There we go.
» All right. Welcome everyone to our
August Parks and Recreation Commission
meeting
August 25th.
So, I'm calling it to order.
Did everyone get a chance to look at the
agenda?
>> Looks great to me.
>> I'll make a motion to brief tonight's
agenda. Second. All
>> in favor?
>> I.
>> All right. Thank you. And our meeting
minutes from July since Oh, wait. We had
our travel, didn't we? We have our
travel.
>> Yeah, there were minutes.
>> All right. Approval for the minutes from
the July 28th meeting.
» Yeah.
» All in favor say I.
Thank you.
» All right. See, do we have anyone on
Zoom today?
>> No.
>> Nope. And we have only one person in the
public. You have a comment, sir?
» Just stand up and introduce yourself and
welcome.
» Don't worry.
>> Yeah.
I got a problem with in Forest Ridge
Park.
I like to see it's one of two things
happen. Either there's a gate that's
locked every night since the bathrooms
are
or maybe the parks department can work
with the police department to get
regular patrols after the dark. There's
been several cars that come in
after dark usually or just before
And of course they leave litter. It's
there every morning.
But the big problem I seen lately the
bathrooms block. Some of these cars
spend the night there.
And so
in the last week or so I've had to clean
up PCs in the playground. We're near the
playground area behind the bathroom over
on the picnic table.
And it's pretty disgusting. It does get
picked up. kids are going to get in it
maybe
a problem. So I think either either a
gate or
consistent control by the pixie dick
them out. I assume the parks are closed
at dusk.
>> Yeah.
>> So there's no reason why the police
can't move on.
>> Thank you.
All right, we have staff reports and
updates. First one, Bridging Birminton
info and request for volunteers.
>> Well, we're going to wait.
>> So, yeah. So, Josh Farley, uh, we'll
speak on that and he was coming over on
the ferry. So, when he gets here
back there,
>> we'll put him back on once we get to
that point.
>> Okay. Good.
>> All right. The new business
Forest Ridge Park first street parcel
surplus proposal
chat.
>> Yeah.
» All right.
So, first off, our agenda.
Wanted to show some pictures if you
haven't seen them.
>> Stuck out.
Then before he took the leap of faith,
>> I guess I wore the same thing last
month.
>> You got an outfit.
>> Yeah,
>> we wanted to share some some of the
pictures. If you hadn't seen those
pictures, they turned out really well.
Colette was was hoping that her head
wouldn't have been so big, but I was
like, "Oh, it looks great. It looks like
a selfie and a bunch of people behind
it." That was good.
>> That was a nice day.
>> Okay. And Brett, you can see the slides,
correct?
>> Yes, I can see them.
>> Okay, perfect. Okay, so as part of the
uh the tour that we took, the very last
spot, uh we were obviously up at Forest
Ridge Park. And so uh what we wanted to
bring after um getting some head nods
from commission that yes you wanted to
have the discussion at this meeting was
to look at um surplusing
a small portion of the park. So,
separate out a parcel on First Street.
And as you can see on this, uh, this is
the outline for Forest Ridge here, which
also includes this piece. Um, again,
just to kind of recap,
um, the conversation,
um, really started from a potential
developer that's looking at the adjacent
property for development and was looking
for an easement for emergency access and
which could also um, change the type of
use that they're looking at for that
site. And so in evaluating the property,
the type of use that we have now, uh the
adjacent property here, which is
formerly Renaissance High School, which
is moving up to View Ridge, uh so
they'll be taking up about half of the
View Ridge school site. Uh they seem to
be the predominant user. At lunchtime or
breaks, they would be outside. We have a
couple tables there, a garbage can, but
really not much else. it's not really
tied to or connected to the main part of
the park. And so what we would be
looking at doing is surplusing this uh
listing it for sale um and doing having
bids come in and we would probably set a
minimum bid for the project for the site
um and then being able to work with
council to have those funds go back into
future development at Forest Ridge Park.
Um, typically we don't look to surplus
property um because once it's gone, it's
gone. Uh, but in evaluating this site,
it's it's not a portion of the park that
that's really well utilized um by the
community and um isn't really tied into
the rest of the park. Um some another
benefit to the sale of this is it would
put it I know it's a small parcel but it
puts it back on the tax role as well. Um
so it would not um be a city asset at
that point. So uh I've also listed here
the procedures um that are listed within
our code. Uh the parks board um is being
consulted. Uh so we count last month
having the conversation there and having
a conversation here as working with the
parks board um providing you all the
details concerning the proposed sale.
Uh the parks board shall prepare an
advisory report and submit it to city
council and the mayor. And that's
definitely something that we as staff
would be happy to work with you on. Um,
and what I would probably look for is uh
as part of this agenda item, maybe a
motion for uh Kathy to work with staff
to develop um and prepare the advisory
report to be presented to council and
the mayor. So that would most likely
happen at a study session uh before it
would go to the public hearing. So with
this uh with a surplusing uh park
property, it would require a minimum of
two uh public hearings. So that would be
a two separate meetings. Um, and then
council maybe after the first, and
Brett,
uh, correct me if I'm wrong, but maybe
after the first they could decide if at
the second uh, if there's not a lot of
response or any response that may be at
the same meeting as a second hearing,
they could uh, vote on it or it may have
to go to a third uh, meeting. So, there
would be a series of opportunities for
the public to to speak out on this uh,
potential sale of the property.
Um, so notes, uh, if there is a proposed
sale, if that's what we're looking at
doing, um, the, uh, council would
evaluate the report that's provided to
them by, by the commission,
um, and then develop findings and
conclusions to support declaring this as
surplus and, um, selling the property.
uh with that um a unanimous vote would
need to uh take place of the council and
I believe that's part of the parks
protection act that went into place
through a citizen vote um gosh back I
think in the 70s sometime
um
uh would require any park parcel to be a
full unanimous vote by the council.
Um, so
in absence of that, if there wasn't a
unanimous unanimous vote, if we wanted
to move forward, it could go to the
public for a vote. Um,
which would mean obviously the cost of
putting it on a ballot and that process.
Um, so that would be something if we
didn't get a full council um, unanimous
vote, we may want to bring it back and
discuss and see what we want to do
moving forward if that's a process we
want to seek out or not. Um, so anything
short of that, Brett, do you have
anything you wanted to add or correct?
No, I just wanted to clarify for for a
uh the the commission will have to have
to, you know, take a final approval vote
on any on any advisory report before
it's
sent off. So,
>> okay. So what we would be looking at is
maybe at this meeting um we get the
commission if the commission so chooses
to um gives us the go ahead to move
forward and then we would provide that
report at the next meeting for your
review.
>> Right. I think that's typically how it goes.
>> Okay.
» Has there been any talk about like how
much money we think this parcel is
worth?
We've talked about it, but we haven't we
don't know a number. Um, and that's
something that during the process I
would want to find out is what do we
think the parcels worth? It's and which
is tough because
>> Yeah. The parcel value may be different
than the value to the developer.
>> Of course.
>> Yeah.
>> Of course.
and and final parcel values are
something that city council discuss
discusses in executive sessions so that
it's not necessarily public before any
um decision is made so that it you know
isn't in the public record for anybody
to take advantage of. So
>> Right. And and on that Brett is it
typically a sealed bid
when it comes to property sales?
um they don't necessarily have to go to
bid. You can directly negotiate things,
but again the council the council sets
their um you know prices that they're
willing to accept in an executive
session. They discuss that so that it's
not you know you don't want to be
negotiating against yourself I guess in
a public meeting.
>> Exactly. Don't want to Yeah. You don't
want to put something out publicly and
then try to negotiate something else.
>> Totally get that. Okay. Any other
questions?
» I'm I am um very encouraged to hear your
reference to perhaps a private developer
for that whole piece of property. I'm
delighted with that. I'll bet you the
school district is too many.
>> Yes. So um and while that might change
the nature of the well I mean being for
emergency vehicles and everything I
think the safety things that it it
eventually provides will be very good.
Well, living next to the park, I can I
can also vouch for the inactivity from
the public really coming in and using
it. No one thinks to drive down here and
they can park because there is parking.
>> It's mostly utilized by the high school
there.
>> Yeah.
>> Which is moving.
So,
>> and who knows what this district's going
to that property.
>> You think the city has trouble letting
go of property? You ought to talk to the
school district about it.
>> They will never go back.
» Yeah, I have no concerns with this
either. I'm ready to make a motion if my
committee is unless anyone has any other
questions,
concerns about this. Yeah, I'll I'll uh
make a motion for uh the parks board uh
namely the vice chair currently to um
work with the parks and recreation uh
office to uh prepare an advisory report
uh for city council and the mayor on the
uh surplus of this first street parcel
that we're talking about tonight.
>> Second.
>> All in favor?
to move it forward unanimously. Awesome.
When you need a unanimous vote,
>> good practice, right?
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
>> Nothing else we need from Brett. Any
more questions for him?
>> Great. Hopefully this progresses as we
want it. Just
>> Thank you, Brett.
>> He'll stick around though just for fun.
>> Yeah, I'll stick I'll stick around for
the whole thing. But thank you.
All right, we're ready to move on to B,
the common street for homelessness
response property management. I love
that you send that. It's it's nice to
see that
>> and this is the reason why Brett's
sticking around.
» Good segue.
>> You know, uh I'm going to start off with
this slide. This is just kind of our
monthly update and then I'm going to go
ahead. The next slide is going to give
us kind of where we're at year to date.
If you guys recall, uh last meeting uh I
spoke about uh in a in a plan weekly
average that we're we're about 11 11 12
or right in between there. That's a pretty good figure. Uh you're
looking at 70 site visits in a month. I
mean that's that's making a lot of
contact.
>> That's a lot of contact.
>> Um 41 of them are meaningful
connections, which is great. And then uh
having 24 people that were connected to
services within month all good things
and uh seven of them have already uh
entered shelter or some other form of
housing. So uh good stuff there.
>> Can I just ask what? Sorry. Uh is there a database being maintained
of their content and who the people are?
Sorry that I
>> that is through more common streets and
not within the city or parks.
>> I'm sorry.
>> How are you defining in full
connections? What does that mean?
>> People who are looking to engage and and
willing to take resources and so
>> um even though we there's 70 site
visits, there's people that are out
there saying, "Hey, we don't we don't
want any assistance or anything else."
making that meaningful connection means
hey we're actively engaged in
conversation
um and we're looking to connect them
into services um and so you can see the
progression uh within this uh
within the slide and so as we move on to
uh
since streets and and the city has uh
been in partnership together
some amazing numbers at over 3,000
people. Uh here's our weekly uh
in a in a plan weekly average. Like I
stated, we're we're right there at 11
p.m. Um so a lot of good stuff uh
happening. Uh
they are incredible benefit to uh
>> two parts. I will speak on that.
>> Brian, I had a question. the the uh the
3265 number of your site business is
that individual people or could that's a
potential where they contacted the same
person multiple times.
>> So generally those are just individual
reports and sites and uh contacts.
>> Although if there's a group of them
together that would be one site visit I
>> correct. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So so
potentially there's a lot more than just
that number of
>> Yeah. site visit may contain two, three,
four different camps.
>> Sure.
>> Um, with that I the next slide is some
of the things that some topics and
locations that we spoke about uh within
this last month's meeting. As you could
see,
they're all bars. Um, and so with that,
I wanted to follow up with a couple of
things. Um, for drone trails, it was
evaluated on 84. It was posted on 86. We
had clean up on 811.
We also just had another cleanup last
Friday uh starting at 1:00. Uh that was
also post or evaluated, posted, and
cleaned up. So, this is ongoing and
you'll see that in next month's meeting
uh the the last Friday's uh cleanup. But
I just want to kind of throw it out
there. This is this is ongoing. This
isn't a one and done. This is this is
constant within the buck. So that's kind of what I wanted to
highlight here. Does city council get
briefed on this and the mayor? Do they
see this commission at all?
I'm not sure exactly the connection
does a either
>> I know they're
>> twice a year or quarterly they go to council and provide
presentation
>> and I've seen I've seen them present at
individual council
>> district meetings too. So
>> so they're they're out there.
>> Absolutely.
>> Yeah. and we've occasionally tied them
to our one of our committees that we're
involved with with the city council. So,
I'm sure Common Street will be involved
with our new committee that we're on,
the public safety and parks committee.
We were on the finance, investment,
parks and parking committee.
>> We got moved
>> uh last two months ago. Yeah.
>> Yeah. So because common streets is so
tied to public safety, um it'll be a
topic of discussion and there's three
council members on each committee.
>> Yeah.
>> So we can't have a quorum, but we have
three three of the council members are
hearing information more than just the
general and then they typically will
report that
>> in addition to the presentations to the
general council.
» Any other questions on those?
>> No more questions. I'm finding that they
are a benefit to our parks. We've spoken
with them in Forest Bridge Park and
they've been such a benefit. Really
outstanding people that are coming in
and meeting with the unhoused or you
know whatever and they're they're so
respectful to them and they have all
these options. So, it is a blessing to
have them come in and assist with you.
>> Yes. and with and with with so many
resources available because we've got a concentration of resources.
Yes. So, let's get the people to that
and
>> because some don't know.
>> Yes. Exactly.
>> We just are
>> trying to survive
>> and particip in the resource.
>> Exactly.
>> Having some experts come in and be that
first line.
>> Yeah.
>> Is great for us.
>> Right. Right.
>> Do you know if there's any like followup
after they've gotten in touch with the
services
working?
» I think they
that's
>> all right. If no more comments,
» Alex, you're up next. The parks usage
and community suggestion outreach. I'm
excited to hear what you found.
>> Yeah. Some of it's not news.
>> Yes.
>> Um, so I did a survey with some blind
clients. So basically over two
consecutive Sundays, just about an hour
is like from when they open at 11 to
about noon because it's just really busy
in the lobby there um during that time
and then it kind of trips off. So I got
about like 39 people like did 39 people
>> and I asked them two questions. Um, I
had a little survey and passed out 10 to
hour. Sometimes I would like interview
them if it worked out better. Um, but
the two questions were how do you use
the parks and what do you want to see
from the parks or what do you want to be
improved? Next slide.
So parks usage. The most common things
are let's say at the top um basically
exercise, walking, hiking, enjoying
nature, um, walking a dog or other
animals. I did see a cat at Blueberry
the other day. So it's not just dogs.
>> They're there on a leash.
>> Yeah.
It's a very chilled cat. Um, and then
taking kids to play and um, I don't
remember what enjoyed spending time in
the park. I'm not sure that one got cut
off, but some of the less common ones
that people wrote were, you know,
parties, events, um, being by the water,
hobbies, going for picnics, riding their
bike. Someone said camping, but I think
they misunderstood when I was talking
about city parks. I think we're talking
about state parks.
>> Yeah.
>> Um, and then just exploration sports.
and using the bathroom.
And these are some of the broader themes
um that I came up with for suggestions
for improvement. The main one was the
bathrooms, which I'll go into in the
next few slides, and then parks in
general, some inclusion kind of related
things, various parks, amenities,
activities, dogs and dog parks, park
rules, uh the website, and in opposition
to inclusion, exclusion.
So, next slide.
So, bathrooms,
uh, mainly the first one, improved
maintenance and cleanliness of
bathrooms. I agree with that one. I'm
seeing some nastiness.
Um, bathrooms open year round. I thought
that they were, but maybe some of them
are not or they misunderstood.
>> Yeah, some dep if if we get below
freezing, we may shut some of them down.
>> U, but otherwise they're most all of
them are open year round. Right, Brian?
>> Right. It's just the hour.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Yeah. And I don't know if this was like
a a countywide poll or more of a city
poll.
>> I was trying to focus it on the city,
but some people may have misunderstood
>> because within the county they close
their restaurants in the city. We try
not to. So unless it's weather
the county closes their restrooms like
for this
>> I know a lot of places that do.
>> Yeah. Okay.
>> They winterize their restrooms.
>> Okay. I understand.
Well, then it's uh providing bathrooms
of parks, which I think there might be a
few that don't have some. And then
providing more stalls. I agree with that
one, especially women's bathrooms.
And then uh parks in general, having
more parks and open spaces. Uh improved
maintenance and cleanliness of parks.
The dog food is on another one. Um more
nature, wilderness trails, improved
security at parks, longer hours. I think
that's mainly outside of summertime. Um,
and then open a new disc golf course,
which that's not news. You heard that
from the disc golf people. Um, and then
as for inclusion, more access for those
with disabilities, um, like with
wheelchairs and that kind of thing.
Allowing homeless into the park,
inclusive of new people. I'm not sure
exactly what they meant by that one, but
I include it anyway. And then improved
sidewalks. There are a few parts that
need that a lot. All right, next slide.
And then for amenities, so some of the
sub themes that I had were shelter and
resting spots, boards, water fountains,
sanitation, and then just some other. So
as for shelter and resting spots, having
more tables, benches, and chairs, as
well as covered in seating, shaded
seating areas, which I have to agree
with that, there's not enough places to
sit and if there are, it's bright out in
the sun.
And then as for sports, a lot of them
were about basketball. So
>> yeah. No, I like that. That's great.
>> People want to play basketball. So,
providing basketballs, full court
basketball courts, and a three-point
line. Um, outdoor fitness stations.
There's support for the little fitness
station.
>> One person said, "Do not remove the
volleyball pip." They wanted that one.
>> Then asked for water fountains,
providing water fountains and then water
bottle refill stations. I agree with
that, too. I always carry my water
bottle.
Then sanitation.
Have a sanitation station. I'm not sure.
I tried looking that up and I don't know
what that means.
>> Yeah,
>> maybe somebody does. But
>> yeah, so it's basically just um so they
have them at like special events and
they're typically modular
>> and it's essentially um hand washing
station.
>> Yeah,
>> I think um that kind of goes along with
the bathroom part, too.
>> And then less trash. And then providing
trash bins, which I think if you provide
more trash bins, you'll get less trash.
And then a smoking area, which I
disagree with. I don't think it's okay.
Nobody should.
>> Yeah, there's not a city.
>> Yeah.
>> And, uh, the last few ones for the
amenities part is providing barbecue
grills, more toddler friendly areas or
activities, um, and then a place to walk
by.
Cool.
>> So, just a question like on suggestions
for improvements, those are basically
the number and you didn't really give
them a checklist. It was just verbal.
>> Yeah, they just wrote it down.
>> Okay. So, two people said barbecue
guards. Okay. Yeah. As opposed to a
checklist. Okay.
>> I just made it a little bit easier for
you.
>> Yep. That's for sure.
>> Um then some other ones for activities
just broadly more activities. No other
explanation than that. More activities
for children outside of school, more
outdoor activities and sports. Uh
community activities and then activities
for adults. So some of those are very
broad. Do what you want. And then we go
into the dogs and the dog park. So
cleaning up the dog poop, providing
doggy bags. So I think you provide the
doggy bags. That will encourage people
to clean up the poop more. Uh keeping
dogs on leashes for sure. Then we go to
the dog carts. Somebody wanted more um
enrichment at the dog carts like logs to
climb on, things like that.
um generally having more dog parks,
providing a fence, dog park. Some of
these could be like an indication that
we just need more advertising on park um
amenities.
So, next slide and then this is the last
one. So, somebody wanted to see like the
dos and the don'ts, like what you can
do, what you shouldn't do with the
parks. Uh someone else wanted the parks
website to be kept updated. And then the
last one, um, removing homeless or
squatters from parking lots. So, I don't
know which specific one they were
thinking of, but that was a suggestion
somebody had. So, that's, uh, see my
little slideshow.
>> Thanks for doing that.
>> Yeah.
Can you go back
with
that? I forget
what you're looking for. It was around.
So
>> there was a
movie.
>> No, I I'll get I'll get around to it
again. Sorry. Okay.
See what it was, Joe, that you wanted to
comment.
>> Oh, I know what it was. So, where was
the disc golf? Where was the disc golf?
Just have a moment of clarity.
>> More disc golf courses.
>> We could have a disc golf.
>> That would be a nice It would be a nice
joint use.
>> You don't think one would interfere with
the other? Half of the disc golfers out
there have their dogs out there anyway.
You know why? Why not?
>> You just imagine the dogs grabbing
somebody else's disc and running off of
it.
>> Well, mine would. Mine wouldn't. And
mine would be the worst worst behavior.
So,
>> well, aren't there dogs that go for
discs all the time? It depends on Yeah.
it depends on what the owner does
with this golf
comments or suggestions or replies.
Thanks, Alex.
>> Thank you, Alex.
>> Appreciate you going and doing that.
>> Yeah, because I think it does kind of it
does hit on on that that concern and
council saw another survey recently
where I think some of the concern is the
access to our general surveys and not
everybody can access them. So doing
things like that are extremely helpful
to get
>> some you never know what you're gonna
get from.
>> Um but yeah, I think a lot of it was
actually in line with some of the other
information that we found out. So
>> these were people that were not able to
participate in any of the surveys or
just
>> just a different venue.
>> Yeah. Yeah.
>> Yeah. No idea if there's a circle.
>> So I think we came.
>> Yeah.
>> Are they?
>> Yeah. I actually volunteered with the
» That's nice to hear.
>> It looks really good.
>> Oh, good.
>> All right.
>> You ready to move on to the Kitsapat
Peninsula staff dog park tour?
>> Ryan and Tim. So, uh, Josh should be
joining us any moment and so I'll kind
of stop when he gets here and then we
can we can proceed along.
>> So, uh, in preparation for our dog park
grant that we received and development
of the dog park at Stephson Canyon, we
decided that we would go on a tour. So,
we picked two a day, a morning, two
separate weeks um in the past month um
and hit six different dog parks in
Kitapat Peninsula. Um so,
very fun. Uh probably one of the most
common comments we got and looks was,
"Why don't you guys have a dog with
you?"
>> Yeah.
» Four people walk in. One's got a
clipboard.
>> Rest of us just look like thugs. And
We have no dog.
>> Yeah.
>> So,
>> we got there.
>> We became a target quickly.
>> Uh but no, it was it was good. So, all
I'm going to run through all six of
them. Um we kind of Colette kind of laid
out and Colette was sorry she's not
here. She's up in Alaska um on vacation
back home. So, um she'll be back with us
later this week. Yeah. So, she kind of
provided me uh just some talking points
as well um that are very similar for
each of the dog parks. I'll just kind of
walk through them uh as we have each
slide. So, Rotary Bark Park in Gig
Harbor. Has anybody been to that?
>> No.
>> It was probably one of our favorite
ones. Um the off leash area is 15 acres
in size and it's a total of 97 acres.
Um, and it's part of the U Penet park
district.
>> That's right.
>> Penet
district out there.
>> Yeah.
>> Of course.
>> Okay. Well,
>> so one thing about this park is the
access to the dog park from the parking
lot. It's about a quarter of a mile from
the trail head, so it was quite a
distance for us to to get out there.
Yeah.
>> Um, so you you park next to a fire
station and then you walk your way out
to where where the dog park is actually
at. Uh, it's 5 foot galvanized wire mesh
fencing, uh, double gated bolin entry.
Everything we saw if everybody familiar
with what a double gated bullpin entry
is. So essentially, you'd walk in the
first gate, unleash, lock the gate or
shut the gate, un unhook your dog, and
then let him into the main part, and
then shut that secondary gate. Just kind
of a transition area. Um,
>> yeah. So, in this park, there's over a
mile of fenced off leash trails, um, and
an open meadow area. So on the bottom
right corner, you can kind of see that
open meadow space, but most of the off
leash area was actually trail systems.
And that that's something we did find
that we hadn't really thought about
>> for for Stephenson Canyon is looking at
some of those upper trails that we have
and seeing what we could do to
incorporate that into the dog park just
to kind of create a little bit of
different Yeah. Just to create a little
bit of different scenery. And they have
the opportunity for that stuff.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You sure could. There
are natural trails all the way through
there. Sure. So, you know,
>> uh, so water and restrooms. So, they
have portable restrooms at the very at
the parking lot. So, a quarter mile from
where you you end up going into the dog
park at. Um, and there's a water spot at
that same area at the trail head. Um and
but what they do require is for
individuals to carry the water um jugs
to the dog park.
>> Yeah.
>> And so you kind of see on the bottom uh
left hand or upper right hand corner is where the filling station is and then
people transport them and then obviously
when they leave they'll put them back
over here, fill them up and then they're
ready for somebody else. So that
>> Yeah. So that's Yeah. And that's nice.
That's something that, you know, I
hadn't seen and and we it is common in
some of the other areas that we did go
and look at.
>> So, they do have a shade structure as
you can see there uh kiosk with
information
um andformational signage rules. Uh
there's no separate small dog area at
this park and I think maybe because it
has trailed areas, it's kind of a
natural separation as well. Uh there's
no agility area.
um observations that we we came up with.
Um it was a wellused park site. We were
here probably about 10 o'clock on a when
Tuesday Wednesday morning. Uh so middle
of the week. Uh still a good amount of
people there. Uh users seem to value the
combination of the wooded trails and
open areas. Uh, so there were definitely
different gathering spots or people that
we noticed would walk the trail system
and then end up in the in the play
essentially play area for the dogs. So
>> So
how did you how did you like the fence?
» I liked it a lot. It's one of the better
princess that we came across. uh really
>> comparatively there'll be another slide
in there that they have a different
option that
>> that we experienced.
>> Yeah. What we did find was that the
bullpin entry areas tend to be a
different type of fence.
>> Oh, of course.
>> But then obviously this type of fencing
that we see here is quite a bit of cost
savings. Well, and what it also does is
it it provides a barrier for dogs as
they're moving along. So, they just
don't go that way.
>> So, the whole property
>> with that
>> the whole uh the whole 15 acres of the
dog park is
>> Yeah. It's big area.
>> And what we also found too is that
within that uh letting the natural
vegetation on the outside of that grow
up.
>> Yes.
>> They they provided that visual barrier
for the dogs too. So it's almost I know
it's seamless that they trail.
» Yeah. So that's Rotary Bark Park.
>> How long has it been there?
>> Do you know?
>> No, I I don't know.
>> I don't know either.
>> Yeah.
Maybe if we can zoom in on the
sign. Yeah. We could probably start.
>> Yeah. I'm not sure how long it's been
there.
>> Um Yeah. So Josh, are you ready?
I've never been this ready in my life.
>> Have you ever followed a dog park
conversation?
» I'll be ready for you.
>> We keep it up for you.
» Pull up.
>> Yeah. Wherever.
>> Let me go back to your side.
>> Nice to see some familiar faces.
>> Welcome to the parks and wreck
commission. Oh, cool.
>> Friends meeting.
>> I'm glad to be here.
>> Yeah. Thank you for what you do first
and foremost. As many of you know, I've
lived in Breton a long time uh for 20
years now and um you know uh the parks
commission were as a concept reporter
always some of my favorite meetings to
cover. I just think I love parks and I
love the work that you do and and why
you do it. Um so it's really important
to me just as a resident of Bremer.
>> Thank you. Um, so yeah, you can see
here, uh, I don't know if any of you
have attended our previous events.
Bridging Breton was something that I
started, uh, in 2018.
Was kind of a cool coinciding with the city's 100th anniversary centennial
of the Manette annexation. Literally was
cool thing to dig into. I went through
the entire archive of the Breton news
which was the paper of that time paper
record and um just fascinating why the
Manette needed water and and there was a
ferry but um called the pioneer that ran
between Manette and Breton East and
Breton you know Heron
>> Manette Peninsula and downtown and the
cars drove off at sometimes and that was
not a good thing for obvious reasons.
Yeah. So, um they incorporated and 12
years later a bridge was built, the
first bridge and then in 1958 a second
bridge went uh at the Port Washington
Narrows uh otherwise we know as the
Warren Avenue Bridge
>> were they both state bridges at that
time when they first went in.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Um, yeah,
>> the Manette Bridge may not have been
Manette Bridge was kind of a the history
around it was kind of cool because it's
like uh it uh there was a really active
club in that they may have heard of
called uh in in Manette um the East
Birmingham and movement club and they
actually organized a lot of it and they
sold bonds for the bridge until the
state paid it off. So people actually
paid for bonds. It was a quarter to get
across the original bridge. A quarter,
which was a lot of money at the time in
1930. You know, a quarter was a lot of
money, but it's because the ferry
compared to the ferry. It was this was
actually ideal. People could get back
and forth and and the state paid it off.
But then when it the state built the
bridge in 58, they toled the bridge
again. Some of you might notice that
they actually put tolls back on Limonet
Bridge for a few years while to make
sure people couldn't cheat the toll.
>> Yeah, that's kind of cool. But
>> yeah, The the cool thing about um
Bridging Grimmerson and why I started
this was because those bridges of course
were ser, you know, they were built for
cars, but they serendipitously created a
bridge loop that has parks. Our our
flagship park of Breton, the Evergreen
Rotary Park. others on this side,
Sheridan, where we're sitting right here, East Park, uh the Whitey
Dong viewscape in Manette. And of
course, when the state built the new
bridge, um a former council member, Adam
Brockus, um helped to advocate for
having a proper divider between the
traffic and it created really a
prominade. And in my mind, that was like
an opening of well, why don't we have
this on the other bridge, too? And why
don't we have 10 foot sidewalks all the
way between them because so many people
use this this great this great pathway.
And um fast forward to uh I think it was
senator then senator Emily Randall at
the state level got an appropriation in
the budget and next year I think
construction hopefully will begin on
expanding the Warren Avenue bridge to a
much wider pedestrian path. So, there
will still be work to do, but this is
the vision is to just create an active
recreation site, if you will, um of a of
a three-mile walking loop that can be
accessed by as many people and all walks
of life at all accessibility levels
possible, as well lit. Um I just I
believe that um cities have have this
and bridging Breton is kind of my love
letter to this vision and that I would
love to I hope that we can achieve um
maybe in the not too distant future. Um
and so we have three big events and we
would love to have anyone from the parks
commission who would like to volunteer.
Um we have I will send you a website. Um
there are t-shirts involved just if that
grease you know we're hoping to have
t-shirts for this. So, all the
volunteers will will get a t-shirt. Um,
and the the big event um throughout the
day, you can see there's three different
events. There's a Roxy a theater event
that I'd love to have have you go to,
but I'll focus just on in interest of
time on the on the two events that
really encompass the the bridge loop.
The first is the kids passport
adventure. So, each kid will be equipped
with a map. Uh and it will go to around
10 different sites just between
Evergreen Rotary Park and Whitey Don
Viewcape
across the MAT bridge and along the way
there will be different stations and
there will be historic photos and there
will be a kind of a dosent who will talk
through sometimes very briefly for kids
who are just interested in filling out
their maps but for other people who are
interested in information. Pioneer Ferry
that used to go between Manette and
Bremerson is one of one of our stations.
um for instance that but uh hidden
artifacts that you would not otherwise
know about in the history of Remington
um and that will come alive for people
for kids and adults alike and then
they'll make their way back across and
they can redeem their map their finished
map for a cookie at Evergreen Pizza as
well as a a duck from um the Turner Joy
Museum and it's good for the USS Turner
Joy Museum ship to pass as one for them
and a guardian or parent of that they
continue. So, it's it's really fun uh
really special event. I will also do a
narrated tour of the entire bridge loop
and we have speakers along the route all
the way from uh upper ro of vista park
um another another sort of I think
diamond in the rough you know yes it's
along avenue I know but there's some
really interesting history there and
certainly lower road is has has some
great great history um we'll have we'll
have people all along al along the
entire route um as we narrate and move
along and we always need volunteers to
make sure people are are safe. Um these
are city streets that we're we're
traversing. So anybody that would like
to go with us over at the crosswalk
locations that that those will be our
primary areas where we'll meet some
volunteers if you would uh be so
inclined from around 11:00 a.m. to 3
p.m. is kind of our sweet spot for for
volunteer efforts. And as I said, we
have a a website to register folks um
who want to be volunteers and get
t-shirts and be an official part of
that. And I'm happy to answer any
questions that you have.
I partly invited Josh because of our
discussions in the last few months of
potentially looking at some historical
tag tours within our park system, but
thought this would be a great way to
help out Josh and kind of see how he
manages it and then we could look at it
as as kind of a good guiding guiding
document for us to be able to to do some
um some walks within our park system.
That' be great.
>> Well, and it would be it would be great
to have a a joint venture. It would be
nice to support it over
that would be a nice part for sure.
>> Yeah.
>> Josh, the website that I see on there,
that's where we can sign up.
>> Yep.
I will send an email to Tim who can
email it to you that has the volunteer
specific volunteer sheet. Um I some
suggestion that you know that it would
be kind of cool to have parks commission
you know the bridge is going to be
really central the manette bridge will
have four history stations so in in in
the al coes so there's four al coes on
the bridge and there will be a station
at each one but like the crossing um uh
on Washington Avenue at the bridge it's
a busy crossing it'd be great to have a
volunteer or two there and and then on
the other side of the bridge between the
roundabout. Those would be two locations
that um that would be great to have
volunteers from at the parks. Just a
suggestion, but there are plenty of
other spots, too.
>> How was the screen for?
>> Well, uh the flyer that you see there,
we're hosting those around town. Um
that's that's the main way. Um and then,
uh social media. We are, we obviously
have a website now, bridging
verbton.com, and we're also on Facebook.
Uh, trying to um, yeah, Richie Gmerson
has a page on Facebook. I've done some
videos promoting it. Um, and we have an
Instagram that helps.
>> Is this on the city website, too,
>> probably isn't, but easily could be.
It's a great suggestion.
>> That would be great. I don't Yeah, I
just don't see the city logos down
there. I'm hoping we'll
>> the city can get behind.
>> We have not provided funding to support
it.
>> One one thing um about the city. So the
mayor will will speak um typically has
um through all of the events and
carnations.
>> He walks too.
>> Yeah. And he does. Yeah. Yeah. I think
he's joining us on
>> almost fall if not all walks. Yeah.
>> But been great to have him there. There
was one other thing I was going to say
about that but can't remember. Yeah. So
yeah, we certainly have lot lots of
support from the city which has been
great.
>> If I go to that website and I can share
a link I mean I can copy and share it
like Forest Ridge Park we have our
monthly work party. I could share it on
that page.
>> You bet. Okay.
>> Yeah, you bet. You can absolutely share
it. Um we also everybody that goes to
this event you can already get copies of
this but there is a bridge to rich trail
walking map that was made leadership kit
class a few years ago made really nice
one. I curated the different bits of
history that's that are throughout.
You'll see the the motif of that star
the starfish there or the sea star
>> um which you can still find on on street
there.
>> Um but also within that map and of
course we'll we'll keep that um and
it'll probably be a part of a t-shirt
too um that's coming out. So yeah um so
that is on the city's website I believe.
I think so.
>> I feel like there's multiple electrical
boxes that have the rack with the
>> with the route on it, too.
>> That's right. Yeah. I I loved that. Um a
few years ago when that I think it was
the public works department that
actually put the funding, but of course,
thanks to the arts commission for for
that beautifying our our electrical
boxes. Yeah, there's one at the corner
of 11th and Pacific and then there's one
on this side by the heart wall or the
intersection of state that
>> and you said the main volunteer hours
would be like 11 to three. Do you have
to be there that whole time?
>> No. Um frankly um if you wanted to split
it um or I would say 11 to 1 is really
our high traffic time. So if you if you
had a little time during the day um that
would be the best time for us to ask.
And for on the bridge in the alope, are
we going to have like canopies or
something for shade?
>> We are. That is still uh the history
museum and the Turner Joy Museum.
Turnjoy has one of them and the history
museum has three of the stations on the
bridge and they are planning some kind
of a canopy. We don't know how big we
can really make it though because
it's a limited sidewalk but yeah the
hope we will have some kind of shape for
the for the volunteers that
>> means you're anticipating good weather.
>> It means we're the sun to block the sun.
>> Block the sun. Exactly.
>> I wish it was raining. Well,
>> we need the right
question.
>> Questions.
>> Did you want to touch on the six
o'clock? Because I think it's it's a it
sounds really cool.
>> It does.
>> Yeah. I'm really I'm really excited
about it. So, kind of handpicked um
about seven different speakers. Um and
uh I something that I think uh gets
overlooked, maybe not overlooked in
Bremerson, but that many of us are from
here, but there are a lot of people who
come to find Bremer. The Navy of course
is a prominent presence always here and and we come here and we adapt to
Breton and we fall in love with Breton
and that's certainly my story and I know
many people share that story. So I we're
curating a kind of a a unique story
event where people will share either
stories from history where people came
to Breton. Um there's a there's a great
story of a of a woman who um her husband
died on a fishing vessel. She was from
Norway. She came and she was the first
uh employee to retire from a US naval
shipyard right here in Puget Sound. and
she worked in the sail off which of
course the sail off at the future sound
naval shipyard began because we were in
the age of sale with like literally navy
ships had sales on them and of course
that's later they handle textiles and
things like that for nuclear navy
submarines and and aircraft carriers but
this woman's story is one of adaptation
she came to Breton she lived downtown
and she became part of the fabric of the
community we'll have we'll we'll have
some personal stories that people will
tell as well as just kind
general people like Quincy Jones and and
how they came here and how Breton
changed them. And my hope is we'll tell
a few stories. There may or may not be
some trivia. I do like doing some trivia
for for people. And um it'll be kind of
a little bit of a variety show. Um there
will be Evergreen Pizza is going to sell
pizza outside and of course you can get
a drink um at uh at the at the Ross
Theater. Um but the idea is it's
entertaining. you'll learn some
interesting facts but that we all leave
kind of grounded in hey you know you
learn something about history but you're
the connection that we all share to this
place
>> and strengthening that connection
because Virginia Breton is all about the
connection geographically this will be
more of like our our connection that we
all experience by as you know lived here
and and
we and it's complete all of this by the
way is completely free it's made
possible by our very generous service
clubs uh the East Breton Rotary,
downtown Rotary, and the Breton Central
Lines. That's that's who's uh uh funding
this. I should also just briefly mention
that we um do help with paint supplies
for the uh Manette Art Wall, the the YA
graffiti invitational will be going on.
And so, and there will be cans of paint
for people who walk the bridge loop to
be able to go up and paint something
themselves and hear from the artists.
And the artists are doing a big
collective mural as they've done every
year for this event as well. So it's
another kind of cool I I sort of
envision that as many spaces as we can
activate you know on the bridge loop as
possible you know in future years I hope
to grow it even further and this year um
that we are have partnered with Sunny
Saunders who puts on Blackberry Festival
and the the Bremer Bridge Blast um she
has really helped me to grow and she's
handling the logistics and making sure
this year we're going to have
portaotties for the first time a lot a
lot of People have said, you know, this
is a long walk. You, you know, it's good
to be be able to have a bathroom along
the way. So, um, yeah, that's, um, it's
helped me to be able to focus on content
and, um, and putting on, uh, the event
making a specialist.
» Sounds like a great time,
>> doesn't it, though?
>> Yeah, I'm really jazzed. But yeah, thank
you for just listening and and being
willing to support in any way that you
want to. So,
Thanks, Josh. Great.
>> Thank you.
>> I appreciate you coming down. Yeah.
Thanks everybody.
» Right.
>> The dog part. Okay.
>> Yes.
>> Now on to Tubby.
>> Tubby's Trail. Has anybody been to
Tubby's Trail?
>> Out in the harbor, man.
>> It's out in the Hobbit.
>> I know it. right right off the highway
right near the bridge.
>> Um this was a another good this one
definitely shows you uh the type of
fencing they utilized here. Um probably
some of the most expensive fencing but
um
it's it's well utilized. It's a really
nice facility. Uh this is a 1.2 acre off
leash area uh within an 8 and a half
acre park.
um outside of the um initial entry area.
Uh it's a three-foot vinyl coated chain
link fencing. Uh doublegated bolt pin
entry. Again, uh natural ground surface
like many of the others. Um there's no
dedicated walking trail within this soft
leash area. Uh so just really um
conversation areas and um areas for dogs
to roam. Uh there's water available from
a higher fire hydrant which you can see
in the center there
um within the offish area and then there
is a portable restroom on the exterior
that is provided. It does have a shade
structure which is in that bottom right
hand corner and there is a separate
small dog area. So as you enter in small
dog area was to the right, large dog
area to the left or to the left and then
the large dog area to the right.
Uh let's see. No agility or kind of play
equipment there at all. Um area
functions as a catchment for excess
water. Um so you can kind of see in this
bottom left corner.
>> Yeah, that's where um it actually was
dry. Uh but you can definitely tell when water comes in that's that's really
that center area becomes full with
water. Um and we can become very muddy.
Yeah, it's between the whole it's within
the whole structure.
>> Yeah. And that's okay.
>> Yeah.
>> Let's see. Um things we noticed. Uh it's
compact. Um functional dog park with
basic amenities, separate areas for
different dog sizes. Uh the history of
this park since seems like nobody's
been. Tubby was a black cocker spaniel
and was the only fatality associated to
the 1942's
bridge collapse.
>> Really?
» Yeah.
>> Um you can also see kind of in the upper
right um we kind of briefly talked about
accessibility. Um that's one of our
overall concerns with all these other um
even like this one. It did have a conc
or an asphalt slab where there was
accessible parking, but beyond that,
nothing was accessible. The restroom
facility adjacent to the accessible
parking stall isn't even accessible.
>> Um, just thought that that was really
interesting throughout all of these. And
again, with the natural surface in
between, it would be very difficult to
roll a wheelchair around. Um, so that's
something that we definitely want to
take advantage of with our park is is
designing it so we can ensure that
there's some accessibility not only on
the exterior but on the interior of the dog park.
>> And I think that checks a couple of the
boxes that were within your slides as
well.
>> Yeah. So, if I might uh suggest that you
look at perhaps a little higher of a of
a fence, three feet
I've had dogs that
without Yeah. You know, without
>> Well, they kind of preface this.
>> So, four, you know, even four feet, you
know, it was better than
>> And that was all part of these swaps.
It's like taking some of the good things
that other parts have done and some of
the things that we think that we can
improve on before we start to plan out
ours. And so
>> it's just more of an acknowledgement of
what we saw and what we can learn from
it.
>> Yeah. And even looking at, you know,
cost.
>> Um maybe three to four foot is okay for
a small dog area, but definitely not for
a big dog area. So maybe you look at two
different heights of fencing. uh just to
make your your dollar stretch a little
bit further.
>> That fence would be expensive.
>> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
>> Yep. Absolutely.
All right. Ready to move on to the next
one?
>> Okay. Now, we're moving to Bandex Dog
Park, which is in Port Orchard.
Uh Bandix is a 30 acre park uh in a
natural setting. Uh so they have a 6
foot high uh chain link fence which is
only along the parking area. Um the off
leash area is not fully enclosed. Um and
it does have a double gate of bullpin
entry and Brian can attest to this
reason why the the fencing is only in
this area is because they use the
natural environment as the barrier
throughout the rest of the park.
Uh, wouldn't I say that he can attest to
this because this is a county park and
he happened to work for county.
>> How many acres? 30 acres.
>> 30 acres. Yeah. So, this is a pretty good size. Uh, wooded trails. Uh,
again within this larger dog park area.
Uh, natural ground surfacing.
Uh, no permanent water source. Users
bring their own water jugs. Uh there is
portable west restroom that is
available. Uh natural shade beneath um
the existing trees as amenities and
users bring their own portable
furniture. Um and I don't Yeah. So like
on the bottom right hand or lefthand
corner uh that was common in one of the
other county parks as well that you have
just plastic chairs that people have
brought to be able to share and so
people can utilize.
Uh there is a separate small dog p small dog area although it was a little
bit overgrown. So as you pulled down
into the bark the majority is the large
dog and then on the right hand side was
a was was a smaller dog uh entry area
that was totally separate from the large
dog area. Uh no no agility equipment
smaller points there.
>> Yeah yeah yeah. So observations it was
very natural low impact setting uh that
relies heavy heavily on existing
vegetation and park features uh rather
than having built-in amenities. So um
remind me this
bottom right hand corner was that for
jugs?
>> Yeah, this was just for water jugs.
Yeah.
>> So when they're empty if you get a
chance grab a few
>> fill them up bring back. So the pink
that you see the the pink rectangle,
those are the the dog doggy bags.
>> So um they didn't necessarily have them
in stations. Uh they were just kind of
out hanging. So easy to access and hard
to miss.
>> Yeah,
most definitely. You will see on the
kiosk on the bottom leftand corner there
is a scanner there.
>> Oh yeah.
>> So they do have the scanner there. Cool.
I don't know that I've ever seen a red.
» Yeah. So, we moved to like the red and
the pink colored ones because they first
off they started out in brown.
>> Yeah.
>> They became very difficult to find when
people discarded them
>> and then they went to green and green
made it even more difficult to find them
in the bushes and everything like so
made it more obvious. uh by going to a
brighter color.
>> Yeah.
>> A reminder to pick it up.
>> Yeah. So, one thing that will be
consistent among a lot of of these that
I just made a note at the end, but is
something to kind of keep your your mind
on, most all of these dog parks are
managed by volunteers.
>> Yeah.
>> Uh very little staff time go into them.
The upper right hand corner you see a
garbage can. Even at most of these
sites, there's garbage cans there. and a
volunteer will come and roll it out and
leave it out for the for the garbage
truck to come and pick up. So, a lot of um whether they're um
stewardship groups or just volunteers
that sign up, a lot of the dog parks are really managed by the users
themselves.
Anything
else on
panics?
Okay, next one. How farm? Anybody been
to How farm?
>> Yeah.
>> Yes. Yeah. Okay. I really like that. I
really like the separation of this one
between the the nice open kind of field
areas and then the fenced in area.
>> Yeah.
>> So, how farm is a 13 acre dog park uh
that's has forest and meadow settings.
uh has five foot high fencing with chain
link and double gated bolt pin entry. Uh
so wire mesh fencing used in other areas
which is something that I think we
should look at as well. Uh so having
that stronger, more durable where your
bulkhead and entries are, but then
having uh something that's just more of
a a necessary barrier but less cost um
in other parts of the uh dog park off
leash trails throughout. wooded areas
combined uh with that massive open
meadow space. So, kind of two different
levels of of meadow for this park. Uh
there's no water source. Um but there's
portable restrooms that are available.
Uh no permanent shade structures, but
shades provided by natural wood setting
and there are some picnic tables
throughout. Um no separate areas in this
one as well uh between large and small
dog areas. um no agility. Um it's
natural surface. Uh things that we
observed. Uh this kind of combines the
benefits of wooded trails and open
meadow space in a natural park setting.
>> How big was this one?
>> 30 acres.
>> 13
>> is what I've got. What do you think it
is?
>> 6.6.
acres. And that is a a permanent
rental car.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. Oh. Oh, yeah. That's right. Burn
restroom over there.
>> Um, so maybe the whole area was 13.
>> And this is what you're talking about in
terms of the the kind of the the more
mesht type sensing and then the natural
growth that grows up around it to
support that barrier.
>> Yeah. So you'll see down here at the
very bottom of the field, this is a big
open field down here
>> and and blackberries and natural
vegetation from Strawberry Creek is kind
of encroached on the field fence
creating that barrier. But the thought
process into this was exactly what Tim
uh noted was, you know, the bullpen a
little little more stout uh a little
more rigid and then uh kind of keeping a
more open visual or visually open
setting and then vegetation's allowed to grow back. there.
>> And the the other nice thing about this
park from a user perspective is that the trails are just kind of winding, you
know, meandering kind of through the,
you know, it's it's it's a nice setting
and the dog the dogs move along with
you, you know, rather than back up and
do some movement.
>> It was it was well attended the day that
we were there.
>> Yeah, it was very busy. And I made a
mistake. I said six dog park barks. We
went to eight.
>> Wow.
>> I lost track.
>> We did four one day, four another day.
>> Yeah. And this was kids at property
again at this particular
>> Yeah.
>> All right.
Then on to Bainbridge Island. We had big
expectations for the Banebridge folk.
>> Uh but we were very disappointed. I'll say that.
>> Wow. Um, so hopefully none of them are
listening tonight.
>> Red doesn't have We're good.
>> Okay. So, we were at Eagleale Park, uh,
off leash area. Uh, this is a 1 acre off
leash area within a larger park. Um, so
access to it, it's located in the upper
and back end of the park area. uh access
is a walk-in from a parking lot at the
bottom of the hill. Almost seems like
there should have been a home site up
above at one point and maybe they
donated the property to the park
district. Uh but there's definitely no
home up there anymore. There's a lot of
broken concrete. Um some pathways that
don't make sense and even getting down
to the dog park area in the very back is
steps. Um and so it's completely
unaccessible. Um, even the uh the slope
up from the parking area isn't something
that someone would be able to access.
>> No, it says right here.
>> Yeah. Um, it's steeper than what we're
making it look. We're just Yeah.
>> Raw athletes.
>> What does that sign say that you're
standing next to that you can't
>> off leash area?
>> Is that what it says?
>> Uh, yes.
>> Okay.
>> A little faded.
>> Which one are you looking at?
>> One where you're standing next to that.
>> Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. is
awfully shared.
>> Yeah, I was pulling the limb back
because it was like,
>> oh man, that sign looks
>> need some love.
>> Yeah, it needs some love.
>> And here's some maintenance.
>> Yes.
>> So, the fencing in the park varies
between four to six foot high and fence
along the fence area. Uh you can see on
the upper right that there is a small
trail that kind of meanders around, but
it's a very small um very small dog
park. Uh no water source or restrooms uh
within the off leash area. There was a
restroom down below uh where the main
parking area was. Uh no, let's see. Uh
limited uh amenities. Uh primarily a
natural park setting. Uh no separate
small dog, small or large dog area, just
allin-one. Uh no type of agility. Um you
can see on the bottom of the um
» yeah bottom of the kiosk they have a
bucket there so people would put uh
tennis balls in there
>> which was kind of a cool idea um that
they had you know a spot that people
could drop a tennis ball or if they
forgot one lost one there's there's
something there uh that people can could
share.
Um, we kind of figured, let's see,
seasonal conditions could become very
soggy and muddy during the wet season.
Uh, not a whole lot of direct sunlight.
Um, things that we noticed, it was very
small natural offish area. Uh, suited to
be more of a neighborhood use. Um, and,
uh, it's integrated into a little bit
larger. Um, she noted as a community
park. I'd probably note it as just a
neighborhood park. Uh the overall size
or the space. Yeah.
>> Just because of the size.
>> Yeah.
The usable space. Yeah.
>> So it could use some less.
>> It could. Yeah. We've never seen that
much moss on top of anything before.
That was impressive.
» Yes. All right. So the second uh
Bainbridge Island spot we hit,
Strawberry Hill. Uh much improved. Uh
this is a um
shows it is a halfacre or sorry half or
five acre five acre five acre wooded off
leash area um with a small and large dog
area fully enclosed 4 foot high chain
link fence and a large double gated um
if you're familiar with an airlock
bullpin entry. So air lock essentially
there's you're not um the post you're
not pulling up and down the clip. Um
it's kind of basically spring loed and
rests up against it. So once you're in
the bullpin a dog could once it's ready
push its way into the area that they
wanted to go. So the larger small area.
Um so that was the only one that we'd
seen that way. They did use this type of
fencing throughout the entire park. Um,
so it had to have been quite an expense
uh to put that in, but it's it's a nice
fence.
>> Yeah. Uh, wooded natural area. Um,
there's no trails within the fenced in
area. Although on the large dog side, we
did see people that utilize the
exterior. Um,
let's see. There's water hose available
for filling dog bowls, restroom within
the larger park. Uh there's benches and
seating uh with mature trees uh
providing natural shade. Uh waste bags
and receptacles are provided. Um
separate like I said separate small dog
area. They also had a training bay at
this one which is that middle left
picture. Uh so the out on the separate
on the opposite um side of the little
pathway from the large and small dog
area was a separate training area or I
would assume if you have a dog that
doesn't socialize well it might be a
good spot to kind of run your dog. It
wasn't a real big space uh but was kind
of nice to hadn't seen that before. So
it's nice kind of separate area that
they provided there. uh natural ground
surface, although a lot of it was all
mulch um throughout the entire which I'm
would take to the water probably a lot
better than some of the others uh parks
that we've seen. Um nearby amenities.
It's in a in a park where there's
playgrounds, sports fields, um various
courts, skate park, uh picnic shelters,
and just other multiuse spaces.
Dad, ready to go on?
>> Let's go.
>> We're getting closer to home.
>> And how and how many acres I see?
>> That was five. Five acres still. Yeah.
>> Okay. KSO,
probably the least impressive dog park
maybe that we saw. Uh Rob Park. Uh this
is a.7 acre off leash area. um
uh within a 21 acre community park. Uh
so 4 foot high chain link fence uh
doublegated bulkin entry natural ground
surface which within a larger community
park uh no fenced in trails within this
area. Water hose was available for
filling dog bowls and there's a restroom
that was nearby. Uh benches and seating
were available. Um
there was a small dog area, separate
fence area provided some separation
between the large and small dog area.
You can kind of see it off. Um well,
we're on the upper right. We're inside
the large dog and then you can see the
fence on the left hand side for the
small dog area.
Uh let's see.
Um
so it's close to um picnic shelters,
playgrounds, sports courts, skate park,
community gardens. Um
it's a very compact off leash area. Um
benefits from its location within a
larger amenity um community park. So
just a a small off leash space um that
it larger.
>> What's that?
>> I said after. Yes. Almost an
afterthought, but it's right at the
entry to the main main park. So, this is
kind of this is the uh the front porch
of the main park.
>> Yeah. As you come in
like the ground was all dirt there, too.
>> Oh, yeah. It's pretty much either all
worn up or
>> I've been there. It's really all dirt.
>> Yeah. Go back there.
>> The one side's pretty slow. I feel like
the entrance
>> where you're talking about kind of
slopes off.
>> Yeah. As you move further back, it
slopes slopes off.
>> Pretty good.
>> Yeah.
And then just again like the
bottom right hand or left hand corner
just kind of an example of something
that they provide there. They provide a
shovel to talk through.
>> Just have a shovel hanging out there.
>> And nobody stole there.
>> No. Sorry. No, they have it. No, it's there.
All right.
Okay. Silverdale Dog Park is a 1.3 acre
off leash area uh within Silverdale
Rotary Gateway Park. Uh it has 4 foot
high chain link fencing and double gated
bullpin entry. Um
it's directly adjacent to the Cedar
Creek Trail providing opportunities for
leashed uh walks before and after dog
park use. Um
there's a water spigot and restroom that
are available adjacent. Uh this one also
had a storage shed that was in before
you entered in for the volunteers to be
able to access the various supplies
which I thought was kind of interesting.
Um there's benches and seating mature
trees. Uh they used a carport structure
for the the shade structure. uh waste
bags and receptacles are provided there.
Also, similar to uh one of the parks in
Port Orchard there, and you can see them
kind of in the middle on the right, um
some chairs that people have donated uh
for seating there as well.
Uh let's see, they do have a separate
fenced in area for small dogs, natural
ground surface. Um there was quite a few
people there that day, so uh definitely
was getting dusty. Um and then you
figured that it would be pretty muddy in
the winter weather unless you have some
ground growth that that kind of covers
things back up. Observations uh is very
popular and convenient location. Our
parking could become busy because it
also serves as a parking lot for the
main recreational pathways and uses to
the main part of the park.
This is the one off Silverdale Way by
the skate park.
» Yeah.
I've seen people that that little
parking lot gets packed.
>> It does. Yeah. And it was we were there
>> was a Wednesday or a Thursday, but we
were there at 11:00 10 11 o'clock in the
morning and it was packed. So,
>> but they weren't all pretty.
>> No, a lot of people on the trail.
>> Oh, yeah. On the trails. Yeah.
Definitely not everybody. Oh, there's a
black. Yes,
>> it's rounded.
>> This one also, the other ones I didn't
see it at all. Um, individual donations
or in memory of pets, they had little
plaques that were along uh different
parts of the fence lines. Uh, so I
assume they use that as, you know,
fundraiser to to put amenities back into
uh the the uh the dog park areas.
Uh, so just a couple general comments.
Um, one I already touched on the
accessibility. Um, this one I can't
remember if the volunteer group is noted
on here, but we've we kind of discovered
that there's this do you remember the
name of their group?
>> Kids Park.
>> Yeah, it's probably something simple.
Kids app dog park, Inc. uh t I think
managed at least three of the sites and
so Colette's reached out to them to get
more information
um and just kind of see is that
something is is Breton something they
may even be interested in and if not can
we steal resources ideas how do you
manage the people that are um
contributing and supporting each of the
individual dog parks? So that was an
organization none of us had heard of
before. So, um, so that was that was
cool to see see that partnership. I
think maybe it was all the county ones
that add it. Yeah.
>> All of the county did you say?
>> The three that we want to Yeah.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> partner with this organization.
That's it.
>> It's all eight of them.
>> Cool.
>> So, you're ready first week.
>> So, we're ready.
>> Can you? Yeah. Yeah. So, we're we're
ready.
>> So, how many acres is Stephenson?
>> Oh, I meant I meant to write that down.
Yeah. Kind of depends on the space that
we utilize. Is that open space area a
couple acres?
>> I'd say probably close to
two acres of open space down below. And
then we have that upper area.
>> Yeah. Not including where we're looking
at for this small dog area. And it
doesn't include incorporation of any of
the trail systems
>> right if you went over.
>> So we could have anywhere between two
and maybe three to four acres total to
work with.
>> Well, thanks for all that work.
>> Yeah, I think that was great. Great idea
checking it out.
>> Yeah, our plan next month and we'll get
information out to you is that we'll
have an on-site meeting. So then we can
get out
>> and uh we'll just hold the whole meeting
there, but we can get out um and really
look at the site uh prior to getting our
um our steering committee put together
to help really push this project
forward.
» You have a projection of the approximate
time frame of having it ready and to go?
Uh, I mean, we'd love to be able to kind
of get some, you know, the the public
input process this fall, maybe do some
design work in the winter and depending
on what we would do in house versus
contract.
>> Um, to go through construction process
next summer would be ideal.
>> Okay.
>> Next spring summer.
>> Were you the chauffeur on that on those
trips as well, Brandon?
>> I sure was.
>> Yeah, you are.
>> Good.
>> Yeah. Was in my Ford Escape. Yeah.
>> Oh, I was going to say he didn't have
that.
>> I don't let anybody drive me in the city
for an escape.
>> What the speak about here talk about is
even when this park was built, you can
see along the backside that they also
use vinyl coated chain link fence.
But when you look at it right here,
>> Yeah.
>> not really needed.
>> No.
So something
a little more simple like a field fence
or something like that that's a little
more practical
um and a little more cost efficient will
you know surely
» so the location of of Stephson dog park
it'll have natural shade just from trees
and foliage so we wouldn't necessar
necessarily need a structure.
>> Well, I think that would be something
good to talk about because I think we've
talked about a potential to put a
structure down there because it could
the center portion could get quite a bit
of sun, get quite a bit of sun
throughout the day,
>> right?
>> But again, it gives us the opportunity
too to use some natural barrier, but
also use some trails. So, it could be a
good mix.
>> All right, I guess we're ready to move
on. I see the next screen. the 27 28
bianial budget update.
>> Okay. So, as I promised throughout the
budget process, I'll just kind of give
be giving you some tidbits and
highlights throughout. Um, so the check
marks uh are things that we've gotten
through so far. So, the kickoff
happened. Um, I went in front of council
and just kind of talked about what our
needs are within the department. uh
shared with them uh what some standards
are uh across the country um as far as
staffing levels, park sizes,
um types of facilities that we we have
to comparable communities. Um we've uh
submitted our operating uh expense
expenses and revenues. Uh we've also
submitted our rates and fee structures.
So, the only thing that I'm looking to
change this year, I I changed all all
fees last year, which was over 200 fees.
This year, uh we're looking at really
focusing on golf course, which is where
a majority of our revenue comes in
anyway. um and less on um I'm I have
concerns with pricing ourselves out of
business and and recreation to me is a
um benefit to the community and um just
making sure that uh what we're charging
obviously covers our costs um but we
don't want to lose participants because
of what we're charging for programs. Um,
and so department rates and fees, as you
know, not noticed below, we'll cover
that with council on October 28th. Uh,
but the highlighted one is is the one I
wanted to kind of cover with you today
mostly was showing you uh because this
year we submitted a a six-year capital
improvement plan. Um, so our parks
capital budget uh which coincides
directly with the pros plan. Um, and so
that'll be on the next slide. I can I'll
talk through that with you. Uh but
upcoming budget meetings uh so the
general council workshops where they'll
hear from the various departments will
be on October 22nd and 26. We don't know
who will present when yet. Uh October
28th will be dedicated to just read some
fees. Uh early November will be the
opportunity for council to ask
departments questions and hopefully we
can answer them as much as we can on
site. and then for uh council to talk
about whether they want to have any sort
of priorities. Uh we have been given a
direction like I had mentioned
previously that the council wants to see
a zerobased budget. So uh nobody unless
you cover it with increase in revenues
or revenue to offset expenses. uh nobody
should be presenting really any new
budget other than stabilizing where we
were this this current fiscal year uh
for 2027 and for 2028 right now. Uh then
following November 5th,
>> I'm sorry. Is that
>> all department?
>> All departments. Yeah.
>> Yeah. And because we're we already run
on a pretty tight budget in parks, uh we
haven't necessarily been asked to look
at making cuts as much as other
departments have. So there's some
departments that are doing some some
consolidation um with some with some
positions but also looking at instead of
contracting out some services um trying
to provide that in-house and save some
money uh that way. So uh there's
definitely a lot of lot of work that's
being done behind the scenes.
A quick question on you mentioned Gold
Mountain and potential fee items. Are we
talking greens fees and um rental of the
facility for like what?
>> Yeah, primarily greens fees. Okay.
>> And so what we have listed within our
fees and structures is a not to exceed
rate because we run uh Gold Mountain um
we have a dynamic pricing system. And so
if you want to go and play, let's say at
prime time at 9:00 am, you're probably
going to pay what's listed as the peak.
Um, but if you want to go play at 3 pm,
you're going to be paying much less.
>> Um, so like I said, the dynamic pricing
and the not to exceed is what the not to
exceed is what we is what we put in as
our budget request for increases each
year.
>> And the other thing I just want to say,
I mean, it makes sense. We're cascade
course is being improved
>> and we have just a be those are just
beautiful courses out there that are
just highly soughta and draw people from
all over our state to come.
>> And even Cascade right now has a certain
pricing structure and once it's
completed that'll change.
>> Yeah. The fees are competitive and I
hear no complaint. I I personally don't
golf but I have a lot of friends that do
and they just rave about golf.
>> Oh yeah.
>> Yeah. I mean, and I've started playing a
lot of different courses around the
area, and there's some that, especially
12 months a year, I feel like ours are
in way better shape, and I'm paying, you
know, $30, $40 more to play somewhere
else.
>> Uh, when really we're probably the one
of the best deals. And I know council
looks at that and says, "Okay, well,
let's charge more." But at the same
time, we still want to function as a
municipal course. Um when you want to
grow you want to grow partly
participation there hopefully you want
to keep
>> yeah and there's some some other things
and maybe this next year uh because with
Cascade uh that project starting to move
forward I also had a meeting today where
we're looking at redesigning the
practice facility
um uh modernizing things but then also
making it more interactive and and
entertaining entertainment type value to
that space. Um, so bringing things in
like fire pits, cornhole, uh, other
things that will entice people to come
out and hang out. U, maybe a small venue
where someone could perform as well. So,
incorporate some of these things in, but
also with our driving range, um maybe
not make it quite the top golf or a
virtual golf, but bring in um the
ability for someone to be able to use uh
the track tracer and see how far they're
actually hitting as opposed to looking.
So, bring some of that technology in
without going to the extent that that
some of those entertainment venues go
to. So cool stuff.
>> I have to admit I'm ignorant on I didn't
know I knew you could make reservation
times, but I didn't know you paid for
specific times and you paid you paid
more at a better time.
>> Y
>> Oh, okay.
>> Y
>> and and people are willing to pay.
>> Absolutely.
>> Convenience
for convenience. I knew that you could
make a reservation, but I know my
neighbor who is leaving at six o'clock
in the morning to go golfing on the
weekends is probably going
dark.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay. All right. Thanks.
>> Yeah. Usually the first tea times,
especially if you're fall, winter,
spring, they hold it off a little bit
because they do uh but usually your
first tea times are between 6:30 and
6:45 in the morning.
>> The early birds.
>> Yes. Yes.
>> So, um the the main public hearings uh
in front of council. So, that'll give
the opportunity for the the public after
it's published uh after the budget's
published um for comments. Uh but
November 11th and 18th will be those
public hearings. Um these are just kind
of estimates for now. council could act
could end up delaying this if they want
to deliberate more, but um prior to but
the plan is is to be able to get it uh
forwarded on um public hearings be the
11th and 18th with the adoption on
November 18th
um is what's planned for for right now.
So, as far as um what can the commission
do to help support um I'll kind of keep
you in the loop on that. Um, I'll let
you know when I plan to present. Um,
there's not necessarily any public
feedback during that time frame. Um, I
will be bringing the golf course for the
rates and fees just because that's where
we're really focusing. So then Columbia
Hospitality as the professionals uh can
explain their reasoning and and looking
at why they chose the price structure uh
to present uh for this next year. Um
probably more of the public hearings if
it does seem like we need some support
or want some support or if you'd like to
provide support that's probably the best
time frame uh would be uh for the public
hearings if you wanted to get up and
you'll share that with us.
>> I'll definitely share that. Yeah.
>> Yeah.
So between now and early October,
this is really kind of the time frame
that that finance department is kind of
compiling everything, starting to meet
with the mayor this next week, I
believe, and walking through uh the
anticipated budget before it goes to
council for council to have a good look
at it for a a good month or so before um
our presentation start in mid to late
October.
That's all I got.
>> Money. That's all.
>> Oh, I forgot to share this.
>> Yeah, she kind of wanted to talk more.
>> Oh, yeah.
>> So, this is Was this in your packet?
>> I can't remember.
>> You know, I don't
>> I'm not I can send it out to you. I may
have not put it in there.
>> It may have just been this slide.
>> Yes.
>> Or maybe you didn't get it. You might
not have gotten anything in in the
packet. Um but I'll get this to you. So,
this is our five six-year capital plan.
Obviously, 2026 is what we're
anticipating spending this year. And
then 2027,
um these are the pro those are all the
projects. We about 2 almost $3 million
worth of projects is what we're looking
at. A lot of those are grant funded. Um
so, the first one, the 160,000, we I
think we've talked about that. Those are
that's the community development block
grant funds. And so we'll be using that
for um just some general improvements
within the park system.
>> And that excuse me if I can that is
Breton.
>> It's community development block grants
that Breton partners with the county on.
Uh but it's Breton. It's Breton.
>> Well, it's Breton has its own fund.
>> It's Breton. Breton has a 10 and then there's
>> Breton.
Yes. Okay.
>> Yeah. Yeah. So, Breton
>> and then we have 30,000 in there for um
kind of getting that master plan started
for Forest Ridge Park.
Um some of these like the the 30,000
there, we don't necessarily have a
matching grant right now or a grant for
that. So that's coming out of our
proposals for that to come out of I
think parks capital for that one.
Uh Lions Park accessibility retrofit was
kind of talked about that and and uh
that's become quite a a large larger
project than we thought it would be and
that's improving accessibility at those
ports um and uh removing those slopes.
but it's also going to cause us to put
new fencing up and and basically level
everything out there. Uh park security
cameras. So between 27 and 28, we're
looking at making improvements within
our parks and adding security cameras.
This isn't to monitor people, but this
is in case something happens. So in the
areas that we tend to have more
vandalism, theft, uh we'll be putting
some cameras in uh is the plan there. Um
the tree assessment and imple
implementation. You can see that's a
budget every year. That's kind of a if
we need to have a master plan or a a
forestry a forest um urban forestry type
plan created for certain areas, uh we
want to all lot money within our general
fund account to to take care of those
types of projects.
uh the Pender
Regional Park uh turf fields, the 150
for this year, that's for the 90%
drawings to be completed. The 2 million
and the 2.3 million between 27 and 28
would be the development of those two uh
turf field projects. And so the 2
million and 27 would be 500,000 from
city funds and then 1.5 million from a
recreation conservation
um grant that we've applied for and then
the 2.3 actually the two 200 2 million
of the 2.3 would um be coming from a
private source as a partner for that
project uh that we've been working with.
and 300,000 uh would be coming from our
uh our general fund account to round off
that 2.3. Uh the 150,000 for softball
field improvements. Uh that's to um
remove and replace some of the infield
material on our three ball fields up
there. uh get a u a much better user
friendly um um type of material in there
that can also um hold in um not hold in
but let drain through uh rain when it
comes in but it's just much better
playing facility and and nonrock
generating
um surface as well. uh Stephenson Canyon
as you know the the 285 there uh from
Department of Commerce grant and then we
just kind of have a standing item here
for other parks facilities capital
improvements that's in case during the
year we have something that needs to be
addressed we have uh a budget that's
sitting out there within the general
fund to fund those types of projects.
» Yeah, I'll be happy to get get this to
you. So then you've got it. I actually
have a Excel spreadsheet that if you
click on each of the number, it'll tell
you what the for funding sources are too
that we've identified for that. And so
that that form has the expense, but then
also has a revenue uh area as well. So
it's easier to read that way.
>> Thanks, Tim.
>> Yeah, great.
>> I talked a lot.
Anyone have any questions or comments?
No. All right. Now, we're going to move
on to commissioner's comments. Dave,
we'll start with you. You're right here.
No. Nothing.
>> Nothing.
>> Director, I had a quick question. I
don't I'm not sure if it's been talked
about this commissioner or not. Could
you tell us what's going on down at on
street where our mini park is because
it's destroyed
» at the mini park or just Ninth Street
and
>> at the mini park? Yeah. So, so this is
all a public works project.
>> Okay.
>> I feel like we did talk about this
maybe.
>> Yeah, we we looked at it last year.
>> Yeah.
>> At one point. Um I think even someone
from public works came in and presented
um and showed talked about it. It's
essentially um
making storm water improvements within
that area of Manette. And then I can't
remember if it's an outflow is what they
call it, but essentially it's going
through a system before it enters into
the sound.
>> Okay.
>> And so with that um it's tearing up that
park and so there'll be improvements
that are going to be made. So we've got
some trees that are going to be removed
because of issues we're having with Rick
systems.
>> So there'll be Yeah, they'll be re
replanting.
>> Um if you're interested, I've got I got
full plans in my office. Um, but
essentially what's going back is we'll
have a accessible parking stall, four
regular stalls adjacent to it, um, a
doggy pot bag, a garbage can, and two
picnic tables. Uh, the other thing
that's going to be a part of this
improvement is,
um, going from the grass area down to
the beach area is going to be more
gradual and easier to access. Yeah, cuz
it
>> won't be fully accessible, but it'll be
much easier than it was
>> to access.
>> Have you seen it? Cuz we haven't been
able to get down.
>> I just drove by it before this meeting
and it is
>> you got to swim from downtown.
>> Okay. I was going to say
>> it is. Yeah. That big tree.
>> I don't know what kind of tree it was,
but there forever. I know the root
system is crazy.
>> Yeah. And if you have seen anything
posted lately on social media, um the
work that's being done right now on the
beach area in Smith Cove is tied to
that. This is the environmental
remediation side of it. Okay.
>> Um so there's a removal of rock debris.
Um
>> Brian can speak to a little bit further
if he wants, but over the next couple
weeks, we put a post out today to let
people be aware of what's going on over
there. So, it's a public works
operation. It's a Department of Ecology
grant and it's for storm water
improvement. And so,
>> uh off of Nin Street there, it's a water
quality. It's being able to treat the
water before it gets sent out into the
south.
>> Okay.
>> With that, uh there's some mitigation
that needs to happen. uh down in Smith
Cove at uh Evergreen Park, there's a lot
of angular rock that was put there
decades and decades ago that has kind of
migrated down into the cove. As part of
that, uh there that same contractor
that's on Ninth Street is also doing the
work removing those rocks and pull them
out. So, there's a disturbance to both
parks at the time.
>> Yeah. Uh we're hoping to wrap up the
evergreen word uh within about the next
week, week and a half,
>> but then when it's all done, our park
will be restored. And
>> yes, it is.
>> All right.
>> Conviction.
>> It's a public It's a public project. Got
it. To be clear on that. One other one
that uh once we get the design plans and
work further is we're working with the
East Breton Rotary to make some
improvements to Bachmann Park as well.
>> Um so they have already come out and
done some some cleanup work button.
>> Yeah, East Breton Rotary and we powered
>> there's no expense to us for that and so
it's not listed as a capital
improvement. Thank you.
>> Um but but there are items within the
pros plan for Bachmann that we hope to
address at some point.
>> Perfect. Thank you.
>> All right, Alex. Nothing for me.
>> You had a wonderful presentation.
>> Thank you so much.
>> All right, Joan. I've got
>> Last but not least,
>> I've got nothing. All right. I don't
have anything either.
So, meeting ajourned.
Brett Kylie usually leaves us with some
words of wisdom or a poem or
» something.
>> Nobody told me that was part of the
deal. So, you're just gonna have to go
without this this month.
» We'll make something up.
>> Thank you for joining us tonight. I
appreciate it.
>> Yeah. You all have a nice evening.
>> All right. Thank you.
>> Bye.
>> All right. You guys are getting