Friends of Marymoor Park

June 24th, 2009 Meeting Summary

-- see also the May 27, 2009 meeting summary

1. Introductions - Norah Gaynor (King County Parks), Jack MacKinnon (Marymoor Community Gardeners Association), Michael Hobbs (Eastside Audubon), Judy Trockel (SODA)
    

2. CIP/Project Updates:
   1. Marymoor Connector Trail – Complete. Some fencing near the west end will be added if budget allows.  Norah has noticed some bicycle parking at the Model Airplane lot, unfortunately
   2. Pet Garden – One gate installed.  Additional gates are pending an archeology survey, which is required whenever holes deeper than 18" are to be dug.  Norah is working with procurement to get a contractor to do the work.
   3. Birdloop – Boardwalk extension has been delayed first by high water and then by mosquitoes.  But it should be completed this summer.
   4. Boathouse Project – No update.
   5. East Lake Sammamish Trail – June 2009 going to bid for Redmond segment, with construction to begin in October, 2009.
   6. Maintenance & Art Barn Roof Replacement – Work scheduled for July.   Staging will be on the west lawn of the maintenance barn.
   7. Stage seating area - Asphalt path installed.  The idea of doing a more permanent surface for the whole area will be revisited next season.
   8. NE Marymoor Way - Paving work – Patching done. Catch-basin done. Root-heave repairs done in Velodrome parking lot.  Road overlay July, west entrance to Velodrome.
   9. Velodrome Lighting – Replace existing lamps with energy efficient, lower impact lamps. Done.
   10. Community Garden – Expansion complete, but several are still available.   New kiosk project by Eagle Scout in progress, with design work underway.
   11. Electrical Work - Some solar parking fee stations are being converted to electric (less maintenance, more reliable and faster service).  Lights are being added to fee stations in areas of scheduled evening use (esp. near athletic fields near the tennis courts and velodrome).  Security light to be installed at turf soccer complex entrance.
        
3. Parking Fee Violation Penalty – (Thank you for support letters).  Unanimous support by Budget and Fiscal Management Committee 5/19.  Unanimous approval by the full council 6/15.  Park staff can now issue tickets.  The fine is $35, however if pay within 10 days, the fine is reduced to $15.  Alternately, if you pay the full $35, you will receive a 2-month parking pass.  Three unpaid notices may result in the car being booted.  Five unpaid notices may result in the car being towed.  Emphasis is on trying to get people to get people to comply with the parking fee.
   
   Judy asked if there would be more enforcement, now that fines can be levied.  Norah said that there are no additional staff hours available, but she is hoping to have enforcement on a staggered schedule so that you'll never know whether or not there is an enforcement officer around.
   
   Norah also said that she's working on some machine upgrades.  The solar-powered machines have not worked as well as was hoped, so she's converting them to full electric power.
   
   Norah indicated that a press release would be out shortly.
   
   Warning tickets are being given currently.  Real tickets/fines will begin the second week of July.
    
4. Other:
   
   Garden Loosestrife, a Class B non-native invasive noxious weed, has seriously infested the shoreline of the Lake Sammamish.  Much of the problem is actually within Marymoor (about 50 acres).  King County will be beginning a long-term project to control it all around the lake.  Eastside Audubon, and possibly SODA,  will be some of the outside organizations helping with this.   Control will be done by spraying during the July/August timeframe each year.
   
   Judy did want to make sure that any spraying in the Dog Area be done under controlled circumstances, with suitable temporary fencing to keep dogs away from the spray.

 Next Meeting: 

Wednesday July 22, 2009 7:00 – 9:00pm. Marymoor Art Barn.  

These notes were made by 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.