Parks Legacy Plan Archives

Seattle Parks Legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee to hold final meeting Thursday, March 6

February 28, 2014 by Katie McVicker

Meeting location: Miller Community Center

The Citizens’ Advisory Committee appointed to consider Seattle Parks and Recreation’s future funding options hosts their last meeting on Thursday, March 6, at Miller Community Center, 330 19^th Ave. E at 6 p.m. This meeting is open to the public, however, please note that no public comment will be taken at the meeting.

The committee will approve their final report which will be submitted to the Mayor and City Council on March 12, 2014. The report will include the recommendations the committee approved at their February 27 meeting: the committee voted to recommend a $57 million metropolitan parks district be placed on the ballot in August. The draft final report can be reviewed on the committee’s web page (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm).

The Mayor and Council created the committee to review the draft Parks Legacy Plan (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy) and to propose options for funding operations and maintenance, development and acquisition of parks and recreation facilities and programs. A revised edition of the Parks Legacy Plan: Draft Goals and Strategies can be downloaded from the project’s website.

Committee members are: Barbara Wright, Co-Chair; Charlie Zaragoza, Co-Chair; Thatcher Bailey; Steve Daschle; Juli Farris; Bill Farmer; Thomas Goldstein; Jessie Israel; Diana Kincaid; Michael Maddux; Brice Maryman; Yalonda Gill Masundire; Mustapha Math; David Namura and Erika Melroy.

The committee and Seattle Parks and Recreation held three public meetings to gather input in late January and early February. The discussion group notes from those meetings are posted on the committee’s webpage: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm.

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Seattle Parks Legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee to meet Thursday, February 27

February 21, 2014 by OConnoK

Meeting location: Miller Community Center

The Citizens’ Advisory Committee appointed to consider Seattle Parks and Recreation’s future funding options hosts a meeting on Thursday, Feb. 27, at Miller Community Center, 330 19^th Ave. E at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public, however, please note that no public comment will be taken at the meeting

The committee will discuss and make a final recommendation on the investment initiatives, the funding investment amount and the funding mechanism for an August 2014 ballot measure. Their recommendation will be sent to the Mayor and City Council on March 13, 2014.

Seattle Parks Legacy Plan Citizens Committee to meet Thursday, February 20

February 14, 2014 by OConnoK

Meeting location: Miller Community Center

The Citizens Advisory Committee appointed to consider Seattle Parks and Recreation’s future funding options hosts a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, February 20, at Miller Community Center, 330 19^th Ave. E at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.

The meeting will start with Mayor Ed Murray, who will visit the committee and introduce himself. That will be followed by a presentation from Andrew Thibault, of EMC Research, who will present the results of a poll conducted on behalf of the Seattle Parks Foundation, the Associated Recreation Council, the Seattle Aquarium and the Woodland Park Zoo.

Then the committee will have a discussion with City Budget Office Director Ben Noble on the various funding mechanism options for a possible ballot measure in August.

The committee has set aside 10 minutes at the beginning of this meeting to take public comment. Those wishing to address the committee are encouraged to arrive early and sign up. If there are more people who wish to speak than can be accommodated at the beginning of the meeting, time will be set aside at the end for additional public comments. This will be the final opportunity for the public to give the committee feedback before it makes its final recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on March 12.

Following the meeting on February 20, the committee will meet again on Thursday, February 27, and Thursday, March 6. All meetings are held at Miller Community Center, 330 19^th Ave. E 98112, from 6 – 9 p.m.

The committee and Seattle Parks and Recreation held three public meetings to gather input in late January and early February. The notes from those meetings are posted on the committee’s webpage: http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm.

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Seattle Parks, citizens’ committee to meet with community about potential park funding ballot measure

January 8, 2014 by ligonj

Seattle Parks and Recreation will host three community meetings in January to get feedback on the work done by the Parks Legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee in preparation for a potential 2014 park and recreation funding ballot measure.

The meetings will be held:

Thursday, January 23, International District/Chinatown Community Center, 719 8^th Ave. S, at 6 p.m.
Saturday, January 25, High Point Community Center, 6920 34^th Ave. SW, 1 p.m. (free childcare will be provided)
Thursday, January 30, Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave. N, at 7 p.m.

The meetings will feature a brief presentation that describes how the committee has prioritized a list of potential investment initiatives. That will be followed by professionally facilitated workshops that seek community input in three specific areas.

Priorities. Did the Committee find the right balance among: 1) taking care of the park and recreation assets that the City already owns; 2) funding programs, classes and services for the community; and 3) preparing for the future by developing “land banked” park properties into new parks and acquiring new park land?
Size. Attendees will learn how different levels of funding affect homeowner taxes, and then give feedback on which size of funding package seems appropriate.
Funding mechanism. Facilitators will explain the differences between short-term, long-term, and permanent levies, and how those compare to the formation of a metropolitan parks district (MPD). Attendees will then be asked to give feedback on which mechanism is most suitable for Seattle, and will be offered the chance to express thoughts or concerns about each option.

Seattle Parks and Recreation began working on the Park Legacy Plan, which forms the basis of a ballot funding measure, more than a year ago. The process began with a series of community and park-user surveys, and culminated with six public meetings throughout the city to gather input. The process has focused on bringing a chorus of voices into the conversation about how Seattle Parks and Recreation can meet the growing needs of a vibrant city.

After Seattle Parks published the second draft of the Parks Legacy Plan in June 2013, the Mayor and City Council convened a volunteer Parks Legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee to advise them on what a park funding ballot measure should pay for and what type of funding mechanism it should be – a levy or a metropolitan parks district.

In December, the committee released its preliminary report and a first draft of a prioritized list of programs and services it believes should be funded. At each of its meetings, the committee took public input, and it held a public hearing in November.

At the community meetings in January, the public will learn more about the committee’s recommendations, become educated on the possible funding options, and meet and talk with committee members.

After the January community meetings, the committee will reconvene in February to review, and perhaps revise, its preliminary recommendations based on the public input; and they will discuss and make a recommendation on the size and type of the funding measure. The committee will send its final recommendations to the Mayor and City Council on March 12.

To learn more, read the Legacy Committee’s Interim Report. It’s available at http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm or in hard copy at community centers and pools. The Interim Report details the committee’s process, rationale, and interim recommendations.

Detailed information about each proposed investment and possible funding mechanisms is also available on the Parks Legacy Citizens’ Advisory Committee website, and will be available at the meetings.

Those who want to give input, but are not able to come to the meetings can give written comments, which bear equal weight to verbal comments. Please email comments to parkslegacy@seattle.gov.

For interpretation services or special accommodations at the meeting, please email parkslegacy@seattle.gov or call Susanne Rockwell (206-733-9702).

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Seattle Parks Legacy Plan Citizens Committee to meet Thursday, December 12

December 11, 2013 by ligonj

The Citizens Advisory Committee appointed to consider Seattle Parks and Recreation’s future funding options hosts a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, December 12, at Miller Community Center, 330 19^th Ave. E at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.

At this meeting, the committee will reach consensus on the Interim Committee Report, and discuss the 2014 public engagement strategy and the Committee’s 2014 schedule.

To see the complete agenda and meeting materials for the December12 meeting, including the draft Interim Committee Report, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm.

Following this Thursday’s meeting, the committee’s next meetings will be public open houses to hear community responses to the Interim Report. The open houses will be held:

Thursday, January 23, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at International District/Chinatown Community Center, 719 8^th Ave. S, from
Saturday, January 25, 1 – 2:30 p.m. (childcare will be provided) at High Point Community Center, 6920 34^th Ave. SW
Thursday, January 30, 6 – 7:30 p.m. at Bitter Lake Community Center, 13035 Linden Ave. N

To view notes from previous meetings please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm.

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Seattle Parks Legacy Plan Citizens Committee to meet Thursday, December 5

December 3, 2013 by ligonj

The Citizens Advisory Committee appointed to consider Seattle Parks and Recreation’s future funding options hosts a regularly scheduled meeting on Thursday, December 5, at Miller Community Center, 330 19^th Ave. E at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public.

At this meeting, the committee will review the draft Interim Committee Report, and discuss several possible options for a park ballot measure, including a Metropolitan Parks District or a short- or long-term levy.

To see the complete agenda and meeting materials for the December 5 meeting, including the draft Interim Committee Report, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm.

Following this Thursday’s meeting, the committee’s next meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 12, at Miller Community Center. For a list of upcoming meetings and to view notes from previous meetings please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm.

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Park funding measure investment initiatives available for review

November 1, 2013 by ligonj

The Parks Legacy Citizens Advisory Committee (PLCAC), appointed to consider Seattle Parks and Recreation’s future funding options, has released a first draft of 37 newly prioritized investment initiatives (funding recommendations) that are being considered for a possible ballot measure in August 2014.

The newly prioritized list is available on the PLCAC website at:

http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/files/subcommittee_preliminary_prioritization.pdf

Also, the Committee is considering what type of funding mechanism to use: short-term, long-term, levy or Metropolitan Park District. The committee has asked community members to attend a public hearing to comment on the initiatives and their prioritization, as well as on the funding mechanism options. The public hearing will take place Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013 starting at 6 p.m. at Miller Community Center, 330 19^th Ave. E.

To give verbal testimony at the hearing, community members must sign in. Testimony may be for up to two minutes. Sign-in begins at 5 p.m. The Associated Recreation Council will provide on-site childcare 5:30–9:30 p.m. for up to 20 children ages 5–12.

Written testimony carries as much weight as verbal testimony. To submit written testimony to the Committee, please send email to parkslegacy@seattle.gov or to Parks Legacy Comments, 100 Dexter Ave. N, Seattle WA 98116.

The 37 investment initiatives proposed for inclusion in a future park funding ballot measure have been initially prioritized by three subcommittees: Existing Programs and Services, New Programs and Services and Partnerships.

The Committee seeks feedback from the community on the initiatives, and on the type of funding mechanisms being considered. Community members planning to attend the hearing may want to consider these questions beforehand:

What priorities should the committee consider as it makes recommendations for a ballot measure?
Should the ballot measure focus on maintaining core services like park restroom maintenance, trash and litter pickup, and keeping community center doors open?
Should the ballot measure focus on new projects that develop “land banked” sites and acquire new property?
Should the ballot measure concentrate on challenge grants like an Opportunity Fund for community-initiated projects and innovative new programs that encourage health and fitness?
Should the type of ballot measure recommended by the Committee be a levy? If so, for 6 years, 8 years, 12 years, or permanently?
Should the type of ballot measure recommended by the Committee be a Metropolitan Park District with its own taxing authority?

After the public hearing, the committee will Continue its work to prioritize the list of investment initiatives and evaluate funding mechanism options, with the goal of completing its preliminary recommendations by December. In January, the committee will host open houses throughout Seattle to hear additional public comments before the final prioritization.

In March 2014, the committee will forward its final recommendations to the Mayor and City Council.

Seattle Parks and Recreation manages a 6,200-acre park system of 465 parks and extensive natural areas. Seattle Parks provides athletic fields, tennis courts, play areas, specialty gardens, and more than 25 miles of boulevards and 120 miles of trails. Seattle Parks also manages many facilities: 26 community centers, eight indoor pools, four environmental education centers, two small craft centers, four golf courses, an outdoor stadium and much more. The Parks Legacy Citizens Advisory Committee is asking for your input on how best to prioritize funding options for Seattle Parks’ extensive services and facilities.

The Mayor and City Council created the Parks Legacy Citizens Advisory Committee to review the draft Parks Legacy Plan (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy) and to propose options for funding operations and maintenance, park development and acquisition, and recreation facilities and programs. A revised edition of the Parks Legacy Plan: Draft Goals and Strategies can be downloaded from the project’s website.

Committee members are Barbara Wright, Co-Chair; Charlie Zaragoza, Co-Chair; Thatcher Bailey; Steve Daschle; Juli Farris; Bill Farmer; Thomas Goldstein; Jessie Israel; Diana Kincaid; Michael Maddux; Brice Maryman; Yalonda Gill Masundire; Mustapha Math; David Namura; and Erika Nuerenberg-Melroy.

For more information, please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm .

For special meeting accommodations or interpretation services at the meeting, please contact Susanne Rockwell at susanne.rockwell@seattle.gov or 206-733-9702

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Seattle Parks Legacy Plan Citizens Committee to meet Thursday, October 3

October 1, 2013 by OConnoK

The Citizens Advisory Committee appointed to consider Seattle Parks and Recreation’s future funding options hosts its sixth meeting on Thursday, October 3 in the Kenneth R. Bounds Park Board Room at 100 Dexter Ave. N. at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public, with a comment period at the beginning of each meeting.

At this meeting, the committee will be briefed on alternative mechanisms for a future Parks funding measure and discuss a process to prioritize the Investment Initiatives, which are the programs and projects that may be considered for future funding.

To see the complete agenda and meeting materials for October 3 meeting please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm. The committee has set aside 15 minutes at the beginning of this meeting to take public comment. Those wishing to address the committee are encouraged to arrive early and sign up. If there are more people who wish to speak than can be accommodated at the beginning of the meeting, time will be set aside at the end of the meeting for additional public comments.

The committee’s next meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 17, 2013. For a list of upcoming meetings and to view notes from previous meetings please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm.

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Seattle Parks Legacy Plan Citizens Committee to meet Thursday, September 19

September 16, 2013 by ligonj

The Citizens Advisory Committee appointed to consider Seattle Parks and Recreation’s future funding options hosts its fifth meeting on Thursday, September 19, 2013 in the Kenneth R. Bounds Park Board Room at 100 Dexter Ave. N. at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public, with a comment period at the beginning of each meeting.

At the meeting, the committee will discuss the Investment Initiatives, which are the programs and projects that may be considered for future funding. The Committee’s goal for the meeting is to develop early prioritization of the initiatives.

To see the complete agenda and meeting materials for September 19 meeting please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm. The committee has set aside 10 minutes at the beginning of the meeting to take public comment. Those wishing to address the committee are encouraged to arrive early and sign up. If there are more people who wish to speak than can be accommodated at the beginning of the meeting, time will be set aside at the end of the meeting for additional public comments.

The committee’s next meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2013. For a list of upcoming meetings and to view notes from previous meetings please visit http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/committee.htm.

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Parks Legacy Citizens Advisory Committee to hold first meeting June 25; Mayor, Council-appointed group to consider Parks funding options.

June 20, 2013 by potterd

Council Parks and Neighborhoods Committee Chair Sally Bagshaw will greet a new committee they have appointed, the Parks and Recreation Legacy Citizens Advisory Committee, at its first meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25 in the Kenneth R. Bounds Park Board Room at 100 Dexter Ave. N.

The Mayor and Council created the committee to review the draft Parks Legacy Plan (http://www.seattle.gov/parks/legacy/) and to propose options for a potential package of parks and recreation projects, ongoing maintenance and operations, and programs and to identify strategic funding options for that package.

At this first meeting the committee members will introduce themselves, go over roles and responsibilities and common understanding of the committee’s purpose, discuss public involvement, and introduce key Parks and Recreation stakeholders.

The committee will wrap up its recommendations to the Mayor and Council by December 2013.

Committee members are: Barbara Wright, Co-Chair, Charlie Zaragoza, Co-Chair, Thatcher Bailey, Steve Daschle, Juli Farris, Bill Farmer, Thomas Goldstein, Jessie Israel, Diana Kincaid, Michael Maddux, Brice Maryman, Yalonda Gill Masundire, Mustapha Math, David Namura and Erika Nuerenberg-Melroy.

The committee’s next meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24 in the same place.

Parkways Seattle Parks and Recreation