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Home My WebLink AboutCAP 2011-05-23 Item 2D - Update - Duwamish Hill Preserve City of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Haggerton Community Affairs and Parks Committee FROM: Rick Still, Parks and Recreation Director DATE: May 18, 2011 SUBJECT: Duwamish Hill Preserve Update ISSUE Update regarding Duwamish Hill Preserve. BACKGROUND As identified in the policy statements in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space plan, the Parks and Recreation Department believes in the importance of incorporating and promoting natural and cultural resources within the City through recognizing and preserving Tukwila's natural and cultural history. The Duwamish Hill Preserve is the highest priority capital project listed in the Parks, Recreation and Open Space plan. There are few places in Tukwila and King County that one can observe natural areas that have contributed significantly to the cultural history of the region Duwamish Hill Preserve (DHP) is one of these places. The DHP presents an outstanding opportunity to educate Tukwila and King County residents about the region's cultural heritage and environment. This memo is intended to serve as an overview of accomplishments and to update the Council of future acquisition and development of the site. Property Description The Duwamish Hill Preserve is an 8.6 acre conservation property on the Duwamish River in Tukwila. The property includes a 40 million year old outcropping of bedrock known as the "Tukwila Formation" and a flat area with 600 feet of shoreline on the Duwamish River where the river is reached by the tides. It is a place of significance in Puget Sound Salish cultural traditions, and an environmental conservation area of significance for its rare lowland rocky bald habitat and for its extensive shoreline. The Hill's summit provides views of the Green /Duwamish watershed, upriver to Mount Rainier and downriver to Elliott Bay and the Seattle skyline. Acquisition: 2001 2004 The City of Tukwila, Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) and the Friends of the Hill began working together in 2001 to preserve the property after the then -owner proposed a commercial development for the site. The Hill was acquired in 2004 for $998,000, with major funding from King County, Washington State and the Boeing Company. The City of Tukwila is the owner and manager of the Preserve, and provides maintenance and operations services for the property as a component of its park system, with a focus on opportunities for environmental education and passive recreation. CLC retains a Stewardship Easement on the property to ensure that habitat stewardship, tribal cultural concerns, and educational and interpretive objectives are achieved. 157 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 Phase I: Completed September 2010 Following tribal consultation and broad community input through a master planning process, Phase I restoration and enhancement was undertaken in 2009 -10 with a focus on the upland area (Attachment A). This portion of the property opened to the public in September 2010, following completion of trails, viewpoints, an outdoor classroom area, and extensive landscape restoration. Phase I costs of $750,000 were supported by major grants from 4Culture, Washington State, King County, and a term limited lease payment from Sound Transit. Hundreds of community volunteers have worked to remove trash and invasive species, and to plant and monitor native plants in three distinct habitat areas. Development of interpretive materials and curriculum is underway, and expected to be incorporated in the Tukwila School District this fall. A grand celebration was held on September 18, 2010 to acknowledge all of the accomplishments and recognize partners that made this project such a great success. Phase II: Design Phase II focuses on the flat northern portion of the property. A Phase II pre- design concept plan (Attachment B) was developed by SvR Design Company in 2009 and concentrates on environmental restoration of a 60,500 square foot area (1.4 acres) between the Duwamish River to the south, and a Seattle City Light property to the north which includes a wetland. The Phase II project area would be enhanced with a permanent exhibit of native plants selected through consultation with the Muckleshoot and Duwamish Tribes and the Northwest Native American Basket Weavers Association, including species useable for basket making, preparation of traditional foods, and other cultural purposes. The management team hopes to re- establish and make accessible a variety of species with traditional cultural uses, which may include wapato (arrowhead plant), swamp tea, wild cranberries, tules (bulrush), slough sedge and other species. Outdoor interpretive panels will include traditional use information that is appropriate to share with the public. Phase II activities will support preservation of traditional ethnobotanical knowledge and practices. Education programs about plants and native culture will provide public benefit in exchange for the use of these resources. Phase II design development would have begun in mid -2011, and we had anticipated construction and landscaping work to be getting underway in late -2011 with completion in 2012. In addition to the cultural garden and interpretive panels, Phase II infrastructure and visitor amenities include pathways and boardwalks meeting ADA standards, additional plantings, stone benches and related landscape elements. Phase II: Altered Development Plans through 2011 Budget Process: The owner of the property adjacent to the DHP indicated plans to put the property on the market for sale (it currently is on the market). Residents requested that the City delay Phase II to focus on purchasing the adjacent property. Accordingly, the City could develop the preserve according to the Master Plan rather than just developing the property currently owned by the City. Through the inspiration of many residents who wrote letters, called or attended City Council meetings, the 2011 -2012 Capital Improvement Program for the Duwamish Hill Preserve was modified to accommodate this acquisition. This year the City has applied for several grants: including a $500,000 acquisition and others ranging between $5,000 and $50,000 for important enhancements and educational benefits to the DHP. The challenge is matching the right project components for the specific requirements of various funding agencies. Please see the Attachment C which highlights DHP's funding past, present, and future potential funding sources. WA2011 Info Mernos \DuwarnishHi115- 18- 11.doc 158 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 3 Phase III Phase III activities are still a few years out. It is important to acquire the additional property and shoreline to move the road and make the best shoreline restoration improvements possible. See Attachment D to see the conceptual design for Phase III. DISCUSSION For Information Only RECOMMENDATION For Information Only ATTACHMENTS Attachment A Phase I Existing Development Attachment B Phase II Conceptual Plan Attachment C DHP Funding Review Attachment D Phase III Conceptual Plan, Master Plan Page 11 WA2011 Info MemosOuwamishKII 5- 18- 11.doc 159 160 AttachrnentA Phase/ Existing Development W off Aw txi TO r 3 AS TOMMY imp an. 162 Attachment B —Phase II Conceptual Plan rx',�`� .n:z' j :Yr��, is t 4 �``sd�r- ;F�:. Z„`� ,d'p. y Ott �P'.. LO LO ke vi r. V -n fxy r., '2-w1 1. ine.s tt:'. .•3�: ix u'1 r 'v N. fi- Al CL 7 LE t +��f�.;.: 4' QTY fs `•a,. I iA. 91 15r, cc Lz BE ZK w, /,Ii1 f fr -r c EZ M Ll UJ C7 iy 4 u ra 163 164 Attachment C: DHP Funding Review Grant List for the Duwamish Hill Preserve Award Awarded Grant Name Amount Date To Purpose 4Culture, the Cultural Development Authority of King County 10,000 CLC Acquisition Foster High School Drama Club Proceeds from Duwamish Hill Play 1,200 All prior CLC Acquisition Individual donors 500 to 2004 CLC Acquisition City of Tukwila Parks and Recreation 2003 Budget 10,000 CLC Acquisition King County Landmarks Heritage Commission 25,000 CLC Acquisition Muckleshoot Community Charity Fund 5,000 CLC Acquisition SAFECO 10,000 CLC Acquisition Seattle Police Athletic Association 1,000 CLC Acquisition The Boeing Company 50,000 CLC Acquisition Washington State Capital Budget Fund 300,000 CLC Acquisition King Conservation District 15,000 City Acquisition King County Conservation Futures Fund 500,000 City Acquisition Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, Land Conservation Fund (now called RCO) 70,000 City Acquisition ACQUISITION TOTAL 997,700 Sound Transit Lease 313,025 2008 City Development Capital Fund for Washington's Heritage 2005 -07 110,250 2005 CLC Development Capital Fund for Washington's Heritage 2007 -09 197,960 2007 CLC Development Capital Fund for Washington's Heritage 2011 -13 150,000 2010 CLC Development 4 Culture Heritage Facilities 2005 20,000 2005 CLC Development 4 Culture Heritage Facilities 2006 25,000 2006 CLC Development 4 Culture Heritage Facilities 2007 15,000 2007 CLC Development 4 Culture Heritage Facilities 2008 39,375 2008 CLC Development 4 Culture Heritage Facilities 2010 3,600 2010 CLC Development King County Natural Resources Waterworks Program 10,000 2007 CLC Development Ex Officio 2,000 2008 CLC Development King County Natural Resources Waterworks Program 56,250 2008 CLC Development REI (2008) 5,000 2008 CLC Development National Trust for Historic Preservation 2009 5,000 2009 CLC Development Alaska Copper (Private donation 2009) 29,000 2009 CLC Development DEVELOPMENT TOTAL 981,460 4 Culture Heritage Education 2010 5,000 2010 CLC Program 4 Culture Special Projects 2010 6,190 2010 CLC Program 4 Culture Special Projects 2011 6,400 2011 City Proqram PROGRAM TOTAL 17,590 ALL GRANTS GRAND TOTAL$ WI996t750 Current Grants Applied For King County Conservation Futures Fund 500,000 Applied N/A Acquisition Heritage Capital Projects 154,450 Applied N/A Acquisition CURRENTLY APPLIED FOR GRANTS 654!450 165 166 Attachment D Phase III Conceptual Plan, Master Plan Page ii 1^"••- 1 3 NI 1 Q a 7)0 OL C► ti< 5 5 0 'nj Z w d o c� U w o. w 175 �d W axm r O1._ w yv LU 4 9 4 nt a Z 1w (3 II U w }_J a l? O ff' wZ 0 a t m z z 0 ix z z 4 O 0 qe w GO w cic 167 168