Friends of Marymoor Park
 

September 27, 2023 Meeting Summary

-- see also the August 23, 2023  meeting summary

1. Welcome and Introductions: Greg Helland, FOMP President; Chris Jordan, Marymoor Park Administration, King County Parks; Angie Heyer, Seattle Event Solutions; Stefan Patton, Seattle Event Solutions; Glenn Eades, Eastside Audubon Bird Loop, neighbor;  Shai Hinitz, MAR/C; Michael Hobbs, Marymoor Bird Survey, FOMP Secretary
   
   
2. Proposed Cricket Complex: Greg quoted another article from the Puget Sound Business Journal with cricket proponents saying the cricket field is very nearly a done deal.  Director Jimenez insists there is still no change from past status; Parks is still involved in possible acquisition, and that he could not comment on the discrepancy between Parks public statements and cricket proponent statements to the press.

   Shai pointed out that there is no reason to believe that things are not progressing exactly as cricket proponents suggest, and that FOMP should take action now.  Greg proposed sharing the letter he sent to councilmember Balducci (which she has not replied to) to the FOMP mailing list, and maybe to the Seattle Times and Redmond Reporter.
   
   Shai also proposed that FOMP try to go directly to King County Council, attempting to get on the agenda of the King County Council.  Greg wants to start with the FOMP message, but Shai countered with the question of what the end of the message to the FOMP list: are we telling park users “be concerned”, or are we asking park users to get involved.
   
   Shai and Greg will coordinate on creating the letter to the FOMP list.  Michael will make sure the email can go out, and that the letter can go on the website.  Glenn suggested sending out timeliness on getting the word out there, rather than delaying any communication to the FOMP list until a perfect letter is constructed.
   
   Question came up:  Can Michael arrange an email address for comments.

3. Safety and Security Discussion – Closing the park at night?:  There has been vandalism at night.  Other King County Parks are closed at night; should Marymoor be closed?  This question is specifically whether the KC Sheriff Parks Patrol should lock the gates at each entrance each night.
    
   It was noted that soccer fields and concert use run late.  Clise events close by midnight, but cleanup can run to 1:00 a.m.  Dog users and birders come into the park well before dawn, and have done for decades. 
    
   There was a general feeling that closing the park would be a pretty good deterrent.  Details, including who would lock up and when, and who would open up and when, are open questions.
   
   
4. CIP/Project/Facility Updates:
   
   a.    Eastside Audubon Birdloop: Have a 2nd work party of Microsoft employees, and EAS is having a little issue in finding enough trained people to lead these work parties.
   
   b.    R/C Field (MAR/C): MAR/C had a well-attended swap meet.  Monthly club meetings with a speaker, etc., are restarting.  They had an unusual increased in membership, possibly because the FAA has tightened some restrictions and those in the know are planning to move to flying at the club.
   
   d.    Off-leash area (SODA): Big hogs fuel work parties imminent.
   
   e.    Cascade Mountain Collective (Concert venue): Concert clearout will be done THIS WEEK. Storage items are going to Renton, to a temperature controlled site.  First year went well.  Concerts went well.  Beach Boys concert, they had extra staff to help wheelchair and walker users, and the band noted how nice it was that the wheelchair people were not relegated to the rear of the venue.  Angie is hoping the Clise assessment will be completed soon, so that repair work can be planned.
   
   f.    Maintenance: Fields 1-4 need new bulbs in their lighting.  Moving to LED will be a large capital expense which will have to happen later.  Greg suggested that capital money could come from the state for the conversion.
   
   g.    Events Update: Electrify Expo – FOMP asked why this event hadn't been discussed before it happened.  It was a large event, and while it promoted electric vehicles, it was basically a series of booths by for-profit companies to show off their electric vehicle products.  The commercial nature of the event bothered Michael, with him stating that it could well have been hosted by any mall with a parking lot available, rather than putting it in a county park.  He suggested that perhaps Marymoor offers too good a deal, being inexpensive and providing extensive management of visitor parking in a great location.
   
   Shai noted that people parked in the MAR/C parking lot during a MAR/C event, filling up their lot, and requested additional signage and assistance to cut down on this kind of problem. 
   
   h.    Sound Transit Update:  Parks is trying to work with ST to be able to use the ST parking garage for special events on weekends.
    
   Next meeting Wednesday, October 25th 2023 in the Art Barn
   

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