July 28, 2021 FOMP Meeting Summary

Welcome and Introductions

Norah Robinson, King County Parks; Greg Helland, SODA representative, FOMP President; Michael Hobbs, FOMP Secretary, webmaster; Laura Hall, FOMP Secretary, Marymoor Community Gardens Association; Glenn Eades, Eastside Audubon; Amy Dunn, and Shannon Welles, AEG Presents; Fred Wamsley, park user; Shai Hinitz, MAR/C representative
Air Quality Protocols:

There is an anticipation that we WILL face smoke in the air over our area. Regulations are currently being finalized. Parks have an air quality monitoring system and protocol, and currently we are in Green on a Green/Yellow/Red. If things move to Yellow, there will be a recommendation that are sensitive stay safe and stay in better conditions. If things go to Red, where it is unsafe for everyone, Parks personnel will not be asked to work extended hours in those conditions. In Code Red situations, events may be postponed or cancelled to protect staff and visitors. Parks will try to anticipate problem times to give event organizers as much notice as possible. This could affect sports events, concert events, movies. Events should consider cancellation insurance for this possibility. The park will not be closed during Code Red.
CIP/Projects/Facilities Updates:
- Eastside Audubon Birdloop – EAS cancelled their August work party. They look to resume in September
- Community Gardens – MCGA gardeners must provide community service of 8 hours per plot per year. They have such a good response that they are having to limit gardener’s volunteer hours to make sure everyone can contribute time. The HopeLink garden is going well. Donations to HopeLink have severe limits on size and numbers of zucchini to make sure that zucchini baseball bats are not being donated. Laura really recommends Sign-Up Genius as a way to manage volunteer hours.
  
  Laura suggested that the maybe the pheasant has been replaced by a new one. But Michael noted that the behavior has remained constant, so it’s probably the same male, though he will have molted each year, replacing all of his feathers, making for a different appearance.
  
  MCGA is looking to install motion-sensing lights first, before installing cameras, as a deterrent to vandalism. Light installation is waiting on coordination with the Parks archeologist.
  
  Laura mentioned again that the gate between the Pea Patch and the Pet Memorial Gardens needs some repair, which Norah responded that she still remembered that needed to be done.
- SODA – Fred asked if there was any chance of getting some shade structures in the Off-leash Dog Park. Greg suggested talking with SODA directly. But Greg also pointed out that structures are not generally allowed in that section of the park. Laura suggested Lot D and Lot G could have some trees planted between parking rows.
- MAR/C Model Airplane Field – No movement on the replacement shelter. Parks has examined the plans, but this project is currently hung up on the Park Master Plan. MAR/C had a swap meet recently that went very well.
  
  For clarification, drone craft are allowed at Marymoor, but the pilots must be members of MAR/C, and flights must be within the model airplane field. Michael brought up the issues of wildlife harassment (generally, not specifically at Marymoor) by drones, and the very negative effects that have been observed elsewhere. Shai indicated that when MAR/C officials observe violators, they approach them to appraise them of the regulations had how to comply.
- Marymoor Park Master Plan Update – There is a Parks reorganization that will likely result in a new management structure above Norah. She is lobbying to make sure that whoever is eventually in charge will make the Master Plan a priority. Norah is also pushing to have some tentative proposals approved *before* the Master Plan is finished. Greg suggested using FOMP as gate keepers during this interim process, since FOMP has decades of knowledge and experience, and represents a lot of park user viewpoints.
Other:

Greg requested that some of the concrete Ecology Blocks placed along Pea Patch road to prevent off-road traffic (for crown protection from vehicle terrorism) might be replaced by boulders, for aesthetic purposes. Norah acknowledged that the Ecology Blocks are not beautiful. Disguises have been proposed for these, and/or replacement with plantings. The Landmarks Commission has long requested some kind of boundary fence around the Historic District. So a less ugly solution is being discussed within parks, but Ecology Blocks are the current solution.
A request was strongly made that the Concert Venue restroom be open, despite being behind the venue fencing, absolutely except during concerts and near sequential concerts

Next meeting Wednesday, July 28th, 2021

July 28, 2021 Meeting Summary