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Home My WebLink About02/25/1997 MEETING MINUTES e • City of Bremerton Parks & Recreation Department Parks & Recreation Commission Meeting UNAPPROVED MINUTES February 25, 1997 6:00 p.m. Bremerton Senior Center 1140 Nipsic Ave., Bremerton,WA 98310 ATTENDANCE: Wanda Butler, Lionel Collins, Barry Cook, Carol Johnson, Charles McWhorter ABSENT/EXCUSED: Russ Johnson AUDIENCE/GUEST: Al Butler, Joan Butler, Bill Hazlett, Jack Lefcoski, Mary Morgan, Pat Ness, Jeff Pfost, Scott Sandin, Marie Wick. STAFF: Jim Spencer, Interim Director, Jodi Wroblewski, Asst. Director, Charleen Burnette, Recreation Coordinator, Becky Lorber& Rainey Stolp, Senior Recreation Coordinators, Lena D'Agostino, Office Assistant. L ELECTION OF CHAIRPERON The Commissioners elected Commissioner Barry Cook as the new Chairperson. Motion to elect Commissioner Cook M/C/S/U (W. Butler/C. Johnson). Motion was carried on unanimously. II. CALL TO ORDER Newly elected Chairman Barry Cook called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. III. ITEMS FROM THE AUDIENCE - None IV. AGENDA -No change V. OLD BUSINESS 1. Charleston Neighborhood Plan Jodi reported that the Kay Wilson (City Planning) has drafted the Charleston Neighborhood Plan. It is similar to the plan she presented to the 1 • • Commissioners at their last meeting. The plan identifies that lack of public park facilities in this area and addresses a number of parks and recreation recommendations. Primarily, the plan suggests "pocket parks" (lot sized with a bench or table and landscaping) on Callow between Burwell and 1 lth, as well as a community center and development of street-ends. Staff responded (hand-out) and recommended the following: • When planning for future developments in the area, properties should be made available contiguous to each other in order to provide larger areas so that park features such as playground equipment, picnic sites, walking paths, restrooms, and parking could be developed. • The Parks&Recreation Department determine what the recreational needs are and consequently what additional services should be provided. • The City determine to what extent would the community support the development of recreational facilities, especially an indoor recreation/community center, and the on-going maintenance and operation. In addition to the proposal for a recreation center, Chairman Cook inquired on the possibility of pocket parks, to which Jodi replied that a picnic area with a picnic bench would be a possibility. 2. Katipuneros Centennial Memorial/Memorial Policy Jim Spencer gave a brief summary on this issue. At the last meeting, the Commission had a motion to re-consider the request by the Filipino Community to install a memorial at Bataan Park pending development of a comprehensive policy on parks memorials. Subsequent to this, a representative from the Filipino community(Ms. Rhona Agerstrand) met with Jim on the status of the memorial installation, which they (the Filipino Community) hoped to have installed in the spring. Ms. Agerstrand provided a copy of a letter that was sent to the Mayor when they first requested installation of the proposed memorial. Jim provided everyone copies of the draft on memorial policy. The Commissioners then entered into a general discussion relating to memorial policy (e.g., theme, installation, etc.) and reached a consensus to table the above- mentioned request until the Commission formalized a policy on memorials. Jim added that as a next step to this process, he is willing to look at this issue internally and work with the City Attorney and the Mayor. Further discussions on this subject will take place at the next meeting. 3. Parks & Recreation Commission Projects for 1997 Chairman Cook mentioned that he spoke with a gentleman who can provide us with information based on Silverdale Community Center. The teen 2 • • • !if 1 • • center was put together by Central Kitsap High School students through fundraising. Jim commented that in his recollection, one of the things discussed last meeting was not necessarily bringing a teen center on-line but going out there as a group and informing the teenagers on what programs we offer. There are a lot of opportunities available to teens that they are not aware of, and it would make an immediate impact right now if the Commissioners can help in reaching out to them. Commissioner Lionel Collins recommended inviting someone (preferably an adult) from the Parks& Recreation Department to speak with the teenagers. Commissioner Carol Johnson commented that the Commissioners need to be aware and be informed of the programs first. She suggested inviting Cynthia Engelgau (Teen Coordinator) and a representative from Bremerton Youth Council to attend the next meeting. Jim agreed and added that we need to get Cynthia specifically involved with this group and collectively take this project on. Chairman Cook made a recommendation to take on informing the teens about the different programs offered through Parks & Recreatiion Department. VI. NEW BUSINESS 1. Senior Ad Hoc Report Al Butler and Pat Ness gave a presentation on history of the Senior Ad Hoc Committee, its members and staff, main task, etc. This was followed by showing a film involving the Senior Center and its activities. Also discussed were problems relating to location (noise interference, congestion, storage space, temperature control, parking); proposed actions (reconfigure storage areas, add computer lab, improve furnace/air conditioning, shift programs/activities); survey of different possible locations and its results; and demographics(year 2025: seniors will outnumber teenagers by 3 to 1). Near-term recommendations: minor modification to current facility (parking is a major limiting factor). The seniors felt that it is not viable to expand the parking lot to the tennis courts. Long-term recommendations: construct a new facility (ideal location- former Manette Treatment Plan) adjacent to Lion's playfield. Becky Lorber added that the Center is celebrating its 25th year in the building. She added that the way to fund a new Senior Center location is within a Parks Bond, which is the same conclusion reached by the Ad Hoc Group. Jim commended and thanked the Senior Ad Hoc Committee for an excellent presentation. He added that the Committee had offered some really compelling evidence to support the conclusion. The challenge for us as a group is to figure out a way to try to make a new Senior Center a reality. Chairman Cook seconded this and also thanked the Senior Ad Hoc Committee for the presentation. 3 • S • 2. Kitsap Lake Weed Discussion Jack Lefcoski and Scott Sandin, both members of Citizens for Preservation of Kitsap County Lakes, Inc., a non-profit association consisting of more than 60 members/advocates for clean and safe lakes (total of 14 lakes) in the Kitsap County area, provided information to the Commission about their group and associated cause. The group has acquired 1400 signatures from county-wide supporters, and advocate clean and safe public lakes. According to Mr. Sandin, his group developing a Lakes Management Program with assistance from a number of sources. He hopes that funding to implement the program will come from SSWPM. Mr. Sandin added that the lakes have been neglected for too long and it's time to take action now while it is still cost-effective. The organization is proposing that the County designate $5 per property per year for use to improve and maintain public lakes. Mr. Lefcoski further added that they are looking for support and recommendation from the Parks Commissioin. He invited the Commissioners to attend their regular meetings and urged the Commissioners to think of the lakes as parks. VII. STAFF REPORT • Jodi Wroblewski distributed copies of the Department's Year-End report to the Commissioners. • Jodi informed the group that the staff applied for and received a Tree City USA designation. A formal presentation will be made in conjunctiion with Arbor Day. • Gold Mountain Golf Course Golf Complex Policies & Rules are now available. • Haddon Update: Jim met with Mayor Horton, Don Pratt (Community Development Director) and Bremerton School District officials relating to the purchase of Haddon site. The school district officials are trying to negotiate a "land swap". III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 28, 1997 M/C/S/U(Butler/Collins)to approve the January 28 minutes. IX. COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS & QUESTIONS Chairman Cook thanked the Commissioners for electing him to be their new Chairperson. He commented on the success of the recent Daddy/Daughter dance at the Senior Center. He and his daughter had a great time. 4 a ` s ' 410 Commissioner Butler congratulated the newly-appointed Chairman. X. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:35 PM. Respectfully submitted: ASnoI Lena D'Agostino, Office Asst. II m Spenc: Interim Director 5