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Home My WebLink About2009-11-23 Community Affairs and Parks Minutes City of Tukwila Community Affairs and Parks Committee COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARKS COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes November 23, 2009 5.• 00 p. m. Conference Room #3 PRESENT Councilmembers: Verna Griffin, Chair; and Kathy Hougardy Absent: Joe Duffle Staff Rhonda Berry, Evie Boykan, Bruce Fletcher, Marty O'Brien, Dave Johnson, Shawn Hunstock, Jack Pace and Kimberly Matej CALL TO ORDER: Committee Chair Griffin called the meeting to order at 5:03 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS No presentations. H. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Interlocal Agreement for Minor Home Repair Program Grant monies are pending appropriation for the 2010 Minor Home Repair Program through the Community Development Block Grant, and staff is seeking approval to enter into an Interlocal Agreement between the Cities of SeaTac, Des Moines, Covington and Tukwila for the planning, funding and implementation of a joint minor home repair program in 2010. Last year this interlocal agreement was between the cities of Seatac, Des Moines and Tukwila and was going to be self renewing; however, the City of Covington has now been added to the program, and a new interlocal agreement is necessary. Tukwila continues to serve as the fiscal agent of the Minor Home Repair Program for the above mentioned cities. Targeting low and moderate income homeowners, Minor Home Repair program repairs include electrical, plumbing, carpentry and roofing. Terms of the interlocal agreement are almost identical to last year, with the exception that the City of Covington has been added as a participant. Due to the limited number of Council meetings remaining in 2009, staff is requesting this item move directly to the December 7 Regular meeting. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO DECEMBER 7 REGULAR MEETING. B. 2010 Parks Recreation Fee Increase As an information only item, staff presented the Community Affairs Parks Committee with Parks Recreation fee increases that will take effect January 1, 2010. It is anticipated that the increases will add approximately $154,000 to the department's annual revenue. Fee increases will take effect department -wide and includes increases to: Recreation Programs Facility Rentals Picnic Shelters Athletic Fields Swimming Pool Committee member Hougardy suggested staff consider further researching surrounding aquatic facilities for comparison to the City's fees. She believes that the City's non resident rates may be extremely low in comparison to surrounding communities. Community Affairs Parks Committee Minutes November 23. 2009 Paae 2 Additionally, staff is seeking full Council approval to increase green fees at Foster Golf Links. The increases range from $0.50 to $2.00 for green fees and cart rentals. A change to green fees will require a Council approved resolution; however, a draft resolution was not available for inclusion in the Committee agenda packet. Since the Foster Golf Links green fees will not take effect until March 2010, both staff and Committee members agreed that the item is most appropriately discussed in the new year. This item will move forward to the first available COW in January 2010. The memo that goes to full Council will include in further detail: an expanded definition for twilight golf, the addition of a new fee category (senior league golf), and a draft resolution for the increase in green fees. INFORMATION ONLY AND UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO A JANUARY COW FOR DISUCSSION. III. MISCELLANEOUS Rhonda Berry distributed a copy of a letter from the City's Library Advisory Board to Mayor Haggerton outlining the upcoming closure of the Tukwila Library (letter included with these minutes). The letter discusses several proposed alternatives in response to the closure including but not limited to additional open hours at Foster Library. Staff noted that the City owns the building currently occupied by Tukwila Library. Committee Chair Griffin will report out on this item tonight at the Council meeting, time permitting. Meeting adjourned at 5:42 p.m. Next meeting: Monday, September 14, 2009- 5:00 p.m. Conference Room #3 Committee Chair Approval Mi1�' KAM. Reviewed by BF. November 18, 2009 Mayor Jim Haggerton City of Tukwila 6200 Southcenter Boulevard Tukwila, WA 98188 Dear Mayor Haggerton: In 2004, the King County Library System agreed to operate the renovated Tukwila Library through 2006 as a site specifically for services to children and families. Beyond that time period, KCLS retained the right to determine the future use and disposition of the facility. The Tukwila Library Advisory Board has been engaging in discussions with KCLS concerning future plans for library services to Tukwila residents. While KCLS continues to operate the Tukwila Library in good faith, library use remains low, with substantially fewer visitors —and higher comparative operating costs —than each of the closest KCLS libraries: Foster, Skyway, Boulevard Park and SouthCenter. The Tukwila Library is open 30 hours per week, and circulates a monthly average of 1,741 items. In 2008 —a record setting high circulation year for KCLS —the annual circulation for the Tukwila library was 20,000 items. Nearby Foster Library circulates a monthly average of close to 10,000 items, reaching 115,000 items in 2008. Even compared to KCLS libraries of similar size, the Tukwila facility is extremely costly to operate in proportion to the number of patrons served and items circulated. In fact it is one of the highest to operate with the cost to circulation ratio and has among the lowest circulation counts of all KCLS libraries. For every book checked out, it costs more than $13 per transaction, vs. the System average of $4.85. Even under ordinary circumstances, it would be hard for the most dedicated Tukwila Library supporter to justify continuing with the existing situation. Given the bleak economic outlook for the immediate and mid -range future, the Tukwila Library Advisory Board concurs with the King County Library System that it is time to devise more effective ways to provide much needed library services to Tukwila residents. We concur with the changes KCLS has proposed as alternatives. By closing the Tukwila Library, KCLS can shift the operating costs and staff resources to enhance outreach through other venues and redirect staff time to support several major goals identified by the City, the School District, and the Tukwila Children's Foundation. Here are some key benefits of the proposed changes: Learning- readiness for Kindergartners and First Graders More than 200 at -risk children and their care providers can receive early literacy instruction, materials and programs each month at 20 Tukwila low- income preschool child care sites and the Tukwila Learning Center Co -Op Preschool. Enhanced outreach to these sites would enable parents and care providers to learn effective ways to help their babies, toddlers and preschoolers acquire the essential skills necessary for reading and lifelong learning. Page 2 November Tukwila Library Advisory Board Nine additional open hours at Foster Library each week will provide improved access for the general public and students o More time for computer access, o More access to education tools for students to succeed such as Study Zone tutoring and other homework help Successful transition of immigrant families into American life o Two new Citizenship classes and two new ESL classes can be added at the Foster Library, just minutes away from the current Tukwila Library site. o Additional employment and computer skills classes and other self -help acculturation programs can be offered in Tukwila in partnership with the International Rescue Committee and Refugee Women's Alliance. Social and intellectual activities for all ages as KCLS librarians will be able to offer free library programs at the Tukwila Community Center o Bi- weekly book discussion group for older adults o Book groups for all ages o Game On! And other technology -based teen activities o Family Story Times o Cultural discovery programs o Free computer classes and visits by the Techlab Ours is a growing community, with changing patterns of residential and commercial uses. The local economy is challenging, and the regional, national and international economic outlooks are unpredictable at best. As Tukwila Library Advisory Board volunteers, we are first and foremost committed to ensuring excellent, accessible library services for the people of Tukwila. We agree that community -wide needs can best be met through a more flexible, dynamic approach to library services. We appreciate the substantial thought and consideration KCLS has given to enhancing library services and increasing access to Tukwila residents, and we look forward to continuing our discussions with KCLS and the City of Tukwila to create the best possible arrangement for meeting our growing needs within available fiscal circumstances. The Tukwila Library Advisory Board unanimously agreed at tonight's meeting to authorize me to sign and forward this letter to you. Sincerely, Marie Parrish, Chair Tukwila Library Advisory Board