Parks and Recreation Commission - Regular Meeting

So, you're expecting someone to join us? Um, we have one other commissioner that's not here right now. Hopefully they hopefully he joins. I He's pretty good at letting us know if he's not here. Surprises me he's not.

Director and I'll kick us off. Yeah, just a second right now. No worries. Colette, do you remember it's not going around everybody? What are what we've done before?

Yeah, it shouldn't just be focused on us. Do you have an option on your computer to change the setting to the camera? The al camera. I think it's Oh, yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yep. For the video. Y. Thank you. Are we good to approve minutes from last last month with just me and Katherine because we're two out of four that were here? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We'll just have to have you all Yeah. support it. I thought about that too, but yeah, not having a

Commissioner Man right there. Perfect timing. There he can have this one. Okay. I'll take one of the other ones. All right. Right.

Okay, we're good. All right. I'd like to call this meeting to order and welcome everyone to the city of Breton Parks and Recreation Commission. Today is Tuesday, January 27th, 2026. Happy New Year. Thank you for everyone uh to being here and uh our new commissioners that are joining us. Thank you. Thank you so much. Um first up on tonight's agenda, we have approval of um of the agenda that you have in front of you. So, um, unless anyone has any questions or comments on this agenda, I will make a motion to approve tonight's agenda as presented. Second. All All right. All in favor of approving tonight's agenda, please say I. I.

All right. And that will pass unanimously. All right. Thank you. Uh, next up we have nomination and election of the 2026 Parks and Recreation Commission, the chair and vice chair. Um, so last year I served as the chair and commissioner Wel was my vice chair who uh, you know, in the absence of the chair will will run the meeting and um, you know, act as the chair if I'm if I'm not here. M. All right. And I I personally have no uh problem being the chair. Um I mean I know we got three new commissioners, so I'm not looking to any of you to step up and and and serve in a leadership role this time.

Why don't you switch? I'm no this is about developing leadership. Why don't you be the chair and he be a vice chair? He can benefit by his knowledge and experience of it. He did good running the meetings when in his absence. I think it develops a deeper base for this committee. I politely decline. Such a good sales pitch though. You I was bought in.

This I you know I like I like being able to to vote on each position but I also like the this is me talking. I I like the idea of the vice chair being a position for development of leadership because you get a whole year to benefit from the experience and knowledge of working with the person that has the position that you're going to move into it. You know, that's not how we're structured. But that that's just how I feel it would be it's good that way when somebody is uh goes down for whatever reason, right? you know, we have the we can we can pick up the baton and just move forward without interrupting business. And also you you bring kind of an institutional knowledge of this committee. You've been on it for a while.

Yes. You know, so you know what's up. I do. Yeah. Yeah. So, Commissioner Dawson, do you have any do you want have any interest in being a chair or vice chair on this commission? Um, I'd be the chair. Actually, I'd be fine with being the chair, but I would I would my pledge would be to work with you so that you could take over and be a chairman sometime likely the next time around. I am not going to say no to that. Yes. Give me more time. Yeah. And guidance. Hold my hand.

I think you can do it. I really appreciate what you've done for the for the parks and and particularly your own park. you know, and the work that you did before even being on the committee. So, I think that's leadership by example.

So, that's my thinking on how do any of our new commissioners have any questions or comments on how this is going to play out here? Oh, no. So, since there might since there might be since there might be a couple, you want to take nominations? Yeah. Yeah. Um, so I will start um I will I would like to nominate uh Greg Dawson to be our chair of the city of Breton Parks and Recreation Commission for 2026. Thank you for your nomination. I'll second that. All right. Thank you. All in favor of approving Commissioner Dawson as the chair of there's any other unless there's any other nominees.

All right. So, uh, all in favor of approving Commissioner Dawson as the chair of the the Parks and Recreation Commission for 2026, please say I. I. I. All right, that's going to pass unanimously. Congratulations. I want I want to thank you because I know that this is kind of a thankless job and you've been here through a lot of the rocky parts. Thank you, Commissioner. And and that it just it's it's work. It really is. and and and it should be work and it should be actually more work, you know, actually, but you're doing you're volunteering your time. You're you're coming here for every meeting and additionally,

which is good. Now, you signed up for that. That's good. But it needs to be recognized. Just want to thank you. I appreciate it. Thank you, commissioner. I appreciate that. All right. Well, let's move on to uh vice chair. I would like to nominate Commissioner Wiggle to be vice chair for 2026 for the city of Birmington Parks and Recreation Commission. I'll second that nomination. All right. Um unless we have any other uh folks who would like to throw their name into the hat. Um I uh all in favor of approving Commissioner Wiggle as the 2026 uh vice chair uh please say I.

I. All right. That's going to pass unanimously as well. Congratulations, Commissioner Wyber. And uh with that, Commissioner Dawson, I'm turning it over to you, my friend. Okay, take us take us home. I just am going to read from the agenda here and we'll just continue with that. You got it. I sure didn't provide you any other notes. Anyway, I guess the next order of business here looks like it's the approval of our minutes from the previous meeting. Has everybody had an opportunity to look through this? Okay. Okay. Do I get a motion?

I have a question though. Okay, please. Um, it has that I was remote and that you were remote and we were here. Yeah, both. Maybe I just wasn't great. All right. I didn't know if that mattered, but we were here. Could we make that correction? Is that okay? Thank you. Yes. Thank you very much. Any other any other comments on the minutes or corrections? It's fine. So, I will make a motion to approve our minutes from December 22nd um with the corrections that were just discussed with removing remote from Commissioner Wiggle and Commissioner Dawson. Second. Get a second. I second it.

Okay. All in favor? I And then you sounds good. Okay. Okay. It looks like next we got public comment. Yeah. We have some members of the public here. Uh would you like to comment today? Oh, thank you. Okay. Well, thank you. Introduce yourself. Introduce yourself. Bill for clean up.

You know, actually, I just wanted to say I appreciate the work that the parks department has done in Portrait Park. It's good to get a handle on the uh campers we call them before they get too settled in and discourages other people from doing the same thing. So just appreciate that. So So you're the second half of all that praise I keep. I guess I'm sick. Thank you. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you. Appreciate it. Okay, let's look here.

So, Commissioner since um we had we we had a little uh premeating a little about an hourong orientation. Okay. Um but if we if you want to just kind of have everybody go around and introduce who they are and then Kylie can kind of reintroduce herself too.

That'd be wonderful. And I'll start with you. Katherine Wiggle and um like you were saying we are um stewards forest ridge park and that's what brought me into being involved with the parks and I have passion for all the parks now even more and such a great place to be a lot of good support thank you for co-chair you're in a co-chair what is that me too that's you I am chair. I'm Brian Hel, maintenance and operations manager for parts department.

Right, Benette. Um I guess I'm just on this commission. I have been on this commission I think I've been on this commission maybe eight, nine years now. Um yeah, long a lifelong resident here in in Breton. Um my I uh formerly worked for the city of Birminton in parks. My mom worked parks and now my son works here. So uh three generations of brunettes have come through these hallowed halls here at Sheridan Park and uh glad I'm here. Thank you.

Kylie Fel, the city attorney. I've been the attorney for Birmingham an attorney for Burton for the last 10 years and I've lived in Kep County for 22 years. Do you want to just briefly mention why you're here? Just hanging out. No, just so do have an item to talk to you about the OPMA training under new business, but also um our office has taken a new initiative this year to um have uh one of the attorneys in our office attend um all of the city's commission and council um committee meetings. And so I assigned myself to parks because I like you guys and I like this meeting. So that's why I'm Thank you. So you'll be seeing me every month.

All right. Every now and then we may play pickle ball ahead of time if anybody I'm definitely in on that. Definitely in on that. Uh Tim Barker, director. Uh been with the city since I like to say 2024, which makes it sound like a while, but it's just a little over a year. Let burn been with parks. We did an update earlier, but 18 and a half years it's since uh

Joan Dingfield. I'm a 30 plus year resident of Breton. Have served on the parks commission before and glad to be back. It's a it's a it's a great system. Alex Bellinger. Um new to the commission. I've been in Breton since 2019. I'm Dave Bingham. I'm for German. Nice.

Yeah. Um did a last up here. Moved away in 1983. Retired in 2024, moved back up and I had a lot of time on my hands and so that was kind of my second volunteer gig. I volunteer with the BCAP program at the

I'm Greg Dawson. This is my second term on the commission. I um was also born in Robertton, lived here most of my life except for Lake College, I think along those lines. And uh I'm just really uh the parks department and the parks in general is really important to me. It I think that there's so many layers of things that we're here to to be custodians of

and to promote and I really support you know not only the work department but I support you know bringing in the public to help with the work. I think the diversity and and viewpoints that we get from people here in Breton, which is actually quite a city, you know, I think that's what makes things strong and will help us for the future. Well said.

Great. All right. Okay. So, we want to get on with the uh the staff reports and updates for Ridge Park update. And this is usually where I take it off. So with that, uh quick little update on uh Forest Ridge. Um as most you're aware uh from last meeting, we did put some rocks in place uh as kind of a as a barrier and a deterrent from letting folks just meander through the park as they wish. Um and with that, we've ordered some new gates. Those gates have come in. They've been fabricated. It works great.

Uh today, um lines for locate were painted. Um I'm in the process of uh putting in a locate ticket right now. And once we have those, we'll get the holes factored out and then we're going to coordinate with the contractor to assist us in the layout and get those in place here shortly. Um, one thing that did come about as part of this project is there'll be two gates. There'll be one at the main entrance and then one a little bit further down uh within the park. Um, kind of similar to where the power pole is and the horseshoe pits are

currently where the rocks are now. Um, and so those rocks will get removed. The gates will go then go into place. will have a few rocks there to be able to move maneuver within the park as as needed. Um, and working with the fire department, police, and public works. We're going to go ahead and take the uh other gate that uh takes us up to the the water tower through um the public works easement there. We're going to go ahead and take that gate. We're going to pop it out of the ground and we're going to move that down a little bit closer towards uh the Boy Scout Hall. Mhm.

And this will still provide them with access. And with those remaining rocks that we have, we're going to look to either a temporarily put those along First Street up on uh kind of the west end of the park. Uh and then uh it'll be up to public works to decide how they want to deal with that road approach with contractors or if they would like to utilize the gates. Both uh the police and fire department are good with that. We have no boxes in place. This has all been pre-planned and so um looking to see that develop here probably within the next two weeks or so. How what are they using the Boy Scout home for nowadays?

I haven't seen much activity. Does it have an occupancy permit or anything like that? So they are using it for meetings. Um the Boy Scouts. Yeah. and I I can't remember if it was our last meeting in early December he had shown up to and he was going to start coming a little bit more just to kind of stay familiar and he knew that Forest Ridge was one of the projects. Um but yeah, that might we can find out. Um they're really the only ones that utilize the building. Yeah, I'd hate to see it end up like the uh scout cabin at NAD where it's a big liability for the city.

Yep. And one other question. Um I've lost track of what the city what the school district is going to do with Renaissance. Um which kind of abuts the Forest Ridge property on the on that side or they're not going to they're not going to use that site for Renaissance. the current

I think I think this square footage that the Renaissance is in it's going to stay uh about the same. Um there is some interest in some developers uh to acquire other pieces of property but nothing's really been solidified as of now. I don't I don't see the footprint of the Renaissance spanning. But are they going to build a building there? I'm not sure what they're not. I haven't heard. Yeah, I I haven't heard either. I kind of It's kind of in the preliminary phase. Nice. Interesting. Okay.

Brian, I just want to make sure I'm tracking the existing gate that we have to get up to the water towers is going to be moved to to block off Yeah. that that other road. Show you a little better. I think I know what you're talking about. So currently right now we have this the main yes entrance in. We're going to put one here so we have our night closers at night be able to uh lock up. This is going to replace the rocks that are currently in place. There is a gate that sits right here that goes up to a utility ement to the water towers. Yes.

This gate here will then move down into this area. And then with the remaining rocks that are in uh this location, it could be moved to block this off from anybody jumping the curb and then being able to get into the park. This will allow the opportunity for public works to decide what they want to do long term, whether that's ballards, uh landscaping, whatever they decide to do. Yeah. But in the interim, we're going to block that off just to control access a little bit better because that map shows like what does it show? Hartford like that road does not cut through there. it. It Yeah, there's a curve like you said. There's a break in it right there. Yep. Thank you.

When do you think it'll be done? I'm expecting within the Well, locate should be done within the next two to three days. Oh, wow. Um scheduling with public works for the back truck to get up uh get the holes dug. that's going to be on their time frame, but I would probably think within two to three days and then probably by next week we'll be looking at install. That'd be great if we get some pictures and things of it when it's completed. Absolutely. That was that was um kind of like several people were complaining about the rocks and things. This will show that you did it, it's all done.

Yeah. and we knew that the rocks were going to be an issue, especially on uh pavement because they're so easy to move around and we we recognize that going into it. It was it was a temporary measure. Um adjustments needed to be made in the field from time to time, but um all with the big goal of uh you know getting the gates into place. And the issue is not the complaint. The issue is really uh t taking a breath because you're busy taking a breath. Yeah. The parks department has been getting recognition for accomplishments. Yeah.

Yeah. And and we could probably put together another uh a slide for the our next meeting to show kind of the before and afters, what was proposed and where we sit today. uh from for the next meeting. I think we do and we'll we'll pro we'll um plan to do it a social media blast too. That would be uh which is usually is kind of again because we started doing all the pictures and everything when we were out and about. That's kind of when we started to be a lot more proactive about just making the public aware of what we're doing and so we'll make sure and our our crews are doing a lot better when they're out to take pictures and send them in and so we'll make sure that we get something posted.

That would be great. is there there was there was some static and you handled you handled it real well. Seriously. Yeah. I have to admit that I've heard nothing but praise from neighbors and people walking in the park on how much safer they feel now. It's made a difference that made a huge difference. Good. Thank you. That's leadership skills you're developing as Yeah. So that's basically all the bad news I think I've had.

It's actually a positive note. I'll work on that. Good. Good. Good. I just want and not only you you deserve kudos, but the parks department needs the recognition, you know. So getting the word out, that mission accomplished, you know. Uh this isn't my doing, this is team's doing. It's total support from everybody else. I'm just a piece of we got to get that that message out there. So, that's good and I I appreciate it. Well, thank you for that. Okay, pros plan. Okay, I'll take that. Um Okay, this hopefully will be the last meeting. I'll have to have a binder clip to hold my pros plan

because that'll be the old one.

Uh I've received a couple different bids. We're going to have it back a new new version bound and I'm going to make as plenty of copies to be able to get to commission members and then to council members um and then to be able to have some additional on hand for the next six years uh for individuals that are interested in it. But um council did approve it last month. So that was awesome. That was great to have that, you know, some citizen comments and uh we made a couple last minute adjustments um just in some wording various things, but thank you uh Commissioner Dawson for being at the meetings. That was nice to have you there. Um but so just for the new members uh this was kind of our checklist that we started really uh we created a checklist after we had gone through our eight months of intense uh review of the document uh just so we could have a visual to kind of start showing all the different pieces that we've accomplished. So obviously the commission approved it in September. Then we moved it to the state agencies. Uh while some internal review was occurring, they had 60 days to complete their review. Um we uh added it to the website and had some hard copies available for the public to view. uh we submitted our SEIPA checklist to community development and then we started going through the public hearing and and city council process. So city council heard it at their study session in November and then we actually the only required public hearing was on the 3rd of December but we did run a public hearing as well on the 17th. Um, so both of those and council adopted it on the 17th and then we heard RCO is recreation

conservation office and so we heard back from the state and received their approval in January really couple weeks ago I guess now almost. So um all the steps have been completed and uh yeah we should probably celebrate something brought that up too. So, we meet a staff on Tuesday mornings and um to celebrate, we've started stretching and listening to music and having disco lights for our Tuesday morning meeting. So, if you ever want to stretch with us, we do it after we meet with finance, we let them go,

then we jam and stretch. So, but yeah, it's like so so often do we uh get so focused on a project, get it done, and then we move on to the next and we forget to celebrate uh everything that we've accomplished. So, yeah. Um job well done to those that are here. And I think I mentioned to during your interviews that, you know, we have four openings and it has nothing to do with the review process of the program. We didn't lose four over the year. uh just natural attrition and other things, but just didn't want to bring anybody on in the middle of that and just have them have you completely lost. So So what time is the stretch?

Yeah, maybe we'll do we'll do that. Yeah. 4:15 or 5:15 moving forward. 9:00. Oh, we do it at 9:00. Yeah. Say in the morning I'll just I'll participate at home. Yes. Yeah. There you go. Yeah. So, uh, all we're all done with pros for now and and looking forward, um, I'll work with you, Commissioner Dawson, and, um, wanting to look at maybe next month starting to look at some do some goal planning. Um, setting some goals for the commission for this coming year. Good.

Um, so we'll start looking at that. You know, what types of projects do we want the commission to be involved in? um in our in our um orientation at 4:30 talked to the commissioners that we will be asking the commission um for interest in being involved in various projects this year. Um so yeah, good things to come. We're already working uh which you'll see um later on in some of these items. We're already moving forward with the plan. So exciting. Yes. Thank you very much. Who's who's got kids up lake?

I do. Um, but tonight the discussion is focused on the playground, but I want to give just a brief overview for new commissioners. Uh, kids lake park has been under construction since October of 2024. The focus has been the replacement of the boat launch ramp and fishing pier and making the pathways at those locations all accessible and everything. Um, most of that work has been done for a while now. The upland area of Kitapp Lake Park had never been developed before. So, this is our first playground at Kapat Lake Park, which is really exciting. The picnic shelter is already in. Um, the tables are in.

Yeah, the tables are in. So, there's some other things that I'm not going to talk about tonight that are still going on on site. Brian's been overseeing the installation of the trench drain in the parking lot and the automatic irrigation is going in right now. And then we'll be having some plantings installed as well. So, the playground is like the finish, the cherry on top, right, of the of the project. And last month, we reviewed the um survey results from the uh playground survey. We had 11 different concepts that um we put out there to get people to vote on. I think we had like 114 responses um from the social media post and and the favorite design was concept F, which was this design here. But when we asked what was the top rated play feature, swings was top rated and um it's a difficult site because it's not very big. Um but we thought let's ask this this playground manufacturer if they can modify this concept and get swings in. And after a lot of back and forth uh they were able to. we um lost the the climbing rock in the foreground on that top photo and one of the three slides, but other than that, the play value was really kept intact. And so, we're really happy with the design and we worked through some different um uh concepts for colors. Uh so, we're we have proposed the Spanish moss post color um working with greens and blues and kind of mint as an accent. So, I think it's going to really complement the natural settings there and it's it's adjacent to the um picnic shelter, which is green. So, it's going to look really great. So, yeah, our our um we're planning on having a community build day like we've done before. So, this contract with the playground manufacturer includes um the equipment installation of the posts and then kind

of supervising the installation of the panels and such. So, um we'll be promoting that. um when that comes. But yeah, the goal is to get this done by before school gets out. So um we have it scheduled to go to council for approval, a study session on the 11th, then council meeting on the 18th. Um it's always really helpful to get commissioners approval of any item that we bring to council first. Um, so if there's any questions, I know we have three new commissioners, so this is um, but this has been a kind of I guess publicly uh, um, sought out project in terms of getting uh, comments back and um, I think that the the um, hybrid design that we did here, the the swings and the the playground is really good um, great value for for the community. So, the the contract is uh for the for what I just said, the playground equipment um installation is $194,000. It's going to be funded by our second department of community or Department of Commerce grant for this project. We've now had six different funding sources grants cobbled together to fund this project. Um so, that has been awarded, but the the contract is also going to council for uh to get it enacted about the same time. So,

way to go, Colette. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, this will be a fun project to have a a grand opening ribbon cutting sort of thing on the summer. But is the vendor that got awarded the the contractor that's the same as Haden? No. No. Good question. Yeah, that's a great question. Yeah. New is a company the city has used before? Uh, Kap County has, but the city has never Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, it was a design that was um really as far as the responses on the surveying stood out. Yeah.

Um and we did go and check out one of the county parks to look at the product. Um couple of us been Brian and I are familiar with the the parent company so you know them. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. And so thought, you know, it might be a good opportunity to bring bring a different um company in. And cool.

And I think what stood apart out, thanks to you for reminding me this design about um among the other designs is it's such a small footprint. We don't have that much open space up in the upland area of Kapac Lake. Um so this design included this vertical tower element that none of the other designs had that much vertical, you know, um play value. And we're able to position it in such a way that you're can be over see the lake there. So, it's a really nice um it fits the site really nice. Yeah. And you didn't run into any artifacts in the playground. Yeah. Fortunately, we didn't have a historic landfill. My fault.

We'll celebrate once we get that display put together. Yeah. We're going to bring in a cabinet, right? Yeah. It's in my garage. My my grandmother's china cabinet would bring in to display all the artifacts from So Bu recreation the last job that I had with them was at South Kal Park and they're really good work. Awesome. Yeah. So great so far. Yeah, we went through different iterations of this project and colors for at least a good month. Yeah, and layout took a while to get to. Do you need a motion from this commission?

Yeah, a motion to proceed with the playground purchase would be great. Uh I would like to make a motion to proceed with the playground purchase as presented at tonight's meeting. Second. Motion seconded. Uh, all those in favor? I wonderful. Thank you again for your work. Thank you. Stephenson Canyon off leash area. So, grant application.

Well, centralized park has been a high priority for Breton since you were on the commission. So, the last three parks and recreation open space plans, that's 18 years, it's been a high priority. Um and uh we had an opportunity to apply for um funding in the 23rd legislative district which is which is East Breton. And um usually those grants are in the like the 200 to $300,000 range that they thought, you know, 285 would be an appropriate amount to ask for. There's not a lot of projects you can do for that, but an off leash dog area is one of them where we could really make a big impact that amount of money. So, we went out to the public again asked, "What do you think about Stson Canyon as a as a a potential offlish area with the area that we're talking about is the area that was already disturbed? there was former um housing there when we had the big housing boom in the 40s and um yeah the the response was yeah it was over 76% said that they highly support a dog park there um we applied for the funding and um we expect to be awarded or no this summer um and so uh assuming we are awarded we'd love to have like a kind of design committee um members of the public that are interested to kind of help us um

just lay out lay out the space, you know. Um it's a tricky site with the it has some challenges. Every site does. Um but I think there's a lot of potential. We don't use the upper area that we used to use for storage of mulch and so forth. So you don't use that. We don't use that. So that structure is planned to be removed of course

which will allow for there one of this one of the items and we reviewed the if any of the new commissioners are interested we reviewed the survey results the last meeting of what the comments were but um a lot of people wanted a separated small and small and large off leash area and so that upper area could provide an opportunity for that and yeah I just would love to get um members of the public out and do a site visit and kind of envision envision a dog park at this location. So, um yeah, once once Kitab Lake is completed, you know, and and we know that we have the funding, we'll be looking to to do something like that. And so, I think if any commissioners are interested in being part of that as well, um yeah,

I've had an interest in this space for a lot of years, so I'd be happy to participate. I'm a dog walker anyway. Aside from the informal trails, it's really just been used for maintenance. And so the city has had this property for 67 years and it really hasn't been it's been underutilized and I think it could really activate this space. So yeah. Well, so we'll keep you posted. Yes, we'll be in touch. Well, thank you. Uh, moving on to new business then. Oh no, we got Peter gas field.

Yeah, I'll let uh Colette lead off on this and then I'll fill in with some additional info.

Oh, okay. Um, forgot I was uh so yeah, we had a uh um consultant Bruce Diesen Associates do a 30% design. That's what we see here. Um this was from April of 2023. We had a small Department of Commerce grant to to fund that um work and um just to kind of get a general cost estimate. So at the time that this was done um replacing the two fields with artificial turf, creating the um walkways and accessible uh walkways and this sort of picnic plaza with new restroom. um some other site improvements going in the parking lot was $3.3 million. Um so the next step is we had um some money budgeted to uh advance the design to 90% drawings. It's nice to have a little bit of if you don't complete it all the way to 100% so that once you do get the grant funding you have the opportunity to kind of make you know so many refined before you got to bid. So, um that uh city council approved that contract again with Bruce and Associates to complete the 90% drawing. Um we have a grant opportunity coming up in the spring with recreation conservation office through the youth athletic facilities category to apply for 1.5 million. So that still is two probably two million more that we'll need um in order to complete this scope. Um but we are working with a group.

Yeah. And actually Kylie was at one of our first meetings. Um so I've met a few different times with the Kitsup Alliance of FC. So the football club, so soccer club within the region, and they're kind of a parent club to the Breton soccer club and some others. Um, so they're in communication and partner with all of the youth soccer programs, uh, within the area, individual clubs, um, not necessarily with Boys and Girls Club or if the Y has a program. And so, like I said, we've met a few times. They have interest in partnering uh, with this project u both for obviously long-term use, but financially. And so we recently entered into anou so a memorandum of understanding doesn't legally bind anybody to anything. Uh but basically saying that we both have a vested interest in this site and want to proceed uh moving forward with collaborating on potential final design what the site might look like and looking at funding sources which would include the club as a potential funding opportunity. So, I'm excited to continue to meet with them this spring. Um, we anticipate the 90% drawings to be done by May June time frame.

Is kind of what we're hoping. Yeah, it's taken a while to get the contracts completed, but yeah, we need to touch base on that. Yeah. Yeah. And so, hoping, you know, in in a perfect world, we would have the 90% drawings done and a couple potential partners on board moving forward. and to be able to really start promoting this site as a major project for the department around the World Cup time frame if you're aware of that coming to if the US

if we're going to have yeah if we're going to have it locally. Um but uh yeah that would be in if I could create a perfect world that would be my perfect world is that uh this is a project around that FIFA World Cup time frame that we could really promote in the community which could potentially bring in some additional donors too. Um, typically around World Cup time frames, soccer participation skyrockets whether it's in the US or elsewhere just because this is such a massive event on the world stage. And so we want to take advantage of that um locally. And so um our hope is this summer that we'll be able to have a lot more news and information related to that. So, as the spring comes along, if we have updates, we'll just probably briefly update you during these meetings. Um, but other than that, we did uh receive approval from council to move forward. This is bas was basically a change order from Bruce Dez's original agreement to do the 30% drawing. So, we completed that in December with council. So, they did support us to move forward with that and funded it in 2025. $150,000 to go towards the the design process.

Did Kappa Alliance have any concerns with these being multi-purpose fields with them being lined for sports other than soccer? They have not shared that concern yet. Okay. Uh they're aware that they're not their fields. Sure. And that we're going to want to utilize them for different activities and community events and those types of things. as far I think we'll probably get more into like a what is their you know ultimate request or desire of these fields. Yeah. Um because that'll that when we start talking more about the funding aspect of things but correct me if I'm wrong but like with them being multi-purpose fields it kind of helps us with the grant application for sure. Yeah. Absolutely.

Yeah. In this current scope right now um you know rugby they they've have like they have a like a goalpost. Are we talking about putting those in as well? Um, you know, they're just like straight poles that go, you know what I'm talking about? Yeah. Yeah. We haven't necessarily looked at golf as a potential option. Those could there could be sleeves that in there for those potentially they go high. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. So, when we were doing some introductory things before the meeting started, I mentioned that sometimes my ideas get kind of way out there and sort of big. Well, this was one of those because in my perfect world when I was working with the school district at that time, they really wanted to build a westside middle school. So I thought, okay, it can go on that space down below there and then the school district could build one of the fields and the parks department could build another one of the fields and there could have been a really nice partnership there. Well, that didn't happen. I just thought I'd share, but but uh one thing you might want to think of even within the grant application is talking with the school district because there is a school right there. There is the Washington Youth Academy and they use those fields. They train on those fields. They they they

get the get the young people down there pretty early in the day. So So if if that helps with this grant application and creating more partnerships, we might consider that. Oh, that's a great idea. Yeah. But a new restrooms in the scope as well though. Yeah. Which is very needed. Very much so. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah. We We were there. It was at like 7:30 in the morning on a windy day and it was cold, but yeah, we were if you were anywhere in close proximity to that restroom, you knew it was there. Got it. Got it. Cool. Exciting.

Okay. Looks like we're in new business now. So, we're looking at the commissioner's meeting schedule. Tim. Yeah. So, I believe I did send it out to you as well. Um, so these are our standard dates. Yep.

Um, that we meet. So we meet on the fourth Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. And I did put a mask script on there saying that typically um, usually summer or early fall, the commission will would vote and decide if they want to combine the November, December meetings because they're right around holidays. Um, and so we don't need to necessarily do it at this point, but essentially what we would do is we would create a special meeting. And typically it's the first Tuesday in December. And so even though we're rescheduling, it's considered a special meeting because it's outside the regular schedule. And so we just need enough time as staff to be able to note that and make sure that all the public recognition is done. So then we're doing that properly. But otherwise, um, last year's schedule looked vastly different because we had goals and sections related to the pros plan tied to it.

But maybe after um, February, we kind of start looking at some key key thoughts and ideas and maybe as staff to um, filling in trying to kind of highlight different things within each month. And something that Colette and I were actually talking about this week that I've I've done previously too is it might be fun um to take one of the month's meetings when the weather's nice and go and visit project sites and and kind of do it because we do have really nice vans from the senior center um that they don't say senior center or people on them. So, old people on the board. Yeah.

But, um, so we could take those and, uh, it would just be a fun way because we we do so many different things within our park system. Even right now, the winter cleanup projects that we're doing, um, it's fun to show some of those things off. So, taking a meeting, uh, maybe in June or July, we dedicate one of those as a park tour. And so we would just come up with a schedule and then we would just note the locations and times we plan to be there in case the public wants to follow or show up at a certain site and join us for the conversation. So that was something that we were looking at as well.

I think that's a great idea. Ben almost several times a year has suggested that that uh we get out and see our parks more and that come up with the idea that that we do field trips. Whatot and I I think any opportunity to get out the park. Yep. That's a good one. When the weather's nice. When the weather's nice. Yeah. Well, I quickly learned after I started here that I don't I'm not supposed to cancel meetings if I meet someone at a park just because it's raining. I thought you rescheduled those when you're hiking with Josh in in Madrona Trails. Oh, yeah.

And pouring down rain like the second month I was here. Like really funny. I've run into him on those trails in those every day no matter what. Great. Okay. Well, looks like the the next thing here training, who's going to speak to that? I'll I'll let the open public meetings act. It's a state law

that applies to parks commissions and it's a um state law that talks about um forum and notices and decision- making and that sort of thing. And uh many years ago they added a requirement that you as officials get training on it. Part of that is that there are penalties for violating it. It seemed fair that if you are subject to penalties you should maybe get some education on how to avoid those penalties. Um there's also something called a public records act and um you are not required to get training on that but it is highly highly highly recommended. Um the reason for that is that um there could be situations where um someone makes a public record request for things related to that your work on the committee and you'll be giving fun advice to us in one of my office to um help gather those records and it's good to understand what the parameters for that are. So um we don't have the training tonight. Um we're actually going to I'm going to shoot out some resources for you to um pick and choose how you really want to get it done. Um, the one that I recommend, and if you want to write this down, you're going to see it in a link, is technically it's a two-hour long videos series, and you can break it up. I think it's broken up into five different videos. And and and this is a little bit of me being an overachiever because it has a lot of other stuff on it, too. Um, it does OPMA, ERRA, but it also just does some really good information on um, municipal financing, how how cities come to have money and um, why sometimes funds can be used for something and sometimes they can't be used for other things. Um, there's a little another video on um, just the authority like who has who's who runs the city, what's the difference between the council and the mayor, that sort of thing. um why are some cities set up one way and some cities are set up another way because you might see that kind of

stuff and wonder that work. Um there's another video that explains um planning how um comp plans work and what involving that. So um the reason I recommend that one and it's called knowing the legal territory I think let's see knowing the legal territory um and I I'll send out a link to this um tomorrow. um is that it's broken up into little bite-sized chunks. You don't have to finish them all at once. And then when you finish it, you can just hit um print and make yourself a certificate. That's always fun. And turn that into us and they'll show that you um not only did you require training, but you went above and beyond and now you know a lot of stuff about municipalities and how they function. Um, the reason I recommend that is I read this study about people serving on committees and what makes it a good experience for them and what makes it not so great experience for them. And one of the things it said is that um, committee members who understand like the uh, way that the city that they're serving works tend to have a more um, fulfilling service commitment on the committee. they understand where their role is, you know, better. They understand how to make recommendations that fit into things that the city can actually do um and even can come up with ideas of um how to make things happen um because they understand how the system works. And so, so I think maybe doing that um two-hour training is the option I would recommend, but you don't have to. I'll also have an option on there for you to do um one that's required by state law and you won't have to do quite as much if that's one take. Be no judgment on my part of which one you choose. So um that's all I have to say about OPMA training.

Thank you. Thanks Charlie. I have a question. Sure. Um, I know that elected officials have a different level of public disclosure than we do, but as commission members, are our email and texts uh subject to public disclosure? Yes. If it's about your committee work, yeah,

not all of them, of course, that's that would be even elected officials, not all of their um emails just because of the nature of being a um official. Um now, for them, a lot more of their text and emails might be related to city business, then um but um yeah, it could be. Um, and you'll want to you'll learn in your OPMA training, you're going to want to make sure that a quorum of you aren't meeting to talk about business um related to the commission. And that also goes for your um texting or emailing each other because that could be two things, right? It could be a violation of the open public meetings act, right?

But then those um written communications could also be considered public records. So that's why I recommend the public records training even if um it's not technically required. Okay, thank you. Maybe we offer some surprise, you know, gifts or something if you complete the full training. You just It'll be secret. We won't tell you what it's going to be. You're going to have to buy some sort of It's going to be super cool though. Whatever it is,

as long as it's not 9 a.m. exercises trophies down in the basement. There you go. There you go.

Trophy in a 1960. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. The next one here is the city council retreat that Tim was getting talked about.

Okay. Yeah. I put that on our agenda just because the agenda went out last week. The retreat was this last Saturday. I wasn't exactly for sure what all was going to be discussed. So, I wanted to at least have it on the agenda in case there was specific under 10,000 foot level conversations. Um, kind of getting into the weeds and they really didn't get into the weeds much. Um, and Kylie feel free to fill in on some stuff on this one too. Um, so for the first time in I don't know how long, maybe a really long time, uh, council hired a um, someone to moderate the meeting, which was great. The morning session, uh, if you can see up here kind of, um, Uncommon Bridges is the company that they hired. Um so they led a specific um training and um group work with the council on their own in the morning. I was open to the public. Um nobody from the public was there at all all day and then the directors came in at 12:30. Um Kyler likes to point out I was there at 11:30 and that's just because I'm an overachiever. Oh, I love it.

That's my personal I wanted to be there a little early to hear get some glimpses of what they were talking about in the morning. Uh so and it was so yeah so they they talked about you know what was the purpose of their meeting for the day kind of setting the ground rules. It was really nice to have a moderator because then um the person that was the timekeeper um wasn't a the council president or some or a staff person. So, it was okay for me to tell Joan, you know what, you're done. We're moving on. Um, and people respected that because it, you know, it was a third party. And so, it was actually I thought they Uncommon Bridges did a a fantastic job. They seem to be extremely knowledgeable in in local government. Um, I don't know if they do a lot of these with local governments, but um, I thought that they um, their understanding was extremely relevant to the topic. Um and so were really good at leading uh direction based on various conversations and and the knowledge that they had. And then like I um yeah, so then they a mutual commitment the the council recently created their own code of conduct for their group. So, how they're going to respect or treat people, how they how they're going to manage themselves, um within their their group, um how communication will occur, um what barriers are there to to having success, and then discussing tools and resources, and then they talked at the end of their morning session about different priorities. So, they kind of came up with, and again, this is more of like a 30,000 foot level, but six kind of priority areas. And then the directors came in. Uh we talked um really we just kind of got to hear a summary of how their morning went. Um but then we all sat at a table together. In the past it's been the council at the table and then staff were kind of off back and if we get asked a question we answer.

Otherwise we're kind of not really actively participating. And so it was nice. They had us literally every other person. And so there was a lot of lot of good interaction between the council and the staff. Um and then um again just kind of reviewing some of their priorities. All the information is going to be um summarized and then I'm sure it'll be published or listed somewhere. Um and then I'll plan if you're interested I can I can provide some of that information to you as well to see to share what their their um their particular priorities are for 2026. Obviously, um having a retreat in January is a little bit tough because you're it could be good and bad. It's it's good in the sense that you're focus focused more on okay well we have we the budget's been set. What are we going to prioritize you know our funding on and support towards during this year. Uh it's not necessarily getting in the weeds of the budget because that's already done. Uh so it's not like the retreats about you know how are we going to fund this next year. uh that's already been decided at that point. So um no, I thought I thought it was really good a really good meeting. Um yeah, with having the moderator there, we finished at 3:59. So uh we were right on time.

Did you go? Any uh any additional things you want to mention about the day? Kylie got to be there the whole time.

Yeah. No, I was really impressed with the consulting company in Common Bridges. A um it was a twoperson team um and one person uh is a resident of Birminton and a background in city planning um actually I think citing military installations. He had worked in other countries and relocated Birminton so I think a couple years back. The other person was uh lived in Seattle um but uh seemed very knowledgeable and there was also a lot of groundwork laid before the um actual day. think that they had met with um directors. They met with they councled. They uh council leadership um and council staff and just did a lot of familiarizing themselves with a lot of um the work that the council have been doing um and just did a really great job. I was I was really impressed. I'd be interested in any other services they they offer because I really did not value the car part.

Yeah. Yeah. I thought it was a great value for for what they provided. That's what I was wondering if if it was if it was valuable and if you have any thoughts or if there's any thoughts of getting a booster shot of it later in the year either for the council south or maybe something for staff here in the park department.

Yeah. And I think one thing that they kind of explained too is usually this isn't the length of the format they go through. Usually it's a two three-day process and so it was really um quick and and trying to get some things together but like I mean I've only been involved in one of these in last year uh right after I got here and um the priorities then were more of like okay Ben what's your priority Brian what's your priority so it's kind of a conglomeration everybody's individual priorities where here it was really, hey, we've got key areas. And so, everybody agreed on these key areas, but maybe there were a few pieces in between, but it to me it seemed like it was more of a group gathering of priorities as opposed to

12 different individual, you know, everybody gets two of their own pet projects. So, it seemed a lot more cohesive than it has been in the past. But, yeah, I'd be interested too. and and and um you know, we talked as far as staff that a followup with council would be great, maybe almost a second version um even with staff being involved, but um yeah, I'd be interested, like Kylie said, to see what other resources they provide. Maybe there's something internally we could do. Yep. Yeah. Y thank you for hearing that. Yeah. Uh looks like we're commissioners comments. We're getting toward the end here. want to start out.

I have no comments. No comments. You're speechless. Uh yeah, just like to again welcome uh uh our three new commissioners. I really appreciate you folks uh being willing to join this commission. I hope you get as much out of it as I do. Um thank you for Commissioner Dawson to uh step up and be the new chair of of this commission. Um, I appreciate you and I appreciate the time that I had the opportunity to be chair of this commission and um, it was great and I had a good vice chair and um, yeah, this commission is great and uh, I look forward to a to a great 2026. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And I don't have any particular comments.

Okay. Me neither. As well.

As well. Okay. Okay. Well, I just want to close then with just thanking everybody for being here and the work that you that everybody puts in all the time for the commission and just it's it's one of the things with with parks and the outdoors and things like that is is not only you know the commitment that and the commitment that I've seen here of individuals to the the average citizen of Breaka but also to the heritage citizens that candy before and and the thing that we have we when you look at a single tree you know a Douglas fur maybe 100 years old or something like that 15 and huge that that's a living thing that that kind of stands for those that came before us

and and when we look at the park of the future and when we look at what's coming in the future we we see voters citizens that outnumber every Burtonian that ever been has ever been here before that they're the ones that that have the vote now that haven't been born yet. And that's that's just the kind of sacred trust we have. And that's the thing that I see people fulfilling every day. And that's what I want to see us continue to as our work is that sacred trust to the past to now, but also all those citizens of this force in the future. And that's my two cents. Beautiful.

With that, if there's no objections, I just think we can adjourn the meeting. Go home. All right. You get 24 minutes. Go. Go home and start on your train.

Yeah. Steer.