PPP091217PARKS, PLANNING AND PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING
September 12, 2017
Elected Officials Present Staff Present
Councilmember Neil Tibbott (Chair) Phil Williams, Public Works Director
Councilmember Kristiana Johnson Rob English, City Engineer
Mayor Dave Earling (intermittent) Carrie Hite, Parks & Recreation Director
Council President Tom Mesaros (intermittent) Jerrie Bevington, Recorder
Also Present
Noal Leonetti, Student Representative
The meeting was called to order at 7:32 p.m. in the Jury Meeting Room. Updates regarding a Report
on REET and on Sunset Avenue were added to the agenda.
Edmonds Veteran's Plaza Update and Request
Ms. Hite reviewed a request for an additional $41,000 to complete the Veterans Plaza, advising funds
are available in REET 2:
Electrical service ($20,000)
Redesign of mechanical vault to improve accessibility ($11,000)
Engineering staff time ($10,000)
Ms. Hite, Mr. English and Mr. Williams responded to questions regarding previous funding requests
and the use of those funds, total cost of the plaza ($710,000), the City's contribution to the project
($166,000), funds remaining in the management reserve, in-house engineering costs, issues with the
contractor, insufficiency of onsite utilities, reasons for the cost overruns, savings from the original
contractor not completing electrical service (already included in request), design of the mechanical
vault, future cost savings with redesign of the mechanical vault, other benefits of the electrical service,
and whether the Veterans Plaza Committee could raise the additional funds.
Discussion included concern with the budget/project creep and cost overruns, eliminating project
elements, funds the Veterans Plaza Committee is raising for the informational kiosk, support for
improving utilities in the plaza, and concern with repeated requests for additional funds.
Action: Presentation to full Council and potential action
2. ILA Snohomish County for Community Garden
Ms. Hite reviewed a draft ILA with Snohomish County to establish a community garden at Esperance
Park. Staff has been working with the Floretum Garden Club over the past several years to identify a
site and establish a garden and have been unable to find a site within Edmonds. Snohomish County
recently completed a master plan for the park which included a community garden. City staff will
manage plot rentals and revenues will be used for maintenance and operations. The capital budget
includes $155,000 for this project, $10,000 will be used for professional services to design the garden
as well as policies, procedures, operational, maintenance and business model and the remaining
funds (or less) will be used to construct raised -bed gardens. Snohomish County will provide power
and water to the site and pay for power; the City will pay for water.
09/12/17 PPP Committee Minutes, Page 2
Ms. Hite responded to questions regarding whether Snohomish County would fund the project as it is
in their master plan, why a community garden is not a Snohomish County priority, maintenance
responsibilities, size of the community garden site in Esperance Park, whether a community garden
could be included at Civic Field, staff's research of other potential locations, and fencing.
Discussion included other potential locations in Edmonds for a community garden, a property owner
interested in donating her property to the City via a life estate, and the previous community garden
established by the Floretum Garden Club.
Action: Staff research other options
3. Interlocal Agreement with Edmonds School District for Meadowdale Preschool
Ms. Hite relayed the City has had an ILA with the Edmonds School District for many years for the
Meadowdale Preschool program. The ILA allows the District to place and fund up to three students in
the program operated by the Parks & Recreation Department. No changes to the ILA are proposed.
Action: Schedule on Consent Agenda
4. Future Report on REET Funds
Staff and committee members discussed budgeting of REET funds, Council priorities for REET funds,
existing capital budget process, guidance for Parks capital projects provided by the PROS Plan and
whether to report to committees or full Council.
Committee members requested a "refresher" report that includes the following information:
• REET funds collected in 2017
• REET fund projection for next 2-3 years
• How REET 1 and 2 funds can be spent
• Changes the legislature has made on the use of REET funds
• Process for budgeting REET funds
• Projects funded with REET in 2017
Action: Schedule for full Council on October 3
5. Sunset Avenue
Mr. Williams relayed staff put up additional signs to deter wrong way driving on 2"d Avenue. The
Police Department requested changes to the parking code specific to Sunset Avenue to enable
enforcement; those changes will be presented to the Council in the near future. Once those changes
are approved, additional parallel parking spaces and signage will be added.
Discussion followed regarding alternate sign language, installing a barrier on the north end of the
walkway to prevent vehicular access, making Caspers one-way, local residents' concern with making
Caspers one-way, speeding on Sunset Avenue, and adding "no beach access" signage at Caspers.
Action: Information only.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m.