All right everybody.
Can I go ahead and call them order? Thank you so much for being here tonight. Um, this is the September 22nd 2022 meeting of the board of parking recreation commissioners.
I want to welcome everybody because here in person, and on the line, thank you for joining us.
Um, we are going to begin site with a land acknowledgement. Um.
Every community else's existence generations past, who contributed to make them a history that led to this very moment.
And we recognize that our parks and recreation facilities are on the traditional ancestral, and unseated lands of the post English people's.
Express gratitude for their stewardship of this land today and tomorrow since time immemorial.
They acknowledge the impression and disposition dispossession. Excuse me of indigenous communities and remain committed to racial social and environmental justice as we reflect on the past. We honor the resilience of the 1st peoples and the way in itself.
All right, 1st, order of business is the approval of the consent items we've got.
Uh, minutes from August 11st meeting and the agenda for tonight's meeting September 22nd.
Any discussion or corrections? Tyler of those.
All right motion to approve. So.
It's like Mr. in a 4th. All right.
Awesome. Okay. Thank you. Okay. So all those in favor.
Uh, please raise your hand you are not on camera at can you use them? Maybe reaction button to raise your hand.
Or say, I.
Hi, thank you for.
All right Stafford is it an approval and I think I saw Dave on pop on there, too. Any post.
All right motion passes, we better consent items. Thank you.
So, we're going to start start off with the class. We had a meeting with public comment. We'll be allowing 2 minutes per speaker for comments today.
Um, we'll be keeping the participants on the call muted unless you're providing public comment.
And we just ask that, you guess to move to remain referring from common, unless you're providing public comment at the time.
Um, we also have received a lot of public comments.
Your emails are written materials and we appreciate all of that as well. Uh, folks.
Uh, more beyond their 2 minute time limit. Um, we're happy to receive additional written materials.
And you can send those to Benjamin Seattle dotcom.
Provide spelling if that's taken.
Public comment, public hearing on the green light later, or are we doing? Well, we'll call you. That'll be later. Yeah. Yeah.
So that's a little bit of a different than what happens at every meeting is we always start out with some public comment, but we do have public hearing components I think, for both the tree policy and the green light to use. So, um.
Yeah, thanks for bearing with this. It's a little bit of a on traditional.
Comment format tonight, so starting with general public comment on other topics, I'll hand it over to follow up on staff to.
Great um, I don't think I have Michael on on the list, but.
Oh, sorry it should we do introductions? I forgot. Okay we'll do that quickly. My apologies. Um, I'm just I'm a CO chair of the board of park recreation commissioners. We'll do the commissioners in the room. 1st.
Representing district.
Cool. Just you got mission for district 1.
And those online, um, Stephanie hey, Stafford, maze district 7. I apologize for not being there in person, but I got caught in traffic.
No worries, thank you, Eva. Dave, on Thomas commission of a district 4 and my also apologies I had back to back meetings today and I couldn't leave. So, but I'm happy to be here online.
Yeah, I've spoken shares, uh, commissioner number of March.
Also, I am not in available to be in person, but.
My heart of India, so thank you. It's Sean here just in time for introductions.
I think you're muted. Sorry I had trouble with the password. I, uh, there are so many different passwords all of them wrong.
Um, uh, so Sean wants a district 5 representative on the parks board of parks and recreation commissioners.
Thank you and we also have a staff joining us this evening.
Uh, a staff and making sure the meeting runs relatively smooth and today.
Follow up also, staff and Christian quote and Jackie superintendent sale approach.
Great. Michelle do you want to say hi.
Hi, everybody my shelf and again also staff.
Good to meet with you. All right. Thank you. We will go ahead and get rolling now with the public comment. Baseball. Great. So we have 2 people for general public comment and the 1st 1 is Susan fully and.
See, you in there, but let's start with.
Star 6, we push star 6. your hand will come up and we might be able to find you under a different name.
Okay, Andy ticket going to give you 2 minutes.
Yeah, go ahead.
You so much commissioners my name is Andy taken and I'm a parent and a resident, and I think from your maps district 3 or 7 is what I'm talking about tonight that I'm in district 3,
but I'm talking about Laura woodland park and tonight I'm really just here as a again as a parent, but also as a CO chair of the Lincoln High school athletics committee,
volunteer athletics committee with the and we, I just wanted to Lincoln High School has never.
It doesn't have its own fields or anything like that or is it guaranteed space at parks in Seattle? So we're 1 of the few high schools that has absolutely no fields or space for ourselves.
So we rely on Laura woodland park primarily, and memorial stadium, and some other places to do all of our sports activities. And so I wanted to thank you for that.
And thank you for, um, you know, providing that those wonderful and clean and safe parks for our student athletes. Um, I also had.
A.
An offer opportunity I'm not really sure what, but I just didn't really know where to go. Um, and I, we have a need for Atlanta, woodland park field 1 there's a need for a new pitching mound and the baseball field.
So this is very grassroots situation, but we've got the little league and the highest the local high school that are all willing to pitch in for a turf pitching mound as it is. Now. We've gotten a lot of twisted ankles. Um.
A lot of falls by the pictures, because there's big big debates in the pitching mound. So I would just like to offer, I'll work with the parks department to see how I can get it approved. But if we're able to raise enough money would probably be about 8 to 10,000 dollars to get the turf pitching down in.
We would really love to do that just as a service to our little league and to our local public high schools. schools
Students, so I just wanted to share that and let you know that, that we are working on that and we hope it's okay.
That's it Thank you. Perfect time management. Um, it looks like Susan Foley is now here so we're gonna unmute you for your 2 minutes.
Go ahead, Susan in staging wheels around green lake. Um, specifically speaking for my son who has special needs and rides adults trisah goal.
But I think there's, I think the new bike trail has worked great. And it's gonna take a lot of bikes out of Greenland, but I think there are small groups that still need access to the inner loop.
On wheels, so I'm thinking about small wheels, like rollerblading and skateboarders kids that are learning how to ride bikes and really can't navigate that outer loop next to traffic.
And then people like my son with special needs who need a much slower pace. I realize that people are loving there is a group of people that maybe love having the trail all to themselves as walkers.
But I think we need to think.
About including as many people as possible, and, um, while the outer loop is going to take some bikes away, probably the fast bikes away, which is great.
I think there are some slower wheels and newer wheels that really need access to that space. So, I'm really hoping that we can think about.
Having some sort of really clear signage to make it safe to share that space and maybe, you know, some limits as to what wheels are allowed. But I think pedestrians only is leaving a lot of people out.
Thanks, thank you. Sorry I thought that was general. Um.
And I think that is for That'll 5.
Okay, thanks everybody.
And the next item on our agenda tonight is how superintendents report.
Thank you so much Thank you everyone for being here virtually in person. Uh, so maybe I'll just comment on the, uh, athletic field.
Offer and I'll ask call at top to make sure we get that information to Christopher pal on our staff, who sort of our point of contact for all things,
related to athletic beliefs and Christopher can give you plugged into the right folks in the organization to further than.
That is a great place to start and I won't make any comment about the, uh, will use of the trials since that's going to be a public testimony.
So we've had a busy couple of weeks in the park department. There have been a number of, uh, uh, I think news stories related to the park district.
We've been to the city council, uh, almost seems like numerous times that work is happening on that front to move the park district measured forward and I think they're going to vote on that this coming Tuesday. So, um.
Few highlights here, uh, our staff, uh, participated with arc, the associated recreation Council, and responding to the school strike.
We provided, uh, 8, Seattle, parking recreation, hub sites, uh, for young people to kind of be at all day and have lunch. Uh, and then there were 30.
Non parking record well, there were 22 non parking recreation sites across the city. Uh, that were really sites that were owned by our partners. This is this was invaluable. invaluable
Help and support to working families that needed places to drop their kids off for the day safe places.
Parents literally was scrambling the night before to kind of figure things out and with an army.
Of community volunteers for our staff.
Volunteers and our staff were able to provide services and lunches and in fact, 1 of the big media events we had was the mayor passing out lunches at Jefferson.
During the school strike, so, hats off to the park staff and our staff who stepped into this, our pools are reopening here very soon.
We will reopen Evans pool at Greenway and queen and pool and mentor every school will be open to the public for swim lessons. And programming.
As you'll recall the pull set been closed for repairs, we also reduced pool staffing to help out on the summer beaches as I think it's no secret.
We had difficulties finding enough acquired staff to staff our beaches. So, people are anxious to have their local neighborhood pools open, and we're looking forward to doing that. The gate at the arboretum.
What's another big press event kind of in our sphere? This is a picture of the new student. The previous gate was stolen.
From the park, and it was right at the entrance to the, uh, ramp visitor center there on arboretum road. Uh, there were probably.
2300peopleat this event on a beautiful day.
And I think it's a great example, a great testament to the family who generations of go.
Built this 1st gate and, uh.
The actually fabricated the date, rather the gate and and built it. And then.
And the game stolen, and his son came in later and re manufactured escape, but the fundraising.
By the operating foundation, and all of the partners.
Uh, to pay for the materials was just a great testimony, I think, to the kind of partnership we have with the, uh.
Partners at the arboretum, so we're really proud of that partnership between the the arboretum and of course, Stephen parts.
We made some, uh, big staffing announcement decisions here in the last few weeks.
We made Andy shepherd a permanent deputy superintendent operations as, you know, Andy is just kind of a go getter full of, uh.
Can do attitude, and it is just really an honor to be working with Andy. We also made Michelle and again, a deputy superintendent of policy for department.
So we have, uh, 2 new deputy superintendents.
My role when the new superintendent joins us will be chief of staff. I've always had a chief of staff slash deputy superintendent role, but I will take on a deputy, super, rather chief of staff role.
Uh, kind of exclusively and now that we have 2 documents. Uh, so that big change was really.
The result of a consultant study, uh, we did several years ago where we, uh, hired a consultant and ask them how to make the superintendent's office function better, how to increase our own productivity and customer service,
and was really reflective. Look at how we could, uh, improve ourselves and.
1 of the leading recommendations was to pilot this model. So.
We didn't just come up with this. This is sort of been part of a consultants that we probably paid for 7 years ago. And we are just now implementing.
Excellent. Uh, department updates. Okay. So the mayor.
Submits the part so the mayor has already submitted the, uh.
District, uh, plan.
City Council is, uh.
Currently approving that plan a council member. Lewis has, uh, quite a few well, not quite a few um.
That's modifications to the plan, uh, for example, uh, he has, uh.
Add an awfully Sharia and what Seattle, where we have a gap and make lots of other.
Changes that, I think, uh, certainly benefit the community, but the reality here is that, um.
Uh, there is not a lot of.
Huge difference between what the mayor submitted and what counsel council member Lewis.
Uh, altered, um, in fact, there wasn't a lot of big changes from what you submitted and the mayor's changes. So, uh, I think Veronica.
Track record there. Um, also on the 28, the mayor will submit his entire budget to the city council. So, uh, we're looking to.
Uh, anticipating that the, uh.
Governing Board of the park district, uh, which is the city council where their park district board of governors hat will vote on the park district component of our budget next Tuesday. And, uh.
We think that is going to happen here. So, you know, I think another fact here is that that.
Changes that council member Lewis has proposed.
Uh, is a, I think the mayors.
A proposal what's at 38 cents per.
Assess value, which was a 114Million dollar total package council member. Lewis added 1 cent.
Uh, which is a 39 set.
Uh, level of assess value, um.
875,000 dollars so not a huge job.
But significant enough to, I think, uh.
Prioritize some of the council properties next slide.
Okay, Mark maintenance highlights uh, we continue to, uh, prepare our fields for soccer by aligning them, uh, replacing goals on the, uh, term,
synthetic term fields or downtown crews recently rehab the botchy ball court at Occidental park. In fact, I was just down at Occidental park and what a transformation that looks really nice.
Uh, our Northwest crews recently resurface to play.
Area clean Lake Park. Uh, that is the relay park there in the lower.
Right. Uh, or there, it's really nice. Um, next slide.
I'm going to let, you know, about 3 upcoming.
Events that, you know, so in this work, we.
Are used to the idea that something we may start working on today might not come to fruition for 89 or 10 years later. That is just the nature.
Of this work, you have to kind of be alongside it how you think about.
Kind of when the ribbon cutting is going to be the folks at Green lake small craft center have easily been waiting.
10 years or longer for the ribbon cutting, which will take place. I'm sorry not ribbon. Cutting for groundbreaking will take place the Saturday at noon at the green lake, rowing and sailing center.
This is a schematic image of what the new rolling and sailing center will look like. Um.
Uh, I just want to give a shout out to Mike Stanley, and all of the volunteers from the canoe club. Uh, the Roman saling club, they raised, uh.
In excess of 2Million dollars, they, uh, fund raise for grants. Uh, this is a huge.
Milestone in the life of this project and, um.
You know, this group probably came in and begin having a discussion.
With us, I'd say, maybe 2011 2012, it was how we got the major.
Project challenge, but included in the 1st, transit park district.
Uh, spending, um, but it's, it's really, I think, a testament to kind of their staying power to kind of hang in there to see this through fruition.
Uh, another project we've been working on for a long time, which, uh, we are having a dedication for as the long beach renovation.
So, uh, this will occur the Saturday at 10 0, a M, at long beach, which is at the north end of Lincoln park on the waterfront side. There.
And this project removed the remainder of the seawall at the park and created a new shoreline.
That benefits the natural environment, the park.
Is just a great little part there and, uh, we were looking forward to doing the ribbon cutting there on Saturday.
Another mark, we are planning to do a ribbon cutting added on October 1st at 10. 0.
am is the cheese steep mountain bike pedestrian travel this is a project that your predecessors grappled intensely over several years and months and, uh.
This project is coming to fruition so the phase 1 part of the trail, uh, has been completed.
It includes the mountain bike trail and pedestrian trill.
This was a community initiative process and Seattle was 1st, forested mountain bike trail and the debate here.
Obviously, it's whether, whether we should use a green belt natural area for an act of recreational use purpose. And, um, we ultimately.
Decided to try it at this location. So we're.
Excited about the opening. This is another example where a community has probably hung in there for 8 or 9 years to get to this point.
So you like to support that community energy and encourage those new ideas so I'll pause right there and that's the end of the superintendents report asking asking why didn't they have questions.
Yeah, so how will we prevent that date from being stolen again?
Well, we're discussing a couple of ideas.
A lot of our recreation facilities.
Are allowed to have cameras in the parking lots and the immediate adjacent vicinity, and we are exploring whether or not it makes sense to.
Install a camera of some kind of in that area since it's in the immediate vicinity of the area. We certainly don't want these gates still want to get and then find a job.
Well, you know, and and they, uh, they cut it up and they took it to a recycler and, uh.
Keen eye volunteers and staff were able to point the police in the right direction to track it down. So they were able to recover.
A lot of the chopped up date that the metal recycle.
Any questions from the folks on joining us virtually here.
Or in the room? Yeah, go ahead. Um.
Do you think the success that will allow for other kids?
Yeah, other parts of the cities that beginning. Yeah. So started out as a pilot. And, um, I think 1 of the positions the department took is our green belt and natural areas are not like Olympic cash for us.
Right?
You know, this this is a dense urban area, and the public needs to be able to use these areas and we need to be able to do it in a way that doesn't integrate the natural area that, uh, sort of protects the ability of, uh,
our forested area to continue to provide ecological services to the city.
Well, at the same time, allowing for recreational use, uh, but I would say that's a perfect discussion for this group to talk about any parameters or any, uh,
strings you want to attach to the future use of a natural area or green belt.
For this purpose, it'd be super interesting discussion and have some certainly some ideas about spaces that may need activation. Yeah. Awesome. Well, let's get out there.
Yeah, so something to report that looks like Sean yeah, Sean. Hey, John.
Yeah, I just wanted to emphasize that that in the case that she said that the.
Friends of TC, green space and Mountain View.
I can't remember what they're they're kind of distinguished, but they haven't been working for years and years, uh, across the street on restoring a little open open space area there.
And then they just did an immense amount of restoration in in that site and continue to do. So, and so those kinds of strings, I think should really be attached because mountain biking is and as a.
Come back here. I mean, we I recognize this. It it, it, it, it can be when it's not maintain a really destructive practice, but when it's done.
Uh, well, and when you've got a, uh, a group of people dedicated to maintaining the trails doing active planting, and and, uh, and knowing what are resilient kind of plant types and and assemblages,
then then I think it's a win win. Because that place was just a magnet for invasive species.
And crime, and they've activated the space and that's that's what the best thing I think we can hope for, for places like that.
Based on.
Well, I appreciate you learned about the, um, the upcoming events. dedication's and celebration is coming up.
See, if they can take some of those this weekend. Awesome. Um.
Yeah, and just celebrate work that's happening. So thank you for sharing that with us.
And we'll move on so next up.
Free policy, public hearing and possible vote.
Christopher, I believe you're a private equity topic. I'm going to introduce this topic. So, um.
It's no secret that we've lost. Their amount of our tree can't be over the years. And, uh, we were just talking about kind of our natural areas and green belts.
What this policy does this move us more into a set of current best practices for how we maintain our forest in areas and trees I think as a point of interest, the park district is funding 4.2Million dollars,
new funding for trade replacement. for trade replacement
Uh, in develop parts, uh, we are also restoring 975,000 dollars that was cut, uh, in a previous budget, uh, to the green sales partnerships.
Uh, we are also committed to planning 600 new entries over the next 6 year cycle. over the next six year cycle
Of the park districts, so there's a fair amount of a.
I think urgency and need to double down on our policies and practices related to how we maintain treats. Um.
And, uh, I think what you're gonna here today is probably be the easier of the 2 presentations, uh, feels more of a slam dunk here. So, with that, I'll turn it over to, uh, Nick or.
Uh, the Utah presentation. Oh, awesome. Yeah. Okay. Got it. All right. So, what's your interest and before you get started, Marlin, do you want welcome to the meeting buddy to join? Do you want to do a quick introduction?
Sure, yeah apologies for my tardiness. Um, my name is Marlene. How are you seeing? Pronouns I represent district 3 on the board of commissioners, and I am Co chair.
Thank you. Thanks. Bye. Bye.
Right so we have 2 people signed up for public comment 1st, up is Sharon, the mine and I'm going to give you each 2 minutes.
Sharon go ahead.
Hello, can you hear me.
Hello? Hello? Hello?
Yes, go ahead. Oh, you can't hear me. Okay. Well, thanks for due to the part department for implementing the new tree policies.
Um, but it's critical that the park employees follow the city dictates and plant 2, new trees for each destroy to remove tree. There should be a tracking mechanism.
There hasn't been in the past to ensure that this policy is followed.
Um, it should also be a policy that any newly planetary will it maturity.
Have the conditions and ability to attain or exceed the canopy.
Of the tree that it's replacing a new policy should be developed to anticipate how changes in seattle's weather and future climate will affect existing trees and those to be planted in upcoming years.
It should also be a policy that replanting plans that are promised to a community. Are implemented within a reasonable time.
It is not reasonable that it's been 10+years since large significant trees were removed from the hillside below upper Carey part. And the replanting plan has not been implemented.
The part department hill community meetings, where the plan was presented in promise to the queen and neighborhood.
It also it's also questionable whether the plan and vision for Betty Bowen viewpoint park was fulfilled as large trees were also removed there around the same time as those destroyed it carry parks.
Part Department officials are respectfully implored to make the implementation of the carry park replanting plan a top priority top priority. Really?
In the coming year to improve the safety.
Beauty and character of the steep hill side that was denuded to expand the city view at Cary park over 10 years ago.
Thank you.
Uh, next step, David.
David, go ahead, thank you very much. Um, as we know the the 2035 comm plan has established a city wide tree canopy cover of 30% within the next 15 years we've also just learned I was just mentioned that the canopy cover has drops that lead to 2008.1%.
Uh, in this last year, 2021, the difference between the 28 and the 30% goal equates to roughly 1000 acres of canopy covered. between the twenty eight and the thirty percent goal equates to roughly one thousand acres of canopy covered
And if you look at an average size, mature tree, a medium size tree, that would be about 150,000, medium sized trees and I just hear that parks is budgeting for about 600 of those 150,000 trees, uh,
the biggest drop in terms of canopy covered within the past 5 years has been in parks surprisingly um, uh, we're adopted about 5.2%. Uh, I'm assuming that's probably just because of natural. Uh.
two percent uh i'm assuming that's probably just because of natural uh
Natural losses in not having the budget to plant new trees. The good news is that our kind of be covered in parks in natural areas, appears to exceed the 2020 urban for us.
You mentioned 10 goals of 25%, 80% respectively, but we're also hearing from Seattle planners that are seeking more. seattle planners that are seeking more
Of the cities can't recover, uh, to be achieved in, uh, uh.
Moving from our private Lancer public then. So there's a big challenge for perks. I'm hoping that you can budget more than.
The 600 trees as identified to help us reach reach that goal. That's us. 15 years ago.
Thank you so much. Okay. Presenters.
Yes.
Presentation sure, of course. Yeah.
Hello ready for that right? It'll warm up to, uh, well, Hello everybody.
Nice to see you again at the last meeting where we presented about the tree management policy update.
There was basically the desire of just to vote on it and move forward, but we want it to.
Oh, the process have a public hearing and, uh.
See, if there's any other, uh, changes that we wanted to chat. So.
That's why for today, I don't have much new information. Really.
But I will do a quick reminder, couple of new faces, uh, by going over the same presentation, a little quicker, uh, and then happy to answer any questions or give more feedback. So.
We can probably move faster. Okay. So just a reminder the current policy that we have over 20 years old and in that time, a lot of things have changed. The climate has changed the practices of how to manage treatment change.
Uh, equity has become much more of a priority for our city so we wanted our policy to reflect our practices and the best practices here.
Uh, we know all the wonderful ways the trees are wonderful. 1st, and so they're ex, extremely important is, we have climate change, whether it's the, uh, drawing the carbon providing shade and dealing with extreme heat.
They deal with the intense rate events that we have. They provide habitat, they do lots of wonderful things. We want to support them.
It's a little less formal this time. Uh, we didn't reach out to a number of organizations, and we reached out to other city departments, talk to their reforest condition and.
Uh, friends all set parks and got a lot of as much feedback as we could to really.
Uh, improve this policy took years and not just because of the outreach, but, uh, we have staff changes to those. We are ready to get this thing loaded off. Okay.
Uh, so there we have a new template that we added intuitive needed to do some things, like updating the definitions and some of our references, which you might guess, have changed in 20 years. So, plans have changed for that.
We really created a high level management framework at the top that prioritized 4 areas. Uh, the top 3 safety park function and urban forest help were already in there in some form.
But we really wanted to add an equitable distribution of services into this as well as a top level. Anyway.
As I mentioned, we wanted our our.
Policy to align with the best practices that we were, frankly, are already using.
And that's where we have a peak and out of the bottom, the latest language around practices in the policy.
They're not really supposed to be there and we've instead pointed to the 808,800.
Industry standards, which I know trust and others have the.
We also clarified some language around private property lines.
Uh, and revoke will use permit, so just trying to be really clear. There have been some issues that have come up over the years and we wanted to take care of them.
Similarly, we wanted to update language around the recreational use of trees really highlighting protecting the trees as a priority and yet still allowing people to utilize the trees in a recreational way of their own risk.
Okay, and we did some other things just to.
Really make clear that we want to protect every single tree and all the ways that we can these are long term living assets that provides so much benefit to our parks, their community. So.
1 of the things that we did have that was new.
Was incorporating that our maintenance practices should be used to help protect rates too. So that includes.
Waltzing around trees, as you see in the photo, uh, not moving right next to the trunk. So we don't damage the room for the trunk such such as that.
And then, uh, we wanted to incorporate as I mentioned climate change. So that's a huge issue for us now and.
As mentioned in the public comment, uh, you know, climate changes impacting our trees and we are losing some through the intense heat and drought in the summer and the intense rain events,
and the winter insects and others taking advantage of this week trees and the fact that a lot of our trees as they get older, just more susceptible,
that particular big week maple and there's some issues with and I'm on the drone as well. So we want to incorporate that language and make sure that, as we move forward.
Find that, among other things.
1, part of that is increasing our establishment period for trees. Once they are.
For 3 years to 5 years to make sure they get a good start.
And that is a quick summary of what we did, uh, and, uh, you know, 5 minutes or less here. But I am happy to answer specific questions. You all have the policy.
And don't deep if you wanted to, but have to answer your questions.
There's any online here, so we are asking for a vote today. Yep. Okay.
No questions in the room on the line yet. Sean go ahead.
Yeah, I was just wondering Todd, thanks for the presentation. I was wondering if, um, you had any detail on any systemic, um, monitoring and or.
Experimentation with species, um.
That we anticipate will be more resilient in future unpredictable climate.
Scenarios we do have, uh, some, some information, and just to make sure you get it straight from the expert and stuff. I'm going to ask that Nick Johnson who's joined.
Are the our risk right now of class who helped with this policy and Nick? Do you have a response to that?
And also, maybe if you're coordinating with other departments that are are working on, that have to be involved with the with planning, especially things like, in the right of ways and that kind of thing.
Yeah, so, for, uh, climate adapted trees, um, we've been looking to, um.
Places like Southern Oregon and, um.
Central Washington for trees that, uh, will be able to withstand hotter dryer summers.
Um, but often we don't need to change, uh, tree species. Um, what we can do is we can start looking to source.
Are our genetic material, um, and seeds from, from places that have trees that are adapted to 100 bear summers?
Um, there is a lot of, uh, inter, departmental coordination. Um.
And a lot of conversations about, um.
What our plans are going forward, um, and.
In our, um, green spaces, um, we, we stick to to native trees.
Um, and then in develop parks, uh, were a little bit more free to.
Um, you know, be creative and and.
And plant trees that, um, may do well in the Mediterranean region and, and just see how those are, are doing.
So, uh, we're, we're working and learning.
The same time thanks. I, I'd also mentioned that the, there's an organism or the group called the forest adaptation network. That's a collaboration of.
Foresters Margaret from around the whole region.
That are directly diving into this question of climate and tree health. Um, and some of our staff would that lead.
In that, and it's so create amazing collaboration happening through that group on this question.
Thank you I wanted it to speak for a moment to a couple of the comments.
From the public, just because we heard about the true replacement I just wanted to clarify this of the tree management policy. So this isn't the place for the Trevor.
Premium policy, entry, replacement policy or 2 different things but there is some language in there about 3 replacement. Okay. Addresses. Some of what Nick was talking about.
In terms of what was used for, like yeah. Find that in mind. Yeah. Okay.
And I want to say, I appreciate it. I'm sure we all appreciate that addition of that equitable distribution of services component. Um.
And then, um.
It's another gentleman's comment that I'm looking at city wide treat canopy calls. I know adding more trees has been.
A priority in in the proposed budget for the park district. I know. Even with, I think custom number Lewis that was, uh, so that he was able to increasing.
And there's, there's, there's a group that email that I think they.
And tended to email the group I think there was an email sent through, but I was on it so I can share and this is, um.
Trees for Seattle parks, they've been working with the department for a while to.
Develop a program to increase troop, planting in develop parts and I just bring it up today. I think we'll hear more from them in the future. They're, they finalizing some proposals but, um.
They were interested in having their program included in as in the definition section of this policy.
My assumption is the definition section is kind of for things that are discussed in the policy and this program isn't necessarily so I just wanted to take this because it's kind of our opportunity right to do that or not. So.
Yeah, yeah, it's true. The definitions help define what is the language that used to that.
So generally, you know, like like, we change this policy to take the practices out.
We, we try to keep it fairly high level. So, um, green channel partnership is mentioned. Uh, but that's an official.
Uh, no arrangement, right? We have with them and it's partially our program departure with others. So kind of a little bit of a different level.
You very much appreciate the, uh, we haven't seen the funding. We got to help support trees and parks. Yeah, but did not include.
And I think tops has provided the appropriate response. I mean, maybe we can say something more general about volunteers. Uh, but, um, I think name for a specific.
Yeah, I would agree that seems like the appropriate response, but I did just want to acknowledge that the request and the work that they're doing.
I'm excited to hear more about it because I know there's definitely a need to do more support for the trees and the development parts a lot of focus on the natural areas, which is also really important. So.
Okay, all right any other questions or discussion.
We have a motion.
I'd like to move to approve the updated tree management policy.
Dialogue 6th. Okay. Uh, all those in favor of approving the new treaty management policy.
Raise your hand please. Right? And you're in. All right so it's unanimous. The policy is approved. Thank you. Okay. Yep. Thank you. All right for.
Okay. All right. Great. Thank you.
Next item on our agenda when we've all been waiting for the Great Lakes kathy's public hearing and possible vote.
And Christopher, do you wanna introduce this to this? Thank you. Uh.
Uh, traditional farmers um, so after our presentation on July, 14.
About screen lake.
For a project and interview discussion, uh, you asked us to come back, uh.
With a recommendation and, um.
Possible decision on how we could move forward since that time. We held 6 listing sessions to hear from different user groups, pedestrian, small, little users and cyclist.
We also received about 200 emails and many phone conversations with public or add and incomplete with Todd. It's clear that people appreciate care deeply about green lake interlude trail. Um. um
And you have received lots of memos and communication about this topic over the last few weeks. And I think today what we're providing to you as a set of choices based on.
The feedback we've been hearing up til now.
Um, that really, I think, kind of lay in your lab, uh, set of decisions and how you want to proceed with this. So, with that.
All right, I will pass it to our esteemed colleagues. Uh, we will start with public hearing.
Great and that'd be very strict about the 2 minutes. Then we have a lot more data on this issue. And 1st step is Jim McConnell.
Jim should be unmuted go ahead.
Everybody, um, my name is Jim McConnell. I'm a green lake resident, and I use him pronouns.
I'm speaking in support of returning green lake in her past user guidelines to their Pre covid baseline while advocating for parks to dedicate resources to enhance and maintain the trail markings to help users re,
adapt to the old rules as many of, you know, I've been involved with this issue, ever since parks changed the permanent signs at the lake banning wheels I was heartened in July when a.
Process we started to develop an actual park staff recommendation to deal with the ban in part, because I could see no way that a reason assessment would not result in a recommendation to return to the Pre colon shared use guidelines that were so successful for decades.
I'm sad to say, my optimism may have been misplaced. Have you participated in the outreach program including half of the listening sessions? I'm saddened by the summary memo, rather than a recommendation 1 way or the other the memos summarizes some of what was.
During the outreach, but then posits that there are 2 equally valid options, even though 1 of them received 0 support, in any of the sessions I attended, or in those I received info on the fact that a,
do nothing option is presented as being equal to reinstating wheels use demonstrates to me that there's an inherent bias towards maintaining the restrictions, which in turn means maintaining the current discriminatory situation where families, children,
seniors, people on mobility devices skates.
Boards roller blades, et cetera. People numbering in the hundreds. If not thousands are excluded from using a public park, based on their choice of recreation. The impacts on the of the ban on equity diversity and community at the park are not really in question.
The issue is, how do we fix the existing issue?
We must acknowledge that was the struggle to address covid that led to a change in inner path usage guidelines to presume that now may be in quotes an ideal moment to retain the pedestrian.
The only path is to mischaracterized the entire issue, and frankly it belies a hidden agenda. We can do better. We can do.
Okay, thank you next that Rachel Schaefer.
Okay, Rachel, you should be on mute. Go ahead. Great. Um, Rachel Schaefer I am policy manager with cascade bicycle club and, um, we have talked about this before, but I will.
Talk about it again we support allowing bikes and other reels on the in a loop again.
This yes, no approach that's currently in place. Doesn't really allow for the nuanced reality of sharing the path.
So, we appreciate ideas that have been brought up before, like, an acting a speed limit, and focusing resources around education and building community compassion and norms again on how to share the trail.
Uh, we know that not every 1 on wheels has the same needs and that's the beauty of both having the inner loop and the outer loop existing.
At the same time, this is a new and opportunity that inherently change who wants to be on the inner loop so.
With the outer loop, people will self select their needs based off their speed and comfort in writing close to traffic.
The pause are not along wheels, the last 2 years creates a chance for the parks department to redefine expectations of trail etiquette. Let's be people focused and find ways that make it easy for people to respect other space while moving around the lake.
For example, the parks department can use the tools they are have available to keep everybody safe.
Just, like, they already do on other popular trails in the city.
Thanks again for allowing us to come tonight. Thank you, Rachel.
Um, next step Don.
Thank you, thank you for allowing me to speak tonight.
Early on this afternoon I sent a petition with over 600 sizes to Benjamin, for your review position as a superintendent, and the board, or the immediate move, all the signs from banning wheels, right?
Like, you know, the path provides multiple pieces resending the ban all of which you've already heard. heard
Shortly after the signs began appearing in March of 2022, I launched a Facebook group my partition drive to demand the immediate reversal of this policy, not really active Facebook users. So, I may actually, if I had more than 33 friends, the number of signatures on this petition would be even larger.
petition would be even larger
Nevertheless, I firmly believe that the power of our costs, it's not in the number of names on an online petition.
Rather than the logic and correctness of our arguments, these arguments with may very eloquently in writing and in public comments, many members of the wheels below group by the adaptive cycling community. Indeed.
By some of the board itself, race, similar concerns with the October 2021 meeting when the band was adopted. the band was adopted
It may sound cliche to say to some of my best friends are pedestrians.
However, the truth is that the Greenland community, the green light path, both wheels and pedestrian is broad and welcoming and scares and other wheels users, bring value joy and love to the community. Every time.
You'll still hear a presentation from Todd and the shell and the middle. They published with 2 options and many possible sub options in the.
But I along with 600 other park, patrons, virtual boards, do the right thing tonight and to simply vote to restore the use of the pathway our entire content.
Thank you, uh, next up Eleanor for.
Hello hello. Um, and you are going to be followed by Diane right?
Yeah, you should be muted.
Go ahead, thank you. I encourage you to bring small wheels back to the green, like inner loop. I'm adult an adult beginner at rollerblading learning can happen at any age, and the outer loop just doesn't feel like a safe option.
The bikes are moving too fast. The cars are too close, there's nowhere to fall safely and the outer loop and their obstructions like storm order grades that are hard to navigate on small wheels at any skill level.
If you can't bring back small wheels, unconditionally, please consider other options than an, all out.
The loops not used equally at all times, if I were to visit the inner loop on a brisk November morning, there would be a few other users.
There are many days and times when the park is not crowded, it feels unfair and untrue to say that there's never a time or space for small wheels to enjoy the park.
Lastly, parks in other parts of the city has been offered as alternative places escaped, but those suggestions tend to be either unsuitable for skates like the procurement trail or far away.
I love walking down to green lake in the evenings to skate when it's quiet. The idea that I need to drive to different parts of the city to enjoy. Rollerblading is sad.
And I would have signed that online petition if I'd heard of it. So count that is 601 names. Thank you.
Thank you Diane right here next followed by trip Allen.
Sorry, everyone takes a moment for Webex to catch up with my, my request to unmute. Diane you should be good to go. No, not candy or when the air? Yep. Okay.
Hello, I'm Diane. Ray, local, friendly, child, psychologist and grandmother, and my kids grew up here.
Well, meaning commissioners I know that in 2021 you commence the typical steps of polling, focus groups on the topic of usage of the lakeside paths, interlaced, bypass the green lake and believe you have done your due diligence.
But your well, meaning efforts could only have failed. Why? Because of the pandemic. because of the pandemic
A large swath of the of our Seattle population were left out of the conversation, barely keeping their heads above water,
including all the maxed out parents of our school aged children a group that had no idea that the concept of permanent closure of green lake's lakeside path was even a thing.
Today, I spoke with the managers, the for Seattle bike shops, right? Near green lake, and all of them were God smack that you plan to pull the plug on multi usage of green lake's lakeside paths.
I am here at the moment to represent the 1 in 100 satellites, a minority if there was ever was 1, who happened to be children in Seattle. seattle
Made up of all ethnicities as others have mentioned, just now,
who seemed to have been robbed of a great resource for them a way that they can heal from the pandemic and flourish bring this path back for them for older adults for the differently. Abled. It is necessary.
There is no other good good resource around the Burke. Gilman is too quick. The sidewalks are often broken or where my grandkids live. They don't even have sidewalks in their neighborhood.
I would like you to know, however, what's going on in green lake now if you haven't been there, which is utter chaos, why? Because scuppers are rollerblading there and biking there and it's impossible because there's no longer a 1 way path for them.
There is no oversight. There there never has been there's never been any oversight of office dogs, for example.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Next step is, um, Allen followed by.
War.
Alright, trippa, thank you. I submitted a 3 page.
Statement and I kind of exhausted and start getting that done today. So I don't have a 1 minute statement very well prepared.
I'll just go back to this living there for 20 years at the north end of the lake.
Look across street in the late. I was surprised that, uh.
Department told me that they don't have a personnel to keep attendance records and things like.
I look at it outside my front windows every day.
Outer loop and the algorithm now, I mean, by the travel trail that runner so enjoy, I can tell you that attendance hasn't come close to getting back to what it is not rapid.
It's just not quite about that in a path. My late wife before she passed away in 2013.
Walk down, we walked them together a lot. I'm a pedestrian. That's how I used that path.
She encouraged me to reach out to the because I have a design background. That's my livelihood.
Reach out to the parks department with ideas to improve signage. Wayfinding.
I sent something in probably around 22010neveraresponse, but not received responses to other overtures like that since this thing much rooms.
Um, so, but you see here and take my wife.
When you're trying to temper what the other walkers we both agree. That was they were the biggest problem.
And they still are, they were the problem because they would.
Be the ones and the other people's.
I rarely saw wheels ever in the walking lane often when they were there just because they were having to weave around people because they're.
Walking and wheels, so a better signage. I think you'd have a.
A better outcome and.
Please like, yeah can you store employees? We all struggle.
Next steps, Kathleen Warren followed by the.
Thank you. I'm Kathleen. Lauren.
When a years ago I was scattered around greenlight about 3 times before I came to this meeting as a conditioner.
Or else, I was going to run into a soccer game afterward.
So, I'm a long time skater at Green lake. I've stayed literally thousands and thousands of miles over 25 years or more. And, um, I wanted to say, and I've been there all times with the day, not early morning.
But, uh, otherwise, all kinds of crowds. I've never had any problems, people know how to share. I mean, generations have there and shared that path for decades generations. I wanted to just you've heard about it's not safe.
I agree with that. that
Put skaters on the street with commuting bicycles is not safe. Uh, there are not enough trails for us in any way in the in city and enforcement is going to be a nightmare SBD going to get tickets out there. I don't think so.
What I really wanted to mention is actually.
3 issues 1, skating is inexpensive. It is so expensive to play anymore anywhere for fun.
Everything costs, but you can skate almost for free skates are inexpensive. It is open to all. It's very inclusive. It's all ages.
And parks is interested and should be I'm thinking, caring about all of those things and encouraging that kind of free and unscheduled play. I want to say that with older women.
Most of us didn't have a chance to play your Pre title. 9. we didn't get a chance to place for so many of us.
And so, if older women are more comfortable coming back in and taking out the sport, like skating than they are going to learn how to play basketball or soccer, as they get older. So, for older women, and for older athletes.
Once your needs go and you can't quite run in more.
Then, you know, physical therapist said to me never stops so I'm 73.
I hope to be skating at green light for a whole lot longer and I'm asking you to reverse that fast. But thank you.
Next step we have William Yardley.
Hey, William, you should be good to go.
It's all good to see.
Yep, yep.
Hey, William, uh, you should be able to speak.
Let's go to Stephanie and we'll try 1 more time after that.
Right. Stephanie, you should be unmuted and good to go. Can you hear me.
Yes, my name is Stephanie Spence, I am a resident of the Roosevelt neighborhood. I am also here today in favor of returning to the historic usage of the path for wheel users.
Many people have spoken so far, and I truly believe that no matter your age, your family status, your ability, or which wheels are using we all deserve a safe space to recreate that opportunity is really been taken away from a lot of us with the temporary code restrictions,
I'm disappointed that.
It's possible that this will become a permanent restriction, um, a skilled, real estate. I've skated for many years. I just want to reiterate what others have said that the outside loop is not enjoyable or safe.
Um, if I take a fall and going into traffic and I'm a strong skater, there's a lot of road debris. I imagine that would be extremely difficult for a beginner. I certainly wouldn't want to do it.
Um, I also frequent businesses around the lake every day, and I have barely, ever seen roller skaters on.
Path I think that people will continue to use the inner loop, because it's the safe choice. Um, and I understand that, uh, you know, no matter whether you're in adult or you have a family or you're a person with a disability.
I really think that a lot of us are relying on the inner loop for health and safety and fun. Um, it doesn't sound like there is a lot of evidence that's been put out by the park. That there's a quantifiable problem with people on skates.
We haven't seen any collusion reports or data or anything like that. Um, most of us are.
Pedestrians and we respect the park. I'm asking that you don't relegate us to a less safe alternative, based on a limited survey and like, many others.
Um, I think, simple updates to the signage and a return to the, you know, 1 lane for each kind of user is the best choice here. Thank you.
You want to try and mute William 1 more time and that would be our last week or.
Yeah, am I unmuted now you are willing to go ahead. Okay. I'm going to try that again. I was really going off. I thought I was crushing it.
Thank you. My name is William Yardley. Can you hear me now?
You hear me can you hear me? Yes, yes.
Okay, my name is William Yardley. My 20 year old son. Jackie is an adaptive cyclist. We strongly support restoring wheels to the inner loop. We have in the loop more than 1000 times.
We have never had a safety issue ban on wheels discriminates against people with disabilities and anyone who cannot ride or skate or use wheels safely elsewhere.
The band denies young children, a safe place to learn to ride and skate. It denies many elderly people, a safe place to ride and skate. skate
Sunday a father helping us 3 year old daughter ride. A balanced bike was flabbergasted by a sign. You're the aqua theatre. This is the safest place to learn.
He told me Here's to learning to beginning at any age, but there's more to it. The band was implemented without supporting data, overlook something essential, unlike bike lanes.
The inner loop offers herons kingfishers, quality goals and barred hours. It offers light reflecting off the lake and the chance.
On warm days to stop, pull off and put your feet in the water not everyone rides and rolls just to get from point a to point. B, please tell me Seattle is still about the journey.
Not just the destination. Please do not fix what was not broken, restore wheels to the inner loop. Thank you. 1 more speaker.
Thank you. Thank you so much. This is my 1st public hearing so I have to sleep and my 1st, public hearing on zoom, because I feel so strongly about this issue, and I wanted I'm speaking as a role of later, and a cyclist.
I live in Wallingford I use green link the outer trail to commute. I'm a teacher and I work up north.
And I don't go rollerblading anymore in Greenland simply because it is way too confusing with the no real side I don't want to leave in. And out of people, I don't like the dirty looks I get from people.
So I've kind of given up on rollerblading since Kobe, which makes me really sad. People have talked about trails. Really? Bumpy beach is not very accessible. Now, the bridge is open.
It's a little easier, but I love having just a quick 5 minute bike ride to go. Rollerblading.
And I just don't do it.
And when I'm biking to work, um, I think about rollerblading there, there's no way I want to roller blade, right? By the traffic. It's too dangerous. Um, there are a lot of electric bikes that are in scooters that are going sometimes 25 dollars an hour.
So, I feel really strongly about bringing wheels back on it and, like I said, I was getting there for. for
Probably 25 years never saw any issues when it's clearly marked. So I hope you.
Have heard our voices and decide to keep the wheels. Thank you.
Okay.
Yeah, thanks everybody.
Presentation for 5. okay.
Oh, Hello. Yeah. Uh.
Nice to be here to talk about this and I appreciate all the public comment. We got, uh, online, and for those, they painted significant in person.
Uh, as was mentioned, uh, I have had many conversations over the last bit of time since we were last year talking about this and, uh, with our friends and stuff.
And I wanted to provide just a brief PowerPoint here. There are some slides that are similar to what I had in the listening sessions, which we'll talk about.
Let answer any questions you have, or to the discussion.
So, go ahead, I should say, sorry, I'm a sustainability adviser for Seattle parks and rec, every been introduced myself and sit on the policy team, which is why we're.
All right, so we'll just quickly go through some of the, how we got here with use regulations, which you may not be aware of. And I've heard a little bit about.
Walk through that, uh, look through some of the feedback that com for their, our links related to this. And then also feedback that we've received, uh, recently and in the past.
Then put the 2 options out there and describe those a little bit that then explain already. So.
And then just open it up for your discussion possible. If you want.
Excellent just ground setting I think we were all fairly familiar with the green lake. Uh.
Uh, area will be focusing on the Interlink, which is the 2.858 path on the next to the lake with that gravel area just inside as well.
And, uh, then there's also though, just as reference that when I was calling the perimeter path. So it's the unpaid gravel and dirt route that goes around much of the link.
And then, of course, you will hear reference to the outerly, which is the project that has been working on.
Uh, which includes the, uh, the separated pipelines on eastern North, green street, and then the multi little path that they just announced that they're working on and hopefully be done by the end of this year. So.
But we will focus our policy conversation around the supplemental use guidelines for the interview.
Uh, as has been mentioned, when we put in some emergency used rules to restrict the use of real users, except for NDA access and strollers.
That was put in place originally with 1 way pedestrian use and then later on 2 week industrial use.
That continued on and has been that way ever since we came back to you in October with an update on the outer loop project, some discussion on the inner loop, as you had requested.
And, um, uh, that since that point, there was some kind of more community engagement from that stuff that we learned from.
And, um, then we have done some of our own as well on Saturday.
I just leave this up here for a minute that initially we used the emergency use rules, which were for 60 days and we did that multiple times in a row, which is not.
Quite, how we would like to do it. So, uh, at that October meeting was when the board supported the secret attendance assignment to have an intern use change.
So, that was an actual amendment to the supplemental use guidelines for green light. And that's what we've been operating under, sets them without the need to renew it every 16.
Uh, as mentioned to do a online survey and some other outreach, but let's talk about the online survey for the outer loop where they got about 4,500 responses from people.
And when they were doing that, they worked with us to incorporate 4 questions that were related to just since they were going to be at the community.
In that area as well. So Here's I'll just quickly highlight the 4 questions. They got 1.
Uh, why do people physically like you'll see most are to exercise.
Uh, and some to connect to go through as well.
They asked before the restriction that was, um, we also was put in place how did people get around the park? So kind of back in the days, when all users were there, how did people get around?
And and these respondents overwhelmingly said they get around by walking around.
Uh, then they said, okay, if the city completes the outer loop, this is before they announce instead of financing. So, if they were to get that done, uh, how satisfied would you meet with a, uh, continuing and.
See, about 2 thirds stated that they are little perhaps, but when you say there, we, uh.
Satisfied with that restriction. Okay.
So they also had an open ended question of comments that people like to see the, uh, staff went and kind of categorize those and put them in different areas.
And you'll see here that, uh, 52% of the 52% of people that answer this question.
Said that they supported that restriction of wheels.
21% post that, and another 1 that grows up to the top was, uh, people really prefer that children, like young children and families.
Uh, with kids be allowed to bite and scale on the Internet 25%.
Those are some of the highlights there. Okay.
So that, you know, that was a survey conducted about the outer loop and people obviously connected to the park in the area. But I know some people who crowd and I don't don't think it's irrelevant.
Uh, survey, I think it provides a good taste on, like.
What does the general public feel? But, you know, that's up for debate.
The, uh, but we did do a lot of our own, uh, outreach and also receive a lot of feedback as was mentioned.
And here, you'll see that that broke down a little differently than what the.
A survey heads, so overwhelmingly we heard, uh, people in support of having wheels and pedestrians on the trail having that historic use there.
Um, and, uh, you know, I want to give it over the, the feedback cause you've heard most of it. Well, tonight.
We also did hear a fair amount, but it has the same gesturing. Only it'd be nice.
And but I'd say 1 thing that was common around all of them, was that, you know, signage and improve signage way to make it more clear is something that everyone's seem to agree.
That was mostly from the emails that were right there. Uh, I also conducted 6 different listening sessions as was mentioned.
Uh, to each at noon and 6 o'clock for the 3 different user groups that we.
Categorize pedestrians, small meals and bikes.
You'll see the, the attendance here for those.
I was 21 for pedestrians, 33 for small wheels.
And 37 for bikes, so good conversation, I think I really enjoyed it. It was great format for me to be able to hear from everyone.
And in those, I also provided my personal phone number personal, my work phone number and, uh, you can draw something. Sure. So, my, my work phone number and email and said that I'd be happy to have continued conversations with anyone.
That 1 and 2, and I, I did get a few that that took me up on that.
And you'll see that some of that it's harder to take.
Set 78 hours of conversations and summarize them quickly. But in general, I'd say that most people felt that all users could get along on the trail. There's been a history of that and wants some improvements and signage and whatnot that that that could really work out still.
That the Curtis account seems to work when it's.
And then also, that reiteration that the path is really important for children to learn to write whatever they're writing that it does provide that.
See, if access, uh, also the algorithm while many people thought it was wonderful, but everyone most people who thought it was.
A great addition to our vice network, but it was mainly for that for people that were cycling.
Through the area and not not recreating in that same way.
And everyone loves that. So, um, it's, it's a huge asset for many.
I mentioned other other outreach that we did here's a taste I presented to the disabilities commission to friends. Agree like park and.
And also reached out to the pedestrian and bicycle advisory boards wasn't able to get in front of them, but they shared the information.
Uh, and same with the green light community council and had.
Conversations with the cascade bicycle staff and not, uh, any sort of 4 per say beyond our, our cycling this session.
As I mentioned, I also have lots of personal conversations with people.
Uh, I didn't count per say that, but if it doesn't.
For sure, and we also did some digital engagements. We had a website to announce the listing sessions, a blog post and social media to try to drum up some, some attendance to this party.
It was a tight time frame so what we could.
So, at the end of that, you receive our memo and what we presented our a couple different options to consider for the conversation here.
And 1 of them, as you've heard tonight is to return to that storage and use.
Regulations that we had, which included all non, motorized wheel users and pedestrians on the path.
There is a 10 currently a 10 mile per hour speed limit that it's on there.
And, um, and then, you know, of course, if we want to go to that, we'd want to replace those new green signs that say, no wheels.
Uh, and there we want to do something, uh, you know, there's some ways to enhance the code of conduct awareness.
Along the path, so, but you'll see here, there's already signage in the pavement that would support that.
The 2nd option is to.
Sit with where we are now, the restrictions that came in place during Kobe and have it be.
Uh, as is the case, now, ABA access is still granted in the lab as our strollers.
Of course, if we were to keep this in place, we need to do some pavement work to replace those signs.
And, uh, we would, uh, probably, you know, there's this, we're not this is not my decision, but we, I imagine we might go, you know, do 2 ways, you know, divided by the, the line that's already there. Awesome.
So that people went down to it, that's that's a future conversation. If we went that way.
So, we really are wanting to kind of tab this robust discussion to hear from you what your thoughts are. You've heard from a lot of feedback from the public and I'm happy to take any questions. If you have anything to help.
Thank you Todd and I think Christopher had some comments to share too. So I want to think the public who has shown up here and who has been too repeated.
Testimony and called in, I want to modify the Department's recommendation.
Just based on the extensive level of public participation.
What we've heard so far, and, uh, that modification to our recommendation would be to return the paths will.
So, we'd like you to consider that I'd also like to recognize Todd early for all of the good work he's done and our policy team.
Uh, but I'm inclined to, you know, try to clarify our position.
Just based on, uh, sort of the extreme level, uh, public support for returning.
The tap to so.
I just want that to be recorded. Yeah. Sorry. Thank you.
All right lots of questions from our from our online attendees. So let's go there. 1st.
I Dave and I saw your 1st, so go there.
I, uh, so a couple of questions and this is probably cause I moved to Seattle. Wow. A year ago. Actually, last week.
And my, my 1st question is, what was there, any people can I touch on a public comment but was there any concerted effort in 2018 and 19 to remove the wills from these paths? Or was it exclusively a Kobe situation?
a kobe situation
Thanks, Sarah. This was in response to Colin and trying to create space for safe recreation.
Okay, well, that's the 1st question and the 2nd question is yeah, I'm looking, we're looking at phrases, like, code of conduct and rules and restrictions.
So, I'm kind of curious on how the enforcement policy, or who's doing the foreseen of certain conducts and rules and restrictions out there at Green. Like, Who'll be doing the enforcement.
Hello.
Technically, all enforcement as under sales police departments authority, um.
So that imagine it, it's not their highest priority right now.
Uh, right now we do have park rangers, but they're restricted to downtown course so it would not be, uh, and they don't have enforcement for education.
Support so right now it's there's.
Limited to no, unfortunately. Absolutely. Thank you. Um, with that all being said, I'm in full support of bringing the wheels back to green lake. I think that is the right decision to make.
I think, um, I'd be lying if I said, oh, Kobe is completely over, but I think we're definitely easing out of that and in a well manner and some, an absolute support to bring the wheels back to green lake.
And I'm very thankful for all the public who has taken time out of their busy schedules to be part of this process. So, thank you.
Thanks Dave on Sean you have to share.
I'm I'm just having a difficult to, uh, difficult time. I'm.
Kind of reconciling different, uh, responses, uh, to the, uh, the different surveys and approaches of getting feedback, just given how the kind of disparities between them.
And, um, um, and I don't recall if I saw any of the surveys and I was wondering, I mean, cause the surveys and and the implementation of surveys can really sway the kinds of opinions, get back.
And it seems to me that that that even people who are.
Kind of rapidly in either side, um, uh, respect some nuance in, in, in what, uh, what the ultimate resolution is, you know,
having wheels back but but imposing speed limits and or wheel size. I think that's another 1 to explore. Um, uh, perhaps, but but I, I, I think that there's probably more nuance than we're getting from those.
And, uh, you know, personally, I, I really in favor of.
Training wheels, it's where my daughter learned how to ride bikes, but we were also terrified when when somebody came, you know, rushing through the area, going 40 miles an hour on a on thin, thin wheels.
And so I, and and, you know, to your question, Dion, no one's going to be enforcing this effectively. It just doesn't happen. And I think that there's some.
Some kind of need to create the opportunity for decorum and etiquette and have rules and half and use our civility and promote this kind of
civility as opposed to trying to anticipate that just splitting out having wheels out on the outer loop and having no wheels inside is going to ultimately be effective. I, I, I would not have, you know.
Right, right that outer loop with my daughter and have her accidentally sway into traffic and get hit.
I can completely, um, commiserate with with the folks who have that concern and among others as well as the debris that's gonna get kicked onto that outer loop and and cause if you're on rollerblades or skates, um, you know, to rack or escape boards.
So, I think that there's this is 1 of those situations, I think often we, we end up.
Seeking public comment, as if it's going to really give us a cut and dried yes. Or no and sometimes I feel like we just have to kind of.
Act with some, some try to take all of that in and come up with solution, propose it and move forward.
And I'm with Dave on, I think we return wheels with some with some, some better signage and maybe some follow up and outreach to, to promote that transition back to having wheels.
Thanks Sean. Marla yeah. Thanks. Everyone for discussion and thanks for all the public comment. That these last few months I just need to share a personal anecdote. When I was out there talking to folks he was green.
Like, I have a friend of mine, a neighbor who has a hidden disability, and you would never know by looking at her and she likes to roller skate at Green link for exercise. And the problem with that isn't necessarily a rule but.
Parks and rec enforcement is the community, and we have a bunch of karen's constantly yelling at her and that is not inclusive and that's taking away a use from the park and being able to do that.
I think it'd take a lot for me to support that. And I haven't seen any compelling data or a business case to do. So, and I was skeptical of having this ban in October and I'm still skeptical now because it sets a really bad president as a city grows.
Well, we have a wheel band at alpine.
Stuart bark and at the Burt Goldman by Gasworks, um, I I mean, from a safety perspective, I'd like to see the data before we make a decision that large. Um, and that's all I got.
I completely support bringing back bringing back wheels to green lake and also being real about, um.
How to conduct is enforce the parks it's all about community and, um, people being there for each other calling people in.
All right, well, thank you, Marlin, they're all. I, um.
I have been a frequent green light user both before, and after the, um, well, during the pandemic. Um, and the thing I found is that it's constantly busy. The path is.
As, as wide as it is, it is.
Very, very busy and, um, and it's, it's heavily used, you know, people that's, uh, for some people in the community that's their only, um, outdoor activity space.
But it also attracts people from across the city like me who came from Central district and I think what.
You know, I have to pick it up on what Marlon said. I think that there's.
By having people,
identify themselves with a disability does put those sort of create a negative energy around the usage of the travel people who are trying to utilize wheels on the trail and nice as it is to be able to walk leisurely around the path.
I do believe that more investigation is to go into how do we expand the trail? How do we create a different texture?
Um, in that path, that would be better usage, better utilized by wheels versus people walking.
And, and overall just adding more with.
To the path, there's constantly conflicts.
Uh, both before, and after, um, you know, people stop, um, midway through to enjoy the view and then suddenly, uh, runners.
You know, overtaking them. Um, I know it's very contentious. I know that the folks have come to these meetings, um, you know, during my time here, just in the spring to talk about this.
So, um, you know, I'm supportive putting the wheels back on the path, but I do think parks.
You know, if they haven't already, I'm sure they have. Um, I just haven't seen it of course, but, uh, expanding expanding the with the trail and providing, uh, better signage.
Textures thanks.
Sending me questions or comments.
Okay, okay. Um.
So, thank you all for coming and, um, I really appreciate that.
Volume and passion behind all of this for so long. I do feel like I've been lobbying.
Quite a bit by neighbors, my friends and my colleagues, um, people have to, like, uh, and actually have heard both sides. I definitely have heard some.
Walkers who say we like it quiet, but I to will join the recipe here and came with our intention today to say, please, let's return the wheels back to the Internet.
And it's, I mean, for all the reasons we have talked about, it's so important for kids on bikes it's so important for anybody who's learning a skill or.
So many reasons not to being, you know, that said the outlook is amazing. I saw Cruz out there today, uh, marking up the next section and I do think that.
That brings a new state of the world to bring because people will have the choice to go all the way around with that on a faster bike. So I think that part's different and much better. It changes the community.
To, like area tremendously and so hopefully there will be ways to.
And people hopefully will self select, but also there should be some ways to help encourage that.
If you're fast, you go out there and it should be more pleasant to do that. And if you are.
I cannot invite for a family, and any of the situations we talked about, it should feel very safe and comfortable on the inner path. And I think we can do that. I really appreciated sean's mention of.
Stability, and how do we, um, how do we encourage that? How's the purchase department signage, rangers, volunteers, whatever the case may be to come up with a little bit of a plan to help promote that in a very positive.
Uh, we're all in this together. Let's radiologist perspective.
So, I, I think the answer is hopefully clear and, um, really appreciate the.
Long trajectory to get here and so thanks everybody.
Anything else from staff or Justin? Um.
I started going to green like a 976 so.
I would like unlike the I'd like to see it go back.
With the wheels cut and dry.
Easy he said it was short.
Yeah, well we seem to be moving in the same direction here. I would. The only thing I would add or Echo, I guess, is, is.
The call for some real effort to encourage the stability and I think that's.
It's going to be very true with a change or return to the prior state at.
Um, but throughout the department, um.
My dinner around here before our meeting, and there was.
The park user trying to encourage other private user to follow the off police or the delete role.
And and he was getting it from the guy who didn't want to put his out on the beach and I think that this, the world, right now, people are on it.
People are burnt out people are tired and, um, and they're very active.
And, um, I think that people.
A lot of people are going to be really happy about the decision it seems that that we're moving towards. And I think if we can.
I need to show on those good feelings and.
And make this something where people can really cooperate and and move together. That'll be important.
All right, sure 1 of the, uh, comments in the listening sessions that resonated with me around, this was.
Positive messaging, rather than negative messaging as we build that a sense of community in sense of supporting each other, rather than a sense of wanting to.
Police other people, so it just it's a shift. No, it's the same.
It's just a different way of saying that I think there's ways that we support that. Mm. Hmm.
So, maybe I can talk a little bit about what it is, we can do to sort of further this stability thing. I think in saying that I think it's important to I think I know where you're headed, but to acknowledge that, that there will be people who can plan. Right but.
In July, right? Um.
I think 1 of the things that we can do is to.
Have kind of an emphasis with park ambassadors trail.
Uh, to help, uh, remind people of the direction and the speed, uh, and can do some, uh.
Kind of intervention that is friendly reminding encouraging. Uh, so that's 1 thing we can do. I think it will take us a while to change the signage.
By a while, I mean, probably a couple of weeks, uh, we can immediately, uh, send a letter to the clerk.
City clerk can modify the rule amendments. So, um.
I'm taking a letter to the clerk file.
Uh, begin working on signage, uh, set a date for when.
The current signage will be removed and new signage will be replaced. Um.
But I, I don't want to characterize this as a light switch that tomorrow.
I think we've got Justin and test with Justin. Why don't you go ahead? Oh, just really wanted to emphasize intentional signage. Right? So, you know, it's great to change time, but let's not be super reactive. Let's make sure that we.
Think about how we put that size how we place it of how intuitive it is to the users cause to me, it's always about, uh, that user experience. If it's hard to understand.
Uh, people are gonna misinterpret the rules or misinterpret directions. And so, again, um, I think I'm in support of, uh, allowing the wheels back. I just think that, as we do that, let's make sure we're really intentional about it to make sure we, uh, get the impact to match the intent. So.
That's cool. I know I've already spoken, but I, I also want to.
Remind folks that, you know, the people who are who are upset about having the wheels off the trail are here tonight. Um, and and they have been enforced.
Um, and that's awesome, you know, engagement with the community, but once we go back to bring back the wheels to the path, I do believe that there will be also an outpouring of people who will say that they, they wanted to have pedestrians only on the path.
So, they will be showing up to the meetings next. Um, and the rollout is going to be important of messaging and signage, because it'll upset folks in a different group.
But, yes, thank you. Yeah, thank you.
Oh, sorry click the wrong button.
All right yeah, I did have that thought earlier that's something that we are always trying to be mindful of is.
The voices that aren't in the room, the folks who are providing public comment that they still are part users and and.
Residents of our city and they've got needs and.
Priorities too. Um, but I think that yeah, our feedback has been pretty loud and clear.
On this 1 so are we ready for a recommendation then? Oh.
For emotion, I'm looking for a motion motion to.
Oh, wow. Wheels back on the trip. We want to sorry I should do we want to talk anything about? There's a current if we're going to Pre pandemic, it's 10 miles per hour speed limit existing.
You want to talk any bit about any, any more nuance with speed limits, or anything like that with our recommendation.
Purchase or just, I can add 1 thought on that. Um, this was the case with the multi use trail. We established 15 miles per hour, speed limit.
That that creates a minute, but it doesn't. We.
The superintendent still has the authority lower speed at some point. So, 1 of the suggestions came up as, like, in certain congested areas, or other places there.
We could explore that. So that was very nice. It's no more than that. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe we can come back with implementation. Sure. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
All right, well, then your motion as it, can you repeat your motion places? I interrupted. No worries a motion to allow wheels back on the.
Your 2nd, huh?
No, I, I, I just wanted a bit more clarity on exactly what we're voting for because I think there's a lot of.
There's a range of options that I'd like to explore in terms of. So, it's not just like, so on the inner loop is that both lanes? Is it just outer lane? You know, like it was before.
Um, and for that matter, I feel like.
There's still if there's not a huge rush, I'd like to explore some of the, like, what we're actually going to do to try to promote some stability because people are going to be pissed too. Let me go come back to this.
If we just snap back to something before without having.
Any effort to say to state, how we're going to ease this transition? I think that's irresponsible. And I don't, I, I don't want to vote against bringing bikes back, but I don't want to vote for anything right now.
Basically, if you so so I just wait for to Jessica that we ought to come back with an implementation plan.
That includes some pillars around, uh.
How are we going to relate to the public? What kind of signage we would have.
What level of staff intervention ID or they're gonna be park ambassadors at the site for some kind of emphasis.
Something with the public,
and then I think the nuance is Shawn of what you're getting at around speed around expectations for when people need to use the outer loop trail versus the inner loop trail but to come back and dedicate some time
to that kind of discussion. In a comprehensive way Thank you for that. Explanation. Sorry I was tracking from out here in zoom line so yeah, so then what happens between between now and.
When the implementation plan well, so.
Uh, as I mentioned, and I think that sean's point changing this tomorrow would just lead to.
I think more chaos and confusion. I think we need more time.
To figure out what the implementation plan is going to be and, uh, I think we can commit to coming back at the next meeting.
With some suggestions and ideas, uh, I know it's taking a long time to get here, but we want to do it. Right? I see people kind of shaking their head by extending it a little longer, but I think.
Our interest is to make sure that the implementation doesn't sour people on this process even further and, you know, we agree, you know, to the folks that have waited this longer.
We're just asking for a little bit more time.
To make sure we can have an implementation strategy. Everyone supports telecommunication.
Yes, yeah, I'll say those folks it is when it is a win, so hopefully hopefully, uh, that that helps, um, soften the blow of another delay, but let's do this. Right? I think.
All right, and our, our next meeting is the 2nd, Thursday in October is the 13th of October 15.
And it's not.
Yeah, yeah, just, um, I am frankly comfortable with the chaos of green lake because of how busy it is. I think it's a self regulating, slow down. I think we can't look at it in a vacuum.
People know what they're getting into when they're going a green, like, if they want somewhere serene and quiet or if they want to go speeding, they do not go to green lake. And I think we see a lot of parks nationwide and our biggest cities.
Let's just say Central Park right now who have a lot of people in different modes of traffic and it does work out. Fine.
I think, um, in the Democratic philosophy of our parks, I mean, it's the good, bad and ugly and people just need to learn to be in a community and work together.
I think there's very little actual risk in returning back to the full letting people go all in.
So.
So, are you recommending a different action then coming back at the next meeting for that? I think we can come back at the next meeting, but I'd like the policy to be formally on the books that wheels are back.
And you all can disagree with me.
And I do understand implementation execution will take time.
Um, I'm just like, it'd be nice to get roller skaters some comfort knowing that they can go on the green, like, Path tomorrow.
And kids can ride their bike on the green light path. You know what I mean? And they're gonna get yelled up by people who don't know that the, the policies been updated. I get that, um.
But I think it'd just be nice to open up the path for that use.
So, could I like to suggest that maybe we follow our staff lead on this? Because you are the ones that have to deal with it? And I, I think that, um.
I like the idea of an implementation plan. The next meeting is only 3 weeks or so. It's actually pretty quick. So it's a quick turnaround for you to come up with a plan. But I think probably changing it tomorrow or telling something that we're changing it tomorrow. But.
It's not so why don't we shoot for.
Something around maybe November. 1st.
As we drop dead timeline, it could happen before then, but I think to give the public some piece of mind around this, uh, this change could be implemented. No later than.
Okay, I can, I can see having.
About along the lines with Christopher says, try the hard work with establish direction and recommendation and still give us that flexibility, but still plays a hard line. So so then when we know we don't have come back to you and asking you.
So, I want to go that direction, but, um, we just need to work on the details and figure out how to make.
That's a really great point. We should be able to say something next time so that everyone knows the direction then.
That's a good point. Great.
Eva, hi sorry. Maybe I'm, I'm.
I can hear the whole conversation that's happening in person, but our.
Are we expecting a 2nd, I guess 2nd, bullet respect in another vote? October 13th is my question. Are we expecting to vote on something else? Only the implementation plan itself.
Yeah, that's probably just a briefing out of of.
And bring a document here, maybe 1 page and Todd will describe.
The characteristics of an implementation strategy, and we would roll that out.
All right yeah, so I think at this point, that's what we're just trying to clarify what our processes and whether whether tonight we go ahead and hope that we do support parks department in.
Returning wheels to green.
With the process, that's not happening immediately, but with the development of an implementation plan. Yep.
Yeah, that's perfect. Thank you. That's the clarification I need it.
I believe as chair, I cannot make that motion though, so someone else needs to say that again.
Or something along those lines, Sean are you writing that verbiage down to make that motion that they use? I think he was. I was taking I was just doodling. No, I'm just kidding. I was I was actually just taking other notes though, but, uh, I get this straight.
I, I'm move that.
We allow parks to create an implementation strategy to present at the next meeting.
To return bikes to the inner loop. Is that good enough?
Return we all use their site. Yes. Wheeled users. My apologies. So I move that that we request allow parks, uh, to create an implementation strategy to return wheels to the inner loop.
2nd, okay okay. Yeah, we've got a motion in a 2nd, any question or discussion.
All right all those in favor hand, please.
Justin, are you in favor? All right.
Any opposed all right motion carries.
Good job everybody. Alright. Alright.
So thank you to everyone for our big issues tonight that we had to discuss. We got 1 more item here, which is to start building new business. Um.
I already mentioned the next meeting as October 15th. Um.
Aside from hearing from todd's at that meeting. Oh, sorry. Is there anything else we should be anticipating for the next meeting or.
I'm fine, it's not finalized right now. Um, currently we have on there, um, some updates on greater greener.
Um, presentation from, um, about, uh, purchasing space element, update and presentation, uh, I don't have finalization on any of those so we can probably modify that.
Get this done. Yeah, but there's some things coming down the pipe.
Right. Uh, David go ahead.
Hi, so maybe this is a little too early to ask this. And maybe this is the topic we're going to talk about in October, but on the parks and recreation website we have meetings on November, 24th and December 22nd. Do we still plan to have those meetings?
Cause, I'm pretty sure that's very close to holiday time and I'm very curious if we can go ahead of time and it's all. No, it's on the website. I'm making sure I'm following up.
We will not have a meeting, so I'll take those off, but I still expect you to show up. to show up
You will see my grandmother in the background making me some food. Um, so I find my baby, but if she is to sean's daughter, my grandmother is a exalted queen.
That's how I describe her worship the floor. She walks on, because I, if you raised me with my mom, that's how I describe her, but I just wanted to check about the holidays. Thank you for the update. I'll update the calendar Dave on. Thank you for that. Yeah, the other thing that may be an addition in.
Probably in November well, is we try to do a retreat, um, around that time of year, uh, still actually aiming for October, but we'll, we'll need to touch on Amy for October, right? Around the corner. Okay cool.
Any other new business Thank you all so much for your time for being here with us sustaining. I'm going to come in at 819.
I joined join the meeting I just.