HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-04-2007 Parks and Recreation Advisory Council Minutes PARK& RECREATION ADVISORY COUNCIL
October 4, 2007
In attendance: Duane Taber, Cheryl Smyth, Mike Mathews and Edmon Daniels. Guest: Vic
Epperly. Staff. Paul Whitemarsh, Recreation Services Manager and Stan Strebel, Administrative
and Community Services Director.
The meeting convened at 5:30 p.m. by Chairman Taber, who invited Vic Epperly to address the
Council. Mr. Epperly presented a recommended motion for the Advisory Council to adopt
recommending that the Pasco City Council approve implementation of the formation of a
Metropolitan Park District with a couple of different provisos (see copy of motion attached).
After Mr. Epperly explained his desire to have the Advisory Council recommend this action to
the City Council, there was discussion concerning the appropriateness of the request and how
this tied in with other Pasco activities. Chairman Taber emphasized that the City Council had
looked at Metropolitan Park District concepts with the steering committee on regional facilities
and that Pasco currently had an adhoc committee appointed to review local pool options. He felt
that given these, Mr. Epperly's recommendation was not appropriate.
Cheryl stated that she concurred generally with Chairman Taber and she did not have
information at this point in time to be able to make such a recommendation. Mr. Epperly noted
that he had changed his emphasis from a regional facility to a Metropolitan Park District being
the vehicle to address the local pool and park needs in each of the communities in the Tri-Cities
area. Chairman Taber emphasized that it would be inappropriate for the Park Board to
recommend any action while the adhoc pool committee study was ongoing.
The minutes of the previous meetings were approved as presented.
STAFF REPORTS
Recreation
Paul reported that Scaled Down Soccer is in its third week. Gymnastics is also continuing.
The Cyber Stop internet center is open and staff is promoting and working out details. The All
Senior Picnic was held last week with more than 1,000 in attendance and the State Cross
Country Championship will be held again the first weekend in November at Sun Willows Golf
Course. This is the 20th year for this event in Pasco.
Facilities
Stan provided a written summary of maintenance activities as Dan was not able to be at the
meeting. He noted particularly that pools were now closed for the season. Bollards have been
installed around the Road 39 parcel used for parking at Wade Park due to inappropriate activity
in the parking lot. New privacy slats have been installed in the fence line on the north border of
Centennial Park. Staff is in the process of renovating the Wehe site screen located across the
street from the Martin Luther King Center and Kurtzman Park. Also, a portion of sidewalk in
front of Library Tavern on Lewis Street between 3rd and 4th Avenues was replaced with
rubberized sidewalk, which better facilities tree growth and prevents concrete cracking.
OLD BUSINESS
Stan gave a brief update on ongoing projects. The golf course asphalt project has been
somewhat delayed due to the contractor's difficulty getting a bond for the project. He expects
that this will shortly be resolved and work will proceed.
Stan indicated that he appealed the recent issuance of a Hydraulic Project Approval Permit from
the Department of Fish and Wildlife due to unreasonable conditions on timing and mitigation.
He expects a revised permit will be issued which will be satisfactory.
The Advisory Council was reminded that the Senior Center plan has been approved by the
Senior Advisory Board and is awaiting Park Board Advisory Council approval. Staff will
provide the final copy with a mailing to the Advisory Council and members are asked to review
and be ready to take action recommending approval by the City Council at the next meeting
Stan briefly summarized the progress of the adhoc pool committee noting that at the last meeting
organization was completed and a meeting schedule set. Information has been provided to
committee members for review.
There being no further business the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m.