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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-14 Community Affairs and Parks Minutes City of Tukwila 0 0 Community Affairs and Parks Committee 1908 COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AND PARKS COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes .7anuafy 14 2008 5: 00 p.m.; Conference Room 95 PRESENT Councilmembers: Joan Hernandez, Chair; Verna Griffin and De'Sean Quinn Staff: Bruce Fletcher, Evie Boykan, Jack Pace, Brandon Miles, Rhonda Berry, Derek Speck and Kimberly Matej Guests: Chuck Parrish, Chris Slatt, Steve Beck, Michelle Ferrell and Jamie Durkin CALL TO ORDER: Chair Hernandez called the meeting to order at 5:01 p.m. I. PRESENTATIONS A Starfire Sports presentation made under Business Agenda Item C. II. BUSINESS AGENDA A. Interlocal Agreement for Minor Home Repair Program At the May 21, 2007, Regular Council meeting, Council authorized Mayor Mullet to sign an application for a Community Development Block Grant for 2008 Minor Home Repair. If received, this grant would be administered by the City of Tukwila and would serve the communities of Tukwila, SeaTac and Des Moines (also see CAP minutes dated May 15, 2007). Grant monies have been appropriated and staff is now seeking approval to enter into an Interlocal Agreement between the Cities of SeaTac, Des Moines and Tukwila for the planning, funding and implementation of a joint minor home repair program in 2008. In an effort to improve administrative efficiencies and reduce contracts, the granting agency (King County) has required larger financial contracts and use of limited fiscal agent which is why the three cities have submitted the grant together through one fiscal agent (Tukwila). Targeting low and moderate income homeowners, the Minor Home Repair program served 25 unduplicated Tukwila homes in 2007 and a total of 45 unduplicated households within the three cities. A total of 740 hours were spent on repairs including electrical, plumbing, carpentry and roofing. Terms of the interlocal agreement are almost identical to last year, with the exception that the agreement will be self renewing as long as grant funds continue to be received. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JANUARY 28 COW. B. Resolution for Creation of the Sign Code Advisory Committee for Sign Code Update In 2007, a joint meeting of City Council and Planning Commission was held to introduce the Sign Code Update process. Staff is ready to move forward with the formation of the Sign Code Advisory Committee and begin the update /revision process of the Sign Code. It is anticipated that the Advisory Committee will complete its recommendations by September 1, 2008. Staff is seeking full Council approval of a resolution which will create and provide specific functioning of a Sign Code Advisory Committee. Additionally, the resolution calls for public participation in the process of creating a new sign code for the City. UNANIMOUS APPROVAL. FORWARD TO JANUARY 28 COW. Communitv Affairs & Parks Committee Minutes January 14. 2008 - Paqe 2 C. Starfrre Sports Presentation on Programs and Maior League Soccer Bruce Fletcher provided a brief history of the five year relationship of Starfire Sports in the City of Tukwila. Within the next few days he will provide a copy of the 40-year public/private agreement between the City and Starfrre. Chris Slatt, owner and operator, gave a PowerPoint presentation of Starfire Sports operations. This 501(c)(3) organization collaborates with a number of businesses, corporations and community groups that are primarily oriented around youth sports. He shared that Starfire Sports began with societal concerns regarding the future of today's youth. The Starfrre mission is to provide world class inclusive facilities available to all youth. Starfrre strives to be a platform for other organizations in order to create innovative programs. Over 1,000,000 people are estimated to visit the Starfrre Sports complex each year (approximately, 150,000-200,000 unduplicated visitors). Mr. Slatt's presentation included a timeline of milestones the organization has experienced since its inception in January 2003, including but not limited to additional fieldturf soccer fields, a 2200 seat stadium, and an indoor 80,000 square foot athletic center. Other areas of discussion were: the Starfrre Sports Concept (not a soccer club); Starfrre Programs; Soccer Schools; Starfire Kids of Tomorrow; Soccer tournaments and other youth activities and events. Representatives from Starfrre also discussed the financial assistance provided to local residents who are unable to pay associated soccer fees. The financial assistance has included waiving of individual and/or teams fees and related equipment expenses. MLS Oooortunitv. Mr. Slatt also discussed an opportunity that may be available to bring Major League Soccer (MLS) training and practice to Starfrre Sports at Fort Dent Park. He explained that there are currently 14 MLS teams in the United States and Canada and the Seattle will be the 15th team. The MLS Seattle team will begin training late in 2008, and will play their first game at Qwest Field in 2009. Mr. Slatt would like to see the MLS team designate Starfrre Sports as their training facility. He shared that the opportunity would give Starfrre the ability to incorporate players and coaches into youth programs and schools as well as generate regional, national and international recognition. At this time, it appears as if there may be some discussion of utilizing a current practice area in Kirkland. It would cost the Seattle MLS team/owners approximately $2 million to prepare Starfrre for MLS use. Mr. Slatt and Bruce Fletcher briefly discussed the effects this opportunity would have on softball players since it is likely the current softball fields at Fort Dent Park would need to be removed to make room the MLS practice field and respective facilities. Bruce said that currently, the softball fields serve 30-40 Tukwila residents verses 200 or more Tubvila youth who utilize the facility for soccer. It appears as if the softball effect would be regional rather than local. INFORMATION ONLY. D. Formation of a Public Facilities District for Operation of Fort Dent Park At the December 10 COW meeting Rhonda Berry reported on a request from Startfire Sports regarding a request to form a Public Facilities District (PFD). Additionally she provided a memo regarding this request and basic information regarding PFDs to all Councilmembers in early December. In summary, a Public Facilities District is a municipal corporation which creates a revenue source for the operation of a facility. Although a PFD is commonly used for the creation of new facilities, it can be utilized for an existing facility/center. The total cost of the facility must be at least $10 million. Starfire Sports meets these criteria; however, State Law currently restricts the formulation of Public Facilities Districts in King County. Therefore, the City would need to lobby the State Legislature for a change in law in order to formulate a PFD. Community Affairs & Parks Committee Minutes January 14. 2008 - Paae 3 If the State passed legislation which allowed the City of Tukwila to create a Public Facilities District, the City Council would need to pass an ordinance that creates the District. The Committee continued to discuss the PFD in detail. Staff is requesting a formal decision from the Council if the Council is or is not inclined to support a change with the State Legislature before staff invests additional time to this request. The Committee did not determine support for or against the Public Facilities District, but recommended moving the request on to full Council for further discussion. Chris Slatt of Starfire stated that he is in support of the PFD for two reasons: 1.) The Current Starfire debt service is too high; and 2.) Other expansion problems/needs. Kimberly Matej explained that the Council would be discussing legislative priorities at the January 22 Regular Council meeting. Due to the short time frame to lobby this potential request as well as the light agenda for January 22, it might be best for the Council to discuss this issue at that time. The Committee agreed. FORWARD TO JANUARY 28 COW FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION TO DETERMINE COUNCIL INTEREST. ID. MISCELLANEOUS At the opening of the meeting, Committee Chair Hernandez welcomed all attendees to a new year. As Chair she requested that staff hold the CAP agendas to no more than four items in order to address all the items prior to the end of each meeting. She noted the time constraints on CAP meetings due to Council meetings which follow, beginning at 7:00 p.m. Additionally, Joan requested the meetings to end at 6:30 p.m. in order to allow for time to prepare for the Council meeting. Meeting adjourned at 6:36 p.m. Next meeting: Monday, January 28,2008 - 5:00 p.m. - Conference Room #3 I ~ Committee Chair Approval I.:inutes by KAM.