2021-02-03 Youth Commission MinutesPage 1.1.1
Youth Commission Meeting Minutes, 2/3/2021
Commission Members Present:
Chair Owen Lee
Treasurer Sydney Pearson
Hunter DeLeon
Secretary Brook Roberts
Grace Kamila
Co -Chair Jacob Sawyer
Finn Paynich
Brooke Rinehimer
Audrey Lim
Aaron Nateephaisan
Commission Members Absent:
Zane Marulitua
Finn Paynich
Staff Present:
Casey Colley
Shannon Burley
Councilmembers Present:
Laura Johnson
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Owen Lee called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm over Zoom.
Hunter read the land acknowledgment statement.
PROS PLAN UPDATE
The PROS (Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces) plan is a 6-year guide and strategic plan for
managing and enhancing parks, open space, trails, and recreation opportunities in Edmonds. It's
a strategy guide built on a heavy public process, where the community is engaged throughout
the entire process and that the public influences the priorities of this project. The majority of
parks -related grants are dependent on this plan. Shannon is requesting that the Youth
Commissioners think of things they want to see in Edmonds' parks, recreation, and cultural
services in the future to help guide this plan.
Firstly, it analyzes and measures progress and strategic focus based on the gap analysis. Outlines
how we measure our goals and objectives, how we can get there, where we can receive the
funding to reach our goals and implementation strategies. Questions relating to strengths, how
the community can be served, and where efforts should be focused make up the primary focus.
The development of the PROS plan begins by selecting a strategic partner (consultant) who
guides staff throughout the process. The project kicks off, then an inventory is taken within the
entire department relating to what we have, what we want, and how we get there. Community
engagement is ramped up during this period of the update. Virtual events tend to get more
engagement from citizens; there is optimism about the current state of affairs. Goals and
strategies come out from the engagement, then the plan is drafted, from which it is adopted as a
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final plan with certain changes. We are beginning it now due to the amount of time it takes to
complete the plan, with the deadline being in 2022. It is done every six years. Done in 2008,
2014, updated in 2016, and it is time for the 2022 plan. Some cities integrate it in their
comprehensive plans, but Edmonds does not.
There are four sections of the plan, which are outlined below.
1. System Needs: looking at the existing system, habitats, and community needs. The
habitat analysis looks at our environment and its concerns for residential species.
Community needs focus on the accessibility of parks to residents to ensure equity
among all residents.
2. System Concept, Goals, & Objectives: collaboration with community partners, seeing
how we can utilize our existing spaces, recreation programs and activities, cultural
services, maintenance, and habitat conservation. Ensuring safe access for people and
creatures.
a. Goal 1: Lead collaborative efforts to fulfill the community's needs for parks,
recreation, and cultural services
b. Goal 2: Provide an interconnected park system that offers a wide variety
of year-round recreation opportunities and experiences in harmony with
Edmonds' cultural identity and the natural environment.
c. Goal 3: Preserve and expand opportunities for public access and
enjoyment of the shoreline in Edmonds.
d. Goal 4: Preserve and provide access to natural resource lands for habitat
conservation, recreation, and environmental education.
e. Goal 5: Provide recreation opportunities and experiences to promote a
healthy, active, and engaged community year-round.
f. Goal 6: Provide arts and cultural opportunities and experiences to
promote an engaged and vibrant community.
g. Goal 7: Provide high quality and efficient level of maintenance for all
parks and related public assets in Edmonds.
3. Action Plan: recommended projects and initiatives, with prioritization of goals.
4. Funding Plan: capital projects, operational impacts, funding strategy, and sources,
timeline.
Focus areas include systems and facilities, recreation programs, parkland acquisition,
maintenance, equity, and access. Special focus on equity/access. The PROS Plan Advisory group
will need a representative from multiple commissions; the Youth Commission will need to select
a representative to serve on the PROS Plan Advisory group. Then, feedback will be gathered to
curate a final plan.
Questions & Comments:
Facilities at Yost Park have suffered from erosion and more run-down, causing closures.
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➢ There's not a lot of picnic seating in the Downtown area. The suggestion would be to
create more seating areas for people from out of town to come and enjoy what
Edmonds has to offer.
City Resolution recognizes Indigenous People's Day, perhaps taking this to the next step
by providing cultural events relating to it. More partnership with indigenous
communities, we have to work beyond recognition Applies to other recognitions as well.
Incorporating native plants that attract native insects and butterflies to create a sense of
beauty.
➢ Are there any plans to develop in areas near and above City Park?
o Currently, the city has no land acquisition strategy, but would like one. It
determines priorities for acquiring land and encompasses questions relating to
purpose and strategy. Currently being worked on and will be put forth soon. No
plans to acquire any land other than the marsh.
o Often approached for donations or putting the city as wills, another way to
acquire land.
Huge shortage of space within Civic Park. Any updates on plans being done?
o Parking not included in the plan as it is to accommodate major events
(recreation). Currently working with partners such as churches, old Woodway
High School, and ECA to develop parking plans for such events.
Does the city have an established program for helping trails (such as within Yost Park)?
o City used to have one, pre-COVID, every other weekend with hundreds of
people. Now able to get back people in groups of five. Massive usage of parks
over the past year, and as we pull out of COVID, more volunteers will be needed
to help maintain the parks and trails.
Does the city have any land or resources along the Highway 99 corridor that are viable
for Parks and Recreational use? If not, any ideas to increase access to residents of that
corridor?
o No, not right now. However, the plan is to make the next 6 year PROS plan
focused on this. Have been going through county GIS to identify vacant lots to
have conversations with owners about having a park in those lots. Recently was
targeting a vacant lot behind Burlington Coat Factory, but is at the point where
Parks & Rec is able to look for new land. City code allows for more open spaces
(not large parks) with more housing complexes. Could include community
centers.
Lake Ballinger has always been a good opportunity to work with any open lots,
considering the waterfront and lake that would be available for residents.
Building off of the community center, there used to be community centers at the Old
Woodway High School. Was this even a program and if so, does this no longer exist?
o No fixed program that isn't school -district related, although the city can rent
space to foster these centers.
Many students on the corridor who are looking for a large open space tend to go to
school -owned land which is closed during non -school hours. Essentially, only open space
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access. Perhaps working with the school district to open these areas during non -school
hours to increase access to open spaces?
It's inconvenient to see fallen trees in the Yost Park trails for runners, so getting teams
and volunteer teams to get the situation under control would be helpful.
➢ Appealing to senior citizens through partnerships with the Waterfront Center to make
the Parks more accessible for that specific age group is crucial.
➢ Another piece of land to look into would be the empty lot next to Edmonds Lutheran
Church on 236th Street SW.
Please send an email to Shannon for any comments or feedback to turn over to Consultants over
the next two weeks. Also email Shannon and Casey about being a representative for the PROS
Plan Advisory group if you are interested. Many more open houses and discussion -type events to
come about this plan! City especially values youth input.
III. REVIEW DRAFT OF PRONOUNS PRESENTATION
Reviewed the presentation about the pronouns request to Council.
➢ Short bullet points on the slide will be expanded upon by the presenter of that slide.
Request for pronouns on biographies on the city website does not have a timeline as it is
dependent on the completion of the updated city website.
Will need to remove the requested completion date of January 1st, 2021.
It's important to realize that the Mayor fully supports this, but he only has power over city staff
and can tell them at any point to include their pronouns. On the other hand, Council has power
over city boards and commissions, which is why we're presenting to them for them to request
that commissioners and board members include pronouns. Focus presentation on what we want
Council to do. We must also say "recommended", instead of "required".
It has been determined that the Diversity Committee will present the slides to Council.
Will need to have the final presentation done and sent to Casey by February 16th in order to add
it to the agenda packet for one of Council's meetings. It's important for everyone to be at the
meeting so Council can see the support we have from the other Youth Commissioners.
IV. INSTAGRAM CODE OF CONDUCT
To facilitate respectful discussions on our newly created Instagram account, a code of conduct
was drafted by Owen and the Social Media Committee. There are protections in place on how
we review and respond to DMs and comments; what accounts we can repost from without
Commission approval; what/when to archive posts; who to follow; and our LinkTree website.
Adding the WA State Legislature Youth Advisory Council's account (@washingtonlyac) to
the list of pre -approved accounts that we can repost from as they post about many great
events that would be beneficial for youth to attend.
Notify Shannon and Casey if there is any hate speech or racial slurs posted on the Youth
Commission account comments sections.
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Parks & Rec Department and Public Information Officer could benefit from seeing this
code of conduct, please send Shannon to forward to them.
V. COMMITTEE UPDATES
No restrictions on committee meetings or making records on the meetings because the
committees have less than a quorum of the Commission needed to make decisions.
➢ Youth & Government Committee (Audrey): discussed future projects, but focused on
finalizing a draft email to Council about RCV and introducing it with hopes to pass a
resolution in support of it to further efforts at the State Legislature and pass the Local
Options Bill which would allow jurisdictions to adopt it.
Diversity & Equity Committee (Grace): received a DM from someone on Instagram
wanting to come to a meeting to talk about supporting individuals with disabilities,
giving shoutouts to black -owned businesses each week on Instagram, focusing on LGBTQ
groups and ensuring support and protections for them. Also thought of reaching out to
BSUs, Rainbow Warriors, at EWHS for input and feedback.
Environmental Protection Committee (Brooke): started brainstorming things that the
committee can focus on, possibility of running a recycling drive for objects that people
don't know could be recycled, but for now, running an informational campaign on social
media (Instagram).
Mental Health Committee (Grace): focusing on POC and LGBTQ groups who struggle with
mental health, collaboration with Mindy and Human Services Program, working with a
Councilmember to draft a proclamation recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month in
May, promoting existing resources for free and confidential support, running events
where people can learn first aid suicide prevention, and putting the
wecare.edmondswa.gov into the LinkTree on the Instagram account.
VI. FINAL COMMENTS
Casey: Contacted by Puget Sound Regional Council to present at a Youth Commission meeting.
Casey will email them for more information. Additionally, Mindy Woods sent info about events
on setting boundaries in relationships, perhaps something that would be useful for the Mental
Health Committee to take a look at.
➢ Shannon: The Youth Commission is doing a great job. She's so proud and is eager for more
people to learn about our work. She thanked us for our input on the PROS plan.
Laura: She appreciates the opportunity to work with the Youth Commission. She looks forward
to the presentation that will be presented to Council.
VII. ADJOURNMENT
Chair Owen Lee adjourned the meeting at 7:30 pm.