Island Rec
San Juan Island Park & Recreation District
Minutes of the Board of Commissioners' Meeting
December 4, 2003
Commissioner Ralph Hahn called the meeting to order at 5 pm on Thursday, December 4, 2003 in the Island Rec Office. Commissioners Hahn, Marriner and Brown present. Commissioners Crist and Cumming absent. Staff present, Director Kerr and Admin. Assistant Curtiss.
1. Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting. Approval of the minutes was postponed pending approval by Commissioners present at the meeting of November 20, 2003.
2. Introduction of visitors/public comment on non-agenda items. Dave Zeretsky, representing the Trails Committee will speak regarding agenda item #7(a) Trails Committee Update
3. Correspondence:
a. Letter dated November 7, 2003 from Lisa Marsaudon regarding the High School Sailing Program. Commissioner Hahn reported he and Director Kerr attended a meeting of the Sailing Foundation. Commissioner Hahn stated the Foundation indicated their willingness to support the program on an on-going basis. Director Kerr stated she will meet with Foundation representatives and create a budget with Island Rec providing use of the bus, insurance for instructors and students, cell phone and first aid kits, and payroll taxes; the Foundation to provide off-island travel expenses and the instructor's salary. Commissioner Hahn advised he met with representatives of the Foundation regarding the feasibility of the Foundation adopting the program on a permanent basis. Commissioner Hahn will respond to Ms. Marsaudon and Ms. Karon accordingly.
b. Letter dated November 15, 2003 from Marilyn Karon regarding the High School Sailing Program. See item #3(a).
c. Final Report of the Town's Transportation Advisory Committee. Commissioner Brown presented a copy of the Final Report of the Transportation Advisory Committee, which was recently presented to the Town Council and subsequently forwarded to the Planning Commission. Ms. Brown stated the Committee was advised funds are budgeted in '04 for sidewalks on Caines Street and Tucker Avenue. Commissioner Brown stated the Committee was advised Tucker Avenue will be re-engineered to include a bike path and parking only on one side. Ms. Brown said the Committee would continue to encourage the Town Council to implement the recommendations contained in the final report.
4. Payroll and Vouchers: Without objection, Commissioners approved the vouchers as presented.
5. Committee Reports:
a. Lafarge Project Acquisition - Director Kerr advised the deadline for acceptance of the Lafarge property is December 15th, 2003. Ms. Kerr outlined the contingencies remaining, advising that Island Rec will not have a water certificate before the deadline, referencing a decision by the Commission not to decommission the well and to continue efforts to obtain a certificate for use of the well. A clear property title is another contingency, specifically there was a provision in the title for Friday Harbor Sand & Gravel to provide water to the Thalacker residence at no cost. Ms. Kerr advised it is her understanding this contingency has been removed and is no longer an issue. Director Kerr advised the blue building will be removed by December 31st. Ms. Kerr advised a request will be made to have Island Rec's environmental consultant on site at the time of removal at which time the consultant will also look at the mobile asphalt plant site soil and insure the leaking transformer issue has been resolved. Commissioners agreed that the District's attorney, Aliza Allen, should prepare the letter of acceptance to the County addressing the status of the contingencies.
b. Ms. Kerr advised the Commission that a protocol has been set up to inspect imported fill material to insure it is appropriate material. The County has indicated they will accept this as a condition. Additionally, Island Rec's environmental consultant will review the proposed protocol.
c. Director Kerr advised the Commission that Lafarge's reclamation plan has been received and been forwarded to Island Rec's landscape architect, Chris Aldrich for his review.
d. Boundary Line Adjustment - Commissioners discussed whether a boundary line adjustment, which would modify the parcel descriptions to fit the property to be conveyed to the County and Island Rec respectively, is necessary.
e. Commissioner Marriner moved to give notice to the County by December 15, 2003 that the San Juan Island Park & Rec District will accept the uplands portions of the Lafarge property, said notice to be in writing drafted by Aliza Allen, and directing Ms. Allen to address and resolve if necessary, four environmental issues 1) issues related to the importation of fill material, 2) observation of the removal of the blue shed and examination of the material beneath the shed, 3) examination of the mobile asphalt plant site and, 4) assurance of the clean up of a possible leaking transformer. Additionally, confirmation that the contingency regarding water to the Thalacker's has been fully resolved. Commissioner Brown second. All present voted in the affirmative.
f. Commissioners discussed the publicity regarding the amount of tax dollars the County will lose when the Lafarge property is removed from the tax rolls. Commissioner Brown stated calculations indicate a loss of approximately $35,000 if twelve one million dollar homes were constructed on the parcel.
g. Commissioner Hahn advised there will be a walk through of the Lafarge property with a conservation specialist from Washington State University on December 18th to survey the vegetation of the area.
6. On Going Business:
a. Report from meeting with Sailing Foundation: See item #3(a).
b. Family Park Playground Replacement Plan: Commissioner Brown presented a report regarding the Fairground Family Park renovations and an estimate of costs. Director Kerr and Commissioner Brown agreed to meet and define recommendations to present to the commission and develop a plan to gain public support for the project.
c. Winter Retreat - Director Kerr advised that a winter retreat has been scheduled for Saturday, January 31st at 9 AM at the States Inn. Ms. Kerr suggested staff members Curtiss and Swift-Taylor be asked to attend. No objection.
d. Schedule January Meetings: Commissioners agreed to cancel the regular meeting scheduled for January 1, 2004.
7. New Business:
a. Trails Committee Update - Dave Zeretzky advised the Committee has received a grant in the amount of $1,000, which will be used to pay a portion of a $2,700 bill incurred by the Trails Committee for the creation of the on-line trail map. Mr. Zeretzky further advised another grant in the amount of $1,000 has been received from the County Public Works Dept., which will also be used to pay a portion of the balance of the bill, leaving a balance of $700. Director Kerr advised funds budgeted for the Trails Committee in the current budget are sufficient to pay the remaining $700 bill. Mr. Zeretzky briefed the Commission regarding a new grant effort made in conjunction with the Westcott Bay Institute for $10,000 to create and install up to 20 artist made sculptural finials that top eight foot high direction signposts. The signposts would mark trail corridors linking four recreational areas, Westcott Bay Preserve, Roche Harbor Village, English Camp National Park and the State Dept of Natural Resources Mitchell Hill property. Mr. Zeretzky and the Commission discussed the future of the DNR Mitchell Hill property and on-going efforts to attach the property to the English Camp National Park.
8. Adjournment: Without objection, Commission Hahn adjourned the meeting at 6:47 PM.
Submitted by: Patricia Curtiss,
Administrative Assistant
| 
