May 28, 2025 Meeting Summary
-- see also the April 23, 2025 meeting summary
- Welcome and Introductions: Anne Oneha, Marymoor Park staff; Greg Helland, FOMP President; Michael Hobbs, Marymoor Bird Survey, FOMP Secretary; Glenn Eades, Eastside Audubon Bird Loop, neighbor; Shai Hinitz, MAR/C; Andy Baker, MVA Treasurer
- CIP/Project/Facility Updates:
a. Eastside Audubon Birdloop: – Hacking away at hawthorns. KC is poisoning the larger ones. Work party first Saturday in June, no work party in July. Glenn asked about adding more swallow boxes in the East Meadow, Michael suggested that they go into other adjacent meadows. He also asked about nest boxes for other species. Michael pointed out that annual maintenance is best for nest boxes. They also only last 5-10 years. So after discussion, FOMP suggested that those who are interested in this should form an actual plan.
b. Marymoor Community Gardens: – Gardeners have until July 1st to do the first half of their volunteer hours.
c. R/C Field (MAR/C): – Memorial Day event went very well, including participation by the UW team. They comprise about 30 students. Summer training program continues well, with several trainers and students. Next event, June 14th Open House, with visitors from other clubs and interested people. Priorities for maintenance are the fence along the north end of the field, and a solution to the problem of outside visitors filling up the parking lot. Shai also mentioned that they have a large waste bin that they would like to move to out to the side from the central position it now resides in. This might require help from Parks. Shai suggested that a sign guiding Bellefields softball visitors to use the lot immediately at the East Entrance might be helpful.
d. Off-leash area (SODA): – Culvert replacement has been approved for the northernmost culvert. This project has been moved from Parks to the floodplain parts of KC government to figure out how and when to do the replacement. It is likely to become part of a larger Lake Samm. watershed project.
e. Cascade Music Collective and Seattle Event Solutions (Concert venue): – First concert was last night, and only about 2500 people. Next concert is June 13th, so there is a good opportunity for ironing out any bugs. There was only one opening act, so the concert didn’t run late at all.
f. Maintenance: – Dave has been on vacation, and the rest of the crew have been swamped with concert prep, so no updates.
g. Velodrome: – Participated in the Light Rail opening – fantastic. Light Rail appears to have made the Velodrome much more visible to people. Their season-opening is this weekend, and the MVA is wondering if Light Rail will increase their audience. They have racing (MWF) and training (T, Th, Sa) ongoing, including youth training, and youth summer camp, in partnership with City of Bellevue. Events are on the calendar. Races are free for the audience on M and W, and have a requested donation for Friday races, but they are a bigger deal, with food trucks, etc.
This brought up a discussion of what the effects on Marymoor of ST Light Rail will be. Will audiences grow? Will this depress revenue from parking for concerts, Cirque, movies, etc.
MVA is working with Parks on a facility assessment, as the velodrome is 50 years old. This is long-term planning for providing for the future of the velodrome. This includes geotech assessment of the earthen berms, and separately an assessment of the track and other facilities. This is going through the CPG partner.
h. Event Update: – Concert series has been finalized, with 24 concerts (though one is still pending). Electrify Expo is July 12, and their move-in will likely cause conflicts with the MVA Derby Days event, as well as the City of Redmond Derby Days events. Michael also reiterated his disappointment that such a commercially-oriented event is being hosted at Marymoor Park, stating it is a pure retail sales event.
i. Concessionaires Updates: – Dog Hair Don’t Care will be having their coffee stand coming in June 1st, though there may be some issues from the Department of Health. The other concessionaire, in the Lot K booth, has been delayed by the health department.
j. Cricket Facility Proposal: – June 8th, the Orcas are having a “Fan Fest” in Marymoor in conjunction of the Parks 5K run. They are quoted as still working on a 20 acre facility with seating for 6000 people located at Marymoor, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal.
k. Capital Site Planning: – Greg voiced that the itemized details for what Park Levy money will come to Marymoor totaled only $16 is specifically earmarked for Marymoor. This seems very low (1% of the total levy amount), given that Marymoor is the most-used facility and a huge revenue generator for the Parks department. There *are* projects that are desirable for this park…
l. Sound Transit - Opening event was very successful.
- Other Business: June and July meetings: June, Justin will be out of town. July and August conflict with concerts. For June 25th, Anne has agreed to come back. Greg asked if Dave Hennings can attend in June.
It was decided that July will move to Tuesday the 22nd; August will probably also move one day ahead to Tuesday.
Greg hopes that we can get the final plan for the the Rain Garden at one of this summer’s meetings. Greg also showed interest in the Sammamish River Capital Investment Strategy Project; it would be interesting to have a presentation from them.
Next meeting Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 in Clise Mansion
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These notes 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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