The Seattle Board of Park Commissioners will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, February 11, in the Park Board Room at 100 Dexter Ave. N, the Parks Administration Building at the corner of Dexter Ave. N and Denny Way.

City Councilmember Sally Bagshaw, who chairs the City Council Parks and Seattle Center Committee, will attend.

The agenda includes:

Fee Policy:
The Board will hold a public hearing on a draft administrative rule that would provide a framework and guidance to Parks staff as they develop ideas and proposals for the fees and charges that are necessary to provide financial support to Seattle Parks and Recreation (Parks) for the operation and maintenance of programs, facilities, and park grounds and are allowed for by Seattle Municipal Code 18.28. The revenue generated by
these fees constitutes only about a third of the funds required to operate and maintain the park system. The policy is also intended for use by decision-makers to help ensure that fees and charges are developed and implemented in a consistent and equitable manner. The Board heard a briefing on the proposal at its January 28 meeting, and will discuss and make a recommendation to the Superintendent on it at its February 25 meeting.

Code of Conduct:
The Board will discuss and make recommendation to the Parks Superintendent on a proposed Code of Conduct which will consolidate in one document many behaviors that are already prohibited, or that Parks proposes to prohibit, in parks. The Code of Conduct will be an administrative rule prohibiting specified behaviors in parks and Parks-owned facilities. The intent is to bring together in a single document the behaviors that can result in an Exclusion Order against the violator, consistent with SMC 18.12.278 and 18.12.279. The Code of Conduct will be a useful tool for police officers and park rangers, both for educating park users and for issuing Exclusion Orders. Smoking, littering, improper use of restrooms, and bringing glass containers to athletic fields, children’s playgrounds, and beaches are examples of behaviors that would be prohibited by the Code of Conduct, in addition to behaviors that are already illegal or prohibited by rule. The Board heard a briefing at its January 14 meeting and held a public hearing at its January 28 meeting.

The most recent draft of the proposed code of conduct and a draft of the proposed fee policy are available on the web at: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/parkboard/default.asp.

The Board of Park Commissioners is a seven-member citizen board created by the City Charter. Three members are appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council; three members are appointed by the City Council; and one member is appointed by the Park Board. The Board meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month to advise the Parks and Recreation Superintendent, the Mayor, and the City Council on parks and recreation matters. For more information, please contact Sandy Brooks at 206-684-5066 or sandy.brooks@seattle.gov.