April 24th, 2002 Meeting Summary
-- see also the
March
2002 meeting summary
Quick-Jump:
Capital Improvement Projects
Restroom Project
Dog Area Planting
Comfrey Eradication
Other Business
Meeting called to order at 7:00 PM by Greg Helland,
President of FOMP.
( other members of the FOMP board present: Herb Bone, Bill
Illi, Michael Hobbs)
Capital
Improvement Projects: Kevin Brown, King County Parks
Budget issues have impacted Capital Improvement Projects,
even though CIP has separate, dedicated funding. Parks wants to avoid
improvements to parks that will close, and improvements that will increase
operations costs. Nevertheless, there are several projects proceeding at
Marymoor:
- Restroom project - to
replace "bunker-style" restrooms near tennis courts and velodrome. This
project is in the design review phase. It is possible that it could be
delayed by budget issues, although the design should reduce maintenance costs.
- Ballfields - project to rebuild the ballfields at the
northwest corner of Marymoor. Almost complete, and proceeding without
delay.
- Electrical upgrades - providing better electrical
supply for big events in the Willowmoor Meadow area. This will continue
forward, as it is a key to attracting revenue-generating events.
- Lake Platform - to rebuild the destroyed lake viewing
platform on the interpretive trail. Currently awaiting permits.
This will be funded out of the small-projects budget, not CIP, but permitting
is going through usual channels. Bill Schwartz is handling this project.
- East Lake Sammamish Trail - new trail on old railroad
right-of-way from Issaquah to Marymoor. The trail is moving forward,
although budget issues have slowed progress.
Some projects are on hold:
- Maintenance Shop - replacing current facility with a
new one. On hold while Parks reorganization underway. Scope of
this project may change depending on status of Parks System.
- Master Plan Update. The Master Plan concept is
under review by Parks; probably far fewer parks will be covered by a Master
Plan, though Marymoor Park probably still will use this process. The
2002 Off-leash Dog Area Review will continue independently of any other
Master Plan work. (See "Other Business")
Restroom Project: Anne
Lipe, King County Parks
Anne brought around plans for the new restrooms proposed
to replace the "bunker-style" restrooms near the tennis courts and velodrome.
The new restrooms would look, on the exterior, similar to the restroom in the
Willowmoor Meadow area. However, each would consist of six independent
stalls with lockable exterior doors - three rooms each, nominally, for Women and
Men. A central service hall would be between the two sides. Two of
the stalls would be wheelchair accessible. During the off-season, the
individual stall approach would allow 2/3 of the facility to be independently
shut down.
Dog Area Planting: Anne
Lipe, King County Parks
Anne reported that a re-vegetation project is planned for
some of the ditches in the Dog Area. Details were sketchy. Anne
believed that temporary fencing would protect replanted ditch slopes.
Michael Hobbs suggested that permanent fencing would be necessary.
Comfrey Eradication:
Laura Niemi, King County Parks
On May 18th, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., there will be a
volunteer event to attempt to control the comfrey (a highly evasive plant) that
has taken over much of the Community Gardens and has escaped into the Dog Area.
The entire tap root must be removed to get rid of the plant. Any
volunteers are welcome. Contact Laura at
laura.niemi@metrokc.gov or
206-296-4294.
Other Business: Greg
Helland
- Greg gave a bit of an update on the 7-year review of
the Off-leash Dog Area. Butch Lovelace is coordinating the review
process. A SEPA review will take place (State Environmental Policy Act),
meaning that there will be a preliminary determination of environmental
significance. The outcomes of that determination could range from no
action needed (the dog area would continue as-is) to the possible
discontinuance of the dog area. The most likely outcome is that some
additional modifications to the dog area or its management would be
identified. Following the preliminary determination, public input will
be requested. The schedule for the review is still undetermined.
- Barbara Dickson noted that part of Marymoor West, though
owned by King County, is within the City of Redmond, and may be designated as
a Wildlife Habitat area. This could change the permitting process for
any changes within that area. More information about the Redmond
Wildlife Habitat program can be found at
http://www.ci.redmond.wa.us/nowredmond/wildlifehabitat.asp.
- Relayed from Deborah with City of Redmond:
- There will be a meeting on sound issue management
sometime within the next few weeks. FOMP will get a summary of the
results.
- Redmond is considering new permit requirements which
would place the full burden of costs for fire and police services on large
event organizers. This would impact all large events at Marymoor.
These notes were made by the
webmaster, Michael Hobbs, and they do not constitute an official record of the
meeting. They may have inaccuracies and omissions. If anyone has any
complaints about the content of these notes, they should direct them to Michael
Hobbs at fomp@marymoor.org, and he will endeavor to
correct them.
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