting with the
city's insurance representatives and members of the City Legal Department had included discussion about
three holes at Fisher where golf balls have a potential to fly out of the course. The letter outlined steps
that can be taken to decrease some of the liability for those errant balls. The City, he continued, is in the
process of developing a request for proposals for operation of Fisher Golf Course beginning in 2010.
There is no guarantee, Ken said, that an acceptable proposal will be submitted but he will continue to
keep the Commission informed as the project develops.
Tom Hinman, a member of the Fisher Golf Course task .force, said his group had already addressed the
errant golf ball issues mentioned in Ken letter and had suggested remedies. He also reported attendance
through September for 2008 is was up 256 over 2007 even without the golf course sign requested by the
task force early this year. He told the Commissioners that the sign had been the subject of a public hearing
in October and that the hearing examiner had approved the application.
• . The group discussed the possibility of adding fencing and netting for the problem holes. Tom Hinman
suggested signs informing golfers they are liable for errant balls. Ken Wilkinson reported staff has already
started moving the green on Hole #2. Tom said the new sign will make a huge difference. Responding to
a question from Maureen Adkison, Tom said the sign will be a reader board with manually posted letters,
similar to those seen at area grade schools. Proceeds, $3,000, raised by the Young Leaders at their fund
raiser this past summer, will help underwrite the cost of the sign. He said the task force will also look at
selling advertising signs for each of the nine holes and estimated income from that project would be
approximately $2,400. Ken thanked Tom for his report and Tom concluded saying the golf course is
going to be there in the future. He said it is a city park and city parks don't generally generate income. He
also said he could rework the numbers to make the course show a profit.
Informational Item: Tahoma Cemetery Monument Sales.
Work is underway, Ken Wilkinson told the group, on a request for proposals for headstones . and markers
that can be retailed at Tahoma Cemetery.. While this service could produce revenue to. offset the annual .
Parks and Recreation contribution to the cemetery, Ken was cautious about projected income. The
expectation is that a vendor will wholesale the stones. to Tahoma where they will, in turn, be retailed to
families. Maureen Adkison noted this service would make things easier for families, many of whom are
not always familiar with how to make arrangements for funerals.
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Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission • November 12, 2008 • Page 3 •
For the Good of the Order.
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Ken Wilkinson reported the City Council reviewed the 2009 Parks and Recreation budget the previous
Monday. There was good discussion, he said. The 2009 budget is relatively the same as 2008's. There are
two policy issues: the Fisher Golf Course request for proposals and redevelopment and financing of the
Upper Kiwanis Park Redevlopment. The Council will continue its review with final adoption of the new
budget in December.
Tom Hinman said Little League was interested in visiting the Parks and Recreation Commission to
discuss two proposals. One is installation of lights at Elks Park so the fields can be used during the now
dark evenings. The second regards the refurbishment of the old restroom which is being used by youth
umpires for a changing room.
Ken Wilkinson reminded the Commission about a proposal to modify the Park Commission to include a
youth commissioner. Lynn Quesenbury said staff had prepared a draft proposal that had been presented to
the Commissioners about a year ago. Ken suggested bringing that material to the December meeting.
Following up on the earlier discussion about naming the Kiwanis skate park, Maureen Adkison suggested
there might be a need to look to the community for funding assistance when naming a facility after an
individual.
. The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Yakima Parks and Recreation Commission • November 12, 2008 • Page 4