Friends of Marymoor Park

November 17th, 2004 Meeting Summary

-- see also the October 2004 meeting summary

1. Introductions

2. Lake Washington Youth Soccer Association (LWYSA) update - Norah

The full board of LWYSA and director stepped down and they laid off all paid staff.  A new board is being elected tonight. A president (the head of the breakout group) was appointed by outgoing board.

Norah is hopeful that the problems at LWYSA are over with these actions, that LWYSA will be reinstated by the state association, and that this will not impact soccer schedules for next year.

LWYSA has an agreement to maintain and operate 60 Acres. The previously announced agreement between KC and LWYSA to have them enhance and operate the soccer fields at Marymoor never came to fruition because of the trouble brewing at LWYSA. The recent CIP money that will enable KC to enhance 4 fields (pending KC Council approval expected next week) sidesteps LWYSA.

Occasionally mentioned ideas for some kind of stadium-like field at Marymoor are not currently in the works or planning, according to Norah.

The risk illustrated by LWYSA's troubles vis-à-vis the long-term agreement with the county for 60 Acres may mean the county will shy away from long-term (more than 10 year) agreements.

See http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002092884_soccer17e.html

 

3. Chinook Book Fundraising Opportunity

FOMP signed an agreement to act as an umbrella pass-through to allow any FOMP member groups to sell Chinook Books. Acting as an umbrella allows the sales of all organizations to pool their sales and hopefully reach higher rates of return.

Community Gardeners Association and SODA cooperated to sell these books at one Marymoor during SODA work party weekends, and 22 books were sold.

Any FOMP organizations who want to do this should contact Greg who will liason with Celilo, the publisher of Chinook Books.

Norah will waive the usual permit fees for fundraising in the park for any groups wanting to sell books at Marymoor events, with the restriction that funds raised must be spent on behalf of Marymoor Park.

4. Updates and Issues

• USA-China Sports Summit (aka Pacific Rim Games)- Olympic-like events at Marymoor - looking like a very real possibility, but agreements still need to be signed. Events at Marymoor would be June 8-12 (softball, soccer, cycling, archery). Thousands of spectators would be expected (maybe 9000 at a time). Teams from throughout the Pacific Rim are being invited. Cycling events would require velodrome to be resurfaced. Some enhancements may be needed to other facilities.
   
• Marymoor Criteria Update -- Kevin Brown's email explains the status:

Hi folks - I want to provide a long overdue update on where we are on the Marymoor Criteria Update project which Robert Foxworthy had been managing. As you are all aware, Roberts temporary position ended when his total hours worked in 2004 met the threshhold of our administrative guidelines. The project was in the latter stages of completion and there was hope that we could finish it in late summer.

Unfortunately, we have run into some staffing issues (shortage) within Parks within the last couple of months that have precluded us from assigning a project manager to complete this important and collaborative process. We are currently addressing this issue and intend on having a project manager assigned to the project for completion within the next month.

Until this project is completed, there has been agreement by King County, FOMP and the City of Redmond that no new projects which had not already been discussed or implemented would be approved/constructed.

Again, we apologize for the delay in getting an update to you but hope to start and complete this project over the next couple of months. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to contact me at 206 263-6204. Thanks

• 2005 Capital projects review.

See: "Upgrades at Marymoor Park to cost $6 Million" - http://www.kingcountyjournal.com/sited/story/html/178389 

• $4.5 million for soccer fields
• $625,000 for maintenance shop
• $200,000 for an automated lighting system that would allow computer control of athletic field lights remotely, which will allow more efficient usage of lights. Will reduce staff time and allow quicker correction of errors.
• $300,000 for restroom replacement (velodrome rest room construction could begin in spring)
• $244,000 to develop and improve field conditions (Norah is not sure what this one is)
• Sammamish River Trail will be partly repaved (with some widening) this spring (between 116th and Woodinville). Some closures should be expected.

• Fitness Class Concession - Norah has gotten a request from a fitness club wanting to do a class in the park (5-20 people) using the Par Course (the exercise trail that runs through the park from the velodrome to the river). It would be part of a "boot camp" class. Would also include a class area on some grassy area(s) along the trail. May start as early as this December.

5. Northwest Celtic Fest -  New event, "unlike any other celtic fest in the country in that it combines traditional and non-traditional events".

Participant oriented. Highlight: - kilted coed 5-a-side soccer. Dates: 19-21 of August 2005. Working on permits, plans, etc., but this is a go. Will use the field just west of the velodrome. Added a children's area and perhaps a children's stage.

6. Other

• Save the Salmon Open House at Redmond Junior High, Wednesday December 8, 6:30-9:00 p.m.

Looking for comments on the Lake Washington/Cedar/Sammamish Watershed Draft Chinook Conservation Plan - see www.dnr.metrokc.gov/wrias/8

• Marymoor is offering a 15% discount on the direct sales of the Jan-Mar parking pass as part of Waste Free Holidays for sales 11/26-12/31.
   
• The Community Gardeners Association has produced a recruiting flyer to help them attract more gardeners.  It will also be posted to the FOMP website.

The next meeting will be January 26, 2005.
NOTE: There is no meeting in December

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.