UNION GAP CITY COUNCIL/PARK BOARD
JOINT STUDY SESSION MEETING
Union Gap, Washington
October 9, 2006
|
Call to Order |
Mayor Reeves called the Study Session Meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. |
|
Council
Members Present |
Council Members Dan Olson (6:20 p.m.), Toni Webb, Glenn Bateman, Dan
Vanover, and Roger Wentz were present. |
|
Park
Board Members Present Staff
Present |
Dixie Van Tassel, Chair; Lila Gangle, Janice Easter,
and Tony Reise were present. Bob Noe, City Attorney; Dennis Henne, Public Works
Director; Linda Mead, City Treasurer; and Kathryn Thompson, City Clerk were
present. |
|
Audience
Present Update
of Comprehensive Parks Plan Adjournment |
Gregg Dohrn, Fred Thomson, Phil Salzman, and others were present. The
Public Works Director informed this is a joint meeting with the Park Board so
the Park Board Chair needs to call their meeting to order. Dixie
Van Tassel, Park Board Chair, called the continued meeting of the Park Board
to order. Gregg
Dohrn, Planning Consultant, informed the Comprehensive Park Plan is being
updated in conjunction with the updating of the City’s overall Comprehensive
Plan. He informed there is a draft
community survey included in the Council packet that will be used to finalize
the plan. He distributed a copy of
the draft plan and informed it is important that the plan be consistent with
the priorities and vision of the Council.
He stated a public review and comment period will be held in the near
future. Council
Member Wentz questioned why the plan was not included in the Council packet. Mr.
Dohrn stated the focus of tonight’s meeting is review of the survey, and it
was an after thought to give the Council the draft plan to review. He informed the Council will need to
provide direction regarding future use and development of the parks, such as
the vision for Cahalan Park. He
stated because of its proximity to the Valley Mall Plaza, it might be good
for a farmer’s market, art shows, etc. Council
Member Webb questioned if the insurance company completed their parks audit. The
Public Works Director informed the insurance company completed the audit and
made no recommendations. He stated they
reviewed the paperwork process and approved of the rental process, the
requirements for banquet permits, security, etc. He informed they visually looked at the parks, but did not
inspect them. Council
Member Wentz questioned why the park board does not see the midget car track
as a positive addition to the park. Dixie
Van Tassel stated there were concerns regarding noise. The
Public Works Director stated he received an e-mail with the results of a
noise study conducted in 2000 relating to this usage and he will continue
reviewing that issue. Ms
Van Tassel mentioned the airplanes being banned at Fullbright Park due to
noise and questioned how noise from midget cars at Ahtanum Youth Park would
be any different. The
Public Works Director stated it is his understanding that the planes were gas
powered and the decimals were amplified because they were flying high in the
air. Council
Member Olson stated some of the planes were running without mufflers and some
were flying outside of the approved area so a few people ruined it for
everyone. He stated if noise is a
concern with the midget cars, the City could make a requirement that they
muffle their cars. Council
Member Wentz questioned what the plans were for Cahalan Park. Ms
Van Tassel stated the plans were for a water park that would cost
approximately $1.7 million. The
Public Works Director showed the Council the conceptual drawing that was
prepared by an architect for Cahalan Park. Council
Member Wentz questioned number 3 under Cahalan Park, “Can Cahalan really be
sold?” Ms
Van Tassel stated the Park Board has been told it cannot be sold, but the
board thinks it would be a good idea to sell it, if possible. Mr.
Dohrn stated there are legal questions that need to be addressed to determine
if Cahalan Park can be sold, because it was gifted to be a park. Mayor
Reeves stated the Council is at a disadvantage because they were given the
Park Board’s comments, but not the questions the Park Board received. He took exception to number 4 under
Ahtanum Park, “This would move City Hall out of the main part of town where
all of the people and other offices are located” because not everyone lives
by City Hall; there are people in the Broadway area also, but he does not
know the context of this statement. Council
Member Wentz agreed and stated the Council is looking at small pieces out of
context instead of having the full information. Council
Member Olson questioned if the City ever found out how many acres the Ahtanum
Youth Park has and if the buildings were part of the grant Yakima County
received for the park. The
Public Works Director stated the number of acres ended up being 74, and Phil
Lamb was working with IAC regarding the buildings, but never received a
response. He informed Yakima County
says the activity center was built after the grant was received, and he is
not certain about the barn. Mayor
Reeves stated he does not believe any of the buildings were included in the
grant. The
Public Works Director informed the intent of tonight’s meeting was to
finalize the survey so it can go out as an insert in the City’s newsletter
that goes out the end of October. Council
Member Vanover suggested clarifying number 9 because some people may be
willing to pay a user fee, but not higher taxes. Council
Member Olson recommended defining car racing in number 2 and questioned
adding a question regarding forming a metropolitan park district. Council
Member Vanover stated this survey will provide guidance to the City, but an
issue as complex as forming a metropolitan park district should be addressed
separately. Discussion
followed regarding how to get more people to respond to the survey, the
delivery process, etc. Council
Member Olson recommended a question to see if the person lives in Union Gap,
and if they are a homeowner or a renter. Council
Member Vanover recommended the surveys be returned to Mr. Dohrn’s office
instead of City Hall. It
was the consensus of the Council to have Mr. Dohrn fine-tune the survey and
obtain Park Board approval before sending it out in the newsletter. At
6:54 p.m., the Park Board Chair adjourned the Park Board Meeting. At
6:55 p.m., Mayor Reeves adjourned the Study Session Meeting. |
These minutes dated October 9, 2006 were approved at
the Regular Council Meeting of October 23, 2006.
___________________________________
Aubrey C. Reeves, Jr.
ATTEST: Mayor
___________________________________
Kathryn Thompson, CMC